Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Negotiating a Marriage Proposal
On the way back, Qu Fulan rode in a carriage with Hai Xia and the others, while the men of the Pei Family rode horses.
Pei Yuan and Pei Ji’an walked side by side, following the carriage at a steady pace.
"Your eye is truly sharp; you picked out such a clever and intelligent girl from Mrs. Pei’s room at a glance," Pei Yuan said with a smile.
"Do you also think she’s quite good, Brother?" Pei Ji’an asked casually, gazing ahead.
"She learned to play a game with others within a few days. Praising such a smart girl as good is not an exaggeration."
Among those who have achieved this much, apart from the Second Brother, he hasn’t seen it in others.
"Indeed, it wouldn’t be excessive." Pei Ji’an’s lips curled into a faint smile. "I happen to be curious about just how ’good’ she can really be."
Pei Yuan was puzzled, "Second Brother, does that mean she has even more impressive qualities?"
"Who knows?" Pei Ji’an said indifferently.
Pei Yuan laughed, "It’s rare to see you not know something, and even rarer to see you interested in someone like this. But after all, she is just a maid, so she isn’t worth too much attention."
Pei Ji’an raised an eyebrow, "Brother, your words have a hidden meaning."
Pei Yuan chuckled, "Since you noticed, don’t pretend to be ignorant. Since my affair is settled, you’ll have to hurry as well. Do you really want to keep Mrs. Pei waiting indefinitely?"
"It’s a lifetime matter, one must choose someone pleasing," Pei Ji’an replied indifferently. "Brother, are you really determined to settle with that girl from the Qian Family?"
His men have investigated, although the Qian Family has done nothing heinous, the character of the Qian Family girl is still worth examining.
"If not this one, then another one. It’s all the same to me, as long as Grandmother and Mother approve."
Pei Ji’an looked ahead, curling his lips noncommittally.
Meanwhile, neither the Third Madam nor the Third Young Madam were invited to Sunset Lake to see the play, and both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were sulking.
The Third Madam increasingly felt that the main and second branches looked down on her. While they used to cover it up a bit, now it’s blatant without regard for Third Branch’s face.
However, she had nowhere to vent her anger; Mrs. Pei specifically instructed her to stay home and manage her daughter-in-law well. How could she disobey?
Regarding this daughter-in-law who had just joined the family, even though she was the mother-in-law, how could she truly exert authority? After just a few conversations, the daughter-in-law started showing a bad attitude, leaving the Third Madam deeply aggrieved.
"Mother is too weak. She’s the daughter-in-law; you’re the mother-in-law. If she does wrong, it’s only right for you to correct her. What’s all this about whether it’s appropriate?" said the Second Lady lying in bed, feeling very impatient with her mother’s complaints.
This sister-in-law had caused such trouble even before her ceremonial shoes had gotten warm, constantly reprimanding this maid or that maid, turning the entire Third Branch into chaos. The Second Lady Pei Lan’s rash on her body and face hadn’t healed, forcing her to stay hidden indoors and away from people, which frustrated her. Her mother couldn’t even manage the Third Branch, and now she came to trouble her.
"Your father still needs your family’s support." The Third Madam looked conflicted.
Pei Lan couldn’t understand why the Yao Family should matter more than their own main branch. Her mother sought to rely on an outsider instead of depending on their own family?
The Third Madam knew her behavior was contradictory, but begging the main branch to support the Third Branch wasn’t something she was willing to do. Her greatest goal in life was to overpower the first and second branches; how could she hope for help from them?
Now the Yao Family is different; it’s something she fought for, a testament to her ability. One day, she would hold her head high in front of her sisters-in-law.
Whether the Third Madam’s dream would be realized remains uncertain, but if the Yao Family would assist, it was almost certainly unlikely.
From the start, the Yao Family didn’t aim to support the Third Branch, but merely to strengthen their connection with the main branch of the Pei Family. They had no interest in the gains or losses of the Third Branch.
With the First Branch as its reliance yet unable to rise, could the Yao Family possess that capability?
Yao Xing understood this; thus, she dared only stir trouble in the Third Branch and not in the first or second.
Mrs. Pei told her to return to the Third Branch to learn household management, no longer requiring her to pay respects. Later, when she did visit, Mrs. Pei truly refused to see her, leaving Yao Xing furious.
She couldn’t understand why a mere maid led Mrs. Pei to be so unkind!
But she later learned that the girl was chosen by Mrs. Pei for the Heir, and now she had become his maid with a rather unique name: Qu Fulan.
Listen to how imposing it sounds; someone who didn’t know might mistake it for a young lady’s name from a distinguished family.
Even the "Lan" character sounding similar to her elder sister-in-law’s name "Pei Lan" didn’t deter them, indeed the main branch’s style was impressive.
Mrs. Zhao sent a letter urging her to accomplish that matter quickly, but now with the girl in front of the Heir, how could she act?
Offending Mrs. Zhao aside, Mrs. Pei was also displeased with her; it was all for nothing!
Plus, her husband was unreliable at home, often disappearing somewhere, and every time he returned reeked of alcohol, which increasingly aggravated Yao Xing.
Just as she was thinking, Pei Lian returned smelling of alcohol once again. Despite her anger, Yao Xing held herself back, tended to him, and instructed the maids to prepare a bath, before finally settling him cleanly onto the bed.
Pei Lian wasn’t awake yet, mumbling, "Third Niang, Third Niang..."
Yao Xing listened closely for quite some time before figuring it out: Third Niang? Which Third Niang?
Even without knowing who, she could still guess where he had been hanging around, seducing some shameless vixen, and instantly her rage burned hot, tempted to drag him up and demand answers.
But she stopped herself; without evidence, nothing useful would come from questioning. If this got out, people would say she was unreasonable.
See, no matter how strict the family rules are, they are ineffective against those who disregard them!
Yao Xing bitterly sat by the bedside, filled with hatred and frustration, unable to sleep through the night.
She would figure out which vixen it was and see how she would handle it!
...
The chaos of the Third Branch hadn’t affected the other two branches, especially in Lixiang Courtyard, where peace prevailed. Qu Fulan returned and had a good night’s sleep before waking up the next day to resume examining the accounts.
Having lost a day due to going out yesterday, she would need an extra day to finish reviewing the accounts.
The Heir Pei remained busy during the day and upon returning in the evening, would come into the study to inquire briefly before leaving again.
This continued until the third day’s evening, when she finally finished the accounts and her project proposals, ready to find an opportunity to discuss business with the Heir Pei.
Just then, the intermediary arranged by the Qian Family arrived.
Mrs. Pei had thought they were coming to negotiate marriage arrangements, exactly as she had wished, since she intended to have someone discuss marriage with the Qian Family.
Mrs. Pei, in high spirits, called the Second Madam over to join the negotiations.