Unmarried - 4
The clear, bright bronze mirror reflected meticulously drawn eyebrows and eyes, and thick, red lips, making him look like an ugly ghost who had eaten a dead child.
"My son has been wronged!"
Jiang Xiumei held a jade comb in her hand, and as she combed her hair, she talked about how wronged Yun Yihua had been.
She originally planned to keep the fourth son for a few more years to carefully select the sons of various families and find a good husband for her daughter.
It's all the fault of the prostitutes on Red Street!
What are they, to wear the same dress as her daughter?
"Is the fourth one ready yet?"
Yun Yixian yawned and urged him from outside the door. He was full of resentment because he had to get up early in the morning to send Yun Yihua off to her wedding.
If it were the third son getting married today, he wouldn't need to get up at all!
"On such a joyous occasion, why are you rushing me?"
Jiang Xiumei scolded her in displeasure, and Yun Yixia quietly shrank into a corner, trying to minimize her presence.
"What's so great about marrying the son of a sixth-rank official?"
Yun Yixia muttered to herself, "The eldest son is getting married, and the fourth son is getting married too. Who will be able to help him in the officialdom in the future?"
"Shut up!"
Yun Wenyao heard this as he walked in from the outer courtyard, and glared at his son with a look of disappointment.
She doesn't study hard herself and relies on her sisters and in-laws for help.
How shameful!
"Madam, please hurry!" Yun Wenyao stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back. "The Qian family has come to pick up the bride; they are waiting in the front yard!"
The wedding was rushed, and everything except the necessary formalities was omitted as much as possible.
"knew!"
Jiang Xiumei dared not delay and ordered the maids to style Yunyi's hair, while she wiped away her tears.
After a lot of fuss, they finally got out of the house, and Jiang Xiumei helped Yun Yihua climb onto Yun Yixian's back.
"Control your temper and be patient."
Yun Wenyao walked beside his son with his hands behind his back, lowered his voice, and solemnly gave him his instructions.
"…promise!"
Yun Yihua wasn't foolish enough to argue with her father at this point; she was inwardly disdainful.
The son of a sixth-rank official was still studying, naturally placing her in a lower rank.
Why should she have to endure it?
Once she marries into the Qian family... she'll definitely set some rules for them!
Jiang Xiumei stood on the steps watching her daughter get married, tears streaming down her face.
She turned left to seek comfort from her husband, only to find him gone; she turned right to look for her son… but he was nowhere to be found.
"They're all bastards!"
Jiang Xiumei stomped her feet in anger and chased after her son to scold him.
The person no one cared about had already returned to their own little courtyard and was comfortably lying in a rocking chair.
"My lady, our people have already mingled among the guests and servants..." Bai Wei smiled maliciously, "They'll make sure they don't miss any of the excitement!"
"King Kang has been back in the capital for over a month. What has Yun Wenyao done? What is the palace's attitude?"
Yun Yixia took a sip of tea. She wanted to enjoy the Yun family's antics, but she couldn't neglect her business.
Yun Wenyao wants to marry her into the royal family and even wants her to be his principal wife... He's dreaming!
After returning to the capital, Prince Kang went to the palace to report on his duties. Afterwards, he returned to his palace and stayed indoors, refusing to see any guests.
The Empress Dowager will hold a Begonia Banquet at the Hundred Flowers Palace in seven days, with men and women seated on opposite sides, determined to find a suitable second wife for Prince Kang!
Yun Wenyao bribed a eunuch close to the Empress Dowager and obtained an invitation. He will personally take you to the flower viewing banquet.
Jiang wanted to take her fifth son with her, but Yun Wenyao, fearing the mother and son would cause trouble, sternly refused and ordered them to stay home!
Bai Wei smiled happily; she was happy when the Yun family was in trouble.
"Guess!" Yun Yixia narrowed her beautiful almond-shaped eyes, "Will they obediently stay in the Yun residence?"
"That... is absolutely impossible!"
As dawn broke and the sunlight dispelled the thin mist over Xijing City, carriages began to make their way to the Hundred Flowers Palace.
Yun Wenyao, being of low rank, was afraid of being impolite and of traffic congestion, so he took Yun Yixia out by car early in the morning.
Two carriages, one in front and one behind, with painted blue silk walls, drove across the bluestone road, making a rumbling sound.
