I dress up as a poor noblewoman, and I bring my whole family home with my literary talent.

Chapter 118: Cancellation of Engagement

Song Lingyi couldn't help but feel sad when she thought of what happened at the Song family yesterday. "Yesterday's situation could not be resolved even if you were with me. The Marquis's Mansion has made it clear that they don't want me to continue working in the Imperial History Bureau."

Xie Yanshu took Song Lingyi's hand, his eyes filled with emotions, "So... do you want to give up?"

When he was off duty at the yamen, he met Azhu, who told him everything that happened yesterday.

The elders of the Song family did not go to the Marquis' Mansion today to discuss Song Lingyi's official position. They did not want to offend the Marquis' Mansion, and they believed that it was no big deal to wrong Song Lingyi. Even if she lost her temper again, could she really abandon the face of the entire family?

Since the elders of the Song family and the Marquis' Mansion are unwilling to give in, it seems that there is only one way for them to choose.

"Yanshu, I also feel very sorry for you. I clearly promised you that I would work hard... but... but I really can't give up my official position. My master has high hopes for me, and I don't want to disappoint him. If I have to stay in the backyard all my life and become an inconspicuous virtuous wife, then what's the point of me being an official?" Song Lingyi started crying as she spoke.

Dad was right, she was just young and ignorant, she thought she could change the views of the people around her by herself, and that those who were together and cherished each other could overcome all difficulties and dangers.

But reality taught her that in the face of power, her efforts and perseverance were not worth mentioning at all.

Fortunately, this incident happened before the wedding. If it happened after she married into the Marquis's mansion, she would have been even more devastated and helpless.

"Don't say any more." Xie Yanshu finally showed some emotion and smiled with tears in his eyes. "You haven't let me down. You have your own path to walk. Just because we can't change them now doesn't mean we can never change them."

……

谢砚书带着宋令仪回到凉亭

Li Huaizhong stopped them outside and said with a respectful smile: "Thank you Sir, what are you doing?"

Song Lingyi's eyes were swollen like peaches after she cried

Xie Yanshu saluted from afar towards the empress's back, "Your Majesty, I, Xie Yanshu, request to see you!"

After a while, the empress said, "Come in."

Song Lingyi had some idea in her mind why Xie Yanshu brought her to see His Majesty. Breaking off the engagement so close to the wedding date would certainly bring shame to the Marquis's Mansion, and Song Lingyi would then have a hard time staying in Chang'an City.

But if the emperor came forward and issued an order to cancel the marriage, the Marquis's Mansion would not make things difficult for Song Lingyi.

Looking at the boy and girl kneeling in front of her and speaking earnestly, the empress's eyes were deep, "Xie Yanshu, don't you like the girl from the Song family very much? Are you really willing to let her come to regret the engagement?"

"Like someone, but that doesn't mean you can possess him as you please. It's not fair if she has to sacrifice her hard-earned official position, disappoint the expectations of the imperial teacher, and lose herself because of this marriage," said Xie Yanshu.

The empress looked at him calmly. Her usually strong heart softened for a rare moment. She nodded, thought for a few breaths, and said, "I can issue an order to cancel the engagement, but people's words are scary. It's not easy for both parties to be decent."

The empress's sharp eyes fell on Song Lingyi, "The application for the transfer of official positions has been submitted to the Imperial History Bureau. How can it be easily taken back?"

"..." Song Lingyi's heart tightened.

"How about this? I order you to be a seventh-rank inspector and accompany the Crown Prince of Jin to Jiangsu and Zhejiang to recruit talents. You will inspect on my behalf. Are you willing?"

Go to Jiangsu and Zhejiang for transfer?
That is not something that can be accomplished overnight.

The cancellation of the engagement would surely cause a huge uproar in Chang'an, and her transfer to Jiangsu and Zhejiang would be considered as a way to stay away from the center of the storm.

The empress is determined to implement the new law. If the new law can be implemented smoothly in Jiangsu and Zhejiang and other places, it will be a great achievement.

