The matriarch laughed for a while before saying, "Wu Zi really made your grandmother laugh. Look, the food is getting cold. Come on, take the food downstairs and heat it up before bringing it back up."
"Yes." The nanny waiting on the side accepted the order and, with several maids, quickly went to make the change.
Ji Meiyuan felt incredibly frustrated. She'd been angered by Ji Wushang and Ji Yinxue's actions during the day, and now, at dinner, she was further angered by Ji Wusi, and on an empty stomach, her face naturally sullen. Ji Wuxia, however, had other plans in mind, and her sour expression vanished.
Ji Wushang looked at the two of them and said, "Do you two sisters have something on your mind? Why don't you tell everyone? We're all here now, so we can talk things out!"
When the matriarch heard Ji Wushang speak like this, she noticed the two maids and nodded, "Yes, Wushang is right. It's rare to have everyone at the table for a meal. If you have anything to say, you can ask."
Ji Meiyuan rolled her eyes at Ji Wushang, then looked distressed and said, "Grandmother, sigh!"
☆、114 Tense! The matchmakers come to propose marriage! (The climax is coming!)
The elder lady awaited her next words.
"It's alright now." Ji Meiyuan suddenly realized that it would be a waste of energy to say anything, so she might as well not say anything.
At this moment, Aunt Xie said, "Second Miss is thinking about when she can marry a good husband. Isn't that why she came back to the manor?
Ji Wushang nodded, "Exactly."
"Who said that?" Ji Meiyuan blushed slightly upon hearing this. She was the one who was worried. Nan Jinxue had been snatched away by Ji Yinxue. Who did she have left? There wasn't a single good talent left in the capital!
"Why be shy, Second Sister?" Ji Wushang glanced at her and then fell silent.
Hearing this, the matriarch said when the meal was served, "Let's eat first!"
Then everyone began to work, all doing so in silence.
Ji Meiyuan was feeling sullen. After finishing her meal, she left alone, and Ji Wuxia, seeing that she had no intention of talking to her, went her own way. Ji Wushang watched her, thinking to himself, "Should I give her a good plan?"
We need to think of a way. Oh, right, that little maid was working in her courtyard before, wasn't she? She's her eyes and ears; we need to help her by giving her some fabric!
Ji Wushang returned to his courtyard and saw the little maid Dongmei. He called out to Zhu'er, "Zhu'er, come in, I have something to say." Zhu'er was also in that courtyard and had just followed him when she heard Ji Wushang say this. She immediately followed him quickly and replied, "Yes."
As soon as Dongmei saw Ji Wushang and Zhu'er enter the house, she immediately put down the broom in her hand and craned her neck to see what they were saying. Seeing that no one was around, she quickly hid and went up to eavesdrop.
Ji Wushang sat on the chaise lounge, then winked at Zhu'er, who immediately understood. Ji Wushang cleared his throat and said, "This time when you came back, I felt that Second Sister wasn't happy."
"Isn't it all because of that Second Young Master Nan?" Zhu'er said as she poured tea. "The Second Miss is in love with the Second Young Master Nan, Eldest Miss, you should know that."
"Hmm, I did see a hint of that before, but, oh yes, nowadays, everyone else is engaged, and it's Fourth Sister and Second Young Master Nan who are getting married. I'm afraid Second Sister won't be able to hold onto Second Young Master Nan. If only she had stood up and been braver before."
“Miss, don’t say that. Since ancient times, men have been able to have three wives and four concubines. They can have one principal wife and one secondary wife, and four or five concubines!” Zhu’er said. “Miss, think about it. What kind of background does the Marquis of Jinnan’s mansion have? It was protected by the late emperor and is favored by the emperor. Although it is a marquis’s mansion, it secretly belongs to the royal family! If the second young lady also marquises the second young master of Nan, Zhu’er doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with it.”
"Oh? Tell me more," Ji Wushang said with some curiosity.
“Miss, as you know, when the older sister gets married, the younger sister also has to be part of the dowry! Or she can find a maid to accompany her,” Zhu’er said earnestly.
"Then how about I ask you to be my dowry when I get married?" Ji Wushang's tone turned slightly cold.
Zhu'er immediately knelt down and said, "Miss, please don't be so kind to Zhu'er. I will always be your maid, no matter what. Now that you're married, I'll have two masters: you and your husband!"
"You're so good at talking, get up!" Ji Wushang wasn't actually angry. He knew that this was a play that Zhu'er was putting on with him, but he still had to show it to outsiders.
Dongmei listened, her heart filled with joy. Wasn't the Second Miss always so gloomy? She constantly complained about her own inadequacy! Humph, now that she'd heard this, the Second Miss could marry into the Nan family along with the Fourth Miss! Moreover, with the Second Miss's figure and beauty, she was far superior to the Fourth Miss! She would definitely secure the position of the principal wife!
Thinking of this, Dongmei immediately looked to see if anyone was paying attention to her. At this moment, she heard Ji Wushang and Zhu'er still chatting about some irrelevant things, so she quietly slipped away with a broom.
