Chapter 21: High Esteem for a Bride

◎ The moment Li Xiang laid eyes on our daughter, he was smitten and couldn't move. ◎

In the third courtyard of the Wei Duke's residence —

Yu Sanlang had been delayed by some business today, and by the time he returned from his duties, it was already late, with dinner already served. His wife and youngest son were seated at the table, awaiting him.

No sooner had he stepped inside than his wife pulled him aside before he could even taste the warm food.

"How can you still have an appetite?" she asked.

Yu Sanlang put down his chopsticks. "Why can't I?"

"You clearly don't care about our daughter. Today, the authorities sent people to the Hu residence to evict them, ordering the family to vacate their home. It was none other than Li Xiang, the legitimate youngest son of the Ru Yang Marquis, who led the operation."

"The Old Lady summoned me today and spoke to me for quite some time. She even gave me a rare kind expression. Can you guess what she said?"

Yu Sanlang understood his mother well and knew what was on her mind, but he was puzzled. "Didn't the marriage proposal from the Ru Yang Marquis household fall through after Lian'er left the residence? Furthermore, relations between our two households became strained. Now, why is Mother advocating for Lian'er to return to the Hu residence and remarry into the Ru Yang Marquis household?" He furrowed his brow as he finished speaking.

"That's because my daughter is blessed with beauty and grace. Li Xiang was smitten the moment he laid eyes on her. Initially, he came to provoke trouble, but he ended up proposing marriage on the spot, promising never to take a concubine and to marry only our daughter. It's just unfortunate that Lian'er has her heart set on Hua Ji and refused his offer."

"Thus, when the old lady saw an opportunity, she asked me to visit the Hua residence personally to persuade Lian'er to put aside her concerns for the Hua family and return home to await a proposal from the Ru Yang Marquis House."

"While the old lady's intentions for the Wei Duke House are genuine, there's also a selfish motive. But she does have a point. With the new emperor on the throne and the Empress Consort in favor, the power of the Ru Yang Marquis House is formidable. If Lian'er were to marry into that family, she would lead a life of luxury. Anything would be better than wasting her time at the Hua residence. When I heard about the soldiers coming to the door today, I was terrified, fearing that Lian'er might be mistreated."

"Husband, imagine if our Lian'er were part of the Ru Yang Marquis House. Would those soldiers dare to cause her trouble? No one would dare to give her a hard time even if she attended banquets. With her stunning looks, she deserves a life of fine clothes and rich food. It's not too late to reconsider and remarry while there's still time."

Yu Sanlang could no longer bear to eat. He put down the spoon he had picked up to sip soup and sternly lectured, "A gentleman understands righteousness, while a petty man understands profit. How can we let Lian'er become an unfaithful, disloyal, and dishonorable person for the sake of gain?"

"How could she live with herself, enjoying wealth and luxury, knowing she went back on her word? Nowadays, people all over the city praise Lian'er for her noble character and loyalty. If she reneges again, choosing wealth by marrying the Ru Yang Marquis House, how will she face others in the future? How will she hold her head high?"

"You may not feel ashamed, but I do!"

As a mother, Yu Niang only wished for her daughter to have a comfortable life and a reliable partner. She hadn't considered the consequences deeply. Upon hearing her husband's words, she felt ashamed. The previous incident had been so public, and if Lian'er remarried, especially to the influential Ru Yang Marquis House, how would society perceive her?

Wouldn't they label her as vain and deceitful?

Frustrated, Yu Niang slapped the table. "Has the old lady genuinely overlooked this aspect, or is she deliberately ignoring it? Is she willing to sacrifice Lian'er's well-being for the sake of the entire Wei Duke House?"

Yu Sanlang spoke sternly, "Don't go to the Huas and embarrass us. I'll talk to Grandmother about this."

"Did you send the silver notes today?" If they were to move out, they would need to find another place to live. All the manors and estates of the East Yuan Marquis had been seized by the emperor, leaving them nowhere to go. Finding a new residence would require money. Despite his lack of interest in material possessions, he knew that life in the capital was manageable except for the exorbitant housing prices. Many commoners could not afford a house even if they saved their entire lives, forcing them to share large compounds.

