After ordering Ruyi to escort her out, Yunyi took the ancient qin from in front of Du Ruhui and casually played a few notes, saying: “Do you have many questions to ask me?”
Du Ruhui was quite familiar with her and didn’t beat around the bush, nodding: “Yes, why did the princess do these things?”
Yunyi smiled slightly: “Xianyue and I have known each other since childhood. Strangely enough, while I have weak bonds with those sisters in the palace, I hit it off exceptionally well with Xianyue. The first time she entered the palace with Madam Wang, we played together very well. After she left, I even asked mother empress to let her enter the palace more often to keep me company, and mother empress agreed. Unfortunately, the good times didn’t last long. Xianyue has asthma, and though many physicians were consulted for treatment, the effects were minimal. She had to be sent elsewhere to recuperate. This lasted many years, and we could only communicate through letters, until these past one or two years when Xianyue’s condition stabilized and she was brought back to Luoyang.”
“I know Xianyue very well. Aside from being somewhat willful, she’s good in every other way. Moreover, she’s much beloved by the entire Wang family—she’s the apple of their eye. Over these years, many young masters from scholarly families have come to propose marriage, but none caught Xianyue’s eye.”
Du Ruhui’s expression turned strange: “By telling me all this, does the princess intend to matchmake between me and Miss Wang?”
“Exactly.” As soon as Yunyi finished speaking, Du Ruhui said: “I thank the princess for her kind intentions, but I don’t wish to marry at present.”
“I knew you would answer this way, which is why I didn’t tell you beforehand.” Yunyi sighed lightly: “A year ago, I asked you, and you said you didn’t want to marry. A year later I ask again, and you still give the same answer. When do you plan to marry?”
“I have my own plans.” Regarding Du Ruhui’s words, Yunyi shook her head: “Your plan is to have no plan. Three years have passed, and you still haven’t forgotten Meixue.”
“This is my affair, no need for the princess to worry. This matter ends here. I take my leave.” As he was about to leave, Yunyi looked at his retreating figure and said coldly: “This matter can naturally end here, but what about the Cui family? Will they stop?”
Du Ruhui’s steps halted, and he turned back in confusion: “What does the princess mean?”
Yunyi walked to his side and said slowly: “Do you really think I’m idly matchmaking for you? I want to preserve your life.” After a pause, she said: “Do you really think I know nothing about what the Cui family has been doing these days?”
Du Ruhui was startled, then said: “I will resolve this matter myself. The princess need not worry.”
“Resolve?” Yunyi scoffed: “How will you resolve it? By kneeling at the Cui family’s door begging for their forgiveness, or fighting them to the death? I can tell you that no matter what you do, the result will be the same—the Du family will disappear from Luoyang and from the Great Sui territory.”
Du Ruhui clenched his fists tightly, gritting his teeth: “I won’t let them succeed.”
Yunyi sighed lightly: “It’s useless. To the Cui family, your Du family is merely an ant. Even adding your main family branch, you’re just a slightly larger grasshopper—no match for them at all. Moreover, the main family wouldn’t care about the life or death of your branch. The reason things are still peaceful now is first because the Cui family hasn’t finished playing, and second because they somewhat consider father emperor. But father emperor…” She frowned: “I once pleaded with father emperor about this matter, but he said there was no evidence and he couldn’t interfere. I could see that father emperor didn’t want to offend the Cui family too much.”
Du Ruhui was silent for a moment, then said: “But what does this have to do with Miss Wang?”
“The Taiyuan Wang family, like the Cui family, is one of the Seven Clans and Five Houses. If you marry Xianyue, the Wang family will naturally protect you as their son-in-law and won’t let the Cui family touch you. Given your current situation, this is the best method.”
“But I don’t wish to use this method.” Faced with Du Ruhui’s answer, Yunyi rubbed her forehead: “I understand your thoughts, but have you considered uncle and aunt? They worked hard for over twenty years, finally saw you pass the imperial examination and enter government service. They haven’t even enjoyed a few good days before having to live in constant fear, always worrying about the entire family’s safety. Can you bear this?”
“I…” Yunyi interrupted him: “If you can truly be so heartless, then pretend I never said anything.”
Du Ruhui’s expression changed repeatedly. Though Wang Xianyue had left him with a decent impression just now, he had never considered marrying her. But… Yunyi was right. He could disregard life and death, but he couldn’t disregard the parents who gave birth to and raised him. As a son, what he should do was let his parents enjoy their golden years, not make them live in terror and constant unease.
From the current situation, once the Cui family tired of this cat-and-mouse game, they would unhesitatingly kill them, and they… had no power to resist such a colossal force.
After a long time, he said quietly: “Even if I agree, Miss Wang wouldn’t marry a mere registrar like me.” All along, only noble families could intermarry with other noble families.
His softened tone made a flash of joy pass through Yunyi’s eyes: “Xianyue is not someone who values family status. If she likes someone, she would marry even a poor scholar.”
“I’ve known Xianyue for so many years, I can guarantee she would be a good wife. Moreover, judging from her attitude just now, she should be interested in you. I know you deeply loved Meixue, but Meixue has become the past. Do you intend to spend your entire life clinging to memories of her?” After a pause, she said earnestly: “Ruhui, give Xianyue, and give yourself, a chance.”
After a very long time, Du Ruhui’s voice finally sounded in her ears: “Then I entrust everything to the princess.”
Hearing this, Yunyi knew he had agreed and immediately nodded in agreement. In the following days, she often found excuses to invite Xianyue and Du Ruhui to the palace together, whether for tea or garden strolls. Of course, all this was hidden from the Cui family, lest it provoke them into deciding to act prematurely.
Just as Yunyi had predicted, Wang Xianyue was indeed interested in Du Ruhui. A month later, Du Ruhui went to propose marriage. The Wang family elders naturally didn’t want their precious pearl to marry such a minor seventh-rank official, but Wang Xianyue was extremely stubborn, saying she would marry no one but him. The elders had no choice but to agree to this marriage and chose an auspicious day for the wedding.
Before the proposal, Yunyi had told Wang Xianyue about the troubles Du Ruhui faced. Since she regarded him as her husband, she naturally wouldn’t ignore this. She persuaded her father to visit the Cui family, which was part plea and part threat.
Though the Cui family was unwilling to let Du Ruhui go, they didn’t dare offend both the Zheng and Wang families simultaneously, especially the latter. The Wang family’s influence was even greater than theirs, so they reluctantly agreed not to trouble the Du family anymore.
On the nineteenth day of the eighth month, the best auspicious day of the year, Du Ruhui formally married Wang Xianyue, the legitimate daughter of the Wang family, becoming the beloved son-in-law of the Wang family, one of the Seven Clans and Five Houses.