bestfiction Chapter 459 Arranging a Marriage for Xi-jie
Chapter 459 Arranging a Marriage for Xi-jie
Yu Wan couldn't help but laugh when she saw Shen's indignant expression.
She reached out and gently patted Shen's back, smiling as she comforted her, "Mother-in-law, calm down. It's not worth getting angry over someone like that. It's not worth ruining your health."
"This Madam Liu is only interested in climbing the social ladder. She wants to use Yun Shang's influence to help her family's official in the Ministry of Personnel. Now that you have rejected her, I don't think she would be so ungrateful."
Madam Shen snorted coldly: "Her daughter is truly unlucky to have such a mother."
She remembered something and whispered, "If Li Zhuoyue had taken a fancy to this Madam Liu's daughter last time, they probably would have been eager to give their daughter to Li Zhuoyue as a concubine."
The fact that Yunxi was almost forced to become someone's concubine left a deep shadow in Shen's heart, and she couldn't help but feel lingering fear whenever she thought about it.
Yu Wan quickly and softly comforted her, "Mother-in-law, Yunxi's matter is in the past. Now no one dares to let Yunxi be a concubine."
Upon hearing this, Madam Shen smiled with satisfaction: "That's true."
“Shang Ge’er is now the Second Grand Secretary and also controls the military power in the capital. Who would dare to force his sister to become a concubine?”
As she spoke, her eyes lit up as she looked at Yu Wan and said with great interest, "Yu Niang, now our family has established itself in Shengjing. Yunxi is not young anymore, it's time to arrange a good marriage for her."
Yu Wan hesitated for a moment, "Yunxi has just entered a girls' school this year, is it appropriate to arrange a marriage for her now?"
Madam Shen was slightly taken aback, then waved her hand and smiled, "What's inappropriate about this?"
"We're just looking for a good candidate first. If we find someone suitable, we'll arrange a marriage for Xi-jie after she graduates from the girls' school."
The Great Zhao Dynasty has always had schools for girls, mostly established by aristocratic families to teach their daughters more principles and household management skills. After the new emperor ascended the throne, he weakened the household management curriculum and added more classics and historical books.
Yu Wan had heard Yun Shang mention that the new emperor intended to cultivate female officials.
This was a rare opportunity for the women of the Great Zhao.
Yunxi was always eager to learn, and upon learning of this, she immediately asked to go to the girls' school. Neither Madam Shen nor Yunshang objected, and Yu Wan was even less likely to object.
Meeting Shen's expectant gaze, Yu Wan nodded and said, "Alright, let's do as Mother-in-law wishes."
"However, we should ask Xi-jie'er's opinion first. If she already has someone she likes, we can't break them up."
Having learned from the example of Yun Shang and Yu Wan, the Shen family is no longer as stubborn as before.
Now she understands that mutual affection is the most important thing, rather than arranged marriages or the words of parents and matchmakers.
It was only in the last two years that the Shen family came to understand this.
Previously, there was absolutely no affection between Yu Wan and Yun Shang. If Yu Wan hadn't become more sensible and capable, she and Yun Shang would probably have become a resentful couple.
Having been stubborn once, fortunately without making a mistake, Shen felt a pang of regret and dared not be stubborn a second time.
Hearing Yu Wan say this, Madam Shen agreed without hesitation, "Alright, then I'll ask Xi-jie'er's opinion first."
Yu Wan breathed a sigh of relief.
……
On the first day of the first month of the first year of Qianhe, at the third quarter of Shenshi (3:45 PM), the first snow of the year fell in Shengjing City.
After the first snowfall, the snowflakes fell like goose feathers, instantly transforming the entire capital of Shengjing into a silver-clad wonderland.
Officials from the imperial court, local officials from various prefectures of the Great Zhao Dynasty, and heads of prominent families all traveled by carriage to the Deer Cry Terrace for the banquet.
Among the endless stream of carriages was the Yun family's horse-drawn carriage.
Yun Shang arranged several carriages. He rode with Yu Wan, Shen Shi and Yun Xi rode together, and Xie Qizheng and the other people from Bailu Academy rode in three carriages.
Among the endless stream of carriages was the Yun family's carriage. Yun Shang had arranged several carriages; he rode with Yu Wan, Shen Shi and Yun Xi rode together, and Xie Qizheng and the other people from Bailu Academy rode in three carriages.
Inside the carriage where Yun Shang and Yu Wan were riding, the stove was burning brightly.
Yu Wan's cheeks flushed red.
Yun Shang's gaze never left her, so he noticed her immediately and reached out to take off the pure white fox fur coat draped over her body.
The man's cool fingertips brushed lightly against Yu Wan's chin, and in an instant, a tingling sensation spread throughout Yu Wan's body, making her tremble slightly.
Yu Wan had no doubt that Yun Shang was deliberately provoking her again.
She couldn't help but glare at him.
Unexpectedly, Yun Shang leaned closer, his thin lips slightly parted, and he preemptively accused her, "This is in the carriage, and we'll be going to the palace for a banquet later. It's not appropriate for you to be like this, my lady."
Yu Wan: "???"
What happened to her?!
Yu Wan was speechless for a moment.
She gave him a playful tap on the head, saying, "You're trying to play the victim! You were the one who deliberately laid a hand on me."
"To lay a hand on me?" Yun Shang raised an eyebrow slightly, a mischievous smile appearing in his usually cool eyes. "Since my wife has said so, I cannot be wronged for no reason."
Before Yu Wan could figure out what he meant, the man suddenly grabbed her chin and kissed her.
Yu Wan: "..."
The cries of vendors on both sides of the street, the rustling of the cart wheels over the snow, and the howling wind all seemed to be blocked out by the thin deck of the carriage.
The carriage was quiet, with only the thumping of their hearts seemingly audible.
The moment the kiss ended and Yun Shang released her, Yu Wan raised her hand to deliver a powerful punch, but he seemed to have anticipated it and grabbed her fist.
Before Yu Wan could react, Yun Shang pulled her into his arms.
A slight tremor in his chest, followed by a low laugh from above: "That's what you call getting handsy. My wife, don't slander me."
Yu Wan was speechless again. She looked up at Yun Shang and saw a smug smile on his lips, looking like a petty person who had achieved his goal.
Yu Wan muttered under her breath, "You don't look like a powerful minister at all..."
Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible. Yun Shang didn't hear what she said, so he lowered his head, tilted it to the side, and asked with a smile, "What did you say?"
Yu Wan stared at the man's white, jade-like ears, which were so close to her, and a wicked thought arose in her mind. She tilted her head back and bit down on his ear.
Caught off guard, Yun Shang let out a muffled groan.
But he neither dodged nor pushed Yu Wan away.
He remained in his original posture and spoke softly, his tone somewhat indulgent, "Is my wife like a dog? Why is she biting people?"
The warm breath brushed against Yu Wan's face, causing a slight tickle.
Yu Wan felt a little itchy, so she couldn't help but shrink her neck and release her mouth.
Looking up, one could see two distinct teeth marks clearly visible on Yun Shang's reddened earlobes.
Yu Wan felt a little guilty.
She whispered, "...Does it hurt a lot?"
It shouldn't hurt too much, right?
She didn't use much force, but because the man's skin was fair, the teeth marks were particularly noticeable.
The thought of attending the palace banquet later, and Yun Shang having to go with such a tooth mark on her face...
Yu Wan couldn't imagine how exciting the scene would be.