Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Countermeasures (1)
So, the Grand Dowager has already decided on a candidate, and today’s visit is not to discuss the selection?
Lady was taken aback, then calmly sipped her tea and said with a smile, "You can set the date, but could it be slightly postponed by a few days? Recently, the marriage for the Sixth Girl in the mansion has also been arranged. Handling two girls at once is truly overwhelming for me!"
"Sixth Miss?" The Grand Dowager’s expression changed: "The family head has arranged a marriage for Sixth Miss?" Lady seemed not to understand the Grand Dowager’s implication and replied with a smile, "Indeed, it is the legitimate son of the former Shandong Governor, Lord Hong. The topic was brought up last year, but I was reluctant as Sixth Girl is still young, wanting to wait another year. Who would have thought, this year Xihua is already..." She said, wiping the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, "Since Eighth Girl is to marry into the Marquis Mansion, the marriage of Sixth Girl can no longer be delayed!"
The Grand Dowager looked at Lady with an unfamiliar gaze, harboring anger inside. Did she think the Marquis Mansion was a place where one could marry whoever they wanted? Eighth Miss is so young; does she really expect Yanyi to wait five years for her?
Not to mention whether Yanyi could wait, the Marquis Mansion today could not wait either. She was very aware of Xing’s health, whether he could live to adulthood was still uncertain. Heirs were the most important for them now!
Outside the door, Nanny Wu listened through the curtain, glancing at Nanny Fang opposite her, then coldly chuckled to herself: Mrs. Tong was indeed calculating well, but this time it was too blatant. By taking advantage of the Grand Dowager’s willingness to talk, she was trying to elevate her own status and suppress the Grand Dowager?
Nanny Fang averted her eyes from Nanny Wu, her ears catching Lady’s words again, "I wonder if the Grand Dowager has any thoughts on Eighth Girl marrying in? Although Eighth Girl is young, she excels in being obedient and sensible, very clever and steady, always caring for others since young. I’m at ease with her marrying in to take care of the young master and Xing!"
The Grand Dowager said nothing until Nanny Wu suddenly lifted the curtain to enter, smiling as she saluted Lady, and then said to the Grand Dowager, "Grand Dowager, Fifth Madam on the other side says something has happened and would like you to take a look!" The Grand Dowager’s eyes flashed, and she stood up, smiling at Lady, "Family head, please sit for a while. Fifth has also been unwell lately, constantly complaining of stomach pains, and feeling unwell, coincidentally, Madam Teng is also unwell. It has been over a month without improvement. The imperial physicians could not diagnose the symptoms, and I am worried too; the mansion cannot afford any more incidents now."
Lady also stood up, "What can we do!" She went up to support the Grand Dowager, "Shall I go with you to see?" The Grand Dowager waved her hand, conveniently freeing her arm from Lady’s support, saying, "No need! I’ll be back shortly!" Saying so, she left with Nanny Wu!
Once outside, the Grand Dowager’s face hardened, coldly sneering at Nanny Wu, "Let’s go sit by Yanzheng’s place."
After the Grand Dowager and Nanny Wu left, Nanny Fang lifted the curtain to enter, and Lady sat down with a tense face on the rosewood chair, tightly gripping the handkerchief in her hand, evidently furious!
Nanny Fang sighed quietly, as Lady waited for nearly an hour without the Grand Dowager returning, she suddenly stood up with a cold face, saying to her, "We’re leaving!" Nanny Fang went to support Lady, tentatively asking, "Madam, perhaps wait a while longer for the Grand Dowager?"
Lady said, "No more waiting!" Once out of the Marquis Mansion and in the carriage, she instructed Nanny Fang with a suppressed voice: "Go tell Nanny Lin, let her spread the word about the promise the Grand Dowager made to the eldest miss, spread it as far as possible!" As long as this matter is well-known, the Grand Dowager, who values face greatly, will have to address it, especially now that Xiao Yanyi has just inherited the title, they’ll want stability and won’t entertain further disputes?!
"Summon the concubine here, I have matters to discuss with her!"
"Left already?" the Grand Dowager sat in Xiao Yanzheng’s room, lifting her eyes to look at Nanny Wu, who nodded in response, "Yes, the look on the face didn’t seem pleasant!"
The Grand Dowager coldly smiled, "Even if she’s upset... I agreed to Xihua because I found Sixth Miss suitable, yet she silently decided on Eighth Miss herself. Now, when the Marquis Mansion is amidst turmoil, how can Eighth Miss, a mere child, help Yanyi in shouldering the massive estate of the Marquis Mansion?"
Nanny Wu nodded in agreement, thinking the Tong Mansion was indeed overstepping. She considered for a moment and then said, "The Grand Dowager has been in-laws with First Madam Tong for nine years and spent nine years with the late Second Madam, the servant also knows quite a bit about the mother and daughter. From what I see, since First Madam Tong has spoken out, and decided on Sixth Miss’s betrothal ahead of time, she likely won’t compromise easily!"
First Madam Tong didn’t dare to claim understanding, but she knew very well about Second Madam, all those schemes and tactics, if not learned from First Madam Tong, then from where?!
"Won’t compromise?" The Grand Dowager smiled slightly, "Then let her stir up trouble!" She wanted to see what kind of trouble Mrs. Tong could cause!
Xiao Yanzheng sat quietly beside them listening, and once the Grand Dowager finished speaking, she seemed to understand some of it, furrowing her brows as she asked the Grand Dowager, "So, the words being spread in the mansion are true? Mother really agreed with Second Sister-in-law to choose between Xiqiu and Eighth Miss as my new second sister-in-law?"
Lady slightly nodded, "You are grown now, there’s no harm in knowing, but since the matter is unsettled, there’s no need to publicize it!" Xiao Yanzheng appeared thoughtful, suddenly her eyes brightened, "So, Mother had intended for Xiqiu, but Madam Tong decided on Eighth Miss, which is why you spent the entire morning here, to avoid Madam Tong?"
"You clever thing." The Grand Dowager chuckled, then turned serious, "Don’t mention this to your second brother for now; we don’t want him overthinking!" Just then, Xiao Yanyi walked in from outside, "What is it I shouldn’t know about?" He lifted the curtain and strode in, the Grand Dowager smiling at the sight of him, "Just as we were talking about you, here you are!"
Xiao Yanyi slightly smiled, then inquired with the Grand Dowager, "Mother and Second Sister were discussing what?" The Grand Dowager’s eyes flashed, not rushing to answer, while Xiao Yanzheng continued, "We were just discussing your marriage."
Xiao Yanyi’s face slightly changed, looking toward the Grand Dowager, who knew her son was always intelligent. If a matter was broached, he could figure it out with some thought, so the Grand Dowager paused, then retold to Xiao Yanyi what Lady had just said in her room, "I didn’t want to argue with her, so I used the pretext of something happening in Fifth’s room to come hide here at Yanzheng’s place!"
Xiao Yanyi’s expression grew stern, tightly frowning as he asked the Grand Dowager, "Did they mention which household the Sixth Miss is betrothed to?" The Grand Dowager frowned thinking while Nanny Wu smiled and said, "It’s said to be the legitimate son of a former Shandong Governor, Lord Hong’s house. Not sure how it is, said to be arranged within these few days!"
Lord Hong? Xiao Yanyi had no impression, wearing a cold face without speaking. The Grand Dowager thought to divert the topic, asking, "How are things at court nowadays?" Xiao Yanyi collected his thoughts, answering the Grand Dowager’s query, "Xuantong Dong Kunda has returned; I’m afraid things won’t be peaceful in the days ahead."