"Fresh fruit for sale!"
Outside the car window, a peddler carrying a load on his shoulder pole called out in a long, drawn-out tune, while the rich aroma of breakfast stalls wafted in through the cracks, making one's stomach rumble with hunger.
The closer the carriage got to the Hundred Flowers Palace, the fewer street vendors hawked their wares. As the wheels rolled over the stone bridge, rustling sounds came from the clothes chests at the back of the carriage.
Yun Yixia pulled out a plain hairpin and held it in her hand, staring intently at the box, her almond-shaped eyes slightly narrowed, ready to strike at any moment.
A hand painted with bright red nail polish suddenly lifted the lid of the box, revealing Yun Yidan with her hair in a mess, her round face peeking out, and her slanted eyes staring straight at Yun Yixia's face.
"Third sister!" Yun Yidan said in a very low voice, "Mother said that as the older sister, you should take me to the flower viewing banquet to broaden my horizons!"
She climbed out of the trunk, grabbed the expensive paper from the small table, stuffed it into her bosom, and patted it with relief.
Outside the car window, the high vermilion walls on both sides of the Imperial Street blocked out most of the sunlight, and the monotonous sound of the wheels echoed, each sound grinding against my heart.
"Fifth Sister, are you aware that the number of people from each family attending the flower viewing banquet has already been fixed, and we cannot bring even one extra maid?"
Yun Yixia huddled in the farthest corner of the carriage, looking timid and cowardly.
She didn't dare to look up!
She was afraid that if she saw the fifth brother's ugly makeup, she wouldn't be able to hold back her laughter.
"In that case, Third Sister, please give this rare opportunity to your younger sister!"
A determined glint flashed in Yun Yidan's eyes. She quickly tidied her hair and put on a gentle smile that she had practiced for a long time.
My mother said that when they attended the Peony Banquet organized by the Empress Dowager, their target was not Prince Kang, but other sons of officials.
Of the three daughters of the Yun family, the eldest and fourth sisters married down, and the second brother was not good at studying. Only she was the last hope of the Yun family!
"Father... If Father has no objection, I naturally won't say anything!"
Yun Yixia lowered her eyes to hide her disdain, curled up even tighter, and looked even more timid and cowardly.
The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Hundred Flowers Palace, and the rich, fragrant scent of flowers could be smelled from outside.
When Yun Wenyao saw Yun Yidan, he was furious, but he couldn't vent his anger in public. He just stood there, his face flushed, pointing at her with his index finger, unable to say a word for a long time.
Startled, Yun Yidan hid behind Yun Yixia, using her sleeve to cover herself as she pinched Yun Yixia's waist and twisted it hard.
"Hiss~"
Yun Yixia's eyes instantly filled with tears. She bit her lower lip hard, trying to stifle her sobs.
Her eyelashes couldn't bear the weight of the teardrop, and with a slight tremor, the crystal-clear water droplet fell silently, landing on the plain-colored skirt and spreading out, slightly dampening it.
She tilted her head slightly, as if she didn't want outsiders to see her.
But as she turned, the bright morning light fell on her face, making her skin clear and fair. Tears rolled down her cheeks, glistening and shimmering like dewdrops on flower petals, a beauty that was fragile and helpless.
"Yun Yidan, if you dare touch Third Sister again, I'll have the coachman take you home!"
How could Yun Wenyao not see through Wu Niang's little tricks hiding behind the scenes?
To avoid embarrassing him, San Niang endured the pain without making a sound, feeling a sense of comfort and relief in her heart.
Her mother... before she went mad, was also so understanding and never caused him any worry.
Among a bunch of ungrateful wretches, only one dutiful daughter stands out, and she's not even the legitimate daughter born to the legal wife.
well!
Yun Wenyao regretted choosing Jiang as his wife. She was jealous and protective of her own, and raised her children to be arrogant and domineering, making them repulsive to everyone.
"Father, I didn't!"
Yun Yidan shouted guiltily, attracting countless stares from those around her, while Yun Wenyao blushed with embarrassment.
"Father, your daughter...is not feeling well!" Yun Yixia took the opportunity to slip to the side. "Could my fifth sister...accompany you to the banquet in my place?"
She dodged the pinch, but not completely.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Yun Wenyao was not so easily fooled.
