Chapter 130: A Request

Chapter 130: A Request

Count Gu Chang's wife had hit one wall after another, her mood plummeting to its lowest.

"Ze'er is just a bit mischievous. In the capital, every household similar to ours has at least one or two naughty children. Why can't they accept Ze'er?"

Count Gu Chang was much more rational than his wife: "Is Ze'er just a bit mischievous? You should lower your expectations, my lady. A girl with good family background, character, appearance, and ability is not someone our son can easily match."

"I've already lowered my standards. I even invited some for tea whom I wouldn't have considered before, but as soon as Ze'er was mentioned, they pretended not to understand."

Count Gu Chang's wife felt humiliated whenever she thought about being rejected by people of far lower status.

"A forced melon is never sweet. If they don't want it, we can't force them," Count Gu Chang sighed, then suddenly remembered something. "On the Double Ninth Festival, I met the matriarch of the Duan family from the Imperial Horse Department. Didn't she hint at something? Did you not try to feel out the situation?"

Count Gu Chang's wife frowned instinctively: "Didn't we agree not to get involved with Miss Kou?"

Count Gu Chang dismissed her concern: "The Duan family is just Miss Kou's maternal relatives; it's not like you're asking to marry her. I remember that day there were two other girls around Ze'er's age, both quite attractive."

"But—"

"If you don't like them, then keep looking. Don't come complaining to me if you get rejected again."

Unwilling to give up, Count Gu Chang's wife invited two more ladies for tea, but eventually gave up.

It seemed they either had to wait a couple of years until the capital forgot about Ze'er's mischief on the Double Ninth Festival, or settle for the Shaoqing Mansion.

Count Gu Chang's words made his wife stop hesitating.

"Two years? Can you guarantee that Ze'er won't cause trouble again in these two years? What if he starts demanding to marry Miss Kou, and the whole capital knows about it? Should we agree or refuse?"

"You're right, my lord."

When the old matriarch received Count Gu Chang's wife's invitation, she was surprised.

On the Double Ninth Festival, the other party had avoided her probing. Why send an invitation now?

The Shaoqing Mansion and the Gu Chang Mansion had little interaction. The old matriarch didn't believe this invitation was purely for tea.

Indeed, the heir of the Gu Chang Mansion had recently caused a scandal, becoming the talk of the town. Count Gu Chang's wife was likely struggling to find a suitable match for her son and thus thought of the Shaoqing Mansion.

Understanding the situation, the old matriarch felt somewhat displeased.

Who likes to be scrutinized and criticized?

But thinking rationally, she couldn't bear to refuse.

Dai Ze was Count Gu Chang's only heir. Once her granddaughter married him, she would become the heir's wife. More importantly, the Gu Chang Mansion was related to King Qing. If that day ever came, the matriarch might even become a marchioness or even a duchess.

However, at this critical moment when the heir of the Gu Chang Mansion had lost face, a marriage between the Shaoqing Mansion and the Gu Chang Mansion would not sound good in terms of reputation. People would gossip that they were seeking wealth and honor at all costs.

Before meeting Count Gu Chang's wife, the old matriarch shared her concerns with Duan Shaoqing.

"Mother, once this storm passes, will the Gu Chang Mansion still be willing to lower themselves?"

"Fear gossip? Such idle talk will only last for a while. When that day comes, who would dare say anything bad?"

"Moreover, Jiao's divorce has greatly affected Yunhua and Yunling. Those of equal status might be hesitant. If we settle for less, what benefit would it bring to our family?"

Duan Shaoqing's words reassured the old matriarch, and she soon met Count Gu Chang's wife at a teahouse.

A stage was set up in the middle of the teahouse, and from the private room on the second floor, one could see the stage clearly. The singing from the stage effectively masked their conversation.

From Count Gu Chang's wife's words, the old matriarch confirmed her guess. From the old matriarch's smile, Count Gu Chang's wife understood her attitude.

Their next meeting was at the Qingfeng Temple.

There were many temples in the capital, and the Qingfeng Temple was originally an insignificant one. However, since the temple master, Qingfeng Daozhang, gained fame, the temple quickly prospered.

This time, the old matriarch brought her granddaughters, Duan Yunhua and Duan Yunling.

When the two parties "happened" to meet, unlike the coldness on the Double Ninth Festival, Count Gu Chang's wife carefully examined the two girls and spoke to them gently.

With Xin You's prior warning, Duan Yunling knew exactly what Count Gu Chang's wife meant. She answered each question with a single word, never raising her eyes, fearing to leave any impression.

Duan Yunhua, though somewhat spoiled, was not foolish. Realizing what this "chance encounter" meant, her heart raced.

Count Gu Chang's wife was choosing a daughter-in-law from her and her third younger sister!

She had seen the heir of the Gu Chang Mansion a few times, and he was quite handsome. As for his mischievous and licentious nature? Since her mother's divorce, she had experienced the coldness of the world over the past six months and no longer cared about such things.

Her parents appeared to be a loving couple in everyone's eyes, but in the end, a small incident led her father to abandon her mother without hesitation.

Without her mother's protection, she, the legitimate daughter, and her third younger sister were no different in the eyes of her grandmother and father. In fact, because her third younger sister was friends with Kou Qingqing, she was even less favored!

Countless nights, Duan Yunhua tossed and turned, hating those living under the same roof and her own powerlessness.

Now, an opportunity had come.

If she could become the heir's wife of the Gu Chang Mansion, most officials' daughters would show her respect. If King Qing became emperor, the Gu Chang Mansion would be the imperial in-laws. Her husband's licentiousness and incompetence didn't matter; as long as she played her role well in the Gu Chang Mansion, she would have everything.

She no longer wanted to endure the humiliation of being slapped by Kou Qingqing or being mocked by Duan Yunling, a daughter of a concubine.

She must seize this opportunity!

Duan Yunhua, driven by her desire, behaved differently from Duan Yunling, answering Count Gu Chang's wife's questions eagerly, trying to display all her cleverness and charm.

On the way back, Duan Yunhua and Duan Yunling shared the same carriage.

Duan Yunling sat in a corner, her eyes lowered and silent.

Duan Yunhua cast several glances her way but ultimately remained silent as well.

In the past, being compared to Duan Yunling would have been enough to infuriate her, but now she knew things were different; she couldn't afford to lose her temper before the matter was settled.

After reviewing the situation multiple times in her mind, Duan Yunhua's resolve steadied.

Her performance today was far better than that of the wooden third younger sister, and she would get what she wished for.

When Lady Count Gu Chang returned, she told Count Gu Chang, "I observed carefully, and although Third Miss Duan is a secondary daughter, she is quiet and composed, making her more suitable for Ze'er."

Count Gu Chang could hardly remember what Duan Yunhua and Duan Yunling looked like, only recalling that they were both quite attractive. To him, it made no difference which one became his daughter-in-law.

"Then we'll follow your judgment, my lady."

The old lady received an invitation from Lady Count Gu Chang, addressed to herself and Duan Yunling.