Chapter 56

Chapter 56: Marriage Yuan Yuzhu was the eldest of the three, had married into the highest-ranking family, and thus had seen more of the world. She spoke of her difficulties when she first married into the Duke of Dingguo's household. "The Yuan family's standing was far below that of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. When I first married in, I was trembling with fear, terrified I'd do something wrong. Later, I gradually realized—you can spend your whole life cowering, or you can spend it at ease. I simply threw caution to the wind, and ironically, my relationship with... with my short-lived husband improved." "But the Duke of Dingguo's status was what it was. Countless people said I wasn't worthy of the Lu family. Mingzhu, do you remember that cousin of your brother-in-law's?" Yuan Mingzhu said she did. "One year she even stayed at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion for a while." "Originally, my mother-in-law wanted her to be your brother-in-law's principal wife, but she herself didn't want to marry a sickly man. After the marriage, the couple didn't get along, and then she started thinking about your brother-in-law again." Speaking of this cousin, Yuan Yuzhu couldn't help but laugh. "She thought that since she and your brother-in-law grew up together as childhood sweethearts, and she was my mother-in-law's own niece, they would surely help her. In reality, my mother-in-law really did entertain the idea of having her divorce and marry in as an Equal Wife. It was I who took a knife and went to find your brother-in-law..." "Sister, you... why have you never told us about this?" Yuan Mingzhu was hearing it for the first time. "Telling you wouldn't have helped anyway, and besides, it hadn't come to that point yet. I told your brother-in-law that if he dared to take an Equal Wife, I'd kill him first, then take my own life," Yuan Yuzhu said. "Later, I don't know what your brother-in-law said to the family, but they sent the cousin away." At this point, she looked at Cui Lingrong. "Sister Cui, I was a bit better off than you. My husband stood by my side, so my later days weren't as difficult. You're different—even if Marquis Song and you share over a decade of marital affection, no man puts love before his career." She and Cui Lingrong were both intelligent women, and Cui Lingrong could hear the meaning beneath Yuan Yuzhu's words. If your methods aren't ruthless enough, you become the fish on the chopping block, left to be devoured by others. Yuan Yuzhu was telling Cui Lingrong to be more ruthless. "Thank you, Sister Yuan, for worrying about me." Cui Lingrong was genuinely grateful. "Don't mention it. If I leave Bianjing, I'll have to trouble you to look after Mingzhu." Yuan Yuzhu said. "Sister Yuan is leaving Bianjing?" Cui Lingrong asked. Yuan Yuzhu said it was very likely. "After all, I was the wife of the Duke of Dingguo's heir. If I remarry, which family in Bianjing would dare to take me in? You don't actually think my in-laws would be generous enough to arrange a match for me, do you?" Even today, her mother-in-law was still urging her to adopt a child, so that someone would burn incense for Lu Kangping in the future. Yuan Yuzhu didn't want to. Reputation? Power and influence? She wanted none of it. She had spent over a decade struggling, and now she just wanted to live a little more freely. Cui Lingrong understood immediately. "Leaving Bianjing is a good idea. Your brother serves as an official in Suzhou—I met him when my aunt passed away. Why not have him find you a suitable family there? With your brother looking after you, and returning to the place where you grew up, it would be quite wonderful." Yuan Yuzhu smiled and said, "Yes, that's what I was thinking too." Yuan Mingzhu was reluctant to part with her sister, but she wanted her sister's happiness even more, so she voiced her support as well. The three chatted for quite a while until Nanny Qiu came looking for them, saying that a guest was about to leave. Only then did Cui Lingrong go to the front courtyard. After many days apart, she saw Xie Yunting again and sincerely bowed to him. "Greetings, General Xie. I specifically asked Zeyu to entertain you well. If there was any lack of hospitality, please do forgive me." "Sister Cui is too kind. I'm not a picky person—thanks to your hospitality today, I've eaten and drunk my fill!" As Xie Yunting spoke, the Yuan sisters also came out. Yuan Mingzhu deliberately took a look at Xie Yunting. The man was handsome enough, but his reputation was too poor. Still, since he had helped Lingrong, she was willing to give Xie Yunting face and took the initiative to greet him with a "General Xie." Cui Lingrong introduced them, and when Xie Yunting learned that Yuan Yuzhu was the daughter-in-law of the Duke of Dingguo's family, he immediately became respectful. "The Duke of Guo is a fine commander. I had the honor of fighting alongside him—he's truly vigorous despite his years!" Yuan Yuzhu smiled at Xie Yunting, then took her leave of Cui Lingrong. Just as the sisters were getting into the carriage, Nanny Qiu hurried out after them. "The eldest young mistress forgot to mention—if the heir's wife needs anything, please don't hesitate to say. She knows many people in Suzhou as well, and she'll help however she can." "Very well, thank your eldest young mistress for me." Yuan Yuzhu boarded the carriage. "This bosom friend of yours is