Chapter 13 My marriage, my grandmother already has someone to marry...
“Brother, I…” Yu Tan wanted to say that she would be mindful of her boundaries and try to stay away from him, but besides Yu He’an, who else could she find to help her?
Yu He'an watched as Yu Tan's brows furrowed and relaxed, her soft lips pursed, and explained, "I will be attending classes at the Imperial Academy for the next three days and will not be staying in the courtyard."
"So that's how it is." Yu Tan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Yu He'an disliked contact with her. "I also have things to do these few days, so I won't be staying at the manor."
Yu He'an stared at Yu Tan suspiciously. He clearly remembered that Yu Tan never left the manor during the entire winter, except to visit her grandmother. He nodded to indicate that he understood and got off the carriage.
He turned to her and said, "It's freezing cold, so if you're afraid of the cold, don't go outside too much."
"I understand, brother." Yu Tan covered his face. It was one thing to occasionally use Yu He'an to escape the plot, but today it had really gone too far.
Why did she fall asleep with Yu He'an as her pillow? Fortunately, Yu He'an didn't mind.
"My lady, get off the carriage. Be careful not to catch a cold."
Seeing that Yu Tan hadn't moved for a long time, Lan Xin went into the carriage. Yu Tan covered her face and buried her head in her knees.
Lanxin whispered, "My lady."
Yu Tan released her hand and looked up, her face still warm. "Let's go back to the courtyard."
Lanxin was leading the way, lighting the palace lanterns. The snow had stopped, and the ground was covered with a layer of snow about half a palm thick.
She got off the carriage and realized that Yu He'an was still standing by the carriage waiting for her.
Yu Tan asked in surprise, "Brother, why haven't you left yet?"
Yu He'an took a step forward: "Are you learning how to do business?"
She didn't know why Yu He'an would ask these questions, so she stepped forward to catch up and mumbled, "I'm still learning, just getting started."
Yu He'an glanced at her. Why did Yu Tan choose to start learning only after meeting Ji Yushang, instead of earlier or later? He then thought of the red marks on Yu Tan's wrist.
Changming also mentioned that after Ji Yushang was tortured, Yu Tan went to his side with concern, and the two had a close conversation, but for some reason they quarreled again.
He didn't understand why Yu Tan was so entangled with Ji Yushang.
"After you get married, you'll have to manage the household and run a shop. It wouldn't hurt to learn first." Yu He'an suddenly turned to stare at her. "What do you think of Chu Minglang?"
Yu Tan paused, her brows furrowed, and her mouth gaped open in astonishment: "Ah... Brother? Why bring him up out of the blue? To me, Chu Langjun is just a stranger I've only met once."
"The Chu family is a prominent family in Lingnan with a good family tradition. The fathers were on good terms with each other, and the Chu family is interested in a marriage alliance. Moreover, Chu Minglang is an upright and gentle person, and you have known each other since childhood..." In short, he is much better than Ji Yushang.
"I...I..." Yu Tan lowered her eyes, avoiding Yu He'an's scrutinizing gaze.
When Chu Minglang was still the lady of the Marquis's mansion, he had the demeanor of a gentle and refined gentleman. However... the person who imprisoned her was very likely him, but none of this could be mentioned to Yu He'an.
Yu He'an frowned, staring at her with a puzzled look. "What?"
She quickly declined, saying, "My grandmother has already chosen someone for my marriage, so you don't need to worry about it, brother."
Yu He'an's brows furrowed even more. How come he had never heard of this before? "Hmm...who?"
Yu Tan looked up in surprise. She hadn't expected Yu He'an to ask who it was. She had just wanted to make an excuse to say that Yu He'an had helped her and Chu Minglang get together.
“My grandmother, Jiang Tingfeng, is a distant relative of Yuyang. She is currently a Zhenwu Colonel and is fighting alongside my father on the frontier. She was my playmate when I stayed in Yuyang for a while before.”
Yu He'an said coolly, "You seem to have quite a few playmates."
"Not many." Yu Tan's voice trailed off completely.
As they spoke, they reached a fork in the road, and whether it was her imagination or not, Yu He'anmai's pace seemed a little faster than usual.
Yu Tan wrapped her cloak tighter around herself, her mind heavy with worries on her way back to the courtyard.
Recalling their time together today, she clutched her sleeve in frustration, knowing she couldn't always try to get close to Yu He'an in the future, or she'd be doomed if she really annoyed him.
"Wife, watch your step."
Yu Tan was feeling down: "Lan Xin, am I being too clingy? Why is Grandmother thinking about me getting married, and my brother wants me to get married too?"
