After returning home, Jin thought it over and over again and was reluctant to give up the opportunity to marry into the Yongle Marquis's family. She felt that since it was impossible to get through to the Li family, it might be easier to get through to Lin Yuqiao.
So Jin invited Lin Yuqiao to her room and began to persuade her earnestly.
She thought that although Lin Yuqiao was usually quite shrewd, she was still just a teenage girl, and the Yongle Marquis's Mansion was one of the most prestigious families among the earldoms in the capital. Why wouldn't she want to marry him?
"Young Master was too young before, which is why he acted so recklessly. With a talent like you, how could Young Master not be fond of you after you marry him? At that time, those concubines and maids will no longer be pleasing to his eye."
Knowing what Lin Yuqiao was worried about, Jin mainly tried to persuade her in that direction.
Lin Yuqiao didn't respond, but quietly listened to Jin's rambling while holding her teacup, her eyes fixed on Jin's eyes.
In her past life, Lin Yuqiao had read in a popular science magazine that people don't realize their pupils dilate and their eyes wander when they lie. Sure enough, Jin Shi was like that, always avoiding her gaze.
Feeling guilty under Lin Yuqiao's gaze, mainly because Jin felt that Lin Yuqiao's quietness was a bit unsettling, so she couldn't continue her solo performance.
"What are your own thoughts, little sister?"
With a sigh, Lin Yuqiao said, "Does my sister-in-law think I'm that stupid? Would my own mother harm me?"
Lin Yuqiao's direct and precise rebuke left Jin speechless, unable to say anything more.
Although Lin Yuqiao agreed with Jin's praise of her appearance and felt that she was extremely good-looking and that the young Marquis of Yongle would not dislike her, why should she not go to a good family and instead marry a scumbag, letting Lin Yuqi and his wife get the better deal?
It has to be said that in this era, there were no cosmetics to conceal blemishes, no colored contact lenses, and no photo editing apps. People looked exactly as they were, with their strengths and weaknesses immediately apparent. There was no way to hide them, so there was a severe lack of beautiful women. Most young ladies from wealthy families were either plain-looking or just average-looking.
Even in modern times, without plastic surgery and cosmetics, there aren't that many beautiful women.
With a good family background and exceptional beauty, Lin Yuqiao was dealt a winning hand. She should have been playing her cards carefully, so why did she have to be so foolish as to act like a saint and feed the wolves to the slaughter?
Having already harbored ulterior motives, Kim was now embarrassed after being exposed in a single sentence.
However, she didn't think she had any bad intentions; she just wanted to benefit from her sister's fame. As a younger sister, it was only right for her to help her brother. Besides, becoming the Lady of the Marquis wouldn't be a bad deal for Lin Yuqiao.
"Sister, how can you be so rude? I'm your sister-in-law, after all."
Jin's face was too disgusting, and Lin Yuqiao was unwilling to continue beating around the bush with her. She quickly said, "The Yongle Marquis's mansion is so nice, and my sister-in-law has a younger sister. Let's leave this opportunity to her. I am of humble appearance and I'm afraid I won't be of any interest. If my sister-in-law has no further instructions, I will return."
Since there was no result, Jin didn't want to keep her any longer. She said a few awkward words and watched as Lin Yuqiao gracefully got up and left.
"She really thinks she's something! A young lady like her, always acting all frivolous and pretentious, she's not presentable at all!" Jin spat and cursed as she watched Lin Yuqiao walk away.
After leaving Jin's place, Lin Yuqiao originally intended to go to Li's courtyard, but thinking that Li was worried about her marriage recently and would probably only add to her troubles if she saw her, she turned back to her own courtyard halfway there.
Originally, Madam Li hadn't planned to find a good match for Lin Yuqiao so quickly. Now, in order to avoid the marriage with the Yongle Marquis's family, she started to get anxious. As a result, when the time came, it became difficult to find a suitable husband.
Those whose family backgrounds are a good match for Lin Yuqiao are either already married or too young. Of the suitable ones, half are already engaged, and the other half are either unattractive or have problems with their character or other aspects.
