Volume One, Chapter 10: Little Imperial Uncle, I Am Not Afraid

Wei Chengxuan could roughly guess how the slap mark on Changle’s face had come about.

Today, the Marquis of Chang’an’s residence held a grand banquet to celebrate the coming-of-age ceremony of their adopted daughter. Invitations had been sent out three months in advance, summoning all the influential figures of Shengdu, even extending one to the Prince Xuan residence. However, it had been casually tossed into the wastepaper basket.

The Marquis and his wife, blinded by vanity and sheltered by their ancestral prestige, favored their adopted daughter, who had brought them honor, doting on her like the apple of their eye. Meanwhile, their biological daughter Changle was treated like a mere afterthought.

They had surely forgotten that today was not only their adopted daughter’s coming-of-age but also Changle’s own birthday.

Truly, they were fools mistaking a common stone for a precious pearl.

“Have you eaten?” The sudden question caught Changle off guard, and she shook her head.

“Let’s eat first.” Wei Chengxuan gave Xu Jin a glance and headed toward a side entrance of Yagarden.

Xu Jin bowed and turned to leave.

Changle, having come seeking help, dared not oppose Wei Chengxuan’s suggestion. Despite her anxious and uneasy heart, she obediently followed him into Yagarden.

Though entry tokens were rare, many had been issued. Given Wei Chengxuan’s status, acquiring one was naturally easy.

Once inside, a maid greeted them with a bow and quietly led the way.

Yagarden was unlike other inns or teahouses built with floors; it was a genuine estate, sprawling widely. It contained many independent courtyards of varying styles, which, for a generous fee, could be rented monthly for hosting guests or private residence.

Changle had expected the maid to lead them to one of those private courtyards, as it was quite normal for someone of Wei Chengxuan’s stature to have a reserved one in Yagarden.

But instead, they were led to a small pavilion in the middle of a lake, already set with two long tables facing each other.

From there, the attendants could watch their every move while remaining out of earshot.

Changle’s heart stirred as she suddenly recalled Wei Chengxuan’s earlier words in the carriage: “As a maiden about to leave her home, riding alone in a carriage with a man would sully your reputation.”

So, arranging their meal in this pavilion was for her sake—to protect her honor?

Puzzled, Changle took her seat under the maid’s guidance. Soon, other attendants arrived with trays of dishes, placing them on each table.

She couldn’t help but glance at Wei Chengxuan secretly.

Wei Chengxuan sat upright behind his small table, hands placed before him, brows slightly lowered, emotions unreadable, radiating a noble, cold demeanor.

Once the dishes were set, the attendants quietly withdrew from the pavilion.

Clenching her fists, Changle summoned her courage to speak. “Young Imperial Uncle, I have thought it through clearly. After this broken engagement, I absolutely will not trouble you again.”

“Whether it’s trouble or not, eat first.”

Changle had caught a chill and hadn’t had much appetite these past few days, nor was she in the mood to eat now.

But Wei Chengxuan’s attitude was clear: if she refused to eat, he would not discuss anything else.

Having come seeking help, she obeyed, picking up her chopsticks to begin eating.

The dishes were fresh and flavorful, but her heart was elsewhere, and the food tasted bland. She kept lifting her eyes to steal glances at Wei Chengxuan, distracted through the meal.

When they finished, the attendants brought fragrant tea for rinsing and clear tea for tasting.

Changle tried to speak several times but swallowed her words whenever she met Wei Chengxuan’s gaze.

Xu Jin then hurried into the pavilion, first nodding respectfully to Changle before bending to whisper a report to Wei Chengxuan.

Xu Jin had been ordered to investigate what had happened at the Marquis of Chang’an’s residence today. Knowing what Changle had endured, he harbored contempt for the entire Chang’an family.

The girl had suffered such injustice; no wonder she came seeking the prince’s help to break off the engagement.

The Third Prince was truly despicable.

Having grown up as childhood sweethearts with the girl and betrothed early on, he now openly kept a mistress, betraying her pure affection.

Xu Jin cursed inwardly but reported only the facts without embellishment.

After hearing the report, Wei Chengxuan finally understood what Changle had gone through. His eyes, hidden beneath long lashes, revealed no emotion, but his aura instantly turned icy.

Changle neither knew nor wished to know what Xu Jin had told Wei Chengxuan. All she wanted was to break the engagement and not delay another moment.

“Young Imperial Uncle…” she began.

Wei Chengxuan interrupted, “Go back and tend to the swelling on your face. Rest for a day, then come find me here tomorrow.”

“If you still insist on breaking the engagement tomorrow, then so be it.”

Changle knew Wei Chengxuan gave her a day to reconsider because he believed she would regret it.

To put it bluntly, the entire Shengdu likely thought she would perish without Wei Shuye.

After all, she had been so clingy to Wei Shuye before, her heart and eyes filled with only him, longing to be inseparable day and night.

If anyone said they were ill-matched, she would have been ready to fight.

To please Wei Shuye’s mother, she even learned the embroidery the madam favored most.

She could handle swords and knives but was utterly hopeless with needlework.

Fingertips pierced repeatedly by needles, she endured the pain stubbornly just to win the madam’s favor, hoping to secure her approval of the engagement.

Back then, she never imagined she and Wei Shuye would ever part ways.

“Young Imperial Uncle, I know you might not believe me. A few months ago, even I wouldn’t have thought I’d actually want to break the engagement now.”

“But I have truly made up my mind. The broken engagement is inevitable, and I will never regret it.”

Changle looked up at Wei Chengxuan, her expression resolute and calm, as if she had firmly decided and would not turn back.

Wei Chengxuan studied her for a moment, took a small sip from his teacup, then set it down before speaking again.

“A woman’s reputation is paramount. Do you know what breaking off the engagement now will do to yours?”

Changle naturally understood.

A maiden’s reputation was of utmost importance. That was why she couldn’t comprehend how Lin Xinyan dared to entrust herself to Wei Shuye without a matchmaker or formal betrothal, even under such disgraceful circumstances.

She couldn’t understand and could only convince herself that perhaps they truly loved each other.

Now, breaking the engagement—Wei Shuye being the Third Prince—would not harm him, but for her, it would invite endless ridicule and make future matches difficult.

Yet none of this mattered to Changle.

People could say whatever they liked.

If they dared say it to her face, she would tear their mouths apart.

After all, she was already notorious throughout Shengdu for being brazen and domineering. If not for doing something outrageous, she would be unworthy of that reputation.

Changle nodded seriously. “Young Imperial Uncle, I am not afraid.”