After Old Lady Cheng asked, Madame Zhai said, "I can't make this decision. It depends on the old lady. However, the old lady has said several times that Brother Qing lost his mother when he was five years old. He has no one to rely on in the backyard. If his stepmother is not virtuous in the future and deliberately plots against Brother Qing after marrying into the family, Brother Qing is still so young. Master Duke also said that Brother Qing is the heir. The title will be his in the future. If his second wife is young and blinded by wealth and has designs on the Duke House's title, I am afraid that it will cause trouble for the family. Therefore, the High Duke and the Old Mistress both have the same idea. They want to wait until Brother Qing is older, or find a girl with outstanding character and a pure heart who can support the High Duke's Public House. Then, they will discuss the matter of marrying a second wife. "
Cheng Yujin sneered in her heart. The person must be capable and able to support the Duke House's business. She must have no complaints and have no regrets. She must take good care of her ex's son and be filial to her old mother. Finally, the girl must not be greedy. She must work hard for the rest of her life and give all the business to her ex's son. Her son must not be able to compete with Zhai Qing. Oh, if there was such a Bodhisattva, the Zhai family should raise one first.
Cheng Yujin suddenly felt unhappy. Of course, she wanted to marry a rich husband. The virtuous and virtuous image she created for herself was also for this goal. However, this did not mean that she would be the second wife.
Moreover, she was the stepmother of a five-year-old child. Cheng Yujin suddenly felt offended.
However, she was a rational person. Cheng Yujin quickly controlled her emotions. She tried to objectively evaluate the Duke Of Cai and Zhai Yanlin. Zhai Yanlin had inherited the Duke's title. His wife would be the Duke's wife once she married into the family. At the same time, Zhai Yanlin was different from the young people who were still fighting for their future. He already had a small amount of influence in the court. Although he was not powerful, there were very few people who did not give him face. However, his deduction was also fatal. First, he had a wife and concubines. Second, he had a five-year-old son.
Zhai Qing was very doted on by the family. The Duke Of Cai and the old lady loved Zhai Qing dearly. Zhai Yanlin also wanted to leave the family's property and title to his eldest son in order to prevent the second son from competing with Zhai Qing.
Before the second wife married into the family, she had already been guarded against in front of the vicious stepmother. After she married into the family, the Duke Of Cai was guarded against the people who slept next to him. The Old Lady Zhai was protecting her Grandson. Madame Zhai was still unwilling to give up power. With so many obstacles in front of her, it would be strange if she could live comfortably.
So, why would she give up on Lin Qingyuan, who had a bright future and who was taught not to take in concubines, and choose another middle-aged man who had an ex-wife and concubines, whose mother-in-law was suspicious and mean, and whose sisters-in-law would stab him in the back? Zhai Yanlin did have power now, but Lin Qingyuan was valued by the Crown Prince. After Cheng Yuanjing returned to the Eastern Palace, Lin Qingyuan would be able to stand in Zhai Yanlin's current position within a few years. Why would she rush to be someone else's stepmother when she could be the first wife?
Cheng Yujin would not belittle herself like that.
Cheng Yujin added and subtracted in her heart. After calculating Zhai Yanlin's final score, she crossed him out without hesitation. Lin Qingyuan was still firmly in first place in Cheng Yujin's heart.
Cheng Yujin had already made her decision, so she no longer cared about Old Lady Cheng's opinion. Marriage was something that the parents had the final say. But as long as Cheng Yujin was not willing, she had many ways to make it impossible.
After Madame Zhai finished speaking and listed out her requirements, the madams present all sighed and agreed, "Yes, Shizi is still young. He should be more careful when choosing a bride."
Although they said this, in their hearts, they all felt that the Duke Of Cai was too greedy. Her family background had to be worthy of the Duke Of Cai. Her character had to be able to teach a five-year-old child well. She also had to be able to take care of the Duke Of Cai. She had to be the best in all aspects. In the marriage market, advantages were multiplied and not stacked. A girl who could meet these requirements would have a higher score than everyone else. She was so good that she could be an imperial concubine. Why would she want to be the second wife of the Duke Of Cai?
