Chapter 6: Find a way to get her to marry in her place.
Just then, a maidservant hurriedly entered from outside, her head bowed.
Mrs. Qiao asked, "Have you found out the details?"
Zhi Shu lowered her head and recounted all the information she had gathered at Shouyin Hall.
Qiao asked in surprise, "What? Lord Lord actually intends to settle Su outside?"
Zhi Shu nodded: "Yes, I heard it from Sister Xi Chun, who serves the old lady. The master told the old lady that he would only bring the brother and sister back to recognize their ancestors tomorrow. As for the other one, I heard that the old lady is not allowed to enter the mansion because he is in mourning."
Madam Qiao frowned: "In mourning? Who is deceased?"
Zhi Shu: "I heard it's that person's parents."
After Qiao Shi found out the truth, she sneered twice. This Su Chengniang was really not favored by God. Back then, when her family had trouble, she was divorced by the Earl's Mansion. Now, she finally managed to get her family cleared of wrongs, but her parents ended up dying far from home. What bad luck!
However, if Madam Su does not enter the manor, how will she carry out her many subsequent arrangements?
Zhi Shu stammered, "This servant also heard, heard..."
Qiao looked at her suspiciously: "What else have you heard? Just tell me."
Zhi Shu leaned close to Qiao Shi's ear and whispered a few words.
Mrs. Qiao was furious and slammed her hand hard on the coffee table next to her.
"Is that so? You must have found out more about it."
Zhi Shu nodded repeatedly: "This servant would not dare to lie. That's exactly what Sister Xi Chun told me."
Enraged, Qiao swept a set of fine celadon teacups off the table, causing Zhishu to kneel on the ground in fright.
The eldest daughter, Yu Qingyan, couldn't sit still any longer and grabbed Qiao's hand, saying:
"Mother, wasn't Su Shi already divorced? How can Father restore her status as the legal wife? Does Father intend to divorce you for her sake?"
Qiao said hatefully, "Don't even think about it! Not only will your maternal grandfather not agree, but the old lady will never agree to let that slut Su come back to be the head lady of the Earl's Mansion."
She never expected that after so many years, the Earl would heartlessly abandon the entire Earl's Mansion and stay with Madam Su in another place for more than ten years. The entire Earl's Mansion was managed by her hard work, and in the end, the Earl would even demote her to a secondary wife for the sake of Madam Su. It was simply too much!
Others may not know the inside story of the divorce letter back then, but Qiao had already found out everything. If we really talk about it, Su still holds the position of the legal wife in terms of status, and the Earl is deeply in love with her. Therefore, if Su were to return, it would definitely be the biggest threat to her position.
She would never allow such a thing to happen.
After calming down for a while, she looked at her daughter and said slowly, "Don't worry, your mother will never let this happen, and your status as the eldest daughter will never be shaken. It's good that Madam Su doesn't return to the manor, so that we can plan slowly."
Although the children born to the concubines in this dynasty are also legitimate sons and daughters, they are still inferior to the children of the principal wife. Therefore, for the sake of her children, she cannot allow her status as the principal wife to be shaken.
Yu Qingyan felt a little relieved after hearing her mother's comforting words. Her father had been away from home for many years, and her mother had been managing the entire mansion. Even if her father wanted to remove her mother's position as the principal wife, her grandmother would probably not agree.
From as far back as she could remember, she knew how much her grandmother hated that woman outside who was clinging to her father and never coming home, and the child she had given birth to—who wanted to climb over her head? No way!
Yu Qingyan frowned and asked, "Mother, if Madam Su doesn't return to the manor, will the promise you made to me change?"
A few days ago, people from General Ningyuan's mansion kept coming to urge her. Now the wedding date has been set. Her mother had said that she would find a way to have Su's daughter marry in her place. So when Yu Qingyan heard this news, she was more anxious than anyone else.
This deadly marriage was like a boulder pressing down on her, making her anxious and restless. She was only sixteen years old, and her life had just begun. How could she be married off to the Ningyuan General's Mansion with a memorial tablet in her hands, and be a widow for the rest of her life?
Seeing her daughter's anxious state, Madam Qiao regained her composure and gently comforted her, "Good child, didn't Zhishu just say that your father will bring those siblings back to the manor to recognize their relatives in a couple of days? As long as that little slut Yu Qingci returns to the manor, Mother will find a way to make her marry in her place. Don't worry, Mother will definitely not let you marry into that family."
Hearing her mother say this, Yu Qingyan finally felt relieved.
Qiao added, "When your father comes over later, be sensible and considerate, and try to win his favor. Remember, don't show any unwillingness about this marriage in front of your father. It would be better if he felt guilty towards you, his daughter. That would be more beneficial to us."
Upon hearing this, Yu Qingyan looked at her mother and nodded trustingly.
Madam Qiao lovingly stroked her daughter's incredibly delicate face. This was her precious daughter, whom she had cherished since childhood. She was the eldest daughter of the Nanping Marquis's family, who was raised in the highest esteem. In terms of appearance, talent, manners, and etiquette, she was not only outstanding among the many noble ladies in the capital, but also in no way inferior to others.
They were hoping she could find a good marriage in the future and bring more help to the Nanping Marquis's family, so how could she go and become a widow for someone else?
