Chapter 147: The eldest daughter-in-law of the family apologizes, not only does she not care about her younger sister-in-law...
Cen listened to the maid's report and was stunned for a moment. After thinking for a while, she asked, "Have you found out what they are here for? Besides Old Madam Yin and the old lady, who else is in the room?"
Mrs. Cen felt a little uneasy, thinking about the monk's prediction and Mrs. Yin's usual behavior and temperament, and a bad guess came to her mind. She just wanted to ask the maid whether Mrs. Yin came to exchange a marriage?
In her opinion, when Old Lady Yin gave the jade bracelet to Danruo at the flower-viewing banquet, it was considered as settling the marriage of the two children. With so many people watching, it would have been invalid if it was decided based on the fortune-telling of a high monk. Even if it was Lu Danyan from the second house who got married, she and her daughter would have no idea how the noble ladies and girls in the capital would have laughed at her.
As the wife of the Duke of Wei, she can't afford to lose face like this.
Even if this marriage is off the table, Lu Danyan won't get away with it!
The maid saw her face was gloomy and a bit nervous. She shook her head and said, "I only know that Old Madam Yin has arrived, and the nanny behind her is holding a box. The old lady left the second and young ladies in the room, and for some reason she sent the eldest daughter out."
After the maid said this, Cen's face became even uglier. She suddenly stood up with a sullen face and was about to walk out.
Seeing her mistress's actions, Madam Qi quickly stepped forward to advise, "Madam, please don't rush over and offend others. Besides, Madam just apologized for staying here to take care of the Second Miss due to her fever, yet it's only been a short while since she recovered. What do you think the old mistress is thinking? What do you think people outside will say about you, the Duke's wife?"
As Aunt Qi spoke, she looked at Lu Danruo who was leaning on the soft couch with a bit of pleading, wanting Lu Danruo to persuade Madam. What was the point of Madam going over there like this? No matter what Madam Yin was thinking, could Madam still stop her?
Old Madam Yin said that she didn't want to harm the second young lady and let her end up like Pei An's two previous fiancées. Could the lady still force the second young lady to marry Pei An and enter the Duke Dingguo's Mansion?
Now I just hope that Old Lady Yin will come to tell her to call off the marriage with the Duke of Weiguo and not to choose the eldest daughter Lu Danyan.
Lu Danruo naturally thought of what Aunt Qi could think of. She clenched the handkerchief tightly in her hand and said with a hint of sarcasm, "What's the point of Mother going over now? Aren't we mother and daughter enough of being laughed at by others?"
"After all, Madam Yin has only expressed some interest, and the two families haven't exchanged engagement letters to finalize the marriage, so it doesn't really mean anything. Besides, I'm the eldest daughter of the Duke of Wei's family, and my status is no less than Pei An's. Do I really have to rush to marry into the Duke of Ding's family? You're not ashamed of your daughter, but you are ashamed of yourself?"
These words were Lu Danruo's thoughts, but they were also filled with resentment. Not wanting to marry Pei An was one thing, and even the fact that Pei An, due to the monk's predictions, chose a second-born daughter from another family was another matter, and she wouldn't dwell on it. But if Old Lady Yin chose her cousin Lu Danyan, how could she not feel resentment and anger? Her marriage was clearly hers, but it was snatched away by her cousin. What would people outside say about her?
Cen's heart ached when she heard her daughter's words. She regained her composure and naturally didn't want to rush over and make a fool of herself. She simply instructed the little maid, "Go keep an eye on the old lady and find out why Old Lady Yin came here today."
The maid replied "yes", bowed and stepped back.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Madam Yin and Madam Dou of Qingde Courtyard explained their purpose and said with a hint of guilt, "Originally, I had my eyes on the second young lady of your mansion. Who would have thought that before the marriage was finalized, there would be a rumor about the fortune-telling by the eminent monk. Those words also fell into the ears of An'er. He came to me and said that he dared not treat the fortune-telling as nonsense, for fear that if the marriage failed, it would harm the second young lady of your mansion. I also agreed with his idea, so I came to apologize to you in person, old lady. However, I still want to marry into your mansion. I heard that your eldest young lady has not yet been arranged to marry. She is well-educated, gentle and virtuous. I wonder if you are willing to let her go?"
Old Madam Yin's words were very straightforward and she explained the matter clearly in just a few words.
Cui Lingyan, sitting downstairs, was somewhat surprised to hear Old Lady Yin say this. However, after thinking about what she had heard about Old Lady Yin's usual temperament, she felt that Old Lady Yin's words were not too abrupt. The Old Lady had always valued the family background of the Duke of Weiguo's mansion, and since the eldest daughter of the family was not suitable, she naturally switched to the daughter of the second daughter.
Madam Dou remained silent for a long moment. She glanced at Second Madam He, who looked nervous and pleading. After a moment's thought, she spoke, "This concerns the marriages of the younger generation; it's not something that can be easily settled. However, it's understandable that you're concerned about the monk's fortune-telling. After all, the elders have only recently begun to make plans, and the children's engagement cards haven't been exchanged, so we can just ignore it. After all, there are still concerns to be made."
"As for Yan-ya-tou, let's not rush this matter. I suggest we take the horoscopes to a temple and have a senior monk look at the two children. If they're compatible, we can move on. If even the horoscopes don't match, wouldn't we elders have worked in vain?"
Madam Dou did not agree immediately. He was a little nervous and her expression changed slightly. Fortunately, she heard the next sentence that the two children's horoscopes should be matched first. He finally felt relieved.
