Chapter 262 - 261: Let It Happen Naturally
Yangzhou Yuan Family.
Upon receiving the New Year gift from Xie Yunzhen, the Yuan Family showed expressions as if they’d seen a ghost.
Back when Xie Yunzhen stayed briefly at the Yuan Family, the mess he caused is still talked about in Yangzhou City.
The Yuan Family, being directly involved, could never forget.
Even the children remember the cold-faced Asura who once came, intending to snatch away their aunt’s bride.
In the end, their aunt was indeed taken away by him and never returned to Yangzhou.
Lady Yuan looked at the pile of New Year gifts, feeling quite troubled, "What on earth does this fellow Xie Yunzhen want to do? Sometimes he sends you land properties, and then he grandiosely sends New Year gifts to Yangzhou. Could he be up to something else?"
The old lady agreed, "Like a weasel paying New Year greetings to a chicken, no good intentions for sure."
Back then, they thought Xie Yunzhen was a good person and let him stay at their home.
Little did they know, his target was that child, Mingzhu.
Now, the white jade bracelet given to the prospective granddaughter-in-law has returned to her hands.
The old lady felt deeply regretful.
Mingzhu is gentle in nature, skilled in the arts and capable of managing a household.
Most importantly, she doesn’t wish to be an official’s wife; she just wants a simple life.
And Mingzhu also has no desire to enter the officialdom.
No matter how one thinks about it, she is the most suitable person for Mingzhu.
Besides regret, the old lady also felt some remorse.
If they hadn’t hidden the truth from Mingzhu back then and let her stay in Yangzhou, things might have been different.
Back then, she truly hadn’t anticipated that once Mingzhu returned to the capital, she’d be married into the Duke Mansion.
Even if just delayed by a year or half, things wouldn’t have turned out like this.
The old lady sighed, "Let it be. Accept the gifts brought from afar, and prepare to send return gifts to the capital."
Lady Yuan felt uneasy recalling Xie Yunzhen.
This person is unreasonable and capable of doing anything crazy; it’s better to stay away from him.
Thus, she earnestly instructed her son, "In the future, don’t meddle in Ji Mingzhu’s affairs to avoid displeasing Xie Yunzhen, which would bring trouble to the Yuan Family."
Yuan Changan responded indifferently, clearly not taking the words to heart.
Lady Yuan was so annoyed she almost wanted to reprimand him.
"Ji Mingzhu is married, her matters are for Xie Yunzhen to handle. No matter how much you care for her, it won’t change her status as a married woman."
Yuan Changan is nonchalant by nature, not the stiff, dull type.
His slender fingers traced the patterns on the tea cup, lips carrying a faint smile.
"If it can’t be changed, then leave it be. When Xie Yunzhen dies, her remarrying me is not impossible."
Yuan Changan’s words were shocking.
Coughing sounds echoed through the room.
The old lady slammed the table, "Rascal! What nonsense are you talking about? If these words spread, Mingzhu’s reputation will be utterly ruined by you!"
"That Xie Yunzhen has a heart smaller than the eye of a needle. If these rumors reach his ears and he misunderstands you and Mingzhu, how will Mingzhu have any good days then?"
Yuan Changan remained calm, "If he doesn’t even trust his wife, then they might as well divorce sooner to avoid wasting Mingzhu’s prime years."
The old lady’s face grew even more stern, "Nonsense! Say more nonsense and you’ll be punished not to leave the house for a year."
Yuan Changan’s expression didn’t change.
Lady Yuan asked uncertainly, "You can’t seriously be wishing for Xie Yunzhen’s death so you can marry Ji Mingzhu, right?"
Yuan Changan didn’t reply.
Five words flashed through Lady Yuan’s mind: This brat, he’s crazy!
"Don’t even think about it, there’s no chance!"
Too anxious, Lady Yuan’s chest heaved a few times.
Gritting her teeth, she said, "Even if someday Ji Mingzhu becomes a widow, we still won’t agree to you being with her!"
Yuan Changan only snorted, responding to the earlier statement.
"My mind is my own; can you control what I think?"
"You’ve become more irreverent since going out!" Lady Yuan pointed at him.
Afraid her son might truly do something outrageous, "This year, your aunt will bring your cousins for New Year. You’ll take them to have fun around Yangzhou City and foster some affection. Whoever you get along with, I’ll arrange for her to be your wife."
Yuan Changan refused.
"Brothers and sisters remain siblings, don’t mess with romantic ties."
Lady Yuan corrected, "They’re cousins!"
"But still blood relations."
The idea of marrying a cousin was what Yuan Changan resisted the most.
"Are you planning to stay a bachelor forever? In a few years, Ji Mingzhu’s child will be born."
At the mention of a child, concern flashed in Yuan Changan’s eyes.
Childbirth harms the body, and Mingzhu accompanying Xie Yunzhen in battles outside doesn’t know if her health is well taken care of.
Seeing her son drift off again, Lady Yuan was terribly anxious.
If he continued to cling to Ji Mingzhu, would he ever marry in this lifetime?
Must he ruin his life for the sake of one woman?
Ji Mingzhu is good, but once she’s married, she’s not worth dwelling on!
In a gentle tone, she advised, "If you don’t like the cousins, pick any girl in Yangzhou City. As long as she catches your eye, I’ll go shamelessly to ask for her hand. Even if her family thinks you’re too old and doesn’t want her to marry you, I’ll swallow my pride to make it happen."
Yuan Changan rubbed his brow wearily.
"Leave it to fate."
Lady Yuan, who never spoke crudely, retorted irritably, "Fate, my ass! You’re just evading again!"
Yuan Changan neither agreed nor denied.
This kind of intransigence left Lady Yuan at her wit’s end, forcing her to bring Ji Mingzhu up again.
"Back then, when the Guan Family sent word for you to consider, you stubbornly refused. Even though the academy was on a break, you went off to tutor others, just to avoid Ji Mingzhu."
"But didn’t you later develop feelings for her? It shows that the marriage arrangements the family made weren’t necessarily against your wishes, so why resist them so much?"
Yuan Changan rubbed his temples, "I didn’t resist. When fate arrives, I’ll naturally marry. Don’t worry for me."
Lady Yuan didn’t believe a word.
He’s not keen on the matter of marriage, and now the girl he likes has married another.
If left to his own devices, he might choose to never settle down.
Her eyes fell on those New Year gifts, and Lady Yuan had a resolute look.
"Whether you’re willing or not, I’ll bring them home in two days, and you must go and meet them."
Yuan Changan said casually, "The academy has things I need to handle; I won’t be home for a while."
"This trick won’t work anymore!"
Regardless of the effectiveness, Yuan Changan made his stance clear.
"I’m willing to marry, but without the right connection, I won’t agree."
Yuan Changan didn’t even know if he’d be able to completely forget Ji Mingzhu and stop being affected by her.
He only knew that Mingzhu still occupied a stable place in his heart.
Moreover, she often influenced his emotions.
He couldn’t ignore her presence.
If he married without letting go of Mingzhu, it would be unfair to his future wife.
If the couple can’t live in harmony and mutual understanding, what’s the point of marrying?
Anyway, the Yuan Family doesn’t need him to carry on the lineage.