10. The Chrysanthemum withers (Part II)

After the New Year, the fifteenth day of the first month is the happiest day of the year for the noble ladies of the capital, a time when they compete in beauty and elegance. During these fifteen days, the streets and alleys of the capital are adorned with lanterns, and it is also a proper occasion for women to go out.

The lady nodded, appearing quite satisfied

On the ninth day of the first month, Sixth Miss and Ninth Miss came to invite Chu Lianyi to visit the lantern festival, along with Fifth Miss, Tenth Miss, and Liu Qianxue, as well as several other young ladies.

Chu Lianyi finally raised her head and stared at the matriarch in confusion

An fragrant shadow attended to Chu Lianyi, who donned a peacock feather cloak adorned with golden dots and emerald accents, accompanied by a plain white gauze hood. She also placed a new piece of charcoal into a cloisonné enamel copper hand warmer, which was then placed in Chu Lianyi's hand. Only then did the group exit the flower-draped gate and ascend to the carriage in front of the shadow wall at the entrance of the residence

After Chu Lianyi left, that marriage was never mentioned again, and she understood that her father had most likely refused it

After a significant alleviation of her mental distress, she found her meals more enjoyable and her spirits greatly lifted. With the New Year approaching, the master had taken a holiday, and the interactions among the sisters became even more frequent. This New Year was the liveliest one that Chu Lianyi had experienced since her mother's passing. The ancestral worship on New Year's Eve and the vigil were no longer lonely; after all, it is the presence of many that brings warmth and interest.

In fact, the matriarch was merely blinded by past grievances, and it was not until Chu Lianyi encountered trouble that she came to her senses. If it were not for her neglect of the main household back then, the maid would not have had to step up to support the entire family at such a young age. Over the years, the main household has been managed meticulously by her, and the matriarch has been aware of this, recognizing her as a capable person

On the street, there are those who play with balls, those who walk on stilts, those who walk on ropes, those who perform with monkeys, those who swallow swords, those who breathe fire, and there are also extraordinary individuals who can command bees and butterflies, directing ants, leaving spectators' eyes spinning in amazement

One after another, the sixth young lady had a "chance encounter" with the new Hanlin official. The other young ladies went together to Ruibao Studio to select jewelry, while Liu Qianxue took her maid to an antique bookstore. Only Chu Lianyi kept her eyes fixed on the food, unwilling to move.

Downstairs, Chu Lianyi was urgently calling out in a delicate voice for Anxiang to buy date paste boxes, and that voice, however, carried into a private room on the east floor across the way

Upon hearing what Lady Si said, the Grand Lady's expression became even calmer, and she even began to show signs of contemplation.

Chu Lianyi should have shyly declined, but she truly did not dare to trust the Fourth Madam, so she asked softly, "But I do not know how old that person is?" This question was directed at her Fourth Aunt. As for her remark about the person's appearance and demeanor, that can be set aside for now, but whether the claim of being young and accomplished holds any substance remains uncertain.

Upon hearing Chulianyi's question, her fourth aunt's expression indeed changed. She initially did not want to respond, but she thought that if the marriage were to proceed, it would inevitably be revealed when exchanging the marriage proposal documents. If this girl were to cause any trouble at that time, it would not be good. Thus, she said: "I heard that she is thirty-five years old this year in terms of nominal age."

Upon hearing these words, the lady hesitated and swallowed back some words she was about to say; indeed, this matter should be blamed on the deceased Lady Chu

During this time, countless romantic tales have unknowingly been accomplished. Unmarried daughters can privately meet their suitors, while engaged daughters can seek opportunities to connect with their fiancés.

At the beginning, the matriarch did not agree to this marriage. If it were not for your mother using her illness as leverage, how could you have ended up in such a situation

The lady did not speak, and after a moment of thought, she said: "When you spoke to me earlier, I did not fully understand. If the maid were to marry, wouldn't the age of the stepson be quite similar to hers? Living under the same roof would be quite inconvenient."

"Anxiang, please buy me that date paste box to eat." Chu Lianyi pointed to a stall selling steamed cakes under the west corridor in the middle section of the Imperial Street.

The lady raised her eyes slightly, as it seemed to be the first time she had heard this, "Isn't she more than twenty years older than the maid?"

Chu Lianyi's legs were indeed in such pain that she could barely stand. She stumbled slightly and leaned against the matriarch, her large eyes still misty. "Grandmother, I was indeed harsh towards those wicked servants at that time. After my mother passed away, my father hardly managed the affairs of the inner courtyard. Those wicked servants bullied me and Xinger when we were young. When Xinger fell ill, there was no one to call a doctor. Aunt Qiu's knees were worn out from begging, yet no one paid any attention. Xinger's life was almost lost, and that was when I finally hardened my heart." Chu Lianyi recalled the various hardships of the past, crying even more earnestly.

