Chapter 108: Xu Feixin

Chapter 108 Xu Feixin

The eldest daughter of Chen Yuhu’s third younger sister, her formal name is Xu Feixin, and her childhood name is Yao Yao.

She couldn't bring herself to smile.

While she could brush off others, she couldn’t bring herself to use those same evasive words with Mother Chen.

How could Mother Chen not know about the situation in the Marquis’s household?

Offending the Xu family was one thing, but displeasing Mother Chen was another.

Chen Yuhu smiled evasively and dodged the question, “Does Mother miss her granddaughter?”

“I haven’t met Yao Yao yet.”

“From what you say, Mother, this seems like a good match, but matters of marriage are not something I can decide alone.”

“Hmm! That’s true. You should go back and discuss it with Marquis Lin.”

Chen Yuhu smiled placatingly.

She didn’t stay long before leaving.

She sent someone to inform her second sister-in-law but didn’t visit in person.

She hurried off as if she couldn’t wait to escape.

After Chen Yuhu left, an elderly maidservant served Mother Chen a cup of tea.

“Second Young Lady probably isn’t willing.”

Mother Chen took the teacup and said calmly, “I know.”

“She and Yu Song haven’t been in touch for years. A rift had formed between them long ago, and I’m aware of it. I know what I’m doing is unfair.”

“But Yu Song has been married far away for so long, and Yao Yao is her only eldest daughter. I can’t bear to refuse her.”

“Chen Yuhu and Yu Song are twins. Back when marriage prospects were being considered, it was Chen Yuhu who said she liked the Xu family first.”

“As the elder sister, she should have had first choice, but Yu Song schemed to make the Xu family pick her instead.”

“That’s why Chen Yuhu married Lin Ji resentfully. Even though Lin Ji had a concubine pregnant before their marriage, she married him out of spite.”

Mother Chen felt a headache coming on whenever she recalled these old grievances and couldn’t help rubbing her temples.

“Chen Yuhu has been trapped in her own resentment all these years. Now that she’s finally moved past it, better days lie ahead.”

“But Yu Song has suffered a lot over the years.”

“After all this time, she’s only asked one thing of me. How could I refuse?”

The elderly maid sighed inwardly, fearing that Second Young Lady was no longer the same person she once was.

But she said aloud, “Second Young Lady will understand your good intentions.”

The old lady smiled bitterly. “I originally thought that since her children are well-raised and have received the Chen family’s favor, it would be good for her to have her own niece marry into the family.”

“But judging by the way she left, I doubt she sees it that way.”

“It might be hard to get her approval. She and Marquis Lin are alike—he’s sparing no effort to climb the social ladder, while she’s pushing her children with all her might.”

After saying this, Mother Chen sighed.

Chen Yuhu was not just displeased—she was furious.

As soon as she returned to the Marquis’s residence, she smashed a set of teacups.

She also sent both concubines away. While she usually enjoyed their company, she didn’t want them to know about this embarrassing matter from her maternal family.

She ordered a servant, “Send someone to investigate. Why would a young lady from an aristocratic family not marry into a local powerful clan but instead come all the way to the capital to marry? Look into it carefully.”

Chen Yuhu’s rage quickly reached Lin Ji’s ears.

He came straight to Yilan Court after his duties, without even changing his clothes, and asked what was wrong.

Chen Yuhu had calmed down by then, but the mention of it still angered her.

Instead of answering, she said, “I’ll write to Chi Wanqing tomorrow. The Minister of Rites has a few favored disciples. I’ll see if I can ask for a recommendation spot.”

Lin Ji was puzzled. “What are you planning?”

“Qing Luo should stop studying under his second maternal uncle.”

Lin Ji, now calm, sat at the table and looked at Chen Yuhu, who was clearly sulking on the couch.

He took a sip of tea.

“What happened? Why are you so angry?”

Chen Yuhu sneered. Shouldn’t a mother be someone you can trust? No wonder the former Chen Yuhu had been so difficult.

