"Marrying into the family?"
Yun Niang even doubted that she had misheard.
"Yes, Madam Yun," Pang Xing said with a smile, "As you know, there's an old saying that goes, 'A married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl.' No matter how enthusiastic those Jiangnan aristocratic families are, they are still traditional families. They may make concessions because of your daughter's qualifications, but Madam Yun, do you really feel at ease with the rules of the mansion and the various schemes within Jiangnan inner quarters? How many times will you actually see your child?"
Yun Niang: "."
These words pierced her heart like a needle.
She has no son, only this one daughter. After what happened with Lu Ming, she figured she would never trust another man again. If her daughter married out of the country, she sometimes really didn't know if she could get used to being alone.
Moreover, what the other party said is quite right. Those tutors may have temporarily yielded because of their maids' talent, but the rules and etiquette of the household have been passed down for hundreds of years. How can they be changed so easily? Entering and leaving high-class courtyards, yet showing her face in public like a man, how can she be tolerated by the people in that circle?
In addition to some insidious schemes within the inner quarters
"But we are different." Seeing the other party's uncertain expression, Pang Xing immediately knew his words had worked, and quickly said, "We will select men of excellent character and appearance for your daughter to choose from. As long as she likes him, that's fine. The man will marry into the family, and the children can take your surname, Yun!"
"This"
Yun Niang was stunned. Could this really be done?
She had thought her daughter was quite popular, but she hadn't expected her to be so successful. She stammered, "Choose someone who is both beautiful and virtuous?"
"Madam Yun, please rest assured," Pang Xing continued, "Although the young men we've selected aren't from our families' sorcerer families, they are absolutely outstanding individuals with excellent character and academic performance, as well as those skilled in managing the affairs of the palace. Their appearance, virtue, and abilities are all exceptional. Furthermore, our four families are all renowned in the capital, and we have at least a hundred people to choose from. You can bring your daughter to choose in person. If she finds someone she likes, you can even spend some time getting to know them. If you feel you get along well, then you can place an order!"
"Forehead"
It's getting more and more outrageous.
To allow someone to have unauthorized contact for a period of time is utterly absurd!!
Yun Niang instinctively wanted to refute, but her emotions prevented her from doing so—the terms were simply too good!
If I had such good fortune back then, I would have laughed in my dreams.
Even if a member of a prominent family isn't a direct descendant but a capable illegitimate son who can manage household affairs, he's still far superior to those heartless commoner scholars outside, lining up to be chosen by their maids?
What kind of treatment is this? Is this some kind of imperial concubine selection?
Looking at the other person, Yun Niang took a deep breath before coming to her senses, her voice trembling slightly. "And what about us? What do we have to give in return?"
She knew very well that such good conditions could not possibly be free, but they were just too tempting. A son-in-law who would live with the bride's family, and more importantly, there was a guarantee of his quality. The worst thing about a son-in-law who would live with the bride's family is to marry a good-for-nothing philanderer, especially one who has been educated. If he were to pass the imperial examinations and become a scholar, he would immediately try to find a way to break off the engagement.
She could find some completely worthless scoundrels, but she couldn't bear to ruin her daughter like that. After all, few decent men would be willing to give their sons to their wives as sons-in-law.
Now, things are really going well. A family scion who is both academically excellent and skilled at managing household affairs—even storytellers wouldn't dare write such a story in their scripts!
"It's so much easier to talk to Madam so cleverly," Pang Xing laughed.
He was afraid that the other party was the kind of shrew who wanted everything, unwilling to contribute anything but only wanting to take advantage. The other party's words clearly indicated that she was a smart person who knew how to keep things in check. Doing business with such a person was often the only way to make it last.
"Your daughter is exceptionally talented and will undoubtedly surpass her peers in her studies, allowing her to have priority in choosing better techniques. Our request is that when your daughter has priority, she should consider our needs first and grant us the techniques we desire!"
"This..." Yun Niang hesitated. She didn't understand what it meant to exchange for priority spells like this, but she vaguely felt that it might affect her maid. So she asked, "Will this affect Ke'er's progress at the academy?"
She was a wary woman.
Pang Xing nodded. "Perhaps there will be, but not much. The techniques we choose will be as close as possible to those suitable for your daughter, ideally ensuring a win-win situation. We can promise you, Madam, that if there are any disagreements, your daughter will take priority, as long as you are willing to share the techniques. What do you think?"
Even someone as wary as her was moved by the other party's sincerity.
Finally, Madam Yun looked at her daughter.
Her own daughter was clearly shocked by the other party's offer; she kept grinning foolishly, drooling, which Yun Niang found unbearable to watch.
He couldn't help but give his own daughter a push.
Slurp
Yun Ke'er wiped the drool from her mouth and chuckled, "Sounds good, Mother."
"It's not bad," Yun Niang rolled her eyes at the other person. "What do you think?"
"It's a pity, she's going to marry General Yuchi," Yun Ke'er said smugly.
