Chapter 484

Chapter 490: Complacency (Part 2)

Elevenniang could only smile helplessly.

Back in her room, she recounted the events to Lord Xu: "...I really don’t know why the Third Madam took a fancy to me—asking someone with no experience at all to be the matchmaker for Qin-ge." Her tone carried a hint of amusement as she tried to keep the matter light and casual.

Lord Xu chuckled. "No experience? Didn’t you arrange Zhenjie’s match? And the twelfth aunt’s? If you have no experience, who dares claim they do?"

"That’s different," Elevenniang argued. "I only made the introductions—whether it worked out or not depended on fate. But the Third Madam wants me to be the matchmaker—how would I know what amount of tea qualifies as a respectable gift? How many sets of clothes make for a substantial dowry? When I discuss these things with the Fang family’s matchmaker, am I supposed to bring Song Mama along and whisper to her after every sentence?"

Lord Xu found her words so amusing that he couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

A young maid entered with a bowl of medicinal soup.

Ignoring him, Elevenniang picked up the delicate porcelain bowl and drank it all in one go, then popped a salt-pickled olive into her mouth.

Lord Xu asked gently, "Are you feeling better now?" His expression was tender.

"Much better!" Elevenniang nodded with a smile.

His gaze softened even further.

Nanny Gu came in with Jin Geer, who had just been fed.

Lord Xu’s lips curved into a pleased smile as he carefully took the child into his arms.

Jin Geer immediately giggled, cooing excitedly at him.

Lord Xu kissed his son’s little cheek and sat on the kang, reminding Elevenniang, "Go and get ready now. Retire early tonight so you can visit Mother first thing tomorrow—since the Third Madam has this idea, she might rise early to plead her case to Mother. It’s better to tear down a temple than ruin a marriage. But with your health as it is, if Mother agrees, it’s awkward, and if she refuses, it’s also awkward… It would only put everyone in an awkward position."

Eleventh Miss had already thought of this.

She smiled and said, "I've already instructed the night-watch maids to keep an eye on Third Young Master's wife—no matter what, I must pay respects to Elder Madam before her!"

"What a clever scheme!" Lord Xu grinned.

Eleventh Miss turned and headed to the dressing room.

Jin Geer gurgled excitedly in his father's arms.

"You're a little trickster too!" Lord Xu chuckled, kissing his son again before carrying him off the kang and pacing leisurely about the chamber. He paused now and then—admiring the potted asparagus fern on the flower stand, examining the set of five interconnected red lanterns hanging in the hall, or studying the jade grape bonsai on the long table.

Jin Geer quieted down, his round eyes wide with curiosity as he looked around.

Meanwhile, Third Young Master and his wife had already gone to bed. "Eleventh Miss refused!" his wife frowned, her face clouded with displeasure. "What should we do now?"

Third Young Master was unfazed. "Why worry? Since his wife won’t agree, just ask your eldest niece-in-law to be the matchmaker. Didn’t you say she’s resourceful and competent? With her handling things, you can rest easy." Weariness from the journey made him yawn. "You should sleep early too. When you greet Mother tomorrow, remember to mention this." He muttered as he lay down, "The Fang family specifically invited Madam Liu, the wife of the Ministry of Justice’s Vice Minister, as their matchmaker. Now that we’re in the capital, we ought to visit Madam Liu soon to avoid seeming insincere. Anyway, County Magistrate Fang is quite decent, and you said his daughter is very pretty—unlike the magistrate’s daughter, who’s stout and rather simple-looking..." His voice trailed off, and by the time his wife leaned over, he was already snoring softly.

His wife was furious.

She shook him. "Don’t fall asleep yet! I still have more to say!"

Roused by her, Third Young Master opened his bleary eyes. "Whatever it is, we can talk tomorrow!"

"Third Young Master!" she raised her voice. "This concerns Brother Qin’s future—are you going to take it seriously or not?"

Startled, he widened his eyes. "Of course I am! Speak, I’m listening!"

Only then did her expression soften slightly. Lowering her voice, she said, "Back then, if the magistrate hadn’t given you a poor evaluation, why would I have gone begging to his wife? If I hadn’t gone to her, how would I have met County Magistrate Fang’s wife?" At this, she gritted her teeth, recalling the magistrate’s wife’s disdainful sidelong glances. "If she had treated me with respect and spoken properly, why would I have bothered chatting with County Magistrate Fang’s wife? If I hadn’t talked to her, we wouldn’t have brought up the children’s marriage—County Magistrate Fang’s wife wouldn’t have complained about his high standards, keeping their daughter unmarried until sixteen, and I wouldn’t have mentioned Brother Qin, saying Elder Madam had summoned him back to Yanjing to arrange his marriage personally..."