Lanxin, still carefree, said with a smile, "My lady, when a young lady reaches a certain age, it's only a matter of time before she gets engaged. In ordinary families, a woman your age would have been engaged long ago. If she were any earlier, she would already be married and the head of the household. The old lady and the young master are just concerned about you."
Yu Tan was in low spirits and was further provoked by Lan Xin, "Then I'll release you from the manor as soon as possible and let you go home to discuss marriage."
Lanxin retorted, "That won't do. This servant wants to follow you and become your head maid. Madam, please let Qiaoxin go back. There are people waiting for her at home."
Yu Tan laughed and said, "I'll release you. I'll release you tomorrow. No, I'll write the release agreement when I get back to the courtyard later."
*
For three consecutive days, Yu He'an went out of the mansion to attend classes, while Yu Tan was busy with her business.
The fact that we've already shown our sincerity by cooperating once is commendable. The merchant leader who traveled to the Western Regions has already mentioned it three times. If we want to cooperate again, we need to meet with the person in charge to draft specific terms and conditions.
The snowstorm has stopped, but the sky is still overcast, and there may be more snowstorm in the afternoon.
Yu Tan, dressed in a lake-blue jacket and skirt, wrapped in a pink cloak, and with her hood up, left the mansion.
They happened to run into Yu He'an, who was about to leave the manor to attend classes. He was wearing a moon-white, narrow-sleeved robe and stood tall and elegant in front of the carriage. It was as if they were living in different seasons.
The jade crane lives peacefully in the cold winter, showing no fear of the cold.
Yu He'an, dressed in white, stood before the carriage, a bright spot in the world. His indifferent gaze fell on her, as if he had been waiting for her. "Going out again today?"
Yu Tan stopped in her tracks. She had only slept for two and a half hours last night due to a nightmare, and she couldn't take a nap today. She was feeling sickly and listless, and her voice was weak: "Brother, I have an appointment to discuss business today."
Where to?
Yu Tan truthfully replied, "Zui Xian Ju."
Zuixianju is not far from Tonghua Lane. After finishing her business, she wanted to go to Tonghua Lane to find Wuniang. Yesterday, Wuniang said that there would be heavy snow today, but it hasn't snowed yet. That's probably the best way to find her.
“Zui Xian Ju is not far from the Imperial Academy, let’s go together.” Yu He’an said before getting into the carriage.
This surprised Yu Tan; Yu He'an had indeed come all this way to wait for her.
The Imperial Academy is across most of Bianjing from the Marquis's residence, and it would take at least an hour by carriage. If she were to ride in Yu He'an's carriage, wouldn't she be able to sleep for another hour today?
Without a moment's hesitation, Yu Tan immediately took the small hand warmer and boarded Yu He'an's carriage.
The carriages in the Yu family were generally arranged the same, while Yu He'an's carriage was simpler and more sturdy.
Recalling the events of last night, she chose to sit in the corner furthest from Yu He'an, wrapped herself tightly in her cloak, tucked a small hand warmer into her pocket, and curled herself up in a ball, intending to quietly take a nap.
Yu He'an turned to stare at her: "Why are you always so sleepy? Have you seen a doctor?"
Seeing a doctor was useless; she drank countless kinds of calming medicine, but none of them could help her sleep.
Yu He'an is fine, but she can't be with him all the time.
Yu Tan whispered, "I've seen a doctor. He said that people tend to be sleepy in winter, and it will get better when it gets warmer in the spring."
Yu He'an seemed convinced by this reason and stopped asking questions. Changming knocked on the carriage and handed in her usual thin blanket.
"Don't catch a cold, so Grandma won't worry."
"Thank you, brother." Yu Tan smiled and took the quilt, wrapping herself up tightly. "Brother, have you become a disciple of the great Confucian scholar Kong Ren? Why have you been attending lectures for three days in a row?"
"Just listening to lectures."
She saw that Yu He'an seemed uninterested. If he really became Kong Ren's disciple, he would be involved in factional politics even before entering the court.
Yu He'an clutched the book, trying to make the most of every moment to study, but now he couldn't concentrate. "If you want to learn how to do business, there's no need to rush. You can go in the spring."
After waiting for a long time without receiving a reply from Yu Tan, he turned his head away.
Yu Tan leaned against the carriage wall, in the farthest spot from him, curled up and asleep. A pale yellow thin blanket covered her whole body, revealing her tightly closed eyes and small nose. Her fair cheeks were rosy, and her pointed chin was buried in the blanket.
Yu Tan tightened the thin blanket, wrapping herself up even more securely.
There was a heater in the carriage, so it wasn't as warm as a house, but it wasn't too cold either; she was just too afraid of the cold.
