The Cousin Is About to Marry，The Abstinent Young Lord Loses Control-Chapter 180: Continuing the Family Line Is a Heavy Responsibility
The matter of taking a concubine cannot be delayed.
Moreover, Xie Yunzhen has been busy with official duties recently, and the elderly lady is worried that once he leaves, he cannot be found.
Therefore, early the next morning, she sent someone to fetch Xie Yunzhen.
She specifically instructed not to let Ji Mingzhu follow.
She was afraid that if the matter of taking a concubine was mentioned, she would shed a few tears, and her grandson would soften and reject the proposal to take in a newcomer.
As the heir of the Duke Mansion, he bears the important responsibility of expanding the family lineage.
How many children can Ji Mingzhu alone give to the Xie family?
Not taking a concubine is not an option.
Besides, having a concubine introduces competition; let’s see how Ji Mingzhu will continue to flaunt her attitude towards Ah Zhen!
The elderly lady thought in this way.
Although she spent most of her time in Crane Dance Hall chanting scriptures, she knew everything that happened in the mansion.
Including the incident where the Commandery Princess disgraced her son by taking Du Peifang away in public, which had long reached her ears.
The daughter-in-law is assertive and has backing.
She couldn’t handle her.
But Ji Mingzhu is different; she is without support and doesn’t know how to restrain herself.
If only she could humble herself, then it would be fine, but she is dissatisfied, insisting on riding on Ah Zhen’s head, throwing her weight around.
Then she, as the grandmother, cannot be blamed for standing up for her grandson.
Ji Mingzhu is beautiful, but even the most lovely appearances can become tiresome.
The most important thing to win a man’s heart is to know how to serve him.
Just like the Lin Family widow.
Despite being a widow, she knows how to make people happy, having been in the Duke Mansion for so long without being neglected.
Anyway, being a delightful character, the elderly lady didn’t mind her background.
As long as she could serve her son well, it was alright.
The Xie family never produced romantics, and the elderly lady didn’t want her grandsons to be passionate.
Love is too damaging.
Back at the beginning of the year, Ah Zhen was almost driven mad.
This was the perfect example!
And with the mind wholly focused on one woman, how could family interests be taken care of?
Fearing he might eagerly hand over all the good things to others.
At this point, the elderly lady thought again; fortunately, Ji Mingzhu had severed ties with that group of troublemakers from the Ji Family.
Otherwise, Ah Zhen would still have to support her impoverished relatives.
Then the Xie family would truly become the ultimate loser!
The more she thought, the more she felt it necessary to find a gentle and obedient beautiful concubine for her grandson.
Only then could the harm Ji Mingzhu brought to Ah Zhen be remedied...
On the day for worshipping her parents, Ji Mingzhu got up before sunrise.
Xie Yunzhen rose even earlier than her.
By the time she finished washing up, he had already prepared everything needed for the worship.
There were incense, paper money, wine, tea, meals, pastries, various fruits, and even brocade and jade.
Ji Mingzhu looked them over one by one, "This is too extravagant; it’s just a regular worship; sincerity is what matters."
Saying this, she wanted to leave the brocade and jade behind.
Xie Yunzhen disagreed, "This is the first official meeting with my father- and mother-in-law; it must be prepared thoroughly, leaving a good impression."
"Sincerity is what matters."
"If I don’t prepare anything, how will people know my sincerity?" Xie Yunzhen asked sincerely.
Initially, it sounded quite reasonable.
Ji Mingzhu thought for a moment, "Still, better leave them; displaying them by the grave might have them taken away."
Xie Yunzhen felt this wasn’t a problem, "I can send someone to guard the mountain; no one would dare take them."
"The mountain guardian won’t always be watching."
The food and drink are alright, but the jade and brocade are quite flashy.
Xie Yunzhen still wanted to take them.
With empty hands, he felt ashamed to face Mingzhu’s family.
"How about converting it to silver and donating to the charity house, as a way of praying for my parents."
There are many homeless children at the charity house; this money for them would be well spent.
Ji Mingzhu lost her parents, but fortunately, they left her a vast estate, enough for her to live comfortably for the rest of her life.
She was luckier than the children at the charity house; donating a sum of silver also expressed her sentiment.
This time, Xie Yunzhen no longer refused.
He touched her head, "Everything you decide."
He converted the brocade and jade into silver and added another thousand liang himself.
Since it’s for praying, it shouldn’t be done stingily.
He asked someone to send it to the charity house under Ji Mingzhu’s name.
And specifically instructed that it was the daughter of General Ji.
Not just the wife of the Princely Heir of the Duke Mansion.
