Such a great advantage, Ji Xiulan would be a fool not to take it.
"Go and tell Sun Yaowen to head to the Qing Shui Temple as soon as it gets dark tomorrow evening. There will be a beauty waiting for him there. As long as he accepts her openly, she will be his, and she will definitely marry him." Xin He said with a smirk.
Upon hearing this, Ji Xiulan’s face fell, and she stared at Ji Xinhe: "What do you mean! Are you trying to push a woman onto him, or are you trying to give me a good opportunity?"
Xin He looked at Ji Xiulan with a hint of a smirk: "Aren’t you going to ask who this beauty is first?"
"Does it matter who it is?" Ji Xiulan retorted irritably.
"This woman is Song Ya Lan, the daughter of the third branch of the Song Family, Miss Song Five - a woman even Mrs. Sun has to curry favor with."
Ji Xiulan’s eyes widened in surprise: "Her? How could she..."
"Don’t ask how it’s possible, or where I got this information from. I am only going to ask you one thing. Would you prefer Sun Yaowen to marry Guo Family’s spoiled, murderous daughter and live miserably under her yoke, or would you rather him marry the noble, yet dim-witted Song Ya Lan?"
Xin He continued in a murmur, "Given Sun Yaowen’s status, it would take a miracle for him to marry such a high-born lady. However, if he were to do so, the Sun Family would gain the support of the Song Family. His path would become even smoother. You are the one who gives him this information and this opportunity. Wouldn’t he be grateful to you for such contributions and treat you even better?"
Ji Xiulan’s eyes sparkled and she appeared somewhat moved.
Xin He carried on, "Sun Yaowen’s marriage is inevitable. Some time ago, hadn’t the Sun family decided he should marry the daughter of the Guo family? You know the reputation of that Guo girl – a murderous woman. What room would there be for you, a concubine, if such a volatile woman married into the family? You should pray that the lady of the house is gentle and soft, or even dim-witted. Song Ya Lan, though high-born, is indeed the latter. As long as you cajole her well, she’s actually quite easy to handle. But of course, the choice is yours."
Upon hearing these words, Ji Xiulan was delighted. When Mrs. Sun had impulsively arranged for Sun Yaowen to marry the Guo family’s daughter, she’d been terrified. As concubines, they depended on the husband and his main wife for survival. She’d had it quite easy so far, since there had been no wife. If an aggressive and domineering woman became the wife, she simply would not be able to survive.
That’s why she’d been so resistant to the Guo daughter. Although the engagement had taken place, the wedding had not, so there was still a chance for change. If the alternative was Song Ya Lan, it would be far better than the wretched Guo family’s daughter, and, moreover, it would please Sun Yaowen.
That Yi Ling was risking her life to find opportunities for Sun Yaowen to rise up was solely to please Sun Yaowen, wasn’t it?
Now, she’d come across this wonderful opportunity so easily, helping Sun Yaowen secure such a powerful alliance. This will obviously elevate him, and surely, he will thereafter treasure and respect her all the more.
Ji Xiulan was already completely swayed, but she managed to withhold her excitement and questioned, "But you said earlier that we could deal with that mean woman, Yi Ling. How is it that I feel like this thing has nothing to do with her?"
Xin He responded with a teasing smile: "When the time comes, you will understand how it’s all related. Don’t worry, once this is settled, you won’t have to deal with Yi Ling personally – she’s going to have a miserable life."
Although a smile was evident in Xin He’s eyes, it was devoid of any warmth, and instead bore a chilling undertone that sent a tremor down one’s spine.
"Deal!" Ji Xiulan responded succinctly.
This arrangement was all advantages and no disadvantage for her. She had no reason to refuse.
"Show the guest out."
Shulan, then, led Ji Xiulan out.
Xin He remained seated there, seemingly lost in thought.
"Madam, do not worry. The doctor said you should avoid anxiety and depression, as it is not good for the child." Xiaoyu brought over a cup of tea.
Xin He had indeed been quite busy throughout the day. Even though Xiaoyu usually let her do as she pleased, Xiaoyu couldn’t help but remind her not to overwork herself.
"Hmm." Xin He took the tea and sipped: "I’m not really worried. I’m just thinking about how to wind things up tomorrow."
"Isn’t that for them to deal with? Why would you worry about that, Madam?" asked Xiaoyu.
Xin He smiled, "You may be right."
"Madam, stop thinking and rest a bit." advised Xiaoyu.
Suddenly Xin He said, "I am just suddenly struck by the thought that things always change. Ji Xiulan was once my enemy, and now we can sit down to talk about cooperation. Yi Ling, on the other hand, was someone I personally brought up. I gave her the best of everything, and logically, she should be thankful. However, she betrayed me time and time again and now we have come to this point of life and death."
Xiaoyu said, "They are all the same to you, Madam. They gather for profit and disperse once it is gone. There are no eternal enemies or eternal allies. You shouldn’t place such people in your heart."
Xin He was slightly stunned, and then smiled at Xiaoyu: "Many times, you see things more clearly than I do."
Xiaoyu chuckled: "I dare not compare myself with you, Madam. But sometimes, outsiders see things more clearly."
"Alright, let’s not talk about this. I’m going to rest. I’ve been tired all day, and I should get some sleep. I have a tough battle tomorrow." Xin He laughed, her mood easing quite a bit.
When Marquis Mu returned, it was just getting dark.
His footsteps were hurried, his aura suppressed, and his face dark. Xiaoyu and Shulan watched from afar, growing anxious. Could it be that he already knew something?!
Before he entered the room, Xiaoyu and Shulan greeted him and said politely, "Greetings, Master. Madam is already asleep."
Marquis Mu hesitated for a moment, then nodded and entered the room. His face was still dark, but his footsteps were noticeably quieter.
A dim candle light was still burning in the room. Even though she was heavily pregnant, Xin He, nestled within the soft cotton quilt, still looked petite and endearing. Marquis Mu sat by the bed and softly touched her small face. Since getting pregnant, she had put on some weight, and her face had filled out a bit. But it still looked so small. However, it felt much better to the touch now.
"Are you avoiding me by pretending to sleep?" Marquis Mu lowered his voice. A trace of frustration and resentment could be detected in his tone, and the hand pinching her cheek couldn’t help but exert a little more force.
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