These words were nothing new to Third Young Master. His wife had gone to seek help from the magistrate's wife, yet still cared about saving face, which ended up angering the magistrate's wife. After seeing off County Magistrate Fang's wife, the magistrate's wife maliciously suggested that since County Magistrate Fang's elder brother was not only a fellow candidate with the magistrate but also a close friend for many years, it would be better to ask County Magistrate Fang to intervene rather than relying on her to whisper in the magistrate's ear—after all, matters among men might not be swayed by pillow influence. She added that County Magistrate Fang was upright and would never intervene in such matters, but he had one flaw: he was henpecked. He never dared to disobey Madam Fang, who was principled and virtuous, never meddling in official affairs. In the past, this would have been impossible, but now Madam Fang had a sore point—her eldest daughter's marriage... If the two families formed a marriage alliance, things would be different... She also sneered, saying things like, "Your family is of mediocre family status, and the Fangs might disdain your family."

Back then, when the magistrate's daughter—with her mediocre looks and temperament—wanted to marry Siqin, she had acted condescendingly. How much more so the Fang family, a family of scholarly repute with a sterling reputation among the upright literati? No matter how outstanding Siqin was, without the imperial examination honors these literati valued, he wouldn't be considered good enough—this was a lesson the couple had learned after years of futile attempts to arrange marriages for their children.

His wife knew the magistrate's wife was taking the opportunity to humiliate her and returned home, her face flushed crimson.

Yet within days, rumors spread that "County Magistrate Xu sought to marry his eldest son to County Magistrate Fang's eldest daughter, only to be brusquely rejected by Madam Fang."

The couple knew exactly who had spread these rumors but could do nothing about it.

This led to subsequent interactions between the two families... And when his wife saw County Magistrate Fang's eldest daughter, she genuinely developed the desire to propose a marriage. Even more unexpectedly, things progressed smoothly—both regarding his official evaluation and his son's marriage.

Third Young Master closed his eyes.

In all fairness, he was very satisfied with this match, whether considering the in-laws' character or the bride's background.

With the eldest son's marriage settled well, the second son's would naturally follow smoothly.

He didn’t want any mishaps—he wanted the bride brought home as soon as possible!

Meanwhile, his wife, leaning against the headrest, didn’t notice her husband’s subtle reaction. She continued, "I’ve been thinking carefully these past few days. Though the Fang family belongs to the upright literati, even scholars must eat and dress, right? Besides, the bride’s uncle is already a has-been. The Fangs agreed to this match surely because they were drawn to the prestige of Yongping Marquis's household. Now, before the marriage is even finalized, people are already saying the Fang daughter is marrying beneath her. If the wedding happens, how will our Siqin maintain authority over his wife? Eleven Miss has always been eloquent. If we could ask her to act as matchmaker, first, when negotiating the dowry, our family certainly wouldn’t lose out—we might even pressure the Fangs a bit. Second, it would show the Fangs that our Siqin is the elder madam’s the apple of her eye. That Fang Yu would have to think twice." Her tone grew slightly excited. "Third Young Master, let me tell you—last time I attended Magistrate Li’s wedding banquet, I heard him say the Fangs were preparing ten thousand silver taels for their daughter’s dowry. I don’t know if it’s true, but Magistrate Li’s wife is usually honest. I think it’s credible. Don’t you think if Eleven Miss knew our daughter-in-law had such a dowry, she’d think highly of her?"

After speaking, she waited a long time but received no response from her husband.

She leaned over—Third Young Master was already asleep.

She shook him a few times. "Third Young Master, Third Young Master..."

He merely turned over, sinking deeper into sleep.

"He always falls asleep when discussing serious matters!" Grumbling, she blew out the lamp and muttered in the dark, "Siqin is still the eldest grandson. Tomorrow, I must visit the elder madam."

Early the next morning, Qiuyu helped Eleven Miss freshen up. "Third Madam hasn’t left yet!"

Eleven Miss nodded, ate some porridge, and kissed her son, who was playing with Lord Xu on the bed, before heading to the elder madam’s quarters.

"You’re here so early today?" The elder madam had someone bring her goat’s milk to drink.

Eleven Miss didn’t hide the truth and explained Third Madam’s request for her to act as matchmaker for Xu Siqin: "...As his aunt, I should help, but the timing is truly unfortunate."

"She’s just obsessed with face," the elder madam reassured her. "Don’t take it to heart. Even if you can’t be the matchmaker, when the time comes, his wife can step in, fulfilling her wish. As for the matchmaking, if she asks me, I’ll invite Madam Huang to assist. She’s quite silver-tongued."

Eleven Miss felt relieved.

The elder madam inquired about her health and, learning she was gradually recovering, repeatedly urged her to rest well before inviting her to stay for breakfast.

Just as they finished eating, Third Madam arrived.

Seeing Eleven Miss there, she was surprised and smiled. "I’ve been away for three years—I didn’t realize the household customs had changed. His wife no longer comes to greet Mother at the usual time, a quarter to seven [dawn]!"

Eleven Miss merely smiled without responding.

The elder madam, however, asked warmly, "Have you eaten breakfast yet?"

"Not yet!" Third Madam sat beside the elder madam. "It’s been so long since I’ve seen you, Mother—I thought I’d come to mooch a meal!"