Chapter 7 Entering the Mansion

Qiao covered her face with a handkerchief and bit her lip tightly. Does this man have no heart?

That sounds so nice. Her daughter is the eldest legitimate daughter of a noble family. She was pampered and spoiled as she grew up, like a delicate flower about to bloom, but she was destined to be a widow, spending her whole life alone and guarding a man's memorial tablet.

But Su's daughter is about to be recognized as a member of the family and become the young lady of the Marquis of Nanping. She will marry in a grand manner and enjoy all the benefits brought by the Marquis of Nanping. Why should she?

Soon, Madam Qiao calmed down, put down her handkerchief, and said, "I know that the whole capital is now praising the General's Mansion for its loyalty and bravery. Many people are watching to see what our Nanping Earl's Mansion will do. Even if I am reluctant, I have to marry off one of my daughters."

"But I pity my Qingyan, who has to sacrifice her entire life for the family's honor at such a young age. The thought of it makes my heart ache unbearably."

Qiao was heartbroken as she spoke, and Yu Jingsheng was also feeling bad. He tried to comfort her, saying, "Of course I'm reluctant to let Qingyan marry into that family. Mother was also very reluctant to let Qingyan go and felt sorry for her when she talked about it earlier. But His Majesty has already spoken, and the Marquis's family has no way out. Now we can only make Qingyan suffer."

Madam Qiao nodded sadly: "I know, this is Qingyan's fate, I don't blame anyone."

The more Qiao said this, the more Yu Jingsheng felt he owed them, mother and daughter, and he sighed and asked, "When is the date set?"

Qiao: "October 9th."

Yu Jingsheng frowned. Was there only one month left?

He took out several silver notes from his pocket and placed them on the table: "This is ten thousand taels of silver notes. It is a small token of my appreciation as a father. In addition to the funds from the public funds, my wife will also provide her with some land and shops to supplement her dowry. After she marries into the family, with me as her father, I will support her in everything."

This is all he can do for his daughter right now.

Looking at the stack of silver notes in front of her, Madam Qiao said gratefully to her husband, "Then I will thank you on behalf of Qingyan for your kindness, sir."

Seeing Qiao's grief, Yu Jingsheng felt very bad. This wife was someone his mother had arranged for him to marry. Back then, he was only focused on finding Chengniang and had neglected her for a while.

After finding Chengniang, he was always away on official business and didn't spend much time with Qiao Shi, so they didn't really have much affection for each other.

However, she was, after all, a wife whom they had married through proper channels and was now the matriarch of the Earl's mansion. Over the years, she had managed everything inside and outside the mansion, and she had also given birth to their children. As her mother said, even if Qiao Shi had no merit, she had certainly worked hard.

Thinking of this, he hesitated to speak the words he had wanted to say.

Qiao covered her face with a handkerchief and cried heartbrokenly. Through the gap in the handkerchief, she secretly looked at Yu Jingsheng and saw the struggle on his face. She felt a secret hatred in her heart.

She put down her handkerchief and said slowly, "I heard that Sister Su has returned to the capital. Why hasn't my husband brought her back to the mansion? And her two children must be exceptionally beautiful and outstanding. Now that they have returned to the capital, how can my husband bear to let them live outside?"

For so many years, Sister Su and her husband have been deeply in love. Her husband is so devoted to her that he doesn't even want to come home. I don't resent my husband; I only hate that I'm not good enough. It's a good thing that Sister Su is willing to come back with the Earl. The title of the principal wife naturally belongs to Sister Su.

However, I am also a daughter of a respectable family and cannot ask to become a concubine. My father is a high-ranking official of the second rank, and I cannot tarnish the reputation of my Qiao family.

After much deliberation, I beg my husband to give me some time to properly arrange Qingyan's marriage. Once she is married, I will relinquish my duties as a housekeeper and move to the family temple. From then on, I will dedicate myself to praying for the Earl's family and the old lady, and also to pray for my poor daughter's protection.

At this point, Mrs. Qiao was already sobbing uncontrollably.

Yu Jingsheng was already somewhat soft-hearted, and at this moment, Qiao's words made him feel guilty. He felt even more sorry for his wife and the woman who was about to sacrifice herself for the family.

After a long sigh, he said, "Who said you were to ask to become a concubine? And the idea of ​​moving to the family temple can not be mentioned again. Don't overthink it. Cheng Niang is currently living in the Su residence to observe mourning for her parents-in-law. Whether she returns to the manor in the future or not, you will still be the wife of the Earl, and you will be in charge of the entire manor."

He didn't bring up the matter of having a second wife; he'd talk about it later.

With tears in her eyes, Qiao looked at him and said, "These are what my husband said himself, and I have written them down."

The atmosphere in the room remained melancholic yet rational; Ms. Qiao successfully made her husband feel guilty towards her and their daughter.

However, Yu Jingsheng's guilt towards the Qiao mother and daughter could not compare to that towards Su Chengniang and her two children, with whom he had spent more than ten years.

Because of the unexpected events on the way, Yu Jingsheng felt even more guilty towards Su Chengniang and her two children. For several days in a row, he repeatedly went to Liuli Lane to deliver people and things, afraid that they were not comfortable. He also readily agreed to postpone the date of his return to the mansion.

Upon returning to the Earl's residence, he personally inspected the courtyard prepared for Su Chengniang and her brother. He examined everything from the furniture and furnishings to the bedding and blankets, and immediately ordered the replacement of anything that did not meet his expectations. Watching this, Madam Qiao secretly tore several handkerchiefs to shreds.

With everything prepared, just as Madam Zhang was becoming increasingly impatient and about to utter harsh words, Yu Jingsheng returned to the Earl's residence with his two children.

Yu Qingci and Yu Qingbai followed their father, walking side by side at a leisurely pace. Along the way, the servants and maids they encountered stopped and bowed to them.

The closer Yu Qingci got to Shouyin Hall, the more servants and maids she encountered. She knew this was just a show of force arranged by the Qiao family, who wanted to intimidate them with the grandeur and prosperity of the Bo family.

However, she didn't take these petty tricks seriously in her previous life, so why would she care now?

Although they grew up far from the bustling capital with their father and mother, their father came from a noble family, and he raised her and her brother according to the rules of a prominent family in terms of education, upbringing, and daily necessities.

My mother also came from an official family and was carefully raised from a young age. Her perspective and knowledge were no less than those of the noble ladies in the capital. In fact, she was outstanding among a group of noble ladies back then. Otherwise, my father, who was still the heir at the time, would not have fallen in love with her at first sight.

So how could the two siblings, who have always been well-mannered, be intimidated by this little show of force?

The siblings showed no emotion or fear on their faces, and didn't even glance around.

Soon they arrived at Shouyin Hall, where the old lady, Madam Zhang, lived.

Stepping into the main hall, Yu Qingci looked up and saw that everyone in the hall was quite present.

Madam Zhang, dressed in an elegant and luxurious manner, sat regally in the center of the room on a golden nanmu armchair. When she saw the three people enter, she looked over with a gloomy expression.

The two seats below were filled with the masters of the Earl's mansion, each dressed in rich and exquisite attire, adorned with pearls and jade, and the room was filled with a faint fragrance that made one feel exceptionally comfortable.

There were many servants and maids standing around, all holding their breath and standing behind their master. The entire main hall was so quiet that it was hard not to feel a little scared.

Yu Jingsheng called out to his mother, then gestured for his two siblings behind him to come forward.