Madame He became evil because Qiu Yelan refused to manage the house during He Shuijin’s miscarriage prevention period. Qiu Yelan didn’t know anything about it. Madame Tao summoned her on her way back to her yard after she left the third branch.
Actually, Qiu Yelan hadn’t seen her for a while. Seeing Madame Tao at that moment, she noticed that Madame Tao had lost a lot of weight. But she was in good spirits. Her eyes were bright and piercing. It was reasonable. Jiang Family didn’t admit that Marquess Qin was ill abed. They only let Madame Tao and a grandson who didn’t work in the government take care of him. It was hard work. But giving personal care to someone was the easiest way to bond.
Either Jiang Yazhu who she bumped into earlier or Madame Tao at that moment could hide their delight even though they looked tired. It was obvious that their hard work these days paid off very well.
“You guys must be very worried in these few days,” Madame Tao asked about their current situations with a smile for a while. Especially, she asked about Madame Tao Junior’s situation. Although Madame Tao Junior lived in the same yard, Marquess Qin was so important that Madame Tao didn’t have time to check upon her in the process. Qiu Yelan considered herself lucky at that moment. Madame Tao was busy. And so was she. Thank god she went to check upon Madame Tao Junior that morning. Otherwise, she didn’t know how to answer.
After asking about the situation of the people she cared, Madame Tao cut to the chase, “Shuijin is pregnant. And I heard that she almost miscarried? She surely can’t keep managing the house now. It’s your third aunt’s business. You just went to congratulate Shuijin. Did your third aunt say anything to you?”
Qiu Yelan said in a hurry, “She asked me to help sixth sister-in-law and seventh sister-in-law manage the house. But I thought that eighth sister-in-law hadn’t been well recently and Shishui was pregnant. I’m too busy taking care of sisters-in-law of my own branch. How could I have time to manage the house? Let alone that I’m the youngest and ranked lowest among all the granddaughters-in-law. We are such a big family. I may not be able to handle it even they assign me with small matters. So, I refused third aunt.”
Hearing that, Madame Tao smiled slightly, “I’m relieved that you refused. I’m afraid that your third aunt talked you into it because you are too young to know better. Then it’ll be troublesome!”
“Thank you for your concern!” Qiu Yelan accepted her kindness willingly. She sweet-talked Madame Tao for a while. Madame Tao said suddenly while smiling, “I was afraid that you would agree with your third aunt. So, I found you something to do. So, you could use it as an excuse to refuse to manage the house! But to think about it now, you are the only one who can do it!”
Qiu Yelan said curiously, “Grandmother, please do tell.”
“Yongfu is old enough to get married,” Madame Tao’s words made Qiu Yelan serious. Princess Yongfu was Empress’s only kid and Madame Tao’s only direct grand-kid. Her marriage was a big deal!
But why was she the only one who could do it? Was Qiu Jinglan Madame Tao and Empress’s choice for Yongfu’s husband?
She heard Madame Tao whispering while woolgathering, “Tianluan chooses Ou Bicheng to be her husband!”
Qiu Yelan was stunned. It wasn’t because they didn’t choose Qiu Jinglan. It was because, “But, grandmother, Cousin Xin loved Ou Bicheng…”
Even Xin Fubing was about to move on before she went out of the palace.
However, Xin Fubing was forced to marry the Seventh Prince who she didn’t love by Empress and others. And then Empress wanted to marry her daughter to the one Xin Fubing loved. Even Xin Fubing had already known that since Ou Bicheng didn’t love her, it was pointless to keep thinking about him, she would definitely be shocked after hearing that.
“I know!” Madame Tao looked frustrated and sighed, “But there is no better way. You should know that after going to the palace for a few times. Tianluan treats Yongfu like a treasure. Tianluan will give Yongfu whatever she asks! But Yongfu’s husband will affect her whole life. Tianluan doesn’t have a better solution!”
Seeing that Qiu Yelan was at a loss, Madame Tao smiled bitterly, “The one who Yongfu cares the most in these few years is the Duke of Puyang Xiao Su! You tell me… How is it possible?”
