Chapter 90 Arranging a Marriage for Yun Chu (Part 3)
Old Madam Ning and Yu Qingci looked over coldly, making Wei Shi's heart pound. She quickly added:
"That's not what I meant. I meant that my Yunli is already engaged and will be getting married soon. She's not meant to be with my nephew."
Unlike Yun Chu, who, in terms of both character and appearance, is an absolutely perfect match for my nephew—a match made in heaven. Let me tell you, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Yu Qingci sighed: "Since your nephew is so good, I think we should keep him for now. I heard that my cousin Yunli's future in-laws are interested in breaking off the engagement?"
Madam Wei was so angry that her teeth itched. When her prospective in-laws sent someone to tell her about this, she thought she had kept it a secret, but she never expected that this brat would find out.
He still insisted defiantly, "Impossible, who spread this rumor? You must have misheard."
Yu Qingci: "It's rare that Second Aunt is so kind, but it's really inappropriate to arrange a marriage at this time. Anyway, your nephew is determined not to get married until he passes the imperial examination, and Second Aunt is willing to do so, so waiting three years is fine. We must first satisfy Yun Chu's filial piety before we can talk about anything else."
Madam Wei said, "If we wait three years, I'm afraid my nephew will pass the imperial examination next year. He's also very handsome, and many high-ranking officials and nobles will be vying for his hand in marriage, but he'll be snatched away by other families. What will become of Yun Chu?"
Yu Qingci shrugged: "Then it just means they weren't meant to be."
Wei: ...
I'm so angry!
Madam Ning, who had been somewhat skeptical, lost interest after listening to the two talk for a while.
No matter what, her daughter is the legitimate daughter of a military family. How could she be matched with a mere student?
Wei continued rambling on for a while, but the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had lost interest and didn't respond at all, let alone mention that her nephew from her maternal family should come over. Wei had no choice but to give up and leave.
Suddenly, she stopped and looked at Old Madam Ning, saying, "Sister-in-law, I've never seen that cloak that Yun Chu was wearing before. It looks like it's made of fox fur, and the outer fabric is also made of the finest feather satin. Did you buy new clothes just for Yun Chu? Why haven't I seen any of my other maids wearing it?"
Madam Wei stared at Old Madam Ning with an accusing expression.
When Lu Yun Chu entered just now, the cloak she was wearing was the fox fur satin cloak that Yu Qing Ci had given her.
Seeing that she had asked this question, Yu Qingci spoke before Old Madam Ning could say anything:
"Second Aunt, are you referring to the cloak Yun Chu is wearing? That wasn't a new one that Mother ordered to be made; it was one of my dowry clothes, specially chosen to be given to Yun Chu. After all, Yun Chu is my husband's only younger sister, and as her sister-in-law, I want to dote on her a little more. Do I have to ask others for permission?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Wei's lips almost curled up to her ears: "Oh my, my niece-in-law is so generous, giving away such an expensive dress so readily."
"But your second aunt has something to say to you. Yun Chu isn't the only younger sister in this household. We, the second and fourth branches, have several other young ladies who all call you sister-in-law. Your niece-in-law's dowry is so generous; you can't be biased. If you're going to give a gift, you should give one to every young lady in the household."
Yu Qingci sighed and said decisively, "Alas! It's a pity there aren't any extras. After picking and choosing, I only managed to pick out three pieces. I gave one to Yun Chu, and the other two weren't enough to share, so I simply gave them all to my mother. It's my way of showing filial piety as her daughter-in-law."
Second Aunt, please don't take offense. My things should naturally be sent to our eldest branch first. That's what it means to be closer to one's relatives than another. I can't interfere with other people's affairs.
The implication is that I have something good, but I'm not giving it to you.
Wei was surprised that her niece-in-law would act so unpredictably, saying things that showed no respect whatsoever, which angered her so much that she made sarcastic remarks.
Unfortunately, Yu Qingci ignored her completely, only carefully reminding Old Madam Ning to wear a fur cloak when she went out, lest she catch a cold.
After trying to gain the upper hand for a long time, Wei could only leave in a huff.
After everyone left, Yu Qingci asked Old Madam Ning, "Mother, were you tempted just now?"
When her daughter-in-law asked about what had just happened, Old Madam Ning became somewhat embarrassed and said guiltily:
"Your second aunt is so eloquent, I didn't know how to respond to her. Luckily you came over, otherwise I would have been confused and gotten caught up in her trap."
Yu Qingci sighed and said, "This concerns my sister's lifelong happiness, so Mother must not be confused. Mother knows what kind of family Second Aunt's family is. Her brothers are still working in our family's shop, and Mother should have met all her nephews. Can you really tell which one of them is promising?"
Madam Ning felt increasingly guilty.
Yun Chu came out and threw herself into her mother's arms, saying aggrievedly, "Mother, you're confused. Do you really want to marry me off so early? Can't you even wait for me to observe mourning for Father?"
After saying this, the little girl's eyes reddened.
Old Madam Ning hugged her daughter tightly and coaxed her repeatedly, "How could that be? You're still young. Your mother would never easily agree to marry you off. I didn't agree just now. There's no rush for your marriage. We can take our time to meet potential partners later."
Yu Qingci said, "You can imagine what Second Aunt's intentions are when she comes to propose marriage at this time. Mother doesn't need to pay attention to her, nor does she need to worry about Yun Chu's marriage. Although girls usually start to betrothed when they are thirteen or fourteen, it is not uncommon for them to be delayed for several years due to mourning and not until they are seventeen or eighteen."
Our Yun Chu is virtuous and kind, and also very beautiful. Once the mourning period is over, I'm afraid matchmakers will be flocking to our house, wearing down our doorsteps."
Lu Yun Chu broke free, turned around, and hugged Yu Qing Ci: "I don't want a matchmaker to arrange a marriage. I won't get married in the future. I'll just stay at home with you."
Upon hearing this, Madam Ning became anxious and began to lecture her daughter repeatedly.
After talking for a while, the three of them put the matter out of their minds and ignored it.
Wei rushed out excitedly and rushed back in a huff. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she found it quiet all around, with faint sounds coming from the main hall.
Wei's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly went inside.
But they saw the maid Siqin standing with her back to the door next to the octagonal table, with a man sitting on the armchair she was blocking the view. The two were entangled in a struggle.
Wei was instantly enraged. She strode forward and began to beat him mercilessly, shouting:
"You shameless little hussy, trying to seduce men in broad daylight! You have no shame at all! I'll sell you to a brothel!"
Siqin was suddenly slapped repeatedly, crying out in pain. Wei Shi, ignoring her cries, continued her venting. The man in the armchair stood up, pulled the two apart, and shouted:
“Mother, what are you doing? I just asked Siqin to come and massage my legs, I didn’t do anything else. How can you say such things as selling people?”
Upon hearing this, Madam Wei paused, only then realizing that the person standing in front of her was her son, Yunzhang, not her husband, and she was relieved.
"It's you? I thought it was your father, that old lecher."
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