Chapter 58: The Difficulties of a Marriage

Proofread by : Mim

Mrs. Su felt weak in front of Su Hui and didn’t dare to argue back. However, upon hearing what Chu Jinmiao had said, Mrs. Su suddenly remembered why they had come today. As long as today’s matter succeeded, Chu Jinmiao would be able to enter the selection to become a consort of the Crown Prince. This was an enormous opportunity for the Su family! To ensure her daughter became a crown princess, Mrs. Su decided to give it her all. She raised her voice and shouted, “I am not crazy! You unfilial daughter, how dare you curse your own parents!”

 

Mrs. Su pushed Su Hui aside and turned toward Chu Jinyao, saying, “Though we might have mistreated you in the past, the saying goes ‘a filial child emerges from beneath the rod.’ I did it for your own good, yet you hold a grudge. Parents have the hearts of saints, but you don’t appreciate it. Still, we won’t let you stray off the path! You might think having silver coins every month is a good thing, but do you even know the true intentions of those giving it to you? You’re young, easily deceived by the benefits in front of you, and now you turn around to blame your parents for warning you. But as adults, we must pull you back, even if you resent us!”

 

Mrs. Su suddenly realized that bringing up the old grievances between her and Chu Jinyao was off-topic. The real goal today was to help Chu Jinmiao. She decided to focus on the issue of Chu Jinyao receiving questionable money. By ruining Chu Jinyao’s engagement and forcing her to give up the good opportunity, Chu Jinmiao would have a chance to become connected to the Crown Prince. After that, Mrs. Su could come back and clear Chu Jinyao’s name. After all, Chu Jinyao was still the legitimate daughter of the Marquis household. Even if one engagement fell through, there would surely be others.

 

Lin Xiyuan, overhearing this, frowned deeply. He had only heard that the women in the inner courtyard were quarreling and thought it was over some trivial matter. But hearing this village woman’s words, he realized the seriousness of the situation. Today was meant to finalize a marriage discussion with the Chu family, and he couldn’t let this woman spout nonsense. Lin Xiyuan leaned over and instructed his servant to help Su Hui take the troublemakers away. However, before he could act, the Princess Consort walked over and grabbed his hand, saying, “This is none of our concern. Don’t interfere.”

 

Lin Xiyuan could hardly believe what he was hearing: “How can this not concern us, when it’s about Fifth Sister?”

 

Seeing his expression, the Princess Consort glared at him, irritated, and warned, “Stay out of it.”

 

Lin Xiyuan was so angry he could hardly stand, but in front of the crowd, he couldn’t afford to disobey his mother. Swallowing his frustration, he glanced at Chu Jinyao. Amidst all the noise and chaos, she stood quietly off to the side, as if none of it affected her. Lin Xiyuan felt a pang in his heart at her stubborn and indifferent expression, but with the Princess Consort present, he couldn’t do anything.

 

Chu Jinyao almost found it laughable. She had known Mrs. Su for years, but this was the first time she had seen her act so cunningly—what a shame that this cunning was being used against her. Chu Jinyao felt utterly disillusioned with the coldness of human nature. Madam Zhao had raised Chu Jinmiao for over ten years and still pampered her even after the truth was revealed. Meanwhile, her foster family, the Su family, sided with their biological daughter as soon as something happened. So, what did she count as in all of this?

 

Chu Jinyao coldly stared at Mrs. Su, feeling increasingly disheartened. Mechanically, she retorted, “By your logic, then there’s no point in doing any business in the world. Which noblewoman doesn’t have a few shops or estates under her name? If the shopkeepers who give regular dividends are all harboring ulterior motives, what should be said about all those ladies?”

 

Mrs. Su panicked and quickly said, “I didn’t mean that. I’m only talking about your situation. If the Wei family doesn’t have ulterior motives, then tell me, why would they let you join the business for free and send you silver every month?”

