Jiao Lianping and Qiu Huai Xin had a dispute at the entrance of the Qiu family's private villa. Zhan Fei Yu pretended not to know, placing the reception area in the front hall and deciding to entertain them together.
"Your news is quite well-informed," Qiu Huai Xin said. He disliked Jiao Lianping but only resorted to verbal taunts, not crude physical actions.
This was the Qiu family's private villa. Ostensibly, Zhan Fei Yu only had He Nuan as her maidservant; all other tasks like serving tea, water, cleaning, and laundry were done by the maids and servants of the Qiu mansion. Therefore, Qiu Huai Xin knew that Zhan Fei Yu had been thoroughly frightened.
"Likewise," Jiao Lianping replied, holding his chin high and snorting. He lifted the hem of his robe and strode inside. Zhan Fei Yu had also gifted him medicine and had the Jinlong Guard take away Madam Chen. Now that she was suffering, even if his father hadn't instructed him, he would have come.
It wasn't surprising that Jiao Lianping knew the news. He Nuan had compiled a list and sent someone to the pharmacy to purchase a large quantity of medicinal herbs. Anyone skilled in medicine would know that these herbs were used to prepare insect repellent and snake repellent powders.
After a while.
Looking at Zhan Fei Yu standing at the entrance to greet them, the young girl's complexion was excellent. Her fair and tender cheeks were flushed with a healthy pink, her features were as beautiful as a painting, and her eyes twinkled with laughter like scattered starlight. She didn't look like someone who had been excessively frightened at all.
"Please come in, both of you," Zhan Fei Yu said with a smile, ushering them into the room.
He Nuan, meanwhile, led people to accept the gift list and the gifts from the servants of the Qiu and Jiao families.
As soon as they entered the room, they felt a wave of coolness. A faint scent of plum blossoms lingered in the air, giving the illusion of entering winter.
Qiu Huai Xin and Jiao Lianping looked up. In the four corners of the room stood bronze gilt mythical beast ice chests, three feet high, filled with blocks of ice emitting white mist. No wonder the room was so cool.
Zhan Fei Yu was truly living a life of leisure! Both Qiu Huai Xin and Jiao Lianping felt a pang of jealousy.
Even though they were both from official families, Lord Qiu and Prefect Jiao were not people who indulged in luxuries. They were strict in their teachings to their juniors, so although their households were not short of ice, most of it was sent to the rear courtyards for the women.
Qiu Huai Xin and the others also had a limited amount of ice for the summer, only two small buckets a day. One bucket was for sleeping at night, and the other was for use during the day while studying or receiving guests. To save ice, they did all their studying, entertaining, handling of affairs, and dining in the study during the summer.
In comparison, this large front hall used at least two days' worth of their ice. It was hard not to feel envious.
"My father has already ordered the constables to go to the Xiang family to apprehend all those involved in the case. However, a few Li ethnic people escaped in advance, and the authorities have issued wanted notices."
After Jiao Lianping roughly explained the case, he looked at Zhan Fei Yu, who was seated in the main seat, with a hint of sympathy. "Madam Xiang did not flee due to guilt. I heard that Xiang Chang Shou is breathing more than he is taking in, and his end is near."
It was precisely because Xiang Chang Shou was dying that Madam Xiang went mad and sent her tribesmen to assassinate Zhan Fei Yu to avenge her son. Unfortunately, this not only harmed the Xiang family but also brought disaster upon the Li ethnic clan.
Qiu Huai Xin, holding his teacup, curled his lips into a cold smile. "Miss Zhan has suffered an undeserved disaster. Wrongdoers will be punished, and debts will be repaid. Miss Zhan has borne the consequences for others."
Although the marriage between Qiu Jing Yuan and Xiang Chang Shou had not been finalized before, it was a done deal. Who would have thought that the Jiao family would intervene and betroth Qiu Jing Yuan to Jiao Lian Yu?
For the third branch of the Qiu family, whether it was the ill-intentioned eldest aunt Madam Xu or Qiu Jing Yuan's mother, Madam Dou, Jiao Lian Yu was far superior to the sickly Xiang Chang Shou.
Not to mention that the Jiao family was an official family, and Jiao Lian Yu would also participate in the imperial examinations in the future. For Qiu Jing Yuan to marry into the Jiao family as the daughter of a condemned official would absolutely be a blessing from the ancestors of the third branch.
"Third Young Master, do not speak in veiled terms or insinuate! My mother will not interfere with Jiao Lian Yu's affairs, nor will she in the future. The reason this marriage could be arranged is that Jiao Lian Yu himself agreed to it!" Jiao Lianping said with a cold face, his eyes inexplicably gloomy.
As a youth, Jiao Lianping had harbored dark thoughts when he saw Prefect Jiao praising Jiao Lian Yu, his illegitimate brother. He was the legitimate son and the eldest son of the Jiao manor!
Who was Jiao Lian Yu? A lowly seed born to Concubine Huang, a concubine of no standing, daring to compete with him!
But before Jiao Lianping could make a move, he was stopped by Madam Jiao. Although Jiao Lianping still disliked Jiao Lian Yu afterward, he disdained to consider him an enemy.
Upon hearing this, Zhan Fei Yu became interested and couldn't help but ask, "May I ask the Eldest Young Master to enlighten me?"
Seeing Zhan Fei Yu's slightly widened eyes, full of curiosity but no suspicion, Jiao Lianping immediately felt pleased and said loudly, "Before the third branch of the Qiu family had an accident, Jiao Lian Yu did indeed have some thoughts."
