Yin Jin'an opened the door and saw her mother, cousin, brother, and sister-in-law getting off the carriage. Thinking of the hot buns from the Duke of Xun, she didn't say anything unpleasant.
What wind blew my parents here?
The Duchess waited at the door for a while, and was already annoyed. With a dark face, she said, "Do you think I came here willingly?"
"Oh, so Mother was forced to come? That's alright, no need to come in, go back!"
The Duchess was taken aback and was about to get angry when Song Yanyan tugged at her sleeve.
The Duchess swallowed her dissatisfaction and followed Duke Xun into the Xiaoyao Marquis's residence.
Apart from two cooks in their thirties or forties, all the servants in the Marquis's mansion were young men, all of whom were soldiers trained by Yunyang.
The yard was not small and was fairly clean, but apart from the tall, lush trees, there were no other flowers or plants, and it was clear that everything was in need of rebuilding.
Yin Jin'an led them into the living room, and Cheng Yu poured tea for Duke Xun and his entourage.
Duke Xun was speechless for a moment, then said with an awkward smile, "I remember you loved eating sugar triangles when you were little, so I asked Zhang Meng to go to Zhang's shop to buy some. They're fresh out of the oven, so have a taste."
Yin Jin'an said "thank you," even though he disliked sweets the most, but he didn't want to refuse Duke Xun's kindness.
Yin Jinzhuo said, "I heard that you and Grand Secretary Gu led troops to repel the rebels that day. Were they Wang Fen's troops?"
"What's wrong?"
"Why haven't I heard that Wang Fen has been rewarded?" Yin Jinzhuo looked completely harmless, but her words were sharp and cutting. "Wang Fen has been waiting to go to the battlefield to kill the enemy for more than ten years. This is a good opportunity for him to kill the enemy and make merit. Why not let him lead the troops?"
"Is it any of your business?"
"Oh, of course, he's your subordinate, that's none of my business. But the Eight Generals and the Seven Generals are all watching from the Duke's mansion! Wang Fen has risked everything to follow you, you have to give him some face, right?"
He smiled, gentle and refined, but Yin Jin'an knew that beneath that seemingly scholarly face lay a vicious and ruthless heart.
"What, are you trying to sow discord? Well, you're all alone now, so you're afraid I'll inherit the Yin family army? You can keep spreading rumors, but Wang Badao has suffered a great loss following me!"
"When did I spread rumors?"
"We're all smart people. Just because I can't be bothered with you doesn't mean I'm stupid enough to know nothing!"
Yin Jin'an looked at Yin Jinzhuo and said, "You've been climbing the social ladder by sowing discord your whole life? Oh dear, how did you fall down?"
Pei Yue watched Yin Jin'an confront Yin Jinzhuo without saying a word.
Since being stripped of her military power, she has become Yin Jinzhuo's punching bag.
She schemed and plotted to marry Yin Jinzhuo, hoping to become the wife of the heir apparent and the wife of the duke. Now, Yin Jinzhuo has nothing and is acting strangely.
Yin Jinzhuo called her a jinx, saying that other people's families could help them, but her family was really good, even though they were criminals whose families were wiped out.
The two argued all day long, and their clothes were torn until only the set they were wearing remained intact.
Seeing Yin Jinzhuo's humiliation, she felt inexplicably happy.
Lady Xunguo knew that Yin Jinzhuo was currently not up to par, but she was used to protecting her eldest son, and when she heard Yin Jinan say this, she immediately became furious.
“How can you speak to your brother like that? He was just kindly reminding you to be nicer to Wang Fen and his son, and not to hurt their feelings.”
"No need!" Yin Jin'an leaned back in her chair. "What else do you want to say? Speak up, and then let's leave!"
"You..." The Duchess, remembering the purpose of her visit, said patiently, "You are already nineteen years old. Others your age already have several children. Now that you have been granted a marquisate, you should behave yourself and correct your old bad habits."
"Is my mother going to arrange a marriage for me?"
"You are the eldest son of the Duke's family and have become a Marquis. You should choose a lady from a respectable family."
Yin Jin'an didn't know who she was talking about; upon hearing the name "young lady from a respectable family," Xie Zhaozhao immediately came to mind.
He used to scoff at "daughters of noble families" and even boasted that he would never marry anyone and would live alone!
But, marrying someone like Xie Zhaozhao would seem like a great idea.
He didn't say anything, and the Duchess assumed he was interested.
Yes, other girls who mature early can have concubines by the age of fourteen or fifteen. He's already nineteen, I don't believe he doesn't want women.
Yin Xiushan saw that Yin Jin'an was somewhat tempted and felt that this was an absolute opportunity to mend fences.
"Second son, don't worry. Even if you separate from the family, you will still be my son. Your mother will handle all the betrothal and marriage arrangements, and the dowry will be paid from public funds."
As soon as the Duke finished speaking, Pei Yue said with dissatisfaction, "Father, my second brother has divided the family property, and the dowry will not come from the Duke's mansion. It was agreed that he would get half of the family property..."
Yin Jinzhu remained silent, her eyes slightly red.
The Duchess took over the conversation, saying, "Part of the betrothal gifts will come from our private treasury, and the second son will contribute the rest himself."
Pei Yue said, "We can't give him our parents' private savings either."
Duke Xun was furious: "My things are mine, I can give them to whomever I want!"
“But that’s money for our descendants!” Pei Yue protested, “Why should we?”
The things that the parents-in-law kept in their private coffers will be considered their descendants' money after their death and should be divided equally between the two branches of the family.
"What 'descendants' money'? I'm still alive! So what if I want to give it to the second son?" The Duke was furious. "Eldest son, do you think so too?"
Yin Jinzhuo said sarcastically, "What can a son think? Even if Father gives it all to Second Brother, can I stop him?"
Yin Jin'an remained silent, watching them argue, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips.
Duke Xun said with a headache, "Eldest son, you don't need to be sarcastic. Your betrothal gifts were all paid for from the public funds, and the second son's should also be paid for from the public funds. When we get back, I'll take stock and bring them all to the second son's mansion."
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