A marriage proposal required the proper ceremony.
Lu Zhuo and Xie Hualou’s wedding date had been set for the eighteenth of the twelfth month. Duke Ying Mansion had been preparing wedding supplies for two months. Even if they had no backups, just the betrothal gifts returned from the Xie mansion this morning could be used readily.
Duchess Ying refused to use those old items and had people carry out double the amount of brand-new chests, taking out jewelry, silk, and satin from the storerooms piece by piece. Each chest was tied with bright red silk ribbons. She and Duke Ying each changed into new clothes and set off with great fanfare. Everywhere they passed, both official households and common people were shocked and curious, all wanting to know which family Duke Ying Mansion was preparing to propose to in such a short time.
Too many people were watching. Duke Ying leaned close to the carriage window and said to his wife inside, “We’re making such a commotion. I know you want to show our sincerity to Earl Cheng’an Mansion, but what if they misunderstand that we’re forcing them?”
Duchess Ying couldn’t care about all that.
Her eldest grandson’s life hung by a thread. Joy-bringing required urgency—if you wanted to bring joy, you had to act fast. If she hesitated and considered this taboo and that concern, delaying until her eldest grandson was gone, what would be the point even if Earl Cheng’an Mansion agreed?
Asking someone to bring joy was already improper. No matter how proper her etiquette, this act would cause Earl Cheng’an Mansion to harbor resentment.
Duchess Ying had already thought it through. If Wei Rao was willing to marry over, whether her eldest grandson woke up or not, Wei Rao would be the Lu family’s benefactor. If Wei Rao was unwilling to marry and was criticized for refusing their proposal and failing to save a life, Duchess Ying would acknowledge Wei Rao as her goddaughter and protect her everywhere from then on, treating her like her own granddaughter.
The Lu family’s marriage proposal procession and the crowd of onlookers simultaneously poured into Yongning Lane, where Earl Cheng’an Mansion was located.
When the leading carriage steadily stopped in front of Earl Cheng’an Mansion’s gate, buzzing discussions immediately arose from the crowd.
“Does the Wei family have any unmarried young ladies?”
“This is Shou’an Jun’s former in-laws, Consort Li’s former husband’s family! The daughter Consort Li abandoned has never married!”
“Ah, is the Lu family coming to propose to Fourth Lady Wei? That can’t be right?”
“The Wei family’s Third Lady also seems unmarried. It should be her—a proper earl’s legitimate daughter. Earl Cheng’an has a title and official position, but not a very high rank, so he should be very willing to form connections with Duke Ying Mansion.”
Just then, Earl Cheng’an had already been alarmed by the commotion at his gate and hurried out with his wife, Guo Shi, to greet them.
Duke Ying was this dynasty’s premier fierce general, valued by the emperor and respected by the people. When he visited someone’s door, the family head personally welcoming him was entirely appropriate.
The couple respectfully invited Duke Ying and Duchess Ying inside.
Private matters couldn’t be discussed in front of idle onlookers. Once inside the Wei family’s gate, to avoid misunderstanding by Earl Cheng’an and his wife, Duchess Ying directly explained their purpose to Earl Cheng’an: “We two old folks have taken the liberty of visiting because we’ve come to propose marriage to Fourth Lady. Due to special circumstances at home, please forgive any breaches of etiquette, Earl.”
Earl Cheng’an was slightly stunned. The Lu family was asking for his niece?
Earl Cheng’an didn’t question whether his niece was worthy of marrying into the Lu family, but his niece had a poor reputation. Having just heard the servant’s report, he and his wife had assumed the Lu family wanted to marry their daughter Wei Chan.
After the initial shock, Earl Cheng’an felt a complex mix of emotions.
Regardless of Lu Zhuo’s current condition, being favored by Duchess Ying to become the Lu family’s eldest grandson’s wife was recognition and honor for any daughter, and it would be difficult for their family to refuse on moral grounds. Earl Cheng’an had just been worried that if Lu Zhuo died, what would become of a daughter widowed at such a young age? Now that the misunderstanding was cleared, Earl Cheng’an didn’t have to worry about his daughter, but felt vaguely embarrassed, blaming himself for failing to properly educate his daughter—her virtue and talent were not prominent enough that even for joy-bringing, the Lu family didn’t favor his daughter.
Raorao has always been raised by my mother. This matter requires my mother’s consultation. Duke and Madam, please sit in the reception hall first. I’ll immediately send someone to ask my mother to come over,” Earl Cheng’an said solemnly.
