Qi Zhenzhen was not surprised at all. Given Xun Wan Niang's personality, she was indeed capable of such actions.
Furthermore, Qi Zhenzhen had long anticipated that Madam Da would not give up so easily. After all, considering the Ge family's current situation, even if Ge Yu Sheng was considered promising, without official success, his potential was mere talk, unable to secure a good marriage for the Ge family.
Therefore, the Song family was the best choice at this juncture.
Madam Da would likely resort to all means to preserve this marriage.
"Mother, you just wait and see. Aunt Ming Yue will not give up," Qi Zhenzhen said. "That kind of person is selfish and self-serving. Who knows what other methods she might employ?"
Yun Shi sighed. "Your Aunt Yu is truly troublesome, with her own sister treating her like this. We originally hoped for a double blessing through marriage, to find a good match for Ming Yue. Who would have thought it would turn out like this?"
"What does it matter if they are sisters? In this day and age, blood relatives turn against each other far too often. Those who appear to treat you well might harbor ulterior motives behind your back. Therefore, we must keep our eyes open and not be deceived by appearances," Qi Zhenzhen said. She was essentially giving Yun Shi a heads-up, as they would likely return to the Chang Ping Marquis's mansion soon, and she feared Yun Shi might be easily deceived by a few words.
Yun Shi nodded. "That's true. One can know a person's face, but not their heart."
The capital, Chang Ping Marquis's Mansion.
Marquis Chang Ping, Qi Tian Ming, looked astonished. "Mother, is what you said true?"
The Old Madam chided Qi Tian Ming, "You are the Marquis Chang Ping, the master of this mansion. This entire household looks up to you. Why are you so impatient and lacking in composure?"
Qi Tian Ming chuckled. "I... I'm just happy!"
"Those who achieve great things do not readily reveal their emotions. You must remember this point and be mindful of it in your future actions," the Old Madam advised.
"Mother is right. Your son remembers and will surely keep it in mind. Stop keeping me in suspense. Where are Yun Shi and the two children?" Qi Tian Ming asked anxiously.
The Old Madam glanced at Madam Fang. Madam Fang stepped forward and bowed to Qi Tian Ming. "The people sent out by the Old Madam have received some news. They say they are in Cui Ping Town. Cui Ping Town governs thirty-six villages, large and small. Our people are few, so we haven't investigated further for now. Moreover, someone is following Madam, and our people fear revealing any trace might allow Madam's people to get there first, potentially causing trouble."
"Mother, I will assign all my subordinates to Madam Fang. We must find them, mother and children, in the shortest possible time and ensure their safety," Qi Tian Ming said sternly.
"Mother has it under control. What I need to remind you of is, have you thought about how to deal with Yun Shi?" the Old Madam asked.
Qi Tian Ming fell silent. After a long pause, he said, "Mother, her leaving the estate was out of desperation. If she hadn't left, she and the two children might not have survived. Therefore, we cannot blame her entirely. The two children have been with her for so long; their bond with her must be very strong. Any rash action would surely cause dissatisfaction among the children. Zhenzhen might not mind, but it would be difficult to explain to Yi Ge."
"She could have sent a letter back to tell you about their predicament," the Old Madam said.
"That estate belongs to Madam Qin. Even if she wanted to send a letter, she might not have been able to get it back."
The Old Madam looked deeply at Qi Tian Ming. After a while, she sighed. "Fine, fine. You are the master of this Marquis's mansion, and all matters naturally fall to you. Since you wish to protect Yun Shi, this old woman will not displease you. However, you must remember that a concubine is a concubine and can never outrank the legitimate wife. If Yun Shi returns and acts presumptuously, relying on your guilt, do not blame this mother for being ruthless."
"Mother, that won't happen. Her disposition is very indifferent; she doesn't fight or contend. How could she be unruly? As for Madam Qin, as long as she harbors no ill intentions and manages the household affairs properly, I naturally won't hold anything against her. If she continues to be so intolerant, I think it's time to find a new Marchioness. We cannot allow her to act so arbitrarily just because she comes from a princely family," Qi Tian Ming said with a frown.
The Old Madam took a moment before replying, "Alas, she is your first wife, so I won't say anything more. By the way, how is that girl Ming Zhu's marriage coming along?"
"Madam Qin is keeping an eye on it. She has only one daughter and cherishes her dearly. Her requirements for a son-in-law are very high: character, family background, and appearance are all indispensable. It's not easy to find someone like that. Moreover, she is reluctant to marry Ming Zhu far away, always hoping to find someone in the capital," Qi Tian Ming said indifferently.
"A mother's feelings, having doted on her child since childhood, naturally makes her reluctant to marry her off far away. I can understand," the Old Madam nodded. However, regarding Ming Zhu's temperament, the Old Madam's brow furrowed. While her demeanor as a young lady of good family was acceptable, her overbearing nature...
They didn't dwell on the matter of Qi Ming Zhu. With Madam Qin in charge, they couldn't intervene even if they wanted to.
"Oh, the Lu family sent a letter. Lu Chen will be coming to the capital in a few days," Qi Tian Ming said.
"Is he the one engaged to Zhen Zhen?" the Old Madam asked.
"Yes. He is participating in the autumn imperial examinations this year, so he's coming to the capital early to familiarize himself and avoid any acclimatization issues. The Lu family's letter requested me to look after him. Although the Lu family's businesses are not in the capital, they do have a place to stay. However, they are not entirely clear about the current situation in the capital. Additionally, they wish for me to find a renowned scholar to guide him, increasing his chances in the autumn examinations," Qi Tian Ming did not hide anything from the Old Madam.
"Then the matter of Yun Shi and her three children must be handled quickly. I fear that girl Zhen Zhen might pick up some wild habits in the countryside, making it difficult to correct them," the Old Madam said. "It would be most unfortunate if she were to disgrace our Marquis's mansion."
"Mother is right."
Qi Tian Ming sat in the Chaohui Hall for a while longer before rising to leave. However, he did not go to the front courtyard but instead headed to Madam Qin's courtyard. There were some matters he needed to address with her, and besides, Ming Zhu was his legitimate daughter. Regarding the matter of finding her a suitor, he needed to express his stance.
As soon as he entered the room, Madam Qin personally came to greet him, handing him a damp cloth. "Marquis, the Prince's mansion sent over some cherries. I've asked someone to wash a plate for you to enjoy fresh. I've also sent some to the Old Madam."
After washing his hands, Qi Tian Ming sat on the chaise lounge. On the small square table beside the lounge was a plate of plump, vibrant red cherries, which looked particularly beautiful against the white porcelain.
Qi Tian Ming casually picked up a cherry. "It will be at least another month before we see cherries outside. The masters at the Prince's mansion are truly skilled to have them sent over now. Hmm, the taste is also good – tender flesh, juicy, sweet, and crisp. Have you found anyone suitable for her? Tell me, so I can also take a look. Ming Zhu is our precious pearl, and we must find her a satisfactory marriage."