Ji Wushang lowered his voice, then leaned against the door, listening intently until the person had gone far away. He opened the door and, sure enough, saw Dongmei disappear into the night. He closed the door, smiling, and said, "Alright, the show's over. Zhu'er, it's time for bed!" His eyes crinkled with a smile. Ji Wushang was certain that Ji Meiyuan was unwilling to accept defeat and would definitely find a way to become Nan Jinxue's woman!
Just wait and see!
Sure enough, Dongmei immediately went to the plum garden. She looked around outside the courtyard gate, and Ji Meiyuan's head maid Baoqi saw this and immediately told Ji Meiyuan. Ji Meiyuan immediately told her to call someone in and to pay attention to who was around.
Immediately, Dongmei came in and stood in front of Ji Meiyuan, kneeling down as soon as she saw her. "Second Miss, I have something to report to you."
"Hmm." Ji Meiyuan had already dismissed all the maids, leaving only Baoqi. "Go ahead and speak!"
Dongmei nodded and immediately repeated what Ji Wushang and Zhu'er had just said, then said, "Miss, I think you are perfectly capable of marrying the Second Young Master Nan!"
Ji Meiyuan frowned as she listened; this idea…
"Miss, if you really want to, who is Fourth Miss? Why should she fight for what's yours? Miss, you're so much better off! Why can't you marry a good man like Second Young Master Nan? Miss, in my opinion, Fourth Miss must have used a scheme to deceive Second Young Master Nan! Why don't you punish Fourth Miss?" Dongmei was really good at stirring things up, and she did it with great enthusiasm, her whole demeanor beaming with excitement!
Ji Meiyuan remained silent and gave Bao Qi a meaningful look. Immediately, Bao Qi stepped forward and said, "Dongmei, you can go down now. Miss will handle her own affairs. Don't go around babbling, or you won't even know how you died later!" Although Bao Qi was speaking harshly, she secretly slipped a purse to Dongmei.
"Yes, Dongmei understands, thank you, Sister Baoqi." Dongmei took the purse, hid it in her sleeve, nodded vigorously, her eyes narrowed into slits, and her mouth and eyes were full of smiles.
"Hmm!" Baoqi hummed softly, then gestured for her to leave. Dongmei thanked her a few times, then knelt before Ji Meiyuan before leaving.
Only after everyone had left did Baoqi approach and ask, "Miss, what do you plan to do?"
"Let me think, I'm a little confused right now." Ji Meiyuan gestured for her to be quiet, and Baoqi nodded. "This servant will go prepare the bird's nest for Miss."
Ji Meiyuan had been racking her brains. If she really did what Ji Wushang just said and married Nan Jinxue along with Ji Yinxue, wouldn't she be a concubine?
This won't do. My birth mother is Concubine Bai, and I've always watched how Concubine Bai schemed to become the wife, but what did she end up with? She was still imprisoned in the dungeon! Isn't this the tragedy of being a concubine? If I were to marry into the family, I should become the principal wife! But how can I become Nan Jinxue's principal wife? I feel like Nan Jinxue doesn't have any feelings for me!
Ji Meiyuan sat at the table, looking at the snacks in front of her, but had no appetite.
If I don't get married, will I eventually marry someone else, someone I don't even know?
She was conflicted, but still couldn't come up with a solution. Ji Meiyuan could only tell herself to give herself two or three days to consider things and see what the situation was like.
If you're going to get married, you have to be the legal wife, and you have to marry a powerful and wealthy man!
Ji Meiyuan drank the bird's nest that Bao Qi had sent, and then took off her clothes and went to sleep.
Soon, dawn approached, ushering in a beautiful morning. Ji Wushang stretched lazily before getting up.
Last night, Ji Wushang dreamt that Nan Xuzong came to propose marriage with betrothal gifts, and the old lady actually agreed! But just as Ji Wushang was thinking about marrying him, a tiger suddenly appeared! Startled, she nestled in Nan Xuzong's arms. Just as she was thinking about fighting the tiger, another dream came over, leaving her completely bewildered. In the end, she dreamt of a peach orchard, a peaceful and serene place, and Ji Wushang's mood improved.
Ji Wushang stretched his arms and legs, and then saw Zhu'er bringing breakfast, with Xian'er following behind.
Xian'er helped her style her hair into a bun with two jade phoenix hairpins, then she put on a light red silk robe and a white jacket. Only after she was dressed did she have her meal.
Just then, a maidservant outside called out, "Young Miss, Steward Lin has sent someone to deliver the fabric for making autumn clothes."
Butler Lin? Ji Wushang looked up. Was this Butler Lin new? This material is suitable for delivering thermal underwear. Let's see what it's like.
He went outside and saw several servants carrying pieces of fabric—bright red, light yellow, and elegant silver-white—a fairly wide variety. Ji Wushang nodded. This Steward Lin must have learned his lesson from the previous Steward Xue! How did he know to give him such fine fabrics? They felt so smooth to the touch.
