Chapter 9 — Discussing Marriage
Madam Liu smiled warmly as well. “It’s rare for Ningning to ask for something herself. Of course we should do everything we can to indulge her.”
Xue Ning sat obediently on the embroidered stool before Madam Jiang. “Mother, my matters aren’t urgent.”
The mockery at the corner of Su Xi’s lips was nearly impossible to hide.
“Wasn’t Sister Xue in such a hurry earlier to impress Grandmother? You even wanted to acknowledge Eldest Aunt as your mother. Why are you suddenly saying it’s not urgent now?” She glanced around theatrically. “Hm? Where’s Eldest Brother? Why didn’t he come with you? Usually you trail after him like a little tail. I thought wherever Eldest Brother was, you’d definitely be there too.”
Every word jabbed painfully into Xue Ning’s ears.
But she could hardly argue. In the eyes of everyone in the Marquis Manor, ever since childhood, she had indeed followed behind Su Zhan wherever he went.
Su Xi had always looked down on her—but what good had that brought Su Xi herself?
Secretly pledging herself to another man before marriage was no more respectable.
Xue Ning’s expression did not change. Calmly, she said, “Elder Sister is already eighteen. Compared to her marriage, how could my acknowledgment banquet possibly be more important?”
Su Xi’s face darkened instantly. Madam Liu was still smiling, but the warmth no longer reached her eyes.
Su Man suddenly burst into laughter and looked at Su Xi. “A-Ning’s right. If Big Sister still doesn’t marry soon, she’ll become an old maid.”
Su Xi shot her a dark look, smiling without warmth as she glared at Xue Ning. “Even if I never marry, it’s still better than someone who can’t get married at all. The person you like will never like you back in this lifetime.”
Xue Ning’s face turned pale.
It felt as though someone had seized her heart and crushed it hard in their fist.
Seeing she had struck a sore spot, Su Xi’s smile brightened smugly. “So don’t get too pleased with yourself yet, Sister Ning.”
But Xue Ning quickly steadied herself again.
“In front of Mother and Second Aunt, I’d like Elder Sister to explain exactly who this sheltered young lady supposedly likes.”
Su Xi sneered lightly. “Isn’t it Eldest Brother?”
Xue Ning’s eyes turned sharp at once. Her voice suddenly rang out cold and clear.
“Mind your words, Elder Sister!”
Su Xi was momentarily startled by the sudden force in her tone. “Why are you shouting at me—”
Xue Ning cut her off icily. “Brother and I share nothing but sibling affection. How dare you speak such nonsense? Brother has only just entered the Ministry of Justice. If his reputation is ruined, what benefit would that bring your branch of the family?”
Su Xi choked on her words.
For a moment, she could not answer.
The second branch of the family lacked influence and depended entirely on the main household. Su Zhan’s future was the Marquis Manor’s future.
Madam Liu was no fool. She tugged at the still-unwilling Su Xi and smoothed things over with a smile.
“Xi’er was only joking. We’re all family here. Ningning, don’t take it to heart.”
Xue Ning curved her lips faintly. “Don’t worry, Second Aunt. I won’t stoop to arguing with Elder Sister.”
The moment those words left her mouth, Su Xi was the one who seemed petty and childish.
Su Xi’s eyes reddened with grievance, but under her mother’s warning grip, she did not dare retort.
Madam Jiang finally spoke.
“Enough. A-Ning is right. Her acknowledgment banquet cannot compare to Ah Xi’s marriage.” She turned toward Madam Liu. “Among the families we’ve been considering these past days, I’ve already selected several promising young men. Sister-in-law, you should put more thought into this as well. I’ll have Nanny Song send the list to your courtyard later.”
As the mistress of the Marquis Manor, Madam Jiang handled countless affairs every day.
It wasn’t that she had deliberately neglected Su Xi’s marriage prospects. The problem was Madam Liu had been far too picky, delaying things again and again.
And today, Madam Liu had clearly come for this very matter.
Her eyes brightened immediately. “The men Sister-in-law approves of are naturally excellent. But I’ve taken a liking to the legitimate young master of the Lu family from Willow Lane. I wonder if Sister-in-law might help make the connection?”
Su Xi lowered her head shyly, silent, every bit the picture of a bashful young lady.
But Xue Ning frowned.
