CHAPTER 185: CHAPTER 184: COULD THERE BE A MISTAKE?

He Wenyu listened to his old mother Zhu’s words, shouting, "Mother! Why won’t you listen to me! I want to marry someone from the Xiao Family too! How could she be my concubine? Even though she’s an illegitimate daughter, she’s still an illegitimate daughter of the Xiao Family from Southern Lanling. Do we, the He Family, have such a big face to take someone as a concubine?"

"Are these two Xiaos the same? Are legitimate and illegitimate the same? Huh? Are they the same?"

"What’s the difference? If you feel aggrieved, why don’t I marry two then?" He Wenyu said nonchalantly.

"Bang!" Zhu was so angry she couldn’t speak, she picked up the teacup at hand and smashed it at her son’s feet.

"Shut up! I shouldn’t have let you out today! You don’t care about brotherhood, nor do you listen to the orders of your parents?"

He Wenyu was startled by his mother’s strong reaction, jumping back to avoid the broken porcelain, and he got angry too, flung his sleeves and said, "If you don’t find me someone I’m satisfied with, I won’t hold the wedding ceremony, I’ll go talk to Grandma!"

Then he stormed off.

Zhu was so angry she almost passed out, and the maids around her bustled to help.

"Come... come, call all the little servants around Erlang here, I want to question them thoroughly!"

"Yes!"

He Miao, who rode a bamboo sedan to the main courtyard to greet his mother, happened to encounter Zhu interrogating the servants, the courtyard was filled with wailing cries. After asking the servants, He Miao found out it was his troublesome brother causing their mother distress again.

After hearing the story, He Miao found it odd. With his brother’s experience in the social world, how could he be so bewitched by Xiao Shulian, talking as if it were love at first sight?

The Xiao twins are indeed somewhat beautiful, but far from being stunning enough to charm a nation. How did she become a goddess in his brother’s eyes! Could there be a mistake? Speaking of which, the most bewitching person in the Xiao Mansion now would be that hated Lin woman.

"Mother, could there be some misunderstanding here? Xiao Shulian isn’t that mesmerizing, is she?"

Zhu said coldly, "That’s not important, no matter which seductive girl he saw in the peach forest today, none of them would be noble enough to marry into our family."

While the He family was a mess because of He Wenyu, the Xiao side was quite joyous.

Today’s matchmaking pleased both sides. Even though the protagonists hadn’t met, as long as the identities were suitable and the elders were satisfied, that was enough.

Marriage has always been an affair of parental order and matchmaker’s words since ancient times.

Although Xiao Shulian bears the Xiao surname, she’s ultimately an illegitimate daughter of a separated branch, leaving little room for choice in the marriage market—unless she’s willing to marry into a poor family.

This time, the He family, though not one of the eight major clans in Jiangnan, was still influential around Qiantang and Hangzhou, a local power.

Moreover, He Wenqi himself is quite ambitious, working in the County Government as a clerk, much better than others in the clan who idle away or run errands for the direct lineage. He’s a promising stock.

This is why Yuan chose him as a husband for the illegitimate daughter, for the Xiao family’s main branch had no one in officialdom. The second branch managed to enter officialdom through thick-skinned efforts, while the main branch relied mainly on shops and properties left in Qiantang by their ancestors and the dowry of the old lady.

The family traveled a thousand miles from Jinling to Qiantang, with unstable roots, needing to forge good relations with the local He family. Becoming in-laws was an unfailing method for the Great Tang nobility to stick together, and He Wenqi marrying a Xiao girl was beneficial, a win-win.

It’s unlikely for He Wenqi, a branch of the He family, to marry a proper legitimate Xiao girl, but it was hopeful to marry a branch legitimate girl, yet Yuan wouldn’t allow it.

Yuan meticulously taught the illegitimate daughter to create the impression of equal treatment to legitimize her as a Xiao girl.

After meeting Xiao Shulian, the female members of the He family were also satisfied, and the two young ladies sent out to socialize praised their future sister-in-law, noting her courtesy and discretion as a daughter from a big family.

Thus, everyone was tacitly aware after coming down the mountain. Soon, the He family would pick an auspicious day to send a matchmaker.

Of course, this is under the smooth conditions.

In the Bamboo Garden of Xiao Mansion, a dim room lit by a lone candle.

Xiao Yixun sat in front of a copper mirror, staring expressionlessly at her own pallid face in the reflection.

After a long time, she suddenly spoke to the mirror, "Have you come out again? It’s you causing trouble, isn’t it?"

The silent copper mirror would obviously offer no response, nor would the mute girl standing in the corner.

Xiao Yixun gazed indifferently at the copper mirror, then slowly extended her snow-white finger, gently pressing it against the brow of her reflection in the mirror.

Once, twice, thrice...

She jabbed continuously for a long time, the only sound in the room under the night was the eerie "thud thud thud."

The mute girl listened as goosebumps ran across her arm, yet she remained motionless, like a stone sculpture, standing behind her mistress.

The previous mute girl who interrupted her master’s thoughts had already been sent to the "village."

It was no ordinary farm, but a clandestine operation by the Gate Valve in the underworld. Those who entered, dyed their hands in blood, had one in a million chance of survival.

In the guesthouse of Ge Xian Temple, Lin Wanwan and Hua Nong had prepared a table full of good dishes. Lin Wanwan even specially traveled through time to buy sauced beef and Gu Yue Long Shan yellow wine in the modern era.

Though this place is Taoist, there are many sects within Taoism, and there are no rules here about vegetarianism or cutting off worldly ties, so everyone happily drank wine and grilled meat without any taboos.

Who doesn’t love good food and fine wine?

On the small red clay stove, yellow wine is warmed, and it feels heavenly to sip a bit of wine and bite some sauced beef.

"Little one, this wine is quite something! The beef is also well-cooked, it takes years of skill to achieve this!" Old Cao was a bit tipsy and started talking more, "Where did you get this wine? Bring some more for this old man."

Lin Wanwan chuckled, "To answer Old Cao, this wine can’t be bought outside, my master personally brewed it long ago."

"Your master is truly a godlike person, knowing everything. I, an old man, am ashamed, never having heard of his name. The wilderness must truly hide talents." Old Cao said while moving the remaining wine jug closer to himself, "Little girl, stop drinking and eat some dishes, quick, eat! Your New Luo Maid’s cooking is quite good."

After the meal, Lin Wanwan led Qingyu by the hand to escort Old Cao and Lu Zhao Lin down the mountain to board a boat.

Qingyu, who had become very attached to her knowledgeable playmate over these days, felt very downcast about the parting.

Even Lu Zhao Lin’s eyes were red, "Little Sister Qingyu, as we part to traverse the mountains and waters, take care of yourself."

Qingyu stood on the dock, waving to the people on the boat, "Brother Zhaolin, come visit my house when you can, I still have many toys!"

Lu Zhao Lin’s eyes gradually moistened, nodding firmly. His time in Qiantang County was the happiest in his life.

Old Cao, nearing ninety years old, had long seen through life, sat leisurely in the ship’s cabin, watching the young ones reluctantly saying goodbye.