Chapter 31 Choosing a Person "Great! It's her."...

Upon hearing the master's words, Meng Yu's heart sank to the bottom.

Unlike Meng Yu's worries, Huai Yin immediately became interested upon hearing this and hurriedly stepped forward to ask, "Who is this person?"

The master clasped his hands together and bowed his head slightly: "Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed; this is all I have to say."

As soon as she finished speaking, Huaiyin withdrew her hand somewhat disappointedly. But then, as if she had thought of something, she put her arm around Meng Yu's and smiled, "That's right, my daughter is beautiful and kind-hearted, so naturally she married someone one in a million."

Huaiyin spoke without batting an eye, making Mengyu feel embarrassed. Aunt Chen gently tapped her forehead: "You silly girl, you're so sharp-tongued. Don't make things difficult for the master. It's getting late, let's hurry up and go!"

Seeing their joyful mood, Meng Yu couldn't show it on his face, so he and the others boarded the carriage and returned home with smiles on their faces.

***

Pillow Flower Studio.

Early in the morning, the trees in front of the courtyard were filled with the chirping of cicadas, which kept Madam Yuan from getting a good night's sleep. Three or five maids went to the storeroom and took out several insect nets, which caught all the cicadas on the trees.

Just as Madam Yuan was feeling a terrible headache, a loud voice suddenly came from outside: "Master is here."

Overjoyed, Madam Yuan quickly rose to greet Deng, supported by her mother.

Because of the arranged marriage, Meng Yanqing had not set foot in Zhenhua Studio for several days. Even when she begged him to come to his study, he avoided seeing her.

She was overjoyed that he had come. Meng Yanqing sat down in the main seat, and a maidservant hurriedly served him his favorite Longjing tea.

Seeing that he had taken a sip of tea, Madam Yuan tentatively asked with a smile, "What brings you here, sir?"

Meng Yanqing put down her teacup and said seriously, "You are Yin'er's mother after all. I came here today specifically to tell you who you are going to be betroth to General Lu."

Upon hearing this, a sense of unease suddenly arose in Yuan's heart.

As expected, before the smile on her lips had faded, Meng Yanqing said expressionlessly, "Yin'er is lively and beautiful, and as the second daughter of the legitimate wife, her status is a good match for Young Master Lu. Therefore, I have decided to betroth Yin'er to him."

These words struck like a thunderbolt, startling Madam Yuan so much that her face turned pale instantly. She wanted to say something, but her throat seemed to be blocked, and she couldn't utter a sound.

Meng Yanqing looked up and saw that her eyes were lifeless and she was staring at him intently. He felt a little flustered and frowned, saying, "Why are you looking at me like that? This matter is settled, and there is no room for negotiation."

Upon hearing this, Madam Yuan's legs went weak instantly. She knelt down in front of Meng Yanqing, pleading with tears streaming down her face, "Master, Yin'er is the youngest of your children. Why must you agree to give her up? She is simple-minded and has never left my side. How can she enter the scheming and backstabbing Marquis of Jiangyang's mansion?"

Meng Yanqing looked impatient: "When Yin'er marries into the family, she will be the general's wife and live in the Huaihua General's Mansion. She will be the mistress of the general's mansion. How can she live in the Jiangyang Marquis's Mansion?"

“Even if she doesn’t live there, she’ll still have to deal with the people from the Marquis of Jiangyang’s residence,” Madam Yuan sobbed, as if all her strength had been drained away. “The young marquis and his father don’t get along, and he’s even more at odds with his stepmother. This is common knowledge throughout the capital. If Yin’er marries there, how can the young marquis protect her all the time? Besides, that young marquis is arrogant, extravagant, and dissolute. What if he…”

"Shut up!" Meng Yanqing shouted sharply, which immediately made Yuan's pupils dilate and she just stopped talking.

Meng Yanqing glanced outside and saw that apart from the rustling of leaves in the wind, the area in front of the door was completely silent.

He paced back and forth in anger, and after a long while, he lowered his voice and scolded, "It's one thing to think such things in your heart, but how can you say them out loud? That young marquis is currently enjoying great influence. He is a favorite of the emperor and also the emperor's own nephew. If someone with ulterior motives hears your words and reports them to the emperor, you will be punished with dozens of lashes at best, and at worst, my Meng family will be accused of slandering a member of the imperial family, resulting in the extermination of nine generations of relatives."

