Yuxi had always felt that the Ye family had nothing to do with the Han family. She still let Kufu pay attention and made a follow-up on the Ye family, because to her, it was nothing more than her having fun, but she didn"t expect that because of Ye family broken engagement, it had brought such a large implication to the Han family. Indeed, it was like a G.o.d-like change.
When Yuxi heard what Qiu Shi had told her, her first reaction was not to believe it, "Eldest Aunt, are you sure you"re not mistaken? How could Dageeldest brother¹want Ergesecond elder brother²to marry Miss Lu?" It was not actually a big issue for her Ergesecond elder brother²to marry Miss Lu. The Lu family power and influence were so powerful, and if Ergesecond elder brother²married Miss Lu, he would be the one who gained the most benefits. The only problem was that the young miss her Dageeldest brother¹ wanted Ergesecond elder brother²to marry was the one who broke her engagement with the Ye family. Regardless of the fact that Ergesecond elder brother²was allowed to marry a girl who just broke her engagement, the Ye family was still Dageeldest brother¹"s wife"s family, and it was unlikely for Dageeldest brother¹to do such absurd things. If he really allowed Ergesecond elder brother²to marry Miss Lu, wouldn"t it be the same as. .h.i.tting the Ye family directly on the face.
Qiu Shi"s voice suddenly became loud, "How can I make a mistake about such a big thing? Didn"t you just say that Miss Lu should have been your Dasaoeldest sister-in-law³"s younger brother"s wife? Now, if they (Han Jianye and Miss Lu) got married, how would these wives of your brothers get along well?" If the relationship between sister-in-laws wasn"t good, it may also affect the affection between the brothers in the future. Many brothers had a good relationship before they got married. However, once they married, they had a fall out and became enemies because of the pillow talks with their wives.
Yuxi opened her mouth, asking, "Why did Dageeldest brother¹ suddenly want Ergesecond elder brother² to marry Miss Lu? Did he tell aunt any reason?"
Qiu Shi"s face was filled with indignation, "I don"t know, I don"t want to know. I will never agree to this marriage anyway. Even if I die, I won"t accept the proposal of a marriage alliance from the Lu family matchmaker. He rather screws his own brother just to establish his own profession."
Looking at Qiu Shi"s manner, it was impossible for Yuxi to make sense of it. She also did not want Qiu Shi to worry about this topic anymore, so she smiled and stated, "Eldest Aunt, Dasaoeldest sister-in-law³"s child will be three months old in a few days. Then you don"t have to worry so much about Dasaoeldest sister-in-law³"s safety anymore."
Qiu Shi muttered, "My only hope is this child going to be a son."
Yuxi paused for a moment and then said without leaving a mark on her aunt"s heart, "Even if this child is a daughter, she will still be born. Since Dageeldest brother¹ and Dasaoeldest sister-in-law³are still young, you will still be able to carry both your grandson and granddaughter in the future."
Qiu Shi said, "Let"s talk about this later. Forget it, let"s not talk about these kinds of worries. Is there anything that you find difficult these days with the stewardess or is there someone making your work difficult? If you have something, don"t hide it from me. Eldest Aunt will support you."
Yuxi smiled and shook her head. "No, the stewardess mama are all very good. They didn"t deliberately pose any problems to me and San Jiesan=third, jie=elder sister, short form for Jiejie⁴, nor did they purposely make things hard for us." The servants in the state government weren"t a group of foolish people. They knew that Yuchen was Old Madam"s favourite granddaughter, while Qiu Shi was very fond of Yuxi. Besides, both of them had someone given them directions all the way. Making things difficult for them was tantamount to asking trouble for themselves. Therefore, these stewardess mama were very obedient to both of them. .
Qiu Shi nodded and said, "Then, that"s good."
Yuxi felt that Qiu Shi"s appearance was looking somewhat sullen, and she seemed like she didn"t want to talk much. Thus, Yuxi suggested, "Eldest Aunt, why don"t I give you a ma.s.sage!" She knew all acupuncture points on the human body, and she had learned ma.s.sage from Momowet nurse⁵Quan. Even if it was just for a short while, her ma.s.sage would be precise.
A little over half a sichena sichen=2 hours, half a sichen=1 hour⁶later, Qiu Shi felt so comfortable that she started to get sleepy and finally dozed off.
Yuxi walked out cautiously without any noise, and whispered a few words to Liuyin who was waiting at the door. Then, she took Zisu back to Rose Courtyard.
Zisu looked at Yuxi"s wrinkled brows and asked, "Miss, is there something bothering you?" She seldom saw Yuxi frowned.