Yun Wenyao glanced at the sensible and reserved Third Sister, then at the Fifth Sister who might start yelling at any moment, flicked his sleeves, and took the lead.
"Hmph!" Yun Yidan raised her chin smugly. "You're smart to know what's good for you!"
Yun Yixia kept her head down and didn't say anything. After the father and daughter entered the palace gate, Bai Wei helped them back to the carriage.
"Brother driver, thank you for taking my wife back to the Yun residence!"
Bai Wei handed the coachman a piece of silver, which he happily accepted, and drove the carriage away from the Hundred Flowers Palace against the flow of traffic.
"General, this is quite a show!"
Liang Qiu unfolded his folding fan and laughed like a male fox.
The general was unwilling to take a second wife, but he didn't want to offend the Empress Dowager, so he brought them to the banquet.
Xue Ning has a fiancée, while Liang Qiu and Xu Zhihao are both still single. Perhaps they could see if there are any suitable ladies at the banquet?
Liang Qiu suggested climbing to a high place to look out over the carriages arriving one after another from the walls of the Hundred Flowers Palace. He then asked the Empress Dowager to have the chief eunuch count which lady was more suitable to be their principal wife.
Unexpectedly, they actually got to see a good show!
"Your Highness, the three generals, Yun Wenyao is a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Revenue. Standing in front is Third Lady, and behind her is Fifth Lady."
Zheng An stood respectfully beside Zhao Yunkang and introduced the background of the people who had come from below.
In order to find a second wife for the prince, the Empress Dowager had portraits drawn of all eligible women from families of officials of the fifth rank or above in the capital.
Yun Wenyao left a deep impression on Zheng An because his two daughters looked very different.
I heard that the Yun family recently had a daughter get married. It seems that it was the fourth son who got married, while the third son was left behind to attend the flower viewing banquet. The intention behind this is self-evident.
Seeing Yun Wenyao fling his sleeves and walk ahead, followed by his daughter with the same round face as the fourth brother, it was clear that the youngest brother of the Yun family had won this opportunity.
Tsk~
The beautiful daughter was the one who was not well received.
"General, look at me..."
"She's the one!"
Liang Qiu and Zhao Yunkang's voices rang out one after the other, and everyone's eyes fell on him, demanding an explanation.
"Mother, weren't you thinking of finding me a second wife?" Zhao Yunkang nodded at the departing carriage. "I think the Third Lady of the Yun family is quite suitable!"
"Your Highness, are you serious?"
The daughter of a fifth-rank official is not even qualified to be a concubine in the Prince's mansion!
"Marriage is a serious matter; it should not be taken lightly."
Zhao Yunkang looked serious. Zheng An opened and closed his mouth for a long time before finally squeezing out a "Yes!" and hurriedly walked into the palace, lifting his clothes.
"General, you've frightened the old eunuch!"
Liang Qiu rested his folding fan on his forehead, gazed into the distance, and a playful smile appeared on his lips.
Don't tell!
That old eunuch slipped away pretty quickly!
"Instead of letting Mother choose another carefree woman, I'd rather find an honest, trouble-free woman to enter the household myself."
Zhao Yunkang looked at the carriage that was shrinking and waved his hand to order his subordinates to investigate the Third Sister of the Yun Family.
If she doesn't cause trouble, doesn't act up, and doesn't bother people... after five or ten years, or when her mother passes away, he can prepare a family fortune for her, so that she can live a wealthy and leisurely life until old age.
"The general is right!"
Xu Zhihao nodded in agreement, saying that even if it was not as good as the first one, it wouldn't be worse.
"This third daughter of the Yun family is quite beautiful!"
Xue Ning rubbed his beard with a憨憨 (simple and honest) air, his eyes narrowed into slits, and he smiled in a somewhat lewd way.
"From that distance, what can you possibly see?"
Liang Qiu nudged Xue Ning with his elbow, and Xue Ning immediately grinned sheepishly, looking at Zhao Yunkang with some apology.
Even though he didn't dare say it was from that far away, he could still see that the third daughter of the Yun family had skin as white and tender as tofu.
Fair skin hides a hundred flaws!
How ugly could a woman like this be?
"This will not be allowed to happen again!"
Zhao Yunkang turned and left the palace wall, and Xu Zhihao elbowed Xue Ning hard.
"Stop having such lecherous thoughts!"
"Okay! Okay!"
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