The suitors are practically wearing out the threshold with their proposals! (Please add to your favorites)

"When has your Fifth Grandpa ever lied to you?" With a fond caress of Su Yunjin's head, the old man beamed with laughter.

"There wasn't any trouble from the Lu family, was there?" Though she was happy, Su Yunjin hadn't forgotten that, when it came to matters of interest, it was important to keep cordial relations with the Lu family.

"They said a few things, but even Lu Yuanhang knows he's in the wrong. Besides, this isn't the Republican era anymore. Even if Lu Yuanhang could decide for Lu Yiqing, your grandparents would never marry you into a family where you'd suffer."

Seeing that Su Yunjin was still worried about the relationship between the Seven Sects and the Lu family, the old man felt a deep ache in his heart.

Su Yunjin was only twenty-two. Ordinary young women were still nestling in the arms of their elders, acting spoiled, while his own granddaughter had already begun to think about the interests of the sect in every matter.

This wasn't something a child should have to bear. She should have been carefree, but now she was so composed, showing little of the coquettish charm that girls her age possessed.

"Fifth Grandpa..." Su Yunjin gazed at him with gratitude.

The old man stroked her head with affection. "In a few days, come with me to visit the Fu family. Ever since you left the mountain, your Grandpa Fu has been wanting to meet you. Last time, he even complained that we didn't entrust you to him."

Speaking of the Fu family, there was an extra gleam in the old man's eyes. Since the Seven Sects was founded, they'd befriended many powerful families, but most were for the sake of mutual interest. Few were genuine, like the Fu family—Fu Xingguo was a rare true friend.

Almost every time they left the mountain, they'd visit the Fu family. Letting Su Yunjin go down the mountain this time was partly to get to know Lu Yiqing better; otherwise, he would have told her to visit the Fu family first.

"That was my oversight. I should have paid my respects to Grandpa Fu. Last time he brought me a chime, and I didn't properly thank him," Su Yunjin said, a bit remorseful and weary.

Dealing with people was a lifelong lesson, especially in her position. Sometimes, she couldn't help but be thorough. Compared to life on the mountain, things were much simpler. At least she didn't have to worry about whom she might offend by missing a visit.

He chuckled. "You can express your thanks this time. Besides, I heard from your Grandpa Fu that Fu Lin has returned. Weren't you always wondering what Fu Lin looked like? This is the perfect chance to get acquainted. Your Grandpa Fu is very eager for the two of you to meet."

The old man's eyes narrowed shrewdly, and he couldn't suppress his smile. In fact, the Seven Sects had always intended to betroth Su Yunjin to the Fu family. Whether from their longstanding ties or the Fu family's integrity and virtue, the Fu family was leagues above the Lu family.

And as for Fu Lin, that young man had been accepted into the National Defense University—a top student every year, excelling in both character and academics. Compared to the Lu family's son, whose interests lay in business, Fu Lin was far superior.

This introduction served two purposes: responding to Su Yunjin's curiosity about Fu Lin, who had no recent photos, and seeing if there was any affinity between the two. At twenty-two, the greatest hope of these elders was for their granddaughter to find a good match.

The legacy of the Seven Sects must be borne, but if their granddaughter had to shoulder it alone, the future would be too harsh.

Lost in thought, the old man didn't notice the slight change in Su Yunjin's expression at the mention of Fu Lin.

Fu Lin.

Fu Lin.

That name was simply too distressing!

While Su Yunjin forcibly suppressed the face that surfaced in her mind, on the other side, Lu Yiqing and Pei Xuan were riding home in the car.

"Seriously, Yiqing? The engagement is already broken?"

Pei Xuan could hardly believe his own voice. He'd thought it would be a difficult matter, but in less than a day, the engagement between the Lu family and the Seven Sects was over.

A rare smile appeared on Lu Yiqing's usually gloomy face, though a note of pride lingered in his eyes. "Su Yunjin kept her word. She ended the engagement in under a month."

"Ha! And you're pleased about it? Uncle Lu called you home—who knows how furious he'll be."

Watching the foolishly grinning Lu Yiqing, Pei Xuan nearly coughed up blood. Although Lu Yuanhang had called to say Lu Yiqing should drop everything and come home to kneel in the ancestral hall, anyone could tell what a huge loss the Seven Sects' withdrawal was for the Lu family.

Lu Yiqing would surely be punished. At a time like this, self-preservation should come first. How could he still be so happy?

"As long as the engagement is off, I’ll take whatever anger comes my way," Lu Yiqing replied, his smile widening as he gazed out the car window.

Two days later.

News that the Lu family and the Seven Sects had broken off their engagement spread through all the elite families, shocking the entire upper echelons of China.

"They broke off the engagement?"

"And it was the Seven Sects who initiated it?"

"I knew it—Lu family’s good-for-nothing couldn’t hold onto that match."

"The real issue is Lu Yiqing. I heard he knelt in the main hall, preferring to be beaten to death than marry Su Yunjin."

"That’s not even the key point. Apparently, Lu Yiqing already had someone else in his heart—a singer he met online."

"Wasn’t it that Pei Xuan always by his side?"

Gossip, gossip everywhere.

Human nature is drawn to gossip. For outsiders, the engagement between the Lu family and the Seven Sects wasn't particularly sensational. But among the elite, this was far more entertaining than celebrity breakups.

Fueled by curiosity, more and more people began digging into every detail of why Lu Yiqing had been rejected. Some of it was true, but much was pure speculation.

Having been single for two or three decades, with no female companions, it was hard not to let imaginations run wild. Meanwhile, families who had envied the Lu family's alliance with the Seven Sects now itched to try their luck, eager to send their own sons to win favor.

After all, the Seven Sects was a juicy prize. Beyond their elders' treasures, their centuries-old tradition in medicine, Taoism, painting, and brocade weaving—all were peerless in their fields. Marrying Su Yunjin was akin to bringing the Seven Sects firmly into one's own camp.

Who could resist such a match?

On the last day of September, the Seven Sects and the Lu family jointly released their official announcement terminating the engagement.

With the matter settled, the Seven Sects suddenly became a hive of activity. It wasn’t a special occasion, but more and more people came seeking admittance—so many that the very threshold seemed in danger of being trampled to dust.

Though everyone knew what the others were really after, on the surface, they all maintained impeccable decorum.