Shen Chen took the envelope, his slender, jade-like fingers slowly tearing it open, revealing the delicate handwriting slowly coming into view.

"Father, Mother, I’m sorry. I’ve been a worry since childhood, please forgive your daughter’s willfulness.

Xiao Chen told me in person yesterday that the engagement is off, so this marriage is void. I’ve reached the age of maturity and want to go out and see the world. The return date is uncertain; it might be three years, or it could be five.

Recently, I’ve been pestering Xiao Chen, and it’s only natural he’s annoyed with me. You shouldn’t blame him, just treat him as usual.

Remember, don’t send anyone to look for me, you won’t find me. I have my own ways.

Ye Zhi leaves these words."

The room was silent, no one spoke.

Standing quietly beside the main seat, Shen Chen’s handsome figure stood tall, his long, sharp brown eyes looking straight ahead, expressionless. His hand holding the letter trembled slightly, gradually tightening, exuding an unignorable, fierce aura around him.

The Ye Family also felt the chilling aura belonging to the Right Minister of the present dynasty.

However, Ah Zhi is still their daughter. For this disappearance, they bear an inescapable responsibility.

She spoke with displeasure, "Xiao Chen, you really are something. At first, you assured me you’d marry Ah Zhi, wouldn’t take concubines or establish secondary wives, yet now, even if you want to break the engagement, you should inform us elders first. To speak to Ah Zhi like that, what can be said about it? She’s headstrong and has good qinggong skills. If she truly wishes to hide, we can’t find her."

The blame was evident...

Feng Liuli, nearly fifty and usually taciturn, not involved in others’ business, also spoke up in defense:

"Xiao Chen, you didn’t think this through. Do you know Ah Zhi found out you were returning from Dragon Tiger Mountain and specially went to the Capital City to pick you up? Whenever there was good food and clothing, she always thought of you. Even if you don’t want to marry her, you shouldn’t rashly break off the engagement; you could have discussed it with us." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Xun Yin, standing on the side, did not say a word but sighed, "Alas."

Shen Chen stood quietly in place, accepting the criticism of all the elders.

In this atmosphere, Qin Yin and the rest dared not breathe heavily on the side.

Ye Family looked at the absent-minded Shen Chen and said, "Don’t you have anything to explain about this?"

Explain? Yes, explain it.

Shen Chen suddenly paused for a moment, came back to his senses, and spoke: "I will not break off the engagement with Ah Zhi. This matter is just a misunderstanding; I will find her and bring her back to the Capital City, and then we will get married."

He will definitely find Ah Zhi.

He’ll find that delicately beautiful, exquisite little girl, and then ruthlessly pin her down on the bed to do as he pleases.

His eyes were dark and terrifyingly indifferent.

Ye Yuan stroked his beard and nodded, "Then it’s up to you. We elders don’t know what to say about the matters of you young people. If Ah Zhi doesn’t want to marry you when she returns, then the Ye Mansion will help her find another good match."

He then took out five or six bound letters from behind and handed them over.

"These are the letters Ah Zhi wrote to you; there are as many as five or six. They should be farewell letters. We haven’t opened them, leaving them for you to see personally."

Shen Chen reached out to take them.

The name on the envelope at the top read: A letter for Xiao Chen.

The letters were arranged in sequence: One, Two, Three, ... Six.

Slender fingers slowly opened the first envelope, and small seal script came into view.

"Xiao Chen, I don’t know if you’ll read my letter, but I wrote it anyway.

I’ve left, wishing you and Liu Qingxi a long and happy life together, with undoubting love."