Qiu Yelan was enlightened. Empress Jiang valued Xiao Su for sure. Otherwise, she wouldn’t hire him to teach Princess Yongfu and Princess Chunfu calligraphy.
The problem was that no matter how impressed Empress was by Xiao Su’s talent, she wouldn’t agree to marry Princess Yongfu to him!
The reason was simple. Xiao Su’s health was too poor!
Judging by Empress’s position and her love towards Princess Yongfu, Princess Yongfu’s husband could come from a normal family, have no talents, have bad look, have no ability, have no money, have no power…He could have nothing. As long as Princess Yongfu liked him! There was only one thing that no parents who loved their kids could accept. That was poor health!
What kind of parents could accept that their daughters needed to prepare to be a widow since the day she was married?
Even Yongfu could remarry, how about her broken heart? How could Empress bear to let her suffer?
So, even the Duke of Puyang was qualified to be a Princess’s husband judging by his family, talent, age and personality, his poor health was enough to obliterate the possibility for him to be a Princess’s husband especially Princess Yongfu’s husband!
“Other than Xiao Su, Ou Bicheng is the one who Yongfu often mentions!” Madame Tao sighed, “He doesn’t even have a Juren title. And his Kungfu is mediocre. But compared to normal people, he is strong and healthy. And he saved Yongfu in the earthquake last year.”
It meant that Madame Tao and Empress Jiang didn’t have a better solution. Princess Yongfu was their only direct bloodline. They didn’t bear to disobey her. However, she who was at the marriageable age was close to a vulnerable Prince whose family was waiting for him to die at a young age!
Madame Tao and Empress Jiang were afraid that Princess Yongfu really wanted to marry Xiao Su. They had to hold on to the man who was the second closest to her!
Qiu Yelan felt so frustrated, “I wonder if Ou Bicheng is willing to?”
But Madame Tao asked her to do it in person. As the granddaughter-in-law, she couldn’t reject. She said reluctantly, “I see. I’ll talk to Yashuang when he gets back…”
However, Madame Tao interrupted her, “How could I ask you to talk to Ou Bicheng?”
“Then what do you want me to do?” Qiu Yelan was stunned. Did she want me to persuade Princess Yongfu? I wasn’t that close to her, was I? Even Jiang Yashuang was closer to her than I was!
“The thing is that Yongfu is spoiled by Tianluan. We haven’t talked to her directly about the candidate of her husband until now,” Madame Tao sighed, “We have sounded her out for a few times. It seems that she likes Xiao Su…He is the one who has been teaching her calligraphy since she was a kid after all. Alas!”
Madame Tao shook her head for a bit. Then she braced herself up and said, “Besides, Xiao Su is also at a marriageable age. Of course, he is still in the mourning period. It’s inappropriate to talk about this kind of stuff.”
Madame Tao seemed to hesitate. But she finally said, “After discussing with Empress, we want to find Xiao Su a wife in order to make Yongfu stop thinking about him.”
“…” Qiu Yelan felt frustrated. The scheme which was meant for Qiu Feng was used against the Duke of Puyang now.
Qiu Yelan pondered on her relation to that matter until that moment. It seemed it had nothing to do with her.
Was it possible that Madame Tao and Empress Jiang want Xiao Su to marry Ruan Ciyi or Wang Qingqian? Ruan Ciyi was old enough to be Xiao Su’s mother. And Wang Qingqian’s status was clearly inferior to Xiao Su’s!
Other than that, what did Madame Tao need me for?
Then she heard Madame Tao saying, “When Yongfu has made up her mind about something, it’s hard to persuade her. But there is one thing about her that she treats her friends very well. She always protects her friends even she has to suffer losses!”
Qiu Yelan weighed what Madame Tao said. And she thought about those people who Princess Yongfu was close to. Her look changed a little!
As expected, Madame Tao whispered, “She doesn’t have siblings. Tianluan is worried about other Princes and Princesses getting close to her because of Empress Dowager Gu. Her closest friend since she was a kid is her niece who is also your niece…”
County Princess Duanrou, Chu Chunxiao!
