Chapter Three: Want to Break Off the Engagement? You’ll Have to Pay More!

In the days of old prosperity, the courtyard bloomed with a sea of guests beneath the flowers.
Now, the courtyard stands empty, the cold wind mourning alone.

When the Ye family held great power, their gate was as bustling as a marketplace.
But ever since the old master of the Ye family met with misfortune, the once lively household fell silent and desolate.

Neither father nor son expected an early visitor at dawn.
Ye Wuji focused his gaze and felt a surge of joy: “Father-in-law Tai Shan and our kin both arriving together—truly a testament that in harsh times, true loyalty is revealed.”

Ye Xiu carefully regarded the two men. One, with graying beard and scholarly demeanor, was surely his father’s future father-in-law, Xie Dashen, a Grand Academician of the Imperial Academy.
The other, about Ye Wuji’s age, rosy-faced and adorned in splendid brocade, was none other than his future father-in-law, Shen Wanshan, the richest man in Jinling.

Yet, what surprised Ye Xiu was that their sedan chairs stopped far away, without any attendants, suggesting their visit was far from friendly.

After the customary greetings, Xie Dashen forced a strained smile, “Come, let’s go inside and talk.”

Passing through the brightly painted screen wall, they saw the dilapidated old table and chairs in the main hall.
The two guests did not proceed further but instead sat on the stone benches in the courtyard.

Ye Wuji quickly fetched a teapot and poured some cool boiled water for them, apologizing, “Father-in-law, honored guest, we are currently beset by calamity; please forgive our poor hospitality.”

“Who doesn’t have their ups and downs?” Xie Dashen waved it off, feigning nonchalance.

“Indeed,” Shen Wanshan chimed in with a comforting tone, “Life is hardship from birth; no one sails smoothly through it. If we lend each other a hand, we can endure.”

After exchanging these empty pleasantries, both men produced red wedding invitations and handed them to Ye Wuji.

Ye Xiu’s sharp eyes caught the silver bills for a thousand taels slipped inside.

Father and son exchanged a knowing look: it seemed that unless they accepted this, they would struggle to survive.

Ye Wuji, confidently opening the invitation from Xie Dashen, suddenly changed expression.
His eyes darkened, and he snorted coldly, “Gentlemen, what is the meaning of this?”

Ye Xiu leaned in and picked up the red envelope Shen Wanshan had placed on the stone table—this was the original betrothal document from years ago.
Now, presenting it again spoke volumes without words.

Instinctively looking at his father, Ye Xiu’s meaning was clear: Father, you promised your future father-in-law was a man of integrity. What happened to that honor?

Without even looking, Ye Wuji knew exactly what the red notice in his son’s hand meant, and he eyed Shen Wanshan coldly: “As expected, a merchant’s words are full of deceit.”

Now that things had come to this, Xie Dashen, a man of some pride, naturally would not speak first, instead casting a glance at Shen Wanshan.

“I heard you and your son are returning to your ancestral home in Jiangning, so I came to visit,” Shen Wanshan cleared his throat. “But my daughter has been frail since childhood, and the journey is long; she may not be able to follow. Perhaps our two families…”

“Father-in-law, who told you we plan to leave Jinling?” Ye Wuji suddenly interrupted. “I intend to stay in Jinling and continue the imperial exams. My son can marry into your Shen family at any time.”

“…”

Shen Wanshan nearly spat out his drink, dumbfounded by Ye Wuji’s unexpected reply.

According to his plan, offering a thousand taels would have ended the marriage.
But Ye Wuji refused to play by the usual rules.

“You, a scholar and Jinling’s prodigy, have no shame at all?”

Xie Dashen, a veteran official skilled in the ways of the court, was rendered speechless by Ye Wuji’s shamelessness.

Ye Xiu had guessed from their joint arrival that trouble was brewing, but he now realized his father was the true master of the game.

The atmosphere grew awkward in an instant.

Finally, Xie Dashen took a deep breath and bowed respectfully to his junior, “Wuji, I hope you might show mercy and spare the Xie family.”

“You flatter me, Grand Academician Xie.” Ye Wuji glanced coldly at him, feigning ignorance, “I am but an insignificant scholar. How could I possibly spare a grand academician?”

“This…” Xie Dashen, still too concerned with face, tried several times to speak but could not utter the words “cancel the engagement.”

“Brother Ye, we are also compelled by circumstances. We ask for your understanding. Both I and Grand Academician Xie have prepared a thousand taels each to express our apology.”

As a reputable merchant, Shen Wanshan valued honesty and dared not utter “cancel the marriage” outright after careful consideration.

Ye Xiu saw through it all: they were practically begging his father to annul the engagement, yet his father held all the cards.

Still, Shen Wanshan, a magnate of the Jiangnan region with immense wealth, offered only a thousand taels as compensation—was he trying to swindle beggars?

“Fatso, who was it that schemed and sent gifts and courtesans, begging my father until he reluctantly agreed to this marriage?”

Ye Wuji suddenly erupted in fury, pointing a finger at Shen Wanshan and cursing, “My father was just confined to the Censorate, and you come here to cancel the marriage? Shameless, deceitful scoundrel, what kind of creature are you?”

Shen Wanshan lowered his head, ashamed and unwilling to retort.

If word got out, his reputation would be ruined, and no one would do business with him again.

He only hoped Ye Wuji’s tirade would prompt him to admit to the broken engagement.

“And you, Xie Dashen, who once proclaimed me a dragon among men destined for greatness, who even sought the intervention of a prince to bind our families—now you stab me in the back? I spit on you! You’ve disgraced the scholarly class—shameful, pitiful, laughable!”

Ye Wuji grew more impassioned, pounding the stone table fiercely. “And you dare call yourself a man of principle? If this spreads, I’ll be embarrassed on your behalf!”

“Wuji, don’t be hasty. We can discuss this calmly,” Xie Dashen’s eyes reddened, his voice choked with emotion. “I am close to promotion to Grand Minister. Consider it a favor to me—will you spare us? Otherwise, my official career is doomed.”

“A gentleman’s word is his bond,” Ye Wuji said swiftly, snatching the red invitation away. “If you plan to betray us, forget it. You won’t take this document back! Son, see them off!”

“No, this is unfair…”

Xie Dashen and Shen Wanshan still tried to negotiate. Business may fail, but courtesy remains. “Name your price; if money can solve it, we can discuss.”

“Take your filthy money and get out! If you don’t leave, I’ll personally drive you out!”

Ye Wuji flung the silver notes at their faces, grabbed a short club, and lost all patience.

“Fine, fine, we’re leaving!”

“If you truly find yourselves desperate, come to us and talk,”

Seeing the situation sour, Xie Dashen and Shen Wanshan hastily gathered the silver and fled.

Ye Xiu looked at his father puzzled. “Dad, after all that fuss, shouldn’t you have asked for more money?”

“Don’t you see? They’re begging us to cancel the engagement.”

Ye Wuji stood upright, full of scholarly dignity. “Two thousand taels to break a marriage—this is an insult to our family’s honor.”

“Father, your integrity is admirable!” Ye Xiu gave him a thumbs-up, “I’m ashamed to compare.”

Unexpectedly, Ye Wuji added with a sly smile, “If you want to cancel, you’ll have to pay more.”

“…” Ye Xiu.