FID – Chapter 568

Chapter 568: Engagement Cancellation, Incompatible Fates

“There are sixteen counties under Yunzhou City, and Xiangshan County is just one of them. Does Miss Kang really think being a county magistrate’s daughter makes you so prestigious?” Fu Yuzheng sneered coolly. “Instead of spending your time attending gatherings here, you’d be better off going home and broadening your knowledge. Otherwise, you might embarrass yourself for being ignorant when you step outside.”

“You—!” Kang Ziyu’s face turned red and pale in turns. Being openly mocked in front of all these noble ladies made her feel utterly humiliated.

In the past, when she socialized with these young ladies, no one had ever dared to treat her with such disrespect!

“Miss Kang,” Ding Wenxuan looked at her with a slight smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “My brother is busy today discussing essays with the city’s scholars and has no time to accompany you. I also need to entertain Madam Lu and the Lady Ruyi, so I don’t have time to chat with you either. You should head back for now. When my brother is available, he will send for you. There’s no need for you to make unnecessary trips and risk wasting your efforts.”

Kang Ziyu’s already unsightly expression turned even redder.

Ding Wenxuan had actually just ordered her to leave!

If today’s incident spread, Kang Ziyu would become a laughingstock in Yunzhou’s upper circles. The eldest daughter of the prestigious Ding family had openly dismissed her—who else would give her any respect in the future?

Sitting at the farthest seat, Kang Ziyu trembled with anger but had no way to retaliate.

She wasn’t completely ignorant of the consequences!

“Gatherings for the noblewomen of the city require an invitation to attend. I don’t believe Miss Kang received one for this occasion, did she?”

“Surely it must be a misunderstanding. This gathering was specifically arranged for the Madam Lu and Lady Ruyi, and only city elites were invited. Miss Kang, being from Xiangshan County, is from a different social circle.”

“Then it would be best for Miss Kang to take her leave. Noblewomen’s gatherings have always maintained strict etiquette, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for an outsider to remain present.”

One after another, the noblewomen spoke up, subtly yet mercilessly excluding her.

Kang Ziyu had already offended the Fu Yuzheng and Liu Yusheng, and now she had lost Ding Wenxuan’s favor as well. Why should anyone else be courteous to her?

Meanwhile, Liu Yusheng and Fu Yuzheng sipped their tea in silence, neither interfering nor commenting. However, both of them had picked up on a crucial detail from Ding Wenxuan’s words.

There seemed to be some connection between Kang Ziyu and the Ding family.

Recalling the rumors spread by Wei Hong about Kang Ziyu’s engagement to a prominent Yunzhou gentleman, they quickly pieced things together—her fiancé must be someone from the Ding family. No wonder she had shown up here today.

Given Kang Ziyu’s notoriously brash personality, they had assumed she would throw a tantrum after being ridiculed so publicly.

Unexpectedly, Kang Ziyu simply stood up and took her leave.

“Since Wenhan is busy, I won’t stay any longer. I’ll visit again another time. Miss Ding, farewell.”

“Take care, Miss Kang. Someone, see the guest out!” Ding Wenxuan didn’t offer even a token gesture to make her stay.

Before leaving, Kang Ziyu cast a resentful glare at Liu Yusheng, who responded with nothing but a calm, indifferent look.

For someone like Kang Ziyu, being ignored was the greatest form of contempt.

In the past, Liu Yusheng had thought Kang Ziyu was simply outspoken with a bit of a spoiled temper. But in reality, her arrogance and entitlement were ingrained deep in her bones.

She had always acted as if she feared nothing, but in truth, she was well aware of how to weigh her options and navigate situations to her advantage.

She understood where others’ boundaries lay. Her usual tactics were merely ways to slowly push those boundaries, forcing people to lower their defenses bit by bit.

But the moment she realized those tricks wouldn’t work, she knew exactly when to stop.

Just like now.

Staying any longer would only bring her more humiliation. Making a scene would only make things worse for her. So, she swallowed her pride and retreated without another word.

One had to wonder—how would Magistrate Kang feel if he had witnessed this?

“Today’s gathering was mainly to get to know the two of you. I didn’t expect such an episode to happen—I hope it didn’t spoil your mood, my ladies,” Ding Wenxuan said with a smile.

