Chapter 222 : Jieyuan

The Mid-Autumn Festival was a time for family reunions. On this day, Guo Daniang cooked a big table of delicious food, but Yuxi did not have much appetite. Even if there were many delicious foods, they would not taste good if eaten alone.

Not long after dinner, Zisu and the others moved two tables out of the room. There were mooncakes and various kinds of fruits on the table, which were very plentiful.

Everyone looked at the moon in the yard, and when the red candle burned more than half, they began to worship the moon. After worshipping the moon, Yuxi looked at the full moon in the sky and said with a smile, “People said that the moon would turn perfectly round on the day after mid-autumn day, but today’s, the moon is extraordinarily full!”

Zisu looked at Yuxi. Although Yuxi was smiling, she couldn’t hide the loneliness in her eyes. “Miss, it’s windy. Let’s go inside!”

Yuxi nodded and instructed, “Move everything into the house!”

Just as the words left her mouth, a gust of wind blew out the red candle that was burning brightly. Zisu wanted to go up and light the red candle, but Yuxi stopped her and said, “No need to light it. Just leave it like that.”

Not long after the Mid-Autumn Festival, the results of the autumn examinations came out, and Chen Ran won the first prize, titled as jieyuan of this year’s examinations. When this came out, it caused a sensation.

Now, even First Madam Yu was very moved and had spoken out about her desire to become in-laws with the Chen family. The Lady of Taining was both happy and sad to hear this news. She was pleased that her son was so good that even the Yu family had taken the initiative to propose marriage. After all, the girls of the Yu family have never been worried about marrying. The sad thing was that the Chen family would miss a friend at arm’s length.

It was also because the Yu family’s reputation was so excellent, and the girls in the Yu family had an outstanding reputation that when the Lady of Taining thought about it, she could not shove the proposal off. She vaguely said she would have to return home and ask Marquis Taining first.

In the evening, the Lady of Taining told the Marquis Taining about the matter. “First Madam Yu wants to give her second di daughter to Ran-er. I have seen that girl, and she is exceptional in every way. She is many times better than the Fourth Miss Han.” If it were before, she would have agreed without even thinking about it.

The Marquis Taining looked at his wife for a moment and said, “You don’t know what kind of nature Ran-er has? If you go back on your word, aren’t you afraid that he will lose his temper?” If Chen Ran got angry, he would not be like a three-year-old child. He would be ruthless. If he did, both of them would be unable to cope with it.

The Lady of Taining responded with a stiff face, “I am also doing him a favour.” Minister Yu was very powerful in the Imperial Court. If her son could marry the 9th Prince’s Wangfei’s blood younger sister, it would be a great help for him in the future. Moreover, Yu Xixian was a genuine well-bred lady. Her looks, talents, manners and behaviour were all to the Lady of Taining’s liking. The Yu family had a very good upbringing, and if her younger son married a girl from the Yu family, he would not have to worry about the relationship between his mother and daughter-in-law and sisters-in-law. On the contrary, if her son married Han Yuxi, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law would not be harmonious, and the sisters-in-law would surely not get along with each other.

The Marquis Taining was not stupid. He knew that it was better for his son to marry a girl from the Yu family, but the problem was, his son did not want to, and despite being his father, he couldn’t do anything about it. “You better go along with his wishes! Otherwise, if you decide on his marriage without his consent, he will go to the temple and say he wants to become a monk. By then, the marriage with the Yu family will not work out, and we will become enemies instead. At that time, you will truly give your enemy a wife and lose your soldiers to your enemy as well.”

The Lady of Taining’s eyes reddened when she remembered her son’s cold look. “Say, how did I give birth to such an evil creature?” What happened back then was not their intention. However, they did not expect that because of that year’s incident, their son would have such a big knot in his heart towards them and would not forgive them even now. He would frequently find a way to threaten his family.

Marquis Taining was more open-minded. “Your children and grandchildren have their own children and grandchildren’s blessings. Ran-er has fallen in love with that Han girl. So it’s better to obey him. Perhaps when he marries and has children of his own, his temperament will be straightened.” When Chen Ran got married, he wouldn’t have to worry about him becoming a monk.

The Lady of Taining wiped her tears and said, “That girl from the Han family does not have a good temper. I am worried that if Ran-er marries her, he will become even more distant from us in the future.” If she were to choose herself, she would never have selected Han Yuxi. She did not know that Yuxi did not care for Chen Ran either.

Chen Ran went to Red Date Villa the same day he passed the exam and won the title jieyuan. But this time, he wasn’t as lucky as last time and didn’t run into Yuxi.

When Yuxi heard that Chen Ran had come again, she coldly said, “Drive him away. If you can’t drive him away, tie him up and throw him onto the road.” Yuxi was the least bit unwilling to be polite to such a person who had damaged her reputation. He should be glad that she didn’t immediately beat him up.