He paused, then glanced at Qiu Huai Xin as if he were an idiot. It was a pity that Qiu Jing Yuan was too young and too far from Jiao Lian Yu. He had these thoughts but couldn't act on them. Later, when the Qiu family's third branch was accused of colluding with the enemy and treason, the matter was dropped.
With a "snap," Qiu Huai Xin placed his teacup heavily on the table, his face ashen, and anger churning in his eyes. "Jiao Lianping, do not speak carelessly and ruin Gui Zhang's reputation!"
"It is indeed suspicious that Second Young Master Jiao has reached the age of adulthood without being betrothed," a crisp young voice rang out. Zhan Fei Yu received Qiu Huai Xin's angry gaze without surprise.
Laughter erupted. Jiao Lianping, in a cheerful mood, said, "They all say Miss Zhan is exceptionally intelligent. I am now utterly convinced! Jiao Lian Yu's prolonged lack of betrothal was, firstly, to tarnish my mother's reputation, and secondly, to sell himself at the highest price!"
The Jiao family was an official family, but Prefect Jiao was only a fourth-rank official. Jiao Lian Yu had a good reputation, but he had been overshadowed by Qiu Jin Yu, who was hailed as a prodigy, to the point where he couldn't lift his head.
Furthermore, he was an illegitimate son born to a concubine. Even if he was exceptionally talented, noble families that valued rules would not marry their legitimate daughters to Jiao Lian Yu.
As for those families who wanted to curry favor with Prefect Jiao or fancied Jiao Lian Yu, their family backgrounds were ordinary. Madam Jiao had once analyzed for Jiao Lianping that his prolonged lack of betrothal was likely to await the provincial examinations before making plans.
As for Qiu Jing Yuan, she was indeed the best choice. Qiu Huai Xin's generation had only this one daughter. Although Qiu Jing Yuan was a daughter of the third branch, she was doted upon and held a noble status.
Moreover, at that time, the Qiu family's third branch was in a glorious state with three scholars in one generation. Qiu Jing Yuan also had a brother like Qiu Jin Yu, who was called a child prodigy. If Jiao Lian Yu could marry Qiu Jing Yuan, he would surely have a smooth career, if not achieve high positions and titles.
"Utter nonsense!" Qiu Huai Xin retorted again.
Recalling Jiao Lian Yu's bitter smile and helplessness when the marriage was discussed that day, Qiu Huai Xin said solemnly, "Although Gui Zhang always said he would establish his career before starting a family, he is an illegitimate son, and his marriage has always been in Madam Jiao's hands. If Madam Jiao does not consent, how could Gui Zhang possibly get betrothed?"
"Third Young Master, do you think my father, a dignified fourth-rank prefect, is a mere decoration?" Jiao Lianping retorted unceremoniously. Seeing Qiu Huai Xin's expression change, he sneered again, "If the Jiao manor was a one-man show for my mother, do you think Jiao Lian Yu could still take the imperial examinations? Could he, an illegitimate son, suppress my fame?"
Ignoring Qiu Huai Xin, Jiao Lianping explained to Zhan Fei Yu, "After the abbot of Changhua Temple's prophecy for Qiu Jing Yuan was spread, I even mocked Jiao Lian Yu. Who knew that the day after Jiao Lian Yu was stabbed, rumors suddenly spread throughout the manor that my mother was going to betroth him."
Afterward, these rumors became uncontrollable. If it were only within the Jiao manor, Madam Jiao could still control them, but they spread throughout the streets and alleys of Qianzhong Prefecture. Madam Jiao, after all, was a woman of the inner chambers, and her influence did not extend outside.
Later, several noble ladies who were on good terms with Madam Jiao came to the Jiao manor under the guise of visiting Jiao Lian Yu and inquired about the rumors, as they were being widely discussed outside.
It was said that Madam Jiao was benevolent and kind-hearted. Now that Jiao Lian Yu was seriously injured and almost died, Prefect Jiao was extremely worried, and Concubine Huang, his birth mother, was both shocked and frightened, and filled with anxiety. Madam Jiao thought it best to have Jiao Lian Yu marry soon, so that even if a natural disaster or accident occurred, at least a bloodline would remain.
Furthermore, with Jiao Lian Yu's serious injury this time, Qiu Jing Yuan's precious fate was brought up again. Madam Jiao also thought it best to have Qiu Jing Yuan's auspicious fate protect Jiao Lian Yu, so she disregarded Prefect Jiao's objections and sent an official matchmaker to the Qiu family to propose. With lightning speed, they exchanged tokens and birth dates, and the marriage was settled.
Jiao Lianping drank half a cup of tea to moisten his throat, glanced at the pensive Qiu Huai Xin, and then continued, "This matter was orchestrated by Jiao Lian Yu himself. My mother merely went along with it. Later, my father wanted to stop it, but Jiao Lian Yu knelt and begged his father to agree."
The birth dates had already been exchanged. If the engagement were broken, Qiu Jing Yuan would be the primary victim. Secondly, Madam Jiao, the legitimate mother, would be affected. Outsiders would speculate that Madam Jiao deliberately betrothed him to a daughter of a condemned official to control her illegitimate son.
Jiao Lian Yu knelt with his injuries. Prefect Jiao, understanding his second son's benevolence, and considering that a man's cultivation, family management, governance, and world peace relied on talent and knowledge, not on his wife's family or relatives, finally agreed to the marriage.