Chapter 140

Chapter 140: Matchmaking "Madam Qin?" Cui Lingrong thought of her younger brother's matter—Madam Qin's visit boded no good. "Nanny Qiu, go to Shouan Tang and say I'm feeling unwell and won't be coming over, lest I pass on my illness to the Duchess of Dingguo." Cui Lingrong thought of Madam Qin's vicious methods and had no desire to see her. But before Nanny Qiu could leave, Mama Xu arrived with a beaming smile. "Aiyo, Young Madam, this old servant brings you congratulations!" Mama Xu said. "Do you know why the Duchess of Dingguo has come?" Cui Lingrong asked why. "She's come to propose a match for Yu-jie!" Mama Xu urged. "Old Madame is most pleased—please hurry over." Hearing that it concerned Yu-jie, Cui Lingrong could not refuse and had no choice but to follow to Shouan Tang. She had thought Madam Qin had come to make trouble for her—but it was matchmaking? That was even worse! Though she didn't know whether Madam Qin was aware that her younger brother was the Duke of Dingguo's son from a hidden residence, she could not trust Madam Qin's character. When Cui Lingrong reached the entrance of Shouan Tang, she heard laughter coming from within. "Sister Su hasn't changed one bit—just the same as a few years ago." Madam Qin's flattery had Old Madame Song's lips curling upward. "My natal family's grand-nephew—you may inquire about him freely. He passed the xiucai examination at fifteen, and may well become a Jinshi by twenty." As Madam Qin spoke these words, Cui Lingrong stepped over the threshold. Seeing Madam Qin, she cast a subtle, appraising glance over her. Madam Qin met Cui Lingrong's gaze without any sign of discomfort—on the contrary, she was quite warm. "Oh, the Marchioness Song has arrived. Did you hear what I was just saying?" Cui Lingrong said she had. Old Madame Song could not wait to speak. "Lady Cui, the Duchess of Dingguo thinks well of our Yu-jie and wishes to propose a match—it's her natal family's grand-nephew. See here, if you have time someday, shall we arrange for them to meet?" Cui Lingrong thought the Old Madame was muddle-headed—Lord Qin had already been rebuked by the Emperor, and she still wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Qin family. Still, one doesn't strike a smiling face. Since Madam Qin had come to propose a match, if she chased her out without cause, it would only earn their household a reputation for harshness, making it harder for Yu-jie to find a match in the future. "Old Madame, have you forgotten? The Marquis said Yu-jie is still young—there's no hurry." Cui Lingrong shot Old Madame Song a meaningful look, then turned to Madam Qin. "The Duchess of Dingguo's grand-nephew must certainly be excellent. But Yu-jie is still young—how about we introduce the children to each other after Yu-jie's Ji-pin ceremony? Wouldn't that be better?" Anyone with sense would recognize this as an excuse. But Madam Qin pretended not to catch the implication. "The child is young—it's not as if we're having them marry right away. What's wrong with letting them get acquainted first?" Cui Lingrong smiled. "At a young age, one doesn't yet know what one wants. Marriage is a matter of a lifetime—wouldn't you agree?" Old Madame Song was very puzzled by Cui Lingrong's polite refusal, but since the words had already been spoken, she couldn't undermine Cui Lingrong in front of the Duchess of Dingguo. After all, she valued face above all. She didn't want anyone to see discord between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Madam Qin turned to look at Old Madame Song. The Old Madame had been quite pleased just moments ago—if she would voice her support, the matter might still succeed. "What Lady Cui says is also reasonable—Yu-jie is indeed young. Why not wait half a year or a year before discussing it?" Old Madame Song didn't want to offend the Duchess of Dingguo, for it was the Dingguo Duke's household—a family so many sought to curry favor with but had no way in. Madam Qin's face immediately fell. "Fine, fine, fine. If your family looks down on us, just say so directly. All this talk of being young—it's all just an excuse, isn't it?" Old Madame Song rose to detain her, but Cui Lingrong held her back. Cui Lingrong gave Nanny Qiu a look, and Nanny Qiu saw the Duchess of Dingguo out. "No need to see me off. Your family has high standards and looks down on the Qin family—why bother with the pretense?" Madam Qin had come with a purpose and was already nursing resentment toward Cui Lingrong; hearing those words of refusal only stoked her anger further. Could it be that Cui Lingrong knew about Cui Zeyu's matter? Madam Qin muttered inwardly. She had planned to gain leverage through Cui Lingrong's daughter to suppress Cui Zeyu, yet today she had hit a wall. This Cui Lingrong was truly difficult to deal with. Back at Shouan Tang, Old Madame Song was deeply puzzled. "But that's the Qin family! On ordinary days, countless people wish to curry favor with the Dingguo Duke's household and can't find a way in. Now they've come to our door proposing a match, and you won't even let Yu-jie meet the young man—we've certainly offended them!" "If Yu-jie meets him and the Qin family presses for the engagement, then what?" Cui Lingrong explained. "Has the Old Madame considered that Lord Qin's demotion already signals the entire Qin family is on the decline?" "But the Qin family still has others serving as officials at court. A hundred years of accumulated foundation—ordinary families can't compare!" Old Madame Song still thought well of the Qin family. "Especially since the Qin family has the Dingguo Duke's household as an in-law connection. You say the Qin family is declining, but the Duke of Dingguo is on the rise!" "How old is the Duke of Dingguo now? Can he still go to war?" Cui Lingrong countered again. "And there are countless wealthy and noble families in Bianjing—why must we take the risk of marrying Yu-jie into a declining clan?" She took a deep breath. "Old Madame, think about what kind of person the Duchess of Dingguo is. The very fact that she came in person to propose a match already hints at something unusual. I'm certain that grandson of the Qin family must have some sort of problem, otherwise there would be no need for the Duchess to come calling personally." Old Madame Song had been so caught up in her delight that she had forgotten the Duchess of Dingguo was not one to be easily pleased. But just now, the Duchess had been trying to win her favor in every word she spoke—when had anyone ever seen the Duchess adopt such a low posture? Seeing that the Old Madame had caught on, Cui Lingrong continued, "I have matters regarding Yu-jie's marriage well in hand. You need not trouble yourself, Old Madame. Just rest easy and enjoy your blessings." After Cui Lingrong left, Old Madame Song glared and said, "What does she mean by that? Is she saying I'm meddling where I shouldn't?" "Don't overthink it, perhaps the Eldest Young Madam already has someone in mind," said Mama Xu. "Could it be that she's really set her sights on Xie Yunting as a son-in-law?" Old Madame Song frowned deeply. She had no regard for Xie Yunting. No, this wouldn't do—she would have to speak with her eldest son later. They absolutely could not form a marriage alliance with Xie Yunting.