Yun Shuyao was stunned for a moment, then looking at Concubine Mei’s expectant gaze, she suddenly smiled.

“This joke is truly funny. Elder Sister Mei, you came specifically to amuse me, didn’t you? Otherwise, how could you say such a funny thing?”

The more Yun Shuyao spoke, the more she smiled.

That attitude clearly did not take this matter seriously. Or rather, she knew Concubine Mei was serious, but in her view, it was an ill-timed “joke.”

Concubine Mei came to bring up a marriage matter. She wanted to be a matchmaker.

The target of her matchmaking was Yun Shuyao’s younger brother Yun Yan.

He was eighteen years old this year and planned to participate in the autumn provincial examination together with his older brother this year. Originally at this age, he should have already married, or at the very least should have been betrothed. But he wanted to focus on the civil examinations first and had no mind to start a family. Yun Shuyao had also said many times she recommended late marriage—being betrothed early was fine.

Eldest younger brother Yun Heng had only married the year before last. At that time, he was also eighteen years old.

So when Yun Yan said he wanted to consider marriage matters later, Yun Qingliang did not object.

After all, he was a boy. His age was not too old.

If he truly could pass, at his age he could be called a young talent. Going to propose marriage would also be more presentable.

But at the latest, it would be this year. Whether he passed or not, Yun Qingliang planned to betroth his younger son. He already had a family in mind. Both sides also had a tacit understanding. It was the daughter of the county magistrate in the neighboring county where he served. Yun Qingliang was only the vice magistrate. If his younger son passed as a juren, going to propose marriage would not involve any talk of reaching above one’s station.

Yun Qingliang had also mentioned this matter to Yun Shuyao.

That young lady was born to the county magistrate’s legitimate wife. The disadvantage was that she had previously been betrothed once. Later, because the male party was of poor character, the betrothal was broken. But no matter what the reason, this world was always more harsh toward young women.

Song Shi had met her when going to the temple to offer incense. Both sides conversed happily. Later, learning that young lady had broken off an engagement, she developed the idea.

Yun Shuyao’s eldest sister-in-law was the daughter of her husband’s teacher. The other party was also of juren background, but had no intention of pursuing an official career. After obtaining credentials, he became a teacher at Changming Academy.

Yun Qingliang had not considered at all forming marriage ties with merchant families.

Indeed, some official families would arrange marriages for their sons with daughters of merchant families. Often this had reasons.

Not all official families had ample resources. There were also many families that only had a good-sounding title.

When merchant daughters married in with large dowries, it could be said each took what they needed.

Even so, to avoid being mocked, most who formed marriage ties with merchants were sons of concubines.

If it were legitimate sons, the general situation was that there were already accomplished sons ahead. This son had no great prospects, so he was used for marriage alliance.

The Yun family was not very wealthy, but also not lacking. Moreover, because they lived through poor days, they also did not feel the current days were insufficient anywhere.

So when Yun Qingliang was considering prospects for his sons, he was all aiming toward future career.

His two sons both had the talent for studying. They would walk the official career path in the future. Then a mutually helpful marriage connection was extremely important.

Not to mention, the younger sister Concubine Mei proposed—she was also a daughter of a concubine.

Even if Concubine Mei said she was under her mother’s name and was a legitimate younger sister, Yun Shuyao was not a fool. She knew how many children her legitimate mother had borne.

Even if registered under the legitimate mother’s name, the fake could not become real.

She herself was concubine-born. Could she not know how great the difference between legitimate and concubine-born truly was? Just that generous dowry she mentioned had to have a big question mark.

A vice magistrate’s legitimate second son matched with a merchant family’s concubine-born daughter?

Without any reason, who would form marriage ties like this?

If her and her younger siblings became a pair, how would Jia Min think?

Two concubines under her with offspring joining forces—what were they planning to do?

Even the best-tempered mistress would be vigilant facing this situation of concubines joining forces.

So after laughing enough, Yun Shuyao directly refused: “Elder Sister Mei, this joke is not funny. We are both from Xingtai Prefecture. If not knowing each other thoroughly, it’s close enough. This marriage match is not suitable. Elder Sister, do not bring it up again in the future. My younger brother’s marriage is not for me to decide either. There are my parents to worry about it. I just need to live my own small days well—that’s sufficient. Elder Sister Mei, presumably your side should be the same.”

Being refused so directly, Concubine Mei’s expression was very ugly. That face turned from blue to white, white to blue. Her mouth was tightly pressed, as if suppressing her anger, and also… a trace of regret.