No wonder the Old Lady of the Duke Of Cai couldn't find a suitable person after looking for a year.
The madams all curled their lips in their hearts, but on the surface, they all agreed with Madame Zhai. Among the sighs, Old Lady Cheng was the only one who didn't respond. Because she found that there really was someone who met all the requirements, and that person was in their house.
Cheng Yujin met all the requirements.
Old Lady Cheng seemed to have obtained some bargaining chip. Her lips revealed a trace of a smile. She slowly narrowed her eyes. When there was a girl in a house, hundreds of families would want her. The girl had to put on airs and let the Duke Of Cai take the initiative to ask for her. If she was too eager, she wouldn't be able to offer a price.
There was still a long way to go, so she had to take it slowly.
Old Lady Cheng didn't say anything. She narrowed her eyes and smiled. "Old Lady Cheng is right to be worried. We should carefully choose. It seems that we still have to trouble Madame Zhai. "
Madame Zhai's eyes were beaming. She couldn't wait for the Duke Of Cai to never marry a new wife. She could always control the Duke Of Cai. Madame Zhai waved her hand modestly. "You're too kind."
After the courtesies, the topic returned to the young people. A madam took Cheng Yujin's hand and looked at it carefully. She said to the person next to her, "I haven't seen her for a few days. Why do I feel that she's lost weight?"
The madam next to her said, "Isn't that so? Marquis Cheng loved her the most when he was alive. Now that he's suddenly gone, how can she not be sad? I heard from Old Lady Cheng that Cheng Yujin kept watch for Marquis Cheng for several nights. I pity her for being a weak woman. Her wrist is so thin. I don't know how she managed to hold on. "
The madams talked back and forth. As they spoke, they took out their handkerchiefs to wipe their tears. Cheng Yujin was snobbish and selfish. She was indifferent. The women's ability to cry whenever they wanted was not good. She often had to rely on external help. Cheng Yujin saw that it was difficult to take her handkerchief in so many people. She didn't take advantage of the situation to cry. Instead, she held back her grief and said, "Madam, the dead are gone. Grandmother finally stopped crying. Let's not seduce her anymore."
The madam who was wiping her tears heard this and nodded. "You're right. It's my fault. I made the old lady cry again." As soon as she finished speaking, she stopped crying. Cheng Yujin saw it from a close distance. She was very convinced.
The madams sat there and chatted. Now that Cheng Yujin was here, they found a new topic. Their conversation revolved around Cheng Yujin. Before Marquis Cheng died, he said that he raised Cheng Yujin as his eldest grandchild. He also asked Cheng Yujin to stay at home to observe mourning. Whether this was true or not, the Cheng Family's attitude was very clear. Cheng Yujin, the eldest granddaughter, was still the most honorable. Even if the engagement was broken, the Cheng Family would not change their attitude toward Cheng Yujin.
This was enough. In life, who had the time to check whether things were true or false? Whether Marquis Cheng said these words or not, Cheng Yujin would receive a lot of resources from Marquis of Yichun. It was enough for the madams to see this. Marriage was a good thing for two families. It was the integration and sharing of wealth, connections, and prestige between the two families. The more resources Cheng Yujin had, the more valuable she was in the eyes of the madams.
If Cheng Yuan-hsien could smoothly inherit the title, then Cheng Yujin would become the eldest daughter of a noble family. Her status would be one level higher. Moreover, Cheng Yujin had the reputation of being virtuous and virtuous, which was personally praised by the Emperor. After a year, when the filial piety overlapped, it would be even more incredible.
In any case, there was still a year to go. The madams were all happy to watch. If a year later, the marriage between the Cheng Family and the Huo Family could lead to real power and benefits, and their reputation would rise, then the madams would be happy to marry a beautiful silk banner. After all, Cheng Yujin was beautiful and did things beautifully. Even if she didn't do anything, she would still look good at home.
Therefore, at this moment, the madams were all very respectful of Cheng Yujin. One after another, they flattered Cheng Yujin, praising her as if she was the best in the world. Old Lady Cheng still hoped that Cheng Yujin would marry into a noble family. Seeing this, she didn't say anything. Cheng Yumo stood on the side with the Nguyễn Clan. She couldn't help but feel a little lonely.