"I am willing!" Song Lingyi said.

Xie Yanshu frowned slightly. He didn't expect the empress to be so persistent in implementing the new law. She ordered Song Lingyi to go to Jiangsu and Zhejiang to recruit good people at this time, also wanting him to take a step back in the court. "Xie Yanshu, what do you think?" the empress said in a deep voice.

"..." How can one have the best of both worlds? Since he wants to help Song Lingyi, why wouldn't it be wrong for him to take a step back?

"Your humble servant will obey the Holy Spirit!"

The empress gave a look to Li Huaizhong who was waiting outside the pavilion, and the latter immediately understood and arranged to cancel the engagement.

Right after they finished discussing the cancellation of the engagement in the pavilion, Ye Xuan came over. All the farm work for the day was done by his apprentices, so he was happy to have some free time and had not been seen all day.

Ye Xuan originally wanted to invite Xie Yanshu to have dinner, but Xie Yanshu declined. The imperial edict to break off the engagement would soon arrive at the Marquis's Mansion, so he had to go back quickly.

……

Song Lingyi sent the fish in the bucket to the kitchen, leaving only the empress and the imperial teacher in the pavilion.

The two sat opposite each other, looking calm.

Li Huaizhong took the freshly brewed tea from the maid and bowed to bring it into the pavilion.

"You knew this would be the outcome, right?" The empress took a sip of tea and said slowly.

Ye Xu'an remained calm and said, "Some things can only be known to be impossible after personal experience."

The Empress could not deny this. "I hope everything goes smoothly when we go to Jiangsu and Zhejiang to make adjustments. It's fine as long as you don't feel that your apprentice is wronged."

Ye Xu'an chuckled and said, "Breaking off the engagement is risky in itself. If she were to go to the Marquis's mansion alone to break off the engagement, the Marquis's mansion would eat her up."

The empress snorted and laughed. No wonder he sent someone into the palace early in the morning to invite her to his house for a chat. It was all specially arranged.

…………

The next day, the news that the empress had decided to cancel the engagement between the Xie and Song families spread everywhere, and everyone in Chang'an City was shocked.

What followed was the news that Song Lingyi was appointed as a seventh-rank inspector and would accompany Jin Prince Shen Liuyun to Jiangsu and Zhejiang for transfer.

The ministers were trying to figure out the emperor's intentions. The marriage between the Xie and Song families was a great opportunity for the Song family. But when the wedding date was approaching, His Majesty decided to cancel the engagement and transferred Song Lingyi to Jiangsu and Zhejiang. It was really unbelievable.

From the seventh-rank official to the seventh-rank inspector, although the official rank did not rise, the inspector had real power. It can be said to be a demotion in public but an advancement in private.

The Marquis's mansion had only one son, Xie Yanshu. Li had always been dissatisfied with Song Lingyi as her daughter-in-law. She had originally thought of slowly training her after she got married. If that didn't work, she would marry Xie Yanshu two concubines that she was satisfied with. Unexpectedly, when the wedding date was approaching, His Majesty called off the engagement and transferred Song Lingyi to Jiangsu and Zhejiang. It didn't matter whether her official position was promoted or demoted, as long as she was not in Chang'an, Xie Yanshu could be an official honestly, obey his parents' orders, and marry a noble lady from a high-class family.

Time is the best medicine to heal wounds. No matter how sad a person is, he will figure it out as long as he is given some time.

When everything returns to normal, Xie Yanshu will still be the glorious young marquis of Chang'an City.

"You debt collector!"

Because of the cancellation of the engagement, the Song residence was in chaos from early in the morning. All the betrothal gifts of the Xie family had to be returned, including gold, silver, jade, silk and satin. It was easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality. The glory of the Song family had come to an end.

Song Lingyi seemed not to hear Madam Song's loud insults in the yard, and was packing her luggage in the east wing with an expressionless face.

The time for transfer to Jiangsu and Zhejiang is the day after tomorrow. Soon she will be able to leave this ice cave and go to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, where there are outstanding people and beautiful scenery.