Chapter 543 Parting on Unhappily
Madam Wen put on a stern face, "It doesn't matter if she's a bit older, the important thing is whether you like that girl. That girl is so pleasing to the eye! She has a round face, she looks like she has a blessed appearance."
Wen Jue sighed and rubbed his forehead, then finally said after a long while, "Mother, can't I not get married?"
After saying that, he muttered to himself, "If I had known that my mother wanted me to return to the capital to get married, I wouldn't have come back."
Madam Wen glared at him fiercely, "If you don't get married, don't even think about leaving the capital!"
Wen Jue smiled wryly and said helplessly, "If Mother insists that I choose someone to marry, then I will choose the older girl from the Qiao family."
"What did you say?" Madam Wen exclaimed, speechless. "You've really taken a liking to that old maid from the Qiao family! What makes her worthy of my son?"
"Looks? No good. Family background? No good. And she's so old! Plus, she has an aunt named Qiao, who's infamous throughout the capital. This girl just doesn't suit my taste at all."
Wen Jue chuckled and teased, "The only difference between Miss Qiao and Miss Qiao is their age. Why does Mother think that Miss Qiao is better in every way?"
Madam Wen choked for a moment, then thought about it and realized it made sense. She pouted and stubbornly said, "At least that Miss Qiao is pleasing to the eye! And her character is not bad either; she's not the kind of person who's vain and tries to climb the social ladder."
Wen Jue chuckled twice, offering no rebuttal. Instead, she turned to Qiao Yuanyao: "Hasn't Mother ever considered why Princess Huaiyang speaks so highly of that Miss Qiao? Back when Princess Huaiyang was still in the palace, she even requested the Empress's decree to bring her into the palace to keep her company."
"Now that Princess Huaiyang has left the palace to establish her own residence, she is the first to bring people to her residence."
"Mother thinks that if Miss Qiao were truly a worthless person, why would Princess Huaiyang value her so highly?"
After thinking for a moment, Madam Wen nodded in agreement, "You're right. I underestimated that girl."
"but……"
Wen Jue interrupted, "Mother, if you insist that I marry, then choose Miss Qiao. Of course, the premise is that she can be interested in a cripple like me."
***
On the other side, Qiao Qinghe also asked Qiao Ning and Qiao Yuanyao about their impressions of Wen Jue.
Qiao Qinghe did not hide the fact that Madam Wen valued Qiao Ning, nor did she hide her objections because of the age difference between the two. She also mentioned Li Sanqi's suggestion to match Wen Jue with Qiao Yuanyao.
"What are you thinking?" Qiao Qinghe asked, looking at the two of them.
Qiao Yuanyao glanced at Qiao Ning, seeing her bewildered expression, and spoke first: "How old am I? What's the point of getting married? I have my own money, my own businesses, and I can keep making money. I don't need to rely on a man to support me. I can just adopt a child to take care of me in my old age."
"Besides, Madam Wen clearly doesn't think much of me. I won't go looking for trouble."
Qiao Qinghe smiled; she had already seen through the girl's plan.
Back when she was still at Qiushui Nunnery, this girl was already very good at making and saving money.
In recent years in Beijing, under Wei Jia's careful planning, the value of her paintings has increased dozens of times. She's making a fortune.
She knew that this girl had bought three shops and a house by selling paintings.
Although the house wasn't very big and the shop's location wasn't particularly good, it provided a solid foundation for a stable life.
Smiling and shaking her head, Qiao Qinghe then looked at Qiao Ning, "What about you? I can tell that Madam Wen really likes you. If you don't mind the age difference between you and the young master of the Wen family, I will agree to the marriage on your behalf."
Qiao Ning bit her lip, her expression somewhat conflicted.
Qiao Qinghe didn't urge her.
After a long pause, Qiao Ning finally made up her mind and said firmly, "Please trouble your aunt to refuse for me."
Qiao Qinghe looked at her in surprise.
Judging from her expression just now, she was clearly tempted. Why is she suddenly going to refuse?
"Can you tell your aunt why you refused this marriage proposal?"
Qiao Ning wrung her hands nervously and said, "The Yongchang Marquis's family is too prestigious, and we are not a good match. I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it after I marry into the family."
"Aunt, please find me an ordinary family."
Qiao Yuanyao glanced at Qiao Ning in surprise. She had previously thought this niece was too quiet, appearing taciturn and uninteresting. She seemed like a submissive girl who only obeyed her elders' arrangements, lacking any independent thought.
I never expected that he could say such clear-headed things.
She had misjudged her before.
Qiao Qinghe was also very satisfied with Qiao Ning's answer.
She took Qiao Ning's hand, patted it affectionately, and said with a smile, "Don't worry, your aunt will definitely find you a good man with good character, a good temperament, good looks, ambition, a harmonious family, and loving parents."
"puff!"
As soon as Qiao Qinghe finished speaking, Qiao Yuanyao couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Aunt, are you sure there is such a perfect young man in this world?"
Qiao Qinghe glared at Qiao Yuanyao, annoyed. "You know you don't?"
Qiao Yuanyao turned her face away and burst into laughter. With her aunt's standards, wouldn't Qiao Ning also be dragged into becoming an old maid like her?
Of course, Qiao Yuanyao only dared to mutter these words to herself.
After Qiao Qinghe finished asking her questions, Madam Wen sent someone to invite her over.
Qiao Qinghe went out again to visit Madam Wen.
When she arrived, Li Sanqi was already inside.
Before she could speak, Li Sanqi asked first, "What did Yuanyao and Qiao Ning say?"
Qiao Qinghe smiled and looked at Madam Wen, "I wonder what Young Master Wen's attitude is?"
If Wen Jue doesn't like any of them, that would be great. It would save her from offending anyone.
However, before Madam Wen could speak, Li Sanqi excitedly interjected, "My uncle is fond of Yuanyao!"
Then, with a smug look on his face, he added, "Madam, what do you think? My uncle has excellent taste, doesn't he?"
Qiao Qinghe was taken aback, then her lips twitched, and she couldn't speak for a long time.
Madam Wen noticed that Qiao Qinghe's expression was off and frowned slightly, asking, "Is there a problem with Madam Qinghe?"
Qiao Qinghe wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, embarrassed, before saying awkwardly, "My husband Yuanyao doesn't want to get married. He said he'll adopt a child to take care of him in his old age."
Upon hearing this, Madam Wen's face immediately darkened.
Seeing that Madam Wen was unhappy, Li Sanqi quickly interjected, "What about Qiao Ning? Does she not want to get married either?"
Qiao Qinghe was even more embarrassed. "Qiao Ning knows she comes from a humble background and just wants to find a family of equal social standing to live a peaceful life."
"Bang!"
Madam Wen slammed her hand on the coffee table and said angrily, "Fine, fine, all the Qiao family girls are so high and mighty that they look down on my cripple! Our Yongchang Marquis's Mansion will not presume to associate with you!"
With that, he stood up and walked out.
Li Sanqi couldn't stop him, so he could only turn around and smile helplessly at Qiao Qinghe before hurrying after the person.
The meeting ended unhappily.
Although Qiao Qinghe had some expectations before coming, she did not expect Madam Wen to be so angry.
After Madam Wen and Li Sanqi left, Qiao Qinghe did not stay long. She called Qiao Yuanyao and Qiao Ning and left Fahua Temple.
Surprisingly, Wen Jue was waiting outside the temple, seemingly waiting for them.
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