The survival rule of a concubine's daughter 83: A dark willow becomes a bright flower, an unsold product becomes a bestseller.

  After returning from the Yishu Institute, Ah Yin has been feeling down, thinking about how the proud He family, with their superior social status and background, would also inevitably face the fate of her husband taking concubines. The He family is still a prominent first-born daughter, and her natal family's assistance to the Fang family is considerable, yet the Fang family still treats taking concubines as a matter of course. Although these two concubines were forced upon them by others, He Shi cannot simply ignore them or drive them out, but can only tolerate them, enduring the disgust and establishing rules for them. If even He Shi is treated this way, then what about other women who married into high-ranking families?

  Suddenly, her emotions were very low, and in the future, if her husband also followed the trend of taking a concubine, should she be wise and tolerant or become a jealous wife and drive the concubine out?

  But neither of these two methods is good. Firstly, she doesn't have a big heart and can't be virtuous and wise. Secondly, the risk of being a jealous wife is too great, and it's easy to get divorced because of being overly jealous. Can't be jealous but also can't bear it, is there another perfect solution?

  ……

  The atmosphere in the afternoon was peaceful and quiet. In the prosperous summer of Fang Fu, a sudden loud roar came from Lin Song He Tang.

  "How dare you not marry? You silly girl, has your head been squeezed by the door?" The old lady glared fiercely at her poor granddaughter, and if she wasn't afraid of hurting her own hand, she would have dragged her in front of her and spanked her bottom.

  As she approached the old lady, her tone was sorrowful. "Looking at the entire city of Beijing, even slightly decent families have concubines. Even if the man himself doesn't take one, his mother will force a few on him. If his mother doesn't, outsiders will try every means to get them in. This is not the worst part, if her own husband is being manipulated by those around him, she can't even get angry, only silently endure it in her heart. Being a daughter-in-law is really too exhausting. It's better not to marry at all."

  The old lady pointed at her for half a moment, and scolded, "Where did you learn such nonsense? Which daughter-in-law didn't go through that? If you're afraid of men taking concubines and don't want to get married, it's laughable. All the principles I've taught you over the years have been fed to the dogs?"

  "As the saying goes, 'where there are women, there will be disputes, this is an unchanging principle.' It's clear that having a concubine in the household can lead to trouble and unrest, so why do people still eagerly take on concubines?"

  She acknowledged that she had been cornered, men are animals who love face, taking concubines is not only for enjoyment but also a symbol of face. If he doesn't take concubines, others will say he's sick or impotent, or it's a sign of being henpecked. So, to show off his power, usually one after another concubine is taken in. She lived in ancient times for over ten years, seeing and hearing with her own eyes and ears, any slightly well-off official family, even if they didn't take concubines, there were always two or three maids serving them.

  She had also resigned herself to her fate. If the man she would marry in the future really wanted a concubine, she wouldn't stop him either. She would just find another way of life that suited herself.

  All these years, watching Li and Zhang's bitter struggle, she has learned a lot of ways to deal with concubines. However, must women spend the second half of their lives fighting with others of the same surname? This is too tragic, the cost is too high.

  "Grandma, I don't ask for a future husband to be wealthy or of high status, I just hope he treats me well with all his heart. Nor do I ask him to be loyal only to me, I just hope he takes responsibility. Grandma, is this request not too excessive?"

  The old lady raised her palm high, but ultimately fell down - she saw herself in Ruoqin's body at that time, and also saw her own advantages and disadvantages. She dared to love and hate, so she never regretted her choice at the beginning. However, her eyesight was too bad, and the man she loved with all her heart did not live up to her expectations.

  The old lady's eyes were moist as she held her tightly, "Foolish girl, you're a very sensible one. But, as a young unmarried woman, wouldn't it be better if you were a bit more foolish?"

  With a bitter smile and a sorrowful tone, "It's because my granddaughter was foolish before that she was bullied by the Jiang family mother and son. It's because of her foolishness that she was taken advantage of by the Wei family, and now the Li family and Chen family are coming to bully me too. Grandma, I don't even have a place to pretend to be foolish anymore." She had also thought about just closing her eyes and marrying into the Li family, enduring widowhood would still be better than suffering from her husband's concubines and her mother-in-law's cruelty, right?

  The old lady couldn't understand why her daughter-in-law was so resentful, but she also couldn't think of anything to say in response. In the end, she could only hold her tightly, like a baby, and gently rock her back and forth, softly murmuring, "I should have known it would be like this, I might as well have agreed to your aunt's matchmaking and married you off to Jian'ge."

  As bitter as a sad smile, it's just an ordinary thing in ancient times. But, marrying close relatives, what a huge price to pay?

  ……

  It seems that after Fang's family and Li's family "amicably" stopped interacting, they also politely declined Chen's family proposal. Just as everyone in the Fang household was considering whether to let Ruo Xin leave Beijing to get married elsewhere, just as Fang Jinglan was worried about whether to send Ruo Xin to Haining or Datong, good news arrived.

  Old Lady Li, the matriarch of the Fang family, stared blankly at He Shi, even she, who was normally calm and composed, couldn't react for a moment. She fixed her gaze on He Shi, "Did your aunt really say that?"

  He nodded vigorously, "Not at all. Today I went back to my mother's house and Third Aunt came over for a visit. In private, she asked me about Fourth Sister's marriage. When she heard that Father had refused the Chen family's proposal, Third Aunt smiled and said to Mother, 'Your husband really knows what's good for him. A family like the Chens, even if they were willing to pay a dowry, it would be better not to consider them.' Then she told me to come back and sound out Old Lady and Father's opinions, and if they're not opposed to it, perhaps we could consider my cousin from the city."

  Li's eyes widened, and Old Lady was also stunned for a moment. After a long while, she said: "What about your brother?"

  He's eyes widened, and he suddenly laughed: "Are you referring to my younger brother from the Zhicheng Hall?" He sat up straight and said: "My younger brother from the Zhicheng Hall, although he has a scholarly appearance, has been well-read in military books since childhood. My third uncle spoiled him and even hired a teacher to teach him martial arts. Although he later passed the imperial examination, he didn't take the path of a civil official, but instead took the path of the Yang family and is currently serving as the Northern Commander of the Five Cities Military Command. My younger brother may not be considered a talented person, but he has a dignified appearance. Previously, he was engaged to the daughter of the Wang family's governor in Shuntian Prefecture, but later broke off the engagement due to his grandmother's passing and his three-year mourning period. Now that two years have passed since the mourning period began, my third uncle and aunt are searching for a suitable bride."

  Mr. He said that and stopped, the old lady had a plan in her mind, but she said calmly: "Is there anything else? Just say it directly, after all, we are not outsiders."

  He was both surprised and delighted, and hastily changed the subject, saying: "My younger brother is actually a good person, although he has already reached the age of weakness, he has always been steady. Now, except for one concubine in the house, there are no maidservants. However, my aunt has always doted on him, and the daughters of high-ranking families are afraid of his strong temper and do not obey discipline, while those from low-ranking families are afraid that their younger brother will be humiliated, so it has been delayed until now..." Finally, Mrs. He hinted to the old lady that in fact, her third aunt had taken a liking to Ruhua, who was an excellent choice in terms of character and personality, but she was afraid that the scholarly family would look down on her second son who had abandoned his studies for martial arts, so she did not dare to speak up.

  The old lady secretly let out a sigh of relief and scolded, "You're really something! The He family is a prestigious and noble family that has been renowned for generations. Your third uncle is a man of integrity and honesty, upright and unyielding. And your brother is so young and promising. To be able to form an alliance with them is truly a stroke of good fortune. Such a noble family actually took a liking to our family's Qing'er, could it be that her past hardships were just the prelude to better days ahead?"

  Li nodded in agreement, but in her heart she was calculating that the Imperial Censor-in-Chief was a third-rank official, while the Commander of the Northern Five Cities Garrison was only a sixth-rank official, far inferior to her son-in-law's second-rank Commander.

  Mr. He heard the old lady's tone and carefully observed her expression, knowing that this matter was highly promising, so he continued: "This is not what you said, my younger brother is excellent, but my fourth sister is not bad either. Putting aside family background and origin, my fourth sister is unparalleled in both character and needlework. She has appearance, she has character, she is clever and kind-hearted, as my third aunt said: although she cannot lead the crowd of women in the clan, being a gentle and elegant second daughter-in-law is more than enough. So, old lady, you don't have to worry, my third aunt has seen my fourth sister before, and she knows her character and personality very well. My third aunt also said that as long as you and the old master approve of my brother, she will immediately send a matchmaker to complete the six rituals, and she will make a vow to you, old lady, that as long as she has a breath left in her, she will not let anyone bully my fourth sister."

  The old lady was slightly moved, and everyone said that at this point, it's already very sincere. However, to give her daughter-in-law face, she still reservedly said, "The young masters and ladies of the He family are all very good. Although I haven't seen your brother, your uncle has always been honest and upright, never being biased or partial. I believe your brother won't be any different either. If it's really possible to have a close relationship with the He family, that would be great. But after all, Qingsong's lifelong matter still needs your father's agreement. Let me discuss this with him later, and we'll give you an answer tomorrow."

  He knew that Ruqun's marriage had failed several times due to the groom's character issues, so this time he would be even more cautious and might even secretly investigate everything about her cousin and third uncle's family. Thinking of her cousin's personality and character, He couldn't help but smile slightly. After all, her cousin's only shortcoming was that he had been engaged to a princess from the previous dynasty's royal family before.

  So, Mrs. He smiled generously: "Men are afraid of entering the wrong profession, women are afraid of marrying the wrong husband, although it was my cousin who discussed the marriage with your fourth sister, but for the sake of your fourth sister's lifelong happiness, I hope you will make more inquiries."

  As for He Jia San Fang's eldest son, the old lady was indeed moved, and hurriedly called Fang Jinglan to discuss this matter.

  Fang Jinglan often went out, and the news was that he was much more intelligent than the old lady. As soon as she heard about the third son of the He family, her eyes lit up, "I've seen that young man a few times, not only is he handsome, but also humble and courteous, with excellent manners. Although he's from a military background, he's also refined and polite, and his colleagues and superiors all speak highly of him. Who would have thought that such an excellent young man would take a liking to our Ruoqing? It seems like Ruoqing's luck has finally changed for the better."

  ……

  If it is said that the three wives of the He family have taken a liking to Ruhua and are sincere, they will be described by Old Lady He and Fang Jinglan as "Ruhua has truly gone from suffering to happiness".

  Then, Mrs. Fu brought a thick gift to the door and claimed that she was acting as a matchmaker for King Li Xiu of Jing Wangfu, and it became a pie in the sky, and this pie was so thick that it couldn't be compared, making Fang Jinglan dizzy and almost unable to stand.

  Inside the Songhe Hall, Old Lady Fu stared blankly at the woman in front of her, who was wearing a blue jacket with intricate embroidery and a skirt with auspicious cloud patterns. This Mrs. Fu, whose husband had died in battle on the city wall of Datong and was subsequently granted a posthumous title by the emperor, wore her hair in an elaborate coiffure adorned with a large pearl pin, a golden necklace with a ruby pendant, and a pair of gold bangles on her wrists. As she sipped hot tea, she observed the reactions of the people in the hall while trying to discern their intentions.

  "I'll be straightforward and not beat around the bush. I'm here today at someone's request, as King Jing has taken a liking to your fourth daughter and asked me to act as matchmaker. King Jing personally told me that Miss Fang is an exceptional choice in terms of virtue, talent, and beauty, with impeccable manners and a perfect combination of talents and virtues. The king was immediately smitten and sincerely wishes to marry her as his principal wife. I hope you, Old Lady Fang, and Master Fang will not look down on this proposal."

  Even the old lady who had experienced great winds and waves was unable to react in time, hesitated for a moment, before finding her voice again. "Are you saying that the King of Jing has taken a liking to our family's Qing'er?"

  Mrs. Fu nodded with a smile, "That's right. King Jing is really willing to marry the fourth lady as his queen."

  The old lady pinched her own palm, it's good that she wasn't dreaming, the pain brought back all her senses. She took a deep breath and spoke in a stern tone, "How is this possible? My family's Qing'er is just an illegitimate child, and our Fang family isn't even a noble household, how can we be matched with someone from the Jing Wang Fu? Is Old Lady not joking?"

  Li also nodded heavily, from the opening of Daqing to the present, the hierarchy is extremely strict and cannot be easily crossed. Even if an ordinary earl's family walks on the street, they have to avoid and pay their respects in front of a king like Jing Wang, especially when it comes to marriage, even if the woman marries up, at most she can only marry someone one or two ranks higher than her natal family. The three sisters, Ru Xian, Ru Shan, and Ru Mei, all married well, but unexpectedly, Ru Qing was favored by King Jing, which exceeded her wildest imagination in this life.

  Here is the translation:

  "Moreover, as a humble daughter of a noble family, she was unexpectedly favored by the King of Jing's household, not as a concubine, but as his legitimate wife. The difference between heaven and earth is vast, no wonder she would be skeptical and doubt her own ears."

  Actually, when Li Xiang visited the Fu Mansion to explain his intention to Old Lady Fu, she was also shocked for a long time. Now, everyone in the Fang Mansion has seen their reactions and is not surprised. She just smiled and said: "This marriage cannot be joked about! The King of Jing indeed brought these few boxes of thin gifts to visit, and asked the old lady to take this trip personally, to propose to your esteemed family in person. If your esteemed family agrees to this marriage, then the King of Jing will choose a date to send the betrothal gift. Here is the King's birthdate, please take a look."

  Taking a red character from Xia Lin's hand, the old lady tried to keep herself calm and glanced at it casually, then looked at Fu Lao Furen, "This... how could Jing Wang take a fancy to our family's Qing'er?" She still couldn't believe it.

  The old lady's unintentional remark, however, made the heart of Fu's wife bleed. Her niece from the Qingchang Hou family had been trying her best to marry Li Xiao, and after much effort, she finally gained the Empress Dowager's approval. She thought that the Empress Dowager would arrange a marriage for her with the King of Jing, but unexpectedly, before the Empress Dowager issued an edict, Li Xiao personally entered the palace and told the Empress Dowager that he had already chosen his heart's desire, asking the Empress Dowager to take charge and let him marry the girl he loved. The Empress Dowager was greatly surprised and asked which family's daughter it was, but Li Xiao refused to say. The Empress Dowager had always liked this prince and thought that Li Xiao's taste was high, so she must have chosen a rare and exceptional girl. She expressed her support on the spot. Of course, the original promise to marry Yang Qining, the legitimate daughter of Qingchang Hou, who was also her niece, would have to be changed.

  "This, King Jing didn't explicitly say. However, looking at King Jing taking the trouble to come in person, it must be sincere. Old Madam doesn't need to hesitate anymore, just give a definite answer."

  “Ah...” The old lady was at a loss. Subconsciously, she looked towards Li Shi, who also had a blank expression, staring stupidly at Fu Lao Furen, then at the high-quality coral stone crab apple bonsai on the floor, and the precious fur goods in the box, finally staring at the dazzling light emanating from the box in front of her. After seeing Fu Lao Furen again, she regained her composure and stammered: “Jing... Jing Wangye, is it about proposing a marriage to Fang's family?”

  Madam Fu nodded again, "I've already made myself clear earlier. The old woman came today just for this matter. Please give a clear indication of whether you agree or refuse, so I can also report back to the Duke of Jing." Of course, she actually hoped that the Fang family would not agree, then her niece might have a chance to marry him instead.

  Mrs. Li twisted her handkerchief, gazing at the old lady with a mixture of emotions. On one hand, she was delighted that the Fang family had formed an alliance with the Wang family through this marriage, which would bring benefits to her own daughter, Rumei. However, on the other hand, she couldn't help but feel resentful and jealous that Ruyue, a mere concubine's child, had surpassed Rumei in status. Her heart was in turmoil, like a cat scratching at her insides, and for a moment, she didn't know what to do.

  The old lady was also confused, with such a tempting pie falling from the sky, she wanted to catch it, but was afraid of not being able to hold on, and instead hit herself. Not catching it would make her feel itchy and unbearable. Just as she was in a dilemma, she heard Li say: "Old madam, may I ask, how did King Jing take a liking to our family's Qing'er?"

  Mrs. Fu waved her hand and said, "Madam, don't worry too much. King Jing had told the old woman that Miss Fang's virtue and appearance are both top-notch. She is talented, beautiful, and has a noble character. Although their family backgrounds are somewhat different, however, when it comes to marrying a wife, one should marry a virtuous one. Miss Fang is clever, intelligent, and kind-hearted, King Jing has admired her for a long time, and wishes to make her his queen, entrusting her with the ancestral offerings, and having descendants continue on forever, till the end of his life, without any changes." Although Mrs. Fu's heart was filled with sourness, she still repeated these words verbatim.

  Madam Fu spoke slowly, but with a metallic ring. As she spoke, Old Lady Zhao seemed to see Li Xiao riding on horseback, bowing his head and assuring her, "Please rest assured, Madam. I will safely escort Madame Zhao back to the capital."

  Outside Songhe Hall, several ancient trees with trunks as thick as pearls blocked the scorching sunlight, and only a few dappled shadows could be found through the dense leaves.

  Time suddenly flashed back to the past, and Old Lady Fang recalled that outside the main gate of the Fang Mansion in Qizhou City, Li Xiao, who was still young and inexperienced, wore a black embroidered flying eagle cloak, dressed in a short sleeveless shirt with arrow sleeves, and had dozens of iron cavalry guards behind him. He walked through the crowd and came to her, making a strong and powerful promise, but on his face, which was not yet weak, there was a heartbreaking dignity and an unshakeable determination.

  Now, hearing Mrs. Fu repeat his exact words, it was as if Li Xiang was standing right in front of her.

  ……

  From the arrival of Fu Lao's wife, who was granted a imperial edict by the emperor, to Fang's residence, it can be considered a big event. After hearing about it, Linglong immediately rushed back to Xieyizhai, and this time she didn't care about the scolding of Shen Popo and Hu Mammy Zhou Mammy, and ran all the way to Ruxiang's room, shouting: "Miss, something bad has happened..." She was out of breath and said hastily: "Sister, don't scold me first, it really is a big deal."

  Chen Xiang glared at her, suppressing the scolding that had just risen to his lips, and coldly shouted: "Has the heavenly bed come down or what? You're shouting loudly, without any decorum."

  Linglong waved her hand and said with difficulty: "Although the sky has not fallen, it is not far away. Miss, do you know that King Jing actually came to propose?"

  "What did you say?"

  As if reacting slowly, she stiffened and stared blankly for a moment before saying, "What did you say? Say it again." Her ears shouldn't have misheard, right?

  Yuqin hastily came forward to support Linglong and sat her down, pouring a cup of tea for her to speak slowly.

  Linglong swallowed a mouthful of tea, and only then did she say with a straight face: "It's true. Does Miss still have an impression of Old Lady Fu? She is the wife of Second Master's teacher, Old Lady Fu. Today, she personally came to our door, bringing a large pile of heavy gifts, saying that she was acting on the orders of Duke Jing, and had come to propose marriage on behalf of Miss. Miss, Duke Jing says he wants to make you his official consort."

  Rumbling sounds, as if the heavenly thunder was responding above their heads. After a long while, he murmured: "You said Li Xiao found Old Lady Fu to be the matchmaker?"

  Linglong nodded vigorously, "Yes, miss, what can be done about this?"

  Chen Xiang's face was also filled with shock and worry. "Is this true? What kind of sinister plot does Jing Wang have up his sleeve?"

  Yuqin's eyes widened as she glanced at the three people in front of her, thinking to herself: "No way, what kind of person is King Jing that he can take a liking to this young lady? She should be thrilled. Why does it seem like she's not willing to marry him?"

  The subtle and delicate expression also made her incomprehensible...

  It's not that Xiang Ling'er is being unreasonable, but in the eyes of these two people, even if their own brother-in-law isn't extremely wealthy or noble, at least he should be a decent person. But Li Xiao often bullies his own sister, and once she marries him, won't he become even more overbearing?

  Moreover, this person also loves going to places with beautiful scenery and romantic atmosphere. How many men are like that?

  Of course, Yuqin had only seen Li Xiao's bravery and righteousness, how could she know about his evil appearance? She just thought that Li Xiao was very brave, handsome, young and promising. And he also had the title of Duke, which was hard to find even with a lantern.

  Chen Xiang's face was shocked, and gradually, worry floated to the surface, and he couldn't help but say: "Miss, what can be done about this?"

  As if he had finally found his voice, "Isn't it about discussing marriage with the He family? How did Li Xiao suddenly appear halfway through?" This is a bit too coincidental. Previously, no one asked about it, and even selling at half price didn't get anyone's attention, those who came were all some kind of weirdos, how come now such a big shot has arrived?

  Isn't it that her luck with men has arrived, so the unsold goods immediately became sold-out goods?

  It's almost certain that she'll marry into the He family, so why is Li Xiao suddenly intervening? It's unthinkable and too strange.