At this, Yu Niang sighed. "Lian'er has matured. She understands more now and cares for her parents. She knows we don't have much money, so she didn't dare ask for it. She even returned the money to Little Yu Shi."

Little Yu Shi raised his hand to report, "Father, I secretly put the money on the table for Sister, but I didn't expect her to be so clever. She put it back in my clothes, and I didn't even notice!"

Yu Niang glared at her husband. "The eldest branch controls the family finances and has no shortage of wealth. Second Uncle's wife comes from a rich family, so they also have no financial worries. Only our branch is poverty-stricken. Grandmother doesn't favor you; the household only provides food, clothing, and shelter. No additional allowances are given. Your meager salary isn't even enough for tea expenses, let alone supporting the family. If it weren't for my management of a few dowry shops over the years, we wouldn't have saved even a few thousand taels. Now, when our daughter needs our support, you, as a father, hold a minor position with no power or money, unable to lend a helping hand."

Yu Sanlang fell silent for a moment before putting down his chopsticks and walking out with his hands behind his back.

Yu Niang was taken aback, staring at her husband's departing figure. Suddenly, she felt regret and realized that she might have spoken too harshly.

Her husband was clearly talented and upright, yet he had been overlooked for promotion. He had been a sixth-rank official for years, while Second Uncle, who lacked any real knowledge or accomplishments, had become a fifth-rank official solely because his wife had donated a large sum of money. Their own master remained stagnant, hovering on the outskirts of officialdom, dealing with books instead of political affairs. How could he achieve anything or advance in rank?

She knew how much her husband had endured over the years, so how could she say such hurtful words?

Yu Niang quickly chased after him, and Little Yu Shi followed suit.

Yu Sanlang hadn't gone far, only standing in the courtyard, gazing at the sky.

Yu Niang tugged on his sleeve. "My lord, don't be angry... I apologize. My outburst wasn't aimed at you; it was just that I've been feeling frustrated with life. You're not receiving the recognition you deserve from the court, our third branch is suppressed within the household, and now Lian'er is in such a predicament. In my haste, I let my tongue run wild."

"I promise you, no matter what kind of person you are, whether you hold a high rank or not, even if you don't hold any position at all, you will always be my good husband, and a wonderful father to our children, wouldn't you agree, Shi?"

Little Yu Shi also hurriedly hugged his father's leg to console him. "Dad is the best dad! Don't be mad, Dad. Mom spoke badly, I'll scold her." With that, he playfully patted his mother. Yu Niang pretended to cry out in pain.

Yu Sanlang lifted his youngest son into his arms. Little Yu Shi took the opportunity to cling tightly around his neck, a rare moment since his father was usually strict and seldom held him like this. He had to cherish it!

Sighing, he said, "I wasn't angry. Madam speaks the truth. In a few days, find another opportunity to visit Lian'er and personally hand over the banknote. Since Lady Elder wants you to go personally, you can use this as an excuse. She won't criticize you for it."

"I'll talk to her again in a few days."

Yu Niang's eyes lit up. This way, she could openly visit her daughter without having to rely on her son to deliver the banknote. She would also have the chance to speak with Lian'er and offer her advice. These days, she had no idea how Lian'er was faring in the Hu residence, whether she could handle the social intricacies and household affairs, or if she was eating and sleeping well. As a mother, her heart pondered these matters every day... Being able to visit in person would be ideal.

She agreed on the spot, and the family happily returned indoors to continue their meal.

That night, Yu Lian couldn't quite fall asleep. After dinner, she was lost in thought.

Considering her father-in-law's and grandmother's health, as well as the issue of relocating, she knew that finding or purchasing a home in the bustling capital was no easy feat, given its high prices and scarcity.

With one hand supporting her left cheek, Yu Lian sat at a table with a sheet of paper before her. Lost in thought, she doodled aimlessly. Unwittingly, she ended up with a childlike drawing, using black ink to sketch simple lines depicting mountains, water, trees, and a small house. Staring at it, she chuckled and added a sun to the sky, then drew a small plot of land in front of the house, with tender sprouts emerging from the planted vegetables.