Actually, the marriage match Concubine Mei originally should have brought up was not between her concubine-born younger sister and Concubine Yun’s younger brother. She had temporarily changed her mind.

The Mei family’s main base was in Xingtai Prefecture. Now there was her legitimate eldest brother. Her father, her concubine mother, as well as her biological younger brother were now also in Guangzhou. Borrowing the favorable wind from the master, they brought business here and earned quite a bit of money.

The reason she came to find Concubine Yun today was that she told her concubine mother about Jia Min’s pregnancy. Her concubine mother gave her an idea.

She came to discuss marriage, but the marriage to discuss was between her legitimate sixth younger sister and Concubine Yun’s cousin.

Her sixth younger sister had already been widowed for over a year.

She had originally married the son of a juren family. Unfortunately, the other party had a thin fate. Not long after marrying over, he died of illness. That younger sister also had no children and returned to her maternal family. She was looking for another suitable family.

As for Concubine Yun’s cousin, he now had xiucai credentials. His legitimate wife had also passed away due to illness. Father was optimistic about his future and believed the possibility he could pass as juren in the future was very high. If she married over, afterward by finding connections and spending some money, Sixth Younger Sister could also become an official’s wife.

This way they would be relatives. In the future at the Lin family, they could also look after each other.

Even if Concubine Mei did not want to admit it, she also knew Concubine Yun was different from her.

Although at the beginning when the two of them entered one after the other there was no difference, but after the other party gave birth to the Lin residence’s only male descendant, and moreover Concubine Yun’s father was supplemented with an official position, her status became very stable.

A large margin higher than her.

Through her concubine mother’s careful analysis, Concubine Mei also had to admit that this Yun Shi appeared silent and unassuming, but was actually someone with calculations who was very good at pleasing people.

She never proposed any excessive demands, would never ask the master to support her maternal family. Usually the requests she made were just tinkering with eating and drinking things. Toward Jia Min, from beginning to end she had always been proper and well-behaved. No matter how much her son was valued by the Old Madam and others, she had never been arrogant.

This was a very patient “ruthless person.”

She “kept to her place,” but Concubine Mei did not believe there truly were such people who kept to their place. One could only say she suppressed it and put on a false face to face everyone.

Others were deceived by her and were also very lenient with her.

Indeed, they were both from Xingtai Prefecture. If not knowing each other thoroughly, it was close enough. Concubine Mei knew too well what the Yun family’s foundation was. Before she entered the household, could the entire Yun family from top to bottom scrape together one thousand taels of silver?

Saying one thousand taels was already overestimating. Should say five hundred taels instead.

But now, look at what Yun Shi wore, look at the furnishings in the room. If these were not given by the master and others, could they be earned by herself?

Also, Jia Min seemed not to make things difficult for them. How could it not be because of Yun Shi’s attitude of retreating to advance, making the Old Madam and the master watch, leaving Jia Min no room to make things difficult?

Yun Shi appeared not to compete or fight, but actually the substance had already been obtained.

So her concubine mother said she should befriend her.

Under the circumstances of Jia Min being pregnant, naturally standing on opposite sides, she and Yun Shi were on the same position. She needed to ease relations with Yun Shi.

But now… looking at Yun Shi, Concubine Mei felt somewhat regretful.

She should have listened to her concubine mother.

That sixth younger sister was legitimate. The dowry would absolutely be generous. Yun Shi’s cousin’s family conditions were not very good. Moreover, it was also a remarriage. The possibility of agreement was very high.

Now being refused by Yun Shi like this, where did she still have face to continue discussing a second marriage match?

Concubine Mei flung her sleeves and left.

Yun Shuyao sat there. The smile on her face withdrew. She thought about the rich expressions on Concubine Mei’s face just now.

She had not seen wrong. That was regret.

She regretted the words she said.

Which meant her marriage proposal was made impulsively?

Then what did she originally want to say?

Concubine Mei’s sudden visit to discuss this matter indeed had her personal style. But perfectly fine, how did she think of this aspect?

There should have been someone who advised her.

Was it Nanny Wu?

Impossible.

She would not propose this idea that might cause imbalance in the Lin residence’s inner courtyard.

Then it could only be her maternal family.

Yun Shuyao chuckled.

What good calculations. Wanting her and Concubine Mei to stand on the same line to deal with possible suppression of concubine-born that Jia Min might have? Or was it watching Concubine Mei so she would not impulsively do something?

