The matriarch wanted to scare her, so she let her kowtow and admit her mistake without responding. She picked up the teacup and slowly sipped.
Mama Ma brought over a new plate of pastries. Yu Xiang nibbled on them as she flipped through the booklet. From time to time, she would brush away the crumbs that had fallen onto the pages.
Yu Pinyan caught a glimpse of a small portrait of a man attached to the booklet. His face darkened for a moment. He was about to reach out and snatch the booklet when his sister tilted her head towards the old ancestor. She pointed at a small portrait and mouthed silently, "This is not bad."
The matriarch looked down and saw that it was the one she liked the most. The corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly. Xiang'er was still the most down-to-earth and clear-sighted. Although he came from a poor family and didn't have a high official position, he had good morals and a generous temper. Furthermore, his family was simple and had strict rules. A man could only take a concubine when he was over forty and didn't have a son. He could be considered a good match.
If a girl were to marry into his family, there would be no in-laws to make things difficult for her and no concubines to annoy her. As long as she was able to conceive a legitimate son, her life would be extremely comfortable.
Yu Xiang observed the matriarch's expression. Seeing the smile in her eyes, she knew what was going on. Instead, she felt envious of Yu Siyu. Yu Pinyan pursed his thin lips and pulled out the booklet in her hand. He quickly skimmed through it and his gaze stopped at the line 'A man can only take a concubine when he is over forty and doesn't have a son.' His little vinegar jar had probably chosen this person because of this point.
After thinking for a moment, he smiled slightly and casually tossed the booklet to the side. It was enough to have Xiang'er in this life. He only needed to protect Xiang'er and live with her alone. He thought that in the future, he would definitely make her happy and satisfied.
Yu Xiang glared at her older brother. She picked up the booklet that was about to fall and placed it on the kang table.
Yu Siyu was still begging for mercy, but Yu Miaoqi had already noticed the small movements above. She looked around the booklet and immediately knelt down to plead, "Grandmother, please have mercy and forgive my older sister this time. That Fang family has declined to such a state that I can't get married. If word of this got out, won't people laugh at me, Marquis Yongle? " Since the Old Madam didn't want Yu Siyu to marry into the Fang family, she would do her a favor. Anyway, when the Fang family's mother and son quarrel, Yu Siyu would have to marry even if she didn't want to.
"I, Marquis Yongle, have never been afraid of being laughed at. Let them say whatever they want." The old lady snorted.
Yu Miaoqi continued to dissuade her. "Grandmother, even if you don't think about the reputation of the Marquis Family, you should think about my sister's happiness. Can you bear to see her marry into such a family and live in hunger and cold?"
"It's not that I'm heartless. She was the one who made up her mind. It's not that I didn't try to persuade her, but she herself said that she wasn't interested in Young Master Fang's family background, but his character. Since she felt that love was enough, I couldn't help but agree. "The Old Madam didn't relent in the slightest. She was determined to teach Yu Siyu an unforgettable lesson.
Yu Siyu had long since regretted her decision. She wished that she could break her head and make the Old Madam's heart soften. She immediately spoke the truth. "Old Ancestor, your granddaughter was wrong. Your granddaughter lied. Your granddaughter wasn't interested in Young Master Fang's character, but his family's wealth. I was interested in his family's wealth. Now, I understand the principle of 'wealth is like smoke and clouds, cherish it as you go.' You tried to persuade me several times before, but it was all for my own good. I was wrong, very wrong. Please forgive me this time! "After she finished speaking, she kowtowed several times.
Yu Miaoqi also kowtowed. When she straightened her back, she didn't forget to wipe Yu Siyu's tears. She seemed to empathize with her and felt pity for her.
Yu Xiang coldly observed her actions and couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
She knew that this person was the female lead. Her ability to stir up trouble was top-notch. As soon as she returned home, Yu Xiang ordered people to keep a close eye on her. How could she not know what she did to ruin Yu Siyu? Behind her back, her methods were insidious. On the surface, she appeared gentle and graceful, but when she really sold Yu Siyu, Yu Siyu still had to help her count the money. Look, this idiot was so moved that she held her hands and cried. If she knew the truth, she would be angered to death.
Of course, at the same time, Yu Xiang also learned that Yu Miaoqi's servant girl was secretly inquiring about the zhuangyuan. However, there were many girls in the capital who were inquiring about the zhuangyuan. Even the princesses frequently found excuses to wander around the Xue Estate. She didn't take it seriously and only thought that this servant girl was in love.
