Chapter 107: Chaos Ensues as a Marriage Proposal Is Delivered (First Update)

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At the Marquis Dingyuan’s residence, since Wu Qingyu hadn’t sent anyone to deliver the news, Madam Meng remained unaware of his sudden return. Lately, she rarely left the house, spending most of her time in the southern courtyard, claiming to be arranging dowries for Wu Qingqiong’s marriage.

Early one morning, the servants began moving items out of the Jingchun Study. The operation was so large that it was impossible to avoid Madam Meng entirely. However, since the matriarch had always forbidden her from interfering in Wu Tan’s affairs, although it was odd to see such a commotion early in the day with things being moved out, she only asked casually and didn’t press further.

Upon hearing the news, the matriarch hurriedly summoned Madam Zhou to take a look.

The items were being relocated from the Jingchun Study to the front courtyard garden. Some of the trunks looked worn and shabby from long storage. Wu Qingyu had instructed Steward Qin to hastily clear out other boxes. Chang Tai and Cheng Cheng watched as the staff replaced the old trunks with new ones and carefully affixed the Marquis Dingyuan residence’s red seals.

The red silk and other festive materials had been hurriedly procured. Two accountants, sweating profusely, were drafting the gift list on site.

When Madam Zhou arrived, she was startled: “These… aren’t these the late lady’s dowry items? What is the second young mistress planning?”

Even if they were merely recounting the inventory, there was no need for such a frantic, grand-scale operation!

Chang Cheng and Chang Tai exchanged glances but kept their heads down, refusing to engage.

Madam Zhou searched around and found Steward Qin moving two large boxes out from the main storeroom. She quickly approached: “Steward Qin, what’s going on? Did the second young mistress order this? Isn’t she supposed to be at the Lin Residence?”

Having worked all morning and covered in sweat, Steward Qin wiped his brow hurriedly.

He too thought the two young masters were being reckless, but since Wu Qingyu had stationed Chang Tai to watch his men and forbid them from sending news to the rear courtyard, and since the items belonged to Wu Tan rather than the household, he was at a loss to intervene.

Now that Madam Zhou had arrived, he quickly reported, “The second young master returned last night. Early this morning, he said he was going to propose marriage and borrowed the second young mistress’s items as betrothal gifts!”

He paused, lowering his voice as he warned, “Don’t tell the madam!”

Madam Zhou was momentarily overwhelmed by the flood of information but understood that the second young master’s purpose was to propose marriage...

Keeping this from Madam Meng, and even the matriarch unaware?

Such a thing was unheard of!

She hurried back to inform the matriarch. Chang Tai and Cheng Cheng dared not stop her, so they hastened to have the staff move the prepared items out.

Having just finished breakfast with Wu Qingrui, and after sending someone to inquire if Wu Tan wished to come over—learning that she had gone to the Lin Residence—along with the rumors stirred up by Jiang Pingzhi, the matriarch had already heard the gist of Lin Yanyao’s scandal and was sympathizing with the Lin family’s troubles. Upon hearing Madam Zhou’s report, she was momentarily baffled: “Qingyu has returned? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

Madam Zhou replied, “My lady, this is an emergency. Don’t worry about that now. The second young master emptied out the late lady’s dowry storage at the second young mistress’s place, saying it’s for the betrothal gift and is about to set off to propose marriage.”

“This is so sudden—propose marriage to whom?” The matriarch was flustered and quickly got up, tying her shoes. “Didn’t he only return last night?”

“Exactly!” Madam Zhou was equally anxious.

The matriarch entrusted Wu Qingrui to his wet nurse and rushed out, muttering, “This child, what nonsense is he causing now!”

They hurried to the front courtyard, where the items had already been counted and moved out. Just then, Wu Qingyu returned from urgently purchasing more materials, all festooned with festive red silk. Dozens of loads were set up directly in the alley before the residence’s gates.

The matriarch’s hair stood on end as she hurried to the gate.

“Grandmother!” Seeing her emerge, Wu Qingyu immediately signaled Chang Tai outside, “Go ahead! Take them first; I’ll follow shortly!”

Acknowledging the order, Chang Tai signaled the group to depart swiftly before the matriarch could react.

