"You didn’t hear wrong, did Uncle and Auntie Second really agree to form a marriage alliance with the fourth branch of the Zhu Family?" Daohua looked at Wang Manman with astonishment.
Wang Manman nodded hurriedly, "It’s true, I heard it with my own ears, I reckon that even now the Second Madam and Second Master are still in the Old Madam’s courtyard discussing this matter."
As she spoke, she smiled.
"It must be because of the compliments you paid Miss Zhu yesterday, which Uncle Second overheard, so he went to find the Second Master and Second Madam early this morning."
Daohua’s expression was somewhat wistful, "I didn’t expect my brother to be so efficient with his actions, managing to get Auntie Second to agree to this marriage so quickly, his persuasion skills are indeed strong."
Wang Manman said with a laugh, "Isn’t that the truth? The Second Madam was so adamantly opposed to this alliance before, but after Uncle Second spoke to her, she agreed just like that. It really is true that a mother can’t say no to her own son."
When Daohua went to the Old Madam’s courtyard, she overheard the Old Madam Yan telling Madam Li, "In a few days, it will be Zhi Gao’s birthday. Send a card to the Zhu Family. Once the fourth wife of the Zhu family comes, we will take Miss Zhu’s birth details and discuss the wedding date with the Second Master and his wife."
Madam Li said with a smile, "I will follow Mother’s instructions in everything."
...
At Xingzhou, the home of Zhu, the Prefectural Instructor.
After Mrs. Zhu returned, she recounted her visit to the Yan Family to the Prefectural Instructor Zhu.
Prefectural Instructor Zhu, upon hearing that the Yan Family had not taken a liking to Zhu Qiyun, felt it a pity but said nothing.
Madam Zhu the fourth and Zhu Qiyun, however, were quite disappointed. The clan was pressing hard, and some of the Clan Elders wanted to use Zhu Qiyun to climb the social ladder by marrying her to a person of power. When the fourth Madam Zhu returned, out of anxiety for her daughter’s marriage, she had even developed several fever blisters around her mouth.
Zhu Qiyun appeared resigned and kept comforting her mother, "Mother, I no longer fancy the idea of growing old with a husband. Let’s just consider the family of the Magistrate of Pingzhou. Marrying into their family would, after all, benefit my brother’s career prospects."
Madam Zhu the fourth’s face bore a trace of bitterness as she harbored intense resentment against the Clan Leader’s wife. If it weren’t for the Clan Leader’s wife’s matchmaking, how could her daughter be engaged to the Zhuang Family? Now that the Zhuang Family had brought shame upon themselves, the Clan Leader’s wife refused to step in to help them, coldly watching as her daughter was being pushed into the fire pit by the clan members.
Madam Zhu the fourth held Zhu Qiyun’s hand tightly, "Don’t be afraid, I will never let you marry a fool. I refuse to believe that, by offering all the family’s books as your dowry, we won’t be able to find a decent family for you to marry into."
Zhu Qiyun hurriedly interjected, "Mother, I know you love me, but you also have to consider my brother. If you give away Father’s possessions as my dowry, what decent marriage gifts will remain for my brother when he seeks a wife?"
Madam Zhu the fourth said, "Your brother is a man; even if he takes an illiterate woman as a wife, as long as he works hard, there’s still a chance for him to turn things around."
"But it’s different for you. Life itself is difficult for a woman. Without a good husband to protect you, what life would that be? A fool can’t even take care of himself, only bringing you endless trouble. I won’t let you fall into the fire pit."
Zhu Qiyun’s eyes reddened instantly, and she couldn’t help but lean on Madam Zhu the fourth’s shoulder and sob.
She never expected her fate to be so cruel.
Seeing her daughter like this, Madam Zhu the fourth also silently shed tears.
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