It was naturally Aunt Zhao who greeted them.
After returning from Feiquan Mountain, Ruonan went out of the house to meet with the Zhou family's son several times. Although Aunt Zhao had doubts, she didn't know with whom.
Today, when Mrs. Zhou came, Ruonan went out to look around several times and stopped Liu Wanyun and the other two to talk, which was seen by Aunt Zhao.
What's not to understand?
After some interrogation, Aunt Zhao immediately locked her in the room and did not allow her to come out.
Aunt Zhao was originally a distant relative of the Zhou family. She had heard a little about what kind of person Madam Zhou was over the years. She would never be interested in her, the daughter of a distant relative who was a concubine.
Liu Wanyun and the other two were not surprised at all when they saw Aunt Zhao. They guessed that she must know what their daughter was thinking, so they told her exactly what Madam Zhou had said.
Aunt Zhao didn't seem surprised. She was only concerned about the lady's attitude.
"What did the lady say?"
"Of course, the Madam didn't agree right away. She asked us to ask you and Ruonan for your opinions. Everything will be based on your ideas!"
Aunt Zhao nodded with satisfaction. "I'll go and reply to the Madam myself. As for Ruonan, I'll have to trouble the three young ladies to help persuade her on my side. Thank you very much!"
As she said this, she bowed deeply to the three of them.
Liu Wanyun quickly helped her up, saying that there was no need to be so polite, and then took the room key from her.
The door opened, and Ruonan saw her three sisters-in-law, her face full of anticipation.
Liu Wanyun didn't tell her the result immediately, but asked her, "How far have you and Mr. Zhou progressed?"
Ruonan's face flushed. "What are you talking about, sister-in-law? We've only met privately a few times..."
Liu, Guan and Zhang found a place to sit down by themselves. Ruonan stood in front of them like a child being trained.
In modern times, it is normal to have one or two boyfriends or girlfriends before marriage. After all, it is much rarer to marry your first love.
But it was different in ancient times. The secular world had extremely high requirements for women's reputation. If an engagement was broken off, it would be a loss of face. If two people were found to have secretly decided to spend their lives together, it would be the woman who would be despised the most.
"Ruonan, tell me honestly, how is your relationship going? What can you do for each other?"
Liu Wanyun's serious expression made Ruonan feel uneasy. The expectant expression she had just had turned a little uneasy, and her eyes became moist as she watched.
"Sister-in-law, does mother disagree?"
This silly kid is such a love-brained person! He only thinks the worst of his own family and never considers that the other person might have problems.
Liu Wanyun didn't waste any more time talking to her and told her the truth directly, so she could clear her mind. "Auntie didn't agree because Madam Zhou wanted you to be a concubine for her family!"
"Become a concubine?"
Ruonan stood there in a daze, finding it hard to believe.
"But Brother Zhou said he likes me too and will definitely marry me."
"But the daughter-in-law that Madam Zhou has her eyes on is Miss Xie. You still remember what happened yesterday when Madam Rong went to see Master Zhou. She asked him to go back and see Miss Xie. I believe he also tried to get you two together. That's why Madam Zhou came to the mansion today and agreed to let you marry into her family, but only as a concubine!"
This was a tactful way of telling her that Mr. Zhou's love for her was just to become his concubine. Liu Wanyun thought that after she said this, Ruonan would be discouraged and give up!
But when people are obsessed, they are always very excited and can't listen to anything. They will even brainwash themselves!
Ruonan held her head in her hands and shook it desperately, "No! I don't believe it. Brother Zhou will definitely not agree! He said he would marry me! He must have been forced! He will definitely find a way..."
Guan Xiaoyu stared at her with a cold look in her eyes. "If he tells you, he can only make you his concubine. Do you agree?"
"I...I...I don't know..."
Tears finally fell. Ruonan looked particularly helpless and pitiful at this moment. Liu Wanyun stood up, pulled her to sit beside her, and gently stroked her back.
"Ruonan, marriage is a matter of lifelong happiness. It's your own choice. We won't make the decision for you. You have to think it through yourself. If you really want to be a concubine, we can talk to Madam and Aunt Zhao on your behalf."
"But you deserve better! How much can a man who can't even give you the position of legal wife love you? And after you marry him, how long can he protect you?"
Ruonan sobbed for a while on Liu Wanyun's shoulder, then raised her head and choked out, "Sister-in-law, can I only find an ordinary family to be my legal wife? My mother always reminds me not to dream of marrying into those wealthy families because life is hard there. She insists that I consider marrying into an ordinary family. Can't I be the wife of a wealthy family?"
She poured out all her resentment in her heart and her dissatisfaction with her mother's idea through her emotions.
Liu Wanyun really wanted to say, with your simple and innocent look, you are indeed not suitable. If it were Zhaodi instead, maybe it would be okay!
The child could not understand Aunt Zhao's painstaking efforts after all. The stability she gained by compromising made Ruonan not feel the difficulty of life at all. On the contrary, Zhaodi was forced to be more independent because of Aunt Sun's unreliability!
Zhang Xinyue clapped her hands and said, "Listen to Third Sister-in-law. It doesn't matter whether they are from a wealthy family or not. What matters most is their sincerity towards you. If you miss this opportunity, there will always be other opportunities!"
Ruonan pursed her lips, looking like she was about to cry again, "But I really like him~"
"Then think about it carefully! Is he worthy of you becoming his concubine?"
Knowing that she was still unable to come to her senses and would not listen to any advice, the three of them decided to let her calm down and come back to counsel her properly in a couple of days.
Unexpectedly, she ran away from home in the middle of the night the next day!
Early in the morning on the third day, Liu Wanyun and Shen Chaodong were doing morning exercises when they heard Si Xi's voice outside the door.
"Madam, Aunt Zhao said she has something urgent to discuss with you!"
The happiness brought by Xiaodong made Liu Wanyun's consciousness a little hazy. She pushed the person on her body and said, "Someone seems to be calling me?"
Shen Chaodong replied in a muffled voice, “You heard it wrong!”
Then, the distance between them became even more negative.
Si Xi stood outside the door and did not wait for the young lady's reply, but heard the young lady's different voice. With a red face, he went to the gate of the courtyard to reply to Aunt Zhao.
Aunt Zhao was an experienced person, and when she saw the maid's expression, she naturally understood what was going on.
But she didn't dare to tell the lady directly. If she asked the lady to send someone to find Ruonan, the whole mansion would know that her daughter might have eloped with someone!
She could only stand at the door and wait, but she couldn't help pacing back and forth anxiously.
Si Xi couldn't bear to watch any longer, so he suggested, "Why don't you go find the Second Young Master's wife or the Third Young Master's wife? They might have already woken up!"
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