Furthermore, it's not the time for the autumn imperial examinations yet, and talented young men from other places haven't come to the capital. Lin Yuqiao's fourth and fifth brothers are still studying at Nanlu Academy, and they don't have suitable candidates around them. Those who are of similar age and unmarried are either from poor families or have too much ambition.
Lin Yuqiao was also troubled. She rolled around on the tatami with her baby in her arms, which disturbed the baby's sleep. The unhappy baby slapped her hand with its paw.
When Granny Sun saw this, she quickly had someone take the milk cake away and asked the head maid Qingming to get some medicine to apply.
The maids who used to serve Lin Yuqiao have all been married off because they are getting old. The maids who serve her now are all new people who have joined in recent years and are close to Lin Yuqiao in age. They will follow her when she gets married.
Lin Yuqiao casually named them according to the solar terms. The four head maids who served her closely were Qingming, Mangxia, Guyu, and Xiaoman.
"You're about to get engaged, how can you be so careless? What if you get a scar?" Granny Sun couldn't help but scold Lin Yuqiao.
Sticking out her tongue, Lin Yuqiao obediently applied the medicine and then coquettishly asked Gu Yu, who was serving her, to get her some snacks.
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west; whether you're sad or happy, it's still just another day.
In her current predicament, only delicious food can comfort her.
After receiving Jin's gift, Jin's cousin-in-law quickly helped her introduce Lin Yuqiao to the old lady of Yongle Marquis.
It's said that Lin Yuqiao is very beautiful and comes from a good family, and the old lady of Yongle Marquis was also interested, wanting to meet her in person. However, Jin Shi disappeared after mentioning her once, which secretly angered her sister-in-law Luo Shi. Jin Shi was the one who asked her to be the matchmaker in the first place, so why did she run away halfway through? What kind of nonsense is this?
Luo then personally visited Jin at the Chenliang Marquis's residence. Upon hearing Jin stammering that the Chenliang Marquis's wife did not agree to the marriage and was resisting fiercely, and that they had no way to resolve the matter, Luo became even more furious.
Luo finally understood that it was Jin's family who had taken it upon themselves to make the proposal without consulting her, resulting in her being stuck in this predicament.
"What kind of mess is this? Do you think I'll trust you again in the future?"
Luo stormed off in anger, while Jin stood frozen in place, feeling awkward. She had been confident, and indeed, Chen Lianghou and Zhang had both agreed. In the mansion, it was always the old lady Zhang who made the decisions, but she hadn't expected Li to be so stubborn and domineering.
Li was absolutely adamant about not agreeing, and they really couldn't force her. If someone died, she couldn't bear the reputation of having driven her mother-in-law to her death.
Although Madam Luo apologized profusely to the old lady of Yongle Marquis's household, placing all the blame on Madam Jin, the old lady was unwilling to let the matter rest. She had already sent people to inquire further, and those who had seen Lin Yuqiao at the banquet all said that she was indeed exceptionally beautiful.
Lady Yongle, having lost her son at a young age, cherished her only grandson more than her own eyes, and dreamed of finding him a wife so that he could change his sexual orientation. Therefore, she entrusted Lady Luo to formally propose marriage at the Chenliang Marquis's residence, intending to arrange a meeting between the two families.
Upon hearing that the Yongle Marquis's family had formally proposed marriage, Madam Li was extremely anxious. She was worried every day that Madam Zhang might have agreed without her consent. She also hurriedly took Lin Yuqiao to matchmaking banquets, hoping to find a suitable candidate and settle down as soon as possible.
However, the Yongle Marquis's family, being the maternal family of the Crown Princess, was also somewhat proud. When they heard that the Chenliang Marquis's family had not immediately agreed and that Madam Li was still busy looking at other women, the old lady of the Yongle Marquis got angry. Wasn't this a clear case of looking down on her grandson?
So the old lady spread the word through familiar relatives and friends that she wanted to arrange a marriage with the Chen Liang Marquis's family. Such rumors always spread very quickly, and other noble families wouldn't risk offending the Yongle Marquis's family to snatch their son away.
