Chapter 54 Engagement Broken, Marriage Swap, Absurd Farce

Chapter 54: Breaking an Engagement and Swapping Spouses – an Absurd Farce

"Ah? This... this matter is not urgent."

Yu Shuhan's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. She hadn't expected Lin Wen to skip pleasantries and directly broach the topic of breaking the engagement.

"What, both families' elders were present when the betrothal was set back then, and now to break it off, Prime Minister Lin can just say a single word and be done with it?" Qin Jiao said with light mockery.

Just how urgent was it? It had been no more than three or four hours since he returned to the residence, and Lin Wen was already rushing over to break off the engagement?

Lin Wen's gaze turned cold as he looked at Qin Jiao with no warmth in his eyes: "There is no emotional connection between you and me. Forcing us together is meaningless."

"How do you know it's meaningless without trying?" Qin Jiao shot back.

Lin Wen gave Qin Jiao an expressionless glance and stopped bickering with him. Instead, he turned his gaze to Qin Yuanshan:

"Today, the prime minister's residence is busy, so my father and mother could not come in person to discuss breaking the engagement. This is the token that was exchanged when our two families made the betrothal. Please take it back, Lord Qin."

As he spoke, Lin Wen pulled a brocade box from his sleeve. Qin Jiao's eyes lit up, and before anyone could react, he grabbed the box.

"Qin Jiao! What do you think you're doing? No manners!"

Qin Yuanshan barked angrily, and the others also looked shocked.

Qin Jiao ignored them and opened the box directly. When he saw what was inside, his heart skipped a beat.

It was a seal, made of the same material as the one Xie Nai had handed over to Qin Jiao earlier. However, on Qin Jiao's seal, a blue flower was carved, while this one bore a pattern of forest branches. At the bottom of this seal, the characters "Qin Jiao" were carved on the bottom.

Xie Nai had lied to him.

That was Qin Jiao's first reaction.

Yu Shuhan hurried over and grabbed the brocade box from Qin Jiao's hands. "Prime Minister Lin, please take back this token!"

Yu Shuhan tried to hand the box back to Lin Wen, but he did not take it. His sharp fox eyes swept over everyone in the room before he asked, "Where is the other token seal now?"

"Qin Jiao, where is the token?"

Qin Yuanshan was in favor of breaking the engagement. He shot Qin Jiao a sharp look, signaling him to hand over the token quickly.

"I lost the token in Nanzhou," Qin Jiao said coldly. "Sorry, but this engagement cannot be called off for now."

As Qin Jiao finished speaking, he felt Lin Wen's furious gaze fall on him, but he didn't care at all. In fact, he even offered Lin Wen a hypocritical smile.

"Xiao Wen, our two families have been on good terms for so long. If we abruptly break the engagement, there will definitely be gossip in the capital. Perhaps we should reconsider?"

It was clear that Yu Shuhan was truly anxious. She dropped the title of Prime Minister Lin and addressed him by his name instead.

But Lin Wen did not give her any face. "There is no need to reconsider. Furthermore, I am not so familiar with Madam Yu. Watch how you address me."

Lin Wen's implication was clear: don't try to curry favor; he wasn't buying it.

Yu Shuhan was left speechless by his retort but did not dare to show anger. At the side, Qin Ji, angered by Lin Wen's rudeness, raised his voice:

"Marriage is a serious matter and cannot be treated as a game! Prime Minister Lin, if you want to break the engagement, there has to be a reason!"

Qin Han nodded in agreement from the side: "Second Brother is right."

Qin Jiao glanced at Yu Shuhan and the siblings Qin Ji and Qin Han, then swept his eyes over Concubine Yin and Qin Chaole, who were silently making themselves invisible in the corner. Wasn't this turn of events a bit strange?

Why were Yu Shuhan, Qin Ji, and Qin Han so resistant to breaking the engagement? Logically, if he and Lin Wen broke off the engagement, wouldn't it be easier to control him?

"As I just said, there is no emotional connection between Young Master Qin and myself."

