The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 705 - 667: Yuanbao Arranges a Marriage Proposal (Second Update)
In the blink of an eye, it was the sixth day of the new year, and Yuanbao had already accompanied the Crown Prince south.
Today was the day the government office reopened.
Early in the morning, carriages, horses, and sedan chairs bustled to and fro as officials headed to the office, while the streets buzzed with noise.
Tang Yuan was also leaving for Suzhou today. Before his departure, he visited the Western Marquis Mansion.
The few servants at the gate recognized Tang Yuan. Seeing him taking out Silver, they laughed and said, "Oh, isn’t this our former son-in-law? What, thinking of coming back now?"
Listening to their sarcastic remarks, Tang Yuan could only smile wryly and hand over the Silver. "Please, go inside and convey that I would like to see your lady."
He was very humble.
The servant accepted the Silver and shared it among the others, then said, "I’ll go in and report it, but whether she’ll see you is up to our lady."
"Thank you."
The message reached the inner courtyard while Xu Jia was arguing with Xu Shu about joining the army. She paused upon hearing it, "Second Young Master Tang?"
The servant nodded, "He said he wanted to see our lady one last time before departing."
Xu Shu frowned, "No!"
How long has it been since they divorced, and he still clings on? Was his brain eaten by a dog back then?
Xu Jia initially thought of refusing to meet him, but considering Tang Yuan’s stubborn nature, if she refused, he might stand at the Western Marquis Mansion’s gate all day.
Considering the reputation of the Mansion, Xu Jia said, "Forget it, I’ll see him."
"Little sister!" Xu Shu’s face darkened, "Are you being fooled by that bastard again? You want to be blind again?"
Xu Jia turned back, smiled at him, and said, "If you don’t want me to be blind again, then agree to let me join the army. You’re the family’s sole heir; father and mother listen to you. If you support me, they will have no choice."
"A young lady mixing with men, aren’t you ashamed!" Xu Shu’s handsome face tightened further.
Xu Jia chuckled lightly, stepped out of the room, and followed the servant to the East Corner Gate.
Seeing her, Tang Yuan’s face lit up, and he walked over in big strides.
Xu Jia looked at him expressionlessly, "What do you want with me?"
Tang Yuan said, "I’m heading to Suzhou and wanted to see you before leaving."
Xu Jia smiled, "Second Young Master Tang, have you mistaken your target? If you’re leaving, you should be burning incense for Jiang Qingyu, coming to our house are you not afraid of gossip?"
"Miss Xu..."
Knowing she was still intact, Tang Yuan addressed her this way.
Xu Jia raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to continue.
Tang Yuan said, "After experiencing so much, I’ve realized you’re my true love for a lifetime. If going to Suzhou is your test for me, then I’m willing to endure it, just hoping, hoping you’ll wait for me. When I return from being promoted in Suzhou, I will marry you with an eight-carry sedan chair."
"Oh, they say a good horse doesn’t turn back to graze, but it seems Second Young Master Tang is grazing quite joyfully!"
A voice interjected beside him. Tang Yuan looked back and saw a young man in fine clothes sitting on a tall horse, looking down at him.
Tang Yuan felt unfamiliar with the young man’s face and was puzzled for a moment, "Who are you?"
"It’s not important who I am, continue."
The man on horseback was Ye Rong, saying this as he laughed.
Xu Jia, feeling helpless, glanced at Ye Rong, "Ah Rong, don’t make trouble."
Tang Yuan looked at Ye Rong, then at Xu Jia, "You two know each other?"
Ye Rong just smiled, without saying a word.
Yet the smile seemed arrogant and mocking to Tang Yuan.
He pressed his lips together and turned his gaze to Xu Jia.
He admitted that he had hurt Xu Jia before, but he had now realized his mistakes. As long as she nodded, he would spare nothing to keep her by his side, never letting go for a lifetime.
"Tang Yuan, when I was at your family’s place, I gave you more than one chance; it was you who didn’t want it. Trying to reconcile after the feelings have dried up? For me, a broken mirror cannot be restored." Xu Jia’s expression was calm, showing no sign of joy, anger, or sorrow. She didn’t even seem to hold any resentment towards him, which left Tang Yuan feeling anxious.
"I was born into a military family, inherently incompatible with your scholarly family. Second Young Master Tang, you’ve got the wrong person." Xu Jia added.
"But that’s not how it is." Tang Yuan feared he’d miss his chance and hurriedly spoke out, disregarding Ye Rong’s presence, "I don’t care who you are or your background, the person I recognize is just you."
"What a pity," Xu Jia regretted for him, "our family doesn’t need a son-in-law like you."
Hearing this, Ye Rong burst into laughter.
Tang Yuan had prepared himself before coming, so he wasn’t embarrassed. His gaze stayed on Xu Jia, filled with hope.
Ye Rong said, "Did you hear that? My senior sister’s attitude is clear enough. Second Young Master Tang, you should leave the way you came!"
Tang Yuan frowned, "This is between her and me, it has nothing to do with you."
Ye Rong sneered, "I am her junior brother. We both studied under the same master since childhood. Her business is my business. Do you think it has nothing to do with me?"
Tang Yuan ignored Ye Rong and took a couple of steps forward, "Miss Xu, I..."
"Let’s end it here," Xu Jia turned around and went inside, leaving only her back to him.
——
After Tang Yuan left, Ye Rong didn’t stay long at the Western Marquis Mansion either. He rode back to the Ye Mansion and heard that the Song family had come to propose.
"What?" Ye Rong thought he misheard, "Is it Song Yuanbao?"
The servant confirmed that it was.
Ye Rong’s mouth twitched hard. That little brat was really ruthless. It was only the sixth day of the new year, and he was already so impatient?
"Where is Song Yuanbao?" Ye Rong insisted on giving him a lesson in public.
The servant replied, "Young Master Song has gone to Jiangnan with the Crown Prince. He is not in the capital."
"Since he is not even here, what kind of marriage proposal is this?" Ye Rong strongly opposed, "I am the first to disagree."
"It won’t do, young master," the servant said. "The master and madam seem quite satisfied with this proposal. Now it’s just waiting for the young lady’s opinion. Your disagreement alone probably won’t matter."
Ye Rong snorted coldly and headed towards the inner courtyard.
Ye Ling had just heard about the Song family’s marriage proposal, and she was still in shock, sitting there in a daze.
"Little sister." Ye Rong sat down next to her and poured himself a cup of tea.
Ye Ling heard the sound and opened her mouth in surprise, "Third brother, when did you come?"
"Just now." Ye Rong expressed his strong resentment at being ignored, "What were you thinking about, so engrossed."
Ye Ling blushed at his words, "Did you hear that when you came in, the Song family had brought a matchmaker to propose?"
"I heard. And then?"
"Then... I don’t know what father and mother think," Ye Ling lowered her eyelashes.
"What about you?" Ye Rong looked intently at his sister.
"I, I haven’t decided yet."
Actually, it wasn’t that she hadn’t decided, but she hadn’t expected it. She hadn’t expected that a nobleman like Song Yuanbao, surrounded by so many auras, would like someone like her, a daughter from a military family. She hadn’t expected his parents would agree, let alone that they would send someone to propose so early.
"What do you mean you haven’t decided?" Ye Rong said displeased, "So you are considering it?"
Ye Ling’s ears turned red from his questioning, and she couldn’t articulate her thoughts.
"This is a major life decision, you can’t be careless," Ye Rong said. "Anyway, I don’t think you and Song Yuanbao are a good match."
Ye Ling was speechless, "Then brother, tell me, how are we not a good match? Is it because his family status doesn’t match mine, or his character?"
Ye Rong was at a loss for words.
Let’s not mention that Song Yuanbao has such distinguished parents, a family background that many could only dream of. Even if Song Wei wasn’t his father, with the achievements that Song Yuanbao has earned by himself, he is enough to be singled out by a large portion of the unmarried girls in the capital.
Moreover, Song Yuanbao’s looks are top-tier.
Glancing at his shy and timid sister, Ye Rong secretly rolled his eyes, "Song Yuanbao is a romantic person. In the future, he will surely be surrounded by a flock of admirers. Can you handle that?"
Ye Ling pursed her lips and said nothing.
At this moment, an older woman from the main hall came to invite, saying that the madam wanted to see the young lady.
Ye Ling asked her maid to bring a hand mirror and tidied up her appearance before following the woman to the front hall.
The matchmaker invited by the Song family had not yet left. Upon seeing Ye Ling, she smiled broadly and looked her up and down before turning to Ye Ling’s mother, Mrs. Yu, and saying, "There’s no need for me to introduce the young master of the Song family. You must have heard about him outside—the family background, the character, the looks. He and your daughter are simply a match made in heaven."
Ye Ling’s cheeks burned as she retorted, "What if the Song family sends you to propose elsewhere? Would you still say that Young Master Song and another family’s daughter are a match made in heaven?"
The matchmaker was taken aback but then laughed heartily, "Young lady, aren’t you joking? When the Song family proposes, it will only ever be once. Since we have already come to your Ye family, there is no reason to go to another family. I certainly cannot praise any other family’s daughter."
Mrs. Yu smiled faintly. This old fox was indeed cunning, not overly flattering her daughter nor speaking ill of the daughters of other families.
After all, this was how she made her living. If she dared to speak too boldly today, she wouldn’t be able to continue her business after arranging this match.
Thinking this, Mrs. Yu called Ye Ling, "Ah Yao, come to your mother."
Ye Ling obediently sat beside her mother, and Mrs. Yu hugged her dear daughter tightly.
