Qin Yunying twisted her handkerchief, finding it difficult to speak.
“Lady Jiang, might we dismiss the attendants so I can explain in detail?”
Hearing this, Shen Zhaoli and Zhou Qingyun, who had just reached the doorway, paused their steps.
Shen Zhaoli patted Zhou Qingyun’s arm and whispered, “You go ahead. I won’t enter.”
Zhou Qingyun nodded. “Very well. Given your esteemed status, it’s not appropriate for you to meet people casually. I’ll have Xi Xiang escort you to the side hall to rest for a while.”
Before turning to leave, Shen Zhaoli added another reminder.
“If anything seems amiss, remember to call for me.”
Zhou Qingyun covered her lips with a light laugh. “I certainly won’t stand on ceremony with you.”
As Xi Xiang led Shen Zhaoli away, Zhou Qingyun stepped through the door.
Jiang Yueshan, seeing her daughter, immediately went to greet her.
“You’ve come at just the right time. Your Aunt Lu has something to say.”
Zhou Qingyun performed a perfectly proper bow to Qin Yunying.
Jiang Yueshan dismissed the servants, leaving only the three of them in the hall.
Qin Yunying sighed. “This matter all stems from my worthless second son. He has taken a fancy to the daughter of a minor official and insists on marrying her as his principal wife.”
“His father and I originally disapproved, but who would have thought that unfilial son would compromise the young lady’s virtue. If she were merely a maid or servant girl, we could have simply sent her away.”
“But though this daughter’s status is low, she is after all the legitimate daughter of an official family. Now that the girl is with child, if not handled properly, it could cause a scandal and damage the reputation of the Marquis of Wen’an’s household. She must be brought into the family quickly.”
“Originally, it would have been a simple matter of sending a small sedan chair for her, but my disgraceful second son insists on marrying the girl as his principal wife.”
“The Marquis of Wen’an’s household has a rule: younger brothers cannot marry before the eldest.”
“That is why I had no choice but to swallow my pride and come to my in-laws.”
Zhou Qingyun’s delicate brows furrowed slightly as she understood the meaning behind Lady Lu’s words.
Lady Jiang’s expression also darkened. “Lady Lu, what exactly do you mean by coming to us with this matter?”
Qin Yunying looked at Zhou Qingyun and Jiang Yueshan with an apologetic expression.
“My dear child, in my opinion, I wish to advance the date of your wedding with Yuan’er.”
“Advance it to when?”
Qin Yunying seemed to have already considered this and answered quickly.
“The Marquis of Wen’an’s household has already consulted the almanac. The eighth day of next month is most auspicious. What do my in-laws think?”
Seeing their expressions seemed somewhat displeased, Qin Yunying added,
“I know this matter has wronged Jingyi. If the Taifu Mansion agrees, I have brought an additional eight loads of betrothal gifts as compensation.”
“We will ensure this wedding is conducted with the utmost propriety and grandeur.”
“After Jingyi enters our household in the future, the authority to manage the household will be placed in her hands. She will certainly not be mistreated.”
Qin Yunying’s words were spoken with considerable sincerity, and Lady Jiang’s expression improved somewhat.
“Since Lady Lu has considered everything so thoroughly, advancing the wedding date is not entirely out of the question. However, the eighth day of next month seems rather too hasty.”
Zhou Qingyun’s expression was troubled, but out of respect for her mother, she found it difficult to voice some of her thoughts.
Yet in her heart, she felt deeply uncomfortable.
No sooner had the marriage been arranged than she was expected to make way for the disgraceful affairs of the second uncle? What kind of reasoning was that?
If the wedding were truly conducted in such haste, it would inevitably lead to speculation among outsiders.
Wouldn’t that damage the reputation of the Taifu Mansion?
“The timing is indeed tight, but the Marquis of Wen’an’s household has already made all preparations. It won’t trouble the Taifu Mansion much. Perhaps Lady Zhou would first like to review the betrothal gift list?”
Qin Yunying spoke as she handed a booklet to Jiang Yueshan.