“The Lu family from Willow Lane… which Lu family?”
Madam Liu smiled. “Good child, your maternal uncle’s family, of course. Sister-in-law raised you for so many years—if she steps in personally, wouldn’t it be wonderful for the two families to become even closer through marriage?”
Xue Ning’s face slowly darkened as she looked at Madam Liu.
She really had lived too long in the old residence in Yongzhou.
Long enough that she had nearly forgotten—Su Xi’s original choice for a husband had always been her cousin, Lu Siling.
In her previous life, her uncle and cousin had remained stationed at Yongxue Pass guarding the frontier.
If not for her marriage arrangement with Su Zhan, her uncle would never have summoned Lu Siling back to the capital.
And the Lu family would never have discussed marriage with Su Xi.
Nor would Lu Siling have spent the rest of his life trapped in a miserable marriage, tormented by a wife who still clung to the lover she had privately pledged herself to.
Madam Jiang pondered for a moment. “It has been many years since I last saw the Lu family’s eldest son. I wonder what he has grown into now.”
Madam Liu smiled. “I’ve already asked around. Young Master Lu is currently serving as a battalion commander in the Northern Defense Army and is said to be highly capable. At the end of the year, he’ll return to the capital to report on duty. With a little assistance afterward, securing an important post in the Ministry of War won’t be difficult. His future is bound to be bright. He and our Ah Xi are perfectly matched.”
She paused, then added meaningfully, “Besides, if Ah Xi marries well, it brings honor to the Marquis Manor too. Even Old Madam will praise Sister-in-law for managing the household so wisely.”
Madam Jiang glanced at Xue Ning, thoughtful.
Xue Ning remained silent.
After all, she was only a young girl. She had no say in Su Xi’s marriage.
In the end, Madam Jiang could only answer vaguely, “Once the Lu family returns to the capital, I’ll invite Young Master Lu over for a visit.”
Only then did Madam Liu leave satisfied, taking Su Xi with her from Autumn Waters Courtyard.
As soon as they were gone, Madam Jiang beckoned for Xue Ning to sit beside her.
Xue Ning pressed her lips together softly. The warmth of the incense burner had flushed her pale cheeks with a delicate pink.
The more Madam Jiang looked at her, the fonder she became. Unable to resist, she reached out and gently pinched the girl’s soft cheek.
What a pity.
Such a wonderful girl could not become her daughter-in-law.
Still, having her as a daughter was just as good.
“Ningning,” Madam Jiang asked gently, “would you be willing for your uncle’s family to become related to ours through marriage?”
Not wanting to trouble her, Xue Ning nodded obediently.
But in this lifetime, Su Xi could forget about getting anywhere near her cousin.
“It’s only a meeting for now,” she said softly. “In the end, it still depends on what Cousin thinks.”
Su Man pouted immediately. “Exactly. Cousin was already adorable when he was little, like a little god of fortune. Now that he’s grown up, who knows how handsome he must be? How could Su Xi possibly be worthy of him?”
Madam Jiang had watched these children grow up. Of course she understood Su Xi’s mediocre temperament and impossibly high standards.
The Lu family might have declined from their former glory as a military household, but that did not mean they would necessarily think highly of Su Xi.
She laughed helplessly and poked Su Man’s chubby cheek. “You silly girl. Since when did he become your cousin too?”
Su Man grinned sweetly and rested her head against Xue Ning’s shoulder.
“A-Ning is your daughter now, which makes her my real little sister. Isn’t it perfectly reasonable for me to call him Cousin too?”
The corners of Madam Jiang’s lips lifted gently.
Looking at the two girls she had raised so lovingly, her heart felt deeply content.
“Forget your elder sister for now. You’re already sixteen, and Ningning has come of age too. At the acknowledgment banquet, many noble families and aristocratic households will attend.” She sighed with a smile. “It seems this mother of yours must start worrying about finding good marriages for the two of you as well.”
Su Man flushed bright red and clung to her arm coquettishly. “Manman doesn’t want to marry yet. I still want to stay with Mother a few more years.”
Madam Jiang shot her an amused glance before turning to Xue Ning.
“And what about you, Ningning?”
Xue Ning smiled faintly, gentle and obedient.
“I’ll listen to Mother in everything. Whoever Mother wishes me to marry… I’ll marry.”
