Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 35

The smile on Yu Jinshu’s face instantly disappeared. He turned to look at Madam Zhao, who quickly lowered her head in guilt.

Yu Jinshu asked in a low voice, “The Liu family came to break off the engagement? Why would they suddenly do that?”

Yu Jinshu had met Liu family’s daughter once, and she had left a good impression on him. She was graceful, elegant, and had the demeanor of a proper young lady. Cultivated by years of study in poetry, etiquette, and other noble pursuits under her father, Liu Juren. 

She was certainly not a rough, country bumpkin, and Yu Jinshu had been quite fond of the marriage proposal.

Old Madam Yu sighed and was about to comfort him with some words, but Madam Zhao, unable to hold back, spoke up. “It was Liu Zhangshi, Liu Juren’s wife, who came in person to break off the engagement.” 

“Liu Juren has taken a liking to a scholar who ranked well in the Tongsheng exam this year. I heard from someone a few days ago that the Liu family’s daughter is now engaged to that scholar.”

“A scholar? I don’t agree with this engagement being broken!” Yu Jinshu stood up abruptly, his fists clenched tightly at his sides, the veins on his hands bulging, his face turning ashen.

“Jinshu, calm down,” Old Madam Yu soothed. “The Liu family is determined to break the engagement. They haven’t left us any room to negotiate. The whole village knows about it now, and Liu family’s daughter’s engagement letter has been returned. It’s over. You focus on your studies, and we’ll find you another good match in the future.”

Yu Jinshu’s face remained dark. He was a man who valued his pride, and the shame of having his engagement broken off like this struck deeply at his self-esteem. 

With a burst of frustration, he turned and walked toward the door, muttering to himself, “I’ll go to the Liu family and ask them which scholar they’ve chosen. Liu Juren prides himself on being a learned man, how could he do something so contradictory!”

Madam Zhao hurried over and grabbed his arm. “What are you making such a scene for? Don’t you think this is embarrassing enough? If you had some guts and could pass the exams, do you think the Liu family would have broken off the engagement?”

Yu Jinshu gritted his teeth and muttered, “It’s just a scholar, just a scholar… I’ll pass the exams sooner or later!”

Madam Zhao’s frustration boiled over, especially thinking back to what Liu Zhangshi had said when she came to break off the engagement. Unable to hold herself back, she said,
“You’ve been trying for three years and still haven’t passed the Tongsheng exam! If you could be like the sickly boy from the second house, and return with the highest score in the exams, your mother could at least have some pride!”

“But instead, Liu Zhangshi made it clear that this engagement was only because of that sickly boy from the second branch! Liu Zhangshi humiliated us in front of the entire village. Don’t you want to prove her wrong?”

Yu Jinshu’s fists clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked. His face remained dark as he stubbornly retorted, “What does the second branch’s business have to do with me? Yu Qizhe may be capable, but he’s just a sickly boy, he can’t even go to the exam halls. Who knows, he might die any day now. Why should I compare myself to him?”

Old Madam Yu glanced outside the hall and lowered her voice to scold him, “Stop spouting nonsense! A real man should never act pathetic! It’s just the Liu family’s daughter, what’s the big deal?”

“Even if this engagement didn’t go through, there will be other good girls from the Zhang family or the Li family. I plan to discuss it with your grandfather. We’ll use some silver to send you to the county academy. Both you and Jinyan can take part in the autumn provincial exams. If you can return as a scholar, the Liu family will regret this!”

Madam Zhao’s face lit up with excitement as she asked, “Mother, you’re letting Jinshu go to the county academy?”

Old Madam Yu nodded. “There’s still some silver saved up at home, and after the autumn harvest, we can sell some grain. We’ll send Jinshu to the county academy to secure a spot as an exam student. That way, Jinshu can take part in the autumn exams this year.”

Madam Zhao grabbed Yu Jinshu by the arm. “See, your grandmother dotes on you! If you focus on your studies and stop thinking about the Liu family’s daughter, once you pass the exams and become a scholar, we won’t have to worry about finding a better match than the Liu family!”