As a result, it took a long time before she realized that the person was actually her own brother.
When the matriarch saw that Yu Siyu had already realized her mistake, her expression relaxed. She threw the booklet in her hand over, "Take a good look. Choose one in three days, and I will send someone to discuss marriage for you. If you continue to make excuses, you might as well not marry and go to the countryside to accompany your yiniang in her old age. "
The Lin Clan finally opened her mouth, "Why haven't you thanked Old Ancestor yet?"
Yu Siyu suddenly came back to her senses and hurriedly kowtowed to the matriarch. Then she picked up the booklet and sat down with Yu Miaoqi's help. Her face immediately turned from deathly white to a purplish red. She finally realized that the matriarch was deliberately scaring her today. Otherwise, why would she prepare such a thick booklet? Presumably, she had already started looking for someone several months ago.
Realizing this, the gratitude that had just risen in her heart turned into resentment. She unconsciously clenched her fists so tightly that the booklet crumpled.
The matriarch's eyes darkened slightly. She sighed silently: Forget it. Sending her out is already doing my best. In the future, I won't care if she lives or dies. How could each and every one of them be so ungrateful?!
Yu Xiang was still considering whether or not she should secretly help Yu Siyu, but seeing this scene, she immediately dispelled the idea. She raised her hand and used her handkerchief to cover the sneer at the corner of her mouth.
When the Lin Clan mother and daughter saw that the matter had been settled, they stood up to leave. However, they were stopped by Yu Pinyan, "Yu Miaoqi, in the future, if you stuff people into my courtyard again, you can go back to where you came from. My Prefecture Yu can't afford to provide for a great Buddha like you."
"Big Brother, what are you talking about? Miaoqi doesn't understand. " This was the first time that Yu Pinyan had clearly expressed his intention to drive her out of the Marquis Household. She was so scared that her face turned white. No matter how many schemes she had, she couldn't come up with anything.
The Lin Clan mother was stunned. She immediately explained, "Yan'er, you've misunderstood. Those two people were sent by me. You're already twenty-one years old now. You should have a few people by your side who care about you."
With just a few words, the matriarch understood that Madam Lin and her daughter had stuffed a bed warmer next to her grandson. She nodded and said, "Since it was arranged by your mother, you should accept it. Don't you know how old you are?" In the past, when her granddaughter was in charge of the family, her grandson never opened his mouth. The matriarch's days had been too leisurely, so she had forgotten about such an important matter.
Yu Pinyan's tone was mocking, "You arranged it? You can take the initiative to think of me? Mother, don't joke around. " Then he looked askance at Yu Miaoqi and warned in a low voice, "You've only just taken over the household, yet you're stuffing people into your brother's side. You're reaching too far."
The Lin Clan mother and daughter were so ashamed and angry that they wanted to die. Only then did they realize that Yu Pinyan's impression of them had risen from indifference and alienation to loathing. When he didn't like someone, no matter what that person said or did, it was wrong.
But this time, the matriarch didn't feel that Yu Miaoqi was wrong. Although it was indeed inappropriate for a girl like her to meddle in her brother's affairs, it was also for the sake of the Marquis Household's children. Just as she was about to say a few good words to have her grandson accept the person, Yu Pinyan cautiously said, "Old Ancestor, don't forget how your grandson was poisoned that year. I didn't ask or investigate. I only begged a few times and they sent the person over. Do you think your grandson isn't dying fast enough? Moreover, there are so many confidential files in my courtyard. If one or two of them were to be leaked, the Marquis Household would be destroyed. Therefore, your grandson can't accept a servant who I don't know the background of, and I don't dare to accept. "
Her grandson had been poisoned three times that year. The first two times, they couldn't find the cause. It was only after they sent people to secretly monitor the situation that they found out that the person who poisoned her grandson was the personal servant girl who had taken care of him since he was young. As they continued to investigate, the matriarch was almost scared to death. The servant girls and manservants who were slightly closer to her grandson had all been secretly bribed.
That year, those people were willing to go to such lengths just for a title of nobility. Now, her grandson was an official and had grasped the dark secrets of countless officials. If the woman sent to his side was a spy sent by someone, it wouldn't be a small matter. If it was light, her grandson's reputation would be ruined. If it was heavy, the Prefecture Yu would be exterminated.