 

Chu Jinyao had always known that money could stir greed, so she had tried to keep a low profile. But she hadn’t anticipated how terrifying people’s jealousy and greed could be. Was it simply because she received regular dividends each month that Chu Jinmiao had instructed Mr. Su and Mrs. Su to make these claims?

 

At this point, even the onlookers who had been watching from the sidelines began to whisper, “That’s true, why would they do that? Maybe there’s something we don’t know about.”

 

Madam Yan, the wife of the second branch, thought of those mysterious large chests belonging to Chu Jinyao and couldn’t resist stirring up trouble. “I remember Fifth Young Lady has five or six large redwood chests. Mother favored her so much that she gave them all to her. None of us even know what’s inside.”

 

Chu Jinyao sighed deeply. It was like the saying, “An innocent man gets into trouble because of his wealth.” For the last time, she explained, “It was simply a gesture of gratitude and compensation. I have a clear conscience. If you don’t believe me, go find witnesses. I’ve said all I need to say. Believe what you want.”

 

Upon hearing this, Madam Yan curled her lips, thinking that Chu Jinyao’s defense was just an attempt to cover things up. Even Old Madam Chu seemed to be helping Chu Jinyao hide the truth. However, if asked to find witnesses, Madam Yan wouldn’t dare go.

 

Old Madam Chu, hearing Madam Yan’s comments, became furious: “The guests are still here. Shut your mouth!” After scolding Madam Yan, she turned to the Princess Consort and said, “Princess Consort, let’s sit inside. There’s no need to pay attention to this nonsense.”

 

Implicitly, Old Madam Chu still hoped to continue discussing the marriage arrangement.

 

The Princess Consort, however, watched coldly for a while. Now she had her hands tucked into her sleeves. No matter what the truth was, one thing was clear—Chu Jinyao was stubborn and rebellious. She didn’t look like a respectful, obedient daughter-in-law. Chu Jinyao had dared to confront her foster mother in front of everyone, and even if the foster mother was in the wrong, one should still respect one’s elders. A younger person shouldn’t cause their elders to lose face. But look at Chu Jinyao—she had done none of that. How could the Princess Consort dare to welcome such a daughter-in-law into her household?

 

The Princess Consort turned to Old Madam Chu and said, “Old Madam, it’s getting late. We won’t be sitting down today. This is a matter of your household, and we shouldn’t have listened, but the situation is serious, and I cannot make a decision. I’ll return and let the Old Princess Consort decide.”

 

Old Madam Chu was suddenly alarmed. What did the Princess Consort mean? Was this marriage still on or not? She wanted to stop the Princess Consort to clarify, but the Princess Consort insisted on leaving.

 

Lin Xiyuan also reluctantly followed them out. Before leaving, he glanced at Chu Jinyao, who was standing there with a blank expression, listening to the maids, and hadn’t noticed him. Lin Xiyuan sighed deeply and left with the Princess Consort.

 

Lin Xining, who had accompanied his older brother to help, had stayed silent the entire time. Now that they were about to leave, he suddenly stopped and turned to stare at Chu Jinmiao.

 

“Fourth Cousin.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“Are you sure you’ve never seen those two people and have never met them?”

 

Chu Jinmiao smiled calmly at Lin Xining. “Of course. Cousin, you’ve known me for so many years, and you’re doubting me?”

 

Lin Xining’s expression was strange as he forced a smile. “Yes, how could I doubt you? Even if I were blind, I’d still have to trust you.”

 

Before Chu Jinmiao could figure out what Lin Xining meant by that, she saw him stride away. She called out to him several times, but unusually, he didn’t look back.

 

Chu Jinmiao didn’t think much of it.

 

After sending off the Princess Consort, Old Madam Chu returned, sighing heavily. “Everything was going well, how did it end up like this?” She thought of the person who had caused all the trouble and almost ground her teeth in anger: “Where’s that madwoman?”