  Linglong thought for a moment and said: "Others have brought thick gifts, looking at that array, it seems they are quite sincere."

  Yuqin's eyes shone with golden light, if it were true that their own daughter would marry into the Wang family, wouldn't these accompanying maids benefit from the rising tide?

  "Girl, this is a good thing! To marry into the royal palace and become a princess, it's an identity that many people dream of. In the past, Second Aunt had to humble herself and sacrifice her reputation just to marry into the royal palace, but our own girl doesn't need to do anything and yet someone has already taken a liking to her, this is indeed a huge joy!"

  She slowly sat down, with a war going on in her heart. Like all women, she also loved the rich and handsome, which woman didn't want to marry into a wealthy family? Now that the He family's wealthy family was actively throwing an olive branch at her, she hesitated for a moment before directly agreeing without even needing to put on airs. But now, another super-rich man has thrown out conditions more enticing than before, and her heart is trembling... Although Li Xiao is very despicable, although this person is also quite flirtatious, although his temper isn't great, although he's arrogant, overbearing, and vicious, but after all, he's covered in gold and silver from head to toe, with a hereditary royal title on his head and the attention of the masses under his feet - after all, should she cry in a BMW or laugh on a bicycle?

  Oh, no, Li Xue isn't a BMW, she should be a limited edition Bugatti, Maybach or Rolls-Royce. And the He family doesn't even count as a bicycle, at least they're a domestic BMW. But the distance between them is obvious. If she's smart, she should choose a limited-edition car. However, she's too rational and greedy, thinking that if such an expensive car breaks down, the maintenance cost would be unbearable...

  So generally contradictory struggle, so a heart-burning, as the night was unfortunately reduced to a panda tribe, and became a rolling king... Rolled all night on the bed.

  Actually, it's not just Ruo Xue who is struggling in the Fang household. The old lady is also struggling. The disciples of the Jing Wang Fu and the He family are standing out high and low. Of course, she still has some rationality and feels that the disciples of the Jing Wang Fu are really too high for them to reach, their appetite is too small, so it's better not to eat too much. However, they have sincerity and determination, and the old lady is indeed moved and hesitant. If she agrees, she will owe an apology to the He family who has been sincerely seeking to marry Ruo Xue. If she refuses, this opportunity is really too tempting, and she can't bear to give it up.

  Fang Jinglan was also struggling, tossing and turning all night, unable to fall asleep until the sky turned white with dawn, still without a good idea...

  Mrs. He's heart was also struggling, her sister married into the Wang family, and the other family benefited a lot from it. But this way, how could she explain to San Shu? She sighed and groaned for half a day, turning over countless times, suddenly Mrs. He found that the person beside her pillow was sleeping so sweetly, and she couldn't help but feel suffocated. She didn't care about being a good wife, and pushed Zhiyi awake, "Get up, get up, now your sister's marriage has become like this, do you still have the heart to sleep? Is there such a brother like you?"

  Zhili was sleeping soundly, but was suddenly woken up by a noise. He was very displeased and slightly opened his eyes to glare at He Shi before grumbling and turning over to continue sleeping.

  He's family glared at him again and pushed him, "Husband, why aren't you worried at all? Fourth sister's marriage is like this, can't you come up with a solution?"

  He turned around impatiently, "Didn't I say it before bedtime? Whoever proposes to the Fang family first will be my future brother-in-law. What's with the Wang or Li manor, can't he just be from a humble background and I'll still like him?" He also scolded Madame He for disturbing his good sleep, reprimanded her a couple of times, then turned over and went back to sleep.

  Although He was very powerful in the inner house, she also had a bit of fear towards Zhili. When she saw her husband get really angry, she didn't dare to be willful anymore and could only grope around by herself. She carefully savored the words Zhili had just said, and suddenly her eyes lit up...

  On the second day, Zhi Li got out of bed, washed up and had breakfast, preparing to go to "work". As he walked out of Yi Songyuan, he passed by Fang Jinglan's outer study when Fang Jinglan called him back.

  Zhī lǐ dùn zhù bù zǐ, wàng zhe fù qīn yǔ qī zi tóng yàng hēi qīng de xióng māo yǎn, móu zǐ shǎn le shǎn, xīn zhōng yǐ yǒu suǒ liǎo wù, dào: "Fù qīn shì wèi sì mèi mei de hūn shì ér fán xīn me?"

