When Yun Ya came to Madam Qu’s courtyard, Madam Qu hadn’t gone to bed. In these days, the Ministry of Justice had a lot of things to deal with, so Luo Bin came back late. Sometimes, it was too late, and he would stay in the study outside for the whole night. Madam Qu felt worried about her husband, so she slept in the yard a little late. When she knew that Luo Bin was back, she could ask someone to invite him in.
Luo Bin had not come back till this time today. Madam Qu was embroidering under the lamp. When she heard that Yun Ya had come over, she hurriedly asked her maidservant to invite her in. She had only one daughter by her side. Now that her daughter was married out, she could not come specially to see her. When she saw Yun Ya, she really treated her as a daughter.
“Aunt.” As soon as she entered the room, Yun Ya immediately became a delicate little girl. After saluting Madam Qu affectionately, she sat beside her and picked up her embroidery. “Aunt, your embroidery is really good. No wonder my mother always said that you were a capable woman. She also asked me to learn from you, be more sensible and listen to you.”
Looking at how obedient Yun Ya was, Madam Qu put down the embroidery in her hand and sighed secretly. “What a poor girl she is. She looks so pure and lovely. How could anyone have the heart to lie to her? Her reputation is almost ruined. It really makes people anxious. My sister has cried many times in the letter. This time, she intends to let her marry into General Manor. As for her temper, it would be okay if I could take care of her and remind her.”
She watched Wenyou grow up. As His Excellency of Fu General, he had been raised by her since he was a child. He had always listened to her. If Yun Ya were to marry into the family, he would at least not treat her shabbily. Furthermore, Yun Ya’s reputation had been ruined and she could not be the wife of His Excellency, but she would be able to be a concubine. General Manor was able to support one more person. It was not bad for Yun Ya to marry into this family.
“Ya’er, have you seen His Excellency these days?” Madam Qu asked as she held Yun Ya’s hand. She had to make sure that the two young people liked each other. Even though she felt that Luo Wenyou would like Yun Ya because she had a good character and was obedient. However, she had to make things clear in case she would not make the two unhappy.
“Aunt!” Hearing her words, Yun Ya blushed. She looked so shy that she almost couldn’t raise her head. She put down the embroidery in her hand and said coyly.
Every girl would act like this at the mention of her marriage. Madam Qu was not surprised. She waved her hand and motioned for the others to leave. As others had left, she turned around, took Yun Ya’s hand, and sighed. “Ya’er, don’t blame me for being straightforward. It’s what your mother and I mean, but I won’t push you if you two can’t get along.”
She was really planning for Yun Ya. Her younger sister had said clearly in the letter that Yun Ya was a good girl, but she had been deceived and eloped. Thanks to the people in her manor, who noticed that she missed in time, she had been brought back early. However, her reputation had been ruined. Who would marry her as his wife in the future? So, her mother sent her here far away. The two sisters had discussed in private, and then Madam Qu sent Yun Ya to serve Old Madam.
She wanted her to meet Luo Wenyou often to grow their love for each other. She planned to bring it up in front of Old Madam a few days later, and then it would be a matter of time.
“Aunt, Cousin is very good!” Yun Ya answered shyly.
Madam Qu was gratified by her words and felt relieved. She finally lived up to her sister’s request. It seemed that Ya’er was satisfied with the marriage. As long as Ya’er was satisfied, it should be okay with Wenyou. After all, Yun Ya would not be his legal wife. Recently, someone was matchmaking for Wenyou. When his marriage was settled, and got married, Ya’er could officially get a title. This matter was really good. She had to write a letter to discuss it with her sister.
“Aunt, don’t worry. I don’t know if cousin…” Yun Ya pinched her handkerchief and said shyly. There was worry in her beautiful eyes. She bit her lips as if she wanted to say something, but was a little embarrassed. Her face turned red.
“Is she worried about Luo Wenyou’s reaction? She is really a good girl who would think of others.” Madam Qu could not help but touch her head and comfort her, “Wenyou will be okay with it. Ya’er is so well-behaved and so beautiful and smart. How can Wenyou not like you? I heard that he specifically talked to you in the past few days. It can be seen that Wenyou thinks you are not bad from the bottom of his heart.”
Recently, Yun Ya had been serving Old Madam, so it was normal for the two to meet. Madam Qu also knew that it was unreasonable. Although it was not underhand and would damage the girl’s reputation, Yun Ya was not going after the position of His Excellency’s wife. She had to win Luo Wenyou’s heart. It was necessary for them to meet first and cultivate feelings for each other.
Therefore, even though Madam Qu knew it was unreasonable, she did not correct it. She also asked someone to inquire about it in private and learned that at least, Luo Wenyou did not obviously express that he was treating Yun Ya as a stranger. This was already good enough. Madam Qu knew Luo Wenyou’s temper well. Luo Wenyou would avoid a young and unfamiliar female guest at home.
It was already rare for Luo Wenyou to be able to say something to Yun Ya. It meant that Luo Wenyou did feel something when he saw Yun Ya.
“Aunt, I didn’t mean that… after this, if His Excellency’s wife marries into the family and doesn’t, doesn’t like me… what should I do?” After hesitating for a while, Yun Ya timidly said. After that, she looked at Madam Qu with tears in her eyes. “I’m afraid, afraid that cousin will be in a dilemma.”
