Chapter 82

Chapter 82 The Grand Selection

Dong Yuting had wished to keep Li Nianyao at home for a few more years, believing that early marriage and childbirth were not ideal. However, she had barely voiced half of this thought when the old lady and Zeng Huiyan cast suspicious glances her way, as if to ask, "Isn't Yao Jie'er your daughter?" After all, in this society, age was a crucial factor; once a girl passed a certain age, the standards for choosing a husband would inevitably have to be lowered. More importantly, Li Nianyao herself likely shared this sentiment, given her different upbringing.

Thus, Dong Yuting had no choice but to repeatedly consult the old lady and dispatch Qiu Xiaoshi to gather information about the prospective suitor from every conceivable angle—directly and indirectly, through herself and others. They meticulously inquired about everything from his personal character and appearance to his family background, with a level of detail akin to compiling a "Family History of the Secretariat Director." Any discrepancies between the old lady's and Qiu Xiaoshi's accounts were immediately seized upon as evidence of the other party's unreliability, prompting the question: "Why else would their stories differ?"

Zeng Huiyan remarked that Dong Yuting was "picking an ancestor" for herself. Dong Yuting mused, "If only it were that simple! If it were just about picking an ancestor, money and power would suffice; I could leverage his influence, and nothing else would matter. But choosing a son-in-law is different. Those factors take a backseat; the individual's character is paramount."

After exhaustive inquiries, even Xue Yi was summoned and asked to make a trip, as the young man was nominally her nephew. Upon learning of Dong Yuting's intention to form a marriage alliance, Xue Yi was overjoyed, feeling it would further strengthen their family ties. Dong Yuting quickly cautioned her, "You must be completely honest. Given our relationship, even if things don't work out between them, it won't affect our friendship."

Xue Yi listened, nodding solemnly, and promised to investigate. She had been the youngest illegitimate daughter in her family, and after marriage, had little contact with them. However, since her husband became the Minister of Rites, her status had risen dramatically. Her family now invited her back every few days, not to ask for favors, but simply to maintain relations. Even her maternal grandfather, unbeknownst to her mother, sent her gifts—exquisite porcelain one day, luxurious silk garments from the south the next, and rare treasures from the Western Regions the day after.

Her mother, also the youngest daughter in her family, had once dreamed of becoming the mistress of a household. Yet, to ensure the smooth and prosperous flow of business for Ruichang, her grandfather had pulled strings, resulting in her mother being married off as a concubine. From that day on, her mother severed all ties with her family. Now, seeing their granddaughter's remarkable fortune, her maternal family adopted a circuitous approach, first seeking to cultivate a good relationship with her.

Despite her outwardly gentle demeanor, Xue Yi had a mind of her own. She accepted all the fine gifts her maternal family sent, but invitations to banquets were out of the question.

Now, whenever she returned to her maiden home, she was treated as an honored guest, and no one dared to slight her. Though Xue Yi was young, only a few years older than the legitimate second son, she belonged to a different generation and was addressed as "aunt." Dong Yuting, knowing Xue Yi well, decided to entrust her with one final investigation, after which she felt she could make a definitive decision.

After a month of careful consideration, Dong Yuting decided to take the next step and see the young man in person. Zeng Huiyan quipped, "If you don't see him soon, he'll be engaged to someone else!"

Dong Yuting smiled, "Then we'll simply find another. Our Yao Jie'er deserves better."

The excuse was plum blossom viewing, and the venue was the other party's residence. The attendees included He Jinglin, the old lady, Zeng Huiyan, and a few younger ones—Li Bohui and Li Bohan. The others were too young to be brought along. Appearances had to be meticulously maintained to conceal their true purpose; otherwise, if the match didn't materialize, it would lead to awkwardness.

Dong Yuting dressed elaborately and even inspected Li Nianyao's attire. Attending a banquet seemed more like preparing for a beauty pageant. It wasn't about dressing up to be chosen, but rather to convey, through their attire, the importance they attached to this gathering. Regardless of the outcome, their earnest attitude would be clear.

Li Nianyao arrived with her younger sisters and Liu Wanqing, a shy smile gracing her face. She couldn't have been unaware of the recent happenings, but according to the customs of the era, even a whisper of marriage would make her blush. Sometimes, when playing with her sisters, Li Nianyao would be teased about it.

Dong Yuting looked at her daughter, finding satisfaction in every aspect. Yet, recalling the purpose of their visit, a wave of melancholy washed over her. In a few years, her beautiful daughter would marry into another household, and they wouldn't be able to see each other constantly, a thought that left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Li Nianyao, unaware of her mother's thoughts, bowed to her elders and said, "It snowed lightly this morning, and there's still unmelted snow on the flowers in the courtyard. When we leave, Grandmother, remember to dress warmly. Granddaughter remembers that purple silk crane-feather cloak looks especially beautiful on you."

The old lady embraced her granddaughter, chuckling, "You little flatterer. I think you want to wear it too, don't you? Later, I'll have Qiulian bring you one—that apricot-yellow cloud-patterned cloak will suit your complexion perfectly."

Li Nianzi snuggled up to the old lady on the other side, pouting, "Grandmother is biased! You only give to Big Sister. Don't we get any?"

The old lady laughed, "Of course, everyone will get one! When we return, I'll have the embroidery workshop make them for you, one for each. You can choose your own styles, how about that?"