Therefore, for a time, Li really couldn't find anyone willing to marry her daughter, and several families who were originally interested also backed down because of the powerful influence of the Yongle Marquis's mansion.
This predicament left Li Shi utterly distressed, and while attending a flower-viewing banquet hosted by her in-laws, the eldest son of Ruyang, she couldn't help but confide in the eldest princess and burst into tears.
Princess Ruyang was He's maternal grandmother and also Li's elder. She had heard about the Chenliang Marquis's family before. The Yongle Marquis's family had indeed acted unethically, and their behavior was no different from forcing a marriage.
"Sigh, I understand your heart as a mother, but they went too far. Qiao'er is so beautiful and lovely, I like her very much too. Don't worry, that child is blessed."
After offering some words of advice, Princess Ruyang took Li's hand and whispered in her ear, "Someone asked me to arrange a marriage for Qiao'er. I wonder if you would agree?"
"Which family is it?" Li Shi immediately perked up and quickly asked in a low voice.
"It's the Prince of Huaiyang's family. In this situation, only the Prince of Huaiyang's intervention has prevented the Marquis of Yongle's family from continuing to make things difficult for them."
Because of Lin Yucheng, the Li family and the Huaiyang Prince's Mansion were somewhat acquainted. Every year on the three major festivals and five birthdays, the Li family would send gifts to the Prince's Mansion, and the Huaiyang Prince's Mansion would always return the gifts generously.
I recall that the Prince of Huaiyang had already married, and his wife, Lady Wang, was a well-known virtuous and blessed member of the royal family, with both a son and a daughter.
Li's enthusiasm instantly faded. "Qiao'er is the legitimate daughter of a marquis, and her background is no less than that of a princess. How can I let her become a concubine?"
Even if a concubine has a high rank, she's still just a concubine. Besides, the princess has both a reputation and a son; Lin Yuqiao will never rise above her station after marrying into the princess's household.
Knowing what Li was thinking, Princess Ruyang continued to persuade her, genuinely wanting the best for her in-laws.
“If it weren’t for the current situation, I wouldn’t have spoken up for the Prince of Huaiyang. But think about it, the Yongle Marquis’s mansion is currently very powerful, and no one dares to offend it. If this drags on any longer, your matriarch might decide on the matter herself. If it goes through, Qiao’er will be ruined, and if it doesn’t, her reputation will be damaged, and she won’t be able to find a good family to marry into.”
At this point, the eldest princess sighed inwardly for Lin Yuqiao. It was indeed somewhat unfair for a legitimate daughter of a marquis to be relegated to the position of a concubine. But remembering the secret the Prince of Huaiyang had told her, if Lin Yuqiao were to truly marry into the Yongle Marquis's household, it would be a complete disaster.
The eldest princess continued whispering in Li's ear, "I think you probably don't know this, but although the Yongle Marquis's mansion has always kept it a secret, that young marquis is a homosexual. If she really marries him, what hope will Qiao'er have for the rest of her life? After all, the Prince of Huaiyang is a young and talented man, good at his duties and highly regarded by the Emperor. He is a well-known virtuous prince. His princess is also a good person, and there is no scandal in the Prince's mansion. If you agree, the Prince of Huaiyang will personally go to the palace to ask the Imperial Concubine for an imperial decree, so that Qiao'er can enter the mansion in a grand and glorious manner."
Hearing this shocking secret, Li gasped, inwardly cursing Jin for her heartlessness. Regardless, the Yongle Marquis's family was truly no longer a suitable marriage partner.
Although she desperately didn't want Lin Yuqiao to become a concubine, Madam Li didn't dare to refuse outright at this crucial juncture, and only said that she would go back and think about it again.
However, after returning to the manor, Chen Lianghou's words plunged Li Shi's heart into despair.
“I know you care about Qiao’er, but there are rumors going around that Qiao’er is going to marry into the Yongle Marquis’s mansion. Even if you want to protect Qiao’er’s reputation, you shouldn’t be stubborn anymore.”
