Wang Yue felt a little annoyed by how Old Madam Ye was pressuring him. His expressionless reply was, "Then I'll leave it to your discretion, Old Madam."
Seeing that Wang Yue was unhappy, Old Madam Ye sighed and said helplessly, "To be frank, the Gu family of Yangzhou sent a message saying they'll pay us a visit the day after tomorrow. You're a clever young man, Young Master Wang. I'm sure you understand what that means."
Seeing that appealing to Wang Yue's feelings hadn't worked, Old Madam Ye had now started reasoning with him. He couldn't stay angry after that; it would make him seem petty.
He thought of what he'd heard—that the emperor planned to arrange for Princess Yunshang to marry into the Gu family—and asked, puzzled, "Is the Gu family planning to arrange a marriage for Gu Jiusi before the imperial envoy arrives?"
Old Madam Ye admired that Wang Yue could still speak calmly under these circumstances. If she had originally valued him only for his family background, now she thought even more highly of him.
With troubled times looming, someone with Wang Yue's temperament would be well suited to survive.
She didn't hide anything from him. Looking troubled, she said, "You know the Gu family are merchants, but Gu Jiusi's maternal uncle is the Minister of Personnel. And Princess Consort Liang, whose husband is King Liang, the Minister of Revenue, is sworn sisters with the First Madam of the Gu Family. Their backing is simply too powerful for us to offend. Our families are close, and Yun'er is too innocent. I can't bear to see her follow that Jiangnan wastrel. Of course, if you truly don't care for my Yun'er, I won't force you."
Wang Yue was the sort who responded to gentleness, not force. Since the