She guessed at Ji Xinhe’s purpose for this visit, and figured he must be worried she would do something foolish.
"You deliver the meal today, I was the one who went in yesterday." A maid whispered from outside the door.
The other maid looked terrified on hearing this: "Last time I went to deliver food, the fifth young miss nearly ruined my face. I dare not go in!"
"I suffered yesterday too, I’m not going!"
"If neither of us go, we might be punished. It won’t work! How about we go in together?"
"Are you crazy? The fifth young miss is in such a bad mood. If we both go in, we will both get beaten up, rather than just one of us."
The two little maids whispered outside the door for a while but came to no conclusion.
At this moment, madam Song came.
"What are you talking about?" Madam Song was also in a bad mood, her own daughter had been locked up, how could she be cheerful?
The two little maids quickly knelt down and shivered: "We are discussing about delivering food to the fifth young miss."
Madam Song snorted coldly and walked towards the ancestral hall: " Bring the food box and follow me!"
"Yes!"
"I told you not to disturb me anymore! Get out!" As soon as Song Ya Lan heard someone coming in, she started cursing.
Seeing her daughter’s haggard face, Madam Song felt a horrible heartache: "My dearest Lan Lan, what happened to you?"
When Song Ya Lan saw Madam Song, she threw herself into Madam Song’s arms and cried: "Mother! They all bullied me. If they keep locking me up in this ghostly place, I will really die!"
"Endure a little longer. We can’t make rash moves right now. We still have to please the second branch of the family. I dare not cross my boundaries too much. The fact that you are not sent to the family temple is already a favor. The second branch is busy with arranging a marriage with the Great Prince. After this marriage is arranged and your aunt from the second branch is in a better mood, I will talk to her about releasing you. Until then, you just have to endure."
It was better before Madam Song spoke, but after she did, Song Ya Lan felt as though she had swallowed a fly, and she cursed angrily: "Why can’t it be me marrying the prince instead of Song Ya Lin!? I’m just a year younger than her and of marriageable age as well. Why!?"
"How dare you say that? Look at the reputation you have ruined for yourself! These days, I have been helping you look for potential families, and they all avoid you like plague once they hear about your reputation. Who would dare marry you?" Madam Song was really frustrated. Not only her daughter was locked up, but her reputation was ruined, even getting married in the future would be a problem.
Hearing this, Song Ya Lan also felt anxious: "Then what should I do? I don’t want to be locked in this ancestral hall until my death! Mother, you must save me!"
"What can I do? The only option right now is to marry you off far away, otherwise, you will have to marry beneath your status. Alas, let’s wait a little longer until I have found a suitable family." Madam Song said resignedly.
Suddenly thinking of something, Song Ya Lan grasped Madam Song’s hand tightly and said: "Mother, I know of a good candidate. I want to marry him!"
Madam Song was stunned: "Who?"
"Mu family from Lian’an Town!" There was an unusual glimmer in Song Ya Lan’s eyes, mixed with ruthless malice.
Had it been before, she might not have agreed. Although she was very fond of Mu Houchu, even to the extent of being love at first sight, Mu Houchu’s family background was not up to her standard, so she never thought of marrying him. After all, as someone who cares a lot about her reputation, how could she let her sister marry a prince while she had to marry someone from a small household?
But now, her reputation was ruined by Ji Xinhe. If she didn’t retaliate, how could she be satisfied? She can’t marry into a respectable family now, so since she had no other option but to marry beneath her status, why not marry into Mu Houchu’s family instead, and by doing so, kick that mean person down while she’s at it? She wanted to see if she couldn’t teach her a good lesson!
After all, she was a widely known daughter of the Song Family from Yu State. If she truly married Mu Houchu, dealing with a low-born woman like that would be as easy as blowing dust off!
She had done her research, Ji Xinhe, is just a peasant girl!
——
Ji Xinhe sneezed, and Mu Houchu’s brows furrowed tightly as he pulled her tighter into his arms: "What’s wrong? Did you catch a cold?"
Xin He pushed him away, muttering: "How could I have caught a cold? The weather is getting warmer, stop being overly worried."
Only then did Mu Houchu relax: "That’s good."
Xin He linked her arm around his neck: "By the way, have you noticed that Lian’an Town is getting busier nowadays?"
Mu Houchu replied with a blank face: "I didn’t notice."
Xin He harrumphed lightly, chuckling: "Let me tell you, Lian’an Town is booming. Since this spring, quite a number of merchants have set up their businesses in Lian’an Town. I presume that these sharp-eyed people have noticed the tremendous business opportunities here. Wait till next year and I am sure that the economy of Lian’an Town will definitely flourish!"
Mu Houchu smiled, raising his hand to touch the corner of her mouth which was full of pride, and said: "How can I not believe in my wife?"
"When our child is born, we will definitely provide him with a peaceful home. Mu Houchu, I’m already six months pregnant. Sometimes, I can feel his presence. Can you feel it?"
Mu Houchu’s smile was tinged with warmth. He placed his big hand over her belly: "Mm."
"A few days ago, I went to see Ah Lian. She said that she might be able to prevent the marriage between the Great Prince and the Song family. I gave her half a month to give it a try." Xin He said.
"Give it a try then." Mu Houchu replied calmly: "It would be best if it doesn’t work out."
He chose to cooperate with the Song family, but couldn’t trust them entirely. At least, he couldn’t let the Song family see a way out or an opportunity to betray him.
Although the marriage alliance was only between the second branch of the Song family and the Great Prince, it doesn’t mean it can’t indirectly become a shelter for the main branch of the Song family in the future.
Since the main branch of the Song family chose him, then he could be the only shelter for them, and they must not have any other force behind them. Otherwise, people who have too many opportunities to turn their backs are always very likely to betray.
Xin He stayed at home these days, not going out much. She was waiting for news from Ah Lian. It had been ten days, and she was not sure how things were progressing on Ah Lian’s side. She didn’t send anyone to ask either, for fear of pressuring Ah Lian. So, she patiently waited at home.
However, instead of waiting for Ah Lian to return, she received an unexpected visitor.
"The third lady of the Song family is here?" Xin He raised an eyebrow.
Shulan looked strange: "Yes, I almost thought I had heard wrong. You should know that there is no relationship between us and the third lady of the Song family at all. Besides, she didn’t even send a visiting card in advance, and just suddenly dropped by. Isn’t she afraid others might find her abrupt?"
In the big families, when unfamiliar people pay a visit, they usually send a visiting card in advance, as a mark of respect.
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