Chapter 52 Forced Marriage
Zou Ting had a hot temper and could not help but shout, "Master Jiang, look at these evidences. They are all obtained through our personal investigation. Miss Shuyuan is ruthless and merciless. She is willing to sacrifice the interests of the family to achieve her goal."
Hu Jiahong was a steady person. He said calmly, "Master Jiang, we are all Zhiyu's friends. We would never joke about such things. Please think carefully and don't let Jiang Shuyuan's conspiracy succeed."
Old Master Jiang looked at these young people who were usually friendly but now united for Jiang Zhiyu, and he couldn't help feeling shaken.
Mr. Jiang was silent for a long time, with a trace of pain in his eyes. He looked at Jiang Zhiyu and said slowly: "Zhiyu, I know you have always been a kind child. I didn't expect Shuyuan to treat you like this."
"But Zhiyu, there's nothing we can do about it. Our Jiang family is getting weaker with each generation. I can't just sit there and watch!" Old Master Jiang sighed, "Besides, Shuyuan is really helping our Jiang family. You can't be as good as Shuyuan after all. Grandpa thinks that you can help the Jiang family by getting married. Isn't this a recognition of you?"
Zhi Yu stood there quietly, with a look of deep disappointment in his eyes.
The Jiang family is no longer the prominent family it once was, but she never thought that Mr. Jiang would sacrifice her happiness so easily for the revival of the family.
Even though I knew that she was following the plot of the book "The Legend of Mo Xiang" and knew what happened, I was still more sad than heartbroken when I experienced it myself.
"Grandpa, I know what the family's honor means to you, but is the family's honor more important than my happiness?" Zhiyu's voice trembled slightly. She tried hard to control her emotions and not let tears fall.
Mr. Jiang was silent for a while, looked at Zhiyu deeply, and then slowly said: "Zhiyu, you are my Jiang family's child, your happiness is of course important. But you have to understand that sometimes, personal happiness and family glory are not contradictory. If you marry him, you can help the Jiang family restore its former glory. Isn't this a kind of happiness?"
Zhi Yu shook her head, tears finally falling: "Grandpa, I don't understand. I only know that the person I love is not him, and the happiness I want cannot be obtained in this way."
The atmosphere in the Jiang family hall became tense. Mr. Jiang's face was a little ugly. He knew that Zhiyu was a tough person. Once he made a decision, it would be difficult to change it. However, he also knew that the future of the Jiang family might very well depend on Zhiyu.
"Zhi Yu, are you contradicting me?" Mr. Jiang's voice was raised a few degrees. Mr. Jiang's words seemed to hit Jiang Zhiyu's heart with a heavy hammer. She was pale and her eyes showed deep pain. However, at this moment, a crisp voice broke the heavy atmosphere.
"Mr. Jiang, what are you talking about?" Liu Mengmeng stood up, her eyes were firm and her tone was cold, "Zhi Yu is the blood of the Jiang family, how can she not be as good as Jiang Shuyuan? She is our pride, how can we let others judge her at will?"
Liu Mengmeng's words were like a stream of fresh air, making everyone present feel suddenly enlightened. Xiao Wen immediately responded, "Yes, Mr. Jiang, Zhiyu is our pride. How can we let her marriage become a tool for others to use?"
Qi Zimo also stood up, his eyes were deep and his tone was cold: "Mr. Jiang, aren't you going too far? Zhiyu is our friend, we can't watch her being treated like this."
Zhang Anjie, Zou Ting, Liao Zhen, Xu Guokun, Hu Jiahong, Kang Yining and others stood up one after another. With firm eyes and stern faces, they unanimously protested against Mr. Jiang.
"Mr. Jiang, you are forcing Zhi Yu!" Zhang Anjie's voice was low and full of anger.
"Yes, Mr. Jiang, this is so unfair to Zhiyu!" Zou Ting was very emotional, his fists were clenched and veins bulged.
Liao Zhen's eyes were full of worry. He looked at Mr. Jiang deeply and said, "Mr. Jiang, if you do this, it will only damage the reputation of the Jiang family."
Xu Guokun looked at Mr. Jiang coldly, his voice was cold and hard: "Mr. Jiang, you are destroying the future of the Jiang family."
Hu Jiahong's heart was filled with anger, his eyes were like fire, and his tone was cold and stern: "Mr. Jiang, you are hurting our friends by doing this, and we will not sit idly by."
Seeing everyone standing up to defend Jiang Zhiyu, Mr. Jiang was stunned. He didn't expect that his decision would attract so many people's opposition. He was a little flustered, but he still argued: "You young people, what do you know? I am doing this for the future of the Jiang family and for the reputation of the Jiang family."
"For the future of the Jiang family, for the reputation of the Jiang family?" Jiang Zhiyu sneered, her eyes were firm and her tone was cold and hard, "Then have you ever thought about who will be the future and reputation of the Jiang family? I have the right to choose my own destiny, and I have the right to protect my dignity."
Jiang Zhiyu's words were firm and powerful, causing everyone present to applaud her. They gathered around her, cheering her up and giving her courage.
"Zhi Yu, you said it well!" Liu Mengmeng said excitedly.
"Yes, Zhiyu, we support you!" Xiao Wen also expressed her support.
"Zhi Yu, don't worry, we will all stand by you!" Qi Zimo's words were full of determination.
Looking at everyone's support, Jiang Zhiyu's heart was filled with gratitude.
When Jiang Shuyuan saw that the situation was not good, she immediately ran to contact Zhu Zhen.
"Hurry up and bring a few strong men to the Jiang family and force Jiang Zhiyu to marry him!" Jiang Shuyuan said anxiously.
Zhu Zhen frowned slightly when he heard this, and a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. He knew very well that Jiang Shuyuan's move was serious, and if it wasn't an emergency, she wouldn't easily take such extreme measures.
He nodded and said in a deep voice: "Got it, I'll arrange it immediately."
Zhu Zhen rode his horse as fast as he could, and soon he arrived at the gate of Jiang's house with several strong men. They were dressed in black and had stern expressions. It was obvious at a glance that they were well-trained servants.
Jiang Shuyuan's anxiety eased a little when she saw Zhu Zhen and the others coming. She quickly arranged for the servants to lead them through the winding corridors and came to the hall where Jiang Zhiyu was.
"Oh, my lady, I find you are truly extraordinary after meeting you today. Why don't you come with your husband quickly?" Zhu Zhen ignored everyone in the hall, staring straight at Jiang Zhiyu, teasing her with ill intent.
"Please trouble Young Master Zhu to make the trip in person. We will take Zhiyu directly to your house." Old Master Jiang smiled flatteringly and was about to pull Jiang Zhiyu to give her to Zhu Zhen.