 

“She’s being held. That woman and her husband were yelling that the Marquis household was oppressing honest people. Their daughter scolded them into behaving, and now they’re quiet.”

 

Old Madam Chu sneered, “Who knows if they’re playing good cop and bad cop, putting on a show together? Forget about them for now. Let’s focus on the important matters.”

 

Momo Gu responded, “Yes,” then added, “Old Madam, their family is from a farming household, not of low status. According to the social hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, if we deal with them quickly, it will be fine. But if you delay, you’ll be busy with other matters, and holding them for too long might not be appropriate.”

 

Old Madam Chu, hearing this, became concerned. She thought for a while and said, “Fine, let them go home first. Post someone sharp-eyed to keep an eye on them. Don’t let them escape.”

 

Gu Momo acknowledged the order and left to carry it out. Old Madam Chu, meanwhile, was troubled by the complicated situation with the Prince Huailing’s household. The princess consort’s attitude today had been strange. She hadn’t given a clear answer and had only said she would let the Old Princess Consort decide. Old Madam Chu couldn’t tell whether the royal family cared about today’s incident or not.

 

Old Madam Chu sat at the head, lost in thought, while the other daughters-in-law and young ladies stood below, waiting. After some time, she still felt uneasy and decided to visit the Prince Huailing’s household personally. Once her mind was made up, Old Madam Chu slowly swept her authoritative gaze over the people in the hall. One by one, those being watched lowered their heads. Old Madam Chu warned, “I’ve been too busy these days to deal with you, but remember, I’ve noted every word and deed today. Once I have time, I’ll settle accounts with each of you.”

 

She gave Chu Jinmiao a particularly harsh look. “Don’t think you’ve outsmarted me. Let me tell you, I’ve been playing these tricks since I was a girl, forty years ago. Over the years, I’ve seen countless treacherous servants, unruly concubines, and maids with high ambitions. If you think you can fool me with these schemes, you’re gravely mistaken. I’m telling you now, once I’m free, I’ll find out exactly who stirred up trouble or secretly pushed things along.”

 

All the girls obediently lowered their heads, not daring to breathe. Madam Yan, who had stirred up trouble earlier, had turned pale. Old Madam Chu seemed exhausted, waving her hand dismissively. “All of you, leave. Let me have some peace.”

 

Chu Jinyao responded and followed her sisters out. Although her face was pale, her demeanor remained calm. Third Young Lady, who had been feeling gleeful, intended to offer some mock consolation, but when she saw Chu Jinyao’s calm expression, she found herself at a loss for words.

 

Chu Jinyao dismissed the other sisters and servants, each of whom had their own agenda, and left with Linglong and Jiegeng. When Madam Zhao saw Chu Jinyao, she hesitated. “Jinyao…”

 

Chu Jinyao stopped and asked calmly, “Mother, did you call me for something?”

 

Madam Zhao stammered for a long time, unable to say anything. Today, she had come to realize that the Su family was no good, and she finally began to feel both heartache and guilt for Chu Jinyao. But faced with Chu Jinyao’s cold and distant expression, how could she find the words to reconcile?

 

Madam Zhao mumbled for a long time but still couldn’t speak. From a distance, Chu Jinmiao called out, “Mother, where are you?”

 

The words Madam Zhao had been about to say suddenly froze. Chu Jinyao smiled faintly and said, “Mother, since you’re thinking of going, let’s leave it at that. Whatever you wanted to say, you can say it another time.”

 

Before Madam Zhao could respond, Chu Jinyao turned and walked away.

 

Momo Zhang, who had been standing beside Madam Zhao, let out a long sigh. “People’s hearts are made of flesh. Fifth Young Lady may be young, but even she must be feeling cold-hearted by now, given everything that’s happened. After this, I won’t try to persuade her otherwise.”