The matriarch was beside herself and was about to send someone to stop them when Wu Qingyu cheerfully ascended the steps and interrupted, bowing respectfully, “I came back too late last night to pay my respects…”

Before he finished, the matriarch slapped him twice on the chest, grabbed his ear, pulled him inside, and scolded quietly, “What nonsense are you up to? There are limits to this reckless behavior, and you even moved out your eldest aunt’s dowry! Where is Tan’er? Is she joining you in this mischief?”

Since Wu Qingyu could move items from Wu Tan’s courtyard, it was clear she had consented as well.

The matriarch had always known these two were troublesome, but never imagined they’d be so outrageous together.

Seeing the procession already out of the alley, she blushed with anger. “Call everyone back immediately! If you want to marry, you must discuss it with me and your parents first. What kind of well-bred child acts like this?”

Still fuming, she slapped him twice more.

Wu Qingyu admitted that the matriarch wasn’t unkind to him—she favored his older brother more—but overall, she was a fairly kind grandmother.

He had always competed with his older brother, so he hadn’t been close to her before and bore no real ill will.

Being scolded and slapped now didn’t faze him; grinning, he teased, “Grandmother, I’m not causing trouble. I hid this from my mother because I was afraid she’d make a fuss. But the one I chose, you must be satisfied with!”

The matriarch was beyond listening. Before she could respond, Wu Qingyu slipped away.

“Grandmother, I’m off!” His agility was beyond her control; like an eel, he wriggled free and dashed out, mounting his horse and riding off at full speed.

The matriarch stomped inside in frustration.

When Wu Qingyu returned with the three offerings and other betrothal necessities, neighbors had already spotted them. A wedding at the Marquis Dingyuan residence was quite the event, and curious onlookers gathered at the gate.

Unwilling to cause a public scene, the matriarch reluctantly ordered Steward Qin, “Hurry and follow them, see what’s going on!”

What on earth were these two children doing?

She then called a pageboy, “Go to the Lin Residence and bring the second young mistress back immediately!”

Unfortunately, Wu Qinglin was away, and with Wu Qingyu’s temper and stubbornness, no steward could stop him now. Even if she sent guards to intercept—

The matriarch knew her grandson well; he would fight anyone blocking him in the street without hesitation.

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This matter was truly beyond her control!

Outside, the onlookers didn’t understand the situation but cheered from the gate.

The matriarch felt like a mute swallowing bitter medicine, utterly exhausted and overwhelmed. She forced a smile and retreated indoors.

Cheng Cheng, realizing the trouble, was tiptoeing, preparing to slip into the rear courtyard when the matriarch shouted sharply, “Stop right there!”

Startled, Cheng Cheng turned around, stammering, “Madam...”

“Explain yourself!” The matriarch opened her mouth to scold but noticed some servants watching curiously, so she swallowed her anger and said sternly, “Come with me!”

These children! Each and every one of them was utterly unreasonable!

Meanwhile, Madam Meng only heard the news later and immediately became restless.

“Wasn’t that child in Yuanzhou City? When did he come back?”

“It seems it was last midnight,” Shurong replied. “Madam, the second young master has already left with the betrothal gifts. The matriarch chased after him at the gate but couldn’t stop him. I heard they nearly emptied the second young mistress’s private storage. Judging by the scale, this isn’t a simple betrothal for some small family’s daughter.”

“That child is utterly reckless!” Madam Meng was furious. “He only just returned...”

She honestly couldn’t understand how Wu Qingyu could return and immediately take such a major step on his own.

But if even the matriarch couldn’t stop him, what could she do?

Moreover—

Why was her son mixed up with Wu Tan? That girl was so harsh and temperamental; why would she lend out her private storage?

It was no wonder Madam Meng was slow to receive news; her mind was entirely focused on Wu Qingqiong’s marriage, paying little attention to outside affairs. Had she heard about Lin Yanyao earlier, she might have connected the dots.

But for now, she was still in the dark.

In the end, uneasy and worried, she ordered, “Send someone to follow them and see what’s going on! Honestly, none of these children give me a moment’s peace.”

Meanwhile, at the Lin Residence, Wu Qingyu led the wedding procession with fanfare, turning into the alley.

Because the crowd kept scattering to both sides, Mrs. Jiang’s carriage struggled to move forward and became trapped in the alley.

She had intended to leave quickly, slipping into the carriage with a disheveled face. So embarrassed and flustered, she hadn’t even noticed Jiang Yuzhi hadn’t boarded.

