Chapter 685: Chapter 616, Worshiping the Matchmaker_1 Chapter 685: Chapter 616, Worshiping the Matchmaker_1 After returning to the Yan Residence, Madam Li immediately instructed the kitchen to make Calming Soup and sent Yan Yihuan and the other two away before turning to Daohua, “You weren’t scared, were you?”

Daohua shook her head.

Madam Li sighed, “Last time it was the Guo Family, this time the Jiang Family. Whenever I think about your third brother and fourth brother dealing with dangerous tasks just like those Protectors today, I can’t help but feel terrified.”

Previously, the master told her that both children were now fifth-rank chieftains, and she couldn’t have been happier. But when she thought of the two assassination attempts they had encountered, all that happiness had dissipated.

Everything the children obtained today was earned at the risk of their lives.

Daohua sat down beside Madam Li, “Mother, third brother and fourth brother are much more formidable than those Protectors.”

Madam Li was not at all comforted, “Wenkai and Wentao are indeed robust, but they are only better at fighting. If they encounter those last two experts who can leap over walls and roofs, they probably wouldn’t even have a chance to escape.”

Upon hearing this, Daohua fell silent as well. She had no solution and could only hope that Xiao Yeyang would help her find the Jingmiao Grass Seeds soon to create the Eight Meridian Pill.

Life had to go on, and in a blink, it was already July.

After more than a month of preparation, Madam Li, with the help of the Sun Family, had all the betrothal gifts for the Zhu Family ready. The third day of July was an auspicious day, and she planned to have Yan Zhiyuan take Yan Wenjie to the Zhu Family to formally propose on that day.

The second wife’s courtyard.

Sun Shi was checking the betrothal gifts one by one. After completing the check and not looking very satisfied, she returned to her room only to see Yan Zhiyuan leisurely drinking tea. She couldn’t help but complain, “The betrothal gifts for Wenjie are several grades lower than Wenshu’s.”

Yan Zhiyuan glanced sidelong at Sun Shi, “Be content. Wenjie and Wenshu’s betrothal gifts from the family are the same. As for the smaller portion, it’s because Wenjie doesn’t have a good mother or maternal family.”

Upon hearing this, Sun Shi immediately flared up, “What are you saying? Are you complaining about me?”

Yan Zhiyuan was very impatient to argue with Sun Shi and displeasedly put down his teacup, “Enough already, stop your endless complaints. Focus on preparing for your son’s betrothal; that’s what’s urgent.”

Seeing that Yan Zhiyuan was growing stern, Sun Shi didn’t dare to continue the argument. She went over to sit beside him, tugged at his sleeve, and said in a low voice, “I’m just feeling wronged for our son, and yet you turn the conversation on me.”

As he looked at his tugged sleeve, the corner of Yan Zhiyuan’s mouth involuntarily twitched. He spared a glance at Sun Shi, who had grown a bit plumper with more wrinkles and spots on her face, and decisively withdrew his sleeve.

At the same time, he was also somewhat puzzled; his elder sister-in-law was older than Sun Shi by a few years, yet she showed almost no signs of aging over the years. In fact, she seemed to be growing more radiant. Why then did his wife seem to become more worrisome each day?

Not wanting to waste words with Sun Shi, Yan Zhiyuan stood up and left the room. Just as he reached the courtyard, he saw Yan Wenjie coming over, “You’re just in time. Go over the betrothal gifts with your mother again, make sure nothing is missing. The Zhu Family after all is an aristocratic family; we can’t let them laugh at us.”

Yan Wenjie nodded in agreement, and seeing Yan Zhiyuan heading out, couldn’t help but ask, “Father, the betrothal is set for tomorrow, and yet you’re going out today?”

Yan Zhiyuan paused in his step, casually replied, “I still have some matters to attend to outside. Don’t worry, I’ll be back early tonight.”

Watching Yan Zhiyuan walk away, Yan Wenjie could not hide his disappointment. After standing still for a moment, he turned and entered the room.

Inside the room, Sun Shi was also in a low mood. When she saw Yan Wenjie come in, she couldn’t help but say, “Your father is growing more and more displeased with me.”

With that, she sighed.