General Yuchi?
The members of several prominent families in the capital were all taken aback.
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
Yun Niang frowned immediately and scolded.
Why is this girl still having this dream?
That Huang Feihu —no, the General Yuchi Feihu who has since changed his name back—was a great general who defeated the imperial court. This brat is just indulging in wishful thinking.
But now that I think about it, it wasn't really wishful thinking. Jiangnan Academy has a very good status now. The students who come out of it are more capable, have higher status and value than the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) of the past. With such a status, it's not impossible for them to be paired with a general.
But she didn't want Yun Ke'er to get too entangled with Yuchi Feihu.
She had witnessed Yuchi Feihu's injuries firsthand, and they were even more terrifying than when she herself had been tortured. Although he was injured while saving her daughter, it was clear that such martial artists were taking far too many risks.
" Ke'er, are you referring to General Yuchi Feihu?" Pang Xing was the first to react and asked.
The story of that Yuchi Household leading the enemy army to victory against the imperial army is now considered an absurd affair throughout the court and the public, spreading like wildfire. Even many storytellers in the capital have used it as their primary subject, dividing it into twenty-four chapters, telling it so excitingly that it has become the most popular script in the capital.
The Yuchi Household was so afraid to go out that they stopped going out altogether.
However, the royal family did not pursue the matter, since everyone believed that someone like Yuchi Peng would not hold back or stage a fake battle.
This proves that the guy named Yuchi Feihu has the talent of a commander, and such a person is worth winning over. Moreover, the Yuchi Household is in the capital, so there is actually a good chance for him.
"You've heard of my fiancé's name, haven't you?" Yun Ke'er became even more smug.
"You brat, if you keep talking nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart!" Yun Niang's face turned ashen with anger.
Yun Ke'er shrank back and pouted.
"Forgive my bluntness," Pang Xing shook his head and smiled, " Ke'er Ke'er's wish is probably not going to work out."
"Why?" Yun Ke'er immediately retorted fiercely, "Why can't it work?"
"Leaving aside the age gap, which is almost twelve years," Pang Xing shook his head, "Just considering family background, the Yuchi Household is a renowned family of noble lineage, and families of noble lineage never intermarry with families of sorcerers; this is a rule established since ancient times!"
Yun Ke'er: "."
What kind of bloodline family? Is that even possible?
How could she not know?
"Moreover," Pang Xing said, looking at Yun Niang, "I believe Madam Yun wouldn't want her child to marry so far away in the capital, especially to become the wife of a military man. As the saying goes, 'A clay pot is bound to break by the well, and a general is bound to die on the battlefield.' Military generals may seem impressive, but they are ultimately taking too many risks. Even if they survive, the couple will mostly be separated. Such a life is not good."
Yun Niang nodded repeatedly upon hearing this; this young man surnamed Pang had truly spoken to her heart!
"I don't care, I don't care!" Yun Ke'er immediately pouted, feigning helplessness, which drew the attention of those around her.
"Shut up, stop this nonsense!" Yun Niang said in a low voice, "We'll talk about it when we get back!"
"Hmph," Yun Ke'er lowered her head, her face instantly losing its previous excitement and becoming much more dejected.
Pang Xing and the others were much more relaxed. Although the girl still had some unrealistic hopes, her mother seemed to have been persuaded. This trip was not in vain. If they could win over Yun Ke'er's child, their journey in Jiangnan should be much smoother in the future.
This scene was naturally witnessed by the prominent families at the surrounding tables, who all curled their lip in disapproval.
The Pang Family and Li Family families in the capital are truly shameless. They've offered such conditions just to trap a promising Nüwa. It's utterly despicable.
However, the members of the Northern Wasteland aristocratic families nodded and said, "These scions of the capital's aristocratic families certainly have guts."
Murong Bingyun frowned and looked around. Their status as members of the Ancient Desolation Kingdom still greatly affected their ability to win people over. Many people would avoid them even if they came to them, which was not as convenient as it was for the young people from the capital. This put the people from the Northern Wolf Kingdom in a rather passive position.
" Murong, it seems we're destined to be ostracized today," Beiyu said with a wry smile. She knew the Central Plains were xenophobic, but she hadn't expected them to be this xenophobic.
Murong smiled wryly upon hearing this, but suddenly, he saw a figure walking by in the distance and immediately looked over.
Seeing Murong's unusual expression, Beiyu and the others quickly looked over as well. "Oh, that girl from the Shen Family?"
"She's probably the only one we can win over." Murong sighed, as if making a decision. "You all wait here for me, I'll go take a look."
" Murong, what are you going to do?"
"That girl isn't doing well, I'll go check on her." Murong took a breath. Since Shen Xue was the only one he could win over, he couldn't let her be ruined by that inexplicable evil. It seemed he had to step in and deal with this trouble.
Beiyu watched Murong leave, hesitant to speak. There was nothing wrong with Murong's actions, but for some reason, after Murong left, Beiyu felt a strange unease.