When Yu Jingsheng returned to the Begonia Courtyard where he and his wife lived, Qiao Shi and Yu Qingyan's mother rushed forward to greet him warmly. Qiao Shi personally helped Yu Jingsheng wash and change his clothes before they finally sat down.
Yu Qingyan poured a cup of freshly brewed Tieguanyin tea and placed it in front of Yu Jingsheng, saying respectfully, "Father, you must be tired from your long journey. This is tea that I brewed for you myself. Please have a taste."
Yu Jingsheng hummed in agreement and took the teacup. As soon as he opened the lid, a sweet aroma of tea wafted out, instantly making him feel relaxed and refreshed.
Seeing the look of dependence and admiration on his daughter's face, Yu Jingsheng couldn't help but think that he had been away from home for many years and had paid little attention to her. So he smiled and praised her a few times before lowering his head to sip his tea.
Yu Qingyan sat down in the chair on the other side of her father, her voice gentle and pleasant:
"Father is away on official business for many years and rarely comes home. I have always missed you. Now that you have been transferred back to the capital to reunite with us, I am overjoyed. From now on, I can stay by your side every day and listen to your teachings."
Yu Jingsheng put down his teacup and looked at his daughter seriously again. He naturally cared about his daughter. He had indeed neglected his children at home because he was away for many years. Now that his daughter said this, he couldn't help but feel guilty. When he thought about how his daughter was unlucky enough to be stuck with such a terrible marriage, Yu Jingsheng felt even more guilty.
He couldn't help but sigh softly:
"Qingyan, you've grown up. You're becoming more and more sensible and filial. As your father, I'm very pleased."
Madam Qiao looked at her daughter with a loving expression: "Qingyan is the eldest daughter of the main wife. She has been well-behaved and sensible since she was a child and is very filial to her elders. Needless to say, she is also well-versed in the rules and etiquette that a girl should learn. Otherwise, among so many grandchildren, I would not like our Qingyan the most."
Seeing her mother praising her, Yu Qingyan lowered her head shyly.
The three chatted happily for a while before Yu Qingyan stood up and said, "Father must be exhausted from the long journey. I won't disturb you any longer. I'll take my leave now."
Watching her daughter's departing figure, Madam Qiao sighed with sorrow: "Such a good daughter. I have done my best to raise her. From a young age, I have taught her music, chess, calligraphy and painting, household management, etiquette and manners, so that she can become a bright pearl that is no less than any noble lady in the capital. Who would not praise her when I take her out?"
I never imagined fate would play such a cruel trick on me. Now I'm being forced to send her to the General's Mansion to live as a widow. These past few days, every time I see Qingyan, my heart aches unbearably.
After saying this, Qiao covered her mouth with a handkerchief and silently shed tears, which made Yu Jingsheng feel heartbroken.
It was indeed a twist of fate. This marriage was personally arranged by the old master and General Ningyuan when he was alive. Both General Ningyuan and his son were military generals who fought on the frontier for many years and made great contributions to the court.
The man engaged to the Earl's family is none other than Lu Yunqi, the only legitimate son of the Great General. He is a brilliant young talent, known as the Young General.
The old master and lady took a liking to this grandson-in-law at first sight, and were just waiting for Qingyan to come of age so they could marry him.
Several months ago, news of a great victory came from the border, but it also brought back devastating news: General Ningyuan and his son, the young general, had both died in battle.
What's even more heartbreaking is that only General Ningyuan's body returned with the army; as for the young general, it's said that even his body couldn't be found.
Now, the eldest branch of the General's Mansion is left with only a widow and a young girl who has not yet reached marriageable age. From now on, there will be no successor, and they will truly become orphans and widows. This change has made people sigh with regret.
After the funerals of the two generals, the generals' mansion sent a messenger to convey their message, hoping that the Nanping Earl's family would keep their marriage agreement and marry their daughter to support the family, and that they would adopt a child in the clan to continue the lineage of the young general.
These days, everyone in the capital is talking about this matter, and they are all deeply moved by the heroic deeds of the two generals who sacrificed their lives for the country.
Public opinion always sympathizes with the weak. Faced with the fact that the General's Mansion is now only occupied by a widowed mother and her young daughter who have lost their father and son, many people believe that the Nanping Earl's Mansion should keep its promise and marry its daughter to the mansion to comfort the spirits of the two generals in heaven.
Even the current emperor mentioned this matter during a morning court session, implying that the Nanping Earl's family had been loyal ministers for generations and would not do anything so treacherous as to leave the general's family without a successor.
The Emperor himself has made this statement, which is tantamount to issuing a personal decree to facilitate this marriage, essentially putting the Marquis of Nanping's mansion on a hot plate.
There was no other way but to marry their daughter off to the Marquis of Nanping to demonstrate that the Marquis of Nanping was not a treacherous person.
Yu Jingsheng sighed and comforted Qiao Shi: "Things have come to this, so don't be too sad. Try to think of the bright side of things."
I've heard that the old lady of the General's Mansion is a kind-hearted, gentle, and generous woman. Her daughters are quite elegant and refined, befitting daughters of noble families. After Qingyan marries into the mansion, she'll be the mistress of the household. As long as she fulfills her duties, is filial to her mother-in-law, and loves her sister-in-law, and later adopts another child, with us parents looking after her, life shouldn't be too difficult."
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