"What does Grandmother mean by that?" Qi Zhenzhen blinked, her eyes wide with confusion. "I've always been amiable towards people, so how could I be arrogant? As for Grandmother's mention of marrying into the Duke's mansion, Zhenzhen can only say that marriage is a major event, decided by parents and arranged by matchmakers. Everything is up to the elders."
Madam Lu's face was as dark as a long-burnt pot bottom, her eyes filled with resentment. "Don't play dumb with me. If you hadn't interfered, how could such a good thing have fallen to you? The Duke's mansion wants the legitimate daughter of a Marquis, not just any concubine's daughter. You are cunning and deceitful, coaxing the Marquis to register you under the Madam's name, thus claiming the title of a legitimate daughter."
This was truly unfair.
She had never once considered being registered under Madam Qin's name. This matter was entirely orchestrated by her Marquis father and grandmother.
"Is Grandmother speaking up for my eldest sister?" Qi Zhenzhen asked. But something was wrong. Why would Madam Lu be so kind?
Madam Lu's face stiffened. She didn't have the leisure to worry about other people's affairs.
"There are only two legitimate daughters in this household: the eldest, Qi Mingzhu, and my Qing'er." Madam Lu cleared her throat. "The eldest daughter is already betrothed, so naturally, she cannot be considered for marriage. Therefore, this marriage should rightfully be our Qing'er's! You used your schemes to snatch away my Qing'er's good fortune."
She spoke with such righteous indignation, her expression brimming with righteous anger.
Qi Zhenzhen couldn't understand how someone like Madam Lu, with a thicker skin than a city wall, could exist.
"Grandmother, Zhenzhen has something she doesn't understand. Does the Marquis's mansion belong to the Qi family or the Li family?"
Madam Lu answered swiftly, "Naturally, it belongs to the Qi family."
"Since that is the case, and the Duke's mansion specifically requested a legitimate daughter of the Qi family, what does it have to do with your Li family? And how can it be said that I snatched Qing'er sister's marriage? After all, Qing'er sister's surname is Li, not Qi, and she was not born from the Marquis's wife's womb." Qi Zhenzhen said slowly, "Am I correct?"
"But the Madam of the Marquis's mansion promised me this."
"Then Grandmother can go and find Mother. What is your intention in coming to me?" Qi Zhenzhen appeared very innocent. "As a young lady, no matter how capable I am, I cannot decide my own marriage, can I? I don't understand these twists and turns, nor do I wish to ponder them."
Madam Lu had just come from Madam Qin's. Madam Qin's intention was that Qi Zhenzhen was favored by the Marquis and the Old Madam, and thus received such a good marriage prospect, which was naturally given to Qi Zhenzhen.
In this light, it couldn't really be blamed on Qi Zhenzhen. Her scolding was thus unfounded. But if it weren't for her, wouldn't this matter have fallen to Qing'er?
"Grandmother, furthermore, the Duke's mansion is looking to marry their heir. How could they casually decide on a young lady? They must inquire thoroughly! The Marquis's mansion choosing me was not sudden; it must have been after private consideration! Besides, there are matters of matching horoscopes and exchanging birth dates. These are not mere formalities."
Qi Zhenzhen's implication was that the Duke's mansion would not simply accept any girl presented to them; they would scrutinize. The fact that she was chosen meant she was deemed suitable. Of course, Gu Sinian's contribution was indispensable, but she wasn't foolish enough to reveal this to Madam Lu.
The meaning behind her words was to tell Madam Lu that Madam Qin's promise to Madam Lu was merely spoken in passing.
Madam Lu understood, her expression turning somewhat unpleasant. She had initially thought Madam Qin was a good person who genuinely treated them as family, but now it seemed she was playing them for fools.
"This matter is not over," Madam Lu declared, and then stormed off in a huff.
"Zhenzhen, I am truly sorry," Li Nuan said with some embarrassment. "My grandmother..."
Qi Zhenzhen waved her hand. "Sister is sister, and Grandmother is Grandmother. I am close with Sister because our personalities match. As for Grandmother, she is an elder, and I am a junior. I will naturally defer to her in matters of courtesy."
Li Nuan was very grateful. "You've truly gone through a lot."
After leaving Longxiang Courtyard, Madam Lu had originally intended to return to the guest rooms. However, the more she thought about it, the more displeased she became, and she returned to Jinghua Courtyard.
The gatekeepers tried to stop her, but their fighting strength was no match for Madam Lu, and they were shoved aside. The delicate maids were even less of a match for Madam Lu.
Madam Lu barged directly into the inner chamber and pointed her finger at Madam Qin, scolding, "I originally thought you were a good person and truly treated us as relatives. But what happened? You put on a show to our faces while acting differently behind our backs. Are you and your Princess mother colluding to mock our Li family? As if the Duke's mansion would need you to help pick a daughter-in-law! Bah! What kind of girls does the Duke's mansion want? Can't they look for themselves? You say one thing to me, as if the Duke's mansion would accept whomever you choose!"
Madam Qin calmly sat up from the couch and glanced at Madam Lu. "Aunt, you've been coming to me frequently, haven't you, all for the sake of finding a good match for Qing'er? The Duke's mansion is indeed excellent, and I did indeed intend to arrange for Qing'er to marry there. I won't hide anything from you, Aunt. I dislike Madam Yun, and naturally, I wouldn't like her daughter. How could I give such a good marriage prospect to her? If I gave it to Sister Qing, Sister Qing would naturally remember my kindness, and in the future, my Mingzhu would have a support. The Duke's mansion originally entrusted this matter to my mother, and my mother also thought that such a thing should benefit our own family."
In short, she genuinely wanted to arrange for Li Qing to marry the Duke's heir and had worked towards it. However, she couldn't help it, as the decision-makers in the Marquis's mansion were the Marquis and the Old Madam. When they intervened, she could only comply.
"What can be done about this?" Madam Lu rubbed her hands, her voice softening. "Don't be angry with your aunt. Aunt spoke out of anger just now. According to what we discussed before, Qing'er was to wait for the Duke's mansion to propose. But in the end, the Duke's mansion married into the Marquis's mansion. Tell me, how can I and Qing'er remain calm?"
"Aunt, I won't hide it from you. Although Qing'er is a legitimate daughter, it's not a simple matter for her to marry into a noble family of Dukes and Marquises. The Li family is a prominent family in Yun and Gui, but here in the capital, they are not significant enough." Madam Qin said, "The Duke's mansion did not choose Qing'er for this very reason."
"But we are relatives of the Marquis's mansion!"
If they were close relatives, they could indeed borrow the Marquis's prestige when arranging marriages. But the Li family and the Marquis's mansion? It was not worth mentioning.
"Then, do you mean my Qing'er cannot marry into a noble family of Dukes and Marquises?" Madam Lu asked, frowning.
"It's not that she cannot marry, but in terms of status... she likely wouldn't be the principal wife. However, she could be a favored concubine. But doing so would be unfair to our Qing'er. A legitimate daughter would have to be a concubine. Aunt and Qing'er are both high-spirited and would surely be unwilling. So, let's consider this conversation as if it never happened."