Reborn of the Rightful

Pink 150+

Ren Yaoqi was not surprised to hear this.

Now that Xianwang Residence had hopes of reemerging, naturally there were those who wanted to form marriage alliances with it. Although Li Tianyou was no longer young, he was the only son of Prince Xian and Rong Shi, and had not yet been married.

Yanbei Prince's Mansion had already made its stance clear, not interfering with Xianwang Residence's interactions with various noble families. Therefore, even marrying off an unfavored concubine-born daughter or a distant branch daughter to Li Tianyou for observation would be beneficial and harmless.

Ren Yaoqi thought Rong Shi wanted to discuss with her the candidates they had in mind for Li Tianyou's principal wife, so that she could relay it to Madam Li upon returning and let Madam Li also consider it. She then asked, "I wonder which family's young lady has caught Grandmother's eye?"

Unexpectedly, Rong Shi shook her head: "Your uncle's marriage contract was settled long ago."

Ren Yaoqi was taken aback upon hearing this: "But I heard..." Ren Yaoqi paused.

She knew that Li Tianyou had been engaged once in his youth. She also knew that this engagement was made when the late emperor was still alive and Consort Wan still dominated the harem. The young lady's background was naturally extraordinary; she was said to be the eldest granddaughter of Ji Nan, the Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion and Chief Grand Councilor who had served three dynasties.

Unfortunately, not long after Consort Wan fell from power, the Ji family, like Rong Shi's maternal family, was implicated by Consort Wan and Prince Xian, and the entire family was convicted. Li Tianyou's fiancée, the eldest daughter of the Ji family, unwilling to become a government slave and be mistreated, hanged herself.

Seeing Ren Yaoqi's hesitant expression, Rong Shi understood that she had also heard this story. She nodded with a sigh: "What a pity about that girl, Fu Yun. If you had met her, you would have liked her too. Everyone who met her liked her. Your mother was very close to her when she was young."

Seeing Rong Shi's sorrow, Ren Yaoqi quickly tried to comfort her.

Rong Shi shook her head: "It's alright, it's just a pity to think about it. The Ji family was merely innocently dragged into this. I mention this to you because I want to say that since we have already betrothed a daughter of the Ji family, we will marry a daughter of the Ji family." Ren Yaoqi was somewhat surprised. Could it be that that Ji Fu Yun did not die back then and is still alive? But Rong Shi's expression of regret for her didn't seem to suggest so.

Rong Shi raised her voice and called out to the outside: "Is Yihong outside? Come in."

Not long after Rong Shi's words fell, Yihong lifted the curtain and entered, bowing her head in greeting: "Madam, your servant is here."

Rong Shi beckoned to her with a smile: "There are no outsiders here, no need for such formality. Come here."

Yihong glanced at Ren Yaoqi, then obediently walked to Rong Shi.

Rong Shi, however, took her hand and sat her down on the kang. Yihong no longer declined and sat upright and properly.

Rong Shi said to Ren Yaoqi, "For now, you can call her Aunt Ji."

Ren Yaoqi was stunned. She had heard Min Wenqing call Yihong by the surname Ji last time, but she hadn't expected her to be a daughter of the Ji family, the Grand Councilor who served three dynasties.

Although somewhat surprised, Ren Yaoqi immediately called out: "Aunt Ji."

Yihong smiled slightly, nodding at Ren Yaoqi, exuding an exceptionally gentle and dignified demeanor.Rong Shi sighed, "Back when the Ji family met with disaster, only the second legitimate daughter, Ji Fuying, escaped by returning to her maternal grandparents' home. Her wet nurse substituted her own daughter in her place. After Fuying fled, she learned we had come to Yanbei and disguised herself as a beggar to find us. Fortunately, she encountered Zheng Guoliang and the others who were following later. Zheng Guoliang originally served by the Imperial Consort's side, so naturally he recognized Fuying, and thus the journey was perilous but safe in the end. However, as we ourselves were exiled, Fuying had to disguise herself as an opera performer to enter, eventually becoming a maidservant. Speaking of it, we have truly wronged the Ji family."

Yihong, also known as Ji Fuying, quickly replied, "Please do not say that, Madam. The Imperial Consort had shown great kindness to my grandfather back then. Later, when the Ji family faced disaster, if not for you and the Prince taking me in, I would have long become a pile of bones like my sister." Mentioning her family, Ji Fuying couldn't help but tear up.

Rong Shi patted her hand and smiled, "Good child, don't worry. We have always remembered the marriage alliance with the Ji family. No matter what happens to the Xianwang Residence in the future, you will be a daughter-in-law of the Li family."

Yihong had another identity to the outside world—she was Li Tianyou's chamber maid. Regardless of whether she and Li Tianyou had actually consummated their relationship, she could only be with him.

Now that the Xianwang Residence was on the verge of restoration, many came to propose marriages for Li Tianyou. However, Rong Shi and Prince Xian always remembered the sacrifices the Ji family had made for the Xianwang Residence. No matter how outstanding or prestigious the other families' daughters were, they never relented.

Hearing this, Yihong began to weep, "Madam, Fuying is now merely an opera performer and likely unworthy of the young master. It would be better for you to seek a noble lady from a prominent family for him, as that would also benefit the Xianwang Residence in the future. Fuying is willing to stay by the young master's side as a concubine..."

Ren Yaoqi thought that Rong Shi's decision to clarify Yihong and Li Tianyou's marriage at this moment was partly because Prince Xian and Rong Shi cherished old sentiments and felt guilty toward the Ji family, wanting to make amends.

