My strength increases by one percent every day; I can destroy stars with my bare hands.

Faced with the Pei family's overwhelming anger, Lin Zhen and his son remained fearless.

The father and son meticulously planned and executed their moves with precision, accurately identifying the Pei family's weaknesses from the very beginning.

Today, a grand procession of royalty, music and ceremonies throughout the city, carriages and horses passing through the streets, and a high-profile marriage proposal.

The news that Lin Jingyan had proposed to Pei Qingyuan and that the two families had agreed to a marriage was spread like wildfire throughout the city and known to everyone.

This completely blocked the Pei family's escape route, leaving them no room for repentance.

They had already sent out a large number of people to spread the word before they arrived.

Within half an hour, everyone in Anzhou, from ordinary citizens to high-ranking officials, knew about it.

If the Pei family were to break off the engagement and overturn the agreement between the two families at this moment, outsiders would not know about the internal power struggle, would not know that Lin Jingyan had postponed the wedding, and would not know about the Marquis's family's scheming.

The world will only insist that the eldest daughter of the Pei family had an affair, was fickle, changed her marriage agreement repeatedly, and was of immoral character.

At that time, Pei Qingyuan's reputation will be ruined, she will never be able to marry again, and she will become a laughing stock in the whole state.

Even worse, outsiders would ridicule the Pei family for being opportunistic, fickle, changing contracts for profit, and lacking any sense of gentry integrity.

Centuries of scholarly tradition and a reputation for upright officialdom were destroyed in a single day.

This is the greatest source of confidence for the Marquis's family.

Lin Zhenyue sat calmly in the hall, his expression composed and relaxed. He appeared humble, but in reality, he had everything under control and was fearless.

He was not afraid of the Pei family's dissatisfaction, the elders' displeasure, or the other party's regret.

The Pei family had nowhere to retreat, nowhere to regret, and nowhere to be angry.

Lin Jingyan, dressed in white, had a gentle and refined appearance, seemingly untouched by worldly affairs, but he knew the truth in his heart.

The initiative is firmly in his hands.

The Pei family members were all cunning old foxes who had been deeply involved in the power struggles among aristocratic families, and they saw through the Marquis's sinister schemes at a glance.

From the very beginning, the Marquis's family never intended for a genuine and immediate marriage alliance that would lead to mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

They simply wanted to use the Pei family's power to pave the way for the rise of the fallen marquis's mansion.

They used a grand show and a hollow marriage contract to trap the entire Pei family and Pei Qingyuan for life.

The old man sat in the main seat, his body slightly stiff, his cloudy eyes filled with humiliation and sorrow.

Having lived a full life, he had witnessed countless power struggles and intrigues, but he never imagined that his family's century-old reputation, his eldest daughter's lifelong happiness, and his family's honor would be so openly and blatantly seized by someone.

Pei Hongwen clenched his fists slightly, his face was ashen, and he felt a mix of regret and resentment in his heart.

Lin Li Xuancang, who calmly broke off the engagement, magnanimously fulfilled his vows, and possessed unparalleled integrity, was a true gentleman.

This father and son, though full of talk about deep affection, past ties, and refined morality, actually resort to despicable means such as coercion, scheming, and ruthless exploitation.

Even if I'm furious and filled with remorse, it's all in vain now.

If the Pei family were to turn against them, their entire reputation would be ruined, and their legitimate daughter's life would be destroyed.

Feeling utterly frustrated, resentful, and regretful, all that's left is to swallow one's anger.

The lobby was deathly silent.

Pei Hongwen closed his eyes, suppressing all the resentment and regret in his chest. His voice was dry, filled with endless humiliation and helplessness, as he slowly spoke.

"it is good."

"The marriage agreement between the two families is settled and cannot be changed."

"As Young Master Lin suggests, the wedding will be postponed for now. We will discuss marriage again after you have achieved your goals and returned home from your cultivation."

Every word was a bitter pill to swallow.

