Chapter 237: Chapter 237: The Marriage (Part 5)
The concubine was taken aback, but quickly understood the meaning of the Lady: "You’ve decided on Eighth Girl?" The Lady nodded and said, "I share the same intention as Xihua. Eighth Girl is young, and for the next three to five years, she cannot consummate the marriage, allowing her to fully focus on taking care of Xing. With her keeping watch at the Marquis Mansion, I can have some peace of mind!"
The concubine furrowed her brows, clutching the Lady’s hand: "And is the Marquis Mansion agreeable to this?" The Lady shook her head: "Lately, I have been preoccupied with Xihua’s affairs in the afterlife, with no time to discuss these matters. We must wait until after Xihua’s remains are buried, then I’ll bring it up with the Grand Dowager." At the thought of her own daughter dying with grievances and having others enjoy the wealth and prosperity she left behind, the Lady felt as though a thorn was lodged in her throat, even the mere thought filled her with discomfort!
The concubine shook her head in disagreement: "Sister, pardon my frankness, but this might be just wishful thinking on your part. Consider this: the Marquis Mansion has few descendants and requires a daughter-in-law of an older age, capable of bearing children. In my view, even Sixth Girl is somewhat too young. How could the Grand Dowager agree to have Eighth Girl marry into the family!"
The reasoning the concubine could foresee was not lost on the Lady, which was why she had not approached the Grand Dowager about this matter. She had been hesitant; Sixth Girl was more astute than Eighth Girl, her actions were more stable. Marrying her into the Marquis Mansion, provided she remains loyal, could be more beneficial for Xing’s upbringing. However, Sixth Girl was already thirteen, potentially capable of having descendants in a year. Despite her obedience, once she had her legitimate son, she would naturally start harboring other thoughts. Being Xing’s legitimate mother, her ability to meddle would be utterly effortless!
She could not gamble Xing’s future on Sixth Girl’s loyalty.
"I will discuss this with the Grand Dowager, and I have means to persuade them to agree!"
The concubine, knowing her sister’s personality, though she had much to say, withheld her words and instead brought up Xiqiu’s marriage: "In that case, it would be better to settle Sixth Girl’s marriage sooner. First, it would leave the Marquis Mansion with no other choice but to choose Eighth Girl, and secondly, by order and rank, it is proper for Sixth Girl’s betrothal to be arranged first!"
The Lady nodded in agreement. Suddenly, the concubine’s eyes lit up, and she said, "You asked if I knew of a suitable person, and I happen to have thought of someone!"
The Lady raised her eyebrows and smiled at her: "Do tell." The concubine pretended to be mysterious and said, "Sister, do you remember Lord Hong?" The Lady nodded, realizing the former Shandong Governor, Lord Hong!
"That Young Master Hong married in the middle of last year, but at the beginning of this year, that Young Madam Hong fell ill and passed away. Now, Lord Hong is searching all over Shandong for a suitable second wife for his son." The Lady showed a skeptical look: "Only six months have passed, how could she have passed away so soon?"
The concubine sighed: "She too was an unfortunate soul, with a poor background, being a legitimate daughter of a County Magistrate named Ding from Laizhou. She lost her mother early, and her stepmother arranged her marriage to Young Master Hong. Compared to the Hong Family, the Ding Family was worlds apart. That Miss Ding initially seemed well, dutifully serving her in-laws daily, but somehow became enamored with a visiting child student, surname Liu, from the Hong Mansion. They planned to elope with gold and silver, but were discovered before they could escape. Despairing, Miss Ding and Young Master Liu both took their own lives in the well! To save face, Lord Hong announced Miss Ding’s death as illness-related!"
The Lady nodded and said, "I see! A daughter from such a minor household, and with an early loss of maternal guidance, might not be as properly raised as the girls from large mansions; it’s not surprising such an event occurred!"
"Exactly so!" The concubine nodded: "Now Lord Hong wishes to find a daughter from a prominent family, regardless of legitimacy, as long as her character is upright!"
The Lady gave a mocking smile; given the current standing of the Hong Family, and with Young Master Hong being disabled and seeking a second marriage, how could they have the right to make such demands!
"Sister, in my opinion, though the Hong Family isn’t as prestigious as before, they live comfortably, ensuring a life without material worries for the bride. Even legitimate daughters may not find a match like this easily. Time is of the essence; Sixth Girl can wait, but Eighth Girl’s marriage cannot be delayed!"
The Lady was moved, realizing the urgent necessity of securing the marriage with the Marquis Mansion: "Would you consider writing to ascertain the situation? Or perhaps ask Madam Yang?"
The concubine, confident, waved her hand: "No need to ask, Lord Hong will undoubtedly be thoroughly satisfied. Considering the Tong Mansion’s current standing, the Hong Mansion would see it as a high match, they would be more than pleased!" Last year, Third Miss’s marriage proposal fell through, and since then, Lord Hong no longer associated with the Xu Mansion. In her opinion, the lack of association was fine, as the Xu Mansion no longer needed to rely on the Hong Family. However, Lord Xu was persistent, believing Lord Hong had done him a favor that he couldn’t leave unreciprocated, even in death.
That is why the concubine kept Young Master Hong’s marital options in mind, looking for a suitable match for them to fulfill one of Lord Xu’s wishes!
Last year’s affair had caused a falling out among the sisters, yet it circled back to this proposed marriage again.
The Lady didn’t speak, but she also thought the marriage proposal was feasible.
The next day, the Lady and the concubine kept a few children in the mansion, then went together to the Marquis Mansion. After several back-and-forth trips, by late March, the First Master had not arrived as expected. The Lady inquired with Shenzhi, who replied: "The governor has gone to Baoqing and required the First Master’s company, and the First Master couldn’t refuse!"
The Lady listened without response, and when Tong Xihua’s funeral and burial were concluded, the Grand Dowager formally sent a note inviting the Lady to the mansion.
After exchanging pleasantries with the Grand Dowager, and once Nanny Wu had served tea and left, the Grand Dowager spoke: "We have been in-laws for nearly a decade, and the two houses have grown close. When it comes to matters concerning our children, I’ll speak candidly." She paused, looking at the Lady, and seeing her nod, continued: "Since Xihua married into the Marquis Mansion, I’ve treated her as my own. Now she has left us, and with Xing being frail and still young, her end-of-life worries were justified. Thus, I agreed to choose either Sixth Miss or Eighth Miss from the Tong Mansion for a second marriage. You, the Lady, also know of this matter. Now with Xihua laid to rest, although we are not in haste to conduct the marriage, it’s best to set the engagement first."
The Lady nodded in agreement: "What the Grand Dowager says is reasonable, and I share the same sentiment!"
"Excellent!" the Grand Dowager smiled: "I have also invited Madam Qian to act as the matchmaker. If this is agreeable to you, the Lady, we shall select an auspicious date for her to arrange the proposal!"