Yuxi replied with a wry smile on her face, "Dageeldest brother¹ wants Ergesecond elder brother²to marry Miss Lu who just recently withdrew her engagement. So, mother and son are currently at odds with each other. I also don"t know what Dageeldest brother¹"s actual plan is." If she had known this much earlier, she would have encouraged Eldest Aunt to settle her Ergesecond elder brother²"s marriage much much earlier, then something troublesome like this would not have occurred.
Zisu was really surprised. This was indeed quite difficult for her Miss to handle.
After Yuxi took her nap, she heard Kufu informed her, "Miss, Eldest Madam had been scolded by the Old Madam." As for the reason why, it was still unknown to Kufu.
It was clear to Yuxi the reason why when she heard this, but she didn"t realise that Dageeldest brother¹ didn"t actually discuss it with Eldest Aunt, but rather talked about it with their Grandmother. The only reason for Grandmother to agree to the union was, by marrying the Lu family, it would bring huge benefits to their family, which was quite large enough induction to ignore the bad influence that the Lu family had gotten from recent marriage withdrawal.
At this moment, Yuxi didn"t have much time to think more deeply about it. She just hurriedly went to the main courtyard. As soon as she entered a room, she heard a cry. She didn"t need to guess. She knew the one who was crying was her Eldest Aunt.
Seeing Yuxi come, Mama Li hurriedly said, "Miss, please persuade Madam!" Fortunately, Lord Shiziheir of a n.o.ble house⁷was absent at this moment. If he was present, there would be a good big fight between mother and son.
Yuxi also didn"t know how to persuade her aunt. Would she just conceded to Qiu Shi and together with her aunt carried the burden of going against the marriage till her death, since to Yuxi, this matter involved issues of interests, not because of her aunt"s refusal. As for persuading Qiu Shi to agree, Yuxi could not open her mouth either. This matter was too complicated, and, in the future, there would be plenty of trouble because of it. She really didn"t want to get involved in it.
Qiu Shi took Yuxi"s hand and wept bitterly, "Xi girl, tell me, what this son that I"ve given birth to, has become? This unfilial son, whose wings are full-fledged and become hardChinese fig. one is able to do things independently or no longer obey others.⁸now, even if he won"t listen to what I say, he is even plotting against his younger brother, who is his own blood brother! " Qiu Shi was not willing to exchange her son for benefits, even if the benefits were very attractive.
Yuxi soothingly said, "Eldest Aunt, don"t be sad. There is always a way to solve the problem. You have to take good care of yourself. The state residence can"t do without you around."
Qiu Shi was feeling very sad when she said, "What can"t do without me? Even if there"s me or not, I"m just an unnecessary person." It was a good thing for her eldest son to be a capable person, but he was too capable that he went beyond the sacrificial altar and took over the kitchenChinese idiom : take matters into one"s own hands⁹in deciding his Didiyounger brother¹⁰"s marriage. Especially to such a bad marriage potential.
Yuxi couldn"t help laughing at her eldest aunt"s statements, "Eldest Aunt just talked nonsense. As for being an unnecessary person, I am the most unnecessary one! Won"t you say so, Eldest Aunt?"
After Qiu Shi heard Yuxi"s words, she hastily said, "What"s unnecessary? No one is unnecessary. Hence, don"t utter such silly things again in the future."
Yuxi managed to appease and stabilise Qiu Shi"s mood for the time being. But, this wasn"t a long-term solution. So, she could only sigh, since this kind of thing didn"t actually need her concern.
She really didn"t expect that this would happen though. Early that evening, Han Jianming"s maid arrived at Rose Courtyard. "Fourth Miss, Lord Shiziheir of a n.o.ble house⁷invites you to go to his study."
Yuxi suddenly felt quite bitter and felt like she had been forced by her as Dage. Even without thinking too deeper into it, she knew that Dageeldest brother¹ wanted her to be a go-between him and his mother. She couldn"t escape this troublesome matter this time around.
As Yuxi had expected, Han Jianming really did want her to be a go-between, to personally persuade Qiu Shi to accept the marriage proposal.
Yuxi felt quite bitter that it compelled her to say, "Dageeldest brother¹, you think too highly of me. How can I persuade Eldest Aunt? Dageeldest brother¹, can"t you just spare me?"
Han Jianming stared at Yuxi"s appearance, with a smile on his face. "In this whole residence, only Si Meimeisi=fourth, meimei=younger sister¹¹can persuade my mother." Yuxi was usually able to make her mother happy easily. This time, it wasn"t impossible for her to coax his mother as well. .
Yuxi wanted to cry. "How can Eldest Aunt listen to me for such a big thing? Dageeldest brother¹, you can"t force me to do something that I"m unable to accomplish."
