Chapter 64: General Chu, Contrary to Rumors

Before Zheng could utter a word, Chu Miao exploded, “Third Uncle, what are you saying? Yu Zihuan is nothing but a penniless wretch, a destitute scholar with no family or support. He is certainly not my betrothed. And to think he calls himself a man of letters! Just to latch onto our Chu family, he chased after me all the way to the capital. Truly a shameless scoundrel, a contemptible, lowly creature. How could someone so filthy ever be matched with me?”

Shen Zhao’s expression darkened instantly. This Chu Miao really had a wicked tongue, acting as though she were so noble. Although Shen Zhao herself had little regard for scholars, the ones she looked down on were those hypocrites who prattled on about virtue and morality yet behaved like beasts. Yu Zihuan was clearly not such a man. If he truly sought to cling to the Chu family and climb the ranks, he would not have traveled so far to return the betrothal contract, would not have lingered so long outside the gates of the General’s Manor, nor would he have proposed to break off the engagement.

Worried, Shen Zhao glanced at Yu Zihuan. Would this young man be humiliated by Chu Miao’s cruel words? After all, scholars possessed their own unyielding pride—well, at least men like Yu Zihuan did. Rogues like Old Peng had long since had their backbone corroded by their own poisonous cunning.

Yet Yu Zihuan remained unperturbed, standing tall at Shen Zhao’s side. He seemed not to hear Chu Miao’s accusations and insults, maintaining the composure befitting a gentleman. Shen Zhao looked at him approvingly—unmoved by favor or disgrace, just as one should be.

Chu Miao really was blind, unable to see Yu Zihuan’s worth.

Her gaze shifted to Madam Zheng. This eldest sister-in-law of hers was truly able to keep her composure, not uttering a word even now. If she were genuinely virtuous and gracious, how could she stand by and allow her own daughter to spew such filth without reprimand?

With a cold face, Shen Zhao spoke: “Truly a fine young lady of the Chu family! Who taught you to behave and speak so coarsely? With the marriage contract in hand, how is Yu Zihuan not your fiancé? Do you even know why he has come here, yet you hurl insults at him without cause. And who taught you such lack of filial piety and propriety? The marriage between the Chu and Yu families was arranged years ago by your grandfather and the elders of the Yu family. To openly deny this engagement is to be unfilial to your grandfather. Though the Yu family has indeed fallen on hard times, our Chu family must honor its word. If you could not extend a helping hand to a fellow from Jinzhou, at least do not strike him while he is down! Tell your third uncle, what heartless soul has taught you to behave this way?”

Shen Zhao’s barbed words nearly made Madam Zheng faint with rage. Third Brother’s words, though seemingly directed at Miao Miao, were in fact aimed at herself. In the past, Third Brother had been reticent, sparing with his words, treating everyone with a cool detachment and never quarreling. He had never before spoken with such hidden thorns—how could this possibly be the same man?

Could it be that Yu Zihuan, being so similar to Third Brother, had roused his protective instincts, prompting him to stand up for Yu Zihuan even at the risk of offending his sister-in-law?

Chu Miao had never expected her third uncle to rebuke her so harshly, and right in front of Yu Zihuan, giving her no face at all. Was she not his niece? Or was this penniless scholar his nephew? How could he be so blind to family ties?

Could he not see how impoverished Yu Zihuan was? Sallow-faced, thin as a rake, his scholar’s robe worn pale and fraying at the edges. Was she expected to marry him and suffer a life of hardship?

“Third Uncle, am I your niece, or is Yu Zihuan your nephew? How could you push me into a pit of fire? I am the legitimate daughter of the General’s Manor, the eldest Miss of the Chu family, and he is nothing but an impoverished scholar. How could he ever be worthy of me? Wu wu… Third Uncle, you have truly disappointed Miao Miao.” Chu Miao sobbed, her heart genuinely wounded.

Her father pushed her toward the fire pit, and now her third uncle did the same. Why couldn’t the entire Yu family just perish, leaving no one to force this marriage upon her with that wretched contract?

Shen Zhao rolled her eyes—how aggrieved she acted! At least Yu Zihuan had earned his degree through true talent and hard work. Did she think it was so easy to pass those exams? There were only a handful of scholars from a whole county, yet she looked down on one.

Especially after the Yu family’s decline, Yu Zihuan’s path through the civil exams had been all the more arduous, yet still he had succeeded. What a promising young man he was! Without Chu Mu as Great General, the Chu family might one day not even compare to the Yu family.

What did she have to be so proud of? The eldest Chu was a so-called philanthropist running a few petty businesses in Jinzhou; the second brother, a well-known but bottom-ranked scholar whose place had only been secured because their father was still alive at the time. To entrust the family’s honor to him was more fanciful than hoping for pies to fall from the sky.

“Eldest Sister-in-law, do you also believe that Zihuan is unworthy of Miao Miao?” Shen Zhao had no sympathy for Chu Miao’s sobbing. Her impression of the girl was exceedingly poor—she hadn’t forgotten how Chu Miao had stirred up trouble from her very first day in the General’s Manor. Such a restless woman could never earn her pity, especially since she too was of the Chu family—a rotten tree from root to leaf could hardly produce any good birds.

Yu Zihuan, meanwhile, seemed like a mere bystander, listening to Chu Miao’s various insults as though they were nothing. He was long accustomed to such words; since the fall of his family, he had heard far more piercing remarks countless times over. They no longer hurt him at all—could not, in truth, harm him in the least.

Rather, it was this General Chu who surprised him. How different he was from the rumors—eloquent and sharp-witted, not at all the taciturn, wooden man others claimed.

Madam Zheng maintained her proper smile. How could she dare to claim that Yu Zihuan was unworthy of Chu Miao? That was not the point. In a family that valued propriety, even if Yu Zihuan were now reduced to a beggar, as long as the marriage contract existed, she would have to grit her teeth and marry Chu Miao off.

She had hoped Third Brother would find a way to dissolve the engagement for Miao Miao, but that seemed impossible now. She could only pin her hopes on her mother-in-law.

“Worthy or not, what does it matter? Miao Miao is still young; it is far too soon to discuss marriage. Scholar Yu is well-versed and talented, and as a man must surely possess integrity. Especially given the Yu family’s current plight, Scholar Yu ought to devote himself to diligent study, focusing on the examinations rather than matters of the heart. After the New Year, Scholar Yu will sit for the provincial exam, will he not? Let him win his degree, and only then should we speak of marriage. If Scholar Yu becomes a provincial graduate, a double blessing will benefit both Miao Miao and Scholar Yu, and it will silence all unfounded gossip, will it not?”

Madam Zheng’s words made Shen Zhao scoff inwardly. Truly shameless. Zheng was simply making new plans now that a withdrawal from the engagement was impossible. Did she think the provincial exams were so easy to pass? Many scholars spent half their lives just trying to make the leap from licentiate to provincial graduate.

This was nothing more than a way to keep Scholar Yu dangling while keeping her options open. Should Scholar Yu succeed in the exams next year, at his young age, his prospects would be limitless—he would become a sought-after figure.

At long last, Yu Zihuan, who had remained silent throughout, stepped forward and spoke: