Chapter Text
Jiang Yue'e hesitated, glancing at her grandmother and then at her husband. After a long pause, she finally said, "Of course, we should find her a good match."
That's as good as saying nothing at all.
Shen Qi raised her hand to cover her face, and replied rather awkwardly, "Yes."
"Asking you is pointless," the old lady sighed. She was desperate and grasping at straws. What good candidates could this young couple possibly have? Jiang Yue'e knew everyone, and she knew them all. As for her grandson-in-law, he had a very famous teacher and many fellow disciples, but could her second grandaughter get along with a scholar? Besides, Jiang Ruqiu was a military general. Scholars and warriors never get along. If Jiang Ruqiu hadn't saved Shen Qi's life, her eldest granddaughter wouldn't have been able to marry Shen Qi.
"Grandma," Jiang Yue'e called out weakly.
"Young Master Shen, go get something to eat," the old lady said to Shen Qi. "You've been out of the mansion for half a day. Take a rest and then take Yue'e back. Please give my regards to your old lady."
“Yes,” Shen Qi stood up, bowed to the old lady, and said, “Then I will come to visit you another day.”
“Alright, alright,” the old lady said, “we’ll meet again another day.”
After Shen Qi left, the old lady beckoned to Jiang Yue'e, beckoning her to come over. When Jiang Yue'e came over, the old lady took Jiang Yue'e's hand, patted it, and sighed, "Since we've come up with your sister's marriage today, there's something I need to tell you."
Jiang Yue'e felt a little uneasy because of the old lady's behavior. Seeing her old lady frowning and sighing, she knew this didn't look like a good thing!
"The dowry I prepared for Mingyue is better than the one I gave you," said Old Madam Xu, looking at her eldest granddaughter. "Besides the six pieces of jewelry your mother left behind, which you and your sister each received three pieces of, Mingyue also has more shops and banknotes than you."
"I," Jiang Yue'e began to speak.
"Listen to Grandma first," the old lady interrupted Jiang Yue'e. "It's not that I'm biased, that I love Mingyue more than you. You're my eldest granddaughter, how could I not love you? You know how to manage a household, but that girl Mingyue doesn't. She only knows how to spend money. You, my eldest granddaughter, can manage a household on your own, but Jiang Mingyue doesn't have that ability."
“How could I compare my dowry with Mingyue’s?” Jiang Yue’e squeezed the old lady’s hand back and whispered, “I am her sister, and I only hope that she will be well.”
Jiang Yue'e's words convinced the old lady. It wasn't that she looked down on Jiang Mingyue, but Jiang Mingyue would never say such things! "Your marriage was a thorn in my side back then," the old lady pounded her chest and said in a low voice, "When I heard that the Shen family wanted to change the marriage, I almost wanted to risk my old life to go to the Ningguo Duke's mansion and demand an explanation for you."
"Grandma!" Jiang Yue'e quickly tried to tell the old lady to stop talking. This matter happened so long ago, why keep bringing it up?
"If it weren't for that child Shen Qi coming to visit in person, the Ningguo's gong Mansion would have been severely injured, if not killed!" The old lady said, "But you are a lucky child. Shen Qi is a good person. Now that I see you are living well, I am relieved."
Jiang Yue'e gave a soft "hmm." The Ningguo gong mansion hadn't divided its households; the brothers all lived in the same residence. She had personally witnessed how her eldest sister-in-law managed her life. As the eldest daughter-in-law, she had to be filial to her parents-in-law, manage the household, get along with her sisters-in-law, and take care of her unmarried sisters-in-law. There were also the intricate social interactions. If anything happened in the mansion, regardless of who was at fault, she, as the managing wife, had to be the first to apologize. She was truly bound by strict rules, not allowing a single mistake. Jiang Yue'e believed she didn't have that ability. She should just live her own quiet life with Shen Qi behind closed doors. The world was too big for her; she couldn't handle it.
"Don't blame Grandma, and don't blame Mingyue," the old lady said again.
“It’s no fault, it’s no fault,” Jiang Yue’e quickly replied.
“You may not blame me, but I have to tell you something, otherwise it would be unfair to you,” the old lady said seriously. “Mingyue is a troublesome person. She can’t even do needlework properly. She’s a good for nothing.”
Jiang Yue'e secretly peeked outside the main room. If Jiang Mingyue found out what the old lady had said, there would be a big commotion in the mansion.
"But can I protect her for the rest of my life?" The old lady continued, "I can't protect her. What can I do if I can't protect her? Then I can only prepare more silver for her and give her more shops so that she won't be poor in the future. People suffer when they are poor."
“Yes, Grandma, you’re right,” Jiang Yue’e was influenced by the old lady, and the word “worry” also came to her mind.
"Alright, you can go back with your son-in-law now," the old lady said, making Jiang Yue'e look distressed, and sent her home.
Jiang Yue'e: "What about Mingyue's marriage?"
“I’ll try to find one for her first, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll pray to the Bodhisattva,” the old lady said.
Jiang Yue'e: "..."
You only remember the Bodhisattva when you need it, is that alright?
"What about the Wei family?" Jiang Yue'e suddenly thought of the Wei Prime Minister's residence before leaving.
"The Wei family?" the old lady sneered. "I can't forget them."
Alright, Jiang Yue'e said goodbye to her grandmother. Seeing the old lady's gritted teeth as she smiled, she knew that the Wei family was going to suffer a lot this time. If the old lady was still angry, the Wei family would probably suffer two more times.