"No emotional connection?" Yu Shuhan's eyes lit up. "Then why not break the engagement and swap partners? I still have a son and daughter. What do you say?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the reception hall fell into dead silence. The young maid who had come to serve tea was frozen in place, looking left and right, not daring to move.

Qin Ji and Qin Han's expressions changed instantly. Qin Ji nearly blew up on the spot: "Mother, what are you saying!"

"Mother, you..." Qin Han's face flushed red, and then she ran out shyly of the hall.

Concubine Yin gritted her teeth, and Qin Chaole's expression was also unpleasant. Qin Yuanshan, however, suddenly saw the light.

Right! The prime minister's residence was such a high branch that even people on stilts couldn't reach it. Now that the Qin family had a chance, they couldn't turn power away!

Qin Jiao, too, suddenly understood. No wonder Yu Shuhan had been against breaking the engagement; she had been planning a marriage swap.

Trying to pave the way for her own son and daughter—Yu Shuhan's plans were loud and clear!

"Swap partners?"

Lin Wen was also visibly stunned, but after a moment, he curled his lips into a smile full of ridicule and sarcasm:

"Madam Yu, not just any random person can form a marriage alliance with the prime minister's residence."

"Lin Wen! What do you mean by that!"

Qin Ji was so furious he almost started a fight on the spot, but Qin Yuanshan quickly stopped him. "Qin Ji, leave!"

"Father!"

Qin Ji was furious with humiliation. Who does Lin Wen think he's looking down on? He and his sister had no wish to marry him, and to call them cats and dogs—even if Lin Wen were the Jade Emperor today, he'd still get a punch in the face!

Qin Yuanshan had trouble controlling the enraged Qin Ji, and Yu Shuhan, furious, smacked him on the head. "Qin Ji, go find your sister!"

"Mother, no! I want to stay here..."

Before Qin Ji could finish, a servant forcibly dragged him away. Qin Ji was tall and strong, and it took a lot of effort for the servant to haul him out.

Qin Jiao stood there watching the whole farce.

Qin Yuanshan personally took the teacup from the maid and handed it to Lin Wen. "Prime Minister Lin, please calm yourself. My wife spoke a bit bluntly, but the matter of swapping partners can still be discussed..."

"There is no need to discuss the engagement any further. Where in Nanzhou did Young Master Qin lose the token? I will send someone to find it immediately."

When Lin Wen was angry, his fox eyes turned ice cold, sending chills down everyone's spine. But Qin Jiao wasn't afraid. "No need to search. I do not agree to break the engagement. Prime Minister Lin, please take your leave."

With that, Qin Jiao turned and left, unwilling to say more to Lin Wen.

"Qin Jiao, think carefully."

Lin Wen called after him, his voice carrying a hint of gritted teeth.

Qin Jiao did not look back. Lin Wen watched his retreating figure, his gaze deep and dark.

Qin Jiao, you're something.

After Qin Jiao left, Yu Shuhan tried to return the token seal to Lin Wen, but Lin Wen stormed off without pausing.

The winter night was deep and bitterly cold.

Lin Wen strode briskly out of the Qin residence, his attendant Tongsheng already waiting at the gate.

"Oh, my Lord Chancellor, you're finally here."

Lin Wen had another attendant, Wusheng, left behind at the Lin mansion; the Lin mansion had sent several reminders urging him to come back.

Seeing that Lin Wen did not reply, Tongsheng grew more anxious: "My lord, please get into the carriage quickly. The old lady and madam are looking for you everywhere. If they find out you came to the Qin residence in secret to annul the engagement, they will surely be furious..."

"If they find out, you'll answer with your life."

Lin Wen's voice was as cold as ice, making Tongsheng shudder.

That feeling of a cunning fox's gaze made cold sweat trickle down Tongsheng's back, but he still spoke honestly: "But this can't be hidden forever."

"Put it off one day at a time."

Tongsheng dared not contradict Lin Wen, so he could only comply: "Got it. Then let's go—any later and word will be all over the capital that you came to the Qin residence at night to break off the engagement..."

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