northernbook Chapter 113 3 Aunt
Chapter 113 3 Aunt
Zi Xiao stood to the side, tilting her head: "It's not exactly agreeing to this marriage, is it? It's just agreeing to meet and see each other. After all, no matter how unfavored the Fifth Prince is, he is still a prince. Marriages still need to be arranged by the Emperor. Even if two people like each other, there's nothing that can be done if the Emperor doesn't agree."
Ye Qing'an smiled and said, "Since the Duchess of Jin has been invited to make an assessment, it's not just the Fifth Prince's own idea; at least the Consort Jing, who raised the Fifth Prince, has agreed."
"Since Consort Jing has agreed and even specially sent someone to arrange the marriage, it naturally means that she has a way to get the Emperor to agree to this marriage."
After Ye Qing'an finished speaking, he hesitated for a moment before asking, "Does Consort Jing have any other princes?"
"Yes, there is a twelfth prince, but he is only two years old."
Ye Qing'an nodded. She had found it strange before that the Fifth Prince was raised by Consort Jing, but he was not her biological son. If Consort Jing had other princes, she should have been more considerate of her own son and would certainly not want the Fifth Prince to marry a woman of too high a social standing.
But if her biological son is only two years old, then it's a different story.
Ye Qing'an nodded and tapped her fingers lightly on the table. If Ye Qing'an agreed, the marriage might actually be possible.
After all, Ye Qinghao made no attempt to hide his ambition, sending Ye Zirui to the Crown Prince's side.
Given Ye Weilan's background, the man she marries will certainly not be of low status. She would be worthy of princes and dukes, and could freely choose from noble families; even becoming a concubine in the palace would be acceptable.
It would be better to marry her off to a less favored prince.
An unfavored prince has no real power and nothing.
Marrying Ye Weilan to the Fifth Prince is a way of indirectly weakening Ye Qinghao's power.
That's why she was certain that Ye Weilan wouldn't agree and that Ye Qinghao would try to stop her.
The current situation is somewhat beyond her comprehension.
"Let's wait and see. It's still uncertain whether this marriage will go through. Besides, even if it does, it would be great."
Ye Qing'an smiled and said, "It's good that Ye Weilan got married soon, so she won't be trying to find ways to oppose me all day long. Although I don't take her seriously, it's still annoying to have someone constantly jumping around in front of you and poking you from time to time."
Zixiao nodded: "She said that the Duchess of Jin will come to visit in three days, and then a date will be set, and an excuse will be found to let the Second Miss and the Fifth Prince meet. If the two hit it off, then Consort Jing will be asked to request an imperial decree to grant them a marriage."
Ye Qing'an nodded: "Let them be."
If Ye Weilan had proposed an excellent marriage, she might have intervened a little; but if it was the Fifth Prince, then she would simply let things take their course.
Moreover, just as she had thought, even if the marriage were to take place, it would still take at least six months from engagement to marriage.
If Ye Weilan were to act recklessly and anger her, it's uncertain whether she would even live to see that day.
The sun was shining brightly, and the weather was fine. Ye Qing'an had someone bring a soft couch to the courtyard for a short rest. After a while, she opened her eyes and saw someone flying a kite not far away.
Ye Qing'an squinted at the kite, which had words written on it.
three?
Third concubine?
Ye Qing'an's fingers curled slightly as she recalled the reminder her third aunt had given her that day at Ying Song Hall, and then she looked at the paper kite with writing on it...
Ye Qing'an stood up and called to Zi Xiao, "The weather is nice today. I saw someone flying kites in the garden. I'll go take a look."
Zixiao responded and followed Ye Qing'an to the back garden.
Upon arriving at the back garden, Ye Qing'an saw a maid holding a kite string in her hand, looking up at the kite. The Third Madam was sitting in the pavilion to the side, but her gaze was not on the kite. She was looking down at the teacup in her hand, looking bored.
"Third Aunt." Ye Qing'an stepped forward a few paces.
The third concubine was startled by the voice, then suddenly raised her head. Seeing that it was Ye Qing'an, a hint of joy flashed in her eyes. She quickly stood up and said, "Miss, since you're here, why don't you come in and have a cup of tea?"
Ye Qing'an raised an eyebrow and her gaze fell on the stone table. She saw two cups of tea on the table and then looked at the Third Aunt's appearance. She realized that the Third Aunt was waiting for her.
"Third Aunt is in quite a good mood." Ye Qing'an walked over and sat down opposite her.
Third Aunt sat down as well, and gave a bitter smile: "What good mood? I just have nothing to do, so I'm just killing time."
"The ladies and concubines in this mansion either have children or are favored by the master, so they have a lot to do on a daily basis."
"But I'm different. I have no children, I'm not favored by the master, and I have no one to talk to, so I can only find my own amusement."
After saying that, he gave a bitter laugh: "It's a pity that after more than ten years in the manor, it seems that I've already found all the fun that can be found, and there's nothing new anymore."
Ye Qing'an had no right to comment on other people's lives, and only smiled: "Thank you for your advice on Ying Songtang's matter that day, Third Aunt."
Third Aunt smiled and said, "I didn't help the eldest young lady much. It was the eldest young lady's own cleverness that allowed her to escape danger. However, I heard that the Abbot Jieran was actually an imposter, and he has now been caught."
Ye Qing'an nodded, but her gaze fell on the Third Madam: "I'm just a little curious, how did the Third Madam know that Abbot Jiran was coming for me?"
Third Aunt lowered her head: "I'm just guessing. I wonder if Miss has noticed where those so-called celestial phenomena have occurred?"
Ye Qing'an shook her head: "When the servants reported to me, I didn't think that this matter would be related to me. I only asked if anything had happened in our courtyard. After hearing that there was nothing unusual in our courtyard, I didn't ask any further questions."
"But that day at Ying Song Hall, I overheard someone mention that the bloody handprint appeared in the courtyard of the eldest young master and the fourth concubine?"
"Yes." Third Madam nodded: "In fact, in the courtyards of all the masters in this mansion, apart from the master's main courtyard and the eldest young lady's courtyard, something happened in the other courtyards."
"Even in my yard, the well is as if it's boiling."
Third Madam pursed her lips: "That day, I questioned the servants in detail and learned that only the master and the eldest young lady had not experienced any abnormalities, so I had some suspicions in my mind."
"The master's residence is always heavily guarded, and no one else in the mansion can really get their hands on him in the main courtyard. As for the eldest young lady, it's highly likely that someone deliberately left a loophole so that they could frame her."