Reborn Spoiled Girl Tames the Regent

Chapter 51 He so blatantly brought up the matter of breaking off the engagement.

The next day, rumors began to circulate throughout the city that Xie's second son was an idiot.

The Marquis's residence attempted to suppress the news, but the rumors spread like wildfire, growing ever more intense.

"So the second young master of the Xie family has never received guests; he's actually a fool."

"She's really pitiful to have married such a husband."

"What's there to pity? She's just a concubine's daughter; she's already blessed to marry into a marquis's household..."

Madam Xie was so angry that she dared not go out, and even made excuses to decline the usual tea break for ladies.

At the same time, in the main hall of the Jiang residence.

Aunt Wan cried all night, blaming Jiang Wan for harming Jiang Li.

So early that morning, Jiang Xun summoned her to the front hall for questioning.

"Mian'er, tell me the truth, did you know that Second Young Master Xie was mentally challenged, and that's why you deliberately let him kiss you?" His tone was stern, and a hint of dissatisfaction was evident between his brows.

Jiang Wan's eyes were clear, and her tone was neither humble nor arrogant: "Father, it was my eldest sister who volunteered to marry in place of me. I didn't force her."

Aunt Wan immediately stood up, pointed at Jiang Mian, and scolded, "It's obvious that you used Xiao Hengzhi as a pretext to say that the deed was done! Li'er is kind-hearted and didn't want the Jiang family to offend the Marquis's mansion, so she had no choice but to marry in place of Xiao Hengzhi!"

A hint of doubt suddenly flashed in Jiang Xun's eyes, and he stared coldly at Jiang Mian: "Is your relationship with Xiao Hengzhi real or fake?"

He was used to interrogating his subordinates in the army, so his stern and imposing demeanor exuded a sense of authority.

Jiang Mian, however, was not afraid at all. She slowly raised her eyes and said, "If Father does not believe me, he can go and ask Xiao Hengzhi."

She was certain that Xiao Hengzhi would side with her.

"Alright, then go and call Xiao Hengzhi over."

The maid quickly summoned Xiao Hengzhi.

"Greetings, Uncle Jiang." He lowered his head and hands, his expression humble.

Jiang Xun's gaze was sharp, and his tone was unhurried: "Xiao Hengzhi, Wan'er has already acknowledged that nothing happened between her and you. She only used your name to cancel the engagement with the Marquis's mansion. Tell me, why did you help her hide it from me?"

Jiang Wan's heart skipped a beat; she hadn't expected her father to use this as an opportunity to extract information.

Just as she was about to speak, Xiao Hengzhi calmly replied, "Uncle Jiang, since that's the case, let's just call off this marriage. I'm willing to accept the punishment."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent.

Jiang Mian looked at him with her mouth slightly open.

She hadn't expected Xiao Hengzhi to so blatantly bring up the matter of dissolving the marriage.

So calm, so unthinking, so composed?

To her even greater surprise, she felt a surge of inexplicable anger welling up inside her!

Even though she had been urging him to find a way to dissolve the marriage, now that it had really come to this, she wanted to question him instead: Xiao Hengzhi, how dare you!

Aunt Wan immediately panicked and said to Jiang Xun, "Master! This marriage must not be dissolved. The Second Miss broke off her engagement with the Marquis's mansion because of Xiao Heng. If the marriage is dissolved now, the Marquis's mansion will definitely suspect something is amiss!"

Xiao Hengzhi raised the corners of his mouth; he had expected this.

When Aunt Wan saw that Jiang Li had married a fool, she naturally wouldn't let Jiang Mian go and would definitely be eager for Jiang Mian to marry him as soon as possible.

He turned to look at Jiang Wan, revealing an expression that said, "Look, it's not that I don't want to dissolve the marriage, I've tried my best, but I just can't."

Seeing Aunt Wan crying with tears streaming down her face, Jiang Xun stepped forward and said softly, "Then what do you think should be done? Li'er has already married into the Marquis's mansion, so there's no point in pursuing this matter any further."

Aunt Wan bit her lower lip, feeling a pang of heartache at the thought of Jiang Li having to do things with that fool on their wedding night.

He then whispered a few words in Jiang Xun's ear.

After a moment, Jiang Xun did not react, but simply ordered, "Alright, you two may leave."

