Irgen Gioro looked at Cui Yan and smiled kindly: "Is this Yanzi? It's been many years since I last saw her. She has become even more beautiful. It seems that Jiangnan really does nurture people."
Manager Cui and Madam Cui felt a pang of anxiety, and their smiles became somewhat forced.
Cui Yan also lowered her head, placing her hands in front of her and clasping them tightly together.
Heyue was puzzled. Did her mother bring up Cui Yan unintentionally, or did she already know about that matter?
She glanced at Thirteen and saw him shake his head, so she knew that Thirteen had not mentioned this matter.
Heyue was relieved; perhaps her mother had only mentioned it unintentionally.
"Look at me, what are you all doing standing outside? Come in." As if suddenly realizing something, Lady Irgen Gioro took Heyue's hand and slowly walked into the main hall in the backyard.
Upon entering the main hall, Lady Irgen Gioro sat at the head of the table, while Heyue and Thirteen sat on chairs at the lower left. The four members of the Cui family stood in the middle, looking rather reserved.
The waiter served the tea and then quietly left.
"Please sit down, why are you standing?" Yiergenjueluo was quite surprised to see the four of them standing in the middle.
Manager Cui nodded obsequiously, thanked him, and sat down on the right. The other three also sat down cautiously next to him.
Lady Irgen Gioro glanced at Cui He, who sat properly and had an elegant appearance, and her eyes flashed with admiration: "Cui He is so grown up now, has his marriage been arranged yet?"
Manager Cui relaxed a bit and replied with a smile, "Thank you for your concern, Madam. He'er is still young. He himself wants to study for a few more years before getting married."
Yiergenjueluo nodded: "She is ambitious. I heard that she studied with her son-in-law for a few days. He is a learned man. She should study hard and marry a good family's daughter in the future, and live a happy life together."
Cui He quickly stood up and smiled shyly: "Cui He thanks you for your concern, Madam. I will definitely study hard with my son-in-law."
Yiergenjueluo nodded in satisfaction.
The steward, Cui, was filled with anxiety and didn't know what to do.
Because she felt guilty, Cui Yan didn't dare to look up at the old lady. Although the old lady was smiling, Cui Yan always felt that the old lady was too serious, and even when she smiled, there seemed to be a deep meaning hidden in her eyes.
Seeing that the old lady was amiable and concerned about her son's marriage, Cui Tianshi's earlier tension had vanished, and she chuckled.
Heyue understood. It seemed that her mother knew. Since her mother came to Yangzhou yesterday, Heyue had not mentioned that Cui He was studying with Thirteen.
Since Thirteen started teaching at the school, he has only occasionally given Cui He some pointers at home. Yesterday, Cui He did not go to see Thirteen.
Since Mother knew about Cui He following Thirteen, she naturally also knew about Cui Yan.
However, Heyue did not intend to get involved.
Since her mother wanted to give them some pointers, she was happy to do so. She enjoyed the feeling of her mother venting her anger for her, and didn't care whether she needed it or not.
Thirteen held Heyue's hand, a smile appearing on his lips. Heyue guessed that he understood as well.
Neither of them were the type to interfere with their elders' actions; they simply drank their tea in silence.
Sure enough, Lady Irgen Gioro immediately brought up Cui Yan: "It's a good thing for a man to get married later. Cui Yan is fifteen, isn't he? It's time to ask him to marry. Does he have a family to marry into?"
Steward Cui remained stiff and hadn't replied when Madam Cui Tian smiled and explained, "Yanzi is studying needlework with Miss Wu. After she's studied for a while longer, we'll find her a better marriage." She looked quite proud of herself.
"Oh? Who is Miss Wu?" Yiergenjueluo looked puzzled, but slowly took a sip of tea.
Before Cui Tianshi could continue, Steward Cui reached out and tugged at her sleeve, interrupting to answer, "Miss Wu is the tutor that the young master found for our Yanzi. She is good at reading and needlework. Thanks to Miss Wu, our Yanzi has become much more composed these days and no longer has that mischievous monkey-like nature of before."
Cui Yan lowered her head even further.
Yiergenjueluo glanced at Cui Yan, a meaningful smile appearing on her lips: "I see. Studying is good. In that case, let her continue studying with Miss Wu. People should read and write more books in their lives to understand some principles, to understand what should be done, what should not be done, what can be thought, and what cannot be thought."
Manager Cui chuckled and agreed. Cui Tianshi seemed to have sensed something, glanced at her husband, lowered her head, and nervously twisted her sleeves.
"I heard from Xiao Qi that the indentures have been given to you. Now that they've been given to you, you're no longer our family's servants and are considered free. However, you did come out with me after all, and I've watched Cui Yan grow up. I should be concerned about her marriage. If she finds someone, let me know, and I'll help you choose. You should choose someone with a good character and suitable for you, so you can live a good life together. Just don't let your studies delay things. The longer a girl's marriage is delayed, the worse it is for her." Irgen Gioro said with a gentle smile.
Everyone except Cui Tianshi understood what this meant; it was clearly an urging to find a suitable match for Cui Yan.
Heyue lowered her head and smiled, her mother was really direct and protective of her own. She said that even though there was no longer a contract of servitude, and she was no longer their servant, as her former master, she could still interfere in some matters.
This is truly typical of my mother's domineering style.
If it were anyone else, they really wouldn't have been able to say it.
Steward Cui was always loyal and didn't care about such words. He repeatedly said, "What the old lady says is true. We will definitely take it to heart."
Cui Yan suddenly looked up, seemingly unintentionally glancing at the Thirteenth Prince. She saw that he wasn't looking in her direction at all, but was only looking at his wife with tenderness, saying something. The smile on his face was one of tenderness and indulgence he had never shown to anyone other than his wife.
In the end, she lowered her eyes sadly, and instead of rushing to stand up and refute as before, she seemed to have truly accepted the arrangement.
After leaving Hengxiang Silk Shop, Thirteen had to go to the school to teach. He bid farewell to Lady Irgen Gioro, who smiled and nodded, "Go ahead, son-in-law, don't worry about us."
Thirteen glanced at Heyue before leaving.
Holding Heyue's hand, Lady Irgen Gioro complained as they walked, "You're so bold to send a prince to teach! How can someone like the Thirteenth Prince do such a thing? Isn't this putting him to a bad job?"
He Yue pouted: "So what? We are all commoners now, so naturally we should do things that are in line with commoners. Besides, if we don't let him do this, there's nothing else that's suitable for him. If we make him stay at home all day like me, he'll feel stifled."
Lady Irgen Gioro sighed, "That's true. It's a pity that a prince has fallen to such a state. You must be more accommodating to him and not act on your own whims, lest you anger the Thirteenth Prince, understand?"
Heyue remained silent, but still nodded: "Mother, don't worry, I won't deliberately make him angry."
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