Looking at Yuxi's pitiful look, Han Jianming also felt a bit uncomfortable. For Yuxi to have such low self-esteem was because of her previous environment influence.
When Han Jianming thought of this, his expression also eased a little. "Yuxi, if you think the Chen family is bad, then just forget about it."
Yuxi thought for a while and said, "Dage, I want to meet with Chen Ran. I want to ask him personally why he wants to marry me." If she hadn't had this deep conversation with Han Jianming, she would have said yes immediately upon hearing his arguments. But now, Yuxi had changed her mind. If Chen Ran liked her and did not have ulterior motives, and she had missed such a good marriage because of what had happened in her previous life, it would be her loss.
A smile appeared on Han Jianming's face. "That's the right thing to do. If you are not satisfied with the answer given by Chen Ran, Dage will step in and refuse the marriage. However, suppose Chen Ran says he likes you, and that's why he wants to marry you. In that case, you should stop being unduly humble yourself."
Yuxi's face was as red as a boiled shrimp. "Dage......men and women should not touch hands when they give or receive things." She didn't realise that her Dage was so abnormal before!
Han Jianming didn't see any problem with it. "My Yuxi is so outstanding. It's normal for you to be liked by others." Chen Ran liked Yuxi and did not even use such cheap tactics as seducing and bugging her, but had the Lady of Taining come to his home to propose marriage. This alone showed that Chen Ran respected and was serious about Yuxi.
Yuxi didn't think Chen Ran would like her. But she didn't dare to speak about it again. She would not be able to take off this inferiority complex if she did.
Han Jianming said, "I will have someone tell Chen Ran your idea. If he has the heart to do so, he will certainly take the initiative to offer to meet. If he has no heart, it is better not to tie this marriage." Since Chen Ran had even spoken to the Lady of Taining, he would certainly not screw this up.
Yuxi breathed out a sigh of relief. "Then, I'll wait for Dage's news."
Han Jianming looked at Yuxi's appearance and couldn't help but laugh a little. "Dage won't push you towards the fire pit. Don't think about this kind of nonsense in the future." If one could sacrifice even one's own brother and sister for the sake of profit, how could others truly follow such a person?
Yuxi was a little embarrassed.
In Taoran House, Yuxi sat down on the dressing table and carefully looked at herself in the mirror.
Seeing that Yuxi had been looking at the mirror for a long time and had a deep frown afterwards, Zisu asked, "What's wrong with you, Miss?"
Yuxi answered, "Marquis Taining Residence has come to talk about my marriage again. Dage said Chen Ran took a fancy to me. I was just thinking, what did Chen Ran see in me?"
Zisu was excited after being surprised by Yuxi's words. "Miss, this is a great thing!" There couldn't be a much better family than the Chen!
Watching each and every one of them so excited after hearing this news, Yuxi felt very uncomfortable. "What do you think Chen Ran sees in me? I don't have the most beautiful looks, I don't have overwhelming talent, and I don't have a good reputation outside, so how could he take a fancy on me?" Yuxi had always thought that she was not influenced by Yuchen. But in reality, she did not notice how deeply Yuchen had affected her. Yuchen was the existence she needed to look up to in her previous life, and in this life, Yuchen was still that perfect existence. So, in Yuxi's mind, a woman should be like Yuchen, with her great looks, overwhelming natural talent and uncommon talent. Only then could a woman be considered outstanding, and only then would she be favoured and adored by men. In Yuxi's mind, she also wished she could be a woman like Yuchen, but this was merely her wishful thinking.
Zisu was stunned. Only after half a second did Zisu say, "Miss, where could you be lacking? Who else in the capital can do double-sided embroidery?" After saying this, she went on to say, "Besides, you can play chess, paint and write well. You are also an excellent cook, and you can cook medicinal meals. Moreover, you are also a good housekeeper. Even Second Master Chen has set his eye on you. Why would you think you are not good enough for him?"
When Zisu said that, it seemed like she was pretty outstanding! Yuxi stroked her face and muttered, "Am I really that good?" Yuxi, as Han Jianming said, did not have any confidence in herself. One couldn't see it on weekdays, but it would be revealed at the critical moment. [+]
When Zisu heard this, she almost fainted.
While Yuxi was torn, the Lady of Taining had received news from First Lady Zhou that the Old Lady had agreed to the marriage. She was preparing to ask the official matchmaker to propose marriage to the Han family the following day.
Chen Ran came over at this time and asked the Lady of Taining, "Mother, are you going to have the matchmaker go to the Han family tomorrow to propose a marriage?"
The Lady of Taining thought her son want to pull off from the marriage again. Thus she said unpleasantly, "I'm telling you, the Han family has already agreed. So you can't play any more wicked tricks." Now that the Han family had agreed, the two families might have to become enemies if they suddenly went back on their promise.
Chen Ran asked another question, "I want to ask if Han Yuxi has agreed to this marriage?" Chen Ran had guessed before that Yuxi would disagree, and as expected, they did not even talk to her. But it was good to see that she had sent a line, saying she would like to meet him to talk about it.
The Lady of Taining answered without even thinking, "Marriage is a matter of parents' orders and matchmakers' words. If Old Lady Han and the First Lady Han have agreed to this marriage, it will be fine." This was the same for everyone else. Moreover, the Lady of Taining did not think that Yuxi would refuse. Her son was so good. How many girls had wished to marry him! It was only her son who had poor eyesight for taking a fancy on Han Yuxi.
