Tong Mingyu took a car to the hot spring villa early in the morning. Xiao Jun wanted to go with her, but was suppressed by the old man and Xiao Jingkang. He had to give up the idea of revealing the news to his sister and continue to stay with his grandfather honestly.
October in Kyoto is already a time of rustling autumn winds, withered flowers, and fallen leaves and branches lining the streets. Itinerant vendors and pedestrians crisscross the streets and alleys. The cacophony of hawkers, solicitations, and conversations evokes a sense of peace and tranquility.
Tong Mingyu knew that her daughter had always liked and envied this kind of city life, otherwise her father-in-law would not have said in front of the emperor and King Jing that day that he wanted to take his granddaughter to grow vegetables and feed chickens.
Unfortunately, her background and appearance meant that she would never have such a life. She could only live in the villa, stroll around the streets, and appreciate the folk customs in her spare time. As the eldest daughter of the Xiao family and the consort of the prince of Jing Palace, she would be further away from such a life.
The hot spring villa was expanded further, adding a woodland and a small hill. Xiao Yao had a row of houses built next to the larger spring, where vegetables were grown.
When Tong Mingyu arrived, the two sisters were busy in the greenhouse. Xiao Yuan was pulling weeds while discussing with Xiao Yao: "Sister, when are we going back to Kyoto? Grandfather said that he didn't see anyone and only sent a group of people. It's not fun at all."
"That's not what you said when you first came. You said it's fun here and you wanted to stay here until the New Year! Qianyu, Xiaofu and the others heard it." Xiao Yao was responsible for watering the plants behind a few people.
"I regret it now, okay? Let's go back to Beijing!"
"I won't leave." I can embroider wedding dresses here all day long, but I can't go home. I still want to finish half of it before the New Year!
"You are embroidering because of that dress, right? Sister, who did you embroider it for?" Xiao Yuancao stopped pulling the grass and stood up and asked curiously.
Tong Mingyu slowed down. This was also a question she was most concerned about. Once she had the answer, she could discuss it with the other party. She hoped that the other party would be flexible and allow the embroiderer to continue with the rest of the work, as her daughter also needed to prepare embroidery for her wedding.
"If I say I don't know, will you believe me? If someone brings me money, I just take it. Who cares who she is?" The key is that I don't know who she is either! Yun Yichen doesn't allow me to reveal his name, and he has never heard of his mysterious fiancée. How can I tell you?
"Come out, you two. You don't act like young ladies at all. Go back and wash up." A young lady from a marquis's mansion was squatting together with maids and servants to pull weeds. If outsiders saw them, they would laugh at them!
As soon as Xiao Yao heard Tong Mingyu's voice, she threw the small wooden barrel in her hand aside. Her mother was still the best, coming such a long way to see her early in the morning.
Xiao Yuan screamed "Ah!" and ran to Tong Mingyu. The savior finally appeared. Did God hear his prayers? Now he could go home.
"Ping An, tell me the truth, who did you embroider the wedding dress for?"
"Mom, are there any royal relatives engaged in Kyoto recently?" If the news of Yun Yichen's engagement came out, his fiancée would also surface, and the answer that mother wanted would be there.
Of course there was. The engagement between the Prince of Jing's Mansion and the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Zhongyong's Mansion was major news! But I couldn't let my daughter know yet. Firstly, the official matchmaker from the Prince of Jing's Mansion hadn't arrived yet; secondly, my father-in-law was upset and had no intention of allowing Ping'an to have any contact with Yun Yichen before the wedding, so this matter had to be kept secret from my daughter as much as possible.
"I really don't know. First, someone asked for a pattern for a wedding dress. After I finished drawing it, they were quite satisfied and asked me to embroider it. I agreed for the sake of the reward. It's that simple." She was badly harmed by Yun Yichen. She had become a liar. The lies she made were getting smoother and smoother.
Seeing her daughter's big, twinkling eyes showing no sign of dodging, Tong Mingyu still had some doubts in her heart, but she knew she couldn't ask anything.
"Aunt, please take us home!" Xiao Yuan had lived here for more than ten days, and the novelty had long since worn off. She now especially missed the delicious food, beautiful scenery, and of course the beautiful sketchbooks in Kyoto.
She couldn't really take the children back home right now, because she didn't know when the matchmaker would be sent to Prince Jing's mansion, and there were many things she had to deal with. Privately, Tong Mingyu didn't want her daughter to know about her engagement just yet. If she didn't know, she would still be as happy and carefree as she is now. If she did, her mood would definitely be affected, and she might never see such a pure smile from her again.
"Not now. Your grandfather will come to the villa after he's busy in the next few days. Maybe he will take you out for a walk. If you insist on going back to Beijing..." Tong Mingyu helped Xiao Yuan to fix her hair. She was just a child who never grew up. She could only be coaxed with food and toys.
"Then I won't go back. Please tell grandpa to come early! And..." Xiao Yuan looked at Xiao Yao with some fear, approached Tong Mingyu and said in a low voice: "Please ask Qianxiang to help me find some sketchbooks. She knows where they are. Thank you." Xiao Yuan hugged Tong Mingyu's arm and rocked back and forth.
Tong Mingyu called the head of the villa and the captain of the guards and told them to protect the two young ladies. No one except their family members could be allowed into the villa, and anyone who disobeyed would be severely punished.
The two people nodded in agreement and said they would remember it.