No matter which purpose, she was not so full she was bloated.

Even if full and bloated, doing exercise to digest would be fine. Why find herself a big trouble?

—

Very soon, Gao Shi received her daughter’s letter full of guilt. Looking at this letter, Gao Shi rubbed her temples with a headache.

She knew her daughter wanted to bind the relationship with Concubine Yun more tightly so she changed the marriage candidate. But under this kind of situation, binding too tightly would only ruin things.

Yun Shi’s eldest uncle’s family was just right.

Their two families had already divided long ago. Moreover, her eldest uncle was not even a xiucai. Her cousin was only a xiucai, almost thirty and still had not passed as juren. Perhaps his whole life would be a xiucai. Speaking of it, having the Mei family’s legitimate daughter marry him—the other party was reaching above his station.

As a result, her daughter temporarily changed the statement and brought up the concubine-born daughter to Yun Shi’s younger brother who at a young age was already a xiucai with hope of juren. This was different.

Gao Shi sighed. Now she could only have her daughter keep her mouth tightly shut. This matter could not be transmitted out. Fortunately, her daughter still knew this matter needed to avoid people. When speaking, besides the two of them, there were no others. Presumably that clever person Concubine Yun would also not proactively spread this matter everywhere.

Thinking of Jia Min who was now pregnant, Gao Shi’s brows furrowed.

Her daughter still needed to have her own son. It was just a pity that both medicinal pills had already been used up. These many years her daughter had not conceived again. For her to obtain another pill was not that easy. Thinking of this, Concubine Gao could not help but sigh.

If she could naturally conceive, that would be best. But looking at it now, she should place emphasis on the medicinal pills. Difficult was difficult, but it was not without methods…

Gao Shi wrote a letter to her daughter. After Concubine Mei received the letter, she touched her own belly and became like an eggplant hit by frost, listless and dejected.

She had not conceived all along. The problem was not entirely on her side. The master came to her place the least.

If not for Ying Yu, it would be even less.

The master was unwilling to come. What could she do?

Forcibly drag the master to come?

Keeping to her place?

Was she not keeping to her place enough now?

She had done nothing. Keeping to her place enough.

After being thoroughly scolded by her concubine mother, Concubine Mei stayed in her own courtyard and did not go out. Nanny Wu watched with great relief.

She was no longer causing trouble.

Although she did not know how she thought it through, thinking it through was good.

—

Because of her wet nurse status, Nanny Qian had an emotional foundation there. Although Jia Min did not give her power again to let her return to her side to work, Nanny Qian occasionally entered the residence to care about her current situation and talk with her. Jia Min adopted a tacit attitude. Ever since she became pregnant, Nanny Qian came even more frequently.

Nanny Qian never mentioned returning. Every time entering the residence, she talked with the Madam about matters of pregnancy and childbirth back then, and also interesting incidents that occurred when nursing her.

These made Jia Min listen with great interest. She was also about to become a mother. From a mother’s perspective, her attitude toward Nanny Qian softened somewhat more.

But with the precedent as a lesson, Jia Min still persisted in her original thinking.

Nanny Qian was old. She should enjoy her children and grandchildren’s blessings.

After Nanny Qian probed, she was disappointed, but also never slacked off. She no longer worked in the residence, but she still had children and grandchildren. She had to consider for her children and grandchildren.

Now the Madam had good news. In the future, the people by the young master and young miss’s side—wouldn’t they need trustworthy people to serve?

Her family had plenty of people.

Jia Min was not unaware.

But she had seen this kind of situation too much.

People who retired at the right age were said to enjoy children and grandchildren’s blessings, but there were not many who did not consider for children and grandchildren.

As long as they were good, she would not refuse to use them.

It was just that the candidates she valued were limited.

The Rong Duke residence sent a mighty contingent of two young nannies with rich child-rearing experience. They received the Fourth Aunt’s emphasis and welcome. While being relied upon, they discovered layer upon layer of problems around the Fourth Aunt.

First was this wet nurse raised in honor. She had already left the residence but from time to time came in to contradict their statements and practices as wrong, singing contrary tunes with them. What did this mean?

Second, the aunt was pregnant, but serving by her side were maids. The concubines and concubine-born children actually did not serve and show filial piety at the mistress’s side! Moreover, those concubine-born seeds—what good could they be? Yet they had such good treatment?

Third, also what made them most nervous, the Old Madam actually took advantage of the aunt’s pregnancy to take away her household management authority!

How could this do?!