Chapter 31

Shen Yu thought the Su family was simply unreasonable.

With a top scholar who had won three top prizes in the imperial examination and served at the Hanlin Academy, the family should be more refined, at least matching the status of a civil servant.

Instead, the Su family’s home was remote, and they kept a large rooster. Even the noble families in their hometown of Jinling wouldn’t keep such a chicken in their yard.

Thinking of this made Shen Yu unable to hide his disgust.

He didn’t understand why Tao Sheng chose to stay with such a family when returning to the Marquis’ Mansion was her best option.

After Tao Sheng finished writing the inscription, she changed into guest-appropriate clothing and stepped outside. She noticed Shen Yu standing there with a suspicious look and asked, “What’s the matter, Lord Marquis?”

“Your grandmother has found an excellent marriage for you. Come back with me to the Marquis’ Mansion, and let’s discuss it so we can finalize your marriage soon.”

“I thought I made it clear to you,” Tao Sheng said. “My parents arranged a marriage for me before they died. I don’t want to follow your suggestions on this.”

Shen Yu was clearly not as easy to fool this time: “You don’t have a say in this. Your adoptive parents are gone, but I see you as my daughter. Since you’ve always been strong-willed, I came here to discuss this with you first. Your uncle and aunt are still alive, and the head of the Luo family is also alive. They should have a say in your marriage. If you refuse to talk with me, I’ll write to invite them for a discussion, and it will be the same.” 

Tao Sheng understood her uncle and aunt’s temperament. They viewed Shen Yu as a great nobleman, and whatever he said, they would believe. They wouldn’t withstand any pressure and might even compromise under Shen Yu’s influence.

Although the head of the Luo family is a good person, he has been living in Qin County for many years and has limited thinking. Being able to marry into a family like the son of the Marquis of Changxing is something they wouldn’t even dare to dream of. They truly believe this marriage is beneficial for Tao Sheng and are unlikely to refuse it.

Therefore, it would be better for her to personally speak with this family to stop them from controlling her marriage.

Tao Sheng nodded, “Okay, I’ll go back with you.”

_

Not long after Tao Sheng and Shen Yu left, Ji Yanming returned home.

Mother Tang was looking at some calligraphy her cousin had just written. When she saw Ji Yanming, she was surprised: “Young Master, you’re back early today.”

“It’s a day off,” Ji Yanming explained. “I just went to the government office to get two books.”

Remembering the carriage he saw leaving the house earlier, Ji Yanming asked, “Did any guests come by?”

“Marquis Wenyuan came, but Xiao Feng wasn’t happy to see him, so he chased him away,” Mother Tang laughed. “The marquis always causes trouble, and his family members even bullied Miss Tao Sheng, but Xiao Feng sent him off right away. It seems he’s really on our side.”

Ji Yanming wasn’t interested in the family quarrel: “Did the Marquis say anything about the girl?”

“I didn’t hear clearly,” Mother Tang said. “But it seemed like the Marquis mentioned something about a marriage. I don’t know if it was for the girl. She didn’t want to go with him at first, but whatever the Marquis said changed her mind, and she went back to his mansion with him.”

Ji Yanming simply replied “hmm” and went into the house to read.

These two books were ones he and Xie Huaian bought from Liulichang the day before yesterday. He had left them at the office, but after thinking about them all night, he was determined to retrieve them. However, after reading for two quarters of an hour, the book was still open on the first page, without any progress.

Yesterday, Xie Huaian mentioned that the Guan family of Lingguo Mansion wanted to propose marriage to the daughter of the Shen family from Wenyuan Marquis Mansion. But everyone knows the Shen family has only one daughter, who is already promised to the eldest son of Changxing Marquis.

Now, with Shen Yu insisting Tao Sheng return home, Ji Yanming suspected that things were not as simple as they seemed.

After a while, Mother Tang noticed that Ji Yanming, who had just returned home, was dressing up to go out again. She remembered that he had mentioned it was a day off, and she wasn’t sure where he was going now.

_

Shen Yu’s meeting was held at De Shou Tang, and the event was grand. Not only were the old lady and the three Shen brothers present, but even Shen Ruolin, the eldest daughter who rarely came back after marriage, had returned to the mansion.

With so many people on their side, and Luo Xin still recovering and unable to return, there wasn’t anyone to speak up for Tao Sheng. This was indeed a good opportunity for Shen Yu and others.

Shen Ruolin had only met Tao Sheng twice before, but this time she warmly took her arm: “Third sister, sit down. Grandma told me we’ve found a wonderful marriage for you.”

Tao Sheng remembered that in the original story, Shen Ruolin didn’t appear much, but the descriptions showed she knew how to adapt to situations well. Being born out of wedlock, she didn’t have a close relationship with Marquis’s wife Luo Xin, so she worked hard to please the old lady and her father, even helping Ruojin embarrass the original Tao Sheng.

Shen Ruolin’s sudden appearance was clearly to support Ruojin.

“My parents arranged a marriage for me before they passed away,” Tao Sheng said. “Even without an engagement, given my current relationship with the Marquis’s Mansion, I doubt the Marquis and the old lady would need to worry about my marriage.”

“You’re sixteen now, it’s time to think about marriage. Don’t be angry,” Old Madam Shen advised. “This is truly a good match for you.”

Tao Sheng sarcastically smiled, “How good could it be?”

Shen Yu responded, “It’s Wu Zhen, the son of the Marquis of Changxing.”

“Isn’t Wu Zhen already engaged to Miss Shen Er?” Tao Sheng asked calmly. “Why is he being matched with me now?”

“Tao Sheng, you don’t know,” Shen Ruolin said, glancing at Ruojin, who seemed embarrassed. “Fate works in strange ways. Ruojin’s true match has come, so that engagement had to be canceled.”

Shen Ruolin went on to explain how Ruojin, while staying with Luo Xin at the manor, met Guan Muyun, the son of the Duke of Lingguo’s mansion. 

_

T/L Notes:

Starting this week, chapters of this novel will now be unlocked three times a week! I understand the urge to experience the story a bit faster—I’m doing my best to stay on schedule. Happy reading!