Chapter 770: 321 talented in both the pen and the sword
The day was bathed in sunshine, spring blossoming in full splendor. The garden of Ma’s Mansion was a riot of color with green willows mirrored in crimson, presenting a stunning scene.
Yueyao accompanied Mingzhu as they strolled through the garden.
Noticing Yueyao’s peaceful and serene demeanor, Mingzhu said, "Yueyao, my cousin came to propose marriage, aren’t you afraid at all?"
Yueyao uttered an "eh": "Why are we back to this topic again?"
Mingzhu swung Yueyao’s arm and said, "Tell me, are you really not afraid? You don’t know, when Marquis Weiyuan sent someone to propose marriage to General Zhao Yi’s Wu family, seeking to secure General Zhao Yi’s second legitimate daughter for my cousin, the U family’s Second Young Lady became so frightened that she came down with a high fever overnight." She guessed that if she were in that position, she would probably be scared sick as well.
Yueyao started to laugh: "The daughters of a military general’s family are so delicate?" General Zhao Yi held a Fourth-Rank position, and looking at it just from a man’s perspective, it was a very good marriage prospect. Unfortunately, many young ladies care too much about looks, or perhaps it’s because they’re faint-hearted.
Mingzhu chided Yueyao for a while: "What are you saying? Don’t you know that young ladies need to be raised in luxury and pampered? You make it sound as if you weren’t brought up delicately yourself." Regardless of whether it’s a civil official or military official, the daughters in their households are all raised in pampering.
Yueyao gave a light smile.
Mingzhu realized she was about to be led off-topic again: "Yueyao, come on, tell me, are you really not afraid of my cousin’s marriage proposal?"
Yueyao shook her head helplessly: "What’s there to be afraid of?"
Mingzhu expressed surprise: "If you aren’t afraid, then why refuse the marriage? Actually, aside from my cousin’s appearance, his capabilities are quite good. By the age of eighteen, he already held a Fifth-Rank official position, and my brother says his future prospects are limitless."
Blinking, Yueyao said, "Just because I’m not scared of him doesn’t mean I have to marry him." Seeing that Mingzhu was insistent on getting to the bottom of it, Yueyao found an excuse: "His household is too chaotic, and whether he’s a legitimate or concubine-born child is unclear, the fights between the Marquis’ household’s real mother and Maternal Auntie are also quite fierce. I don’t want to marry into such a complicated family!"
Mingzhu nodded and said, "Indeed, Marquis Weiyuan’s Mansion is chaotic, and I have also heard that my eldest cousin-in-law and second cousin-in-law are fiercely at odds!"
Yueyao smiled and did not continue the conversation.
Mingzhu soon relayed Yueyao’s words to Madam Ping: "Sister-in-law, I didn’t expect Yueyao to be so brave, not even fearing my cousin."
Madam Ping wasn’t surprised: "Yueyao has seen much of the world, and since Third Young Master of the An Family merely looks a bit burly and is not frightful in appearance, it’s natural that she is not afraid."
That evening, Madam Ping told Luo Shao: "I didn’t expect Yueyao to reject the An Family because she finds them too troublesome." She had thought Yueyao would look down on An Zhichen!
Luo Shao laughed: "Considering how astute you are, it’s just an excuse Yueyao used to fend off Mingzhu." Yueyao did not even fancy Shen Conghao, so how could she fancy Ah Chen.
Madam Ping laughed: "Since I’ve been pregnant, my mind hasn’t been as sharp as before."
Luo Shao caressed his wife’s belly: "The Imperial Physician said that in another half a month, it will be time for delivery. Then you won’t have to suffer like this." Madam Ping had endured much hardship during this pregnancy.
Madam Ping, touching her belly, smiled: "After the month of confinement is over, I can also start arranging Mingzhu’s marriage. Currently, Nanny Xin is managing everything in the mansion."
The Nanny Xin that Madam Ping spoke of was sent by the Empress Dowager to assist Madam Ping with arranging Mingzhu’s marriage. Since Madam Ping was pregnant, the arrangement of Mingzhu’s marriage had been in Nanny Xin’s hands; the external affairs were all being managed by Luo Shao.
Luo Shao laughed: "Rest well and focus on nurturing the child, everything else will naturally be taken care of properly. Mingzhu’s marriage is important, but you and the child are equally important."
Madam Ping felt comforted after hearing these words.
Yueyao was reciting poetry to herself when Cai Yun came.
After bowing to Yueyao, Cai Yun said, "Miss, the Second Young Master of the Lian family says he wants to see you. Do you want to meet with him?" It was Tingyi who had come.
Yueyao pondered for a moment, whether in her past life or in this one, Tingyi had always been quite good to her, and since this matter wasn’t directly related to Tingyi, it would be inappropriate not to see him: "I will change into a different outfit and then go to meet him." She wondered what her Second Cousin Brother was seeking her for.
Yueyao hadn’t seen Tingyi for five years, and upon seeing him again, he hadn’t changed much in appearance but now looked more composed and steady, no longer as frivolous and carefree as before.
Tingyi gazed steadily at the entering Yueyao. She was dressed in a goose-yellow padded jacket embroidered with greenish onion green persimmon calyx patterns, her hair styled in a Crescent Moon Hairbun, and adorned with a red gold inlaid gemstone hairpin. Beeswax earrings dangled from her ears, and a red gold inlaid pearl bracelet circled her wrist, all of which underscored her affluent status.