258 Annulment
Initially, Yu Niaoniao had taken into account Tang Guixi and Lu Yao’s engagement and did not want to ruin their relationship, so she did not intend to mention the kidnapping.
Unexpectedly, Madam Shu picked on Tang Guixi the moment they met.
Yu Niaoniao knew very well that Madam Shu had deliberately put on airs in front of Tang Guixi so that she could suppress her to make her subservient in the future.
This kind of gaslighting was really disgusting.
Since Madam Shu wanted to suppress Tang Guixi, Yu Niaoniao would suppress Madam Shu.
Anyway, her status was higher than that of Madam Shu. No matter what she said, Madam Shu could not refute it.
She wanted Madam Shu to understand that Tang Guixi was not a pushover!
Madam Shu was so frightened that her face turned pale. She only knew that when Lu Shiliu went to kidnap Dang Gui, she had two companions with her. However, she did not know that the princess consort was one of them.
If she had known that the princess consort had a relationship with Dang Gui, she would not have dared to attack her!
Madam Shu was burning with anxiety. She wanted to explain herself, but she didn’t know how to say it.
In the end, she could only look at Tang Guixi.
“Guixi, quickly help me say something! I’m your future mother-in-law, Yun Zhong’s mother. Even if there’s any conflict between us, it’s our domestic business. Let’s just settle it ourselves behind closed doors. You can’t just watch as I’m being convicted, right?”
Tang Guixi said calmly, “People have to be responsible for their actions. Since you dared to send people to kidnap us, you have to be prepared to bear the consequences.”
Seeing how heartless she was, Madam Shu disliked her even more.
However, in this situation, Madam Shu could only give up their dignity and beg.
“Guixi, I know I was wrong. I promise I won’t do such a stupid thing again. Can you speak up for me? When you marry into the Lu family in the future, I will definitely treat you well.”
Tang Guixi pondered for a moment and suddenly said.
“Actually, I came to the Lu family this time for my engagement with Lu Yao.”
Madam Shu thought that she wanted to get married as soon as possible and felt even more confident. As long as she wanted to marry into the Lu family, she had to respect her as her mother-in-law.
In the future, it was only right for the mother-in-law to set the rules.
Madam Shu softened her tone and said gently.
“I know. You’re not young anymore. You should get married as soon as possible, but you’re still mourning. You have to wait three years before getting married…”
Tang Guixi interrupted her.
“You’ve misunderstood. I don’t want to get married.”
Madam Shu thought that her ears were damaged and she was hallucinating.
She asked in disbelief.
“What did you say?”
Tang Guixi said, “Just as you said, I have to observe mourning for three years. Lu Yao is already twenty this year. I guess you and County Governor Lu are in a hurry to have grandchildren. I don’t want to delay your plans for grandchildren, nor do I want to waste Lu Yao’s time. Let’s break off the engagement.”
“What did you say?”
“I said I want to break off the engagement…” Before Tang Guixi could finish, she sensed that the person asking was not Madam Shu.
She immediately turned around and saw Lu Yao.
Lu Yao looked at her in shock. “You want to break off the engagement?”
Madam Shu couldn’t help but speak.
“Even if you want to annul the engagement, it should be brought up by the elders or matchmakers. How can a girl like you say such a thing personally? Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at?”
Tang Guixi said calmly, “My parents are dead. My uncles and elders are not in Liaodong County. It will take at least a month or two for them to rush over. That’s too troublesome. I hate to trouble others the most. I can decide my marriage.”
Madam Shu wanted to say something else, but Yu Niaoniao stopped her.
“Let them talk alone. Don’t cause any more trouble.”
Madam Shu was indignant. “I’m his biological mother. It’s only right for me to care about him. How did it become trouble?”
Yu Niaoniao said, “Oh, you care about him, to the extent that you even sent someone to kidnap us?”
Madam Shu choked hard.
Lu Yao looked at them. “What kidnapping?”
Madam Shu was afraid that Yu Niaoniao would say something about the kidnapping again, so she hurriedly said.
“Nothing. Let’s go to the kitchen to arrange lunch. You guys take your time chatting.”
Yu Niaoniao said to Tang Guixi, “Then I’ll leave first. See you later.”
Tang Guixi nodded.
Yu Niaoniao and Madam Shu left together.
Only Lu Yao and Tang Guixi were left in the long corridor.
Just now, Lu Yaoguang insisted that Lu Yao receive important guests with him, but Lu Yao had been thinking about Tang Guixi. He had a lot to tell her and many questions to ask her.
So he slipped out when his father wasn’t paying attention.
He ran over to look for Tang Guixi expectantly, not expecting to hear her say that she wanted to annul the engagement.
It was as if someone had poured a basin of cold water on his head, extinguishing all his expectations.
Lu Yao did not understand. “Why do you want to break off the engagement? Did I do something wrong?”
Tang Guixi said, “I have to observe mourning for three years.”
Lu Yao said without hesitation.
“I can wait for you! Not to mention three years, I’ll wait for you for thirty years!”
Tang Guixi said, “After we get married, I can’t stay in the county governor’s residence with you. I have to stay in the Eastern Expedition Army’s camp.”
Lu Yao was puzzled. “Why?”
“My father has passed away. Now that the Eastern Expedition Army is leaderless, I have to stay in the military camp to stabilize their morale.”
Lu Yao said, “But you’re just a woman. You shouldn’t do this. The Imperial Court will definitely send someone to take over the Eastern Expedition Army. You don’t have to stay in the Eastern Expedition Army forever.”
Tang Guixi laughed at herself. “So even you think women shouldn’t interfere in military matters?”
“That’s not what I meant. My heart aches for you. The conditions in the military camp are tough. I don’t want you to suffer.”
Tang Guixi said, “I used to stay in the military camp with my father and never felt bitter.”
Seeing her determined attitude, Lu Yao could only give in.
“If you insist on staying in the military camp, I can stay there with you.”
Tang Guixi asked, “What about your parents? Aren’t you going to care about them?”
Lu Yao hesitated for a moment before saying.
“Xiangtai isn’t far from Xingning. We can come back to see them often.”
Tang Guixi shook her head. “Your parents will definitely not agree.”
Lu Yao said, “I’ll persuade them to agree.”
Tang Guixi said, “What if you can’t convince them? You can only choose one between your parents and me. Who will you choose?”
Lu Yao could not answer.
“Your question doesn’t make sense. It’s difficult for anyone to make a choice. If it were you, who would you choose?”
Tang Guixi said without hesitation, “I will choose my parents.”
Lu Yao was stunned.
Tang Guixi said, “To be honest, I quite like you, but this liking isn’t enough for me to give up my family and ideals. I believe you’re the same.”
Lu Yao was in pain. “I don’t understand. Why do you have to make this choice? This choice is unnecessary!”