Chen Ran said, "Mother, the last time I went to the manor to say thank you, ugly words were spread by people with bad hearts as a result. Miss Han must have a knot in her heart because of it. I think it's better to meet and talk things over face to face to clear any misunderstandings."
The Lady of Taining felt that Chen Ran wasted time after the Han family agreed to the marriage. Even if there was a misunderstanding, there would be plenty of opportunities to explain it later on.
Chen Ran insisted on seeing Yuxi. "Mother, if you don't arrange for it, I will find a way to see her myself."
The Lady of Taining did not dare to let Chen Ran see Yuxi on his own. She had not forgotten the words that Yuxi had told the page boy to bring home that day. If her son went to see Han Yuxi, the usual method would be useless. She didn't need to think about it. She knew it would be a mess, so she said, "Okay, then I will give Lady Han a message and find an opportunity for you two to meet in the next few days. I'm telling you, after the meeting, you have to study at home peacefully and don't worry about anything else." Although Han Yuxi's words that day were not polite, it was clear from this incident that the other party was a self-respecting person. She found this to be much more pleasing than those who tried to stick themselves to her son.
Chen Ran questioned, "What makes you think I'm the one who's trying to play wicked tricks? Maybe Miss Han doesn't like me and doesn't want to marry me!"
The Lady of Taining chided, "Nonsense. The Old Lady and First Lady Han have agreed. How could she refuse? Moreover, if she refuses, where can she find someone better than my son?"
When Chen Ran saw that he had achieved his purpose, he didn't pay any attention to Lady of Taining acting like Wangpo sold melon and sang his own praises. He just said, "Then I will wait for Mother's news."
The Lady of Taining did not hesitate to discuss the matter with Qiu Shi. Without being picky, the two of them simply set to meet the following day, seeing that the weather would be good.
Yuxi was a bit speechless when she knew that she would be meeting Chen Ran at the Lingshan Temple. "Mother, how can you choose Lingshan Temple as the meeting place? It's disrespectful to the Buddha!" Going to the temple on a cold day was a bumpy enough ride in a horse-drawn carriage.
Qiu Shi poked Yuxi's forehead and said, "It's just for you to meet and have a few words. What were you thinking about? But it's good for both of you to meet. If you have any questions, you can ask him face to face to save you from indulging in flights of fancy at home."
Hearing these words, Yuxi didn't know what else to say.
Qiu Shi stroked Yuxi's head and softly said, "Mother knows that you are actually afraid. In fact, all women have to go through this. The Chen family is good, Lady Chen is generous, and Chen Ran himself has fallen for you. So if you marry into the Chen family, you will definitely have a good life. Otherwise, Mother wouldn't have agreed in the first place." What Qiu Shi meant by fear was a woman's fear of getting married. Not the same as what Han Jianming said. [+]
Yuxi hesitated and asked, "Mother, is Lady Chen really as generous as it is rumoured?"
Qiu Shi smiled, "Mother knows what you are worried about. Don't worry, I have dealt with Lady Chen several times. She is a generous person. Even if she doesn't like you because of the rumours outside, she won't make things difficult for you. The last time there were rumours about you in the capital, it was Lady Chen herself who stepped in to clear them up. Then again, you saved Chen Ran's life that day. Just for the sake of saving his life, she wouldn't deliberately make things difficult for you."
Yuxi was a little embarrassed. "Mother, it's just borrowing them a carriage. How can I say it's a life-saving favour." As far as she knew, even without her carriage, Chen Ran would have been fine. In her previous life, Chen Ran had lived a good life even without her help.
But Qiu Shi didn't think so. "If you hadn't gone to Red Jujube Hamlet, the people from the Marquis Taining's residence wouldn't have been able to borrow the carriage." After saying this, Qiu Shi also felt that it was meaningless and said with a smile, "Alright, let's not talk about that. You have to dress up properly for tomorrow's trip to Lingshan Temple. You can't be as casual as you usually do, you know?"
Yuxi nodded a little. "Okay."
The next day, when she saw Yuxi, Qiu Shi said helplessly, "Didn't I tell you to dress up properly? Why are you still dressed up like this? It's not good for Lady Chen to see."
Yuxi was dressed in a violet-blue chang ao with a white zhong yi underneath. She combed her hair into a crescent moon bun, inserted with six flower stems pattern jade comb and a pair of pearl earrings in her ears. She was dressed in the simplest of ways. If she was just coming to pay incense, it would not have been a problem. But it was inappropriate to dress like this for a meeting.
Yuxi knew why Qiu Shi was annoyed and tried to reason out. "Mother, people will know what you are doing without even asking if we go to the temple dressed up in fancy clothes." Yuxi had no say in the matter. If she did, she would certainly not have wanted to meet at the temple. However she put it, it just felt weird.
It would take a lot of time for Yuxi to go and change her clothes at this hour. It would be better to have Yuxi in plain clothes than keep the Lady of Taining waiting too long. Qiu Shi responded helplessly, "I really need to keep an eye on you next time. You are always disobedient. It's fine if we're at home, but if you're still like this in your in-laws' home, it's not going to be good."
Yuxi laughed, "That will happen in the year of the monkey and the month of the horse." Her marriage would be two years away, at any rate. She still had two years of free time.
Tags:
The Rebirth of Han Yuxi