Chapter 410 - 262: Candid Romance_2
"Yes," Ran Yan obediently responded.
After discussing various matters, Mrs. Luo steered the conversation towards Ran Yunsheng, "I have picked a good day to bring Er Dong into the household. She has, after all, served Shilang for so many years and has been very proper in her conduct. Making her a concubine would be most appropriate... alas!"
She heaved a heavy sigh, her voice tinged with frustration, "I don’t know how I raised such a son—he insists on a proper marriage. Could it be he intends to spend his whole life devoted to just one woman? Even if that were the case, Er Dong is merely a slave we bought. Even if she is freed from her low status, her background is far too humble!"
Mrs. Luo doted on her son, and in her eyes, Ran Yunsheng was exceptionally handsome, possessed unparalleled intelligence, and excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. The only flaw was his birth in a merchant family. She even incessantly urged Ran Pingyu to give up commerce for an official position, striving to make her son even more perfect.
Ran Yan understood this very well. She didn’t know how high Mrs. Luo’s expectations were for a daughter-in-law, but she was aware that in Mrs. Luo’s heart, Er Dong’s background would never qualify her to be Ran Yunsheng’s formal wife.
"Moreover, freeing someone from servitude comes at a great cost! Back then, getting rid of Qian Niang’s slave status cost a whole five thousand guan, plus two manors... Though our family doesn’t lack the money, the thought of it still makes my heart uncomfortable!" Mrs. Luo furrowed her brow and sighed continuously, "Our Shilang could even marry a woman from a great clan—it’s not impossible!"
The social hierarchy of the Tang Dynasty was extremely strict. Ran Yan knew that Mrs. Luo might be setting her hopes a bit too high. For the true elite, helping a slave escape their lowly status was a matter of a few words, but for an ordinary family, it could come at a great cost. Thus, for the vast majority of slaves, breaking free from their status seemed as unlikely as a fanciful tale.
"Ayan, Shilang has always been kindest to you. You have to help me persuade him," Mrs. Luo pleaded, taking Ran Yan’s hand, finally getting to the heart of the matter.
Ran Yan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. But she wasn’t one to hold on to class concepts—how could she persuade Ran Yunsheng of such things?