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Though Madam Jiang had never seen Li Xuan before, the current demeanor did not resemble that of a fool, just a slightly slower reaction time.
Thinking back to when Chu Hanyan was spoken of so poorly, she had now transformed into a lovely and clever young girl, albeit a bit slower in speech.
She couldn’t help but admire this “daughter” for raising these two children well, keeping the man captivated, and managing the in-laws so effectively. Despite the criticism of her origins, she managed to thrive in the husband’s family. What surprised Madam Jiang more was that even with the pregnancy, the man had not sought any concubines, and both the man and the in-laws had tolerated this…
If Chen Feng were her biological daughter, she might have taught her how to be virtuous and how to keep a man’s heart secure. A concubine was just a plaything, as women aged, men would surely lose interest. It was better to fulfill his desires sooner, allowing him to appreciate his wife’s virtue and generosity. However, with this “daughter”, she couldn’t say more.
Once inside, the servants served tea, and after a brief exchange of pleasantries, Chen Feng sensed that Madam Jiang had something to discuss and dismissed the servants.
With a forced smile on her face, Madam Jiang began, “I had to come and discuss this with you, as a mother in a predicament. Your third sister is already fifteen, and most girls her age are already married, but Qing…”
Previously, while in Jiangnan, many families had come seeking a match for Yuqing. Knowing that her husband would not remain in Jiangnan permanently, Madam Jiang rejected these proposals, intending to arrange a match once they moved. Unfortunately, due to an incident involving a shameless servant girl, their prospects were ruined. Despite having two good prospects lined up, they had to decline. Madam Jiang’s eyes welled up with tears.
Chen Feng quickly reassured her, “Mother, don’t worry. Sister Yuqing is gentle, virtuous, and talented. Father has remarkable achievements, and there might be a bright future ahead. I’m sure she will find a better match in the future.”
A faint smile appeared on Madam Jiang’s face, she was aware of her husband’s achievements as the Magistrate of Dingzhou, achievements closely tied to Chen Feng.
She continued, “Yes, Mrs. He—oh, the wife of General He, has visited our home several times and invited both you and your sisters to their home. I noticed that she intends to propose Qing to her second son. Initially, I wouldn’t have wanted Qing to marry into a military family…”
She paused and glanced at Chen Feng, who had married into a military family. Hurriedly, she explained, “A military family without a solid foundation is different from a prestigious family like your in-laws. Your youngest sister isn’t as understanding as you, and I fear she may not adapt to the military customs. Nonetheless, we can’t be too picky now. I saw the young man, though he serves in the military, he has a scholarly and refined appearance, a clean and cultured look that doesn’t resemble a typical warrior. Qing also seemed pleased upon meeting him. I’ve decided to proceed with the match, as long as he has good character, regardless of his military background. However, your father is hesitant, expressing concerns about the close relationship between the He family and the Wang family, fearing it might be seen as an alliance with the Second Prince’s faction… Please have your husband inquire about the suitability of the match with the He family.”
Chen Feng had indeed heard about how General He, aligned with the Second Prince’s faction, was strategically placed here by Wang Family to both pursue General Fu and undermine Chu Lingxuan. Most crucially, Chu Lingxuan dreamed of displacing him from his position as Deputy General, aiming to secure the position for himself.
However, she couldn’t discuss this openly with Madam Jiang. She decided to consult with Chu Lingxuan that night and figure out how to address the situation. She nodded, saying, “Alright, I’ll ask my husband about it.”
The following day, Madam Jiang would also attend the Fu family’s wedding banquet. After some banter, Madam Jiang bid her farewells and headed home.
That night, Chen Feng retired to bed first, while Chu Lingxuan leaned against the headboard, deep in thought about official matters. The Deputy Military Governor’s aide from Dingzhou was to attend the wedding, prompting him to contemplate how to make a good impression and subtly undermine General He in front of the aide.
The military forces of Dingzhou were under the direct command of the Deputy Military Governor’s office, with the aide being the superior officer.
Chen Feng relayed Madam Jiang’s words to Chu Lingxuan.
Chu Lingxuan set aside his work, and with a serious tone, he said to Chen Feng, “Your third sister must not marry into the He Family. Not only because General He is aligned with the Second Prince’s faction, but mainly because He’s second son is unsuitable. Your parents have only recently arrived in Dingzhou, and being civil officials, they are not familiar with He’s second son. He’s second son may appear delicate, but he is actually violent, cruel, and frequently injures or maims his subordinates. There have been rumors of maids in the mansion being injured or even killed by him. The He family, however, uses their wealth and influence to suppress these incidents, keeping them hidden from the public.”
Shocked by this revelation, Chen Feng stood up, saying, “Oh my, I must inform Mother immediately, we must not let our third sister fall into such a trap.”
Internally, she mused that it would serve Chen Yuhui right if she married He’s second son, experiencing the harsh reality of abuse or violence. However, she couldn’t suggest this to Madam Jiang, especially considering the alliance between the Chen and He families, which might impact Chen Shiying’s future prospects.
Chu Lingxuan added, “Remind your mother again that it’s best to avoid forming ties with those aligned with the Second Prince’s faction…” After a moment of reflection, he continued, “Forget it. I’ll invite father-in-law over to our house sometime and have a talk with him. It seems that the Second Prince must be aware of your father achievements and is trying to recruit him to their side. In their eyes, your third sister is the legitimate daughter, and you are the illegitimate one. If your third sister were to marry He’s second son, and if your father were to face any issues, he might consider you, the illegitimate daughter, as dispensable… We should have had a proper conversation long ago, but both of us have been busy, and you weren’t here, so we never found the right time.”
Chen Feng nodded in agreement.
As Chu Lingxuan lay down, he pulled Chen Feng closer and said, “Tomorrow, interact more with the Fu family and Mrs. Qin and Mrs. Liu. Their husbands are on good terms with me. If anyone dares to speak ill of you, you don’t need to tolerate it. I will find a way to deal with them in the future.”
This was Chen Feng’s first appearance in the social circles of these noble women, and Chu Lingxuan was concerned about potential backlash due to her background. He had heard numerous rumors but hesitated to disclose them to her. He felt guilty for the troubles Chen Feng faced in the capital, despite his promises to protect her, allowing her to be subjected to gossip.
Chen Feng smiled and quipped, “How will you teach them? Will you drag those who mistreat me out for a beating?”
Chu Lingxuan replied, “I won’t hit women, but I’ll take their men or sons to task.”
Chen Feng nuzzled against his neck and said, “Your wife isn’t that fragile. They show me respect, and I will reciprocate. If they dare to bully me, I won’t hold back.”
Thinking of Chen Feng’s rumored fierceness in fights, Chu Lingxuan joked, “But no fighting. Your current condition doesn’t allow it.”
Chen Feng chuckled proudly and remarked, “Now that I’m married, I’ll leave the fighting to my husband.”
Chu Lingxuan playfully pecked her lips and said, “You’ve got the right idea.”