“The Yan Family is getting better and better, while the Sun Family remains the same. Not having a strong maternal family for support is really a disadvantage.”

Saying this, Sun Shi then looked at Yan Wenjie with a smile.

“I was somewhat dissatisfied with the marriage to the Zhu Family initially. But now, thinking it over, it seems quite good after all. Qiyun was once divorced, and just because of this, she will have to be subordinate to you once she marries into our family. You won’t have to be overly concerned about her aristocratic origins.”

Looking at his mother, who kept talking on and on, and thinking about his father who couldn’t wait to be outside even the day before his betrothal, Yan Wenjie felt suffocated.

…

After the second wife’s family completed the betrothal proposal to the Zhu Family, Madam Li called the Wu Family into the main courtyard.

“Wentao’s marriage should be next now that Wentai and Wenjie’s matches are set. Have you asked the child what kind of person he wants to find?”

Madam Wu shook her head, “I spoke with the head of the family about this before, and Wentao said he’s not interested in marrying just yet.”

Madam Li frowned and couldn’t help but sigh. She had heard about Zhou Jingwan getting engaged. Wentao had truly lost his chance.

Madam Wu looked at Madam Li, “Eldest sister-in-law, Wentao has become more and more taciturn. Both the head of the family and I don’t want to pressure him too much. We want to give the child some time. Perhaps once he has forgotten the Zhou family girl, he may feel better.”

Madam Li nodded, “That might be best. If we forcibly arrange Wentao’s marriage now, we wouldn’t just be harming him, we’d also be harming the other family’s daughter.”

Madam Wu looked uncertain, “Eldest sister-in-law, won’t delaying Wentao’s marriage affect Wenkai as well?”

Madam Li smiled and shook her head, “Not at all. The Su family also wants to keep their daughter at home for a couple more years.”

Madam Wu was relieved, but the thought of her son so troubled by love gave her a headache.

…

On this year’s Qixi Festival, Madam Li took Daohua, Yan Yihuan, Yan Yishuang, and Yan Yile on a trip to the Yuelao Temple in the suburbs.

In the carriage, Madam Li told the four young ladies, “When we arrive at the Yuelao Temple, pray earnestly. Remember, you must be sincere.”

Yan Yihuan and the other two nodded shyly.

Why pray to Yuelao?

Naturally, they wished for Yuelao to grant them a fulfilling marriage.

Seeing the three young ladies’ bashful expressions, Daohua felt somewhat trance-like. In two or three years’ time, she and they would all be married off, time was passing too quickly.

There were many people who came to pray to Yuelao on Qixi Festival. As soon as Madam Li and Daohua entered the temple, they saw many familiar ladies.

Madam Li stayed to chat with the other ladies, while she sent Ping Tong to lead Daohua and the others to pray to Yuelao in the hall.

Daohua copied everyone else by praying to Yuelao in the main hall, then saw Ping Tong donate silver to a Taoist priest nearby, who in turn gave her four red strings.

When Ping Tong returned, she distributed the red strings to the four of them.

“Behind the Yuelao Temple is a very large marriage tree. You ladies should tie your red strings to the tree, and Yuelao will match you with a husband, guaranteeing that each of you will find the husband you desire.”

Upon hearing this, Yan Yihuan and the others felt somewhat embarrassed.

Daohua, “What are we waiting for? Let’s go now,” she said, leading the way.

Yan Yihuan and the others quickly followed.

Soon, the four arrived at the marriage tree behind the Yuelao Temple.

Yan Yihuan looked hesitant, “There are so many people watching; how should we tie the red strings?” It was too embarrassing to seek marriage under the gaze of the public!

Daohua, “However others tie them, that’s how we’ll tie them! Everyone at the Yuelao Temple has the same intention; there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

Hearing Daohua’s straightforward words, Yan Yihuan and the others were silent.

Daohua surveyed the surroundings and shook her head, “Even if we wanted to tie them, we might have to wait,” noting that the lower parts of the tree were already crowded with people. Unless they squeezed through the crowd, they would have to wait until it thinned out.

However, today was Qixi, and with so many people coming to pray to Yuelao, they were in for a long wait.