Madam Xu's attitude was clear, leaving no room for negotiation.
Liu cursed inwardly, "This little girl Li Shiyue is so hard to handle. How come she doesn't even like the things her son sent her? Does she really think she's a noblewoman?"
Liu Shi always wore her heart on her sleeve. With wealth and status within her grasp, all that remained was the approval of Old Madam Xu. Her own desires hadn't been fulfilled, and Yang Shi, enumerating which young ladies had gone to the capital, paid no attention to anything else.
Madam Xu was too lazy to go see her, so she sent someone to fetch Xu Yunyang. When Xu Yunyang stepped into the mansion, he was stopped: "Third Young Master, the old lady wants you to go to Shousong Hall first after you return."
With the Lunar New Year approaching, Xu Yunyang no longer needed to go on duty. Today, he went out to play with his friends. Before he could even go back to change his clothes, he saw Lianchun from Shousongtang.
Without suspecting anything, Xu Yunyang instructed the servant behind him, "Go."
Lian Chun glanced at the wooden box in the servant's hand, then calmly blocked the way. Meeting Xu Yunyang's slightly puzzled gaze, she did not back down: "The old lady instructed that Third Young Master should not delay. As for this young man, he may come along as well."
Xu Yunyang looked suspiciously at the subtle smile on Lian Chun's face. He was unsure of what Old Madam Xu meant by this, and dared not make any rash moves. He led his servant straight to Shousong Hall.
Inside Shousong Hall, Madam Yang and her son Xu Yunci had long since left. Old Madam Xu, dressed in a casual dark blue jacket, was turning her Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, her eyes closed as if she were resting.
Granny Chang stood to one side. When she saw Lian Chun leading Xu Yunyang in, she gave Lian Chun and the other serving maids a single glance and they all retreated.
Having served Madam Xu for decades, how could she not tell whether Madam Xu was truly asleep or simply resting with her eyes closed? As Madam Xu rested with her eyes closed, Granny Chang also bowed her head, her face respectful, and stood to one side with her hands placed in front of her.
Without any instructions or tea being served, and seeing that Granny Chang remained silent and didn't even spare him a glance, Xu Yunci felt even more uneasy.
Taking two steps forward and walking around the brass incense burner, Xu Yunci suppressed his unease and said, "Grandson greets Grandmother. May I ask what urgent matter Grandmother has summoned me for?"
Although they are nominally grandmother and grandson, Xu Yunyang has rarely come over since he was a child, only occasionally accompanying his elders to pay their respects. Xu Yunyang is not unaware of how his maternal grandmother, Old Madam Xu, views the West Courtyard. If he were to say that Old Madam Xu summoned him today out of grandmotherly affection, who in the Xu family would believe it?
As soon as he finished speaking, no one paid any attention. Madam Xu kept her eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to everything around her.
Xu Yunyang looked at Granny Chang with a puzzled expression, hoping to get some help, but he was met with Granny Chang's unwavering gaze. Without his elders' permission, he dared not sit down or leave without authorization, and could only stand upright in place.
His gaze involuntarily fell on the brass incense burner beside him, the smoke from which seemed to swirl and drift upwards in mid-air. The fragrance lingering at his nose wasn't strong, yet it couldn't soothe the panic and unease in his heart.
After a long while, just as Xu Yunyang was about to lose his patience, Old Madam Xu opened her eyes and calmly looked at him: "You've come."
Xu Yunyang's legs under his robes moved slightly, a small movement that Old Madam Xu noticed but did not stop him: "Sit down."
Xu Yunyang sat down on the rosewood chair below Old Madam Xu with a sigh of relief, but he couldn't help but wonder what this meant.
"Your mother came today and talked about wanting to find you a wife. She called you here to ask for your opinion." Old Madam Xu's gaze was calm. Xu Yunyang stared at her for a long time, completely unaware of what had happened at Shousong Hall before he arrived.
Xu Yunyang was secretly delighted. He knew that if you were a little girl and treated her well, it would be easy for her to fall in love with you. Besides, his little cousin was rich and beautiful. Apart from her family background, she was a good match for him.
A hint of joy appeared on his face, and he became increasingly certain that Madam Xu had summoned him today for the marriage between the Rongguo Duke's Mansion and the Yunyang Earl's Mansion.
"The marriage is arranged by the parents and the matchmaker, and the grandson listens to his mother and grandmother."
Looking at the similar features between Xu Yunyang and Liu Shi, Old Madam Xu felt a tightness in her chest and sneered inwardly: "Is that so? I heard from your mother that she has taken a liking to a girl. Tell me which family she is from. Don't worry, I've already told your mother that as long as she comes from a respectable family and has good character, it doesn't matter whether she comes from a noble or not family."
Madam Xu's gaze fell on the servant behind him: "What's that? Let me see."
Xu Yunyang hesitated, and the servant was also looking at him. Only after receiving his nod did the servant step forward with the wooden box. When he opened it, he found ordinary little things that belonged to a young woman.
Madam Xu picked up the sachet inside, noticing its brand-new design and the embroidered pattern of red plum blossoms. She glanced at it and put it back, not giving Xu Yunyang a chance to answer: "Perfect timing. After you're engaged, I can also help you find a suitable match for Jiaojiao."
"Cousin?" Xu Yunyang looked surprised, seemingly quite taken aback.
Madam Xu nodded: "That's right. Although Jiaojiao's grandmother and I arranged her marriage to the Xu family, Jiaojiao probably sees you all as her brothers. So I thought I'd keep her for two more years until she's eighteen and ready to get married."
"But today your mother reminded me that even though I love Jiaojiao, I don't necessarily have to confine her to the Xu family. There are quite a few noble and respectable families in the capital. If she marries someone in the capital who truly loves her, it will not be in vain for my love for Jiaojiao."
Madam Xu paused, and although she was smiling, there was no intimacy in her eyes when she was with Xu Yunci: "Look at me, I've been talking all this to myself, and you still haven't told your grandmother which family's daughter you've taken a fancy to."
"Although your father didn't come from my womb, you are still my grandson. After all, you'll spend your whole life with him. You can choose any wife you like."
Having said that, even if Xu Yunyang didn't understand, it would be a waste of his minor achievements in the previous dynasty. The fact that Old Madam Xu mentioned his mother first was to let him know that she knew what they, mother and son, were thinking.
Bringing up Li Shiyue's marriage again was a way of telling him that Old Madam Xu had other plans, and that Old Madam Xu would approve of anyone in the capital except Li Shiyue. It was a slap followed by a sweet treat; the last sentence was meant to appease him.
Although Xu Yunyang was the closest in age to Xu Yunci, he was not as composed as his elder brother. After understanding what Old Madam Xu meant, his displeasure was finally revealed on his face.
Seeing this, Old Madam Xu calmly picked up her teacup and took a sip of the weak tea. She didn't rush to ask any questions, giving Xu Yunyang ample time to think.
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