Chapter 15
In the hall of the Zeng family residence,
Song Sanliang paced back and forth like a trapped beast.
Madam Li glanced at Madam Zeng,
who was silently holding an agarwood eighteen-bead Buddhist rosary, and said,
“Husband, stop pacing! You’re making both Mother and me dizzy. Isn’t this just about delivering the betrothal gifts? If it’s too difficult, we can use the gifts from the eldest branch. After all, Mother has the final say in these matters.”
The three Song brothers lived next to each other,
with direct paths built from the inner courtyards to Madam Zeng’s residence for the sake of paying morning and evening respects.
Madam Li’s suggestion was intended to involve the eldest branch.
Normally, Song Sanliang would have been happy with the idea,
but today, he stomped his foot in anger and scolded Madam Li,
“What do you know?! The Zeng family isn’t stupid. Delivering the betrothal gifts in secret and finalizing the engagement in private?
The second branch can easily claim ignorance later.
Once we’ve sent the second brother up the mountain, how can the Zeng family interfere with the second branch’s affairs?
Do you think the clan elders are fools? Don’t they also want a share of the fortune?”
Madam Li glared at her husband in dissatisfaction.
Suddenly, Madam Zeng’s closest servant, Madam Zheng, rushed in nervously and said loudly,
“Old Madam, Third Master, something bad has happened! The Second Madam has invited both of you over. She says Miss Yun’s fiancé has arrived, and she wants you to come and take a look. Third Master should also accompany the guest.”
“What?!”
The three of them exclaimed in unison, immediately standing up.
Madam Zeng, even more agitated, stepped forward and grabbed Madam Zheng by the shoulders, demanding,
“What’s going on? Where did this fiancé come from?”
Her face twisted with anger, making even Madam Zheng, who had served her for over forty years, shrink back in fear.
Stammering, she said,
“I-I don’t know the details either. Someone from the Second Madam’s side just came to deliver the message, asking me to inform you. They also said we need to invite the eldest master and his wife…”
Madam Zeng, enraged, turned to Song Sanliang and his wife and said,
“Let’s go and see!”
Song Sanliang and Madam Li quickly supported Madam Zeng on either side.
Seeing Madam Zeng’s lips twitching with anger, Song Sanliang tried to comfort her,
“Mother, don’t be upset! If that wretched girl really had a fiancé, Second Brother wouldn’t have been looking for suitors for her everywhere before his death. This must be someone she found to put on an act.”
Madam Zeng paused in her steps, thinking her son’s words made sense.
She contemplated aloud,
“Liang County is only so big. Families with some standing all know each other. If someone’s child got engaged, who they’re engaged to can be easily found out. If she’s putting on an act, who would she find? Which family would dare get involved in this mess?”
Madam Li, judging others by herself, said,
“Mother, they must also be eyeing Second Brother’s wealth!”
Song Sanliang said,
“That wretched girl is so cunning. She definitely wouldn’t find someone familiar.”
Madam Zeng then instructed Song Sanliang,
“When you meet this person later, investigate his background thoroughly. If that wretched girl found someone to act, we’ll make the act real and marry her off!”
She sneered coldly,
“Does she want to defy me? This time, I’ll make her suffer the consequences.”
Madam Li froze and asked,
“What about the Zeng family?”
Madam Zeng snorted coldly,
“If there were anyone else available, why would I have turned to your uncle? But your uncle’s greed knows no bounds. He even wants Wenxing to hold the mourning basin for your Second Brother. Dream on!”
Only the successor had the right to hold the mourning basin.
If Zeng Wenxing held the mourning basin for Song Youliang, he would gain the right to inherit Song Youliang’s estate.
Even if he couldn’t inherit all of it, inheriting half was guaranteed.
Otherwise, the Zeng family wouldn’t have agreed to marry a woman in mourning attire into their family.
***
In the hall of the Qian family residence, Madam Qian looked at the handsome and imposing “Li Jizu,” nervously raised her hand, and politely said,
“Have some tea!”
Li Jizu sniffed the tea leaves, thought they were decent, and took a sip as a formality.
Anyone watching would think he was the master of the house and Madam Qian was the guest.
Madam Qian forced a smile at Li Jizu,
instructed Madam Zheng to serve him some snacks, and pulled Song Jiyun into the small sitting room behind the central hall, whispering anxiously,
“Yun’er, where did you find this man? He doesn’t seem ordinary. Are you sure he won’t ruin things?”
Song Jiyun, her face calm, whispered back,
“Mother, don’t worry. I specifically had Zheng Quan bring him from Hangzhou. He’s an actor by trade—his acting skills are exceptional. He won’t mess this up.”
The man, who was using the lid to brush away the floating tea leaves, froze.
Madam Qian let out a long sigh of relief and said,
“That’s good. That’s good. He’s acting so well he even fooled me. Once this matter is settled, you must reward him generously.”
Song Jiyun agreed.
Madam Qian and Song Jiyun returned to the Luohan couch in the main hall.
Looking at Li Jizu again, Madam Qian thought he looked even more outstanding and his acting even better.
She couldn’t help but warmly ask about his background and origin.
Song Jiyun had no choice but to cough lightly and say,
“Didn’t I already tell you? His ancestral home is the capital. He grew up accompanying his father in business in Hangzhou. Later, when the family fell into decline, he returned to the capital. It’s only recently that we found him.”
Madam Qian realized her mistake, gave Li Jizu an embarrassed smile, and quickly changed the subject, saying,
“Just stay here and feel at home. Our place is small, but we have plenty of good food, and our cook is skilled. Whatever you want to eat, just let someone know.”
She prattled on at length.
Li Jizu glanced at Song Jiyun.
Song Jiyun rubbed her forehead.
Her mother had a soft spot for handsome boys and girls, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Fortunately, Madam Zeng and the rest of the group arrived.
Seeing a stranger sitting inside, everyone immediately guessed his identity.
Song Daliang and his wife were a bit bewildered,
while Song Sanliang and his wife exchanged knowing looks.
After everyone exchanged perfunctory greetings and sat down according to seniority,
Song Sanliang stared at Li Jizu without blinking.
A plain light-blue cotton robe, ordinary dark blue coarse cloth round-toed shoes, and a peachwood hairpin.
His entire outfit wasn’t worth more than five taels of silver.
If not for his exceptionally handsome features and smooth, delicate skin that was clearly not typical, Song Sanliang would have thrown him out on the spot.
Song Jiyun’s eldest aunt, Madam Wang, smiled warmly at Li Jizu and said to Madam Qian,
“Our eldest niece has chosen such a fine son-in-law! Second Brother always had a good eye. Eldest Niece is so fortunate!”
Madam Wang was a straightforward person who believed whatever she was told.
She had a good relationship with Madam Qian.
It was clear Madam Wang was genuinely happy for Song Jiyun.
Song Daliang, who thought Madam Wang was dense and tactless, glared at her harshly.
Then, like flipping a switch, he turned to Madam Qian with a kind smile and said,
“Since he’s said to be our family’s son-in-law, is there a marriage contract or proof?”
Li Jizu slowly set down his tea cup and tapped the side table.
On the table was a letter, weighed down by a jade pendant.
Song Sanliang craned his neck to take a closer look,
but Song Daliang quickly snatched it all up.
He opened the envelope, scrutinized it thoroughly under the eaves against the sunlight,
then examined the jade pendant, turning it over and rubbing it for quite a while.
Madam Qian couldn’t help but feel nervous and asked,
“Eldest Brother, isn’t that our family’s item?”
—
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