Chapter 154 Unless the Third Young Lady is willing to be a concubine
What was said without malice may have been taken to heart by the listener.
Madam Chu's expression changed.
But she didn't have time to say anything.
Since Minister Chu and Lu Yuanli both got up and went out to greet them, she could only follow them out to welcome the Prince of Yan.
Yan Cang was wearing court robes, clearly having just come from the palace and not even having had time to go back to the Prince's residence to change.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Highness, the Prince of Yan."
"Your humble servant greets Your Highness, the Prince of Yan."
Yan Cang glanced at everyone, said nothing, and stepped into the hall.
Yan Jinyue stood up and offered the main seat to her: "Royal brother, please sit here."
Then walk to the lower right seat and sit down.
Yan Cang walked up to Chu Yunjin and raised his hand to wipe the fine beads of sweat from her forehead: "It's so hot. Why didn't you send someone to let me know when you returned to the Minister's residence without warning?"
Chu Yunjin said, "Things happened so suddenly, and I only decided to come back at the last minute. With Jinyue with me, you don't need to worry."
She knew he had rushed over so quickly because he was worried about the Chu family.
After all, when they came back together last time, her mother and older brother didn't treat her very well in front of her. This time, with Jin Yue coming along, who knows if they will use their status as her parents to pressure her?
Yan Cang hummed in agreement, said nothing more, and turned to sit down beside her.
"The cause of today's events is actually quite simple." Chu Yunjin recounted the events to Yan Cang, then said, "What I mean is, since Young Master Lu is willing to marry Yun Yao, and Yun Yao is also willing to marry him, then this matter is settled. We'll change the choice of the marriage partner, and to avoid too much speculation, we'll say that Third Sister has a health problem—"
"Your Highness," Madam Chu hurriedly spoke, "if Yunshan's health deteriorates, wouldn't this marriage have to be delayed even further?"
Chu Yunjin said calmly, "There is no better excuse than this."
Madam Chu choked, "But—"
"Does Mother intend to explain to the outside world that Fourth Sister fell into the water and was rescued by Young Master Lu?" Chu Yunjin raised an eyebrow. "If someone outside makes malicious speculations and thinks that Fourth Sister did it on purpose, it will seriously affect Fourth Sister's reputation."
Minister Chu glanced at the silent Yan Cang, and considering the current situation in the court, slowly nodded: "As the Princess Consort says. Protecting the reputations of Young Master Lu and Yun Yao is of utmost importance right now."
The third daughter was in poor health and could not fulfill the marriage agreement. In order to keep the promise in the marriage certificate, the third daughter was changed to the fourth daughter, and no outsiders could say anything about it.
After all, the third and fourth daughters were both illegitimate daughters, and their status in the Chu family was no different.
As for the Lu family, the fourth daughter is simple-minded and innocent, and the Princess Consort of Yan clearly favors this fourth sister. Marrying Chu Yunyao would be more beneficial for them than marrying the third daughter.
Chu Yunyao looked at Chu Yunjin gratefully: "Thank you, Your Highness."
Chu Yunshan stood to the side, twisting the handkerchief in her hands, her face grim.
“Young Master Lu.” Chu Yunjin turned her gaze to Lu Yuanli. “Regardless of the truth about Yun Yao falling into the water, the fact that you risked your life to save her, disregarding the impact on your own reputation, is enough to prove that you are a kind-hearted person.”
Lu Yuanli quickly declined, saying, "Anyone with a conscience would have done the same."
"I believe that after we get married, you will treat Yun Yao well, protect Yun Yao, and not let anyone bully her."
Lu Yuanli cupped his hands and assured her, "Please rest assured, Your Highness. I will love and protect my wife and will never allow anyone to bully her."
Chu Yunjin smiled and said, "In that case, after you go back, I hope you can have a good talk with your parents, rearrange your birth dates and times, choose an auspicious date, and call off the marriage as soon as possible to avoid any further complications."
"Yes." Lu Yuanli bowed to Yan Cang and Chu Yunjin. "This humble subject will take his leave. This humble subject will go back to discuss the wedding arrangements with my parents."
Having said that, he turned and left.
As soon as he left, the hall became much quieter.
Chu Yunjin looked at her father: "The marriage between Lu Yuanli and Yun Yao is settled. Father should have no objections, right?"
Minister Chu nodded: "Your solution is the best one, and I have no objection."
"In that case, I hope Mother can make proper preparations for Yunyao's marriage. The dowry should be one level lower than when I got married," Chu Yunjin said. "Although Lu Yuanli has no official position, he is a scholar and will surely pass the imperial examinations in the future. His father is a vice minister, so we cannot neglect him."
The daughter of a concubine from the Ministry of Rites marrying the legitimate son of the Ministry of Personnel is considered a marriage of lower social standing. However, Lu Yuanli is of decent character, and the Lu family has a good reputation. After marrying into the family, she probably won't have to live a life of subservience and having to put up with her mother-in-law's attitude.
"I will definitely make proper arrangements for Yun Yao's marriage." Madam Chu nodded repeatedly, then hesitated before speaking, "However, Yun Shan is also of marriageable age. If this marriage falls through, and we were to choose a new husband, the process of evaluation and other things would take another year or two. By then, when we were to finalize the engagement, Yun Shan would probably be quite old..."
Chu Yunjin smiled faintly, her expression one of expectation: "Then what Mother means is..."
Lady Chu asked hopefully, "Your Highness, could you choose a husband for Yunshan?"
Yan Jinyue narrowed her eyes, her gaze sweeping over Chu Yunshan without making a sound, and said with a faint smile, "In recent years, Princess Consort has been in contact with royal relatives and sons of high-ranking officials. Even if there are eligible men, they probably wouldn't be interested in a concubine's daughter. This matter is a bit difficult to handle."
Madam Chu's face flushed red: "This..."
“Unless Miss Chu is willing to be a concubine.” Yan Jinyue frowned. “But given Minister Chu’s status, it is absolutely impossible for him to let his daughter be a concubine. And Princess Consort would probably not want her sister to be a concubine either. So this matter needs to be considered carefully.”
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