The entire hall of Pei family elders and seniors remained silent, none of them offering any rebuttal.

They knew they were being manipulated, but they had no other choice.

They could only swallow all their grievances and watch helplessly as the Marquis's family, without paying a price, seized the Pei family's in-law status and used the opportunity to make a comeback.

In the inner courtyard of the Pei residence, there is the Qingyuan Xiaozhu (Clear Iris Pavilion).

Pei Qingyuan was filled with the joy of her wish coming true.

She thought that everything was settled and their marriage was destined.

She can patiently await the auspicious day, the grand betrothal gifts, and the arrival of her beloved, spending her life accompanied by poetry and literature, and cherishing elegance and refinement.

She even secretly rejoiced that she had acted decisively and sent someone to deliver the message.

Fortunately, Lin Jingyan arrived in time, allowing the family to ultimately choose Tianjiao and Liangmei over Li Xuancang, who came from a humble background and was covered in blood.

But this joy lasted only a moment before it was shattered by the news coming from the front hall.

Wan Cui rushed back from the outer hall, her face pale, her voice filled with undisguised disappointment, as she replied in a low voice.

"Miss...something has happened."

"Young Master Lin... he has agreed to the marriage, but he hasn't set a date."

He said he would return to Wenxin Academy for seclusion and cultivation in five days, and would not return for the rest of the year. All matters would be put on hold, and the wedding would be postponed for several years until a decision was made.

boom!

Those few words were like a bucket of cold water poured over her, instantly extinguishing all the burning joy in Pei Qingyuan's heart.

Her figure, which had been sitting upright by the window, suddenly stiffened. Her beautiful face instantly lost all color, and her once warm and affectionate eyes suddenly became empty and blank.

"Postponed for several years..."

She murmured to herself, stunned and bewildered.

She fought desperately, risked her life to send a message, defied her family, and overturned the established marriage agreement, risking her own reputation, her family's honor, and everyone's weighing of the pros and cons, only to receive... a statement that it would be postponed for several years, with no end in sight.

She had assumed that Lin Jingyan's grand gesture, which caused a city-wide sensation and led him to snatch her away at the last minute, was to protect her, marry her, and give her a stable home.

In the end, however, the marriage was merely something he had taken up and then shelved.

With an engagement and a settled status, they seemed to have endless glory.

In reality, she was now firmly bound by a marriage certificate that was never meant to be.

For several years, as the unmarried daughter-in-law of the Marquis's mansion, she could no longer arrange marriages, choose a partner, or seek a good match.

She could only remain confined to her boudoir, waiting in the distance for someone whose return was uncertain and who rarely came back.

He cultivated his mind and attained enlightenment at Wenxin Academy, and his future was bright, with him rising step by step to great heights.

She, on the other hand, could only be confined to her residence, wasting her youth, and keeping an empty promise.

Feeling wronged, confused, disappointed, and bitter, a thousand emotions surged into her heart in an instant, making her chest feel tight and her eyes redden.

She was intelligent, gentle, dignified and graceful from a young age, and never willful or disobedient to her family.

This was the first marriage she had ever fought for, regardless of everything and risking everything.

In the end, all I got was being shelved, delayed, neglected, and treated as dispensable.

Seeing her mistress's distraught state, Wan Cui felt a pang of heartache and sighed softly, "Miss... everyone in the front hall was filled with regret just now."

"Everyone says that even though Lord Li was publicly humiliated and lost face, he still let go gracefully, showing great courtesy and magnanimity."

"But Young Master Lin only cares about his own cultivation of the Great Dao, completely disregarding Miss's reputation and the face of the Pei family."

These words, like fine needles, pierced Pei Qingyuan's last remaining conviction.

The autumn wind outside the window is bleak, making the flower branches sway gently.

Pei Qingyuan lowered her eyes quietly, her fingertips trembling slightly, a deep sense of bewilderment and regret welling up in her heart.