Old Lady Yin also knew that Old Lady Dou was a strong person, so this response was half her agreement. A smile appeared on her face, and her eyes fell on Cui Lingyan. She said with a smile, "I came here today to bring an apology gift to the Second Young Lady. Although the monk's fortune-telling was not what I expected, the Second Young Lady still suffered injustice in the exchange marriage. I would like to trouble the Crown Prince's wife to help deliver this apology gift to the Second Young Lady, and tell her that when the Second Young Lady gets married, I will prepare a generous dowry as compensation."
Madam Yin acted very thoughtfully. After all, as she said, she had no control over the fortune-telling by the monk.
Now he has come in person, and although it is a marriage exchange, he has also prepared an apology gift for Lu Danruo, and said that he will give her a generous dowry when Lu Danruo gets married in the future. Such arrangements can be considered as thoughtfulness.
What else can they do? Do Cen and Lu Danruo have to make a scene and force Lu Danruo to marry Pei An?
Cui Lingyan couldn't refuse Madam Yin's words. After all, given her status, Madam Yin would never personally apologize to Lu Danruo. Sending her this apology was already a gesture of consideration for both Cen and Lu Danruo. Thinking this way, she could only stand up and agree with a smile.
Madam Dou said to her, "Ask Madam Sun to go with you. I just happened to get two cans of top-quality Liu'an Guapian tea. You can take them to your mother-in-law and Danruo. You don't have to send someone all the way there."
Cui Lingyan knew that the old lady was afraid that she would be angered by Cen in the past, so she felt warm in her heart and nodded in agreement.
She bowed and left. Nanny Sun took the sandalwood box from Nanny Qin, took two cans of tea and accompanied her out of Qingdeyuan.
As soon as she came out, Nanny Sun sighed, "Now, I'm afraid there will be no peace in the mansion again."
Cui Lingyan knew what she meant. Previously, Cen had argued with He, her younger sister-in-law, over the monk's fortune-telling, and even resorted to violence. Now that Old Lady Yin had come and indeed changed the candidate to Lu Danyan, Cen wouldn't think that Old Lady Yin and Pei An were being considerate, lest Lu Danruo's marriage prove the monk's words and end in a bad outcome. She would simply feel that Second Lady He and her cousin Lu Danyan had snatched the marriage that should have belonged to Lu Danruo.
Cui Lingyan thought for a moment and said, "Grandma, it's hard to refuse. The Duke of Dingguo's Mansion is of equal status to ours, and my aunt wants our eldest daughter to marry into the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion. Now that Old Madam Yin has come to apologize because of the fortune-telling, there's no reason for Grandma to refuse."
If they didn't agree to it, not only Cen and Lu Danruo would feel bad, but Second Madam He and Lu Danyan would also feel bad.
Nanny Sun smiled and said, "That's true. Besides, a marriage between the two families is a good thing. It's better for the eldest daughter to marry into the Duke Dingguo's mansion than the second daughter. With the second daughter's temper, how could she become a sister-in-law to Princess Chun'an? The old lady was reluctant before, but it was hard to persuade her. Now, with the monk's prediction and the arrival of the old lady herself, although it's an exchange of marriage, the two families didn't actually exchange engagement letters before. The old lady also prepared an apology, which is enough to give face to the eldest lady and the second daughter. If they continue to make a fuss, it will make both families lose face."
The two of them walked all the way to the Peony Courtyard. When they reached the gate, Nanny Sun said to Cui Lingyan, "The eldest lady and the second young lady are quick-tempered. Young lady, please be careful not to let the second young lady get angry and bump into you."
Cui Lingyan nodded. She would be careful and attentive even without Nanny Sun telling her. After all, she was pregnant now. How could she not protect the baby in her belly?
"I know, thank you for thinking of me, Ma." Cui Lingyan thanked.
Nanny Sun finally understood why the Old Lady and the Crown Prince were so satisfied with the Young Madam. Who could not like the Young Madam with such a personality?
Only the eldest lady and the second young lady were not clear about what was going on. The quarrels between the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law, and the aunt and the sister-in-law were so chaotic that they made a fool of themselves in front of outsiders.
Nanny Sun walked in front and entered the Peony Courtyard with Cui Lingyan.
Since marrying into the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion, Cui Lingyan has come to the Peony Courtyard only a few times. She used to come to pay her respects, but later she had a bad relationship with her mother-in-law, Cen. After the incident between Old Lady Mei and the old man of the Cen family, Cen became more and more displeased with her as a daughter-in-law, and simply sent someone to tell her that she didn't need to come to pay her respects.
Cui Lingyan had no intention of putting in the effort to be a good daughter-in-law, so she obediently stopped coming to the Peony Courtyard.
When I entered the Peony Courtyard today, I felt that the courtyard was extremely quiet. Two maids in emerald green jackets were standing in the corridor, quietly, and the atmosphere was very depressing.
Seeing Cui Lingyan and Nanny Sun coming over, their expressions froze. One stepped forward and bowed, while the other lifted the curtain and passed the message inside.
After a while, the curtain was drawn and Nanny Qi came out of the room and led the two of them in.
When Cui Lingyan explained her purpose, Cen's face immediately darkened. She said sarcastically, "It's just a gift of apology, but why did you bother coming to the Mudan Courtyard in person? How dare I, your mother-in-law, order you around?"
"Or is it that you, Danruo's sister-in-law, the eldest daughter-in-law, not only don't care about your sister-in-law, but instead take advantage of her misfortune and come here to watch her make a fool of herself?"
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