Yang Yuzhen suddenly got engaged, which was quite unexpected for Yang Mudan. Didn’t Yang Yuzhen like her cousin? She had taken her cousin’s silver and promised that the matter would definitely succeed. What should she do now?
Feeling incredibly anxious, she went to the county on the day she heard about Yang Yuzhen’s engagent.
"She’s engaged?" Zhou Ziang said with a dark look in his eyes. "No wonder there’s been no news these days; she must have had other thoughts."
"So, cousin, what should we do now?" Yang Mudan said nervously, feeling not only uneasy but also jealous.
Yang Yuzhen had always lived better than her since childhood; not only was she prettier, but even her family loved her dearly. Unlike herself, even though her family was wealthier than Yang Yuzhen’s, she was a girl who was not valued at ho and did not live as well.
She knew what kind of person her cousin was, so she deliberately introduced him to Yang Yuzhen, intending to ruin her. After all, Yang Yuzhen always outshone her.
But now she’s told that Yang Yuzhen didn’t fall for it and is already engaged to soone else? And that person is a scholar?
However, she also heard that the scholar was destined for misfortune, and even if Yang Yuzhen married him, her days wouldn’t be good. Yet, she was still unwilling, so she told her cousin about it, not wanting to return the silver she had already received and also hoping to ruin Yang Yuzhen’s reputation.
"What to do? Whoever I fancy is mine, even if she wants to marry soone else, she has to see if I’m willing." Zhou Ziang said viciously.
Yang Mudan’s face was expressionless, but inside she was extrely pleased, happily returning ho.
Zhou Ziang was determined to forcefully marry Yang Yuzhen; because his reputation was already bad, no one other than Yang Yuzhen was willing to marry him. So on the day Zhou Qi placed the betrothal gift, he also brought the matchmaker and gifts.
Both parties sending betrothal gifts simultaneously was quite a spectacle for the people of Yang Village.
Inside the house, Yang Yuzhen’s face turned pale. She didn’t expect Zhou Ziang to really dare to act so disgracefully. She hadn’t promised him anything—how could he dare to ruin her reputation?
"Don’t be afraid, your mother is here." Ye Qiu held her daughter’s hand, her gaze firm. "Do you rember what I once told you? You didn’t give him any token. If he cos to cause trouble, just say he has an affair with Yang Mudan. Your third brother is here; he’s from the governnt office. If he dares to act irresponsibly, let your third brother arrest him; the charges are already prepared."
"What about Zhou Qi? Will he misunderstand?" Yang Yuzhen was most worried about this. In recent days, she’d t with Zhou Qi twice and sincerely wanted to marry him. Had she known earlier what would happen, she wouldn’t have been so foolish and fallen into Zhou Ziang and Yang Mudan’s trap.
"Mother-in-law, son-in-law is here to propose marriage, with so humble gifts—please accept them." Zhou Ziang said with a smile. Today he dressed neatly, really appearing as a graceful gentleman. So spectators couldn’t help but wonder when Sister Ye had found such two good sons-in-law for her daughter.
But it seed sowhat unfair, allowing one girl to be promised to two families—what was going on here?
"Who’s your mother-in-law? Eldest, third son, throw him out for ." Ye Qiu ca out and said coldly.
"Ah, you can’t ignore people just because you’ve climbed to a higher branch. Yu Zhen truly likes ; she even gave her handkerchief. Look, everyone, I have evidence." He said carelessly, with no apprehension.
"Just because you say so? Our girl doesn’t even know you, and you claim this handkerchief was given by my daughter? What a joke. My daughter’s needlework isn’t as poor as this. If you continue to cause trouble and slander my daughter’s reputation, I’ll report to the governnt office and have you arrested." Ye Qiu threatened.
Yet, Zhou Ziang was an old hand, not afraid of threats at all: "Report to arrest ? I have witnesses besides this; Yuzhen said she was fond of and had long agreed to marry . How can you break us up?"
"Sir, you can’t speak carelessly. I was introduced by the matchmaker to Yuzhen, and Lady Ye personally agreed. Please apologize imdiately, and don’t ruin Yuzhen’s reputation." Zhou Qi said righteously, his gaze at Zhou Ziang unfriendly.
"Reputation? Why didn’t she care about her reputation when she was eting in private? Anyway, I’m determined to marry Yang Yuzhen." He said shalessly.
"You’re lying! I’ve never t you in private; I only t you once, and there were others present. We have nothing—you can’t slander !" Yang Yuzhen was outraged, running out from inside the house to yell.
Ye Qiu frowned: "Yu Zhen, go back inside, this matter will be handled by your mother."
"Yu Zhen, have you changed your mind? How heartless you are!" Zhou Ziang clutched his chest, "Do you rember this handkerchief you gave ?"
"Stop falsely accusing people—it’s obvious that this was given to you by your cousin Yang Mudan. It’s always been Yang Mudan eting you in private—why are you blaming ? Aren’t you two mutually affectionate?" Yang Yuzhen said furiously.
People around them whispered: "Yang Mudan? Isn’t she the daughter of Yang Yuchang and Zhou Zhenzhu? Hmm, isn’t this person also surnad Zhou? Could it be he’s really a nephew from Zhou Zhenzhu’s maternal family?"
"Look at their features; they do resemble each other sowhat. Looks like he’s indeed Zhou Zhenzhu’s nephew, but Yang Yuzhen saying he has an affair with Yang Mudan—who’s telling the truth?"
"Of course, it’s Yang Yuzhen. Can you still not trust Sister Ye’s character? The daughter she’s raised isn’t like that. Moreover, in the past couple of months when we’ve had tea at Sister Ye’s place, Yang Yuzhen was always well-behaved, hardly leaving her room. How could she be secretly eting a wild man?"
"Indeed, and I’ve seen Yuzhen’s embroidery work; it’s nowhere near this poor. Seems this man is surely here to cause trouble, huh?"
"Certainly is. Without a matchmaker, without bringing adults, just a load of things; though it looks plenty, they’re all cheap goods—who’d take them seriously?"
"But what’s his purpose, deliberately ruining the Yang family’s reputation?"
"Well, watch a while longer, and won’t we find out?"
When Zhou Ziang heard Yang Yuzhen claim he had an affair with Yang Mudan, his eyes narrowed; he’d indeed underestimated this woman for daring to slander him!
"What, speechless now, because we’ve hit the truth? My daughter had told earlier, at that ti, she and Yang Mudan were close friends and already knew about you two. Later, Yang Mudan feared being discovered, and when corresponding with you, she cheekily used my daughter’s na, which my Yu Zhen refused and ended her friendship with Yang Mudan. Today you’ve conspired with Yang Mudan to take revenge on my daughter, haven’t you!" Ye Qiu said sternly, "I tell you, it’s not so easy. Third son, get him arrested for ; I want the Lord County Magistrate to give us justice."
"Yes, mother." Yang Yuxin’s eyes flashed sharply as he strode forward.
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