Shen Qingyao arrived quickly.
“Mother, is there something? Or is there something unclear about the congratulatory gift accounts I organized for Concubine Dong?” Shen Qingyao asked respectfully.
Looking at Shen Qingyao, whose attitude was respectful and whose etiquette was flawless, Shangguan Jin felt a surge of emotion.
At her age, she had been quite rebellious.
If her mother had entered her room at that time, she would have likely worn an impatient expression!
“Sister Yao, Mother just looked at the accounts you prepared. They are excellent, very clear. Our Sister Yao is becoming more and more capable,” Shangguan Jin said with a smile.
Shen Qingyao’s eyes immediately lit up.
Mother was praising her!
“Sister Yao, come, sit next to Mother,” Shangguan Jin beckoned to Shen Qingyao.
Shen Qingyao hesitated for a moment but still walked over and sat down next to Shangguan Jin on the grand master’s chair.
Shangguan Jin held Shen Qingyao’s hand and took another look at her eldest daughter.
Sixteen years old—what a wonderful age, like a flower bud. Combined with Shen Qingyao’s inheritance of Shangguan Jin’s good looks, she was truly a classic beauty!
Such a beauty was to marry into the Wudinghoufu…
Hmph, Shangguan Jin decided that no matter what method she had to use, she would ruin this marriage arrangement.
So what if it was a marriage arranged by the Empress Dowager? As long as she thought about it, there would surely be a way.
However, before that, Shangguan Jin still needed to understand Shen Qingyao’s own attitude.
“Sister Yao, what are your thoughts on the marriage arrangement between you and Yu Ge’er of the Wudinghoufu?” Shangguan Jin suddenly asked.
Shen Qingyao, who had been sitting calmly, immediately stiffened.
The marriage arrangement with the Wudinghoufu?
Shen Qingyao didn’t understand why her mother suddenly brought this up now.
As for this marriage, Shen Qingyao did not look forward to it.
Although every time she went out to attend banquets with her mother, the young ladies from other families would look at her with envy.
A marriage arranged by the Empress Dowager, and to a descendant of the Empress Dowager’s own family, no less—the second son of the Wudinghoufu, known as the first marquis under the three dukes.
This was the best marriage one could hope for aside from entering the palace as a consort.
But Shen Qingyao avoided thinking about this marriage arrangement.
The second son of the Wudinghoufu…
He seemed presentable on the surface, but he was someone who couldn’t ride a horse for long before being thrown off.
A military family, yet he couldn’t even ride a horse properly.
Not only that, even though Shen Qingyao lived deep within the inner chambers, she would hear from the servants’ gossip.
How much this second son had lost at the gambling house, how much he had spent on a courtesan at the brothel…
Shen Qingyao had grown up watching her parents’ loving relationship, and she had secretly wondered if she could be like her mother in the future.
But the Empress Dowager’s marriage decree had shattered her dreams.
Although her father had secretly told her that he would use his military achievements to ask the Tianjia to cancel this marriage arrangement…
Her father had been missing for three years now…
“I will follow Mother’s decision,” Shen Qingyao said softly.
Shangguan Jin felt as if she had punched cotton.
Dongmai, standing to the side, also looked helpless.
“Eldest Miss, just say what you truly think to the mistress.
The mistress cares for you so much; she will surely find you a good match.”
Shen Qingyao said nothing, only lowering her head.
For the past three years, the Dingguo Gongfu had been supported by her mother alone. How could she not see how difficult it had been for her mother?
Those once humble and polite ladies were now all laughing at her mother.
The Wudinghoufu is a relative of the Empress Dowager’s maternal family, backed by Duke Anguo and Prince Qin. How could Mother alone be their match?
Shangguan Jin looked at Shen Qingyao, who only showed her snow-white neck, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to say.
“Sister Yao, first listen to what Mother has to say. If you have any different thoughts, you can also tell Mother.
Currently, there are only two paths for your marriage.
The first is for the Dingguo Gongfu to prepare a lavish dowry, equip you with capable maids and servants, and marry you into the Wudinghoufu.
But as things stand now, the Dingguo Gongfu and the Wudinghoufu have essentially torn face.
However, since it is a marriage bestowed by the Empress Dowager, the Wudinghoufu dare not break the engagement.
It’s just that your life after marrying in won’t be easy.