“It was just an insignificant matter, not worth dwelling on. Lady Ruyi and I appreciate the hospitality of all the ladies today.”

The atmosphere quickly returned to harmony. Everyone followed Ding Wenxuan’s lead, showing due respect and courtesy to Fu Yuzheng and Liu Yusheng. The banquet continued with pleasant conversations, everyone maintaining proper decorum.

By the time the gathering ended, no one mentioned Kang Ziyu again.

As the tea party concluded and the two of them exited Ding Manor, they saw that Liu Zhixia’s carriage was already waiting at the entrance—another clear sign of how much the Prefect valued them.

“Did anyone give you trouble?” Liu Zhixia asked the moment they got into the carriage.

He was worried that his wife and sister, being new to the social scene here, might have been tested or intimidated.

Liu Yusheng and Fu Yuzheng exchanged amused glances.

“No one made things difficult for us. In fact, we ended up forcing Kang Ziyu to leave the banquet.”

“Kang Ziyu?” Liu Zhixia frowned. He never had a good impression of her.

“Yes, her. It seems she’s engaged to a young master of the Ding family. She happened to be at Ding Manor and ended up attending the gathering.” Fu Yuzheng explained. “This Ding family is the maternal family of Minister Ding from the capital. And Minister Ding is connected by marriage to the current Left Prime Minister. I suppose that’s why Kang Ziyu set her sights on the Ding family and values this engagement so much.”

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so tolerant toward Ding Wenxuan, let alone choose to leave the gathering without making a scene.

Hearing Fu Yuzheng’s explanation, Liu Yusheng clicked her tongue in amazement. “Sister-in-law, you’ve truly impressed me! I didn’t expect you to be so well-versed in the backgrounds of various officials!”

Fu Yuzheng couldn’t help but laugh. “Your brother is pursuing a political career, so I naturally need to understand these things better. That way, I can support him in the future.”

“My brother is so lucky—he married a true gem.”

“Even if your sister-in-law knew nothing at all, she’d still be a treasure,” Liu Zhixia shot his sister a side glance. “Don’t say things that might lead to misunderstandings.”

“Tsk-tsk, look at you being so protective. I’m convinced, this little sister concedes,” Liu Yusheng said, cupping her hands together in mock surrender.

This only earned her a playful pinch from the couple.

With that, the tea gathering came to an end. As for what consequences it might have on certain people, Liu Yusheng didn’t dwell on it.

Whatever happened, they had brought it upon themselves.

Not long after the gathering, news spread throughout Yunzhou City— the Ding family’s eldest legitimate son had called off his engagement.

The one being rejected was none other than Kang Ziyu, the county magistrate’s daughter from Xiangshan.

The reason given was ‘incompatible natal charts.’

The news spread like wildfire in Yunzhou, and in Xiangshan County, the rejection couldn’t be kept under wraps. Even the county office couldn’t suppress the rumors. Before long, the entire county—towns and villages included—knew about it.

When Qian Wanjin brought it up, Liu Yusheng simply smiled.

A family like the Ding family would never allow their son to marry someone who had offended the prefect’s wife.

Otherwise, it would give others a reason to attack and undermine them.

On the surface, the Four Great Families of Yunzhou seemed to get along, but behind the scenes, who didn’t want to climb to the top? Plenty of people were watching from the shadows, looking for any opportunity to pull the Ding family down.

If anyone was to blame, it was Kang Ziyu herself—blinded by jealousy, she lost her composure at the worst possible time.

Even Grandma Liu couldn’t help but sigh as she discussed it with Chen Xiulan and Du Juan. “Back when the engagement was set, Miss Kang enjoyed quite the prestige in the county. Who would have thought it would end like this, with her being rejected due to ‘incompatible natal charts’? Once a woman’s engagement is broken, finding another match is never as easy as before—especially when it involves birth charts. Many families are superstitious about these things. Just wait and see—once the rumors spread far enough, she might even be labeled as a ‘husband-dooming wife.'”

Kang Ziyu’s once-glorious reputation had, of course, been relayed by the town gossip, Wei Hong. But the final outcome was something no one could have predicted.