Chapter 1079 - 455: Conflict 4
Lady Lin, despite her temperament, never considered breaking off the engagement. If the young lady were to break the engagement, her reputation would suffer, making future marriage prospects difficult: "Breaking off the engagement is not something she can decide alone."
Lord Lin sighed: "You have to consider, at the time when the Eldest Madam of the Lian family tried to seize the dowry left by Madam Ma, what was the outcome? You know it well. She dared to leave the Lian family and take refuge in the Ma’s Mansion when she was just ten years old. But you see how she’s living now. If you truly care about our daughter, you shouldn’t antagonize Madam Lian. Acting such will only make her life difficult in the Lian family."
Lady Lin understood this reasoning but couldn’t swallow her pride. Now, at this critical juncture, she had to face reality despite her reluctance.
Lady Lin stayed at home waiting for Yueyao to send a matchmaker to set the wedding date, but after waiting for over half a month, no matchmaker came from Yueyao’s side. Lady Lin didn’t want to lower herself, yet Lord Lin felt that Madam Lian was clearly forcing them to lower their heads, and the longer this matter dragged on, the more troublesome it would become. Lord Lin didn’t have his family intervene either; instead, he had their eldest son discreetly hint at the matter to Tingzheng.
When Tingzheng heard that the Lin family finally relented, he was delighted and told Yueyao about it that very day.
Yueyao neither rejoiced nor was upset; she simply smiled and said, "Didn’t you say the Lin family wants to keep the young lady for a few more years? Then let’s discuss marriage in a couple of years! Anyway, there’s no rush." Yueyao truly wasn’t in a hurry. Last time, she invited Zhuang Ruolan to discuss the engagement because she thought Xiang Wei’s suggestion was reasonable: once Tingzheng got married, she wouldn’t have to worry. Now that this has arisen, Yueyao genuinely felt that delaying the marriage for a couple of years was beneficial.
Tingzheng’s expression froze.
Seeing Tingzheng’s look, Yueyao sighed slightly in her heart. After pondering for a moment, she eventually decided to convey to Tingzheng what she had discussed with Xiang Wei.
Tingzheng felt that Yueyao deeply misunderstood the Lin family: "Sister, Auntie Lin and Younger Sister Lin are very good people, and they’re easy to get along with. Sister, I wouldn’t lie to you."
The reason Yueyao told Tingzheng these things was merely to give a final warning. Whether or not Tingzheng would heed it was up to him: "I still say this—this marriage with the Lin family is something you wanted for yourself, and it’s the Young Miss of the Lin Family who will be living with you. Whether they’re good people or easy to get along with doesn’t concern me. After you marry, you’ll be an adult, responsible for handling your own affairs." With these words, Yueyao intended to completely let go and no longer involve herself in Tingzheng’s matters.
Yueyao knew very well that once Tingzheng married, they would belong to two separate families. If Tingzheng’s wife and she could get along, their relationship could naturally continue; if not, they would definitely drift apart. Given the current strains between her and the Young Miss of the Lin Family, it’s impossible for them to get along well in the future. If she meddled in Tingzheng’s affairs after Madam Lin entered the household, no matter how well she did, Madam Lin would detest it. She wasn’t idle enough to waste her time and effort on such thankless endeavors.
Just as Tingzheng was about to speak, Yueyao stopped him: "From now on, the second branch will be entirely up to you." As a married daughter, the saying goes that a daughter married is like water spilled out; in the future, she would be closely tied to An Zhichen, and have little to do with the Lian family.
Xi Yu didn’t understand: "Young Miss, if you don’t hold the Young Miss of the Lin Family in high regard, why still let go of it?"
Yueyao offered no explanation, simply saying: "Tingzheng is my brother, not my son." She had always planned for Tingzheng, hoping for him to succeed, not out of any great affection for Tingzheng, but because she saw it as her duty. Now that her duty was fulfilled, she was willing to compromise and yield in many matters because of this mindset. However, if it were her biological son, even if he loved someone, even if it meant enmity with the other party, she would not compromise or yield. That’s the difference between a brother and a son.
Xi Yu couldn’t understand and just thought Yueyao was overly agreeable.