Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 65 - 63 Cancelling the Engagement

Chapter 65: Chapter 63: Cancelling the Engagement

Chapter 65 -63: Cancelling the Engagement

After Shen Jingjie was arrested, Mr.

Shen initially planned to cancel the banquet.

However, upon hearing from Shen Chengguang that the County Magistrate would send someone over, Mr.

Shen relented.

Although Mrs.

Li was heartbroken over her son’s situation, she could not join him in his ordeal.

She could only kneel before Mr.

Shen begging him to save her grandson.

Mrs.

Li knew that had she asked the third branch of the family for help, they would certainly refuse.

But if Mr.

Shen spoke up, the third branch could not refuse without being ungrateful.

Mr.

Shen looked straight at Xiao’er, having noticed that the two young masters appeared to be targeting her.

“Little Xiao’er, do you think you can plead with that young master to spare your cousin?”

“Grandfather, I already tried just now, but that young master is of high status.

The fact that he only imprisoned cousin Jingjie for half a month is considered lenient.

Shangguan has the royal surname, and that young master might be a royal family member.

If we mishandle this situation, our entire family could be held accountable!”

Upon hearing these words, Shen Bao’er and Shen Yuzhu became even more agitated.

Mr.

Shen was also frightened by this, “As for Shen Zhi’er’s increasing temper and improper mindset, taking this opportunity to learn a lesson might not be a bad thing.

I don’t object to you taking responsibility for Zhi’er’s crime, but I can’t allow the entire family to pay the price.”

After hearing this, Mrs.

Li became silent.

If it were indeed a royal family member who had been attacked, even nine generations of descendants might be punished.

The time was close to noon.

The village chief’s family and Shen Renfu’s family had been waiting, feeling both awkward and impatient.

The arrival of the County Magistrate’s carriage finally brought relief to Mr.

Shen.

The County Magistrate’s second son, Ming Zhijie, was the first to enter, followed by a boy carrying a birthday gift.

Upon seeing him enter, Shen Chengguang immediately stood up.

Everyone present also rose in respect of the County Magistrate’s son.

Upon entering, Ming Zhijie paid respects to Mr.

Shen, then to Shen Chengguang, and then one by one to the village chief and other elders such as Shen Renfu and Shen Chengyao.

He even gave equal respect to his peers.

“I did not expect to meet Brother Zixuan here.”

“I arrived early to celebrate our common uncle’s birthday.

I knew Brother Zhijie would be coming, so I had been waiting for you.

I didn’t expect to have to wait so long.” The village chief was a cousin of Mr.

Shen, beyond the fifth degree of kinship.

Upon hearing this, Ming Zhijie’s face turned slightly red.

He gave another bow, “Something unexpected came up at home which caused a delay.

My apologies for keeping everyone waiting.”

Shen Chengguang graciously escorted Ming Zhijie to his own seat, but Ming Zhijie declined, choosing to sit next to Shen Zixuan instead.

Xiao’er looked at the rumoured fiancé of Shen Bao’er.

He was handsome, tall, albeit slightly thin, wearing a square cap and a white brocade robe – a typical scholar.

He and Shen Zixuan seemed to be close, and he was reverential and shy towards everyone, not aloof because of his family advantage.

Shen Bao’er seemed to have good taste, but… recalling the morning’s incident, it seemed someone wasn’t satisfied and was hoping to secure a higher status.

Before the meal, Shen Bao’er personally served everyone a bowl of chicken soup.

Seeing Shen Bao’er next to him placing the soup down, Ming Zhijie’s face turned red, “Thank you, Miss Bao’er.”

Watching the scene, Xiao’er shook her head secretly.

What a pity.

Sitting next to Xiao’er at the women’s table was Shen Zixuan’s sister Shen Nirui, and next to Shen Nirui was Shen Bei’er.

After Shen Bao’er had given Shen Nirui her soup, she gave another bowl to Shen Bei’er, and then left with the tray.

Shen Bei’er noticed that Shen Nirui’s soup had an extra piece of chicken leg.

She nudged Shen Nirui, who was chatting with Xiao’er, “Sister Nirui, I love chicken leg.

Can we swap bowls of soup?”

Shen Nirui agreed and personally swapped the two bowls of soup.

Shen Bei’er gave her a smile and started eating.

Since Shen Bei’er had asked quietly due to her fear of being scolded by Mrs.

Shen, and everyone on the table was busy eating and drinking, no one noticed this little exchange.

“Sister Nirui, have some soup quickly.

It won’t taste as good when it cools down.” Xiao’er didn’t think much of it, noting Shen Bei’er’s character was similar to Mrs.

Li’s – always eager to gain a little more.

When Shen Bao’er came back and saw that Shen Bei’er had finished her soup, and seeing Ming Zhijie also drinking his, she felt relieved.

Before the meal, Mrs.

Li had secretly taken quite a bit of meat and vegetables to the room for Shen Bei’er, so she quickly got full.

To avoid cleaning up the dishes later, she said, “Everyone, please take your time,” and quickly left.

Seeing this, Shen Bao’er was secretly delighted, knowing that half of her plan had succeeded.

After eating half of her meal, Shen Nirui started to feel a stomachache.

Excusing herself in the middle of the meal would be uncouth, so she quickly finished her meal and said, “Everyone, please continue eating.

