She had no choice but to agree.
There was absolutely no reason for an elder to visit a younger person, but Lady Dingbei was afraid that it would be difficult to speak in front of Madam Zhao and the Grand Madam, so she said that she wanted to see how Anran's dowry was being embroidered and insisted on going to Anran's room to take a look.
The old lady did not refuse.
An Ran arrived at the news not much earlier than Lady Dingbei, and there was no time to change her clothes or redo her makeup. So Cui Ping smoothed her hair, tidied her clothes, and tidied up the usual banquet area to entertain Lady Dingbei in a little while.
When Lady Dingbei entered, she saw Anran dressed in casual clothes, her hair simply tied up. Her plain lilac-colored jacket accentuated her gentle and graceful features. Only two white jade hairpins adorned her hair, giving her an ethereal beauty like a lotus emerging from clear water.
Suitable for both living and working.
When An Ran gracefully and calmly greeted her with a smile, these four words suddenly popped into Lady Dingbei's mind.
It was a regret for the Dingbei Marquis's family that Fang Ting did not marry An Ran.
"Please sit down, Madam." An Ran greeted the Lady of Dingbei Marquis with a calm demeanor, showing no change despite the broken engagement with Fang Ting or the incident involving Fang Ting and Liu Niang. Her only concern was the respect a junior should show to an elder.
Lady Dingbei felt very comfortable.
She didn't dare to get straight to the point, but instead started looking at An Ran's embroidered dowry.
An Ran was not in a hurry at all.
The smile on her lips softened, and her voice became more composed.
******
When Chen Qian received the message from Fang Yu, he became anxious and lost his composure.
Fang Yu only said that the Marquis of Dingbei and his wife had discovered that he had drugged Chen Qian, and that Chen Qian had to find a way to resolve the matter within three days, otherwise he might expose Chen Qian.
They're more trouble than they're worth!
Chen Qian slammed the letter to the ground, knocking the brush washer and inkstone off his desk.
All that money I spent, giving gifts and slipping me silver notes, and he still managed to mess up this little thing.
"Sir, what do you think... should we reply?" Changqing waited anxiously, this matter was truly difficult to resolve. Fang Yu had finally found an opportunity to send someone out to deliver a message, and was still waiting for Chen Qian's reply.
"What else can I say!" Chen Qian was furious. His eyes were fixed fiercely on the letter, as if he could transfer all his hatred to Fang Yu. "Tell him I'll handle it, and make sure he stalls for a few more days!"
Changqing hurried off to reply to the servant, leaving Chen Qian alone, pacing back and forth in the study, extremely annoyed.
If he hadn't made that wrong move with Liu Niang, he would never be in such a passive position!
He must resolve this matter as soon as possible, otherwise, if it really blows up, his past will be thoroughly investigated by these powerful figures.
Chen Qian understood that since the Marquis of Dingbei's family was willing to break off the engagement with the Marquis of Nan'an's family because of rumors, they must value Fang Ting very much. Even if An Liu Niang had a completely innocent marriage proposal to the Marquis of Dingbei's family, they probably wouldn't agree.
Moreover, the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion must now believe that An Liu Niang intentionally seduced Fang Ting.
If Fang Yu hadn't been exposed, it wouldn't have mattered. Regardless of Fang Ting's intentions, he was still discovered being with An Liu Niang in the waterside pavilion, having taken liberties with her. But Fang Yu was exposed anyway, and it's clear which of these two illegitimate sons is more important. The Marquis of Dingbei's mansion might very well push Fang Yu out to protect Fang Ting.
Chen Qian was filled with hatred and rage, but he still had to suppress the anger in his heart.
"Sir, there's..." Changqing's words were cut short by Chen Qian's sharp rebuke. "I need to think things through in peace and quiet. Nobody is allowed in!"
But this letter was also urgent, and Changqing had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "It's a letter from the sixth young lady of the Marquis of Nan'an's mansion..."
Chen Qian had no choice but to let him in.
"What kind of time is this to dare send me a letter?" Chen Qian took the letter with a gloomy expression. Seeing that all she asked about was the progress of things with Fang Ting, and that she dared to threaten him again with the note he had passed to An Ran before, Chen Qian was so angry that he tore up the letter.
"Sir, you're not going to reply?" Changqing was taken aback. The servant from the Treasure Pavilion was still waiting outside. It must have been very difficult for Liu Mama to come out once, so she must be trying to get a reply.
Chen Qian suppressed his anger.
Fang Yu was giving him a hard time, and just when he was in a state of utter chaos, An Liu Niang also came to cause trouble!
Frustrated, he picked up his pen, wanting to write something to appease Sixth Sister, but before he could even pick up the pen, Chang Sheng, who was outside relaying messages to various places for him, suddenly came in.
"Master, this time the Marquis of Nan'an's residence has been followed!" he said with a grave expression. "It seems that Miss An's act of passing messages has been discovered!"
Chen Qian looked astonished.
It's true what they say, good fortune never comes in pairs, but misfortunes never come singly!
Both Changqing and Changsheng had worried expressions in their eyes, wondering how things would end.
Chen Qian snapped a fine wolf-hair brush in two.
The sooner these two matters are resolved, the better; the longer they drag on, the more passive he becomes. If things really escalate and past events are investigated, starting with the incident at Prince Yi's residence, he won't fare well. He's quite self-aware; he can only use others' strength against him, and he doesn't yet have the power to confront the powerful and influential.
Now he has no choice but to accept his fate.
After an unknown amount of time, Chen Qian said with a sense of desperation, "Bring me a fine piece of mutton fat jade bracelet, and also pick out a nice box."
Changqing and Changsheng left as instructed. Chen Qian took a deep breath, took another pen from the pen holder, pulled out a fine piece of gold-flecked stationery, and carefully wrote his reply, stroke by stroke.
After carefully drying it, Chen Qian didn't even bother to look at it again, carefully sealed it up, and threw it on the desk.
Before long, the two returned with an exquisite box carved with red lacquer peonies, lined with bright red velvet, on which sat a warm and delicate mutton fat jade bracelet, clearly an extraordinary piece.
"Changqing, give this letter and this box to Liu Mama," Chen Qian ordered with a stern face. "Don't worry about the tails outside. Just pretend you didn't see them."
Changqing and Changsheng nodded solemnly.
"Chang Sheng, immediately ask the Marquis of Nan'an to wait outside the yamen and make sure he invites the Marquis of Nan'an's residence to the banquet tomorrow." He lowered his voice and instructed, "You must bribe any servants around him that you can see and send the message over as soon as possible."