 

After parting with Madam Zhao, Chu Jinyao walked quickly toward Chaoyun Courtyard. Linglong and Jiegeng followed silently behind her. Once inside her room, Chu Jinyao’s composed face finally began to crack. To the world, she had always presented a strong, indifferent front, but how could she not care?

 

Chu Jinyao covered her face with her hands and said to Linglong and the others, “I’m tired. You don’t need to stay. You can leave.”

 

With her eyes hidden behind her fingers, Chu Jinyao saw only a faint red, unable to see what was happening outside. After she spoke, the room remained quiet, with no sound of movement for a long time.

 

After a while, a stream of clear tears trickled down through her fingers. Chu Jinyao took a deep breath and said, “I thought, even if they didn’t like me, after living together for thirteen years, even a cat or dog would evoke some feelings. But they don’t feel anything for me.”

 

“Mr. Su and Mrs. Su side with their own daughter, and my mother can’t bear to part with the girl she raised for thirteen years. They all favor Chu Jinmiao. So, what am I?”

 

As she spoke, her voice was calm. If it weren’t for the tears flowing down her face, no one would have realized she was crying.

 

Jiegeng, being young, couldn’t help but cry after hearing this. Linglong, more composed, said worriedly, “Miss, please don’t cry. These people aren’t worth it. Be careful not to hurt your eyes.”

 

Chu Jinyao knew this reasoning full well. She had long realized how awkward her position was in both families and had tried to tell herself not to expect too much. She had told herself that if she didn’t expect anything, she wouldn’t be disappointed. But she hadn’t expected to matter so little.

 

Seeing Chu Jinyao’s pain, Linglong felt deeply distressed. She had originally been sent by Old Madam Chu to both assist and watch over Fifth Young Lady. But after spending time with Chu Jinyao, Linglong had gradually come to care for her. Being older than Chu Jinyao, Linglong had started to see her as a little sister. She found Chu Jinyao to be a truly endearing girl, always standing quietly off to the side, offering a sweet smile when looked at, and never causing trouble for others. She handled everything herself without complaint. How could such a thoughtful and sensible girl be treated this way?

 

Linglong, feeling heartbroken and anxious, wanted to offer more comfort, but just then, someone knocked on the door. Linglong realized it was someone from outside reminding them of something, so she swallowed her words, gave Jiegeng a few instructions, and quickly went to open the door.

 

After a while, Linglong returned and said, “Fifth Young Lady, Old Madam sent someone to inform you that three days from now, we will be visiting the Prince Huailing’s residence as guests. You should prepare early.”

 

Chu Jinyao had already wiped away her tears, though her eyes were still red. Like an obedient puppet, she nodded and said, “I understand.”

 

—

 

On the other side, after Su Hui dragged her parents back home, she slammed the courtyard door shut and dropped her pleasant demeanor. “I wondered why you’ve been so well-behaved lately. Turns out you were scheming behind my back! If I hadn’t come back today to grab something, I wouldn’t have known you’d been plotting this for who knows how long! Tell me, did someone instigate you to go after Yao Yao today?”

 

Mrs. Su, feeling resentful at being scolded by her own daughter, snapped, “You’re already married, so why are you meddling in family matters?”

 

Su Sheng chimed in, “Exactly. This isn’t your business. Just stay in your own lane.”

 

Su Hui was so enraged she nearly fainted. She grabbed a broom from the corner and started swinging it at Su Sheng. “You live in my house, eat my food, and still have the nerve to say such things? I’ll beat some sense into you, you ungrateful wretches! Has a dog eaten your conscience?”

 

Su Hui, being the junior, couldn’t bring herself to hit Mr. Su and Mrs. Su, so she vented all her anger on Su Sheng, cursing all three of them in the process. Mr. Su listened, feeling awkward, while Mrs. Su, seeing her precious son being beaten, rushed forward to grab Su Hui’s hair. However, Su Hui’s husband, Zhang the butcher, saw what was happening and, with a dark expression, pushed Mrs. Su away.

 

“Try touching her again.”