Han Ji looked bitter as he said, “Miss, that’s the son of Marquis Taining. If we tie him up, won’t we make enemies with Marquis Taining?”

Yuxi sneered and said, “What kind of feud will there be? Then, no need to throw him on the road either. Just send him to the Marquis Taining’s residence and tell the Marquis and his wife to keep their son under control. If he comes back next time, he won’t be tied up anymore. But don’t blame me for not reminding them when he’s missing an arm or a leg.”

Han Ji groaned inwardly. He wondered if it was because the Third Lord had irritated Miss so much the last time he came and made her transform into such a tigress.

Han Ji got Yuxi’s instructions and went out to inform Chen Ran, “Second Master Chen, please go back. My Miss said that it is inappropriate for a lone man and a woman to meet. Otherwise, there will be another rumour that will tarnish my Miss’ reputation again. So, please be considerate, Second Master Chen.”

Chen Ran said with an apologetic face, “I have been studying hard at home behind closed doors before today. So I did not know about the rumours outside. This time, I am here to apologise to your Miss.” Chen Ran did not know that there would be rumours after exchanging a few words with Yuxi. It was only today that his page told him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have known about it until now!

Hearing that Chen Ran came to apologise, Han Ji felt more comfortable. “Second Master Chen, my Miss lives here alone. It’s truly not convenient for her to see you.” The mouths of those people outside were like knives. It was fortunate that the Fourth Miss could bear it well, or else, she would have hidden under the blanket and cried.

Chen Ran was kind enough to go back, but before that, he left a message, “Tell your Miss that I will be responsible for what had happened before.”

Han Ji’s eyes jumped at these words. Responsible? Responsible for what? It must not be like what he thought. However, if it were, the Lady and Master Shizi would be thrilled.

This was no small matter, and Han Ji felt dissatisfied with just concealing it that he immediately went back and relayed it to Yuxi, “Miss, it seems that Second Master Chen has some intentions for Miss!”

Yuxi did not think that Chen Ran had fallen in love with her and thus wanted to marry her. Her first feeling was that Chen Ran must be up to something. “What nonsense are you talking about!”

Han Ji had his own ideas, and although Yuxi was annoyed, he still had to say what needed to be said. “Miss, hearing this from Second Master Chen, it should mean that he wants the Lady of Taining to come to our home and propose marriage. Miss, shouldn’t we say something to Master Shizi about this?”

Yuxi nodded and said, “I will write to Dage right now.” She wouldn’t prohibit the benevolence and strict Lady of Taining from looking at her. Based on the two previous meetings, Yuxi had seen that Chen Ran’s brain circuit was very different from others. It was not impossible for him to persuade the Lady of Taining to go to the Han family to ask for her hand in marriage. If that was the case, she might as well give her Dage a heads up and ask him to reject the Chen family’s marriage proposal when that time came.

Perhaps the Lady of Taining was indeed generous, but even the most generous people could become very mean to someone they didn’t like. Also, Chen Ran acted differently from the average person. Such a person was really challenging to get along with because you didn’t know what he was actually thinking or doing. Now, Yuxi could only hope that her guesses were wrong, and Chen Ran was only acting on a whim. She also hoped that the Marquis Taining Residence could restrain Chen Ran and not be talked into it by him. As long as the Lady of Taining did not come to act as a matchmaker, the marriage could not be permissible.

When Chen Ran returned to the Marquis Taining Residence, he was called by the Lady of Taining.

The Lady of Taining wanted to talk to Chen Ran about all the good things regarding Yu Xixian and hoped that he would go and meet her. When the Lady of Taining thought about it, she was unwilling to give up and wanted to make one last attempt.

Chen Ran said expressionlessly, “Not interested.” Every one of the girls his mother had picked out for him was beautiful and obedient as if they were from the same mould. What he wanted was a wife whom he wanted to spend his life with, not a puppet.

The Lady of Taining choked for a moment. “Then, what’s so good about that Han girl?” She couldn’t see what was so good about Han Yuxi. Putting aside her bad fate, she was also from a humble family, without any of the dignity and gentleness that a well-bred girl should have. T

/N

Chen Ran looked at his mother and said with a chuckle, “I don’t know if she’s good or not. I just like her. Mother talked too much about this. Want to go back on your own words? You don’t want to keep your promise?”

The Lady of Taining opened her mouth several times, but no words came out. Old Woman Lin, beside her, spoke in the end, “Second Master, my Lady is also thinking of Second Master. Miss Xixian is one of the best girls.” The girl that everyone else wanted to marry, how could she be bad?

Hearing this argument, Chen Ran snorted and said, “If you guys want to go back on your words, then just do it!” After saying that, he was ready to go out.

The Lady of Taining’s heart was about to jump out of her chest when she saw her son in this state. If Chen Ran had continued to argue with her, she wouldn’t have been afraid, but this current action of his was what scared her the most. No one knew what he was thinking or what he would do next. “Stop right there.”

