A secret tryst

The Earl of Ningyuan nearly fainted with rage.

He hurriedly rubbed his chest, but still could not hold back his anger. "How exactly does your eldest sister begrudge you happiness?"

Han Xiangru glanced at her father's expression and said guiltily, "I took a bracelet of hers before, and she just wouldn't let it go. She's dying for me to make a bad marriage."

The Earl of Ningyuan knew his second daughter took after Madam Wang and was rather shortsighted, but he had never imagined she could be so disgraceful.

He drew a sharp breath. "What do you mean, 'took'? Taking without asking is stealing. Don't you understand that?"

Han Xiangru's face flushed red with humiliation. "How can you say that about me, Father?"

Madam Wang was displeased as well. "My lord, it was merely one sister borrowing a bracelet from another. How is that so serious?"

Seeing that mother and daughter still believed themselves in the right, the Earl of Ningyuan's expression turned extremely ugly.

He could not help rebuking her in anguish. "Madam Wang, look at what you've taught Xiangru to become!"

Madam Wang protested, feeling wronged. "My lord, Xiangru hasn't done anything wrong."

Han Xiangru sneered. "I knew it all along. Father has always favored my sister."

The Earl of Ningyuan's head throbbed, and he decided not to pursue that subject for now.

He steered the conversation back to the matter at hand. "That third young master from the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence already keeps three mistresses outside the household, and he isn't even married yet. Do you still want to marry him?"

Han Xiangru stubbornly retorted, "Perhaps Eldest Sister deliberately said that."

The Earl of Ningyuan's face darkened. "A simple inquiry will establish the truth. Your eldest sister wouldn't joke about something like this."

Hearing this, Madam Wang began to waver as well.

The Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence was indeed prestigious, but if the third young master was so dissolute, what would happen if her daughter suffered after marrying him?

She could not help urging, "Xiangru, perhaps we should forget it."

Han Xiangru was uncertain herself.

On the one hand, a young master from the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence was the highest-ranking match she could hope to reach.

On the other hand, if her future husband already had women around him, her life would certainly not be easy.

At that moment, Han Xiangru could not help thinking of Han Wanqing's marriage again.

Not only did Prince Yu hold the exalted rank of an imperial prince, but he was utterly devoted to his wife and had even named his daughter "Siqing"-thinking of his beloved.

Everyone in the Capital knew of his devotion and celebrated it as a beautiful love story.

Why should Han Wanqing, born of the same father as her, be lucky enough to marry a husband who was both powerful and faithful?

She was no worse herself, yet she could only choose a husband from a pile of crooked melons and cracked jujubes?

Han Xiangru's heart bled with resentment, but there was nothing she could do.

Then, to make matters worse, the Earl of Ningyuan said, "Stop thinking about it. I absolutely will not agree to this marriage!"

He continued, "Xiangru isn't getting any younger. I think we should find her someone steady and ambitious whose background we know well. It won't matter if his family is of a lower rank..."

The Earl of Ningyuan still had "as long as the man has good character" on the tip of his tongue when his second daughter interrupted him.

Han Xiangru's face twisted with indignation. "Why should I have to marry a man from a lower-ranking family? I refuse!"

Every mention of "not getting any younger" and "a lower rank" struck squarely at her pride.

Han Xiangru erupted. "I want to marry the third young master from the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence!"

The Earl of Ningyuan lost his temper too. "Do you think everything in a marquis's household is all splendor and shine? That family..."

Han Xiangru did not want to hear any of it and interrupted him. "If I don't marry into a marquis's household, am I supposed to choose some sesame-seed-sized petty official instead?"

She said bitterly, "Eldest Sister deserves to marry an imperial prince, but when it's my turn, I don't deserve anything?"

With that, Han Xiangru's tears fell in an unstoppable stream.

Seeing his daughter crying in distress, the Earl of Ningyuan knew she felt the difference in their fortunes keenly.

His second daughter had been competitive since childhood, comparing herself with his eldest daughter in everything.

Now that there was already such a gulf between their marriage prospects, she could not resign herself to marrying even further beneath her sister.

He sighed and urged, "Xiangru, our earldom's standing in the Capital was never particularly high. Your eldest sister was simply fortunate."

The Earl of Ningyuan offered his daughter another word of advice. "Only the person living a life knows whether it feels warm or cold. The young master from the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence is not a good match. Marrying him will only bring you suffering."

With reddened eyes, Han Xiangru insisted, "I would rather suffer in a marquis's household than marry into an ordinary family!"

The Earl of Ningyuan had tried to reason with her, but things were exactly as his eldest daughter had said: Han Xiangru was determined to burrow into the tip of that ox horn!

His beard bristled as he glared at her. "Forget about the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence! In a few days, I'll look into other matches for you!"

With that, the Earl of Ningyuan swept his sleeves and left.

Madam Wang gathered her daughter into her arms and comforted her. "Xiangru, let's forget about the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence. In the future... there may still be a better match."

Even she sounded uncertain as she said it.

Han Xiangru knew all the more clearly that she would never find a match of higher standing than the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence.

Thinking of her father's firm refusal, Han Xiangru lowered her head, and a bold idea suddenly formed in her mind.

Prince Yu's Residence.

Chu Siqing had thought the matter would be settled once Princess Yu went to explain the situation.

She had not expected a sequel, much less such a juicy piece of gossip.

The system gossiped:

[Host, Han Xiangru secretly went to meet the third young master from the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence.]

Chu Siqing was stunned. [What! A secret tryst in ancient times? How could she dare?]

The system explained:

[Because the Earl of Ningyuan wants to marry her to an honest man from a lower-ranking family, and Han Xiangru refuses to accept it.]

Chu Siqing said, [But that third young master from the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence is a prize specimen who combines being a mama's boy, a womanizer, and a cheapskate. Didn't Han Xiangru throw up when she saw him?]

After saying it herself, she could not help wanting to throw up a little.

The system replied:

[Not only did Han Xiangru not throw up, she absolutely adored him.]

Chu Siqing could not believe it. [How is that possible?]

The system analyzed it for her:

[Actually, men of this awful sort can be quite good at disguising themselves.]

[This third young master is reasonably good-looking, and he always presents himself as a graceful gentleman in public.]

[After Han Xiangru revealed her identity, he realized she was the wife his mother had specifically chosen for him, so he became even more attentive.]

Chu Siqing said indignantly, [Isn't this scumbag far too calculating? He's really pulling out all the stops to cling to our Prince Yu's Residence!]

The system said:

[Host, Han Xiangru probably thinks this is a match bestowed by heaven and has already decided she'll marry no one but him. You need to watch out for trouble down the road!]

Chu Siqing nodded, then tattled to Princess Yu again.

[Mother, Auntie has already gone to meet the third young master from the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence in secret!]

Princess Yu frowned and asked her daughter, "Didn't your grandfather put a stop to this marriage?"

Chu Siqing said inwardly, [No, Grandfather stopped it ages ago. Auntie acted on her own.]

Princess Yu could no longer sit still and made another trip to the Ningyuan Earl's Residence.

This time, she simply summoned her father, Madam Wang, and Han Xiangru together.

Princess Yu asked, "Xiangru, did you go to meet the third young master from the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence in secret?"

At this, the Earl of Ningyuan exclaimed in shock, "What?!"

Han Xiangru refused to admit it. "Eldest Sister, don't slander me."

Madam Wang said anxiously as well, "Wanqing, you can't recklessly ruin your younger sister's reputation!"

Princess Yu looked Han Xiangru over, then pointed at her waist and asked, "Xiangru, where did that jade pendant at your waist come from?"