Ji Mingzhu, with an ironic gaze, "You’ve been punished by the Emperor to forfeit salary for three years, and yet you’re so lavish with silver?"
Xie Yunzhen raised his chin, looking proud, "If I only relied on that salary, how could I support the family?"
"I don’t need you to support me."
After speaking, she felt this statement was ungrounded.
The food and drink in their courtyard were all handled by Xie Yunzhen.
The mansion also allocated a sum of silver to them every month as per usual.
She didn’t have a chance to use her own property.
To say Xie Yunzhen was supporting her seemed not wrong.
Previously, Xie Yunzhen wanted Ji Mingzhu to manage all his properties.
But she pushed it aside.
Now that their relationship improved, Xie Yunzhen brought it up again.
"You don’t need to do anything, inspections and accounting are still done by the usual people, you just supervise them, if anyone doesn’t meet your standards, just replace them, and you manage the silver, handling the monthly allowance will be your responsibility, my lady."
This was handing over the power of managing the family business to Ji Mingzhu.
Ji Mingzhu glanced at him, "Then will you need my approval to disburse silver in the future?"
"Yes."
Xie Yunzhen couldn’t suppress his smile.
Being managed by Mingzhu was what he dreamed of.
If she didn’t even want to manage, then in Mingzhu’s heart, he probably held no place at all.
After finishing important matters, breakfast was ready.
As they were about to head to the dining hall, a serving woman came to report, "Young Master, the Old Madam invites you to visit Crane Dance Hall."
Xie Yunzhen hid his smile.
"For what matter?"
"The Old Madam didn’t say, just instructed you to come."
Frustration flashed in Xie Yunzhen’s eyes, he had a feeling the Old Madam would discuss something he didn’t want to hear.
But if he didn’t go to Crane Dance Hall, the Old Madam might approach Mingzhu.
Since he’s at the mansion, it’s better to resolve the issue.
To spare Mingzhu from being bothered afterwards.
Her health was already poor, wasting energy on trivial matters would make those bitter medicines meaningless! 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
He told Ji Mingzhu to go ahead and eat, "I’ll be right back."
Ji Mingzhu nodded.
She entered the dining hall alone.
The Old Madam was Xie Yunzhen’s grandmother, she couldn’t prevent them from meeting.
As long as she wasn’t forced to do what she didn’t want, Ji Mingzhu didn’t want to bother with other things.
Meanwhile, Xie Yunzhen arrived at Crane Dance Hall.
The Old Madam was drinking bird’s nest porridge.
Seeing him enter, she hurriedly instructed the maid, "Quickly serve a bowl to Ah Zhen too."
Xie Yunzhen asked bluntly, "Grandmother, why did you call me?"
The Old Madam had long thought of what to say.
"Sit down first, we grandparents haven’t had breakfast together for ages, we’ll talk while eating."
Xie Yunzhen sat patiently.
But did not touch the chopsticks.
The bird’s nest porridge placed by his hand, he didn’t taste a bit.
The Old Madam thought: This boy married a wife, and his mind is entirely on Ji Mingzhu.
Getting him to have a meal with elders is harder than ascending to heaven!
Seeing Xie Yunzhen’s expression, the Old Madam changed her approach.
If she directly asked him to take a concubine, he surely would refuse.
She still had to use a roundabout way.
"This year, our family has been restless, it seems to be involved with evil influences, grandmother plans to go to the temple to meditate for a while."
Xie Yunzhen said, "When do you plan to leave, I will arrange someone to escort you."
The Old Madam put down the small bowl and spoon, "Let the granddaughter-in-law go with me."
Xie Yunzhen pressed his temple, knowing things weren’t that simple.
"Mingzhu has to manage the household for me, if she’s not here, the East Courtyard will be in chaos."
The Old Madam snorted, if Ji Mingzhu were not at the mansion, this foolish boy would have a chance to interact with girls from other families!
Once the rice is cooked, no matter how she fussed, it’d be useless.
"Isn’t she in poor health? The scenery on the mountain is beautiful, and the temple has fewer troubling matters, staying for a while would be good for her."
Xie Yunzhen’s long fingers pinched the small spoon, unconsciously stirring the soup in the bowl.
After a long time, he spoke, "Grandmother, you want me to take a concubine, right?"
Xie Yunzhen appeared calm, and his tone was peaceful.
But it was filled with strangeness.
If she hadn’t personally witnessed the silly things he did for Ji Mingzhu, the Old Madam might have thought he had this intention himself.
She said awkwardly, "Why would you think such a thing?"
Xie Yunzhen snorted, half-smiling.
"Back then you deceived my mother for a trip to Jiangnan, when she returned, there was an extra aunt in the mansion."
