First Madam Su had returned to her maiden home today precisely to discuss her children's marriage prospects. Normally, as the female party's elder, she shouldn't have been the one to broach the subject first. Fortunately, the Yun Family was her natal family, and Old Madam Yun was her biological mother, which spared her these usual taboos.
However, Old Madam Yun's current attitude clearly showed she didn't want to give a definite answer, and First Madam Su's pride was beginning to feel wounded.
"Mother, we're family—no need for formalities between us. Could you please give me a clear idea of what you're thinking?"
During her maiden days, First Madam Su had been doted on by Old Madam Yun, held in the palm of her hand. Back then, when First Madam Yun married into the family, she couldn't compare to her own daughter's standing before Old Madam Yun. Now, times had changed. Being brushed off by her own mother in front of her sister-in-law, even someone as formidable as her couldn't maintain her usual dignified and virtuous facade.
Old Madam Yun, however, turned a blind eye to her daughter's aggrieved expression and said calmly, "When did the Su Family and the Yun Family become one family? I wasn't aware."
First Madam Su stiffened, while First Madam Yun breathed a sigh of relief, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. First Madam Yun had been worried Old Madam Yun might consider her daughter's pride and hastily agree to a marriage alliance with the Su Family. Compared to allying with the Su Family, she preferred a connection with the Yanbei Prince's Mansion. Although both First Madam Su and the Princess Consort of Yanbei were her sisters-in-law, the Su Family belonged to the faction of the Old Yanbei Prince's Consort. Rather than trying to please both sides, it was better to take a firm stand.
Still, she was her own daughter after all. Old Madam Yun didn't want to embarrass First Madam Su too much and softened her tone slightly. "Fang'er is my favorite grandson. His marriage is no trivial matter, nor can I decide it alone. We'll discuss it further after your father and elder brother return."
First Madam Su's expression eased somewhat. Remembering the instructions from Old Master Su and her husband before leaving home, she sighed and turned to First Madam Yun. "Sister-in-law, do you know why I suddenly brought up the marriage between Fangfei and Fang'er today? Although my daughter may be of humble appearance, she is still the legitimate eldest daughter of the Su Family. Even though she hasn't yet come of age, many have been quietly inquiring about her. Would I really insist on sending her to my natal family? Tell me honestly, if Fangfei were matched with Fang'er, would Fang'er be at a disadvantage?"
First Madam Su spoke with confidence, but it was the truth. The Su Family's eldest daughter had both good looks and character; marrying her to the Yun family's second young master wouldn't be considered the Su Family reaching above their station.
First Madam Yun quickly replied, "Fangfei is naturally excellent. It would be our Fang'er marrying above his station."
First Madam Su shook her head with a smile. "Sister-in-law, there's no need for such polite talk. You know my temperament—if Fang'er were marrying above his station to my daughter, I wouldn't have brought it up at all."
At this point, First Madam Su sighed. "I suppose you've already heard about the incident at our Su Family's horse ranches recently."
First Madam Yun glanced at Old Madam Yun and said thoughtfully, "I heard your elder brother mention something about two horse ranches being raided by Tangut people."
Hearing this, First Madam Su sneered. "Tangut people? If the Tanguts had such capability, the one sitting on the golden throne probably wouldn't be so secure."
First Madam Yun was startled. "You mustn't speak carelessly like that."Although the imperial court's influence in Yanbei was far less than in Jiangnan, First Madam Yun had lived in the capital during her youth and still held considerable wariness toward the Li Dynasty. However, after carefully considering the implications in Madam Su's words, she immediately grasped what Madam Su was hinting at.
"Could it be that it wasn't the Tangut people who raided the Su family's horse ranch? Although the Ningxia Wu family's military strength cannot compare to the Yanbei Prince's Mansion, I've never heard of any bandits capable of raiding the Su family."
"Bandits? What bandits in Yanbei have that capability? It's always easier to guard against external threats than internal ones. What we fear most is those who guard the house stealing from it—how can mere bandits compare to bandits in official robes?" Madam Su said disdainfully.
First Madam Yun mentally reviewed Madam Su's words and was suddenly startled, not daring to respond further. Madam Su's implication was too clear—in Yanbei, the only "bandits in official robes" who could "guard the house and steal from it" were either the Ningxia Wu family or the Yanbei Xiao Family.
Old Madam Yun frowned and scolded, "Enough! Do you think this is a place where you can speak recklessly?"
Tears welled up in Madam Su's eyes. "Mother, of course I know what this place is. This is my maternal home. Only my own mother and sister-in-law are present here—can't I even speak a word of truth? Even if a married daughter is like water spilled on the ground, when I pass away a hundred years from now, my memorial tablet will still bear the inscription 'Madam Su, née Yun'!"
Seeing her like this, Old Madam Yun could only close her eyes and sigh.
Madam Su continued, "After the old Prince drove the Liao people out of Yanbei, the region was in ruins and chaos. The old Prince selected our Su family and the Yun family from among Yanbei's many clans to take the lead. Over the years, our two families' contributions to Yanbei need no elaboration—we have served the Yanbei Prince's Mansion with utter devotion. But there's a saying: 'When the birds are gone, the good bow is stored away; when the cunning rabbits are dead, the hunting dogs are cooked.' And another: 'Merits so great they overshadow the ruler.' In recent years, the Yanbei Prince's Mansion's attitude toward our two families has been far less favorable than before. I won't even speak of our Su family—I don't believe the Yun family hasn't noticed anything. Take Wenting and the Commandery Princess's marriage arrangement, for example. Would the Yanbei Prince's Mansion have acted this way in the past? The Yanbei Prince's Mansion is forcing our two families to retire after achieving success!"