Xiao Yao cooked a few side dishes herself. Tong Mingyu stood at the kitchen door and watched her daughter busying around, feeling both relieved and sad.
After eating the meal prepared by her daughter, Tong Mingyu hurried back. She had to go back before the city gates were closed.
Before leaving, Tong Mingyu handed the material and size of clothes for Yun Yichen to her daughter, and lied that Xiao Lang was going out and his wife was pregnant and it was inconvenient for her to make clothes, so he asked Xiao Yao to help make a robe, a pair of boots, and embroider a purse.
Xiao Yao agreed without thinking.
Tong Mingyu didn't dare to look into her daughter's clear, trusting eyes and left the villa in a hurry. As soon as she got home, Li Jiaoying and Yuan Yutong found Yayuan.
"Sister-in-law, you are finally back. The Prince Jing's Mansion sent an invitation and will come to visit the day after tomorrow." The visit is fake, and the real one is asking a matchmaker to propose marriage! Li Jiaoying couldn't say sour words in front of Yuan Yutong, but anyone with a discerning eye could see that she was unhappy.
"My mother will be the matchmaker tomorrow. Please feel free to ask for anything you want. Don't miss this opportunity." Yuan Yutong knew that her family members were not willing to accept this matter for the time being, and were not willing to accept Yun Yichen as a person. All she could do was to appease her sisters-in-law to the best of her ability.
"Have you cleaned the house? How's the preparation for tomorrow's banquet to entertain my aunt going? It would be better if I don't have lunch at the villa, so I can come back earlier." Tong Mingyu couldn't sit still anymore, so he stood up and wanted to call someone to explain things.
Li Jiaoying and Yuan Yutong helped Tong Mingyu sit back down and told her that things at home had been almost arranged. Besides, Old Madam Yuan was not an outsider, so they just had to go through the motions.
Tong Mingyu did not agree with his sister-in-law's statement. Old Madam Yuan represented the Prince Jing's Mansion. If the Xiao family neglected her in the slightest, it would be disrespectful to the Prince Jing's Mansion.
It may seem glorious to have a daughter promised to a royal family, but the Xiao family is passive in every way and has to put the other party first in everything. How many people can understand this feeling of powerlessness!
The next day, the Xiao family woke up early, and Tong Mingyu checked around to make sure there were no omissions. After breakfast, they sent off those going to the government office and school, and several women sat in the hall, chatting while waiting for the distinguished guests.
"Sister-in-law, what do you think about marrying Yuan Ying to A Rui?" Yuan Yutong asked seriously. Her son was like a wild horse, never seen again all day. Now that he had finally found a job under his second uncle and was settled, Yuan Yutong naturally thought about finding him a wife.
"That kid is pretty good. He's generous, easygoing, and quick with his words and actions. He also gets along well with Ruyi. Have you asked Aunt Yuan for her opinion?"
Yuan Yutong smiled and nodded. She hadn't brought this up on her own initiative; it was her sister-in-law who had taken the initiative. Whether she'd listened to her family or had decided to do so after seeing Ping'an's impending marriage into Prince Jing's mansion, she was quite pleased with her niece. If the Xiao family had no objections, Yuan Yutong planned to consult her husband and son and finalize the marriage as soon as possible, marrying off her daughter-in-law before Ping'an's wedding.
"Madam, Madam, I'm here, I'm here." The cheerful steward came trotting in to report, happier than if there was a happy event in his own family!
Tong Mingyu's heart trembled. Here they come. Prince Jing's Mansion really came to propose marriage.
The Xiao family's doors were wide open, welcoming Madam Yuan, the matchmaker from Prince Jing's mansion, with the utmost respect. But why were there two carriages? Could it be that Princess Jing herself had come?
You have to know that today is the first time that the matchmaker has come to the house. According to the marriage procedure, today is just a formality and there will not be any substantial progress. Why would Princess Jing come!
The curtain of the first car was lifted a crack, and Mrs. Yuan's voice came from inside: "Eldest Wife, how about we drive the car inside and talk?"
"I'm sorry for not thinking this through. Please come in." Tong Mingyu glanced at the carriage behind her, seemingly unintentionally. Old Madam Yuan's carriage was the kind used by ordinary officials and their families, while this one behind her was clearly much grander and more spacious. Looking at the guards beside her, their figures were similar, their movements in perfect unison, and their aura was something that could only be achieved through rigorous training.
After the carriage entered the center of the courtyard and stopped steadily, Old Madam Yuan was helped out first. She walked to the side of the carriage behind and called softly, "Grand Princess, the Xiao family has arrived."
The eldest princess and the Xiao family looked at each other in bewilderment. Tong Mingyu had already signaled to those around her, ordering them to call out the rest of the family. Whether it was the emperor's eldest daughter or the most senior backup, Princess Deqing, their family had to treat them with respect and give them a grand welcome.
"Are we there yet? That brat, Achen, is still trying to secretly get engaged without telling me. I've already told you that I'm the matchmaker, but he refuses to take it seriously. Just wait and see how I'll deal with him when I get back."
As the curtain of the carriage was lifted, a woman dressed in purple palace dress came out. She was noble and dignified, and people admired her at first sight.
Tong Mingyu secretly tried to guess the identity of the visitor. According to Old Madam Yuan, she was most likely the Grand Princess of Deqing.
Prince Jing's Mansion actually asked Princess Deqing to be the matchmaker. It seems that they can no longer keep a low profile on their daughter's engagement.
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