As a fallen noble family, the fact that Meng Jin Yao, the eldest daughter of Yongchang Bo's household, could marry into the Changxing Hou's household, a powerful and influential family favored by the Emperor, as the wife of the heir apparent, made her the envy of all. Who wouldn't say Meng Jin Yao was lucky?

However, Meng Jinyang didn't seem to care. If it were truly a good match, why wouldn't her fiancé come in person on their wedding day? He only sent the second son of Changxing Houfu holding a public offering to Yongchang Bo Mansion as a substitute for the welcome ceremony, claiming he was unwell and couldn't come himself.

"It was just the other day that I saw Prince Gu Xiuming, so full of life and energy. How come he suddenly fell ill and is bedridden now, unable to attend the wedding?"

To put it simply, the Changxing Hou Mansion just doesn't value this marriage, that's why they treat it so casually. If grandfather were still alive, even if he was truly ill, as long as he wasn't bedridden, he would personally come to welcome the bride.

The marriage is imminent, and the stepmother and father want to climb up to Changxing Hou's mansion. How could they let go of this good marriage that was set ten years ago?

Even if wronged, she would enter the bridal sedan chair, and once inside, there was no turning back.

"It's showtime—"

Just then, Ning Dong rushed in and exclaimed to Meng Jin Yao, "Miss, the young master isn't ill; he eloped with another woman!"

The moment these words were uttered, the entire room was stunned into silence.

All the guests thought the young master was ill, but unexpectedly he eloped and ran away with someone?

The faces of the Changxing Houfu people stiffened, and they didn't know which one broke the news.

Meng Jin Yao's heart froze. She thought her betrothed might be ill, but to find out he had eloped with another woman... While illness preventing him from personally welcoming her and performing the wedding ceremony was bearable, eloping was something she could not forgive.

Her hand suddenly lifted the red veil, revealing a face of unparalleled beauty like a blooming peony. Her small face was taut, her eyes filled with anger as she glared at the people from Lord Changxing's mansion and asked, "To run away from your wedding on such an important day is irresponsible behavior. Is this how you, the son of Lord Changxing's mansion, were raised?"

The eldest mistress, Zhang Shi, of the main branch hurried to say: "Niece-in-law, please rest assured, we have already sent people to look for her. You are the legitimate wife of our heir that Gu Jia Mingzheng married. If you are happy with others, just take them in. In the end, they are just lowly concubines."

Meng Jiny Yao felt a humiliation unlike any she had ever experienced. Anger flushed her cheeks red, and her hands clenched tightly inside her sleeves, but she still kept her spine straight and did her best to remain composed. "Since he chose to elope with another, abandoning me on our wedding day, what use is it for me to continue marrying him and bearing the meaningless title of Consort?"

Zhang was a little confused and followed up with, "So what do you mean?"

Meng Jinyao's mind raced. She quickly asked, "The betrothal between the eldest daughter of the Meng family and the Gu family was arranged by our grandfather's generation. But there wasn't a specific mention of which son from the Gu family she would marry. Did the matriarch clarify this?"

Zhang nodded. "Indeed."

Among the eligible young men, the most honorable is surely the Marquis's son, and this is a betrothal arranged by the old Marquis. So everyone tacitly agrees that it will be the son, marrying into his family is an honor for the Meng family. The son will inherit the title in the future.

Meng Jin Yao took a deep breath, as if summoning all her courage, and declared in a resounding voice: “It’s your Gu family that wronged me first. Since you brought me in with a grand procession, there’s no reason for me to go back. So, let someone else marry me! Call out all the unmarried men in your Gu family, and I’ll choose one who pleases me.”