"Besides, let me tell you, Xu Shuang'er, are you really willing to give her up? Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You want to give her my mute Xu Yu'er. But don't you even think about it? Yu'er is a concubine's daughter, and she's mute. She's always been timid and dull-witted. If we really marry her off, and the young marquis is unhappy and whispers in the emperor's ear, saying that my Meng family disrespects the emperor's bestowal of a marriage and gives her to an unimportant concubine's daughter, then it's questionable whether our clan of a hundred or so people will even see the sun rise tomorrow."

Yuan still held onto a sliver of hope, her usually clear mind now thrashing about like a headless fly, and her voice was much weaker: "Just say that Yu'er has been raised by me since she was little and is highly valued."

"Do you believe that?" Meng Yanqing's face darkened with anger. "Or do you think that Young Master Lu is an ignorant child, a block of wood, stone, deer, or pig, incapable of any independent thought? Or do you think that his subordinates are all useless?"

Yuan was so enraged by his shout that she pursed her lips and couldn't utter a single word for a long time. Her previously confused thoughts gradually cleared up.

Meng Yanqing composed himself, helped Yuan Shi up, sighed, and spoke gently, "If we're talking about loving Yin'er, I'm no less than you. Of my three daughters, Shuang'er is quiet and steady, Yu'er is timid and dull, only Yin'er is frank and lively. Whenever I'm feeling down, it's always her who cheers me up. Now I'm sending her off to marry such a dissolute young man. How can I not feel heartbroken? But one can't live a life only for oneself. The lives of over a hundred people in my Meng family, along with your Yuan family, are in our hands. How can this be treated so lightly?"

Madam Yuan stopped crying slightly, paused for a long while, and then stood up and bowed to Meng Yanqing: "This matter was originally my fault for being foolish, please forgive me, sir."

Meng Yanqing quickly helped her up: "It's good that you can understand. Now, all we can do is give Yin'er more dowry. When she arrives at the General's Mansion, no matter what, her life won't be too difficult."

As he said, based on a comprehensive analysis, Meng Yin's marriage is a foregone conclusion.

Yuan could only suppress the sadness welling up in her heart and reluctantly nodded.

***

After seeing Meng Yanqing off, Madam Yuan slumped into a chair, tears streaming down her face once again.

When Deng's mother saw this, she also felt sad. She comforted Yuan Shi for a long time before she stopped crying.

Seeing that Mrs. Yuan was supporting her temples with one hand, as if she had a severe headache, Mrs. Deng gently massaged them for her again.

Because of what Meng Yanqing said, Deng Mama thought of something else. After hesitating for a moment, she said somewhat unsure, "Madam, this old servant heard something this morning, but I don't know if it's true or not. I don't know if I should tell you."

The thought of Meng Yanqing promising Meng Yin to that playboy made Madam Yuan feel waves of pain wash over her: "If you feel you shouldn't mention it, then shut up."

Deng's mother's face fell: "..."

There was a moment of silence behind her. Without opening her eyes, Madam Yuan continued, "You've been with me for so long, and you're getting on in years. You should know what to say and what not to say. Even if I don't bring it up, you should have a sense of what to say."

Upon hearing this, Madam Deng immediately stopped what she was doing and hurriedly knelt before Madam Yuan: "Yesterday at noon, during my nap, a maid saw Fourth Miss carrying a food box to Master's study. She stayed there for quite a while before coming out, and when she did, she looked very happy. Do you think it might be..."

In the end, Deng's mother didn't dare to voice her final guess.

Madam Yuan suddenly opened her eyes, her expression hardening. She suddenly remembered that Lu Xiuyi had come to visit a few days ago and brought two doses of medicine for Meng Yu. Coincidentally, Meng Yin had overheard this and immediately rushed to Qingli Courtyard to give Meng Yu a stern talking-to.

At that time, when she saw it, she only felt that Meng Yin was unhappy that the girl from Qingli Courtyard was too prominent, so she didn't pay much attention. Moreover, in her opinion, Lu Xiuyi was just sending some medicine over because of her father, so why was Meng Yin reacting so strongly to such an unlucky thing?

Now that I think about it, there were already signs that Meng Yin was interested in that playboy.

How hateful! How utterly hateful!

It's a shame she didn't discover her feelings sooner; otherwise, she would have nipped them in the bud.

