Eunuch Wang’s face immediately darkened. “You’ve decided for His Majesty!”
Uncle Wan took a sip of tea and smiled indifferently. “I don’t have the guts to make the decision for His Majesty. I’m just stating the facts. Eunuch Wang knows better than me why the Yan Family was vindicated and why Yan Congming rose to power. If Yan Ruyu hadn’t pretended to be my little masters’ mother, would the Yan Family have obtained everything they have today? I’m afraid they would have been imprisoned for life.”
These words were a little treasonous. It was as if the Emperor was so muddle-headed that he ignored the loyalty of the country for the sake of his love. Although the truth was similar.
The Emperor was in a difficult position. Those who did not sit on the throne would not be tempted by power, nor could they understand the Emperor’s difficulties. Ordinary people only saw personal gains and losses, but the Emperor saw the rise and fall of the entire country. Some things were forced, but of course, some were willful.
Regarding Yan Ruyu, the Emperor was really willful. He knew that Yan Jiuchao had no feelings for her, but he still kept praising her and the Yan family. If he didn’t know the truth, it could be understood that the Emperor didn’t want to let the little fellows suffer, so he let their mother have a very good background. However, now that the truth had long been revealed, it was really unreasonable that the Emperor still didn’t deal with the Yan family.
“How can we guess His Majesty’s thoughts?” Eunuch Wang deliberately beat around the bush.
Uncle Wan thought to himself, When I was serving the two princes in the Cold Palace, where were you? You’re not qualified to play tricks with me.
“That’s right. The thoughts of an Emperor are unfathomable, but my Young Master’s thoughts are extremely simple. Whether Yu Shaoqing becomes a marquis or not, our Young Master will definitely marry his daughter. If His Majesty wants to use this to threaten our Young Master, I’m afraid His Majesty would be disappointed.”
Eunuch Wang gasped. “Wan! You watched Young Master grow up after all. Can’t you persuade him to lower his head to His Majesty? Is there anything His Majesty can’t agree to?”
Uncle Wan chuckled. “He admitted defeat once, and then what? His Majesty will then grab Young Master’s weakness where Young Master keeps admitting defeat for the rest of his life?”
Eunuch Wang choked and glared at him. “He’s the Emperor! What’s wrong with giving in to him?”
Uncle Wan said, “There’s nothing wrong, but Young Master is just unwilling.”
“…” There was no way to chat today. Eunuch Wang felt that even if he wasn’t exhausted to death by the Emperor, he would be angered to death by the Young Master Manor. Yan Jiuchao, this little lunatic, was rebellious. Even the servants he raised were hard bones that he couldn’t chew!
Eunuch Wang left angrily.
Uncle Wan returned to the study and reported to Yan Jiuchao. He said everything he had said to Eunuch Wang. “…Young Master, aren’t we going overboard? If we really anger His Majesty, His Majesty will blame us…”
Yan Jiuchao sat on the armchair and snorted coldly. “Why? Are you worried that I won’t get married if he blames me?”
“…That’s true.” Uncle Wan sighed and nodded. “Although we didn’t publicize that Miss Yu is the little masters’ biological mother, His Majesty has sharp ears and eyes. He should have received some news. Until now, he hasn’t helped Yu Shaoqing overturn the case. His goal is to wait for you to beg him.”
Once his Young Master begged, Yu Shaoqing’s case would immediately be overturned. However, in the long run, this method was no different from drinking poison to quench one’s thirst. From now on, as long as His Majesty wanted to control Young Master, he only needed to capture someone beside Young Master. He could not let His Majesty taste such sweetness once. Otherwise, the Yu family’s situation would be at the edge of a knife every day.
At the thought of this, Uncle Wan could not help but admire his Young Master. He could see through this because he was old and had experienced many storms. Young Master was only twenty-three or twenty-four years old, but he could already understand the Emperor thoroughly. If Prince Yan back then had half of Young Master’s temperament, he would not have died unjustly.
While Uncle Wan’s thoughts were flying, Yan Jiuchao had already gone to pay attention to something else.
“Have the Gengties been checked?” Yan Jiuchao asked.
Uncle Wan said, “Yes, Young Master and Miss Yu are a match made in heaven.”
Yan Jiuchao said matter-of-factly, “Of course! How can the person I choose be wrong?”
The corners of Uncle Wan’s mouth twitched.
Seeing that he was still standing there, Yan Jiuchao said, “Is there anything else?”
Uncle Wan hesitated for a while and said, “The Gengtie has been accepted. It’s time for Nazheng.”
Nazheng is also known as sending betrothal gifts. As for how it was done and who should go, it was quite particular. Most of them were women from the groom’s family or people with full blessings. However, the Young Master Manor was filled with men. Where could they find women? They could not call the nanny and Nanny Fang over. It would be too unfair to Miss Yu if they were all servants.
