The words were written clearly in black and white, and even the yellowed marks at the four corners reminded Yunyangbo that this was something that could not be faked.
But he had no recollection of it at all. Suddenly, he remembered something and glared angrily at Li Shiyue. Li Shiyue's calmness only made him more certain. No wonder the old lady insisted on arranging for him to meet her before she died. She was determined to get on the good side of the Rongguo Duke's mansion.
It turned out that the old lady had already planned ahead. When she kept him by her bedside, she was saying that the Yunyang Earl's Mansion was gradually declining and should continue to rely on the Rongguo Duke's Mansion no matter what. With Li Shiyue's connection, as long as Li Shiyue came to the capital and the old lady of the Xu family doted on her, and Li Shiyue married into the Xu family, how could the Earl's Mansion not prosper?
It seems that even in death, the old lady was thinking about securing a guarantee for Li Shiyue. If the truth is true, how could Li Shiyue leave the Yunyang Marquis's mansion? It's likely that her selfish and scumbag father will exploit her to the fullest extent of her value.
He opened his mouth, his lips moved up and down a few times, but he didn't know what to say.
The seal on this seal belongs to him. No matter where he goes, even in front of the officials, he has no way to reason with them. Otherwise, he wouldn't have the peace he has now.
Recalling the furious face of the Emperor of Fu Ning Palace, the Earl of Yunyang's legs went weak, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. He forced himself to stand up straight.
"Father, you may keep this if you wish. Otherwise, if anyone from the Li family comes to ask again in the future, Father will be able to explain to outsiders that it is not because your daughter is unfilial. Father is far away in Yunzhong County. Thinking of my grandmother's heartbreak, Father sent his daughter to my grandmother's side to fulfill my filial duty."
"Although Mother is gone, she was Father's first wife. How could the Duke's Mansion forget Father, his son-in-law? This time, when Father fell into trouble, my uncles and cousins used a lot of connections, and even in front of the officials, they managed to ensure that Father could return to the Earl's Mansion unscathed. This is already a great favor from the Emperor."
"This contract only says that I was raised by my maternal grandmother. The dowry was a kind gesture from my grandmother and father, who were afraid that I would not have enough money. So they let their daughter manage it herself. It was also my aunt who taught me how to manage the accounts."
“When my younger brothers grow up, they will inevitably have to take the imperial examinations to become officials. With my daughter by my maternal grandmother’s side, she can learn a lot of different things. Father, don’t you think so?”
Li Shiyue spoke in a gentle and soft tone, concealing her heavy nasal tone, as if she were a completely different person from before. Her words seemed solely intended to save face for both sides and to give Lord Yunyang a way out.
Undeterred, Lord Yunyang looked at the contract in his hand again, but in the end he could only sigh and accept his fate, like a wilted eggplant, no longer arguing.
After leaving the residence of the Minister of Rites, it had been some time since the last cup of tea was brewed. Aunt Shu stood not far away, her hair styled in the simplest slanted bun, adorned with a plain silver hairpin. She looked worried and glanced at the main gate of the Minister's residence from time to time.
Li Shiyue saw this all. When Uncle Yunyang came out, he didn't even greet Li Shiyue. He went straight to Aunt Shu's direction and disappeared from their sight in a huff.
"Tsk, this old bastard, even after getting out of prison, still hasn't forgotten about the beauty in his arms." Xu Huailou always said what he meant, and seemed to realize what he had said. He hurriedly looked at Li Shiyue, and seeing that she didn't seem to have heard him, he quickly stopped talking.
As soon as Xu Yunci turned his head, he saw a calculating glint in Li Shiyue's eyes as she turned her head, like a little fox showing its sharp claws when it spotted its prey in the forest.
"What kind of crazy idea are you thinking of?"
Li Shiyue smiled and looked in the direction where Yunyangbo and Shushi had left: "Mother's first wife has been gone for many years. According to the rules, Father can remarry."
Xu Yunci was surprised that his little cousin did not side with the Shu family, but instead took the initiative to bring up the matter of finding a second wife for the Earl of Yunyang.
"We need to find someone capable, someone who can keep Father's household in order and be good at managing the household, so that concubines like Madam Shu can have a place to stay."
Li Shiyue's eyes flickered. She couldn't do this herself, so she could only trouble Xu Yunci again.
Xu Yunci chuckled helplessly, immediately understanding Li Shiyue's meaning: "Okay, I understand."
"However, we need to be discreet and not let anyone know that this is related to us." Li Shiyue leaned closer and deliberately lowered her voice so that Xu Huailou, who was walking ahead, wouldn't hear.
"Us?" Xu Yunci raised an eyebrow, his meaningful gaze lingering on Li Shiyue's cheek.
Before Li Shiyue could speak, Xu Huailou, who was walking ahead, stopped and looked puzzled: "What are you two whispering about? Hurry up and go back. Mother will be worried if she can't find Yan Yan after her afternoon nap."
Xu Yunci acted swiftly. As soon as the Earl of Yunyang arrived at his residence, someone came to propose marriage. It was said that a young woman over twenty-five wanted to find a husband, but due to the mourning period at home and her own reluctance to marry, she had waited until she was twenty-five.
She wasn't strikingly beautiful, but she was dignified and pretty, and her personality seemed gentle and kind. After thinking about it, Uncle Yunyang figured he would have to marry a proper wife sooner or later, and with some people secretly pushing things along, he simply agreed, not caring that the girl's family was just a merchant family.
Among the social classes of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, most noble families looked down on merchants. Although the young woman married late, she was still a virgin, and within two months of their marriage, the Earl of Yunyang was captivated by her.
Until one day, when he wanted to take a few more concubines as usual, the Lady of Yunyang cleaned up the inner quarters of the mansion, leaving only Concubine Shu and one other concubine to serve him, while the rest were sent away to be settled. In any case, the Earl of Yunyang would never see her again.
The Earl of Yunyang planned to go to the accounting office to get the silver in a few days and secretly bring the person back. Unexpectedly, the entire Earl's mansion had already been tightly controlled by the Earl of Yunyang's wife, who also kept the Earl of Yunyang in check, preventing him from indulging in wine and women. Gradually, the Earl of Yunyang's mansion began to take on a more proper appearance.
By the time the news reached the capital, Li Shiyue was already wearing a light silk robe newly made by Yang's men, lying in a rocking chair eating chilled melon in the shade.
"Moreover, the lady also keeps several young men and women by her side and hires tutors every day. Even if the Earl wanted to, he couldn't turn the tide."
Chunling spoke with a smile, she was overjoyed to hear the news these days. If it weren't so far away, she really wanted to meet this lady and see what kind of temperament she had.
Li Shiyue swallowed the bitter melon in her mouth: "Don't rush to listen to the laughter yet. Have you prepared everything I asked you to prepare?"
Chunling nodded: "Don't worry, Miss. Everything was prepared according to your instructions. I noticed that I added a few more things. I'll take them to the gatehouse in a bit and have the steward make a trip to the dock."
No wonder Li Shiyue kept it in mind. Since her stepmother entered the family, although they hadn't seen each other, she would send things every half month, from everyday hairpins and jewelry to later silver notes. The letters were filled with brief greetings, showing her excellent social skills.
She gave Li Shiyue some gifts as well, something that was better than causing an unpleasant scene.
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