I’m full,” and then she hurried to the hut.

After a while, Ming Zhijie excused himself too.

Mrs.

Lan happened to come out from the kitchen and seeing Ming Zhijie coming out, she asked curiously, “Zhijie, are you full already?”

“I don’t usually eat much.

Auntie, could you please tell me where the hut is?”

Mrs.

Lan pointed towards the backyard, “I just came out from there not long ago and closed the door to prevent any foul smell from creeping out.”

Ming Zhijie nodded and quickly headed towards the backyard.

Recalling Mrs.

Lan’s words, he directly pushed the door open.

“Ah…” Shen Nirui had just finished using the bathroom when someone pushed open the door as she was fastening her belt, causing her to shriek.

Ming Zhijie quickly closed the door, his face flushed red.

He stood awkwardly outside the door.

“Miss, I didn’t mean to…

I thought no one was inside…”

Upon hearing the scream, Mrs.

Lan was the first to rush in.

“What happened?

Why did I hear shouting?”

Following Shen Bao’er’s lead, the others from the dining room also arrived in the backyard.

“There was a girl inside, and I, I accidentally pushed the door open, I thought…” Ming Zhijie didn’t have time to think much due to his stomach pains.

Mrs.

Lan had just told him that she had come out of the hut and closed the door, so he pushed it open without thinking.

“Did you see the girl inside using the toilet?” Mrs.

Lan suppressed her joy and showed an expression of worry and anger.

“No!” Ming

Zhijie shook his head vehemently.

“Then what did you see?” Mrs.

Lan asked anxiously.

Ming Zhijie shook his head without speaking.

How could he say he had seen the girl inside fastening her belt?

His face was just as red as a ripe apple.

The onlookers assumed he must have seen something he shouldn’t, based on his blushing face.

Shen Bao’er broke down in tears, and seeing this, Mrs.

Lan joined her crying as if they had been greatly wronged.

Mrs.

Li was somewhat excited.

Could it be her daughter inside?

If so, she was determined to have Ming Zhijie marry her.

Then the County Magistrate would be her in-law.

The village chief, his wife, and Shen Zixuan were all worried that it might be Shen Nirui inside.

Shen Nirui was panicked inside.

Hearing so many people outside, she dared not to come out.

After hearing what Ming Zhijie had said, she was even more annoyed.

He’d made something out of nothing, and now she felt like she couldn’t clear her name even if she dived into the Yellow River!

So irritated, she fiercely pushed open the door and came out.

“He saw nothing!

When he pushed open the door, I was already fully dressed!”

Seeing her clarifying the situation, Ming Zhijie also managed to breathe a sigh of relief, nodding in agreement, “I really saw nothing.”

However, very few people at the scene believed him.

“If you were fully dressed, then why were you hiding inside for so long?” Mrs.

Li said to incite more chaos.

“I was too shocked and couldn’t react quickly.”

Mrs.

Lan wiped her tears, trying to act as if she was making a great sacrifice.

“Nirui has grown up under my care, and she is my favorite niece.

I can’t allow her to ruin her reputation because of this incident.

Zhijie, you have to cancel your engagement with Bao’er.

Nirui is also a special girl.”

“He really didn’t see anything!” Shen Nirui became agitated as well.

The village chief and his wife knew their daughter’s character well and knew she was telling the truth.

When she lied, her ears would turn red, but not this time.

The village chief stepped out: “I believe my daughter.

If she says it didn’t happen, then it didn’t.”

“I also know Zhijie.

He is a gentleman.

If he says he didn’t see anything, then he didn’t.”

Ming Zhijie felt grateful to Shen Zixuan after hearing this.

After all, it was a matter of his own sister’s reputation, but Shen Zixuan was willing to speak up for him.

Mrs.

Li scoffed, “Of course you’d say that.

Who wants to admit their daughter’s reputation has been ruined?

Even if I were you, I’d insist I hadn’t seen anything till the end!”

“You think everyone is like you.

If everyone were as chaotic as you, there would never be peace in this world!

How can I believe someone who’s unwilling to bear hardships with her own son, that she would not lie?” The wife of the village chief glared angrily at Mrs. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

Li.

Mrs.

Li didn’t dare to talk back.

The village chief was a dominant figure, she couldn’t afford to offend him.

She’d just lost her head for a moment.

Ming Zhijie glanced at Shen Bao’er, feeling unwilling in his heart, but knew he had damaged a girl’s reputation, and neither the girl nor her family had admonished him.

This girl was his friend’s sister, so he held back his reluctance and bowed to Mrs.

Lan and Shen Bao’er: “Mrs.

Shen, Miss Shen, I was reckless.

I invaded the privacy of Zixuan’s sister.

I, as a man, should take responsibility for my errors.

I am sorry.

I will return the engagement card tomorrow.”

Shen Bao’er stopped crying, looking pitifully at Ming Zhijie, shook her head, “I don’t blame you, son.

It’s just fate playing tricks on us.”

Ming Zhijie felt a pang in his heart, turning his gaze away, and bowed to the village chief’s family, “I was reckless and tarnished Miss Shen’s reputation.

I will take responsibility.

I have to leave now.

I’ll return tomorrow to discuss the details.”

Shen Nirui screamed inwardly.

How could this have happened when he’d really seen nothing!