Madam Si looked at Chu Lianyi and said with a smile, "He is the deputy official in your fourth uncle's yamen, dignified in appearance and bearing, young and accomplished. Marrying that young lady would indeed make her a proper wife."

Madam Si immediately laughed and said, "My dear, you are worrying too much. The son of Deputy Envoy Li is currently studying at the Imperial Academy and is not by his side, so there is no question of inconvenience. Moreover..." Madam Si glanced at Chu Lianyi and continued, "I think it would be better for her to marry over as a concubine. Mother, look at this girl Wan, her frail body is so delicate that a gust of wind could knock her over. She does not seem suitable for childbearing. Now that Deputy Envoy Li already has a son, Wan would not need to bear the responsibility of continuing the family line, wouldn't that be convenient?"

"Miss, but you have just eaten a skewer of candied walnuts, a Cao family meat pie, and a pack of Li family spicy marinated beef." An Xiang also spoke up to support Shu Ying

The lady let out a gentle sigh upon hearing this

Thus, Chu Lianyi tugged at the sleeve of her sixth sister, Chu Lianqing. Chu Lianqing whispered in Chu Lianyi's ear, "Those are the two young masters from the Ministry of Personnel's Selection and Achievements Department. Both have taken a liking to Ninth Sister. Our families are well-acquainted, so there is nothing to fear."

Immediately, tears streamed down Chu Lianyi's face like rain as she crawled to the front of the matriarch, "Grandmother..."

Chu Lianyi held back her tears, understanding that the matriarch said this to preserve the dignity of the fourth lady

Now, it is impossible for the bowl girl to marry into her uncle's family, but being in the house of her husband, it can still be considered as being in her hands

"How could I be that precious? I can tell that this date paste box must be delicious." Chu Lianyi couldn't eat anything at home, but once she was on the street, she wanted to eat everything she saw

No one else made any special remarks; however, it was evident that Lianyi was startled and anxious. The Ninth Young Lady followed the two men without anyone saying a word, not even the Fifth Young Lady spoke up to stop her

A group of people had not walked far when they encountered a young lady from the Jingwen Marquis's residence. The fifth young lady was familiar with her family, so she bid farewell to Chu Lianyi and the others, and went hand in hand with her future sister-in-law to see the lanterns.

The Fourth Lady noticed that the Matriarch was somewhat moved, and encouraged her further, saying: "Mother, nowadays, not to mention being the legitimate wife, even as a concubine, who among those in the know would be willing to take her? If it weren't for the higher-ups arranging the match, even Vice Envoy Li might not be inclined. The people from our family who would recommend her would probably have to line up all the way to the Yongding River."

Although Chu Lianyi has been in this world for over ten years, she has never attended the Lantern Festival. When her mother was alive, she was too young to go out. After her mother passed away, she observed three years of mourning. As she grew older, her father still did not allow her to attend the festival. At that time, Chu Lianyi did not have the courage to plead with the matriarch. This year, thanks to the blessings of the Yan family, she finally had the opportunity to get closer to the matriarch, which in turn granted her the chance to go out.

After traveling approximately 300 meters, they met up with the carriages of other young ladies from the Chu residence, and then proceeded towards the Imperial Street

Madam Si turned around and grasped Chu Lianyi's hand, saying: "My dear girl, Aunt Si understands that you are proud and haughty, just like your mother. However, you cannot blame others for your current situation. If it were not for your own shortcomings, how could others find fault with you? This marriage was personally arranged by your mother, and if you wish to blame someone, you can only blame her." Madam Si looked at Chu Lianyi with a solemn expression, her eyes filled with pride. This marriage was personally arranged by your mother, and if you wish to blame someone, you can only blame her. Madam Si looked at Chu Lianyi with a solemn expression, her eyes filled with pride.

So it is, Chu Lianyi could never have imagined that her father would actually be willing to let her take charge of such a significant matter as marriage to some extent, perhaps this is his slight attempt at making amends in his heart

Miss, who knows whether the items at this stall are clean? Be careful not to upset your stomach. If you wish to eat this, may I go to Guanshengyuan to buy it for you tomorrow?

Why are you crying, child? Get up quickly, or your knees will get bruised. Your grandmother knows that you are filial.

She was reluctant to leave, captivated by the fragrance of the red dates

Chu Lianyi did not mention how those wicked servants had made things difficult for her, but instead brought forth the only son of the eldest branch, Xinge'er. Although Xinge'er was born of a concubine, his status was naturally elevated due to being the only son, and he held a place of significance in the eyes of the matriarch. Upon hearing this, the matriarch became less concerned about the rumors that were unfavorable to Chu Lianyi.