Duchess Ying said, “Please also ask Fourth Lady to come. After all, this concerns her lifelong happiness.”
Earl Cheng’an, thinking of his niece’s early wisdom and understanding, agreed.
The young maid sent to deliver the message naturally told Wei Rao and Old Madam Wei about Duke Ying and his wife’s purpose.
Old Madam Wei hadn’t expected that she had just been discussing the broken engagement between the Lu and Xie families with her granddaughter, and in the blink of an eye, the Lu family had come to seek her granddaughter’s hand!
But this timing was too insulting!
What—when Lu Zhuo was vigorous and lively, only the widely renowned Sixth Lady Xie was worthy of him, but now that he was half-dead, when other noble young ladies didn’t dare marry him, the Lu family thought of her Raorao?
If Lu Zhuo’s former fiancée had been someone else, that would be one thing, but Sixth Lady Xie was the one those gossipy girls used to step on Raorao. Why should her Raorao have to take over the sickly Lu Zhuo that Sixth Lady Xie had abandoned?
Old Madam Wei hoped Lu Zhuo would recover, but this had nothing to do with the Lu family coming to propose marriage!
Old Madam Wei almost impulsively wanted to have the maid directly drive Duke Ying and his wife away.
But she was old after all. After the brief impulse, Old Madam Wei calmed down. Those were Duke Ying and his wife—their family could refuse, but they couldn’t make things too absolute, or how could they continue to establish themselves in the Capital City?
“Raorao, don’t be afraid. Let’s go hear what they have to say, give Duke Ying some face, but grandmother will not agree to them.” Old Madam Wei patted Wei Rao’s hand, stating her position clearly.
Wei Rao’s mind was a bit chaotic—too much confusion. With Duke Ying Mansion’s glory, if they couldn’t find noble legitimate daughters for joy-bringing, they could find daughters from distinguished families or refined young ladies from modest households. With so many choices, how could the Lu family think of the notorious her? Did they think highly of her, or look down on her? Moreover, if she refused, her reputation would become even worse, wouldn’t it? Had the Lu family calculated this point and intended to force her?
Thinking of Duchess Ying’s kind smile at the Dragon Boat Festival palace banquet, Wei Rao frowned.
Whether it was kindness or malice, she would know once she met them.
Wei Rao didn’t express any opinion for now and obediently supported her grandmother. The two generations walked unhurriedly to the main courtyard’s reception hall.
Since she was at home, Wei Rao had only applied moisturizing balm to her face and hadn’t drawn the makeup that made her appear gentle and dignified. Without cosmetics, her translucent white skin that could be broken by a breath was revealed. Her phoenix eyes were lustrous as if containing emotion, her lips were full and colored like the most brilliant flower petals, with a beauty mark that was charming and alluring, tempting one to cup her face and wantonly taste and play with her.
She slightly lowered her head, concentrating on supporting Old Madam Wei, not nervous or shy because two distinguished guests who had come to propose marriage were sitting in the hall.
Duchess Ying was first stunned by Wei Rao’s beauty.
So the Wei Rao she had seen at the palace banquet was Wei Rao deliberately hiding her talents. Looking now, Wei Rao surpassed Xie Hualou in beauty. Those idle gossips who used Xie Hualou to step on Wei Rao were purely out of jealousy.
But what satisfied Duchess Ying most was Wei Rao’s composure. The young lady should already know their purpose. At only fifteen years old, Duchess Ying couldn’t see through the young lady’s thoughts—whether she was happy to be able to marry into the Lu family, or angry that the Lu family disregarded propriety and forced her to bring joy to their eldest grandson.
Composed people rarely made mistakes in their actions, making them very suitable to be the head matron.
Duchess Ying looked at her husband beside her with satisfaction.
Duke Ying also looked at his wife, thinking that if the unconscious eldest grandson could truly control life and death, knowing the family had married such a flower fairy-like beauty as his wife, the eldest grandson would be reluctant to die. No man could bear to abandon such a lovely wife.
“When Old Earl was alive, my old man had the honor of drinking at the same table with Old Earl. Considering this friendship, may I call you sister-in-law?” Duchess Ying smiled at Old Madam Wei.
Old Madam Wei’s tone was distant: “I wouldn’t dare. My late husband was an ordinary man—how could he dare call Duke equal to brothers?”
Duke Ying smiled apologetically: “You’re worthy, you’re worthy. Lu is a rough man who greatly admires the scholarship of Brother Chongwen.”