Lingnan is a good place for her.
*
When Yu Tan woke up, her mind was a little dazed. It took her a while to come to her senses. Lan Xin was sitting not far from her.
Knowing that Yu Tan was a light sleeper, they never woke her up after she fell asleep. Lan Xin asked with concern, "My lady is awake."
Yu Tan had just woken up, her voice soft and gentle: "What time is it? Has the caravan leader been waiting long... When did you leave, brother?"
"That's perfect. My wife only slept for an hour and a half, and my husband left not long ago."
Not long after Yu He'an got off the carriage, Yu Tan woke up.
"Hmm." Yu Tan took a moment to recover, then untied the blanket, pushed open the carriage, and got out. Chang Ming, with a long sword at his waist, stood in front of the carriage waiting.
Changming said, "My lady."
Yu Tan asked in confusion, "Changming, why didn't you go with your brother?"
"My husband was worried that it would be inconvenient for my wife to deal with business people alone, so he specially asked me to stay."
Yu Tan nodded, thinking that Yu He'an was the most thoughtful, and then led Lan Xin and Chang Ming to Zui Xian Ju.
When we went up to the private room on the second floor, there was already a woman in her forties in the inner room. She was wearing a light, scarlet ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a small mink coat on top. Her makeup was exaggerated, heavy and flamboyant, and her lip rouge was as red as flames. She was charming and alluring in every way.
The young woman stood up and chuckled, "Miss Yu, after all this time, you've finally agreed to come out and meet me."
Yu Tan was stunned when he saw the woman. He never expected that the caravan traveling between the Western Regions and Bianjing was actually from Zhao Qin.
In Bianjing (Kaifeng), two figures are indispensable to any business: Ji Yushang in the south and Zhao Qin in the north.
The two kings, one king and one king, fought fiercely.
“Madam Zhao, I’m just a small business owner, why would I trouble you to come in person?” Lan Xin pulled out a chair, and Yu Tan sat down next to Zhao Qin.
"Young Lady Yu's business may be small, but her influence is considerable." Zhao Qin's beautiful eyes shifted, her gaze settling on her. "Ji Yushang of the Li family has been disrespectful to you, and even dared to try and curry favor with you to curry favor with the Marquis's family. He is truly despicable."
Yu Tan's smile turned cold: "Madam Zhao, what do you mean?"
Zhao Qin leaned closer, the strong scent of perfume close to his face: "As a fellow woman, I only feel sorry for you. If this were to actually happen, Ji Yushang would not only win the heart of a beauty, but also gain the support of the Marquis's mansion. If I were a man, I would also be willing to take the risk and try it."
Yu Tan withdrew, saying, "Madam Zhao, be careful what you say."
Zhao Qin straightened his expression and said, "I want to take over the business in Bianjing and borrow the power of the Marquis's mansion. I will be your weapon to get rid of Ji Yushang."
Yu Tan frowned. If she really wanted to get rid of Ji Yushang before she lost power, cooperating with Zhao Qin would be the best strategy. But how did she manage to smell the scent and come along?
Zhao Qin stepped closer: "The Marquis's mansion has been investigating Ji Yushang very closely recently. Several of his businesses are shady and have been disrupted. Let's discuss it. I'll take over his businesses, and we'll split them 50/50."
Yu Tan understood completely. It turned out that Zhao Qin had misunderstood, and that it was she who had suppressed Ji Yushang in the Marquis's mansion. "Let me think about it."
"Young Lady Yu, the Marquis's mansion can't just swallow up Ji Yushang's wealth directly. It can only be confiscated and sent to the government office. Let me clean it up for you. How about a 30/70 split?"
Yu Tan rested her chin on her hand in thought, her gaze sweeping over Chang Ming, who was holding his sword, ready to charge forward if a conflict broke out.
"Add one more thing: the trade routes and caravans in the Western Regions must belong to me." Yu Tan glanced at Zhao Qin's bright face, her ambition and greed barely concealed in her eyes.
Zhao Qin's smile froze, and he stared at her expressionlessly.
Yu Tan stood up, looking down at her. "After all, doing business is a long-term endeavor. Madam Zhao, you can think it over carefully and give me your answer in a few days."
A note from the author:
Thank you to the user "路边当咸鱼的鱼鱼vvv" for the nutrient solution.
Yu He'an: Right now: Ji Yushang is not good, but Chu Minglang is of good character and comes from a good family...
Later: Chu Minglang wasn't good... and Jiang Tingfeng wasn't good either...
Finally: Yaoyao, we are a match made in heaven, destined to be entangled together for all eternity.
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