Madam Tai, upon hearing that Vice Envoy Li was so sought after, felt her thoughts becoming even more unsettled

Chu Lianyi set out accompanied by Shuying, Anxiang, and the wet nurse, along with two young servants and four bodyguards. As they strolled through the lantern festival, which was crowded and bustling, incidents of lost children or women being harassed were not uncommon, thus Chu Lianyi exercised extra caution

At this moment, as Chu Lianyi was unable to take her eyes off the delicious food, Ninth Miss was greeting a pair of brothers dressed in dark blue and gold brocade robes. The brothers were inviting Chu Lianxin to the Xian Hall to watch a play, mentioning that the famous performer Wu Yuxiang would be taking the stage tonight to sing the newly staged play "Changban Slope"

The carriage continued to advance for approximately one hundred meters, but could go no further, as people were packed tightly together and the vehicles were closely aligned. Chu Lianyi and the others got off the carriage and saw various colorful lanterns hanging high under the two corridors of the Imperial Street, including lanterns depicting fish playing in lotus, jade rabbit lanterns, and intricately designed dragon lanterns. In front of the Xuande Gate tower stood a ten-zhang tall lantern tree, adorned with an array of novel and exquisite lantern decorations, creating a scene so beautiful that it was hard to distinguish between heaven and earth.

"Wan Yatou, what do you mean by this?" asked the matriarch.

Initially, the matriarch was opposed to the marriage alliance with the Yan family, as the fourth lady had long harbored the intention of marrying Chu Lianyi to her uncle's son. She wanted to keep Chu Madam's only treasure firmly in her grasp, with life and death entirely at the discretion of the Quan family. Therefore, the fourth lady frequently brought up the matter of marriage proposals in front of the matriarch, who, disliking Chu Madam, naturally leaned towards the fourth lady.

Chu Lianyi felt that something was amiss. The marriage of children has always been determined by the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words. A daughter who has not yet been married would avoid such news at all costs; how could she possibly participate in the discussion? Why did the matriarch suddenly bring up the matter of marriage in front of her today

Although the lanterns are exquisitely crafted, they are not what captivates Chu Lianyi. Instead, it is the extraordinary practitioners of various arts on both sides of the Imperial Street, along with the performers of songs and dances, that leave Chu Lianyi in a daze, as if a country bumpkin has entered the city

The precious He beside the lady quickly helped Chu Lianyi to her feet

There are also stalls selling food by the roadside, including a stall for stir-fried ginkgo and chestnuts, a shop selling candied pears, pear strips, and dried pears, as well as noodle stalls offering a variety of noodles such as silver thread noodles and mixed sauce noodles. Hot dishes like stir-fried rabbit, stir-fried crab, and stir-fried clams are also available, along with stalls selling wild fox meat jerky and deer meat jerky. The array of snacks and various delicacies, some of which are unheard of, dazzles Chu Lianyi, making her eager to try them all.

This is the ninth young lady secretly meeting her lover

Chu Lianyi discerned her intentions from her tone, yet she knew it was inappropriate to refuse outright. Thus, with a thud, she knelt before the Fourth Lady, her knees hitting the ground painfully. Chu Lianyi grasped the hand that the Fourth Lady had placed on her knee, looking at Quan with a face full of gratitude, tinged with regret and sorrow. "Fourth Aunt, I have always known that you care for me. I truly appreciate all the efforts you have made on my behalf. However, I am pained for my father. As his only daughter, if I were to marry far away, who knows when I would be able to return to his side and bring him joy again? It is pitiful for my father to be alone..." Chu Lianyi was not someone who enjoyed acting; it was merely the pressures of life that forced her to don the guise of an actress on this stage.

The matron patted Chu Lianyi's hand and said, "Grandmother knows you are a sensible child, you may go now, let the maid apply some medicine to your knee."

You may speak freely, as your grandmother does not shy away from you. I have privately discussed your marriage with your father, and he mentioned that you have grown up and are quite a determined child. He suggested that I ask for your opinion before making a decision.

When Chu Lianyi and her companions arrived, the long street from Yujie to Xuande Gate, a distance of one hundred zhang, was already bustling with traffic and thronged with people, the noise of voices filling the air, making it impossible for those nearby to hear what was being said clearly

The fourth lady immediately smiled and said, "Although she is a bit older than the bowl girl, those who are older tend to be more caring."

The matriarch, seeing Chu Lianyi crying sorrowfully, felt a twinge of compassion. After all, she was her own granddaughter. Although her words and actions were lacking, it was still difficult to let her marry far away, especially to become a concubine and serve as a stepmother to someone else.

Chu Lianxin agreed, bidding farewell to her sisters, assuring them that she would definitely return before the hour of Zi, to meet everyone at the Xuan De Gate.

The lady gently patted Chu Lianyi's back, saying, "Alright, stop crying. At your age, crying like this would only make your fourth aunt laugh at you. I will discuss this marriage with your father and make further plans."

Chu Lianyi became anxious and raised her voice, "Anxiang, why don't you go buy one? I want to eat it"

The Deputy Director of the Fourth Rank, it seems, does not overlook Chu Lianyi's status either

"Wanya, what do you think of this marriage proposal?" The matriarch spoke again.