The matriarch was fine before she thought about it, but once she thought about it, she was so frightened that she broke out in a cold sweat. Her hand that held the prayer beads began to tremble. Flustered and exasperated, she said, "Lin Clan, if you want to manage the household, I'll let you. But you're not allowed to meddle in the affairs of Yan 'er's courtyard. If there's a next time, get out of my sight!"
As Yu Xiang leaned over to pat the matriarch's back, she threw a mocking glance at Yu Miaoqi, who was fearfully admitting her mistake.
Yu Miaoqi's originally pale complexion immediately turned ashen.
The matriarch caught her breath and held her granddaughter's fair and tender hand. She sighed and said, "Xiang 'er is still the most reliable. When Xiang 'er was managing the household, there weren't so many filthy things. An unmarried girl meddling in her brother's affairs, who taught you this rule? You should have some face in the future! Go, go, go. Just looking at you makes me annoyed! "
The Lin Clan mother and daughter kowtowed and apologized, then walked out with weak steps. When Yu Siyu saw that someone was suffering with her, her mood improved considerably. She hurriedly went forward to support Yu Miaoqi and even gave her a reassuring smile.
The siblings stayed behind to accompany the matriarch for dinner. Taking advantage of the time when the matriarch returned to her room to change, Yu Xiang grabbed her brother's neck and kissed him heavily on the cheek.
The loud smacking sound made Yu Pinyan chuckle incessantly. He hugged his sister and gave her a good rub.
When the Lin Clan mother and daughter and Yu Siyu returned home, they were both resentful and unwilling, but they didn't dare to cause trouble. Yu Siyu used all her strength to torment that booklet because none of the men in it were within her scope of choice. Those who were handsome had no wealth, and those who were wealthy had no looks. Those who were both handsome and wealthy had a lowly status, so she was really worried to death.
Seeing that three days had already passed, she begged the matriarch to extend the deadline by another five days.
The Lin Clan mother and daughter were quiet. They either cultivated their moral character in the fu or went to the temple to burn incense and worship Buddha. The Lin Clan originally planned to hold a banquet to introduce their daughter to the noble ladies in the capital, but Yu Miaoqi stopped them. She felt that it was best to spread her good reputation first before holding a banquet. This was the safest way. How could a chance meeting compare to a compliment?
In less than half a month, the news that the Prefecture Yu's Second Miss had returned home spread. This Second Miss had been fostered at Shui Yue Nunnery since she was a child. Her master was the abbot of Shui Yue Nunnery, Liao Kong Shitai. Once the news came out, everyone in the capital knew that the Second Miss had an affinity with Buddha. She was quiet, elegant, gentle, and beautiful. She was the polar opposite of Yu Xiang, who had a perverse temperament.
In reality, most of these people hadn't even seen Yu Miaoqi's face. The reason why they held her in such high esteem was because they wanted to give face to Liao Kong Shitai. Although Shui Yue Nunnery wasn't as prestigious as Zhen Guo Temple, it was famous for its seclusion. It didn't receive pilgrims and was known for its strict rules in the Great Han Dynasty.
Shui Yue Nunnery's Liao Kong Shitai was the older sister of the current emperor. When she was only eight years old, she comprehended Buddhism on her own and became a monk. In the Great Han Dynasty, she was known as the reincarnated Buddha. Her prestige wasn't below that of the Kuhai Monk, and her status was even higher.
How could the disciple she chose not have an extraordinary aptitude? Therefore, before the noble ladies in the capital met her, they had already sketched out the glorious image of Yu Miaoqi and believed it without a doubt.
In reality, Yu Miaoqi wasn't actually Liao Kong Shitai's disciple. She had only heard of Liao Kong Shitai's legend and knew that Liao Kong Shitai had gone out to sea to travel. The nuns in Shui Yue Nunnery had never paid attention to worldly affairs and only focused on cultivation. That was why they dared to tell such a big lie.
Even if someone deliberately tried to verify it, they still wouldn't be able to enter Shui Yue Nunnery. When Yu Miaoqi returned home, she heard from the nuns in the nunnery that if it weren't for Commandant Yu, their nunnery hadn't received pilgrims for more than thirty years.
Later, she also made some inquiries and found that Shui Yue Nunnery had indeed closed its doors and didn't allow anyone to enter or leave. Because of this, her past was firmly covered up. Regarding this, even if she was extremely unwilling, she had to admit that Yu Pinyan did consider her. It was just that he didn't consider as much as Yu Xiang did.
However, her resentment towards Yu Pinyan didn't lessen because of this. She would never be able to forget the two times she had been imprisoned.