“It’s way over the line!” Qiu Yelan didn’t show her feelings on her face. But she was very frustrated, “Chu Chunxiao’s father Prince Qiyang is the only offspring of the Crown Prince of the former emperor’s reign. He is duly suppressed in this reign. And he was born stupid! Princess Qiyang is a concubine’s daughter of Jiang Family who was tricked to be Prince Qiyang’s wife by her official mother. Chu Chunxiao doesn’t have siblings. A family like this is busy enough with their own affairs. They want her to marry ailing Xiao Su under this circumstance. They really don’t want them to get on with their lives!”
Madame Tao either didn’t sense or pretended not to sense that Qiu Yelan didn’t approve. She kept talking, “Yongfu is closest to Duanrou among the girls of their age. Let Duanrou tell her about it before she could express her feelings towards Xiao Su. Judging by Yongfu’s personality, even she has feelings for Xiao Su, she won’t bring it up anymore if Duanrou says first. She wouldn’t do it for anyone else. However, as for Duanrou…we wanted to talk to her about it during the family dinner last time. But your grandfather happened to be sick on that day. We sent her back before we could mention it. Now we need to invite her to come again.”
Madame Tao looked towards Qiu Yelan, “Shuijin went to pick her up last time. Now she is pregnant. You go and pick her up. Talk to her about it if you have a chance on the way!”
“…” Qiu Yelan felt angry at once. She was silent for a moment and then said faintly, “Grandmother, County Princess Duanrou and Princess Yongfu are very close. Asking County Princess Duanrou to tell Princess Yongfu that she likes the Duke of Puyang sure can make Princess Yongfu give up her love… But their friendship will… It seems to hurt Princess Yongfu too?”
Madame Tao said frowning, “It’s okay. Yongfu and Duanrou are two generations anyway. It’s not a big deal that they grow apart from each other in the future. Besides, Yongfu can spend time with you guys in the future, right?”
“But Her Highness grew up with County Princess” Qiu Yelan didn’t want to give up and tried to speak up for Chu Chunxiao.
Madame Tao sneered, “It’s okay that you don’t want to talk to Duanrou about it on the way! I just ask you to pick her up. Are you not willing to?”
Since Madame Tao said that, if Qiu Yelan still refused, she would be offended.
“…Grandmother, you misunderstood me. Should I go now?” after thinking for a moment, Qiu Yelan resisted her impulse after all. She stood up and asked bitterly.
Seeing that she agreed, Madame Tao softened her tone, “No need to rush. Go at dusk. Pick her up to have dinner here. And then she can spend a night.”
Qiu Yelan was frustrated. Madame Tao obviously knew that County Princess Duanrou wasn’t so stupid. She couldn’t be persuaded so easily about her marriage. It would take Madame Tao a night to persuade her… Or Madame Tao might need to ask her to stay the next day.
“What a bad day!” Qiu Yelan went out of Madame Tao’s yard distractedly. She stamped her feet as she walked, “I’m so annoyed just by hearing it. And she wanted me to do it. I don’t want to go! Don’t want to! Don’t want to!”
She bumped into a group of people while she was angry. The woman in the front was just above 20. She had delicate eyebrows and slanted eyes. Her skin was white like litchi and her lips were red like cheery. She wore a peach top with narrow sleeves and a pink skirt with lotus patterns. She looked so beautiful. She was Madame Huang.
“Eighth aunt!” Qiu Yelan was in a bad mood. But she still braced herself up and saluted when she saw her approaching. She greeted, “Eighth aunt, are you going to visit grandmother?”
“I went to congratulate Shuijin just now. Your third aunt told me that Shuijin needed to prevent miscarriage. So, she shouldn’t be worried about those things which she used to manage,” although Huang was Jiang Family’s daughter-in-law, she was younger than a few granddaughters-in-law. And her husband Jiang Tianxiao was a concubine’s son. So, she couldn’t act like an elder. She smiled kindly at that moment, “She talked me into it. I promised to help during Shuijin’s miscarriage prevention period… But I never managed anything before. So, I come to ask mother for advice!”
“Hurry up and take over my errand! I couldn’t stop it and I didn’t want to be a part of it!” Hope filled Qiu Yelan at once. She decided not to go back and wait there!