Cáo Rúmèng, the favorite princess of the Late Emperor during his lifetime.
She was brilliant and resourceful, well-versed in affairs of state, and deeply favored by the Late Emperor, who had even once remarked, "If only you were a son, I would make you my heir!"
In a feudal dynasty, a woman's status was low. No matter how much the Late Emperor doved on Cáo Rúmèng, in the end, to rope in Jia Tu, he had unhesitatingly bestowed her hand in marriage upon the idiot Jia Lingyun!
"The Princess has arrived~~"
The doorman of the Jia Mansion knew this was a prestigious event, so he raised his voice a few notches, wishing the entire street could hear.
Cáo Rúmèng wore a Suzhou-embroidered brocade dress adorned with phoenix patterns outlined in gold threads. Her three thousand strands of dark hair were gathered up and secured with a phoenix hairpin. Her bright eyes, clear teeth, and powdered face, combined with a breathtaking figure, instantly captivated Jia Lingyun's heart.
Save me!! Princess Taiping is far from peaceful!!
If I were to marry a little vixen like this, I'd probably be worked to death in bed within three days!!
Jia Lingyun's mind began to wander. After all, in his past life, he had been nothing more than an insignificant gamer pulling all-nighters at internet cafes; when had he ever laid eyes on such an exquisite beauty?
"Long live the Princess, ten thousand years!"
Jia Ruoxiang led the members of the Jia Mansion in a deep bow toward Cáo Rúmèng. Only Jia Lingyun stood alone in his spot, their eyes locking the moment they met.
Cáo Rúmèng sighed inwardly.
"What a waste of such a good appearance! If only he weren't an idiot, he would actually be a fine match for me!!"
Though not the Son of Heaven, Cáo Rúmèng possessed the aura of one who looked down upon the world. She coldly said to Jia Ruoxiang and the others, "Rise. This palace has come to pay respects to the old Prime Minister; you need not stand on ceremony!"
"Thank you, Your Royal Highness!"
Princess Taiping walked slowly to the spirit tablet, saw the inscription *Spirit Tablet of Lord Jia Tu, Prime Minister of Dawei*, knelt to the side, and grabbed a handful of paper offerings to throw into the brazier to burn.
"Family acknowledge!"
Just as Jia Lingyun was about to bow, Cáo Rúmèng had already stood up and lightly supported him.
"No need for formalities!"
At close quarters, Jia Lingyun noticed that Cáo Rúmèng showed no trace of grief; a faint, almost imperceptible smile even lingered at the corners of her lips.
If there was no affection between them, what was she doing in the mourning hall?
"Jia Ruoxiang, now that Prime Minister Jia Tu has passed away and you are the head of the Jia Mansion, I have come here for two reasons. First, to pay respects to the Prime Minister, and second... to discuss the marriage between myself and Jia Lingyun!"
Jia Ruoxiang nodded.
"I was just discussing this matter with my second brother. With our father's passing so recent, holding the wedding right away is indeed somewhat inappropriate. Do you think we could postpone the wedding date?"
A flash of contempt swept across Cáo Rúmèng's eyes.
Since when was Jia Yi worthy of being called her second brother?
The people of the Jia Mansion really knew how to gild their own lilies!
"My intention is to call off the engagement with Jia Lingyun!"
Calling off the engagement in the mourning hall?!
An utter humiliation!
Jia Ruoxiang felt his blood surge and his head buzz. If his father were still alive, how would Cáo Rúmèng ever dare do such a thing?!
Clenching his fists and biting his teeth, Jia Ruoxiang asked, "Out of nowhere, why does the Princess wish to break off the engagement?"
Cáo Rúmèng nodded in reply, "The Jia family's influence is too great. If I were to marry Jia Lingyun, I fear it would arouse suspicion from the outside world—people would say I am obsessed with power and colluding with foreign ministers. I've weathered many storms over the years so that wouldn't bother me much, but the Prime Minister has just passed away, and his venerable self cannot be laid to rest amidst such gossip. After much deliberation, I think it is best to call off the wedding!"
Cáo Rúmèng's excuse was as perfunctory as it could possibly be. She even used consideration for the Prime Minister as her starting point, seizing the moral high ground to posture as the virtuous one.
Since ancient times, which high officials, nobles, and clan families hadn't used marriage alliances to consolidate their status in order to preserve their wealth and glory?
Crying about fear of colluding with ministers—it was nothing more than realizing Jia Tu was dead, Jia Lingyun was an idiot, and the Jia family was finished, so she simply wanted to avoid being implicated!
