Chapter 669: Chapter 602, Conversation_1 Chapter 669: Chapter 602, Conversation_1 Madam Zhu led Madam Zhu the fourth and Zhu Qiyun over for an early meal. As soon as they arrived at the old madam’s courtyard, they noticed something was off with everyone’s expressions.

Seeing that Madam Yan, who had been quite warm to them yesterday, now had a stern face, the hearts of Madam Zhu the fourth and Zhu Qiyun immediately sank.

Madam Zhu glanced at the mother and daughter and thought to herself, she knew it, with Madam Yan’s personality, how could she possibly accept someone who had been previously engaged as a daughter-in-law.

After the early meal and seeing Madam Sun’s attitude, Madam Zhu wanted to take her leave right then and there. However, for her daughter’s marriage arrangements, Madam Zhu the fourth still shamelessly stayed on for two more days, hoping that during these two days the Yan Family would see the good in their daughter.

Unfortunately, her hopes were in vain. In the two days that they stayed, apart from paying respects in the morning, they couldn’t meet anyone from the second branch at all. Although Madam Li was still as enthusiastic as ever, it was unfortunate that the decision did not hinge on her opinion, given that it was Yan Wenjie they sought to matchmake.

Zhu Qiyun was, after all, just a young girl. Even though she tried her best to appear calm on the surface, the disappointment and dejection in her eyes were impossible to ignore.

“Miss Zhu, the sachet you’re wearing is so beautiful, could you give it to me?”

Madam Li had a good impression of Madam Zhu the fourth and Zhu Qiyun. When they left the Yan Family, she and Daohua personally saw them to the gate. Daohua, noticing the unique sachet Zhu Qiyun wore, jokingly asked for it with a smile.

Even though things hadn’t gone as hoped, Zhu Qiyun was still grateful for Daohua speaking up for her before; if it hadn’t been for the eldest Miss Yan, they probably wouldn’t have even seen the face of Madam Yan of the second branch this time.

Zhu Qiyun smiled as she removed the sachet: “Since Miss Yan thinks highly enough of it, please, take it.”

Daohua took the sachet and said with a smile, “Come visit us again when you have a chance.”

Zhu Qiyun nodded with a smile, but her heart was filled with a bitter thought, fearing that there would be no such opportunity in the future.

Watching as the Zhu family’s carriage and horses departed into the distance, Madam Li shook her head with a look of regret, “It’s a pity, such a fine young lady.”

Daohua: “Isn’t it just so? Madam Yan the second did everything so excessively these two days, and yet Miss Zhu still handled herself appropriately. Such temperament is truly rare.” She said, shaking her head, “What’s the use of only considering the nobility of one’s family? If you marry a pampered girl, the days to come will be tough for the second uncle and aunt.”

Madam Li sighed, “Who’s to say otherwise?”

In the midst of their conversation, the two of them returned to the mansion.

On the way back, Daohua caught a glimpse of Yan Wenjie hurrying off, her eyes slightly stirred: “Mother, do you think second brother holds any fondness for Miss Zhu?”

Madam Li shook her head, “He’s not my son; how would I know such things?” After a pause, she added, “They’ve only met once or twice; even if there is fondness, it’s not much.”

Daohua said nothing more and helped Madam Li return to the main yard.

Upon their return, they saw Madam Sun waiting in the living room.

As soon as Madam Sun saw Madam Li returning, she quickly said with a smile, “Big sister, I’m glad you’re back. I have to tell you, yesterday the wife of Justice Shao sent a message over, saying she wants to invite us to admire flowers at their place.”

Madam Li, speechless: “It’s already mid-May; the weather is getting hotter. What was Justice Shao thinking, inviting us to admire flowers at this time?”

Madam Sun laughed, “Of course, that’s just a pretext. Have you forgotten? We’re currently discussing a marriage for Wenjie. She mentioned this, probably because she has taken a liking to Wenjie.”

Daohua frowned, “I’ve met Miss Shao a few times; her character isn’t that appealing.”

Madam Sun wasn’t concerned in the least, “Ah, girls are inevitably a bit spoiled at home, just like you, Yiyi. You’re not that great at home either; it’s all pampering from the family. Once married, they will surely learn to restrain themselves.”

