After Zhen Jiang finished speaking, she got up and rushed towards outside the house. Jinxiu still wanted to stop her, but Zhen Jiang had already rushed out the door.
Seeing this, Zhen Tuo and Jinxiu had no choice but to follow.
Inside the study, Dong Zhao was still discussing with Zhen Yi and Zhen Yan, when they suddenly heard a commotion outside the door.
"Miss, Lord is receiving guests, you cannot go in."
"Get out of the way!"
As soon as the words fell, the door was pushed open with a bang. Zhen Jiang, dressed in a wedding gown, stood at the doorway, her red-rimmed eyes still slightly wet.
"Father."
Seeing this, Zhen Yi quickly said, "Jiang'er, what are you doing here? What kind of behavior is this! Go back quickly!"
"Father, tell me, is it Zhang Gongzi... he wants to break off the engagement?"
"Jiang'er, what nonsense are you saying?" Zhen Yan quickly said, "Who would dare to break off my Zhen's engagement?"
"Father, Second Brother, you don't have to hide it from me. Tell me the truth, is Zhang Gongzi not coming today?"
"This... how did you know?" Zhen Yan was immediately startled, and quickly said, "Jiang'er, things are not as you think..."
"Why? Why!" Zhen Jiang's face turned pale upon hearing this, and she stumbled back two steps.
At this moment, Zhen Tuo and Jinxiu also arrived. Jinxiu quickly stepped forward and supported her.
"Miss!"
Zhen Jiang stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning.
"Why? How could he humiliate me like this!"
"Jiang'er..."
Seeing the scene become chaotic, Dong Zhao finally spoke, "Miss Zhen, please calm down and listen to me."
Only then did Zhen Jiang recover. She saw there was another person in the study, it was Dong Zhao, who had come to propose marriage the other day.
Zhen Jiang's heart was like dead ash, and she said, "Sir Gongren came to propose marriage last time. Today... are you here to break off the engagement? If he wants to do this, why didn't he say so earlier? Choosing to say it today, does he only feel satisfied after humiliating me!"
"Miss has misunderstood." Dong Zhao quickly said, "Lord Envoy's heart for Miss is witnessed by heaven and earth, how could he do such a heartless and unrighteous thing? There is truly a reason for today's matter."
Upon hearing this, Zhen Tuo, who was standing nearby, immediately looked displeased and retorted, "What matter could be more important than a lifelong event? Lord, stop making excuses for that heartless person!"
"Tu'er! How dare you interrupt in front of Lord, where have you put the manners I taught you!"
Zhen Yi showed a hint of displeasure.
The Zhen are a noble and prestigious family with extremely strict family rules. For Zhen Tuo to say such words in front of him and Dong Zhao was somewhat impolite.
As the head of the family, Zhen Yi truly felt humiliated.
Dong Zhao quickly said, "Brother Zhen, don't be angry. Second Miss is also thinking of Eldest Miss, and spoke out of urgency just now."
After Dong Zhao finished speaking, he bowed to Zhen Jiang and said, "Miss Zhen, Lord Envoy's heart for Miss has never changed. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sent me, Dong, here today."
Dong Zhao paused, then added, "Miss Zhen, do you still remember Lord Envoy's 'Ode to a Beautiful Woman'? Every word and sentence came from his true feelings. Can't Miss feel Lord Envoy's heart for you?"
"Then why is he doing this?" Zhen Jiang said, weeping with her head lowered.
"Alas. Lord Envoy knew this matter would wrong Miss early on, and specially ordered me, Dong, to bring a letter. The reasons are all clearly written within, Miss will know once you read it."
As Dong Zhao spoke, he took a letter from his 懷 and handed it to Zhen Jiang.
Zhen Jiang took the letter and carefully opened it.
For a long time, the expression on Zhen Jiang's face was unpredictable, changing from initial sadness to surprise, and finally becoming somewhat worried.
