Madam Xu took a sip of tea and disagreed, saying, "Settling down before building a career is a rule set by our ancestors, and we should abide by it."
Chu Wan gave a forced smile, "Mrs. Xu is right."
Seeing that things were looking promising, Madam Xu quickly said to Xu Jiuyan, "Jiuyan, why don't you take Miss Liu out for a walk? I'll have a chat with Madam Guan."
Xu Jiuyan enthusiastically took Liu Huan's hand, "Guyu, let's go for a walk."
After saying that, she seemed to just remember something and said, "Oh dear, I'm sorry, I forgot your name is Liu Huan now. Let's go."
Liu Huan let her pull her outside.
After everyone left, Madam Xu had the door closed and asked, "I heard that Lord Su is engaged?"
Su Wan couldn't stop smiling when she heard this: "Yes, the two of them were betrothed since they were young. They were childhood sweethearts. My mother personally found a wife for my brother."
Madam Xu's expression darkened slightly upon hearing this, but she quickly recovered. "Indeed, in the countryside, parents only think about finding a wife for their son, but in the capital, there's a lot more to it than meets the eye."
Su Wan pretended not to know, "Madam Xu, please just say what you want to say. I am just a woman from the countryside, and I really don't understand these things."
Madam Xu then said, "Lord Su is a man of great talent and appearance. Although he is the top scholar in the imperial examination, his official position is indeed not impressive enough."
"If he had a good family to help him, he could rise in rank in less than two years. Otherwise, with his own abilities alone, it might take him more than ten years to get ahead."
Su Wan looked surprised and shocked. "Is it really true?"
Madam Xu continued to entice: "You can't be wrong. Which official in the capital isn't related to someone else? That's how you go far in the career."
Su Wan looked troubled. "But my family has already arranged for my younger brother to marry Liu Huan."
Madam Xu said seriously, "What's so difficult about that? Just give her more money and marry Liu Huan off to a good family. She won't be mistreated."
Su Wan shook her head and refused, "No, a high monk once said that Liu Huan is a blessed person. My brother was able to pass the imperial examination because of her. If we just abandon her, all of this will disappear."
Madam Xu hadn't expected this, and reluctantly said, "Then let's keep her as a concubine. We can't ruin Lord Su's future because of a monk's words, can we?"
Su Wan nodded seriously, "Madam is right, but I wonder which family's matchmaking you want to sponsor?"
Madam Xu wanted to mention her own daughter, but fearing other unforeseen circumstances, she said, "She is a niece from my maternal family. She is excellent in both family background and appearance. Lord Su is a rare young man, and it is truly a match made in heaven."
After showering her with compliments, he turned to Su Wan and asked, "What do you think?"
Su Wan looked very satisfied. "That's wonderful!"
He quickly showed a dejected expression again. "Madam Xu probably doesn't know, but my brother is very stubborn. I can't make decisions for him at all. Otherwise, I'll go back and talk to him. If he's willing, I'll send you a letter."
Madam Xu was somewhat dissatisfied with the answer she received after saying so much.
“The eldest brother is like a father, and the eldest sister is like a mother. You should make the decision for him in this matter.”
Su Wan smiled and waved her hand, "I wouldn't dare to do that. My parents are still alive and well, it's not up to me to make that decision."
All of Su Wan's proposals were rejected, and Madam Xu looked very unhappy. Su Wan also didn't want to continue the act.
He stood up and bowed, saying, "Madam, if there's nothing else, I'll head back now."
Madam Xu lost all interest and waved her hand, "Go ahead."
Su Wan came out and found Liu Huan in the courtyard.
"Why are you alone? Where is Miss Xu?"
Liu Huan, with a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, said, "I don't know. They just brought me out and left."
"Has Madam Xu finished telling you?"
Su Wan almost burst out laughing: "I'm done talking. Didn't you say you were going to see the princess? It's not appropriate for me to go. Should I go back first?"
Liu Huan took her hand and said, "No need, the princess is very easy to get along with. I'll take you to meet her."
Led by the maid, the two went to the princess's courtyard, and Xu Jiuyan entered the house from outside.
"Mother, how are you?"
Mrs. Xu looked disgusted. "Your whole family is not presentable. There are so many outstanding men, yet you choose to like this one."
Xu Jiuyan said with dissatisfaction, "Mother, what does it have to do with Brother Su that the Su family is not respectable? I won't be living with them after the wedding, so what will Sister Su say?"
Madam Xu recounted their conversation, but Xu Jiuyan grasped the key point: "So, the Su family doesn't actually object, only because of Liu Huan's identity?"
Madam Xu nodded hesitantly, "I suppose so."
Xu Jiuyan smiled smugly: "I knew it! So that's why Brother Su would fall for someone like that. That makes things easier."
Madam Xu said warily, "Don't do anything reckless."
Xu Jiuyan gave her a reassuring look, "Don't worry, I will definitely make Brother Su see my good qualities and accept me."
Madam Xu was proud, saying, "My son is no bad. If he weren't blind, he would know how to choose."
The two were quite pleased with themselves when Liu Huan led Su Wan to the princess's courtyard.
From afar, one could hear the maid's worried voice, "What should we do if she keeps vomiting like this?"
Liu Huan approached and asked, "What's wrong?"
Upon seeing Liu Huan approach, the group bowed to her, saying, "Sister Guyu."
A maid explained, "The princess is suffering from severe morning sickness and vomits everything she eats; even the imperial physicians are helpless."
"Take me to see it."
Liu Huan entered the house, but Su Wan asked someone to take her to the kitchen.
The princess wanted to cry when she saw Liu Huan, and reached out her hand, saying aggrievedly, "You've finally come."
Xu Zijing, standing to the side, felt embarrassed; he knew he was being disliked.
Liu Huan stepped forward and pulled her back, "How did it get so serious?"
The princess sniffled, "I don't know either. I feel so unwell, and the imperial physician said it's normal." She then glared at Xu Zijing, her eyes filled with resentment.
"Has Her Highness the Princess come to see you?"
“She comes every day, but just left today. There’s nothing we can do about her coming back.”
Wiping away her tears, she said, "Being a woman is suffering. My mother gave birth to four children, and I will never have any more."
The princess is only sixteen years old this year. Getting pregnant at such a young age must be more difficult for her than for others.
The princess nestled in Liu Huan's arms, and Xu Zijing, who was standing nearby, said, "Why don't you let Liu Huan eat with you?"
Upon hearing this, the princess felt her stomach churn again and angrily said, "Get out!"
"But……"
The princess is currently at a stage where she feels nauseous at the mere mention of food, and her face has become so thin that it resembles a melon seed.
"Brother Xu, why don't you go out first? I'll sit with the princess for a while."
Xu Zijing nodded, "Thank you for your trouble."
After everyone left, the princess complained, "That stinky man! He knows to make me eat, but he doesn't care whether I can eat or not. He's just afraid his son will go hungry."
Liu Huan hugged her and comforted her, "Brother Xu was just worried about you..."
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