  Fang Jinglan nodded awkwardly, "Now that things have come to this point, even I as a father can't make up my mind. I'd like to hear your opinion."

  His expression didn't change as he glanced at the sky and said, "It's getting late, I have to go to morning court. If there's anything else, we can talk about it when I get back."

  Fang Jinglan was furious and said: "You this scoundrel, although she is not your biological sister, but you are also closely related by blood, how can you be so indifferent?"

  Zhi Li Dao: "Father, you're being too serious. Just because Ruxin is my sister, I think it's okay to do what we want and there's no need to worry about it." After a pause, he continued: "Fourth sister has been clever and sensible since childhood, and she has suffered a lot of grievances. Now that she finally has a good marriage, Father should be thinking about her happiness."

  Fang Jinglan widened her eyes, "Does my son value the Wang Manor? However, the threshold of the Wang Manor is high and noble, how can we humble ones aspire to it?"

  Zhī lǐ zhèng sè dào: "Fù qīn wù huì ér zǐ de yì si le. ér zǐ zhǐ shì kàn hǎo hé jiā."

  Translation:

  "Father misunderstood the son's intention. The son just took a liking to the He family."

  Fang Jinglan was stunned for a while before asking: "What's going on?"

  "It's not just a matter of being incompatible! Moreover, whether King Jing is a good match or not, let's not mention that for now. I only ask Father one question: if in the future my sister suffers injustice in the palace, what will Father do?"

  Fang Jinglan thought to himself that he was not a utilitarian father, and would never trade his daughter's happiness for the honor of the Fang family. He shook his head, his face stern and solemn, saying: "My child has thought this through carefully, but as her father, I have not been able to think it through thoroughly." However, thinking about losing the royal family connection made him feel extremely heartbroken, yet he had to show selfless paternal love on his face, which was quite difficult.

  He knew his father was very particular about saving face, so he didn't say anything and just said with a heavy heart: "Father, don't just think about the temporary benefits. The son of the He family is also someone we've met before, and his character is indeed good. As long as my sister is happy, everything is worth it. Our family already has three daughters who have married well, why add another one to invite trouble?" The four sisters of the Fang family had three daughters who had married well, and they were already quite notorious in the official circles, with some even saying that Zhi Li's achievements today were all thanks to his connections through his sisters. Whenever he heard such rumors, Zhi Li would just smile and ignore them, but deep down he was furious. So he instinctively didn't want to get involved with high-ranking officials again, either because the Fang family daughters had good fortune or because bad rumors would spread. Zhi Li and Fang Jinglan were alike in that they both cherished their reputation, and they didn't want their names to be tarnished before they even established themselves in their careers.

  Under the persuasion of his son, Fang Jinglan finally decided to be a considerate father for once and think about his daughter's well-being. He sent Li Shi to Fu Lao Furen with a message that politely declined the proposal. The gist of it was: "I am deeply grateful for the honor bestowed upon my humble household by the Jing Wangfu, and I am thrilled at the prospect of our families being connected through marriage. However, my family's status is lowly, and my daughter is unrefined and lacking in elegance, so I fear she would not be able to bear the weighty responsibilities of being a wangfei (princess). Please convey to Jing Wangye that while I am grateful for his affection, I dare not aspire to such lofty heights. My daughter's character is unsophisticated, and she lacks refinement; how could she possibly match up to Your Excellency's noble bearing? If my daughter were to marry into the royal family but prove unworthy of her position as a matriarch, I would be consumed by anxiety. Therefore, I humbly request that Your Excellency consider marrying another woman instead. If I have inadvertently offended Your Excellency in any way, please forgive me."

  Li brought the message from Fang Jinglan and informed Mrs. Fu of the Fang family's opinion, on one hand, she also breathed a sigh of relief, on the other hand, her heart felt sour and indescribable.

  Of course, Mrs. Fu was also surprised, she didn't expect that the marriage of Jing Wangfu would still be rejected by someone, and this Miss Fang had been defeated several times in her marriage, it was unexpected that the Fang family was so stubborn, really couldn't understand, but after careful consideration, it seemed that the Fang family indeed had backbone. They understood that not everything is a golden opportunity, and they didn't take on every task that came their way as a principle of how to deal with people.

  ……

  Digression

  Hesitant... whether today will have a double update or not depends on everyone's performance, hehe.