 

Mrs. Su nearly fell to the ground from the shove. She felt a chill in her heart and didn’t dare to try pulling Su Hui again. She could only stand aside and curse angrily. After venting her anger, Su Hui stood with her hands on her hips and angrily asked Mrs. Su, “You’ve just come to the city, and even the sight of officials scares you. How could you have the guts to cause trouble at the Marquis household? Tell me, who put you up to it? Was it Chu Jinmiao?”

 

Mrs. Su tried to deny it, “No…”

 

“Was it Chu Jinmiao who secretly sought you out?”

 

Mrs. Su’s face changed drastically at Su Hui’s words. Seeing this, Su Hui instantly knew she was right. Her anger surged again. “You don’t even know Chu Jinmiao, so why would you help her harm Yao Yao? Listen to the things you’ve been saying! She lived with you for thirteen years, and yet you have no conscience?”

 

Mr. Su scoffed, “She’s not our biological daughter. We gave her food and shelter—that’s more than enough kindness. But Miao’er is our own flesh and blood. How can you compare the two?”

 

“I knew it! This was all Chu Jinmiao’s poisonous idea. Did she feed you those lines as well?”

 

Mrs. Su, annoyed, defended herself, “That’s your own sister! How can you side with an outsider and say such things about your own flesh and blood?”

 

“I don’t have a sister like her,” Su Hui spat. Glancing at the sky, she muttered, “The embroidery shop should still be open. I’d better go find Manager Wei.”

Mrs. Su panicked, “Are you going to hurt your own family for an outsider?” She tried to grab Su Hui, but Butcher Zhang held her back, and Su Hui used the opportunity to dash out of the house.

When she reached the embroidery shop, the doors had already been locked. Manager Wei had just finished checking the windows and was about to head home when Su Hui called out to him from afar. Out of breath, she ran up to him and said urgently, “Manager Wei, I need to speak with you.”

Manager Wei, puzzled, asked, “What’s so urgent that it can’t wait until tomorrow? The shop’s already closed.”

“It can’t wait until tomorrow.” Su Hui quickly recounted everything that had happened at the Marquis’ mansion today. Fearing she might offend him with her honesty, she pleaded, “Manager Wei, my sister, the Fifth Young Lady of the Chu family, has been wronged. Please speak to Master Wei on her behalf and clear her name.”

Hearing about the Fifth Young Lady of the Chu family, Manager Wei’s expression shifted slightly. He stopped in his tracks and changed direction, saying, “Since you’ve asked, I’ll pass the message along. But whether anything can be done depends on my father.”

Su Hui expressed her gratitude repeatedly. Fortunately for them, it seemed they were in luck. Master Wei was actually at home today. Normally, he was away conducting business or inspecting other properties, and Manager Wei might not see him for an entire month.

When Manager Wei entered the room, Master Wei appeared to be busy with something important. Seeing his son, he asked coolly, “What is it?”

Manager Wei knew that despite his father’s calm tone, if he didn’t present a valid reason for the interruption, he would surely get a good scolding. Keeping his head down, he replied respectfully, “Father, it concerns the Fifth Young Lady of the Chu family.”

Master Wei’s face darkened instantly, and he waved dismissively. “Get out.”

Manager Wei dared not disobey and began to leave, but after a few steps, Master Wei called him back. “You said the Fifth Young Lady of the Chu family? Do you mean the Fifth Young Lady of the Marquis of Changxing’s household?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Master Wei set down his brush, his expression turning thoughtful. Manager Wei hesitated before asking, “Father, should we report this to the higher-ups, as we’ve been instructed several times before?”

Master Wei thought of the beating Tang Xinyi had received and the cryptic words from Xiao Linzi. After a moment of reflection, he said, “I believe His Highness the Crown Prince has a special interest in this girl. Whether or not it concerns him is not for us to decide, but if we don’t report it and misread the situation, it could cost us dearly. It’s better to be on the side of caution. Tell me everything that happened today, in detail, and I’ll consider how to report it.”