Han Jianming gave a wry smile and said, "Yuxi, for the sake of your Ergesecond elder brother²"s future, whether Mother agrees or not, this marriage must be concluded."
Yuxi stopped pretending at this time and asked, "Even if he doesn"t marry Miss Lu, Ergesecond elder brother² can still make a career on his own. Dageeldest brother¹, you also know Ergesecond elder brother²"s temperament. He would rather not have a future that depends on a woman."
When Han Jianming heard this, he couldn"t help himself from laughing. "Where did your mind go? I"m just saying that the Lu family is a huge force in the army, and they will look after your Ergesecond elder brother² in the future. His future still needs him to put in his own great effort."
Yuxi"s head was full of black lines. It was obvious that the way he said his words were opened to different interpretations, but he blamed her mind for over thinking it. Nevertheless, now was not the time for her to care about this. "Dageeldest brother¹, does it have to be from the Lu family? Can"t it be from other family!"
Han Jianming shook his head and said, "I have been searching for the right candidate for the past two years. If it was not for people looking down on us, or if it was not for our reputation being only having attractive appearance, but without substance, people had thought that there wouldn"t be any benefit to those who become our relations through marriage…"
All of sudden, Yuxi became dumbfounded. "Has the state residence been reduced to this point?"
Han Jianming wryly said, "Yuxi, currently, to strangers outside, the Duke of the State Residence is just having an attractive appearance, but without any substance." His Grandfather had died early. While, his father only knew how to eat, drink and make merryChinese idiom : to abandon oneself to a life of pleasure¹². As a result, he didn"t care about anything else, resulting in the state residence faded out from the center of power and wealth. Although Han Jianming had worked hard in recent years, he was still young after all, and it would take time for him to finally enter the center of power and health.
Yuxi knew Han Jianming was responsible for revitalising the state residence. At this moment, she had no means to criticise him, but she was not willing to help him persuaded Qiu Shi.
When Han Jianming saw that Yuxi didn"t say a word, he continued, "My original plan was to run a network while holding a position inside the Imperial Court, while your Ergesecond elder brother²would build a career in the military camp. Then, us two brothers would work together. As long as I was given enough time, I would certainly be able to revitalise the state residence. Unfortunately, there is not so much time left now."
Yuxi"s face slightly changed as she asked, "No time left? Does the fight of power between factions in the Imperial Court have dragged the Duke of the State Residence into it, or will there be disturbance in this world?" She could say these things because she was familiar with history books. For Han Jianming to say that there was no time, aside from these two things, there was no other reason.
For a woman in the boudoir to have such a vision and insight, made Han Jianming"s expression on Yuxi changed a lot. Though, he really felt so much regret. "Yuxi, why are you not my didiyounger brother¹⁰?" If Yuxi was his didiyounger brother¹⁰, she would also be a pillar for the Duke of the State Residence. In this way, the nerve that had been burdening his shoulders would be much lighter.
Yuxi actually regretted saying those words. However, when she heard Han Jianming"s praise, she lowered her head and said, "Dageeldest brother¹, I was only talking nonsense."
It was useless for Han Jiangming to have this kind of feeling. Yuxi was a woman and she would be someone else"s family in the future. There would be no way for him to change this fact. For this reason, he explained to Yuxi, "This whole world won"t be at peace when factions start to fight for power. Your Ergesecond elder brother²will definitely go to war if he wants to make his contributions to this country. But your Ergesecond elder brother²"s temper is too straightforward, unable to curve around, and our family connections in the army have long been gone. With your Ergesecond elder brother²"s temperament, no one will be able to protect him when he enters the military camp and he will surely suffer a great loss." As it appeared that Yuxi"s expression was still motionless, he added, "To suffer a great loss is still a small matter. What I"m really afraid of is for someone to push him to the front, to act as a cannon fodder."
Yuxi"s whole body went stiff. Han Jianming"s words reminded her of her Ergesecond elder brother²in her previous life, where Han Jianye had died in Liaodong but his body was unable to be found.
Noob Translator"s Musing
It seems like the Han family is so adamant to marry their two young masters to a military family. The Ye is a military family too. So, this meant that the Han family isn"t a scholar family. Usually, a scholar family prefers to marry into a scholar rather than a military family. Remember when Qiu Shi had once thought of matching Han Jianye with Duan Xinrong? Duan Xinrong comes from a military family. So, when Qiu Shi sent a matchmaker to the Duan family, Madam Duan was reluctant to accept it.
Hmm. Why is that though? Isn"t it good to mix scholar ability with military ability?
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