Enforcing rules is the most basic expectation. That Song Tianyu will surely take concubines early on.
That cousin he brought along will definitely be the first to be taken in.
She is a relative of the Marchioness of Wuding’s maternal family, so the Marchioness will certainly treat her as one of her own.
Therefore, your life in the Wudinghoufu will undoubtedly be difficult.
However, if you insist on marrying, and you suffer grievances in the Wudinghoufu, you can always come back and tell Mother.
Although your father is no longer here, your mother still has some means.
When the time comes, we can storm their gates or have your grandfather submit a few memorials to make things difficult for the Wudinghoufu.
That is the first path.
There is also a second path, which is to cancel this marriage.
Although it was bestowed by the Empress Dowager, it is not without a solution. As for how? Mother will surely find a way.” Shangguan Jin said earnestly.
Shen Qingyao slowly raised her head.
Looking into Shangguan Jin’s earnest eyes, Shen Qingyao’s eyes instantly reddened.
To break off an engagement with the Wudinghoufu, and one bestowed by the Empress Dowager at that—how much would Mother have to endure!
“That’s right, Eldest Miss, we will surely find a way.
Actually, besides the two paths the lady just mentioned, there is another one.
At worst, we can just run away. We can pack some gold, silver, and valuables, quietly leave the city, and travel all over the Great Yu Dynasty.
We can keep traveling until the Wudinghou is raided or until their second young master marries someone else, and then we can return.
By then, as long as the second young master Song marries someone else, we can even go to their doorstep and demand an explanation!
How could your family marry someone else?
This shows no respect for the Empress Dowager!” Dongmai also offered her suggestion.
Shangguan Jin…
This Dongmai has no concept of “all under heaven belongs to the king”!
“Can we? But what if the Wudinghou family claims we ran away?” Clearly, Shen Qingyao was more interested in this path.
“What does that matter? We have reasons for leaving.
For example, we could say we went out to search for the Guogong. That is a great act of filial piety, and no one could find fault with it.
Or we could say someone in the household is ill and needs the miraculous medicine of a divine doctor hidden deep in the mountains and forests.
The Eldest Miss, moved by her filial piety, personally went out to seek the medicine—aren’t these all valid reasons?” Dongmai spoke with righteous conviction.
Shangguan Jin…
She wondered if she should let Dongmai read fewer storybooks in the future.
“Then…” Shen Qingyao pursed her lips.
“You are my daughter, and I am your mother. I only want what’s best for you. As for other matters, don’t think too much about them.” Shangguan Jin comforted her.
Shen Qingyao finally looked up at Shangguan Jin.
“Mother, there is actually another path.” Shen Qingyao suddenly said.
“Oh? Tell us more!” Shangguan Jin and Dongmai both perked up at once.
“I’ll go to the nunnery to practice asceticism while keeping my hair, and publicly declare that I’ve made a vow before Buddha—I will remain in the monastic life until my father returns.
Dayu established its state through warfare and governs through filial piety. Even the Empress Dowager cannot easily challenge the Dingguo Gongfu on matters of filial devotion.
In truth, when the Empress Dowager arranged this marriage, she feared that the Dingguo Gongfu might form an alliance with other noble families, thereby weakening her own faction’s influence,” Shen Qingyao explained earnestly.
Shangguan Jin inwardly cursed in amazement.
This daughter of hers is quite something—she saw right through the real motives behind this marriage arrangement!
Wherever the Eldest Miss of the Dingguo Gongfu marries, the faction behind that household gains a potential advantage in the struggle for power.
Back then, both the Crown Prince and Prince Qin had considered pursuing Shen Qingyao.
But the Dingguogong had declared that his daughter would not marry into the imperial family.
Dongmai, standing nearby, also looked at Shen Qingyao in astonishment.
She seemed to see a reflection of her mistress in her youth.
When the young lady married into the Guogongfu back then, she had been just as resolute and principled… well, perhaps not exactly.
“But what if the Guogong returns? Wouldn’t the Eldest Miss still have to marry then?
Ah, I don’t mean anything by it—I still hope the Guogong returns soon,” Dongmai suddenly thought of a concern.
“If Father returns, that would be even better. Then we can leave the matter for him to handle.
With Father here, there’s nothing to fear,” Shen Qingyao said with a smile.
Shangguan Jin understood Shen Qingyao’s meaning now.
She didn’t want to marry either.