Early in the morning, she had been reminded by the Nguyễn Clan to be alert and follow behind the Huxue Clan. If there was an opportunity, she would go forward to show her filial piety. Cheng Yumo wasn't free the entire morning because of this. She had to serve tea and accompany with laughter. She was so tired that her legs were cramping. Just now, when no one was paying attention, she quietly complained to the Nguyễn Clan. She had said this with the tone of a spoiled little girl asking for favor. However, when Ruan shi heard this, she let out a long sigh.
The Nguyễn Clan said, "Son, you've only been standing for an entire morning, and you're already so tired that you're complaining. In the future, you'll have to follow your mother-in-law and set rules every day. You'll have to wash your face, rinse your mouth, drink your tea, and serve the dishes. You can't let anyone else do anything. When the time comes, who will you complain to? "
Cheng Yumo felt a sense of loss. In her previous life, she had heard people around her sister say that the Huxue Clan wasn't easy to get along with. But without seeing it with her own eyes, Cheng Yumo thought about how after she married into the Huo family, although the Huxue Clan always had a straight face, they didn't make any excessive demands. Thinking about it, Cheng Yujin must have been exaggerating. Cheng Yumo wasn't happy when she didn't hear her mother's comforting words, but she quickly smiled and pouted at the Nguyễn Clan, "What's wrong with that? Mother, if you don't listen to me, then I'll go talk to Brother Zhang Yuan."
When the Nguyễn Clan heard this, they both felt helpless and tender. These words were originally very rude, but the Nguyễn Clan couldn't bear to scold Cheng Yumo, so she only used her finger to lightly touch her daughter's forehead, "You."
After the mother and daughter finished chatting, they went back to their respective mothers-in-law. Cheng Yumo obediently stood behind the Huxue Clan. When the other madams saw her, they only glanced at her from the corners of their eyes before no longer paying her any attention. However, when Cheng Yujin came in, she was the center of attention. Everyone was flattering her and saying good things about her.
Cheng Yumo felt a little sad, but more than that, she felt indignant. In the past, Cheng Yumo couldn't compare to Cheng Yujin. Whether it was her family members or guests, they all flattered Cheng Yujin. Cheng Yumo endured it because Cheng Yujin had adopted a noble adoptive mother. But now, she was about to become the Madam of Marquis Jingyong, so how could these people still ignore her?
Cheng Yumo was not reconciled. She felt more and more that these people simply had eyes but couldn't see. Cheng Yujin's life was like this, but Cheng Yumo would follow Huo Changyuan and make a meteoric rise. These people missed the real pearl today and instead treated the fish eye as a treasure. Just wait and see. In the future, even if this group of people came to beg her with a smile, she wouldn't give them any face.
After lunch, many madams left and rested. The Longevity Hall was obviously empty. Cheng Yujin was originally staying in the room. Soon, she noticed that Old Lady Cheng was holding the Buddhist prayer beads and didn't speak. The Nguyễn Clan glanced at Cheng Yujin again and again. The Huxue Clan also vaguely showed an impatient look. Cheng Yujin understood. She considerately found an excuse and went out by herself.
There was a ritual in the front hall and the back hall. The music of the Taoist priest's ritual could be heard throughout the Marquis Household. There were too many people and too many outsiders, so the backyard could not help but be noisy. Cheng Yujin didn't want to go to crowded places, but it wasn't good to go too far. She could only walk around the garden.
Cheng Yujin was bored to death. She sat in a pavilion that was covered by a tree and picked at the leaves on the tree. Cheng Yujin sat for a while. Suddenly, she heard Cheng Enbao's voice from outside. "I gave you my golden collar. You should give me the dog to play with."
What, dog?
The other child's voice was arrogant and fearless. It was obvious that he was spoiled by his family. He said, "You're too cowardly. I won't give it to you. Go, Xiao Tianquan, bring back the pendant on the maid's clothes. "
Cheng Yujin's face suddenly sank. Where did this naughty child come from? He dared to behave atrociously in the Marquis of Yichun.
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