On the other hand, this move by Prince Xian and his wife would let those who followed them, especially those still in Hezhong, know that the Prince remembered every sacrifice made for the Xianwang Residence and would never forget. It was also a way of playing the emotional card.

If the Xianwang Residence truly allowed the Ji family's daughter to become Li Tianyou's concubine, it would only chill the hearts of those who knew the truth.

Just as Rong Shi was about to say something, Li Tianyou lifted the curtain and entered, grinning as he said, "Oh, feeling shy now? All these years, when you were bossing me around, why didn't I see you shy? Which concubine dares to lecture me at every turn, even nagging my ears off when I come back from drinking outside?"

Ji Fuying's face flushed crimson at his words, and she glanced anxiously at Rong Shi, fearing she would be blamed.

Outside, she naturally wouldn't dare to scold Li Tianyou, but when he acted too recklessly, she would still admonish him behind closed doors. She thought he wouldn't like her for speaking harsh truths, but from his tone, it seemed he didn't oppose marrying her?

Rong Shi, however, didn't mind and waved her hand with a smile, "Alright, if you two want to settle old scores, do it outside. Don't disturb Yaoqi and me here—it's giving me a headache. And you, no wonder even your niece teases you for having no manners, barging in without even announcing yourself!"Li Tianyou pulled Ji Fuying to her feet, grinning as he said, "You’ve known for a long time that your son has no manners. If I hadn’t eavesdropped, how would I have known there are still people in this world who don’t want to marry such a dashing and elegant gentleman as me?"

Rong Shi shook her head helplessly, watching Li Tianyou and Ji Fuying leave. Then she turned back to Ren Yaoqi and said, "I plan to choose an auspicious day before the end of the year to settle your uncle and Fuying’s marriage. When you return, please inform your mother."

Ren Yaoqi nodded. "Yes, Grandmother."

"Also... there’s one more thing." Rong Shi frowned thoughtfully.

Ren Yaoqi looked at Rong Shi, waiting for her to continue.

After a moment of consideration, Rong Shi said, "Yaohua is already sixteen this year. Has your mother found a suitable match for her yet?"

Ren Yaoqi shook her head. Madam Li had recently been troubled by Ren Yaohua’s marriage prospects. It wasn’t that Ren Yaohua lacked suitors, but from Han Yunqian to Qiu Yun and then Zeng Kui, none of the proposed marriages had gone smoothly, and they had even brought about considerable misfortune.

After the incident with Zeng Kui, Madam Li had consulted a fortune-teller about Ren Yaohua’s fate. The fortune-teller said Ren Yaohua’s destiny was exceptionally noble, with the potential to bring prosperity to her husband and family. However, due to several ill-fated romantic entanglements in her fate, it was inadvisable for her to marry too early. It would be best to wait until she was seventeen or older to wed, and her husband must be at least five years older than her and possess an equally noble destiny to counteract the ill fortune. As long as Ren Yaohua could survive this major romantic calamity in her youth, she would undoubtedly enjoy a life of wealth and honor, with a house full of descendants.

Now that Ren Yaohua was sixteen, even if she were to marry at seventeen or eighteen, her engagement should be settled soon.

After arriving in Yunyang City, Madam Li had also taken note of the young masters from the families she was close to. Unfortunately, they were either already married or unsuitable in age.

Upon hearing about Madam Li’s consultation with the fortune-teller, Rong Shi sighed. "Such things shouldn’t be fully believed, yet they can’t be entirely dismissed. If nothing else, it’s for peace of mind. Your mother has had a hard time."

Ren Yaoqi nodded. Although she didn’t believe in such things herself, the fortune-teller had been right about several points. Hadn’t Ren Yaohua been entangled in ill-fated romantic affairs these past few years?

Madam Li, however, believed it wholeheartedly and began looking for candidates who were at least five years older than Ren Yaohua. But in Yanbei, it was rare to find a man of twenty-one who was still unmarried. Even if there were a few, Madam Li might not find them suitable.

As for Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren, after the incident with the Zeng family, they had become much more cautious about marriage alliances.

Ren Yaoqi had heard that recently, the businesses under Second Old Master Ren in the capital had encountered numerous problems, and he had frequently written to Old Master Ren for help. Old Master Ren had never truly given up on the industries in the south, so he was naturally anxious to assist. However, his energy was not what it used to be, and he dared not intervene too openly in southern affairs. Meanwhile, Fang Yacun’s official career was faltering, and he could barely protect himself.

Thus, Old Master Ren was extremely busy and had little time to spare for Ren Yaohua’s marriage matters.

Rong Shi said, "Still, if it can be settled, it’s better to do so sooner rather than later. I’m just worried that delays might lead to complications..."

Ren Yaoqi, being perceptive, detected a note of concern in Rong Shi’s tone and immediately asked, "Grandmother, has something happened?"Rong Shi frowned and said, "I'm just a bit worried. I've heard that Empress Dowager Yan enjoys summoning young girls into the palace, either to serve as companions for the princesses or to keep them by her side as attendants. This time, she has also ordered the selection of some beautiful and literate young women from among the common people to serve as palace maids or officials. Yaohua offended Eunuch Lu last time. While the Yanbei Prince's Mansion might be able to protect you within the borders of Yanbei, what if Lu Yu mentions it before the Empress Dowager and finds a way to have Yaohua brought into the palace..."

Last day of double pink votes, please vote~o(∩_∩)o.