There were female officials in Yan City’s mansion, but it was a long journey. It would be too late by the time they came.
“Princess Consort said…” Uncle Wan cleared his throat.
“She said?” Yan Jiuchao looked at Uncle Wan indifferently.
Uncle Wan braced himself and said, “Yes, Nanny Fang came in the afternoon and asked about Nazheng. The Princess Consort said that she would prepare the betrothal gifts and will ask Mrs. Yao to give them.”
Mrs. Yao was Shangguan Yan’s best friend before she got married. She was one of the few women who did not mock Shangguan Yan. During the most difficult days when Shangguan Yan had just married into the Xiao family, Mrs. Yao often visited her and comforted her. After so many years, the two of them had always been together.
Yan Jiuchao said thoughtfully, “Is there a red mole on her forehead?”
Uncle Wan smiled. “Yes, everyone says that it’s a Guanyin mole. It’s a blessing. Young Master still remembers her.”
Yan Jiuchao spent his three years in the Capital before moving to Yan City. When he was six or seven years old, Mrs. Yao and her family came to Yan City.
Yan Jiuchao said, “I’m already that old. Of course I remember.”
In his impression, Mrs. Yao was a very kind-looking woman. Her husband was honest, and the children she gave birth to were not troublesome. They had stayed in Prince Yan Manor for half a year, but Yan Jiuchao did not feel that he had been disturbed. After Lord Yao finished his job, their entire family returned to the Capital.
“Are you unwilling to accept Mrs. Yao, or are you unwilling to accept the person the Princess Consort arranged for you?” There was no need for him to answer to know that it was the latter. Fortunately, Uncle Wan had long thought of an excuse and said earnestly, “Young Master can not appreciate the Princess Consort’s kindness, but no matter what, the Princess Consort is your mother. If word gets out that the Princess Consort found someone to deliver the betrothal gift, it will be Miss Yu’s honor. Otherwise, if someone talks about it in the future, they will think that the Princess Consort doesn’t like this daughter-in-law.”
Yan Jiuchao thought for a while and said, “Then we’ll use her people, but she doesn’t have to prepare the betrothal gifts. I’ll do it myself.”
Indeed, Miss Yu could solve anything.
Uncle Wan left the study with a smile and got someone to send the news to Shangguan Yan.
Although they had said that there was no need for Shangguan Yan to prepare anything, on the day of sending the betrothal gifts, Shangguan Yan still got someone to send over thirty-two boxes of betrothal gifts. Including the Young Master Manor, there were a total of a hundred or so boxes of betrothal gifts. They carried them majestically to Lotus Flower Village, causing a stir in the surrounding villages.
This was even before dawn. Otherwise, the Capital would have exploded.
The Yu family and the old residence could not settle down. Fortunately, the dormitory and factory were completed. The betrothal gifts were carried to a large storeroom. The villagers all craned their necks. They had never seen so many betrothal gifts in their lives!
“Whose house was that?” A peasant woman from the outer village asked.
Aunt Bai said proudly, “Ah Wan! The daughter of the Yu family!”
“That… cripple’s family?” The peasant woman asked.
Aunt Bai glared. “He’s not crippled anymore!”
The peasant woman was frightened by her lion’s roar. “Not-not crippled, why are you… you so fierce?”
Uncle’s legs were indeed much better. He could basically throw away his walking stick. He held the gift book and stood at the door of the storeroom. He instructed the servant carrying the betrothal gifts, “…Leave this gift here. Yes, here!”
Yu Song looked at the betrothal gifts that filed in and said dejectedly, “Big Brother, do you think I still have a chance now?”
Yu Feng patted his shoulder. “Wake up. It’s dawn.”
In Yu Wan’s house, Mrs. Yao handed the engagement letter to Yu Shaoqing and his wife. At this point, their marriage was completely decided.
Back then, Yu Wan and Zhao Heng had also reached this step. They were only short of marrying Yu Wan on the wedding day, but they could not take the last step for four years.
Mrs. Yao said pleasantly, “The Imperial Astronomer chose three auspicious days. They’re the sixteenth, twenty-second, and twenty-eighth of this month.”
Yu Shaoqing’s face darkened. “There are so many good days this month?”
Mrs. Yao was embarrassed. “Yes, yes.” She continued, “I wonder if Old Master Yu and Mrs. Yu…”
Yu Shaoqing naturally hoped to keep his daughter as long as possible. Unexpectedly, before he could say twenty-eight, Yu Wan coughed lightly and said, “Sixteen.”
Yu Shaoqing: “…!”
Why do you want to marry so much?!