In the past, because Madam Li had made such a big fuss and resolutely refused the marriage proposal from the Yongle Marquis's family, Marquis Chen Liang had also been giving her the cold shoulder and hadn't visited Madam Li's courtyard. Now, he felt that Madam Li was at her wit's end and would definitely soften her attitude, so he wanted to persuade her again.
"Please don't rush, let me think about it some more." Madam Li spoke softly and gently to Marquis Chen Liang, giving him the illusion that she had changed her attitude.
"Don't hesitate any longer, decide quickly." Therefore, although Chen Lianghou continued to urge her, he was not too impatient.
Seeing the current situation, Li knew that if she didn't make a decision soon, she would harm Lin Yuqiao. Therefore, she gritted her teeth and sent a letter to Princess Ruyang.
"If you want to blame someone, blame your mother for being incompetent. Although being a concubine is a lower rank, it's still better than marrying into the Yongle Marquis's household. If you didn't have no other choice, would your mother want you to give up being a proper Marquis's wife and become a concubine?"
Hearing Li Shi reveal the secret of the young Marquis Yongle, Lin Yuqiao felt helpless. Which is worse, being a wife of a gay man or being a concubine?
It has to be the former.
"Mother, don't worry. This is my fate. No matter where I am, I will make the most of my life. Besides, I'm so beautiful, how could the Prince of Huaiyang not like me?"
She forced a smile and comforted Li, but after returning home, Lin Yuqiao secretly cried under the covers at night.
Over the years, she had learned the methods of a mistress and was familiar with all kinds of housekeeping and management. She never expected that one day she would become a concubine!
She could never wear red, her children would be subordinate to the legitimate son, had no right to inherit, and had no hope of even trying. Such a cruel reality would be unacceptable to anyone with high aspirations, even if it meant death. Although Lin Yuqiao was usually optimistic and believed in the principle of "pragmatism is the best policy," she was still reeling from the blow.
After receiving the Princess's reply, the Prince of Huaiyang went to the palace to request the imperial decree as promised.
He knew almost all the secrets of the prominent families in Kyoto, and he was well aware that the young Marquis Yongle was a homosexual.
After hearing that the Yongle Marquis's family was forcing him into marriage, the Prince of Huaiyang was weighing his options.
Lin Yucheng is currently serving in an outlying region and is a rare talent; he will definitely need to utilize him. Lin Yuqiao is Lin Yucheng's only younger sister, and he certainly wouldn't want to see her suffer. Who knows, he might be lured away by the Crown Prince for her sake.
Lin Yucheng is a very responsible person towards his family, something the Prince of Huaiyang knows very well. The Yongle Marquis's family is the Crown Princess's maternal family; such blatant forced marriage might not be without the Crown Prince's involvement.
If they manage to control Lin Yucheng using Lin Yuqiao, wouldn't all the hard work I put into nurturing him over the years be for nothing? Lin Yucheng absolutely cannot be dragged over by the Crown Prince.
It just so happens that he was short of a concubine in his household. By taking Lin Yuqiao into the household, Lin Yucheng would become his half-brother-in-law, and naturally he would be even more devoted to him.
The Prince of Huaiyang had calculated everything perfectly, and when the eunuch delivering the imperial decree arrived at the Marquis's residence once again, Marquis Chen Liang was so angry he could hardly stand up.
This is the second time. One or two people acted first and reported later without informing him. They don't think he's just a figurehead as the head of the family.
Even Madam Zhang was implying that she lacked decorum, preferring to be a concubine rather than a proper wife of a marquis, thus bringing shame upon her ancestors. After all, even if a concubine of a prince's mansion had a high rank, she was still just a concubine, and the marquis's mansion couldn't be considered a proper in-law.
While Lin Yucheng was still serving in a post away from home, Lin Yuqiao inherited his tragedy, being treated coldly by Chen Lianghou for over a month. However, Lin Yuqiao was, after all, his only daughter and someone he had loved, so no matter how unwilling he was, he ultimately had to accept it.
Once the imperial decree for the arranged marriage was issued, Lin Yuqiao began to stay in her own courtyard to prepare for her wedding.
In any case, at least she doesn't have to be a wife of a gay man anymore.
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