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Chen Feng remarked, “She’s walking a dangerous path step by step, isn’t she?” She chuckled and added, “However, Chen Yuhui is no pushover. Her fighting spirit is not weaker than He Linsheng’s. Who knows, she might even manage to bring him down.”
Chu Lingxuan commented, “No matter how tough her words are, they can’t match a good punch. The He residence is bound to become livelier in the future.” With a mischievous grin, he added, “Unintentionally, I played the matchmaker and brought together the most suitable pair.”
Chen Feng laughed, “Apart from Chen Yuhui and that old lady, no one will accept you as a matchmaker.”
Chu Lingxuan playfully pecked Chen Feng and said, “I don’t care about others’ opinions as long as Feng accepts my matchmaking. Marrying off your younger sister will finally bring peace to your maternal family.”
Thinking about someone dealing with that troublesome girl, Chen Feng felt a bit excited, even letting Chu Lingxuan have a playful episode. However, the commotion was a bit loud, waking up Mama Li.
A few days ago, Mama Li had gone back to her own home, but that night, she was on duty and heard the noise, prompting her to move from her side room to the east side, coughing a few times behind the bedroom door. She whispered to Autumn, who was on duty in the side room, “If anything happens to the madam, and we servants are involved, we won’t escape the consequences.”
Autumn blushed, keeping her head down in embarrassment.
Chen Feng blushed and scolded Chu Lingxuan softly.
Unhappy, Chu Lingxuan muttered under his breath, “That old lady is truly audacious, even daring to interfere with the master. I care for the children too, how could I not consider their well-being.”
To avoid embarrassing Chen Feng, he quickly wrapped up the conversation.
The next day was the Qixi Festival, also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day. Chen Feng prepared needles and colorful threads, teaching Chu Hanyan how to thread a needle.
However, Chen Feng didn’t use the small seven-hole needle typically used during the festival. Instead, she used a larger needle for quilting, reasoning, “Start with the easy tasks before moving on to the harder ones to boost her confidence.”
For the past few days, the young girl had diligently practiced every day and was now able to thread the needle successfully, bringing her immense joy as she eagerly anticipated threading the needle under the moon that night.
However, by midday, a light drizzle began to fall. The young girl’s lips pouted high, fearing that the heavens might not grant her the opportunity to be a skillful girl on this special day.
The rain also dampened Li Xuan’s spirits. In fact, he hadn’t been very happy since arriving at the mansion because there was no children’s playground here.
Chen Feng had Li Xuan placed on the kang, along with two birds of different lengths, and began telling him stories. Meanwhile, Zui Feng and Sasa lay below the kang, not enjoying the cramped space either.
Li Xuan’s favorite story was “The Landlord’s New Clothes,” and he would giggle non-stop every time he heard it. After each tale, he would request, “Tell me more.”
Both Autumn and Xiaomo knew this story, but Li Xuan only wanted to hear it from Chen Feng.
Whenever Li Xuan chuckled, Qiqi and Gray would laugh along. The birds, Chang and Duan, would also stick out their tongues and laugh, looking incredibly adorable.
Later in the afternoon, Hong Feng arrived, sent by Madam Jiang. She informed Chen Feng that earlier in the day, Mr. He and Mrs. He, along with Young General He, had braved the rain to visit the Chen residence to propose to the second Miss.
This time, Mr. Fu was also invited as a mediator.
While Mr. He appeared pleased, the expressions on Mrs. He and Young General He were less than favorable.
Before the marriage proposal was accepted, they first sought the second Miss’s consent. Upon learning that she was willing to marry into the He family, the proposal was accepted. The two families agreed, and within ten days, the official matchmaker would come for the formal engagement.
Upon hearing that the second Miss was to marry into the Deputy General’s family, a young official of seventh rank, and seeing how fair and lovely he was, the Old lad Chen was overjoyed. She invited Mrs. He to her courtyard, declaring it a happy occasion in the mansion. She instructed that the servants be given an extra month’s pay and arranged for a banquet in the evening in her courtyard, inviting the masters and respectable servants to join…
“The Old Madam specifically mentioned that the Eldest Young Madam should take the Master and the children to the banquet. She also instructed Mrs. He to ensure that the Eldest Young Madam’s family was invited.” Hong Feng reported.
What Hong Feng didn’t mention was the Old Madam’s repeated words, “That wretched girl thinks she’s found herself a great man, not realizing she’s just becoming a concubine, raising someone else’s child. Yuhui is the legitimate main wife, with no one ahead of her, having borne her own legitimate children. We must invite that wretched girl to the feast and infuriate her…”
Even without Hong Feng’s words, Chen Feng could guess the situation. She found it amusing, the Old lady was both malicious and short-sighted. How could she have raised such a good child as Chen Shiying? She thought about how Mrs. Wang had truly made significant contributions. If the Old lady had solely raised Chen Shiying, one could only imagine what kind of person he would have become.
Not wanting to join the commotion, especially not wanting to witness the expressions of those two individuals, Chen Feng smiled and said, “Tell the Old Madam and the second Miss on my behalf that my husband and I congratulate the second Miss on finding a good son-in-law as she wished. However, due to my current condition, I am unable to move around much. When the second Miss’s joyous day arrives, we will surely bring our whole family to offer our congratulations.”
After seeing Hong Feng off, Chen Feng chuckled at the Old lady’s satisfaction, contrasting with the He family’s disgruntlement. Especially He Linsheng, who realized he had been outsmarted by Chu Lingxuan and foolishly dove into the situation, unaware of the consequences.
Chu Lingxuan left the yamen, happily recounting to his father and Chen Feng how Deputy General He and He Linsheng reacted in frustration upon seeing him.
Deputy General He maintained a polite smile and said, “According to Linsheng, you exerted great effort to rescue the person who fell into the water. Thank you, we will remember your kindness.”
Chu Lingxuan clasped his hands and replied, “General He, no need for formalities. Young General He possesses exceptional martial skills and remarkable talents. I am delighted and honored to become his brother-in-law.”
He Linsheng, unable to speak boldly like his father due to their differing statuses, clenched his fists silently, feeling the discrepancy in their positions. He was seething but dared not say a word.
Chu Lingxuan patted his shoulder and said, “I made a mistake yesterday, thinking it was my wife third sister who fell into the water, but it turned out to be my second sister-in-law. Nevertheless, my second sister-in-law is admirable. Despite being an illegitimate daughter, she is bold and spirited, with a demeanor that matches any man. My good man, Young General He, don’t forget that.”
He Linsheng clenched his fists and replied, “I will remember General Chu’s kindness for a lifetime.”
Chu Lingxuan’s words amused both old Marquis and Chen Feng, so much that the Old Marquis even had an extra drink.
The rain had lasted for two days and nights but finally stopped on the ninth day in the afternoon. The post-rain weather was not cooling down; instead, it became hot and humid, making it quite uncomfortable.
On the tenth day of July, the sun shone brightly without a cloud in the sky.
This day marked the auspicious occasion when the He family sent a matchmaker to propose at the Chen residence, coinciding with the Chu family’s celebration. They invited Mr. Fu’s son, General Fu’s family, General Qin’s family, and General Liu’s family to join. These men were Chu Lingxuan’s closest friends in Dingzhou Prefecture.
These gentlemen had never seen the Ninth Prince twice, so they couldn’t possibly notice the resemblance between Dabao and the Ninth Prince. Therefore, Chu Lingxuan wasn’t worried about their interaction.