“Understood.”

Few knew that Master Wei was secretly an agent of the Crown Prince, just as few knew that the illustrious and widely respected Master Wei, to whom everyone in the business world paid homage, was actually a eunuch and Manager Wei, in fact, was his adopted son.

————-

Master Wei set off personally for the border, while the carriage from the Marquis of Changxing’s mansion headed towards the Prince Huailing’s Mansion.

In recent years, there had been frequent interactions between the Marquis’ household and the Prince Huailing’s Mansion, with carriages often traveling between the two. But never before had Old Madam Chu felt this anxious.

The Old Princess Consort had already agreed to the marriage, and everyone who needed to know had heard about it. At this critical juncture, nothing could go wrong.

When Old Madam Chu and her group arrived at the Prince’s mansion, they were treated with the same courtesy as always. Keeping her composure, Old Madam Chu led her granddaughters to visit the Old Princess Consort.

The Old Princess Consort greeted them with her usual warm smile. Without betraying any emotion, Old Madam Chu said to her granddaughters, “You girls go play together. We won’t keep you.”

Chu Jinyao and the other girls obediently moved to the outer room. Once the younger generation had left, Old Madam Chu turned to the Old Princess Consort and asked, “My dear in-law, what do you think about the matter we discussed before?”

The Old Princess Consort secretly cursed this sly old fox. After all, it had been Old Madam Chu who first brought up the marriage, yet now she made it sound as if the Old Princess Consort had initiated it. Smiling, the Old Princess Consort sidestepped the trap. “Children have their own fates. As elders, it’s best not to interfere too much. Yuan’er is an accomplished young man who has always needed little guidance from us. In terms of marriage, all we ask is that his wife be filial and capable of managing a household.”

Old Madam Chu’s brow furrowed slightly. Was the Old Princess Consort implying that Chu Jinyao wasn’t filial or stable enough to manage a family? She smiled coldly. “Of course, every elder hopes for a filial child. Girls are constantly reminded of this as they grow up. But being docile and obedient is easy—just say ‘yes’ to everything the elders say. Many girls grow up this way, smoothly and without trouble. However, we elders can only protect them for so long. One day, we’ll be gone, and when they’re used to being told what to do, who will they listen to then? We love them, so we must plan for their long-term happiness. Whether it’s marrying a wife or raising a daughter, we must teach them to stand on their own.”

Her words carried a deeper meaning, and the Old Princess Consort understood. Old Madam Chu was saying that while Chu Jinyao might not be overly submissive, her strong character was an asset.

The Old Princess Consort found the reasoning sound. She had always hoped to raise her daughter to be independent, but when it came to her granddaughter-in-law, she preferred someone more obedient.

The Old Princess Consort believed that the Prince Huailing’s household was too established to ever fall, so she didn’t need a granddaughter-in-law with her own strong will. All she wanted was for the girl to be respectful and compliant. She had originally favored Chu Jinyao because of her beauty, good nature, and politeness, even using her as an example for the County Princess. But after hearing from the Princess of Huailing about how Chu Jinyao had stood up to her adoptive parents, the Old Princess Consort had second thoughts.

A girl who dared confront her adoptive parents over perceived unfairness—how could that be acceptable? How could any junior dare defy their elders?

Though the Old Princess Consort continued to smile and make polite conversation, she was now hesitant about the marriage. Still, since the marriage proposal had already been mentioned, she couldn’t back out entirely. For the sake of the Prince’s household and Lin Xiyuan’s reputation, she took a step back.

“I do like the Fifth Young Lady very much,” the Old Princess Consort said with a smile. “Since we’ve already discussed the matter, it wouldn’t be appropriate to pretend it never happened. How about this, let’s proceed, but have her marry in as a concubine, with a formal marriage ceremony as a secondary wife.”