Daohua gave Madam Sun a bland look, “I was kindly reminding you, second aunt. Even if my words didn’t please you, there was no need to criticize me.” Having said that, she excused herself to Madam Li and turned to leave.

Madam Sun wanted to tell Madam Li to discipline Daohua, but seeing Madam Li’s face was also rather displeased, she stopped speaking embarrassingly.

She endured when her son said the match depended on the main branch!

…

Three days after Madam Zhu and the others departed, Yan Zhigao received word about the fourth branch of the Zhu Family.

Madam Zhu Si did not hide or exaggerate her family’s situation, and the information Yan Zhigao gathered was almost the same as what she had said. After reading the letter, he took it to seek Madam Li’s opinion.

After discussing with the Elder Madam Yan for a while, they all felt the marriage proposal was feasible.

So Yan Zhigao took the information he had gathered to discuss the matter with Yan Zhiyuan.

Waited for Yan Zhiyuan to finish reading the letter, Yan Zhigao then spoke, “I think the match with the Zhu Family is quite good.”

Yan Zhiyuan was silent for a moment, “But the Zhu Family girl has been engaged before.”

Yan Zhigao pointed his finger at the letter on the table, “The process of her broken engagement is clearly written here, isn’t it? The fault doesn’t lie with her, and this point need not be overly concerned.”

Yan Zhiyuan reluctantly said, “But it doesn’t sound good when it’s spread around. Others don’t know the ins and outs and will only say that Wenjie has married a girl who was once engaged.”

Yan Zhigao was silent for a moment, “During this time, the families you and your second sister-in-law have deemed suitable for Wenjie, I’ve heard about them from your eldest sister-in-law, I know, you want to find a better Yue Family for Wenjie, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

“But have you thought, if he marries a girl from a higher-status family, can Wenjie really control her? With the aid and favors of the Yue Family, Wenjie won’t be able to stand as tall, do you want him to always be suppressed by a woman?”

Yan Zhiyuan immediately replied, “That won’t happen.”

Yan Zhigao sighed, “How can it not? Back when our family was poor, we received a lot of favors in monetary terms from your eldest sister-in-law’s family. Even now, facing her two brothers, I can’t quite stand tall.”

“It was fortunate that your eldest sister-in-law is a virtuous and pure person, she has left me with much face over the years, but can you guarantee that the woman Wenjie marries will be like your eldest sister-in-law?”

“In marriage, for a family, it’s important to consider matching of social status, but for a couple, it’s about balance of power. If one is too dominant over the other, one will always be suppressed, or the marriage turns chaotic.”

“Second brother, think about it, isn’t this the truth?”

Yan Zhiyuan was silent, not speaking.

After a while, Yan Zhigao continued, “After all, the Zhu Family is an aristocratic family in Zhongzhou, even if they’ve declined somewhat these years, they still have their foundation. Marrying Zhu Miss, who has been engaged before, would also mean no longer having the worry of her suppressing him.”

“Besides, Zhu Fourth Master was the vice chancellor at Wangyue Academy. Though he’s deceased, his reputation remains, and his students are still alive, many of whom have entered officialdom–these are all potential connections.”

“Additionally, the younger brother of Miss Zhu became a Scholar at ten. He shows great promise in academics, and if he starts to pursue it seriously, his future is boundless.”

“One last point, I believe your second sister-in-law must have already told you about Miss Zhu’s dowry. Thousands of books, these can be passed down through generations, won’t it ensure that your descendants are well taught?”

Yan Zhiyuan listened silently, gradually, his aversion to Zhu Qiyun lessened, feeling indeed the match with the Zhu Family was not bad.

Seeing his second brother’s stance soften, a smile flashed through Yan Zhigao’s eyes. His second brother was more interested in immediate benefits; he could only lay out the benefits plainly to move his heart.

Yan Zhiyuan: “… Big brother, let me think it over some more.”

Yan Zhigao nodded, “You should think it over. But mother and your eldest sister-in-law think highly of Miss Zhu, which shows she really is a good match. As for your second sister-in-law, she’s just concerned about the broken engagement. Go and talk to her, women’s concerns are not always comprehensive; explain and analyze it with her more.”