The cicadas began to chirp again, casting a thin layer of foliage on the deep green branches. A patch of green shadows dappled through the window. Madam Yuan watched from afar, sighed, and said with a tone full of disappointment: "What good would it do to beg her? The imperial decree has already been issued. For the sake of the Meng and Yuan families, which number over a hundred, that mute woman in Qingli Courtyard absolutely cannot agree. Besides her, it's either Yin'er or Shuang'er, but Shuang'er is now favored by the Marquis of Chengyi's mansion, with a bright future ahead. She absolutely cannot be ruined by this."

At this point, waves of intense pain surged through her like a tidal wave. Madam Yuan, supporting herself on the armrest, stood up: "That's enough, my head is throbbing. I'll go rest for a while. Give the order that no one should disturb us unless it's something urgent."

"Yes." Mother Deng quickly helped her into the inner room.

***

In the afternoon, Meng Yanqing went to the Huaihua General's Mansion.

Perhaps Lu Xiuyi had given prior notice, because as soon as Meng Yanqing arrived, a servant led him to the training ground on the back mountain.

Under the blazing sun, the heat was unbearable, and the training ground was stiflingly hot, but the people practicing swordsmanship there were completely oblivious.

The sharp blade sliced ​​through the air, emitting a piercing screech.

Meng Yanqing stood under the scorching sun, frequently wiping away the sweat that was about to drip into her eyes. After waiting for a while, Lu Xiuyi finally came down from the training ground.

"Lord Meng, is your visit here for the matter of the marriage bestowed by the Emperor?" Lu Xiuyi did not turn his head even slightly, but simply raised his hand and threw the sword back into the scabbard hanging on the orchid pendant.

The blade and scabbard clashed, producing a piercing sound. As the sound seeped into Meng Yanqing's ears, the sweat on his forehead became more and more frequent, and he could no longer distinguish whether it was cold sweat or hot sweat.

Meng Yanqing quickly bowed and replied, "Yes, General."

"Someone, please invite Lord Meng to sit in the front hall," Lu Xiuyi instructed calmly, then turned to him and said, "Lord Meng, please come to the front hall for a cup of tea. I will change my clothes and come shortly."

Meng Yanqing lowered his head and nodded repeatedly: "General, please make yourself at home. I am not in a hurry."

The servant led Meng Yanqing to the front hall, served him tea, and then retreated to the doorway.

The front hall was spacious and bright, and a locust tree was planted in the courtyard. Its feather-like leaves cast a shade, and a gentle breeze brought a cool breeze.

Meng Yanqing wiped his sweat, took a sip of tea to relieve his thirst, and waited for a while. When he still didn't see Lu Xiuyi come over, he saw the servant standing respectfully at the door, looking straight ahead. Only then did he dare to secretly peek around.

Looking around, the shelves in the corner were filled with valuable toys. Even the armchair he was sitting in was made of rosewood, with fine, smooth, and oily wood on the armrests. The texture was completely different from that of an ordinary chair.

Meng Yanqing had assumed that Lu Xiuyi wouldn't have much wealth left after leaving the Marquis of Jiangyang's mansion, but it turned out to be true. The thought that her daughter's husband was not only a member of the imperial family but also had a limitless future filled Meng Yanqing with joy. Suddenly, her initial unease vanished, and her bottom felt slightly hot.

An old saying goes: fortune and misfortune are intertwined.

That's absolutely right.

After waiting for a while, a series of steady footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door. Meng Yanqing hurriedly put down his teacup and stood up respectfully.

Lu Xiuyi strode in and waved his hand, saying, "Lord Meng, there's no need for such formalities. Please sit down."

Meng Yanqing sat down as instructed, his eyes lowered, and said awkwardly, "I am deeply grateful for the Emperor's and General's favor in bestowing upon me this honor of marriage. However, I have three daughters, and the Emperor has not specified whom to marry them to. Therefore, I dare to suggest to the General that my daughter, Meng Yin, is not only born of the principal wife, but also has a lively personality and graceful manners. If I were to betroth her to the General, I wonder if the General would have any objections..."

"Meng Yin?" Before he could finish speaking, Lu Xiuyi interrupted him calmly, "Is she Lord Meng's fourth daughter?"

"Exactly."

Lu Xiuyi smiled leisurely, a somewhat blurry face suddenly appearing in his mind, and quickly replied, "Okay! It's her."