"Leave it here! Let Zhang Xiuniang make me a dress so I can wear it in winter." Ji Wushang casually pointed.
Zhu'er nodded and had the maids in the courtyard collect the fabric. She then gave each of the servants who delivered the fabric a few copper coins, which made the servants happy for quite a while.
"It's so much better here at Miss's place! We don't see any tips at the other courtyards!"
"Isn't that right! The young lady is the most lovable!"
...
Ji Wushang listened to the receding sound and smiled. Sometimes, when you have money, you can spend a little to reward your servants. When you need them someday, they might remember your kindness! That's called cause and effect.
As Zhu'er watched the group walk away, she said, "They only gave us a few copper coins, and look how happy they are."
“I’m giving you a purse, aren’t you happy?” Ji Wushang asked in return.
“That’s true. We’re happy as long as it’s a gift from Miss!” Pearl said with a smile.
Ji Wushang nodded before returning to the house, but immediately said, "If you need to contact me, be sure to tell me and let me know promptly, understand?"
"Yes," Pearl nodded.
After a while, Ji Wushang wrapped his cloak tighter around himself and then hurriedly headed towards Jingyuan. This matter of paying respects to the elders could not be missed even once a day; otherwise, perhaps the matriarch would start to criticize him.
As Ji Wushang entered Jingyuan, Granny Guo saw her from afar and immediately smiled at Madam Yuan, saying, "As I said, it was definitely the eldest young lady who would be the first to come and pay her respects!"
"Yes, Wu Shang is such a thoughtful girl!" Madam Yuan nodded, looking up at Ji Wu Shang as she entered. Ji Wu Shang knelt down to pay her respects, "Greetings to Grandmother."
"Get up, get up quickly," the matriarch hurriedly said.
A gust of wind blew by, and Ji Wushang felt a bit cold. He hadn't even taken off his trench coat yet, and he already shivered.
The matriarch frowned and said, "Why are you wearing so little clothing? Did Butler Lin distribute any fabric?"
"Grandmother, she sent out some fabric this morning, but she hasn't come over to make clothes yet."
"Granny Guo, order someone to go to the Brocade Butterfly Robe Shop and buy some well-fitting clothes for the young lady. Do not delay," said the old lady.
"Yes," Granny Guo replied immediately.
Upon hearing this, Ji Wushang immediately expressed his gratitude, "Thank you for your kindness, Grandmother."
"Yes. Also, replace all these prayer cushions with cotton ones, so the maids will be more comfortable when they pay their respects."
"yes."
Ji Wushang was delighted to see that Madam Yuan had taken care of so many things for her. She chatted with her for a while, which made Madam Yuan even more satisfied with this young lady.
Following them came Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia, both bundled up tightly, making no attempt to be modest, dressed as extravagantly and thickly as possible for warmth. Although the matriarch of the Yuan family didn't say anything, she already harbored some resentment.
Upon seeing Ji Wushang, Ji Meiyuan was momentarily lost in thought, recalling the words she had heard the day before, before paying her respects to the matriarch of the Yuan family. Ji Wuxia, unaware of the situation, naturally greeted her first.
The elder's wife was also offered a seat.
Ji Meiyuan was feeling rather unwell at the moment. Seeing an opportunity, she pulled Ji Wushang aside and said, "Big sister, um, I have something I want to tell you."
"Oh?" Ji Wushang was quite surprised. He hadn't expected Ji Meiyuan to actually want to talk to him! She must have had a brain transplant! He would never forget the old Ji Meiyuan! But, since she was practically offering herself up to die, how could he refuse her?
"Okay, we'll talk about it later. Let's spend some time with Grandma first. She's very happy!"
"Okay." Ji Meiyuan nodded.
Ji Wushang then spoke with her again with the matriarch.
After quite some time, a servant suddenly ran over, "Madam, Eldest Miss, Second Miss, Third Miss! Young Master Nan has come with gifts, and judging from his tone, he intends to propose marriage!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Wushang's heart pounded with excitement!
Ji Meiyuan listened with growing nervousness. Who was this person?! How dare they come to propose marriage? Every young lady in this household was of noble birth. How could a cripple like him be worthy of them?
Ji Wuxia, however, remained silent, observing the expressions of the two men.
The matriarch nodded, "Please come to the guest hall. Let's all go and see what's going on!"
"Yes," the three sisters, including Ji Wushang, replied in unison.
Ji Wushang chose to walk at the very back, his heart filled with anxiety. The Prince of Nan had really come to visit, and at this particular time... Ji Wushang was even more nervous as they were about to arrive at the guest hall.
At this moment, Nan Xuzong was also looking outside nervously. The steward Lin said he would send someone to inform the matriarch, but why was no one there yet? How long was he supposed to wait like this?
Just then, the matriarch finally arrived with several young ladies, while Aunt Xie rushed over from another direction. Looking behind the matriarch, she finally saw that faint figure. Damn it, how worried she had been! Seeing her wearing a silk robe and a trench coat, she finally felt a little relieved. However, she was still very nervous about the upcoming marriage proposal.