quite something. With her watching over you, I can rest much easier." Her younger sister had a bold personality—last time at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, if not for Marchioness Song's help, she would have suffered far more. Yuan Mingzhu said proudly, "Of course! In all of Bianjing, I'm closest to Lingrong. We're going to be good sisters for life." Yuan Yuzhu looked at her younger sister with affection. Her sister was luckier than she was—harmonious in marriage, and blessed with a true friend. "By the way, has your eldest sister-in-law really taken a liking to Xie Yunting?" Yuan Yuzhu asked. "It's not that my sister-in-law has taken a liking to him—it's my father-in-law and eldest brother-in-law who think Xie Yunting is quite impressive, young and accomplished, a man of general material. They want to marry Fang-jie from the eldest branch to Xie Yunting." That was why Yuan Mingzhu had taken a few extra glances at Xie Yunting earlier. "My eldest sister-in-law would be thrilled to marry Fang-jie into a marquis household—how could she possibly fancy someone of Xie Yunting's humble origins?" "That's true." Yuan Yuzhu nodded. The Jiang family were also military officers, though Jiang's eldest and second sons were mediocre in ability. It was only natural they'd want a more formidable marriage alliance. Having watched Fang-jie grow up, Yuan Mingzhu couldn't help but fret. "Sister, tell me—would it be good or bad for her to marry Xie Yunting?" "That depends on the circumstances." Yuan Yuzhu analyzed it for her younger sister. "Xie Yunting took five cities in succession at the frontier and returned, and the Emperor holds him in special regard. Right now, Xie Yunting could swagger through Bianjing however he pleases. But he has no foundation and has offended quite a few people. If they want his current power and influence, they could form a marriage alliance with him. But whether Xie Yunting's official career will remain smooth—that's hard to say." The Emperor was getting old; he could pass at any time. Once a new emperor ascended the throne, who could guarantee the new emperor would also value Xie Yunting? If the Emperor adopted Prince Rong's youngest son, then given how Xie Yunting had cursed Prince Rong and his wife that day, Xie Yunting wouldn't have a good day ahead. But the world was unpredictable. They were women confined to the inner chambers—even the Grand Secretaries didn't know whom the Emperor planned to adopt, let alone them. "If the eldest branch of the Jiang family truly forms a marriage alliance with Xie Yunting, the Jiang family would certainly gain face for a while, but they'd also become estranged from many people. Your father-in-law is a man with convoluted schemes, but since it's not your daughter marrying Xie Yunting, you needn't worry about it." After finishing, Yuan Yuzhu added, "If such matters arise again in the future, you can consult Sister Cui—she'll surely see you through." "I know, you think I'm dim-witted, I know. From now on I'll consult Lingrong about everything—are you satisfied now?" "You silly girl, I'm doing this for your own good!" The sisters chatted and laughed, and the carriage first stopped at the Jiang family's main gate. The moment Yuan Mingzhu returned to her courtyard, she heard that Fang-jie had threatened to die rather than marry Xie Yunting. "She actually has that kind of nerve?" Yuan Mingzhu was astonished. Fang-jie had been raised by her eldest sister-in-law to be delicate and mild, showing none of the bearing of a military officer's daughter on ordinary days. It seemed she truly didn't want to marry Xie Yunting. Not that it was surprising—Xie Yunting's reputation in Bianjing was simply too poor. The great and noble families all looked down on him. On the other side, Xie Yunting dragged Cui Zeyu to Fan Tower, where they happened to discuss his marriage prospects as well. After a jug of wine, Xie Yunting slapped the table. "Tell me, what's wrong with me, Xie Yunting? I'm tall and sturdy—don't I look better than those pale-faced scholars?" "Brother Xie is a dragon among men; your destined match will come." Cui Zeyu genuinely thought Xie Yunting was a good man. "Besides, you're favored by the Emperor—there are still many families willing to form a marriage alliance with you." "Those who come to me proactively with goodwill—I don't like them. They're not straightforward at all; they speak in circles and never reveal their true thoughts." Many of the soldiers under Xie Yunting's command were already married, yet he, the great general, had never even touched a woman. A few days ago, he'd even dreamed of Sister Cui, startling him awake in a cold sweat. Though his reputation was poor, he was a man of morals—he would never do something like carrying on a secret affair. "Brother Cui, why not introduce someone to me?" Xie Yunting's eyes suddenly lit up. He found interacting with Cui Zeyu comfortable, and Cui Zeyu surely understood his tastes. "I don't care about family standing, but she must match my temperament." Cui Zeyu said he was a merchant who traveled far and wide and didn't know any young ladies of noble households. "Wait..." He thought of Yu-jie. After the New Year, Yu-jie would turn fourteen—the age when betrothals could be arranged. If he could have Xie Yunting as a brother-in-law, who would dare bully his sister in the future? Cui Zeyu's mind began to stir. The next morning, he went to see his sister.