Chongwen was Wei Rao’s grandfather’s courtesy name. Fortunately, the Lu family’s steward was capable and had inquired about it in such a short time, enabling Duke Ying to say this without blushing.
Old Madam Wei glanced at Duke Ying and didn’t expose anything further.
Seeing Old Madam Wei’s attitude soften slightly, Duchess Ying seized the opportunity to take over the conversation: “Sister-in-law, the Duke is a rough man, and I also have no scholarship and am not good with words. Disturbing you at midday, I won’t beat around the bush with you. My eldest grandson, Lu Zhuo, is gravely ill and unconscious. I’ve tried every method, and now can only hope that joy-bringing will save his life…”
With her eldest grandson on her mind, without needing to pretend to be pitiful, Duchess Ying’s tears naturally fell.
Both were white-haired people who had sent away black-haired ones. Old Madam Wei couldn’t bear to see this and turned her head away, interrupting Duchess Ying’s remaining words: “I’ve heard about your family’s situation, and I also pray to Buddha to bless the young master to pass through this crisis soon. But I truly cannot agree to your request. Raorao is my heart and soul. No matter how the outside world slanders and smears her, in this grandmother’s eyes, she is the best. If Madam had come to propose a year earlier, I could have cried from happiness. What is this now? Is my Raorao truly inferior to some peony-talented lady, that she should pick up what others don’t want?”
Speaking to this point, Old Madam Wei’s eyes also reddened.
Observing mourning was proper, but with the Lu family’s situation, even if the Xie family ignored hot mourning and married the Sixth Lady over, outsiders would only praise the Xie family’s righteousness. When the Xie family refused, ultimately it was because they couldn’t bear for Sixth Lady to take risks, couldn’t bear for Sixth Lady to become a widow. The Xie mansion was lucky, having encountered the Grand Preceptor’s death, and preserving their reputation.
What about her Raorao? Because of those prejudices, even if she married now for joy-bringing, she would never gain half a bit of good reputation. Outsiders would say Raorao had struck it lucky to pick up this bargain, would say if Lu Zhuo weren’t dying, it would never be Raorao’s turn. If Lu Zhuo lived, such gossip would become even more numerous. If Lu Zhuo died, Raorao, keeping the widow, would be a loss, and if she didn’t keep the widow, she’d be cursed to death.
Everything was a loss—why?
It was all Duke Ying and his wife’s fault. If they hadn’t come, Raorao wouldn’t have to face this dilemma!
“Have you thought about Raorao? Agreeing or refusing are both pits—how do you expect her to live in the future?” Old Madam Wei slammed the table and glared at Duchess Ying hatefully, questioning, “Do you think Raorao’s reputation was already bad, so you don’t mind splashing another layer of dirty water on her?”
“Grandmother, please don’t be like this.”
Wei Rao knelt in front of Old Madam Wei with her head lowered. She hadn’t intended to cry, but was moved by her grandmother’s tears and could no longer control her eyes.
Old Madam Wei held her granddaughter’s head, crying as she asked Duchess Ying, “Your grandson is a treasure, but is my granddaughter just grass?”
The more she cried, the less she could stop. Earl Cheng’an and Guo Shi also quickly knelt, persuading in unison.
Duchess Ying shook her head tearfully: “It’s not like that, not what you think. I don’t look down on Raorao—I like her too much, like her beauty, like her chivalrous heart, like her magnanimity, like her having an earl uncle. They all say I can’t find noble young ladies to bring joy to Shoucheng, they all advise me to marry a girl from a minor household, but I don’t believe in that nonsense! My Shoucheng is a treasure, a unique treasure in the world. Even if he’s sick beyond recognition, I still want to marry him, a true noble young lady, a girl worthy of him.”
Old Madam Wei looked up in shock, and Wei Rao also looked at Duchess Ying in disbelief.
Duchess Ying wiped her eyes and said to Wei Rao, “Why are noble young ladies good? Because noble families guarantee a good upbringing, and everyone believes that young ladies from noble backgrounds will possess noble character. For young ladies they haven’t met, outsiders can only understand them based on their reputation. But I’ve seen Raorao, seen her goodness, so no matter how outsiders spread rumors, in my heart, Raorao is a true noble young lady, a bright pearl who won’t wrong my grandson.”
The tears continuously rolling down the old lady’s face let everyone present feel that she was speaking sincerely, not cleverly coaxing Wei Rao to agree to the marriage.
With such sincerity from Duchess Ying, Old Madam Wei felt better in her heart, but…
“Grandmother, I want to marry.”
A pair of small hands suddenly grasped her old hands, speaking before she could.