The eldest grandson’s words carried deep meaning, and Old Madam Xiao immediately understood. She knew Mo’er’s abilities better than anyone. Since he spoke this way, he must have solid evidence.
The old lady frowned, silent for a moment. Her mind suddenly recalled the palace banquet two years ago, when that Shen family girl shone brilliantly. Even the Emperor and Empress praised her openly.
Rumors spread then, saying the royal family had taken a liking to Shen Jingshu. But the gossip soon faded, and she hadn’t thought much of it.
“You mean the Second Prince?” Old Madam Xiao asked in a low voice.
“The Empress secretly gave the Shen family hope. Otherwise, Grandmother, why do you think they waited until now to approach our Duke’s household?” Xiao Mo’s tone carried a trace of mockery, though his manner was utterly relaxed.
Old Madam Xiao frowned again, recalling Madam Ruan, whom she had just met today. Madam Ruan seemed gentle in nature, devoted to her daughter—hardly the sort to scheme like this.
But nothing is absolute. Perhaps she had misjudged.
Looking again at her eldest grandson, Old Madam Xiao’s eyes softened with pity. “When did you learn of this?”
“After returning to the capital.”
“And yet you told me to decide as I pleased. Weren’t you afraid I might truly settle the marriage for you?” Seeing her grandson calm and composed, Old Madam Xiao felt a little stifled.
“You couldn’t have settled it then,” Xiao Mo replied evenly.
Old Madam Xiao froze, then caught the faint ridicule in his gaze. She instantly understood: at that time, the Shen family still hoped for a royal marriage. Even if the Duke’s household proposed, they would have found excuses to delay.
Realizing the hidden truth, Old Madam Xiao’s expression grew cold. She had thought it was their family’s fault, but now she saw the Shen family’s concealed motives.
“Don’t worry, Grandmother. I’m not in a hurry. My younger brothers needn’t wait for me either.” Xiao Mo knew she was concerned for his marriage, but he truly felt no urgency.
“Then so be it. Tomorrow I’ll speak with the second and third branches, and have them arrange marriages for their sons.” The old lady sighed, then added, “But don’t think you’re free of this. Even if not the Shen family, we can still look at other young ladies.”
Xiao Mo’s eyes glimmered with amusement. “I’ll leave it to Grandmother.”
Old Madam Xiao made as if to strike him, but he dodged.
He bowed and said, “Grandmother, please rest. I’m tired today as well. I’ll return to wash up.” He shook out his official robes as he spoke.
Old Madam Xiao waved him off.
As Madam Chen had expected, the next day in Songhe Hall, the old lady summoned her and Madam Liu.
She spoke directly: “Jinrong and Jinwen are grown. You should act now and help them each find a virtuous wife. The girl’s family need not be illustrious, only respectable enough not to shame our Duke’s household.”
Madam Liu was delighted, while Madam Chen answered with mixed feelings.
The old lady’s emphasis on disregarding family background increased the chances of her niece marrying her stepson.
Madam Liu had already chosen several candidates in secret, waiting only for the old lady’s approval. So, leaving Songhe Hall, she hurried home without even sparing Madam Chen a word.
Madam Chen, though walking back to Jinhua Hall at an unhurried pace, immediately sent someone to Jiyun Hall to summon Xu Shuyao.
Xu Shuyao had already paid her morning respects, and now she did not know why her aunt was calling for her again. Still, she followed the maid without delay to Jinhua Hall.
Inside, she found Madam Chen’s face full of smiles. Seeing her, Madam Chen called warmly: “Yao’er! Come here! You must be tired from walking?”
Noticing the thin sheen of sweat on her forehead, she scolded the maid:
“Why didn’t you walk slower? What was the rush?”
The maid bowed her head, apologizing repeatedly, though she thought to herself that her mistress had been the one urging haste. When the Second Madam returned to Jinhua Hall, she hadn’t even changed clothes before ordering, “Quickly fetch the young cousin from Jiyun Hall!” So the maid had run all the way, afraid of delaying her mistress’s business. But a maid could never dare question her master.
Xu Shuyao stepped forward to salute, but Madam Chen quickly pulled her up. “You don’t need to bow every time you come. It makes us aunt and niece seem distant.”
She looked her niece up and down, growing more astonished the longer she gazed.
Madam Chen had always known her niece was pretty, but in her memory, her own younger sister had been attractive in a different way. Xu Shuyao looked nothing like her mother—surely she had inherited her father’s fine features.
Two years ago, Xu Shuyao had been like a tender bud. Now the bud had blossomed, revealing a beauty both fresh and alluring. Madam Chen was very satisfied. What man could ignore such a face?
She knew her stepson was not as respectful toward her as he appeared, and surely harbored resistance toward her as a person. But men often said one thing and felt another. Madam Chen did not believe Xiao Jinrong could truly resist Xu Shuyao.
Still, this matter required careful handling. She could not openly discuss marriage with the Second Master—after all, she was a stepmother, and Xu Shuyao was a true orphan with no distinguished family. People would say she was unkind. But if Xiao Jinrong himself acted improperly, then no one could blame her.
That was why she had arranged for Xu Shuyao to live in Jiyun Hall in the first place—she had heard her stepson often passed by there.
Xu Shuyao sensed something different in her aunt today. Though Madam Chen had always treated her kindly, today her gaze seemed wrapped in honey—and within that honey, calculation. She did not know what her aunt was plotting, nor what role she herself played in it. Still, she steadied her voice and said: “Please don’t scold her. It was I who asked her to walk quickly, afraid of delaying your business.”
Madam Chen came back to herself, pulled Xu Shuyao to sit beside her, and said: “Good child! But you mustn’t always be so soft-hearted. If she hadn’t shown urgency, would you have hurried?”
Then, looking at her niece, she sighed: “You’re sixteen now, aren’t you? By next spring, your mourning period will be over.”
Xu Shuyao lowered her head. The topic was sensitive, and she did not know how to respond. She only whispered: “Yes.”
“Don’t be shy. Because you were in mourning, I didn’t dare arrange your marriage too soon. But your aunt has already thought it through. You can rest assured.”
Seeing her niece lift her head, Madam Chen gave her a meaningful smile.
Xu Shuyao’s heart thumped wildly. From her aunt’s expression, it seemed she already had a plan. A vague sense of foreboding rose within her, though she could not bring herself to refuse outright.