Madam Qin smiled. Madam Shen had already spoken to her beforehand, intending to marry her second daughter into the Qin family in order to maintain the relationship between the two families.
Madam Qin was naturally delighted with Shen's mother's decision.
Her son is a successful candidate in the imperial examinations. If he can get the support of the Marquis's family, he will surely have a bright future and may not lose to an outsider like Shen Rushan.
But she wasn't very satisfied with Song Zhiyu.
Although Song Zhiyu was the Marquis's biological son, he had been living away from home since childhood and was emotionally detached, making him incomparable to Shen Jinshu, who was raised by the Marquis.
But she also knew in her heart that Shen Jinshu was already a sure thing to become the Princess Consort of Li, and that the Qin family could not afford to marry her, so she had no choice but to settle for Song Zhiyu instead.
The only thing that could bring comfort to Madam Qin was the shops and money that Song Zhiyu held. These were enough to cover the Qin family's daily expenses and allow them to live quite comfortably.
She had heard that Song Zhiyu had a real talent for business. A shop that was on the verge of closing down was revitalized under her management, and business was booming day by day, making a fortune every day.
Just look at the Marquis's mansion six months ago; they were constantly showering people with bird's nest and ginseng. Her extravagant spending made her envious.
Now, it's time for the Qin family to enjoy this immense wealth.
Thinking of this, Madam Qin's dislike for Song Zhiyu gradually lessened.
She had already discussed it with the Marquis; once Song Zhiyu married into the family, the Qin family would take at least 20% of her dowry.
For the sake of this enormous fortune, Madam Qin reluctantly accepted Song Zhiyu as her future daughter-in-law.
"Where is the Second Miss? I haven't seen her since she returned to the manor." Madam Qin peeked out the door, appearing gentle and dignified.
"I've already sent someone to invite her over," Madam Shen replied gently, her eyes filled with satisfaction as she looked at Qin Xu.
This child is handsome and well-mannered. Although his family background is somewhat lacking, he is well-known and is the nephew of the old lady's maternal family, so he is not afraid of being bullied by his in-laws.
After observing several times, Mother Shen already had a clear idea of what was going on.
After a moment, she turned her scrutinizing gaze to the woman in pink beside Qin Xu, and a thought flickered in her mind.
Yu Zhou is not young anymore. If it weren't for his crippled legs, his marriage would have been on the agenda long ago.
Fortunately, it's not too late yet.
Just then, Song Zhiyu's soft voice came from outside the door, "Everyone's here."
Song Zhiyu wore a light purple brocade dress, her smooth black hair was tied up, her eyebrows and eyes were like paintings, and her lips were red without makeup. The skirt, embroidered with gold cloud patterns, swayed slightly with her light and graceful steps, and her extraordinary temperament attracted attention.
Qin Xu was stunned. He had thought that Song Zhiyu, who grew up in the countryside, would be plain-looking and vulgar, but he did not expect her to be so beautiful that she was otherworldly. Every smile and frown of hers was captivating.
Only then did his reluctance completely dissipate, and he became less resistant to his mother's suggestion.
On the other hand, Qin's mother frowned slightly, showing more dislike for Song Zhiyu.
This woman is so beautiful that she has already bewitched her son before they even got married. What will happen if they do get married?
No, she had to find an opportunity to give Song Zhiyu a good talking-to.
Now that the rules are set, she can better control Song Zhiyu when he enters the household.
Qin's mother smiled kindly, her smiling face revealing no trace of her disdain. "This must be Zhiyu. I've often heard your mother mention you, saying you're a well-behaved and filial child. Having a daughter like you is her greatest blessing in life."
She spoke without thinking, completely unaware of the strange looks from those around her.
"What else did your mother say to you? Did she say that I was cold-blooded and heartless, and that I would no longer make her medicine to regulate her body?"
"Or did you still not say that I could have cured Shen Yuzhou's legs, but deliberately let him die?" Song Zhiyu lifted her eyelids and glanced at her, her lips pressed into a straight line, making it impossible to tell whether she was happy or angry.
"This..." Qin's mother looked embarrassed. She just wanted to say a few words to get closer to the two of them, but she didn't expect to be speechless by a junior.
I had long heard that Song Zhiyu was at odds with the Marquis's family, and now it seems that the rumors were true.
She began to doubt whether her decision was correct. Would the Chengen Marquis's mansion really support her son for the sake of this daughter with whom she had little affection?
But Qin's mother ultimately couldn't resist the temptation of money, and with a determined heart, she decided to proceed as planned.
She has to have at least one of these: money or power.
Seeing that the atmosphere around them was a bit tense, Qin's mother quickly stepped in to smooth things over, "Zhiyu, this is your cousin Qin Xu, a few years older than you. He has now passed the imperial examination and become a scholar. If you have any questions in the future, feel free to ask him."
Qin's mother raised her chin smugly. As far as she knew, Song Zhiyu had grown up in the countryside and didn't have any outstanding talents, which was why she was showing off intentionally or unintentionally.
She felt extremely superior in front of Song Zhiyu.
Seeing Qin's mother's haughty demeanor, Song Zhiyu chuckled and shook her head, drawing out the last syllable, "A scholar... Judging from Madam Qin's proud tone, I thought he had passed the imperial examination with top honors!"
To be fair, Qin Xu's ability to pass the imperial examination and become a Juren was indeed impressive, but he was still far inferior to a prodigy like Pei Qingyan.
Song Zhiyu grew up under the tutelage of Pei Qingyan. With a top scholar who had achieved the highest honors in the imperial examinations as her teacher, she naturally didn't need a mere scholar to show off his superiority in front of her.
Upon hearing this, Madam Qin's face stiffened, and she gritted her teeth in resentment.
This girl is truly unlikable; no wonder everyone in the Marquis's mansion prefers Shen Jinshu.
With Song Zhiyu's sharp tongue, she can infuriate someone with just a few words.
Mother Shen awkwardly clenched the handkerchief in her hand; she actually felt that Song Zhiyu was right.
Her eldest son, Shen Yuzhou, was once the top scholar personally appointed by His Majesty, enjoying immense prestige, yet she never flaunted it all the time.
With Shen Yuzhou as a shining example, it's perfectly normal for Song Zhiyu to look down on Qin Xu.
Seeing that no one spoke up for her, Qin's mother couldn't help but curse inwardly.
This country girl is far inferior to the well-bred young ladies from noble families.
It's a pity that Shen Jinshu was the principal wife chosen by the Prince of Li long ago, otherwise she would have preferred Shen Jinshu to be her daughter-in-law.
At the same time, Shen Jinshu, whom Qin's mother was talking about, slowly walked into the main courtyard with her lotus-like steps. Her delicate and fair face showed a hint of disapproval. "Second sister, you are mistaken. It is already very impressive that Cousin Qin Xu was able to pass the imperial examination. This shows that his talent is beyond doubt. How can you look down on him so casually?"
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