Chapter 219: A Distinguished Suitor

The lonely Madam Li, having encountered such an articulate old lady, and one who was the mother of the Magistrate of Dingzhou, became quite delighted. In no time, the two of them hit it off, and that evening, old lady Zhao was invited to dine on a vegetarian meal in Madam Li’s quarters.

Old lady Zhao had always thought her eldest granddaughter to be beautiful and filial, and had been determined to find her a distinguished suitor. When she came to Dingzhou, she heard about Chu Lingxuan and became interested in him, secretly planning to find an opportunity to connect with him.

In old lady Zhao’s view, even though Chu Lingxuan had an impressive background, he was still a remarried man, and the daughter of the Magistrate was a suitable match for him. Furthermore, her son was truly capable and would surely rise to a higher official position in a few years. To make her granddaughter Chen Yuhui, Chen Shiying’s legitimate daughter, old lady Zhao planned to use various methods to pressure Mrs. Jiang.

With Chu Lingxuan serving in Dingzhou, her granddaughter would also stay there after marriage. Although the Princess Dowager was formidable, she couldn’t control everything. Old lady Zhao planned to personally teach her granddaughter, hoping to win her favor. Her eldest granddaughter was very charming and knew how to please people. This way, not only would her beloved granddaughter marry into a good family, but she would also have a stronger support. She would no longer need to be cautious about Jiang’s maternal family.

With her plan in mind, old lady Zhao dismissed the serving maid and the old nanny, and with a smile, said to Madam Li, “Not long ago, there was a marriage in General Lu’s residence. When I saw Chu Lingxuan from a distance in the Lu residence, oh my, he was truly handsome and impressive… My granddaughter Yuhui, she looks most like her father, exceptionally beautiful, gentle, and talented. She’s also skilled in poetry and painting. She’ll come of age in the latter half of this year. I’ve always wanted to find a good match for her…”

She had almost outright said that her granddaughter and Chu Lingxuan were naturally made for each other.

Madam Li initially felt somewhat displeased by the way old lady Zhao praised Chu Lingxuan. However, upon hearing the latter part of her speech, she realized Madam Chen’s underlying intention.

Madam Li knew that Chen Shiying had once been a top scholar and was exceptionally handsome. If his daughter resembled him, she would surely possess exceptional beauty and talent.

In the past, Madam Li wouldn’t have dared to meddle in Chu Lingxuan’s marriage. The old Marquis had allowed her to covet some family property, but he absolutely forbade her from meddling in Chu Lingxuan’s marriage. Moreover, she didn’t have the connections to introduce her to the high-born men from the Chu family.

However, since the old Marquis returned from Tangyuan to the capital, his demeanor had softened, and he seemed quite anxious. He mentioned that Chu Lingxuan, despite his age, was still unmarried due to being unable to find a suitable match. The noblewomen who were compatible with his status didn’t want to marry him, and the women who wished to marry him had various shortcomings. Now that Chu Lingxuan was already twenty-four, even if he lowered his standards, he needed to marry and produce an heir quickly. He stated that as long as the lady herself was good, a modest family background was also acceptable…

Although the daughter of the Chen family had a humble background, she was beautiful and talented, and Mr. Chen was the magistrate of Dingzhou, which perfectly aligned with the old Marquis’s requirements. What man wouldn’t admire beauty? Chen Shiying’s daughter was undoubtedly beautiful, and Chu Lingxuan would surely be interested.

The daughter marrying into the Marquis would surely be manipulated by Princess Rong Zhao without any restraint, particularly to prevent her from bearing a son. Even the Marquis’s primary wife had been unable to conceive after so many years, and now, in her thirties, it was even less likely. This way, his son would have a chance…

Madam Li was determined, she laughed and said, “My nephew is already twenty-four this year and still unmarried. My father-in-law is quite anxious and wishes for him to find a good girl. I’ve long heard of Mr. Chen’s exceptional looks and talents, and Madam Chen’s (old lady Zhao) virtuous and dignified manner. Your elder granddaughter is surely exceptional. I’ll mention this to my father-in-law…”

Madam Li’s broad plans pleased old lady Zhao greatly. The former’s implicit suggestion that once she accomplished this, she would be heavily “grateful.” Of course, this heavy “gratitude” would come at Mrs. Tang’s expense. Delighted by old lady Zhao’s response, the two women held hands and conversed. Their interactions were warmer than before, and it seemed as though the Chen and Chu families had already become in-laws.

Upon returning home, old lady Zhao quickly summoned Mrs. Tang and Chen Yuhui and told them about her plan.

The mother and daughter were ecstatic. They had long heard of Chu Lingxuan’s prestigious background, youth, and handsomeness. Chen Yuhui blushed, pouted, and coquettishly stamped her feet, which amused the old lady and Mrs. Tang to no end.

However, when old lady Zhao suggested that Mrs. Jiang register Chen Yuhui under her name, she faced resistance. Mrs. Jiang couldn’t openly defy her mother-in-law, so she simply laughed and claimed that she couldn’t make such decisions without her husband’s consent.

Chen Shiying happened to be away on official business in the county for a few days, and old lady Zhao, being quite shrewd, didn’t mention her successful matchmaking for her granddaughter, fearing that Jiang might thwart her plans.

Four days later, when Chen Shiying returned home, old lady Zhao approached him and informed him about the engagement with the Chu family and the registration of Chen Yuhui under Jiang’s name, effectively making her the legitimate daughter. She felt that she hadn’t deceived anyone.

Chen Shiying was furious upon hearing this. He exclaimed, “Mother, are you out of your mind? How can you casually talk about the Chu family? Even if Yuhui is registered under Jiang’s name, she won’t become a genuine legitimate daughter. The Chu family is the Yongning Marquis, and Chu Lingxuan is a third-ranking military officer and the heir to the Marquis estate. His father, the Marquis, married a princess and is a pillar of the military. The third Marquis of the Chu family is highly trusted by the emperor and was recently appointed as a deputy commander of the Central Military Command. Moreover, Yuhui’s talent and appearance are miles behind Chu Lingxuan’s. How could Chu Lingxuan be someone we could aspire to? You’re actually trying to deceive us by passing a secondary daughter off as a legitimate one! You’re trying to ruin me and our entire family.”

Old lady Zhao didn’t like what she was hearing and scolded, “Nonsense! Yuhui’s appearance resembles yours the most—how could she be so far behind Chu Lingxuan…”

Yuhui resembled him the most!

Chen Shiying was exasperated by his mother’s apparent delusions. Without waiting for her to finish, he immediately went to the Marquis’s residence to apologize. Unexpectedly, Chu Lingxuan wasn’t overly upset and dismissed the matter as a woman’s unintentional words, stating he wouldn’t hold it against her. Furthermore, it wasn’t just Madam Chen’s fault, Li, his second aunt, also had a share in it and had been sternly rebuked by the old Marquis…

Thinking about these distressing matters, Chen Shiying was so furious that he felt as though he might spit blood, wishing he could be ten thousand miles away from the Chu family.

……

He was still some distance from Tangyuan when he saw Chu Lingxuan standing at the gates, waiting for him.

Under the spring sun, Chu Lingxuan stood tall and elegant, his demeanor imposing and inscrutable. With his lofty background, even if his family had been embroiled in conflicts with Princess Rong Zhao, it wasn’t someone of his daughter’s average appearance that he would have in mind.

Suddenly, Chen Shiying’s mind conjured the exquisite face of Chen Feng—his daughter, beautiful and intelligent. In terms of appearance, she could be considered a match for Chu Lingxuan.

This peculiar thought startled even Chen Shiying himself.