But the situation worsened as townsfolk scrambled for wedding candies and caused a ruckus, effectively trapping them there.

“What’s going on!” Jiang Lishi, having endured the day’s insults, finally lost patience inside the carriage and slammed the table with a bang.

Madam Huang was equally confused when she heard excited shouts outside: “It’s the Lin family! Great joy for the Lin family! The old prime minister is joyful, the Lin family’s young lady is joyful...”

Eager well-wishers had rushed over to offer congratulations.

Jiang Lishi and Madam Huang exchanged glances, wondering if they had misheard; but the festive drums were unmistakably approaching the alley, so they had to believe it.

Madam Huang grumbled, peeking out the window, “It must be the second madam of the Lin family trying to save face, bringing some lowly youth from a humble background, hoping to force an honor-saving marriage like this!”

Jiang Lishi had not thought so far initially but now found it plausible.

After all, Li had said herself she’d rather have her daughter marry a common laborer than enter the Jiang family.

At first, Jiang Lishi felt some guilt toward Lin Yanyao and her mother for snatching the engagement and then backing out, but after Li’s repeated humiliations, she now thought Li was overreaching and excessive.

If she had felt sympathy for Lin Yanyao before, now it was tinged with a hint of schadenfreude. She sneered, “She’s the one who can’t see reason, insisting on pushing her daughter into the fire just to save face. Who else is to blame?”

With Lin Yanyao’s scandal and damaged reputation, Jiang Lishi, as someone who had been through similar, knew all too well—

No man could tolerate that.

Even if Li had used wealth and Lin family influence to find a pure but poor suitor for Lin Yanyao, it would always remain a thorn in any man’s heart.

Once Lin Yanyao married, she would no longer be part of the Lin family, and when Li could no longer protect her, what good could she expect?

Madam Huang said nothing but strained her neck to watch for a long moment, sensing something was amiss—

The betrothal procession looked too grand, not something the Lin family could have hastily arranged.

At the Lin family gate, upon hearing the betrothal gifts were arriving, Madam Li was skeptical—

Who would propose at such a critical moment? Surely not some unscrupulous scoundrel or fallen noble trying to ingratiate themselves with the Lins?

Her heart tightened, and she hurriedly excused herself from Hu Tianming, “Lord Hu, I’m sorry for the neglect...”

Hu Tianming, also troubled by the Lin family affair, understood and said, “Second madam, don’t worry about it!”

Madam Li rushed out to check the situation but suddenly remembered something and turned back to instruct Lin Yanyao, “You go inside quickly. I’ll handle things here.”

No matter what happened to herself, she couldn’t let her daughter face more chaos.

Lin Yanyao, uneasy about the situation and anxious, nodded. Even if Wu Qingyu was here to propose, it would be improper for her to watch openly.

“Okay.”

Madam Li paid her little mind, called a few guards, and hurried out, ready to chase off any riffraff.

“Tan’er, let’s go in.” Lin Yanyao nervously squeezed Wu Tan’s hand.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yuzhi was also wondering who was proposing outside, lost in thought and not planning to leave.

Wu Tan glanced at her and said, “You go in first. I’ll wait here a bit longer.”

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“But—” Lin Yanyao felt uneasy, afraid of being alone with her restless thoughts.

Wu Tan nudged her, and only then did she notice Jiang Yuzhi still standing outside, frowning, “My aunt came back—was it her idea to persuade you?”

Judging by the timing, Jiang Lishi had definitely been stopped midway.

And she had brought Jiang Yuzhi along. It was obvious.

“She?” Wu Tan sneered, unimpressed. “You’re giving her too much credit. If she had any brains, she wouldn’t have been so foolish as to be dragged into this by Li Xuner and Zhou Changyin.”

Lin Yanyao thought for a moment, “Was the heir of the Pingguo Duke’s residence behind this?”

“Doesn’t seem like it,” Wu Tan pondered. “If anyone in the Pingguo Duke’s household had thought of this earlier, Jiang Lishi wouldn’t have suffered that loss in the first place. I suspect the duke’s heir went to seek advice from the Empress during morning court today.”

Lin Yanyao gasped, “You mean, this plan might have come from the Empress herself?”

Second best, to preserve the greater good!