Zhou Qingyun wanted to stop her, but her mother’s actions were simply too swift.
Jiang Yueshan looked over the betrothal gift list, her expression softening, and a faint smile appeared on her face.
Zhou Qingyun sensed something amiss and quickly stood up to bow to Qin Yunying.
“Auntie Lu, this matter has come rather suddenly. May I have a couple of days to consider before giving a reply?”
Qin Yunying glanced at Zhou Qingyun and smiled as she turned to Jiang Yueshan.
“Jingyi, matters of marriage follow the parents’ orders and the matchmaker’s words. It’s best to listen to what your mother has to say.”
“Dear in-law, these eight crates of betrothal gifts are an extra offering. They need not be brought back to the Lu family after the wedding.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yueshan paused her movements, her smile deepening as she looked at Zhou Qingyun.
“Jingyi, the eldest son of the Lu family was personally vetted by your grandfather and grandmother. The marriage has already been arranged. In my opinion, whether you marry early or late, you will still marry.”
“Moreover, Madam Lu holds you in such high regard. I believe you won’t suffer after marrying into their family. Why don’t we agree to this?”
Zhou Qingyun frowned deeply, feeling helpless.
Her mother had many sisters, and her maternal grandparents couldn’t always attend to everyone.
Additionally, her maternal family were military officials and not particularly wealthy, so her mother had experienced hardship in her childhood.
Even after marrying her father and living a life of comfort, she still placed great importance on money.
In the past, the family had indulged her, remembering her difficult childhood.
But she never expected her mother to be so misguided when it came to her own marriage.
To agree to such an unreasonable demand from the Lu family over just eight crates of betrothal gifts—yet Jiang Yueshan was her birth mother, and no matter what, she could not defy her.
“Mother, this matter is of great importance. Shouldn’t we discuss it with Grandmother first?”
Jiang Yueshan, who had been in good spirits moments ago, grew displeased when her daughter mentioned Old Madam Zhou.
“Your grandmother has already handed the household authority to me, meaning she trusts me to make decisions. Why must you always bring up your grandmother?”
A trace of bitterness flashed across Zhou Qingyun’s face, unsure of what to do.
Since her maternal family were military officials who disdained scholarly pursuits, her mother, though literate, had never received much education.
She had never been formally trained in household management while in her maternal home and was not naturally skilled at it.
Shortly after marrying into the Zhou family, when she took over the household authority from Old Madam Zhou, she made a grave mistake.
Deceived by a villain, she allowed a wolf into the fold, resulting in the theft of many valuable family heirlooms.
Old Madam Zhou, kind-hearted, did not blame her, but this only made Jiang Yueshan feel more guilty, so she voluntarily returned the household authority to her.
In recent years, her mother had lived a leisurely life.
But lately, for some reason, she had suddenly wanted to manage the household again.
She even quarreled with Old Madam Zhou and reclaimed the authority.
Her marriage arrangements with the Lu family were also transferred from Old Madam Zhou to her mother.
“Jingyi, your mother is right. Children should speak less when adults are talking.”
Qin Yunying smiled as she linked arms with Jiang Yueshan. “Dear in-law, rest assured, the Marquis of Wen’an’s household will not mistreat Jingyi. Shall we set the wedding date for the eighth day of the next month?”
Though Jiang Yueshan still felt some hesitation, seeing Qin Yunying’s sincere attitude, she nodded.
“Very well, let it be settled then.”
Zhou Qingyun’s brows were tightly knit, but she could not embarrass her mother in front of outsiders, so she swallowed her anger.
In the side hall, Shen Zhaoli listened to their conversation, her expression also turning peculiar.
Although the Marquis of Wen’an holds a noble title, he wields little power in the court, and his family is not particularly renowned among the aristocratic clans.
How dare they treat the marriage of the Grand Tutor’s legitimate granddaughter with such deceit?
Who gave them such audacity?
A cold glint flashed in Shen Zhaoli’s eyes as she stood up.
“Xi Xiang, lead the way.”