Chen Ran turned his head back and said, “I don’t have a problem with you not liking that Han girl and not wanting to propose marriage. What else does Mother want me to do? If you like that Yu girl and think she is good, that’s fine. It doesn’t matter whether I look at her or not.” After a pause, he added, “If she is pretty and obedient, and you like her, it would be good to marry her and just put her in the house.”

The Lady of Taining breathed heavily. If he married the Yu girl just for show, it would genuinely make the two families become enemies by then. “What do you want?”

Chen Ran was amused. “You don’t like what I like, and you want me to marry the one you like. I don’t even have any objection to that. Mother, what exactly do you want from me?”

The Lady of Taining was furious. “What’s so good about the Han girl? Why are you so dead set on her?” She couldn’t tell him, ‘people will look down on you for it’.

Chen Ran looked straight at his mother and said, “I don’t know how good that Han girl is, but I know that if she were in a difficult situation, she would only think of how to overcome it, not seek death and a way to ruin herself.” If his Dajie had been half as good as Han Yuxi, she would not have chosen death as the way out.

The Lady of Taining froze for a moment and finally spoke in a hoarse voice, “The Third Lady Han family has just passed away. So it is inappropriate for the matchmaker to come to their door at this time.”

Chen Ran looked like he didn’t care. “Mother can do it as Mother sees fit!” He looked as if the great event in his life was just a game to him.

The Lady of Taining stroked her heart and sat down on a chair, feeling angry and annoyed. “I don’t know what sins I did in my last life to give birth to such a debt collector.” Other people have sons who were filial to their parents, but it was the other way round on her side. She was afraid of provoking that brat and making him do something he wasn’t supposed to do.

Old Woman Lin said comfortingly, “My Lady, when the Second Master gets married and becomes a parent himself, he will know how hard you and the Marquis have worked for him.” It was fortunate that he was her Master’s real son and that the mother and son had no overnight feud. Otherwise, her Lady would have to throw up her heart for him.

The Lady of Taining felt as bitter as if she had eaten a huanglian, “Han Yuxi contradicted her biological father and ignored her formal mother. I don’t feel comfortable letting her marry Ran-er for the hundredth time.” She was really worried that Yuxi would lead her son astray.

The Second Master’s eccentric nature was not something that many people could stand. If the girl he married had little tolerance, she would probably not live long. The Han girl had been through a lot of things and had a strong capacity to bear it, so the Second Master’s vision was kind of unique. This was the only thing that Old Woman Lin could say in her heart.

After a while, the Lady of Taining muttered to herself, “Forget it, there’s no need to wait for three months. Let’s just have someone deliver a message to Lady Han after seventh seven.” If they decided on the matter earlier, there would be no room for her to break her promise, and she would no longer have to think about it.

When Han Jianming received Yuxi’s letter, a smile appeared on his face after reading it. This boy from the Chen family had a good eye, to think he had fallen for Yuxi. However, it wasn’t that easy to marry her.

When Qiu Shi heard Han Jianming’s words, she was shocked, “Are you saying that Chen Ran, the second di son of the Marquis Taining, has taken a fancy to Yuxi?” She had also heard of the previous rumours, but the rumours had dissipated because the Marquis Taining Residence had quickly stepped in to clarify them.

Han Jianming nodded.

When Qiu Shi saw him nodding, she asked, “Will the Lady of Taining come to propose marriage?”

Han Jianming was not sure but said, “If they don’t come, then it’s good. If by any chance the Marquis Taining’s family comes to propose marriage, you will have to refuse them then.”

Qiu Shi refused to listen to Han Jianming this time as she argued, “What do you mean I should refuse? You know how good the Chen family is. Don’t you know how many people have come to the Chen family to ask for their hand in marriage? If Lady Chen comes to our door to propose marriage, wouldn’t I be stupid if I didn’t agree to it?”

Han Jianming had expected such an attitude from Qiu Shi and said, “Yuxi has to give her consent to the marriage. No matter who comes to propose before Yuxi returns to the residence, we cannot agree to it.” Han Jianming also thought the Chen family was very good, but a forcibly picked melon was not sweet. If Yuxi, herself, did not fancy Chen Ran, no matter how good the Chens were, the two couldn’t be together.

Qiu Shi looked at Han Jianming and said with amusement, “This is just an unfounded matter, but you are already worried about it. Don’t worry. Even if the Chen family wants to propose marriage, they won’t come right away. At least, not until three months have passed.” Qiu Shi did not believe the Chen family would come to her door to propose marriage. It wasn’t that Yuxi was bad, but Chen Ran was just too good.

Han Jianming thought for a moment and said no more. Three months later, Yuxi would already be back to the residence. So he would just let Yuxi herself settle this problem by then.