Li Nianzi joyfully exclaimed, "Thank you, Grandmother!"

The others also chimed in with their thanks.

Zeng Huiyan looked at Li Nianyao with a smile, "A rainy day is perfect for viewing plum blossoms, don't you think so, Mother?"

Everyone's expressions shifted as they looked at Li Nianyao, who shyly lowered her head, her faintly flushed cheeks resembling red plum blossoms in the snow.

Just as they were about to depart, Li Lingchuan entered. Since they planned to stay for a meal after viewing the plum blossoms, they were leaving late. Li Lingchuan had already finished morning court, and they were still at home. Normally, after court, he would be at the Ministry of Works office, but today he had unexpectedly returned.

Dong Yuting glanced at Li Nianyao. Could he also be worried about their daughter's marriage?

Li Nianyao, nestled beside the old lady, quickly rose to pay her respects upon seeing her father. Li Lingchuan looked somewhat uneasy. "Mother, I have something to discuss with you."

This was a clear signal for others to leave. Li Nianyao said, "Grandmother, my younger siblings and I will wait for you outside."

"Outside" actually meant the main room. The old lady disliked the cold, so charcoal braziers had been placed in the room early. Usually, visitors paying their respects would meet her in the warm chamber.

Dong Yuting and Zeng Huiyan were about to leave when Li Lingchuan stopped them. What he had to say didn't directly concern Zeng Huiyan, but she would eventually find out. It was about Li Nianyao's marriage.

"His Majesty announced at today's morning court session that there will be a Grand Selection next spring. All legitimate daughters from scholar families of the fifth rank and above must participate, and Nianyao happens to meet the criteria. This selection is to choose primary consorts for several of His Majesty's unmarried princes. The Ministry of Rites' selection edict will be delivered shortly."

The three were stunned for a moment. Zeng Huiyan's eyebrows flew up in delight. "This is wonderful news! With Nianyao's qualities, she's sure to be chosen as an imperial consort!" If selected, she would have to enter the palace immediately for instruction. Palace etiquette was far more intricate than outside, requiring two years of training—like attending a royal consort training program, staying in the palace until she reached marriageable age.

"Such a great opportunity, why don't you go?" Dong Yuting retorted coldly. The words were out before she could stop them, and she immediately regretted them. She shouldn't have spoken that way, but she was furious. After all her careful inquiries, she had finally decided to take the next step, only for this unexpected turn of events—not a pleasant surprise, but a shock. It felt as if her carefully laid plans had been disrupted, leaving her feeling as agitated as a cat scratching at her heart.

"I'd like to, but I'm not old enough for the selection," Zeng Huiyan quickly interjected.

The old lady's gaze shifted to Zeng Huiyan, sending a shiver down her spine. What kind of thing was that to say? Zeng Huiyan, accustomed to speaking without restraint, had blurted it out and now sheepishly lowered her head. Dong Yuting smiled wryly; why bother arguing with her? The urgent matter now was to decide what to do about Yao Jie'er's marriage.

"Then, before the Grand Selection, why not finalize Yao Jie'er's marriage? That way, His Majesty wouldn't have anything to say, would he?" This emperor, at his age, still had so many sons—truly causing trouble for others. Originally, she had been somewhat hesitant about Yao Jie'er's marriage, but because of this turn of events, she became somewhat more resolute. She preferred to do things according to plan; once disrupted, she would try everything to set it right, as if only then would things be back on track.

Li Lingchuan's Adam's apple bobbed as he was about to speak, but the old lady frowned and said, "No, at a time like this, we must not make any mistakes. If His Majesty finds out we're arranging a marriage to avoid the Grand Selection, what will he think? A charge of disrespect toward the emperor would be levied immediately!"

Dong Yuting retorted indignantly, "If we don't say anything, how would His Majesty know?"

"Do you think everyone else these days is foolish? How many people have we inquired through? Couldn't they guess? Besides, you know the current situation at court—how many people are watching us? Our own people won't talk, but what about others? Can you guarantee they won't say anything?" The old lady softened her tone. "Yuting, you must not harm Yao Jie'er."

There was that phrase again. Dong Yuting's body tensed. She was clearly doing what was best for her daughter, yet in others' eyes, it seemed she was trying to harm her.

Dong Yuting looked at them silently, a sarcastic smile twisting her lips. "Are you really afraid I'll harm Yao Jie'er, or are you afraid I'll harm him?" Dong Yuting turned to look at the silent Li Lingchuan. In her eyes, silence was an answer—Li Lingchuan and the old lady shared the same thoughts.

She saw the old lady's face change abruptly, and the smile on her lips grew even more sarcastic. But then, a sense of exhilarating pleasure surged from the depths of her heart, instantly spreading throughout her body, as if she had received a full-body massage or like water about to overflow finally finding an outlet. These days, they had pressured her into making decisions, pushing her step by step from behind, making her anxious and irritable. Now it was as if she had taken a wrong turn, and they were tying a rope around her to pull her back, and if she refused, they would scold her harshly.

"Then what do you want to do? If something happens to Lingchuan, will Yao Jie'er be better off?" the old lady said coldly.

A sense of helplessness enveloped Dong Yuting. She realized with sorrow that the old lady's words were undeniably true.