Jia Yi let out a cold snort.
"It is not out of the question for the Princess to call off the engagement, but your marriage to our third brother was decreed by the Late Emperor. To break it off so rashly, I fear you will be charged with defying an imperial edict!"
Jia Yi attempted to use the Late Emperor's decree to pressure Cáo Rúmèng, but her expression immediately soured.
"It's fine. Before coming here, I already reported this to the Empress Dowager, and she graciously approved the annulment. The reason I came here is not to ask for your consent, but merely to inform you!"
"You—!!"
Jia Ruoxiang was so furious his teeth itched, but after all, the Empress Dowager's word was law; they truly had no way to stop this.
Cáo Rúmèng cast her gaze toward Jia Lingyun. Being in a great mood today, she deliberately wanted to tease the fool.
"Jia Lingyun, are you going to agree... or not?"
"Your Royal Highness, I have heard that you assisted the Late Emperor in politics for many years and deeply inherited his true teachings. Seeing you today, it is truly well-deserved!"
"Consider yourself knowledgeable. Back then, the Late Emperor personally taught me—"
Realizing what she had just said, Cáo Rúmèng's face turned ashen. This fellow was subtly mocking her for not learning properly!!
Seeing Jia Yi and Jia Lingyun snickering, Cáo Rúmèng flew into an even greater rage.
"Audacious!!"
Jia Lingyun hastily bowed, feigning an innocent expression.
"Your Royal Highness, this commoner was merely praising you and the Late Emperor. How was that audacious?"
On the surface, Jia Lingyun was offering praise, but in reality, he was cursing Princess Taiping and the Late Emperor together.
Cáo Rúmèng said coldly, "Jia Lingyun, is it? I'll remember you. We shall meet again!"
"Hmph!!"
Cáo Rúmèng swept her sleeves and departed. Her goal of breaking off the engagement had already been achieved, and staying any longer served no purpose.
Besides... she couldn't out-argue that fool in a verbal sparring match!
...The fool... definitely has issues!!
Since when could an idiot be so skilled at insults and sophistry?
Could it be...
At this thought, cold sweat broke out across Cáo Rúmèng's back.
"Could it be that this fool has been faking idiocy all along... with the purpose of making that little girl Murong Qingqing let down her guard?"
".Heh... If that really is the case... tomorrow morning's court session is going to be quite a show!!"
After Cáo Rúmèng left, Jia Yi wore a bitter smile.
"Third brother, it seems the imperial court's purge has already begun. Otherwise, why would Princess Taiping dare come to the mourning hall to call off the engagement?"
"No matter!"
Jia Ruoxiang appeared quite calm about the matter.
"Now that third brother has regained his sanity, at tomorrow's morning court session, those who submit will prosper and those who resist will perish! Third brother, even if eldest brother has to carry you up there, I will put you in that position!"
"Eldest brother, second brother, your younger brother has a somewhat presumptuous request!!"
Seeing that Jia Lingyun had not only regained his sanity but was also speaking in polished prose, Jia Yi was genuinely happy from the bottom of his heart.
"Speak freely. Even if you asked us to die, your eldest brother and I would gladly do so!"
Seeing these unfamiliar brothers treat him so well, a trace of warmth rose in Jia Lingyun's heart.
"Father's funeral requires living people to be buried with him. This practice is inhumane; can it be abolished?"
Jia Yi's face showed a troubled expression.
"But this is the precept of ancient rites. If we violate it, who knows how the scholars of the world will curse our Jia family!"
Jia Lingyun was unwilling to let it go.
"Who has never been talked about behind their backs? Two brothers, for the sake of your younger brother's meager face, spare those maidservants meant for burial!"
Jia Ruoxiang and Jia Yi looked at each other in dismay, finding it difficult to accept for a moment.
"But... if there is no one to serve Father in the netherworld, what shall we do?"
Jia Lingyun thought of the Terracotta Army, and immediately spoke up, "Burying living people, as time passes, ultimately leaves only a pile of white bones—how can that properly serve Father? Instead, why not mold clay in the likeness of maidservants, fire them into pottery figurines, and place them in Father's tomb? They can last for tens of thousands of years!"
Seeing Jia Lingyun's earnest words, Jia Ruoxiang and Jia Yi also wished to fulfill this kind intention. They gave orders down the line to have pottery figurines fired and to cancel the burial of the maidservants!