The sound of wailing suonas and farewells from the people wove a tapestry of sorrow.
It was supposed to be Marquis Ning pushing Wei Zhao, but now Xiao Huaian had eagerly taken his place.
Wei Zhao lay listless, indifferent to it all.
This place was not as strictly managed as inside the hall, and low murmurs went unchecked.
Xiao Huaian pushed more and more slowly, allowing others to overtake them. After all, there was no need to be too eager in a funeral procession.
"I don’t ask for much, just give five hundred taels to help with an ergency."
Wei Zhao lowered his gaze, saying calmly, "If you fulfill your parents’ wishes and settle the marriage before the year’s end, they won’t cut off your monthly silver."
"That’s easy for you to say!"
Xiao Huaian was in no good mood.
"Am I supposed to indulge them?"
"Once married, I’ll have to start a career, right? How could I have such abilities? There are more constraints, and there’s the expectation to carry on the family line. Why should I crash into a wall instead of living a good life? Moreover, I can’t let a decent girl muddle through life with ."
Wei Zhao lowered his eyes.
Could Xiao Huaian really be without ability?
He was rely hiding his talents and feigning ignorance.
His father, Duke Zhongyong, held military power, but his foundation was unstable. It was secured by fighting off foreign enemies at the border with his uncle!
The Duke Mansion was stable, yet what was its fate? If Xiao Huaian pursued his ambitions, he would attract Emperor Ying’s attention.
Wei Zhao looked up when Yu Tingwan approached.
"Co closer."
Yu Tingwan glanced at Wei Zhao, then at Xiao Huaian.
"Am I..."
Yu Tingwan: "Am I disturbing you?"
Wei Zhao was silent for a mont, then chuckled in exasperation: "Do you think there’s anything shady between and Heir Xiao?"
Yu Tingwan slowly said, "Hard to say. Matters concerning money are always dirty."
Xiao Huaian was shocked: ???
No way, is this how you two talk as a couple?
For a mont, he almost thought Yu Tingwan was here to catch him out.
Wei Zhao glanced at him, his tone flat: "If you need to borrow money, seek out my wife. Family finances always have to pass through her."
Xiao Huaian: ???
This didn’t sound like sothing Wei Zhao would say.
In the past, there were only two responses when he asked for money.
-- Dreaming again? Do you think of as your provider?
-- Fine, get this thing done for , and we’ll call it your reward.
Xiao Huaian looked deeply at Wei Zhao.
Are you afraid of your wife, or just unwilling to lend?
How could such an important matter as money be entrusted to a woman?
How could he, a man, bring himself to ask Yu Tingwan?
If it were soone else, Yu Tingwan would surely haggle, but this was County Magistrate Xiao from a past life.
It’s naturally different.
She agreed readily, without waiting for Xiao Huaian to ask.
"Alright."
Wei Zhao: ?
Xiao Huaian: ??
Wei Zhao, doubting she’s aware of the amount: "Five hundred taels is no small sum."
Yu Tingwan replied softly, "I know. But Heir Xiao is not just anyone."
Xiao Huaian: ?!!
Wei Zhao might not have been thoroughly entrapped, but Xiao Huaian was.
He could hardly believe this was real.
The happiness arrived too quickly.
Ning Yunling: ???
So it could be like this!
Ning Yunling, who had previously looked down on Xiao Huaian, now viewed Yu Tingwan differently and hurried to her side.
"Sister-in-law."
Yu Tingwan: "No."
Ning Yunling was incredulous: "I haven’t even said anything yet."
Yu Tingwan: "It’s not your turn; don’t join the fun."
"Your uncle and aunt are reasonable people, and your grandmother is kind. As long as there’s no trouble outside, they won’t be hard on you financially."
Ning Yunling was unwilling to accept.
"But Xiao Huaian doesn’t have money, isn’t he also..."
A troublemaker?
Before finishing.
The girl spoke earnestly, "He is in need; he should be helped."
Ning Yunling: ???
Xiao Huaian: !!!
"I will rember this sentint!"
Xiao Huaian exclaid in praise, "No wonder they say marry a virtuous wife. Your generosity, Lady Yu, it’s no wonder Wei Zhao favors you."
Yu Tingwan sincerely comnted, "Heir Xiao is also noble and righteous."
Wei Zhao squinted.
Yu Tingwan and Xiao Huaian didn’t know each other before, did they?
The girl was more forthcoming than usual.
An emotion passed through his eyes as he scrutinized Xiao Huaian closely.
Not burly.
Not dark-skinned.
But shaless.
Wei Zhao felt relieved.
The road was wide, but long.
Fortunately, they walked slowly, for how else could so officials and their ladies, accustod to pampered lives and now both physically and ntally exhausted, keep up?
Once outside the city gate, they moved in the direction of the Imperial Mausoleum.
The Second Prince Consort, Yao Ru, held a position near the front but walked slowly. She was unwilling to witness the tension between the Ninth Princess and the Fifth Prince Consort, so she gradually fell behind.
Fortunately, the funeral procession wasn’t that strict, and a maid supported her at her side.
The maid Xun Zhu had served her from a young age, their bond not being that of an ordinary master and servant.
Xun Zhu’s eyes brimd with care: "My lady, last night, your lower body was bleeding again when you returned ho. When you gave birth, you nearly lost your life. The Imperial Physician advised rest, but this ordeal has worn you down, let alone slendered your body."
Yao Ru smiled lightly, her smile faint.
"It’s nothing."
Xun Zhu continued, "They say a mother and son share a bond. Perhaps the young master also feels for you, crying his heart out whenever he can’t see you during the day. Only when you’re ho can he be soothed."
Yao Ru’s expression was lost: "After all, he stayed in my belly; besides you, he’s the only one now who cares for ."
Xun Zhu frowned.
"That’s not right. You are the cherished daughter of the Yao Family; they surely care for you."
Yao Ru only shook her head.
Smiling at her naivety.
Xun Zhu said, "I saw your parents earlier; they are just behind us."
Her face lit up with joy just as the Yao Family sighted them.
Mrs. Yao’s eyes were tearful, though it was unclear whether for the Crown Prince or for her tornted daughter.
She approached worriedly.
"My child, seeing you like this is like a knife twisting in my heart."
"We have so hundred-year-old ginseng at ho; I’ll have it sent to you."
Lord Yao approached with her, chiding his wife.
"Is this the place for such talk?"
Their conversation was drowned out by the sound of the suona.
Yu Tingwan and the others could not hear it,
but they had eyes.
Xiao Huaian clicked his tongue: "The Yao Family remains unreasonable, likely bullying a married daughter again. With an unreliable husband and her family not backing her, her life must be hard."
He said no more,
but Yu Tingwan was eager to hear.
Ning Yunling by her side sighed.
Yu Tingwan asked, "What’s wrong?"
Ning Yunling replied, "Watching her suffer, my heart truly aches."
Considering Ning Yunling so compassionate, unable to see human suffering.
Yu Tingwan was about to feel gratified.
Tan Jiang leaned in, "Mistress, among the Unity Locks our young master hung at Changdu Temple, there was one for the Second Prince Consort."
Yu Tingwan: ...
Seeing Yu Tingwan’s gaze frequently wander toward Yao Ru, Tan Jiang divulged all he knew: "The Second Prince Consort once basked in glory."
"At eight, she was noticed at first sight by Princess Consort Yan, who said the child resonated with her."
"At ten, the two families were engaged; Princess Consort Yan often brought her to the manor for a few days."
Back then, who wasn’t envious of Yao Ru’s good fortune?
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