Chapter 401 Seeking Fulfillment
"Yin'er, is this really going to work?"
When Madam He thought of the old lady's unpleasant expression at that time, she felt a little flustered.
Actually, her initial goal was simply to get the old lady's help in choosing a son-in-law from a wealthy family. But now that He Yin has set her sights on Second Master Gu, the old lady is likely to distance herself from her as well.
"What nonsense is Mother talking about again? So many people witnessed what happened between my cousin and me today. Do you think the Marquis's mansion would renege on its debt?"
Unlike Madam He, He Yin's face was full of a triumphant smile. The Marquis of Yi'an's mansion was a prominent family in the capital, and naturally they wouldn't do anything shameful to make themselves a laughingstock.
Moreover, since Master Gu is currently unmarried, once the Marquis's mansion finalizes the marriage, there will naturally be no more rumors circulating.
Even though He Yin said that, Madam He still felt uneasy, as if something unexpected might happen.
This anxiety didn't last long, as Zhao Mama from the old lady's courtyard arrived with others, their purpose being to convey the old lady's decision to the two of them.
“I’m sorry, Madam He. Our old lady said that the Marquis’s mansion will not allow anyone to break the rules. So since Miss Cousin has already given herself to the Second Master, she will take Miss Cousin as the Second Master’s concubine out of consideration for our kinship.”
As she spoke, Zhao Mama gave a signal to those behind her, and immediately a maid stepped forward and placed some jewelry and clothes that had been prepared into the room where He Yin was temporarily staying.
When He Yin heard Zhao Mama's words, her mind went blank for a moment, and then she asked incredulously, "What does Zhao Mama mean? What does 'good concubine' mean?"
"Yes, cousin, what do you mean by this? Yin'er is a legitimate eldest daughter, how can she be someone's concubine? Cousin, you're really disrespecting the He family!"
Madam He already had a bad feeling, and when she heard that the old lady only wanted her daughter to be a concubine, she immediately started shouting.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Mama looked at Madam He and sneered, "She's just the legitimate daughter of an official sent to a remote post. The old lady has already granted her the position of a concubine out of consideration for our family ties. Madam He should be content!"
Even before Zhao Mama said these words, Madam He was already unhappy. As soon as these words came out, Madam He rushed over on the spot.
"You're just a servant, when did you ever have the right to speak here?"
Previously, because of the old lady's relationship, Zhao Mama was quite polite to Madam He, but now that even the old lady doesn't like her anymore, Zhao Mama naturally can't give her a good look anymore.
“Even if I am just a servant, I am still a servant in the old lady’s household. Some people think they are masters, yet they stay in other people’s homes and refuse to leave. I have never seen such a person in my life.”
Zhao's mother's words were piercing, making Madam He's face turn red and white in turns, which was truly a brilliant performance.
But Zhao Mama's words didn't end there. "Madam He, Miss He is now part of the Second Master's household, so it's not convenient for you to stay in the Marquis's mansion any longer. Our Old Madam has already had the betrothal gifts prepared. You can take the betrothal gifts and go back tomorrow!"
Such ruthless words have even made He Yin look bad this time.
She did all this not to become a concubine, but to let her mother take the betrothal gifts and leave. Wouldn't that mean she ended up as a concubine with nothing?
He Yin is very much like Madam He; in her eyes, interests and rights are more important than anything else, so she would never allow this outcome to happen.
"Aunt Zhao, He Yin knows that she made a mistake in a moment of confusion. Could you please ask your aunt to let me not become my second cousin's concubine? He Yin truly loves my second cousin, so please, Aunt, grant us your blessing!"
As He Yin spoke, she handed over a small, not-so-bulging purse. Zhao Mama glanced at the purse with disdain and then waved her hand away.
"Miss He, this old servant can't help you with this matter. I've already conveyed the old lady's words, so I'll head back now."
Having been around the old lady for so many years, Zhao Mama's presence, even as a mother, far surpasses that of ordinary ladies and young ladies. In particular, her every move is more graceful than even Madam He's.
As soon as Zhao's mother left, the group of people who had come with her also left in a dense crowd.
"What is he? No matter how arrogant he is, he's just a servant."
Madam He was jealous, but on the surface she deliberately put on an expression of looking down on the other party. When she turned to look at He Yinshi, Madam He immediately wailed.
"My poor daughter, what am I going to do! It's all my fault. I shouldn't have brought you to the capital in the first place."
Madam He felt incredibly regretful when she thought about He Yin becoming a concubine to Master Gu, a man without any official position!
The man the old lady arranged for her, though not particularly handsome, held a fifth-rank official position with room for advancement. Most importantly, he would be someone's principal wife, becoming a fifth-rank official's wife upon entering the household.
But now, after all the scheming, she was only a concubine. The more Madam He thought about it, the more she felt that she hadn't stopped He Yin's idea back then.
"Mom, please stop crying. People who don't know better will think I don't want to marry my cousin!"
He Yin was already irritable, and seeing her mother crying and wailing, she couldn't help but frown.
Although the old lady had made the decision, there was still room for change, so He Yin was much calmer than Madam He.
Upon hearing this, Madam He looked at He Yin and asked, "My dear daughter, do you have any other ideas?"
No one knows a daughter better than her mother. Madam He could easily see the calculation in He Yin's eyes. Seeing that she seemed to have a solution, Madam He felt relieved.
"Leave this to me, Mother, you don't need to worry about it."
Madam He has always been all talk and no action, and He Yin didn't want any more trouble with this matter, so she didn't intend to tell her her plans.
Fortunately, Mrs. He was a self-aware person; she didn't ask any further questions since her daughter didn't say anything.
The next morning, just as the old lady was being helped to drink her medicine by Gu Shuyan, a maidservant hurriedly entered from outside the door.
"Madam, Miss, the Second Master is here."
The young maid's face didn't look good, and her hesitant expression made the old lady frown.
"Just say what you have to say. Why are you beating around the bush?"
The old lady's words frightened the maid, so she quickly blurted out, "Miss He came with the second master. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they knelt outside, saying that if the old lady did not agree to the marriage, they would kneel there forever."
The Second Master has always been a stubborn man, a fact known even to the maids in the Old Madam's courtyard. They just never expected him to use the same trick he did years ago.
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