Ling Xiang was determined:
"Zhang, do you know how much concessions the Zhenguo Marquisate made to settle the farmers' unrest? And how much extra money they spent! You know the Zhenguo Marquisate's financial situation better than anyone else! The money she caused the Zhenguo Marquisate to lose is no less than what you have embezzled from it over the years!"
Zhang Qian has embezzled a lot of money from the Marquis of Zhenguo's Mansion over the years. Ling Xiang discovered this when she took over, but did not expose her. Now with Ling Xiang's attitude, Zhang Qian understands that Ling Yan has exposed the truth.
When her daughter makes a mistake, what else can she do as a mother except beg for mercy?
"Xiang'er, Yan'er did something wrong and deserves to be punished! I only ask that you not make it public, give her some dignity, and let her stay in the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion."
Ling Xiang asked back, "She doesn't even consider the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion as her home anymore. If we keep her, can you guarantee that she won't do anything to harm the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion again?"
Zhang Qian couldn't guarantee that. She only knew that Ling Yan's reputation couldn't be ruined, so she quickly knelt down and kowtowed: "Xiang'er, as long as you can protect Yan'er's reputation, you can punish her however you want!"
Ling Xiang remained unmoved: "Zhang, you were once the head of a household too. How can you keep a black sheep? As long as Ling Yan is in the Marquis Zhenguo Mansion, she will be the Second Young Lady. She can use her status to do things that harm the Marquis Zhenguo Mansion!"
Zhang Qian had no choice but to make a painful decision: "Let her get married! A daughter who is married off is like spilled water. After she gets married, she can't use her status as the second young lady to do anything wrong."
Ling Xiang stared at Zhang Qian, thinking for a long time before speaking, "Zhang, you know, given Ling Yan's current situation, not only would officials and officials, but even a well-off merchant family wouldn't necessarily be interested in her. If she marries poorly, not only would it bring discredit to the Zhenguo Marquisate, it would also make people think that I, the head of the household, am mistreating my cousin!"
Zhang Qian didn't think too much about it. After hearing this, she was completely at a loss: "Xiang'er, whatever you say, I'll listen to you!"
Ling Xiang closed his eyes, rubbed his brows and thought for a long time: "I do have a solution, but it means that my second sister will suffer a little."
Zhang Qian was reluctant to see her daughter suffer any injustice, but she also didn't want her to be unable to hold her head up for the rest of her life. She said anxiously:
"What method?"
"Let the second sister get married as soon as possible. This will not only prevent her from using her identity as the second young lady to do wrong things, but also make room for you and He Sheng's family of three. When the time comes, when He Sheng completes his mission, we'll move to the manor. The rest will be your business."
Zhang Qian fully agreed with this plan of killing two birds with one stone, but she was worried that Lingyan wouldn't be able to find a good husband. "Who will Yan'er marry?"
Ling Xiang said helplessly:
"She has no choice but to marry someone of her lower status in her current situation, and it would be best if she married someone she knows well. The new steward of the manor, Wu He, is a man of both civil and military talents. Although he comes from a humble background, he has a promising future. Furthermore, given my second sister's current status, with her father exiled and her mother divorced, and she herself having committed a serious offense, marrying him wouldn't be too much of a grievance."
Zhang Qian didn't hesitate for long and nodded:
"Yan'er, if she marries someone from the Zhenguo Marquisate, at least she won't be wronged by her husband's family. Xiang'er, you've been very thoughtful."
"I will not interfere in Lingyan's marriage, and I will not interfere. I will give her the dignity she deserves. I have done my best. If Lingyan is still dissatisfied with me, don't blame me for not thinking about sisterhood!" Ling Xiang said indifferently.
"Zhang, I'll give you ten days to handle this matter. If you can't do it, I'll have to find another way to deal with Ling Yan."
Zhang Qian promised: "Don't worry, Xiang'er, I will handle this matter as soon as possible. Yan'er marrying Wu He was my idea alone, and Yan'er will not be dissatisfied with you."
After Ling Xiang left, Zhang Qian calmed down and sent someone to call Ling Yan to come and have dinner together.
Lingyan was very reluctant. She felt that her mother had become more petty since she came to the farm, which was really embarrassing for her. She had no appetite while sitting at the dinner table.
Zhang Qian picked up a piece of food for Ling Yan with chopsticks and said, "Yan'er, you are not young anymore. It's time for you to get married."
Ling Yan had been feeling resentful towards Zhang Qian for a long time, and now was the lowest point in her life. She knew very well that with her current situation, it was impossible for her to marry into a good family, so she immediately refused.
"Daddy is not at home, and Mommy needs someone to take care of her the most. Yan'er won't marry anyone, she just wants to take good care of Mommy."
Zhang Qian said earnestly, "Don't worry, Yan'er. I'm fine now. I've already found someone for you. Just get married with peace of mind."
Ling Yan was anxious. Zhang Qian was in such a state that she couldn't even protect herself, so how could she find a good family for her? "Mother, I won't marry!"
Zhang Qian was annoyed and said mercilessly: "This is an order!"
Ling Yan immediately burst into tears, feeling wronged. "Mother, you didn't teach me this before. You said you would let me marry a powerful man, so I could live a glorious life for the rest of my life!"
Zhang Qian was determined and ignored Ling Yan's grievances: "If you get married, you will be able to live a glorious life on this farm in the future!"
"Zhuangzi? Mother, you want me to marry someone from Zhuangzi?" Ling Yan couldn't believe it. How could her mother do this? "No, I don't want to marry into Zhuangzi."
She suddenly realized: "Mother, was this your idea or Third Sister's?"
"It was mother's idea!" Zhang Qian was afraid that Ling Xiang would really do something extreme. Moreover, she had to rely on Ling Xiang for her help and took all the responsibilities on herself.
"I will never marry!" Ling Yan ran away crying.
Ling Xiang went to the meeting room. Wu He and his brothers had already arrived. They saluted respectfully and said, "Greetings, young lady."
"I called you here to confirm something with you," Ling Xiang said seriously. "No matter what you've heard or seen, no one is allowed to spread any words that are detrimental to the Second Young Lady!"
Several people quickly expressed their loyalty: "Please rest assured, Miss, we will never say anything nonsense!"
Ling Xiang had just settled the matter when Ling Yan ran over crying, "Third sister! I have something to discuss with you."
Ling Xiang asked with concern: "Second sister, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Who made you angry?"
Ling Yan glanced at the farmer beside her and said, "I'll just tell you one person!"
Wu He was very tactful and said, "Wu He, take your leave."
"No need." Ling Xiang stopped Wu He and the others from leaving. "I still have something important to discuss. If you're in a hurry, you can tell me now. If you're not, wait until we finish discussing it."
How could Lingyan tell the farmers in front of them that her mother asked her to marry a farmer? Wouldn't she be humiliated in front of them?
She could only take the initiative to withdraw: "Third sister, I'll wait for you!"
Ling Xiang discussed some matters on the farm with Wu He, and thought that Ling Yan was almost out of the question, so he let Wu He and the others leave.
Ling Yan immediately ran in and confirmed that no outsiders were around. Then she knelt down and begged Ling Xiang, "Third sister, mother is crazy! She actually wants me to marry a farmer! I'm the daughter of the Zhenguo Marquisate. If I marry a farmer, wouldn't that bring shame to the Zhenguo Marquisate?"
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