The Slender Waist

To put it unpleasantly, the Yang Family of Hongzhou hasn’t run out of members.

Yang Sanniang could have turned to the uncles of the Yang Family, yet there was no reason to resort to her aunt by marriage.

Lady He’s tears fell when she heard this.

"Sanniang, out of pity for my child, her father died in the imperial garden; her mother, depressed, fell ill and passed away within the year. Her brother and sister-in-law took away the property, branding her a jinx, blaming her for the demise of her husband, father, and even her mother. They pushed all the blame onto her, and then, after receiving a substantial dowry, they tried to marry her off to a widower twenty years her senior..."

"That’s not our family’s responsibility," He Qia said. "She has her own brothers and sisters-in-law to make decisions for her, and there are direct uncles in the main family. It’s not our turn to interfere..."

"What do you mean by this, my son?" Lady He stared at him. "Do you want me to stand by and do nothing as someone dies? Or, before Chuandong’s grand wedding, should I chase her away to have others ridicule the He Family for being heartless?"

He Qia sighed.

"I have no such intention. It’s just that our stance must be clear. If she’s here to celebrate the wedding, the He Family welcomes her. But if she harbors other intentions, she’d best abandon them now."

"Hmph!" Lady He’s eyes brimmed with tears. "I see it clearly now. Once my cousin died and the Yang Family fell into decline, you, the Governor, have made a name for yourself and look down on our Yang Family, right?"

"...What’s this got to do with that? Look at what you’re saying. Isn’t it a serious matter? I’m also considering Chuandong’s future..."

"Pah! I see you as nothing but an official-obsessive, watching as your son marries a singing girl and jumps into a pit of fire, disregarding his reputation, and fully focused on scheming, with no sense of integrity..."

"Integrity? Can integrity fill one’s belly?"

"I see you as a fool, slaving away for the Prince of Yonghuai, spinelessly kowtowing in his presence. Yet even a Princess from Qi Country can lord over you, forcing your son to marry a singing girl. Look at how they treat the He Family like a dish on a plate. The Princess of Yonghuai clearly doesn’t regard you at all, looking down on the He Family. That’s why, in her eyes, your son is only worthy of marrying a singing girl..."

"Nonsense. Wasn’t that your own son’s choice?"

"Isn’t my son your son?"

The couple argued vehemently with each other.

The festivity at the Governor’s Office was disrupted by Yang Sanniang.

The servants were all on edge, treading carefully.

Yang Lingxiang naturally knew that her timing was not right.

But this was her only chance.

Back then, she actually thought highly of He Chuandong.

In terms of character and appearance, how could Li Sanlang, the spoiled son relying on his family’s shadow, compare to the He Family’s gentleman who was talented both in literary and martial arts?

Regrettably, due to twisted fate, they ultimately had no chance together...

Yang Lingxiang watched He Chuandong hurry over, passing through the archway and bowing gracefully towards him.

"Cousin..."

He Chuandong slightly raised his head, but said nothing.

Yang Lingxiang slowly approached, "Cousin, are you still blaming me for what happened in the past?"

With a swish of his robe, He Chuandong answered, "Not at all."

Then he headed towards his parents’ room.

He had come over upon learning that his parents were quarreling, paying no heed to Yang Lingxiang.

Unexpectedly, the Yang lady blocked his way, her eyes brimming with tears, filled with sorrow.

"He Lang, you still resent me."

He Chuandong was taken aback, hearing the escalating quarrel in his parents’ room; he forcefully pushed the lady aside.

"Sanniang, have some dignity. The past is long forgotten; I hardly remember who you are, how could there be any resentment?"

With that, he modestly bowed.

"Thank you for your graciousness in declining marriage back then, allowing me to wed a virtuous wife."

The man passed by her like a gust of wind, leaving Yang Lingxiang standing there, speechless.

The He Family, after all, was of the scholarly class; how did they raise such a disrespectful son?

As expected of someone with a military background, he indeed lacked some manners.

But...

Yang Lingxiang, looking at He Chuandong’s tall and straight figure, smiled faintly.

He was still appealing to her.

-

"Father! Mother!"

He Chuandong pushed open the room door and shouted, then pointing towards the door, he lowered his voice and said:

"Why don’t you go outside and argue, letting the household servants hear even clearer? Hearing how you speak disrespectfully of the Prince of Yonghuai, hearing how you insult the Princess, harboring disloyal thoughts?"

As the masters stirred up a commotion inside, the entire Governor’s Office descended into chaos.

The servants stopped what they were doing.

The tables set up for hosting guests were not moved anymore.

The mats were not laid out either.

All waited for their master to decide, whether the wedding was still happening or not...

He Qia sighed, sitting down dejectedly with his head bowed.

Lady He, however, turned pale.

She had forgotten her place in a fit of anger.

She only intended to verbally overpower He Qia and had no true intention of crossing the Prince of Yonghuai.

"Close it, close the door." Lady He signaled He Chuandong to shut the door and pulled him to sit beside her. She examined him from head to toe and suddenly felt overwhelmed with sadness.