When it came to Yun Wenting and Xiao Jinglin's marriage arrangement, First Madam Yun also fell silent.
The Yun family and the Yanbei Prince's Mansion had intermarried for generations. Originally, the Yun family had wanted to marry Yun Qiuchen to the heir, Xiao Jingkang. Back then, the Prince of Yanbei had tacitly promised the Yun family the position of heir's consort. Unfortunately, after Xiao Jingkang went to the capital as a hostage, the imperial court immediately settled his marriage. The Yun family settled for the next best option—having Yun Wenting marry Xiao Jinglin.
But now that Yun Wenting had reached marriageable age, and the Yun family had brought up the matter of his marriage to the Commandery Princess several times before the Prince of Yanbei, the Prince had shown no response. Although the current Princess Consort of Yanbei comes from the Yun family, the relationship between the Yun family and the Yanbei Prince's Mansion is far less close than in the past.First Madam Su observed First Madam Yun's expression and continued, "Retire after achieving success? That sounds simple enough! We would also like to retire after success, but think of how many people our two families have offended over the decades for the sake of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion? We were the ones playing the villains, while the Prince's Mansion reaped the benefits. On the day we lose power, I fear we’ll be devoured until not even our bones remain! Moreover, given the positions our families have reached today, a single move affects the whole situation. Even if we wanted to withdraw, would the families dependent on us allow us to do so?"
First Madam Su had been carefully educated by the Yun Family in her youth, possessing a sharp mind and excellent eloquence. Even First Madam Yun, who had never liked her, couldn’t help but feel a sense of shared concern upon hearing these words.
Old Madam Yun, however, spoke up and asked, "Then what do you propose? Rebel against the Xiao Family?" Her tone was devoid of emotion.
Knowing the Yun Family's stance, First Madam Su naturally wouldn’t suggest rebelling against the Xiao Family at this moment. "Mother, your words are too severe! Although the Xiao Family is merely a Prince's Mansion, in our Yanbei, it is equivalent to the imperial court in the south. The Xiao Family is the ruler, and we are the subjects. Who would willingly commit treason unless absolutely forced? But it makes no sense for us to bow our heads and accept execution when we’ve done nothing wrong, does it? Today, I returned to the Yun Family to propose a marriage alliance solely for self-preservation. As long as the Su and Yun families are united through marriage, even the Yanbei Prince's Mansion would have to think twice before easily discarding our two families. This would be beneficial and harmless to both our families."
Old Madam Yun fell silent for a long moment. "This matter is of great importance and cannot be decided by a few women in the inner quarters. I will inform your father when he returns. Since you don’t wish to stay for a meal, you may leave early."
First Madam Yun was also deeply troubled by First Madam Su’s words and had no mood to keep her guest any longer.
Seeing that her purpose for returning to her maiden home today had been achieved and that the Yun Family indeed needed time to consider, First Madam Su promptly took her leave.
First Madam Yun personally escorted First Madam Su out before returning to Old Madam Yun’s courtyard.
Old Madam Yun had been sitting with her eyes closed, resting, ever since her daughter left. First Madam Yun looked at her mother-in-law, hesitating several times to speak.
Though her eyes remained closed, Old Madam Yun seemed to sense that First Madam Yun had something to say. Leaning against a cushion, she asked, "What is it you wish to say?"
First Madam Yun actually wanted to ask Old Madam Yun about her stance on the marriage alliance between the Su and Yun families. However, First Madam Su was Old Madam Yun’s own daughter, while she was merely a daughter-in-law. When she first married into the Yun Family, she had clashed several times with First Madam Su, her competitive and strong-willed sister-in-law. Although Old Madam Yun had never openly shown favoritism back then, she had secretly sided with her own daughter. Thus, First Madam Yun wasn’t sure if she should ask.
As First Madam Yun hesitated in silence, Old Madam Yun chuckled. "What are you afraid of? You are the First Madam of the Yun Family, my eldest daughter-in-law. No matter how eloquently Shuhe speaks, she is a member of the Su Family now. Do you fear I would show favoritism? Though I am old, I am not yet senile. I can still distinguish who is family and who is an outsider."
Hearing this, First Madam Yun was taken aback and hurriedly said, "Mother, I didn’t mean—"
Old Madam Yun waved her hand. "Enough. Back then, I favored her because she was my daughter, not yet a daughter-in-law of the Su Family. Naturally, she was closer to me than you were, so I sided with her."First Madam Yun's thoughts were exposed, making her somewhat embarrassed.
Old Madam Yun, however, opened her eyes and looked at her for a moment before saying, "I hope that when the Yun Family is handed over to you, you will still remember my words today. I know you dote on Qiuchen and keep nothing from her, but when the day comes that you must distinguish between closeness and distance with your daughter-in-law and your own daughter, you must think clearly about who is truly a member of the Yun Family."
First Madam Yun remained silent for a moment before lowering her head and saying, "Your daughter-in-law remembers."
Old Madam Yun nodded. "You wanted to ask about Fangfei and Fang'er's marriage, didn't you? I do not agree."
After a pause, Old Madam Yun added with emphasis, "It is not that I do not agree, but that the Yun Family will not agree. The Yun Family and the Su Family have never been in a relationship where prosperity and loss are shared. They were not in the past, and they will not be in the future."
Thank you to coolsake for the generous reward of the Wealth God money jar ^^~
Thanks to feifiguan, Xiao Mi Shuo, 58o13, 58o13, Xiao Mi Shuo, Right Grass Robe Person,
Lanyuan, Yanqinyin, nini6960, Dust-Sealed Rain, Frost Freeze, Lanyuan, hh Honey Rain for the rewards of peace charms~.
Wishing everyone a happy National Day!!! ｀（∩_∩）′
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