Actually, if the Lin family hadn’t known that Jiang Pingzhi had schemed against Lin Yanyao, and if Jiang Lishi hadn’t proposed taking a concubine when she first came—

The Empress had underestimated the Lin family’s pride and integrity. Otherwise, if it were some other noble family, given the daughter’s condition, they’d probably accept such an arrangement.

The Empress’s intention was good, but living deep within the inner palace, she hadn’t grasped all the details and connections.

The betrothal party was already visible at the alley’s entrance. Wu Tan said no more, “Go inside quickly. I’ll stay here and watch.”

“Okay.” Lin Yanyao nodded and was about to enter when Wu Tan suddenly recalled something, grabbed her, and mischievously asked, “Is Jiang Yuzhi brave?”

“Ah?” Lin Yanyao was startled, unable to respond immediately.

Wu Tan pushed her behind the screen wall, then turned around with a grin to find Hu Tianming intently watching her.

“Hehe—” Wu Tan had forgotten he was still there and knew he must have overheard her conversation with Lin Yanyao. But since she was thick-skinned, she just smiled and ran off to chase Jiang Lishi.

Jiang Yuzhi, who had been daydreaming about the commotion, saw Wu Tan suddenly run out and, curious about who dared propose to the Lin family at such a moment, followed down the steps to investigate.

Meanwhile, Wu Qingyu approached on horseback but was blocked by the goods piled outside and Jiang family’s carriage before reaching the Lin residence gate.

Inside the carriage, Madam Huang recognized him but only faintly as a familiar noble youth. She ducked back inside and said to Jiang Lishi, “Madam, something feels off. The one who came—”

She couldn’t quite find the words.

Outside, Wu Qingyu called loudly, “Is that the Pingguo Duke’s carriage ahead? You’re blocking my way. Please move aside!”

Such arrogance and rudeness!

Jiang Lishi’s anger flared, and seeing her scowl, Madam Huang leaned out again, irritated: “We’re about to leave. You’re the ones blocking us. We only have one carriage; you should move back and let us pass first. It’s easier for everyone! Who are you to be so ill-mannered?”

Mounted high on his horse and visibly pleased with himself, Wu Qingyu smiled, “Our family is celebrating a joyful event today—a major occasion. In weddings and funerals, it’s never acceptable to backtrack. So today, you must give way!”

Though his procession had only just entered the alley, there was indeed an unwritten rule—

Pedestrians always made way for those holding weddings or funerals.

Wu Qingyu’s words sparked cheers among the gathered crowd, “Exactly! When there’s a wedding, the betrothal gifts don’t turn back. Even if it’s the Duke’s carriage, you can’t block them. Step aside!”

Jiang Lishi was furious but, relying on her status, couldn’t confront him personally.

Wu Qingyu refused to yield, and Jiang’s coachmen had no choice.

Yet the problem was—

Although they could exit the alley from the other end, it was blocked by betrothal gifts the Lin family had placed. They couldn’t leave that way either.

Wu Qingyu waved his hand, “Put down our goods. Clear the junk blocking the road ahead immediately. The young master insists on passing this way today; no one is to interfere.”

His words carried a veiled threat, and the crowd cheered again.

Wu family servants set down their loads and helped clear the mess outside the Lin residence. Some townsfolk also volunteered to assist, taking the Jiang family’s belongings away through the other side of the alley without disturbing the wedding procession.

Wu Qingyu ignored Jiang’s people and, taking advantage of their distraction, dismounted and walked forward.

At that moment, Madam Li burst out from the gate with a dozen guards, standing ready in defense.

She hadn’t heard the quarrel between Wu Qingyu and the Jiang family, only the repeated cheers and the rush to move items blocking the alley.

Her heart pounded wildly. Then she saw Wu Qingyu, dressed in a moonlight brocade robe and newly groomed, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers.

Puzzled, Wu Qingyu bowed properly and said, “I am Wu Qingyu of the Marquis Dingyuan residence, long admiring your family’s daughter, Miss Yanyao. Today, I bring these betrothal gifts to formally propose and hope that Madam Lin and the elders of your household will consent. Should I be fortunate enough to wed Miss Yanyao, I vow to cherish her and never betray her.”

—End of excerpt—

[Author’s Note: The story will continue with further updates. Please do not repost without permission.]