SGEIRS -Chapter 478 Yu Chuan’s Marriage

On the fourth day of the new year, Old Madam Gu’s elder brother came to visit with his wife and children.

The younger members of the Gu family, upon learning of their arrival, all went to greet them.

Meng Jinyao, being pregnant, was slow in movement. By the time the couple arrived, the members of the first and second branches of the family were already present.

When Hang Ming and Madam Hang saw them arrive, their eyes immediately fell on Meng Jinyao. There was a hint of curiosity in their gaze as they sized her up.

Madam Hang smiled gently and asked, “Sister, this must be Yaoling’s wife, right?”

Old Madam Gu nodded. “Yes, that’s her.”

She then introduced her family to her daughter-in-law: “Jinyao, this is your uncle and aunt, and over there are your cousin Hang Junlan and cousin Hang Yian.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao quickly stepped forward to greet Hang Ming and Madam Hang, then prepared to address Hang Junlan and Hang Yian.

Hang Yian, fifteen this year, was a handsome young man, but his body had been weak since childhood, giving his face a sickly pallor. Before Meng Jinyao could speak to him, he stood up and smiled, bowing politely: “Cousin-in-law, Yian greets you.”

“Cousin,” Meng Jinyao smiled and nodded, then turned to call out to Hang Junlan: “Cousin.”

From the moment Meng Jinyao entered the room, Hang Junlan’s eyes had been glued to her. Seeing that Meng Jinyao was looking at her and speaking to her, she grinned and called out, “Sister.”

Hearing this, Madam Hang’s expression turned slightly awkward. Her daughter, now forty-one, had the mind of a three- or four-year-old, and being naturally simple-minded, she had caused many amusing incidents over the years, drawing laughter from many.

Meng Jinyao, having been informed beforehand, had prepared herself mentally. She stepped forward calmly, took Hang Junlan’s hand, and softly said, “Cousin, you can call me Jinyao, and I will call you Cousin Junlan. How about that?”

Seeing that Meng Jinyao treated her daughter without any oddness, Madam Hang’s worried heart finally settled.

Hang Junlan, a little dazed, looked at Meng Jinyao but obediently called out, “Jinyao.”

Meng Jinyao responded warmly, “Cousin Junlan.”

Madam Zhang discreetly glanced at Hang Junlan, feeling a pang of regret. Though over forty, she appeared no older than thirty. She had been a great beauty in her youth, but her mental disability prevented her from marrying even now.

After greetings were exchanged, everyone took their seats and chatted about family matters, asking about each other’s recent news.

Thanks to Gu Jingxi’s arrangements, Hang Ming was now able to stay in the capital for his post. The Hang family no longer needed to leave their hometown, and the two families, sitting together, began talking about taking a spring outing when the weather warmed.

After the luncheon, Hang Ming and his family lingered for another hour before departing.

Once the guests had left, Meng Jinyao and Gu Jingxi escorted Old Madam Gu back to Shou’an Hall.

Old Madam Gu sighed regretfully: “Yian was clever and quick-witted from a young age, with a remarkable memory and eloquence—not inferior to Yaoling—but his body is frail, so he has no hope of entering official service.”

Meng Jinyao paused briefly, then quickly understood. A healthy scholar taking the imperial exams would leave the examination hall exhausted, some needing assistance, and some even falling ill from the cold. A boy like cousin Yian, weak in body from birth, would not withstand it. Even if he endured the hardships of the exams, the demands of official duties would also strain his body.

Gu Jingxi replied, “Mother, a man doesn’t necessarily need to enter official service to achieve something in life.”

Meng Jinyao agreed, “Yes, mother. Cousin is talented. In the future, if he teaches students and has disciples all over the country, that is still an accomplishment.”

Old Madam Gu sighed softly. Her eldest brother and his wife had been childhood sweethearts, married for decades, loved each other deeply—envy-worthy by any standard. But fate was unkind: of their only two children, one was brilliant but frail, the other healthy and beautiful but mentally limited.

Weirui Pavilion.

When Ningdong saw Chan’er return from outside, she hurried over, winked at her, and asked with a smile, “Chan’er, Yu Chuan called you out. What did he say to you?”

Yu Chuan was fond of Chan’er. Others might not know, but the top maids in the courtyard were all aware, eagerly anticipating their wedding.

Chan’er shook her head. “He didn’t say much.”

Ningdong was puzzled: “So he called you out to talk and just stood there silently?”

Chan’er took out a dark blue pouch and explained helplessly: “This is the money he’s saved recently, including what the marquis rewarded him. He also gave me the wealth he had saved before.”

Ningdong was taken aback again. “He gave you all his savings—so why hasn’t he gone to the marquis and madam to formally propose?”

Chan’er shrugged. “I don’t know what he’s thinking.”

Ningdong pondered and asked, “Maybe he thought since you didn’t agree, he shouldn’t bring it up?”

Chan’er retorted, “I’ve accepted all his belongings. Doesn’t that already mean I agreed to marry him?”

Ningdong glanced at the pouch in Chan’er’s hands and nodded lightly. “I suppose that’s true.”

Chan’er curled her lips into a smile tinged with mischief: “I’ll see how long he can keep this up. My fists are strong—if he ever annoys me to the point I lose patience, I’ll show him who’s stronger, my fists or his stubbornness.”

Upon hearing this, Ningdong instinctively stepped back a little, eyeing Chan’er’s fists. Though Chan’er appeared gentle and quiet when silent, anyone would be surprised to see that she could carry two buckets of water in each hand, two more on her shoulders, all while walking calmly without strain.

By evening, Meng Jinyao called Chan’er over and asked with a smile, “Chan’er, after checking the almanac, we’ve set your wedding with Yu Chuan for the fifth day of the sixth month this year. Yu Chuan has no objections—but what about you?”

The sudden announcement left Chan’er stunned. She timidly asked, “Madam, was this marriage date proposed by you and the marquis, or by Yu Chuan to you and the marquis?”

Meng Jinyao replied gently, “Naturally, Yu Chuan proposed it. He said that since you let him come to discuss it with us today, he would.”

Chan’er was bewildered: “?”

When did she ever say that?

She quickly recalled that earlier, when parting from Yu Chuan, he had suddenly said, “Chan’er, I want to go speak to the marquis and madam.”

At that time, she hadn’t thought much. Yu Chuan was too naive, and though her fists itched, she didn’t want to hit anyone on New Year’s Day. She simply wanted to send him away quickly and said, “Go ahead, don’t dawdle.”

Yu Chuan then disappeared as quickly as possible.

Could that brief exchange have led Yu Chuan to think she had allowed him to speak to the marquis and madam?

Meng Jinyao spoke gently: “Chan’er, if you’re unhappy with this date, you can raise it. We can choose another auspicious day.”

Chan’er’s cheeks turned slightly pink, a rare shyness showing. She lowered her head and softly replied, “I will leave it entirely to Madam’s decision.”