Jiang Mian and Xiao Hengzhi both left the front hall.

They walked one after the other under the corridor, but the atmosphere was silent and subtle.

Jiang Mian involuntarily glanced at Xiao Hengzhi, and thinking of his words earlier, "This marriage should be called off," a nameless irritation rose in her chest.

"Xiao Hengzhi." She stopped and turned to look at him, her gaze fixed on his face. "Do you really want to dissolve our engagement?"

Xiao Hengzhi lowered his eyes slightly and chuckled softly, "Isn't it the Second Miss who wants to?"

His words left Jiang Wan speechless. It was indeed she who had repeatedly asked him to find a way to dissolve the marriage.

But now, she doesn't know why, it seems...

"Could it be that the Second Miss now wants to marry me?"

Jiang Mian's eyes flickered, as if she felt guilty, and she said coldly, "Don't flatter yourself."

After she finished speaking, she gave a light snort and turned to walk in the other direction.

Xiao Hengzhi stood there, watching her back, a smile he couldn't suppress in his eyes.

Jiang returned to her room, but her mind was in turmoil.

She didn't know what was wrong with her; she was always being swayed by Xiao Hengzhi's emotions.

Ever since I asked him about the belt that day, I've had a feeling that I don't dislike Xiao Hengzhi as much anymore.

Ultimately, the person she always hated wasn't Xiao Hengzhi, but the Regent.

But these two are clearly the same person.

Sigh... Jiang Man gets more and more annoyed the more she thinks about it.

As she paced back and forth in thought, she noticed that Cong Shuang's room door was open.

Since returning from the town, she specially vacated a room for Cong Shuang, right across from her, so that she could take better care of her.

But Cong Shuang rarely went out, locking herself away all day. Sometimes she wouldn't even see her, only talking to her through the door.

This is the first time I've ever seen the door so wide open.

Jiang Mian was a little curious, so she walked over and peeked out, only to find Cong Shuang standing by the door holding a stick.

She paused for a moment, then asked softly, "Cong Shuang, what are you doing?"

Cong Shuang was like a frightened little animal. As soon as she saw her come in, she immediately dropped the stick, covered her face, and hid on the bed, wrapping herself tightly in the quilt.

Jiang Wan walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, and quietly asked, "Are you afraid to go near the door and want to close it with a stick?"

Cong Shuang nodded slightly, but never showed her face.

Jiang Mian sighed softly and tentatively pulled back the corner of the blanket, only to see that she huddled even tighter.

"Cong Shuang...please talk to me," she said softly.

The room was silent for a moment. Cong Shuang seemed to make a slight movement under the covers, but she did not make a sound.

Jiang Mian didn't know how long Cong Shuang hadn't spoken. Ever since she was kidnapped and ridiculed by Jiang Li after returning to the manor, she hadn't spoken a word.

She thought that Cong Shuang was implicated because of her...

On the way to the banquet that time, she was the one being targeted, but Cong Shuang was unjustly made to suffer.

If she finds out who it is, she will never forgive that person.

Jiang Mian sighed, walked out of the room, and gently closed the door behind her.

She sniffed and took a deep breath to calm herself.

A young maid suddenly ran up and bowed: "Second Miss, Master has instructed me to come and guide you there."

Jiang Mian had no suspicion and nodded, following him.

The maidservant took a detour and led her to a courtyard.

It gets dark early in late autumn, and the moonlight is obscured by thin clouds. The servants are lighting lamps in the courtyard.

As they approached a courtyard, Jiang Wan felt the road looked increasingly familiar and asked, "Did Father say he wanted to see me about something?"

The maid didn't answer for a moment, then said, "We've arrived, Second Miss."

Jiang Mian looked up at the door in front of her and was even more puzzled. Wasn't this Xiao Hengzhi's room?

"Are you sure Father wants to discuss matters here?"

"Yes, please come in, Second Miss." The maidservant bowed.

Jiang Mian pushed open the door with some skepticism and entered. As soon as she stepped inside, the door slammed shut behind her.

She quickly turned around, only to hear the maid lock the door from the outside.

Jiang Mian turned around to push open the window, only to find that all the windows were also sealed shut!

This is clearly a well-prepared move...

She clicked her tongue lightly. Fine, what could Xiao Hengzhi possibly do to her?