The sight brought a subtle sense of relief to her heart.

Initially, she had thought that everything would fall into place after marriage. However, reality often proved harsher than anticipated. She hadn't expected her father-in-law's health to be so fragile, nor the urgency from the authorities. To truly live the life she desired, these two issues needed resolution.

Looking at the drawing, Yu Lian recalled her past as a naive newcomer struggling in the workforce. Didn't she start with challenges and steadily make progress through perseverance?

Where there's a will, there's a way. Difficulties were but stepping stones, and solutions outnumbered problems. With patience and careful consideration, she was confident in finding a way out. Could things get any worse than they already were?

After this reflection, she put down her pen, extinguished the lamp, and returned to bed for the night.

The next day, Yu Lian noticed the drawing missing from the table, but she didn't give it much thought. As the spring chill had given way to warmth, she had left the window open while sleeping; perhaps the wind had carried it away.

Buoyed by her self-motivation and plans from the previous day, Yu Lian woke up energized. She sought out Yi Po's husband and son, instructing them to forego their usual tasks and assist her with some errands.

"Powerful and wealthy families reside in the northern and eastern parts of the city, making it difficult to secure properties there without connections, and they're also exorbitantly priced. We can rule those out. Today, I want you to explore the southern and western districts, inquire about the cost of a two-compound courtyard. Smaller ones would suffice, considering our modest family size. Additionally, visit the outskirts of the city for comparison. If you find something suitable, return promptly to report back to me, so we can decide quickly."

The two servants, swift on their feet, left the mansion promptly to attend to the task.

Yi Po expressed her concerns, "The southern part of the city is relatively safer. But the western district is inhabited by people from all walks of life, making it unsuitable for our large family. Our esteemed matriarch, lord, lady, and you, Lady Yu Lian, all come from noble backgrounds and would not tolerate the noise and disturbance. I've heard that the houses in the southern district are occupied by somewhat affluent commoners, but they come at a higher price. One would need more than ten thousand taels of silver to acquire one."

"If we were to move to the outskirts, a few thousand taels could buy a decent-sized property. However, the security there is not as good as within the city, so we'd need to hire bodyguards to protect the estate."

Yu Lian was astonished by the exorbitant cost of housing!

She thought about the two thousand taels of silver hidden in her small pouch and fell silent.

Including the existing cash in the mansion and the money from selling miscellaneous items, they wouldn't even reach three thousand taels.

Before her marriage, she had imagined that this sum could sustain her for decades if she didn't spend it elsewhere. Now, she couldn't afford a house. It seemed she would have to consider the modest dwellings on the outskirts.

"..."

Unconsciously, she twirled the bracelet on her wrist.

Noticing this, Yi Po hurriedly said, "This cannot be sold, my lady. You might not know, but this bracelet has been passed down through generations in the Hua family, only given to the head mistresses. It's always been with the old madam, and she never even gave it to the lady. Now that she has bestowed it upon you, it signifies her trust in you and her intention to entrust the management of the household to you."

Yu Lian looked down at the delicate and lustrous bracelet in her hand, aware that it was a valuable item, but she had never imagined its origin would be so significant. Recalling the day her grandmother gave her the bracelet without mentioning its importance, even encouraging her to marry someone else, she sighed.

"I'll go see my grandmother. Inform me when they return; this matter cannot wait," she said.

"Madam, don't worry. I'll have the gatekeeper keep an eye out. He'll come to you as soon as they're back," the servant assured her.

Just as Yu Lian took a few steps out of the courtyard, she saw the gatekeeper leading her mother from afar.

Regarding the update notice: Due to my health not being in the best condition recently, I've been adjusting my updates according to how I feel. Now that I'm feeling better, I've decided to start charging for the novel tomorrow (V-day). On V-day, there will be a 10,000-word update, and I'll maintain a stable schedule, beginning daily updates. Thank you for your support, my darlings! I love you all.