Mr. Zhao returned to his quarters in the front courtyard, just changed into casual clothes and was about to go to the back courtyard to greet his elderly mother when a maid hurried in and, after paying her respects, said that Mada Zhao requested his presence and urged him to co quickly.
Mr. Zhao dared not delay and quickly followed the maid to his mother’s residence, Pine Crane Courtyard.
As he entered the courtyard of Pine Crane Courtyard and had not yet reached the main hall, Mr. Zhao already heard a burst of lively laughter from inside. Scanning the room after entering, he saw his mother, who was in her sixties, seated in the place of honor, with his wife, daughter, and niece and sister on both sides.
Before Mr. Zhao could step forward to pay his respects to Mada Zhao, she said impatiently, "No need for formalities, quickly tell , what kind of family is it? Is the man a suitable match for ijiao?"
The ijiao ntioned by Mada Zhao was none other than Mr. Zhao’s niece, Fan ijiao, affectionately called ijiao.
Although Fan ijiao appeared young, she had her hair done up in the style of a married woman. At this mont, she listened to her grandmother’s words with sparkling eyes, showing not a trace of maidenly shyness as she looked toward her uncle.
Hearing Mada Zhao’s question, a hesitant look flashed across Mr. Zhao’s face, and under his mother’s urging gaze, he finally revealed the news he had gathered that day, "The man cos from humble beginnings, nothing but a peasant family. However, he has made a na for himself in the eyes of The Emperor and has good relations with the Crown Prince, Young Master Yan of Wu An’s Mansion, and the Prince Weiyuan’s Heir. His household has even produced a County Lord, and this ti at the palace examination, he is the most highly acclaid Champion Scholar. He would indeed be a suitable match for ijiao."
The fact that Mo Yan and Xiao Ruiyuan were engaged was sothing even Emperor Huian was kept in the dark about. Without thorough investigation, no one else knew about it, which led Mr. Zhao to only uncover these family connections with the Mo Family, thinking that the Crown Prince coveted Mo Qingze’s talents and wished to make use of him.
Mada Zhao was overjoyed at the news and, with the help of the maid, walked over to Fan ijiao, gently patting her granddaughter’s hand with a loving expression, "ijiao, your uncle says that man is a very good match for you, surely it won’t be a bad one. You are a lucky girl."
Her words sounded as though she had the authority to decide Fan ijiao’s marriage based on her say-so alone.
However, Fan ijiao was not impressed and her expression turned ugly. She exclaid in a high-pitched voice, "This man already has a daughter, and she’s a County Lord. If I truly married into such a family, one day I might have to bow to that wretched girl’s whims; what kind of fortune would that be?"
Upon hearing this, Mada Zhao’s face slightly changed, "You’re not willing? Didn’t you ask your uncle to inquire about this man earlier? Now that we have the details, why do you dislike him?"
Fan ijiao stood up, clinging to her grandmother’s arm, pouted, and complained, "What granddaughter fancied was the man himself, not including his daughter. If granddaughter really marries him, I would have to play stepmother, and that girl is a County Lord. If she dislikes and opposes at every turn, granddaughter won’t even have the right to scold her. That won’t do!"
At this, she stole a glance at her Uncle Mr. Zhao and, seeing that he did not speak up, she pouted, sowhat dissatisfied.
Mada Zhao, indeed hesitant, turned her head to the silent Mr. Zhao and asked, "Feng, do you have any thoughts? Or should we look into other options?"
Mr. Zhao’s face darkened as he glanced at his niece and said tactfully, "ijiao is twenty-five this year, and moreover... it is truly too difficult to find another unmarried man with good prospects for her."
Upon hearing her brother’s words, Mrs. Zhao, who had not spoken a word until now and was Fan ijiao’s mother, suddenly covered her face and began to weep, "What are you saying, brother? Do you think ijiao is past her pri and not a pure maiden, hence only fit to find a widower with children?"
Without waiting for Mr. Zhao to explain, Mrs. Zhao embraced Fan ijiao and began to cry, "Oh, my poor ijiao, you are so unfortunate. At ho, you couldn’t win your heartless father’s favor, and we thought your marriage would bring better days. Yet that family heartlessly divorced you, and now even your own uncle looks down on you, unwilling to earnestly plan for your future. How can your life be so bitter, my pitiful ijiao!"
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