Chapter 655 - 657: For the Children
Chapter 655: Chapter 657: For the Children
"Have someone send another letter. Tell them to say I’m on my deathbed and that unfilial son must hurry back to attend to me." Bai Yugang had thought of this too, and the indignation in his heart grew. With a son so estranged, he no longer wanted to maintain even a veneer of peace.
"Yes." The servant didn’t dare to object and quickly accepted the task.
Only after everyone had left did Kuang Yunqiao enter, carrying a bowl of medicine.
"Marquis," she said, placing the medicine on a nearby table to cool. "You should rest more. Don’t worry so much about the affairs of the mansion. What if we had Jingyang come and help you?"
At the mention of his second son, Bai Yugang’s expression softened slightly. "Jingyang’s examination is the priority right now. There’s no need to bother him with such trivial matters.
As long as he earns an official rank, I’ll swallow my pride and secure a promising future for him."
Kuang Yunqiao couldn’t help but feel disappointed. ’I’d vaguely heard talk outside about replacing the Princely Heir,’ she thought. ’It seems I’ll have to keep waiting.’
"The medicine has cooled. Let me help you sit up and take it, Marquis." Right now, Kuang Yunqiao was the person in the mansion who most fervently hoped for Bai Yugang’s recovery. ’If the Marquis Mansion gets a new master, the three of us—my children and I—can forget about living as comfortably as we do now.’
"I hear Empress Zhou is helping Marquis Zhou select a wife. Our Jingli is of a suitable age... do you think there’s a chance, Marquis?"
The marriage of the Chengen Marquis had become the hottest topic in Shangjing.
Even though he was a bit old and had a hideous scar on his face, public enthusiasm for the match hadn’t waned in the slightest.
The woman who married him would immediately become the matriarch of a marquis mansion.
Zhou Shixiong currently wielded immense power, was backed by the Empress, and the Empress herself had two legitimate princes. He was, to put it mildly, an incredibly hot commodity.
Bai Yugang sank into thought. After a long moment, he looked up. "Don’t get involved in this."
"Why not? Is there something wrong with our Jingli? Both are marquis mansions; our families are a perfect match. It would be the best possible marriage."
Bai Yugang’s energy seemed to drain away. "Don’t ever mention this again. Our mansion is on precarious footing right now. You should look for a husband from a lower-status family for Li’er."
’I’m starting to regret it,’ he thought. ’Kuang Yunqiao’s origins are just too humble. Even after all these years, she still can’t see our situation for what it is.’
’While it’s true both are marquis mansions, they aren’t comparable in the slightest.’
’Even if Marquis Zhou himself agreed, the Holy Emperor and Empress Zhou would never consent.’
"How can you say that? The saying goes that a man should marry a woman from a humbler family, but a woman should marry into a greater one. If we look for a lower-status match, people will think something is wrong with our daughter.
Even if we can’t get a match with Marquis Zhou, there are other aristocratic families in Shangjing.
If she marries into a prominent family, she’ll be in a position to support our Jingyang in the future..."
Bai Yugang was too exhausted to speak. He waved his hand dismissively. "Do not mention this again. If you don’t know how to handle it, then leave the matter to my mother."
"How could I possibly do that?" Kuang Yunqiao shrieked, making Bai Yugang’s frown deepen.
"And why not? My mother’s insight is far beyond that of someone from a petty family like yours." Bai Yugang lost his temper, the cruel words tumbling out before he could stop them.
’For years, Kuang Yunqiao’s constant scheming had filled him with regret.’
’After his late wife passed, he never should have promoted Ms. Kuang from concubine to wife. If he had married a woman from a prominent family instead, he wouldn’t have to be working himself to the bone like this now.’
’A virtuous matriarch would never have allowed the Marquis Wu’an Mansion to fall into such dire straits.’
’But there was no changing the past. He could only swallow this bitter pill himself.’
’He absolutely could not let this woman meddle any further. She would only make things worse.’
’If it hadn’t been for his own indulgence, dismissing her actions as petty squabbles in the inner quarters, his eldest son wouldn’t be so alienated now.’
’If only, back then, I had...’ At this thought, he let out a cold, self-mocking laugh. ’I really am getting old, dwelling on the past like this.’
When Kuang Yunqiao saw him close his eyes, ignoring her, she felt a flush of humiliation and anger.
’Even if I haven’t earned any merit over the years, I’ve certainly put in the effort!’
’That Bai Jinglie already has the title of Princely Heir. Can’t I even be allowed to plan for my own children?’
"Rest well, Marquis!" she said coldly.
This time, without waiting for Bai Yugang to respond, she stood, flicked her sleeves, and stormed out.
Bai Yugang stared at the open door, his heart sinking with disappointment yet again.
’Now that I’m just an invalid confined to this bed, all her previous tenderness and care have disappeared.’
"Someone! Go and summon the Old Madam."
...
Empress Zhou summoned Zhou Shixiong again. "Here is my selection of well-bred young ladies from the various great houses. Their character and capabilities are beyond reproach. Take a look and see if any appeal to you."
She gestured to a pile of scrolls on the table. "I had portraits of them painted."
This had all been done in secret, of course. After Zhou Shixiong viewed them, the portraits would have to be destroyed.
Zhou Shixiong casually picked one up and unrolled it for a look. Beside the portrait was a note indicating the young lady’s family, along with other detailed information.
Zhou Shixiong examined a few more before shaking his head. "None of these will do."
"Why not?" The Empress was starting to get a headache. ’How can he be so picky at a time like this?’
’If word got out, people might think our Zhou Family is arrogant and looks down on everyone.’
"It would be best to look among families of lower status," Zhou Shixiong said, meeting the Empress’s gaze.
The siblings both understood the implication. Still, Empress Zhou couldn’t quite accept it. "But from a minor family... who could possibly be worthy of you, brother?"
"Your Majesty," Zhou Shixiong interjected, "we ourselves came from common stock."
Empress Zhou pursed her lips, finally saying with a guilty expression, "It is I who has implicated you in all this, brother."
Until the two princes were grown, it was indeed unwise for them to form factions. Marrying into a family that already possessed its own power and influence was completely out of the question.
"Your Majesty, you worry too much. A wife from a minor family has her advantages. A noblewoman from a great house is not necessarily a help."
Empress Zhou said, "...In that case, I will select a new group of candidates for you, brother."
Hearing the reluctance still in her voice, Zhou Shixiong looked at her and said, "Don’t cause too much of a stir. As long as her character is acceptable and she can manage the household, I ask for little else."
’In the palace, some things were better left unsaid.’
’He was only a Marquis. For the Empress to go to such lengths just to find him a wife might arouse the Emperor’s displeasure.’
It was a shame he had no female elders in his own household. The relatives from the clan’s side branches were eager to meddle, but he wouldn’t allow it.
Even in court this morning, that Zhou Shicong had hinted he wanted to help manage the marriage arrangements, and Zhou Shixiong hadn’t deigned to even look at him.
Empress Zhou calmed down. "In that case, you should also keep an eye out, brother. If you find someone suitable, I will petition the Holy Emperor to grant the marriage by imperial decree."
’Since he had to make a sacrifice in his marriage, she was determined to secure greater honors for him to compensate.’
’Even if she comes from a minor family, as long as the marriage is decreed by the Emperor and Empress, no one in Shangjing will dare look down on her when she takes her place as the family matriarch.’
Zhou Shixiong did not object to this. With his military merits and his status as the Imperial Uncle, even if the marriage were granted by imperial decree, no one would dare to utter a word of gossip.