Her words were very implicit, but Madam Qu immediately understood. All the women in the back yard were good at this, and they also considered this issue. Although Luo Bin was very self-disciplined, there were still a few concubines. Usually, the narrow-minded women always fought with each other. How could Madam Qu not understand?
So when she heard Yun Ya’s words, her heart thumped. She frowned slightly and felt that she forgot to consider that.
Ya’er was only a few days younger than Mingzhu and was already 16 years old. It was already too late for a 16-year-old girl who had not gotten engaged. Someone was matchmaking for Luo Wenyou. Even though it went smoothly, after the ceremony, he could only get married after this year. Furthermore, after the bride married into the family, the couple would have a sweet time and then the legal son would be born.
In this way, it would take at least two years. At that time, Ya’er would be an 18-year-old girl. Moreover, she would stay in the manor without a title. It was not appropriate. If she kept staying in the manor for a few years, it would be too long. It would be inconvenient to settle the matter of two more people at that time.
Thinking of this, Madam Qu grew really worried. General Manor had strict moral standards. The concubine could not have a child before the legal wife did. The concubine often entered the manor after the legal wife married into the manor for at least one year. The problem was that Ya’er couldn’t afford to wait. At such an age, without the title, how could she live in General Manor for a long time?
It didn’t seem easy to deal with this matter!
“Aunt, if it’s difficult for you… forget it. I’ll just think that I have no fate with Cousin. I’ll… go back after my mother comes to the capital.” Noticing that Madam Qu had thought of this, Yun Ya immediately put on a sad look. She wiped tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, and her tears flowed down. She pretended to be concerned about her aunt.
This made Madam Qu’s heart ache. She held Yun Ya in her arms and patted her. She promised again and again, “Don’t worry, Ya’er. Aunt will think of a way. I’m sure there will be a way.”
Back to their hometown? Her sister had said that the place had a conservative atmosphere, so it was even impossible for Ya’er to be a concubine, let alone marry someone. If she was forced to be sent to someone else’s manor, maybe others would torture her. There was no way for her, a good girl, to survive. Therefore, Madam Qu would never let Yun Ya go back.
“Aunt, do you have any other methods? Can… can you make me marry into the family first? Aunt, don’t worry about me anymore. I have a bad fate. That’s what I should get.”
Yun Ya’s words were choked by sobbing and she leaned on Madam Qu. She covered her lips with a handkerchief, but there was a choked voice. She looked like she was suffering and didn’t want to bother Madam Qu. Madam Qu felt heartbroken, patted her back and comforted her, “How could you have a bad fate? You will never have a bad fate. I will definitely arrange it for you first. If you can’t, you can marry into the family first. Even if we secretly settle the matter.”
At first, Madam Qu was just trying to comfort Yun Ya. But then, an idea came to her mind, and she suddenly came up with a method. Indeed, if she married into the family later, she would inevitably become an old lady. Then, she could marry into the family first. If she entered the family first, she would be able to gain a foothold faster than His Excellency’s wife. Moreover, she would be with Wenyou first. In the future, Wenyou would also protect her. And she would also take care of her, and thus no one would bully Ya’er in the future.
It was unreasonable for a concubine to enter the family before the legal wife, and would damage General Manor’s reputation, but it would at least be able to keep Ya’er safe for the rest of her life. Madam Qu still felt that it was worth it. Furthermore, even though Ya’er had entered the family first, as long as no one spread it out, no one would know that a concubine had already entered the family before the legal wife. By the time the legal wife of His Excellency married into the family, things would already be done. If she fussed about it, it would mean that she would no longer be as gentle and intelligent as a woman.
Madam Qu was thinking for Yun Ya wholeheartedly but had completely forgotten that she was the Second Madam of General Manor!
When she thought of this, all of her thoughts were on Yun Ya. She felt that this was the best solution. In this case, Ya’er would not be bullied. Even though General Manor’s reputation would be damaged, Luo Wenyou was a man, and he would at most be considered as a philanderer. It was not a big deal.
But now there was a new problem. How to make the manor allow Ya’er to marry in first?
Looking at Yun Ya’s expectant eyes, Madam Qu became smart suddenly. She touched Yun Ya’s long hair while comforting her. Under normal circumstances, it was impossible for Old Madam to agree to let Ya’er marry into the manor first unless there was a special situation. What was a special situation that could make Old Madam agree?
“Aunt… Do you want Ya’er to enter first? No… I can’t do it. I can’t do it. How can I do such a shameless thing? How can I and Cousin…” As she noticed that Madam Qu frowned all the time, but couldn’t think of a way out, Yun Ya was so anxious that she cursed in secret. After thinking for a while, she showed an anxious expression on her face. She grabbed Madam Qu’s clothes and shook, seeming to persuade her eagerly. Her face also turned pale, as if she were in a panic.
At the sight of her expression and words, Madam Qu’s eyes suddenly lit up. She suddenly pulled Yun Ya and said with a smile, “Ya’er, don’t worry. I have a way. Although you can’t make it real, at least your cousin will be responsible for you.”