"On the second day of the second lunar month, the Yellow Turban bandits plan to take the opportunity to cause trouble?!" Zhen Jiang said in surprise after reading the letter.
Zhen Yi sighed softly, "Alas, Jiang'er, Father was just discussing this matter with Lord Dong when you rushed in..."
"So... I misunderstood him..." Zhen Jiang smiled through her tears, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and said, "Father, I'm sorry, just now, your daughter was too impulsive. I should have known earlier that Zhang Gongzi is not that kind of person."
Dong Zhao said, "Miss, Lord Envoy's feelings for you are sincere and absolutely not false. How could he bear to humiliate and hurt you?"
Zhen Yi added, "Alright, the misunderstanding is resolved. Jiang'er, since you already know the reason, Father will no longer hide it from you. Just now, Lord Dong said that the Yellow Turban bandits' target is Yingtao County. Zifan already went to Yingtao County yesterday to take charge, so today's wedding is definitely impossible to hold. Father will go and explain to everyone later."
"No!" Dong Zhao quickly said, "The wedding must proceed as usual."
"What?!" Upon hearing this, Zhen Yi was stunned.
"This... the groom is not present, how can the wedding proceed?"
Dong Zhao said, "Although Lord Envoy cannot come, a 'groom' will arrive later."
"What?!" Zhen Yi said angrily, "Gongren, what do you mean by this?"
"The enemy is in the dark, and we are in the open. If the wedding does not proceed as usual, the bandits will surely know that their plan has been exposed and change their plans."
"This... my daughter is already engaged to someone, do you mean to make her bow in worship with someone else? This is simply outrageous!" Zhen Yi said, flicking his sleeves and standing up.
"Brother Zhen, please calm down. This matter doesn't require Miss to do it personally. We just need to find someone similar in build to Miss, put on the wedding dress, cover her head with the veil, sit in the sedan chair, and welcome her back to Ye City. It's just a show."
"But where can we find such a person right now?"
"I am willing to marry in place of Eldest Sister!"
As soon as Dong Zhao finished speaking, Zhen Tuo, who was standing nearby, stepped forward resolutely.
"Tu'er..."
Zhen Tuo held Zhen Jiang's hand and said, "I am similar in build to Eldest Sister, and I have studied various etiquettes since I was young. Only if I go will no one be able to spot the flaw."
Zhen Jiang flatly refused, "No, although it's a show, it concerns reputation. I cannot let you go! Father, Second Brother, no..."
Zhen Yi couldn't help but feel troubled upon hearing this.
Dong Zhao said anxiously, "Brother Zhen, you cannot hesitate any longer. Now is not the time to worry about these things. Lord has set up an inescapable net. If we cannot catch the bandits in one fell swoop this time, they will surely harm Ji Province in the future!"
Zhen Jiang couldn't help but be anxious, "But, Ermei she..."
"Eldest Miss, don't worry, it's just letting Second Miss sit in the carriage and go to Ye City, she will absolutely not truly bow in worship." Dong Zhao said, "Moreover, the one pretending to be the groom is the peerless General Zilong. General Zilong is a top-tier fierce general under Lord Envoy's command. This journey will definitely be able to protect Second Miss completely."
"So Zifan already had a perfect plan." Zhen Yi smiled after hearing this, "He truly is my worthy son-in-law!"
"Lord, the wedding procession has entered the city."
Just as they were speaking, a servant suddenly came to the door to report.
"Understood." Zhen Yi said, speaking to Dong Zhao, "Dong Zhao?"
Dong Zhao said, "General Zilong has arrived. Quickly have Eldest Miss return to her room and switch wedding dresses with Second Miss. During the wedding procession later, Eldest Miss must not show her face. Second Miss doesn't need to be nervous either, I, Dong, will handle everything."
Zhen Jiang nodded, then pulled Jinxiu and returned to her room.
"Brother Zhen, we still need to greet the guests in the front hall, let's go there now."
Dong Zhao said, then went directly to the front hall with Zhen Yi.