Her relationship with the Chen family had always been strained, and she’d rather not rely on them.

“My mother has always been opportunistic. Probably, we’ve imposed on the Chen household too much lately.”

“I think so too. It’s better not to involve our families too deeply.”

Lin Ji remained calm. “If that’s what you think, then it’s fine. Just don’t let it ruin your health.”

“It’s not worth it.”

Chen Yuhu patted her chest to calm herself down. Indeed, it wasn’t worth it.

“My mother intends for Qing Bai to marry the Xu family’s eldest daughter.”

Lin Ji chuckled, not even bothering to refer to her as ‘niece’ anymore.

After all these years, Chen Yuhu might have given them a somewhat welcoming reception upon the Xu family's return.

But Mother Chen’s interference had only angered her.

“Don’t be angry. Without our consent, no one can marry into this family unless it’s by the Emperor’s decree.”

“You have nothing to worry about.”

Chen Yuhu looked at Lin Ji and suddenly felt that she had been giving him less attention lately.

It was like training a dog; when someone does something good, you give them a treat.

But she really wasn’t in the mood right now—she'd let it slide for now! After all, he was her son.

"You know what my mother is like—she will stop at nothing. We have to be cautious."

Lin Ji, however, smiled. "Stopping at nothing is all for the Chen family's benefit. Your sister has been married off for years now."

"Still, let's get this done quickly. Otherwise, I won’t feel at ease."

"Alright, alright, alright!"

Lin Ji thought to himself: When she used to socialize, she never seemed to be in any hurry, but now she’s suddenly in a hurry.

Chen Yuhu was never good at having confrontations face-to-face, but if necessary, she could do it.

Once she'd made peace with it, she calmed down. "Forget it. The matriarch should be chosen with care over time anyway. I want to see what they’re up to."

Lin Ji was even more pleased. Look at his wife—so single-minded when it came to the children, not swayed even by her own family.

Of course, children were their retirement plan. Would the Chen matriarch take care of her? She hadn’t even treated Chen Yuhu well in the past!

That evening, she had dinner with Lin Ji and remembered that he had been living in the study.

In front of Lin Ji, Chen Yuhu instructed the servants, "Get the Yufeng Studio ready. From now on, it will be the Marquis’s residence."

Chen Yuhu gave all the necessary orders.

The next day, she received an old-fashioned letter of recommendation.

She had to admire Chi Wanqing’s efficiency.

Chen Yuhu had Qing Bai and Qing Zhuo go to the academy to pick up Qing Luo.

She only mentioned that they hadn’t found a suitable tutor at home and had put her second brother out to look after him for a few days.

In reality, at the academy, Qing Luo wasn’t personally taught by Chen Yuhu’s second brother. As the head of the academy, he had simply delegated the task to others.

Chen Yuhu also instructed the two children to tell the truth—that she had hired a private tutor for Qing Luo.

Chen Yuhu’s second brother, too wrapped up in his academic pursuits, didn’t think much of it. Teaching one student or a small group was different from teaching a whole class.

Small-class teaching had always been the way to go.

Chen Yuhu’s decision was understandable. He couldn’t personally tutor a young child, especially since Qing Luo wasn't even his own nephew.

He couldn't be bothered to care that much.

However, Chen Yuhu still sent Qing Bai and Qing Zhuo to study at the academy.

Qing Luo was taken back to the estate to prepare for lessons with his new tutor.

The Chen matriarch didn’t know about this yet.

Meanwhile, Chen Yuhu’s older brother's wife was discussing the matter with her husband.

"I think Mother intends to set up Fei Xin with Qing Bai."

Chen Hu smiled. "Best to stay out of it. Pretend you don’t know."

"Didn’t Second Sister ask for your help? Then help her as usual. Let’s not get involved in whatever's going on between her and Mother."

This piqued Qiao Shi's interest. She knew what a force her mother-in-law could be.

"What, you're not backing Mother but with Second Sister instead?"

Chen Hu just smiled without answering.