Chapter 429: Chapter 429

True to her decisive and efficient nature, before the shock from An Ning's group's return to the manor had even subsided, the imperial edict bestowing the marriage had already arrived at the Changping Earl's Manor.

Setting aside how awkward Zhou Baiyan, kneeling at the forefront to receive the imperial decree, must have felt, and how ridiculous he must have looked trying desperately to maintain a smiling face. In short, at the beginning of August, the entire Count's household was caught completely off guard by this sudden decree.

"Madam, should this servant go and summon Fifth Young Lady over right away? This marriage came so abruptly, Fifth Young Lady might know something about it. And wasn't it previously…"

Wasn't it the Duke of Wei's household before? In the main house, Mama Yang cautiously stepped forward, stealing a glance at her mistress, who also seemed somewhat dazed, and whispered softly.

After all, although the marriage between the two families hadn't been formally agreed upon, it seemed practically settled. Who could have imagined such a sudden turn of events?

While it was true that the Grand Princess's Residence held more power and influence than the Duke's household, when Mama Yang thought of Fifth Young Lady's status, she couldn't help feeling somewhat resentful and dissatisfied.

She deliberately glanced outside the door, confirming no one was there, before lowering her voice further:

"Madam, earlier, this servant always thought Third Young Lady had high ambitions. I never expected Fifth Young Lady to be the one with truly soaring aspirations, silently climbing to a high branch without making a sound."

Most importantly, she managed to keep everyone in the household completely in the dark. That scheming was a bit too much…

"Whether her ambitions are high or not is not for you to say. Don't forget, Fifth Young Lady will soon be marrying into the Grand Princess's Residence, becoming a proper and legitimate Duchess."

Upon hearing this, Mama Yang indeed froze, her breath catching, not daring to utter another word.

Seeing this, Lady Jiang's expression softened slightly. She reached out to take the teacup from the other's hands, and only after a moment did she sigh softly:

"Regardless of whether Little Five knew about this beforehand or not, even if she did, so what if her ambitions are high?"

"As long as her abilities and methods can support them, having high ambitions isn't necessarily a bad thing."

Just ask, who would willingly stay at the bottom if they could move upwards?

Just to have to bow and salute whenever they see someone outside, forcing a smile, trembling with fear and anxiety?

Gently rubbing the incense in her hand, Lady Jiang sighed softly:

"Little Five having this opportunity is also good for the household."

Master is nearly forty this year. No matter how well he maintains himself, his looks have faded considerably. Haven't you noticed the Grand Princess hasn't paid him much attention for most of the year?

Although, looking at it now, it might not be without Lord Jing Guo's influence. But for her to kick him aside so decisively shows that Master truly is… not up to par.

Speaking of which, Lady Jiang couldn't help but think that for most of this year, even though the Grand Princess hasn't summoned him, Master has also rarely stayed overnight with those women in the rear courtyard.

Madam couldn't help but shake her head regretfully. It seems those tonics she had been sending earlier no longer need to be delivered.

No point wasting all that silver!

"Ah, this servant is just worried," Mama Yang frowned slightly. "Madam must not forget, Fifth Young Lady is not like Third Young Lady. She has a biological younger brother!"

Moreover, her birth mother, Concubine Lin, was quite favored earlier, only settling down in recent years.

"What is there to fear?" Lady Jiang's expression remained unchanged:

"The Count's residence nowadays only has this title worth looking at. Even this, who knows how much will be left when it passes to the eldest young master!"

As for wealth, that's even more impossible. Not to mention the vast fortune left by the previous Lord Jing Guo, the Grand Princess's Residence is supremely wealthy.

At worst, with Little Five's dazzling flower cultivation skills, she's not someone who would lack money. With Little Five's intelligence, she wouldn't go to the trouble of supporting her brother to fight with the eldest brother over the Count's residence's meager scraps, causing a disgraceful scene.

"It's just that the eldest young master will likely feel quite uncomfortable about this from now on."

But who can he blame? Recalling her own eldest son eagerly fawning over them earlier, Lady Jiang, reclining on the soft couch, couldn't help but lightly massage her forehead, thinking wearily.

She hadn't failed to instruct the eldest young master earlier to show more care for his younger sisters below. But what did the eldest young master do?

He did show concern, but it was so superficial. Consciously the heir to the Count's household, believing his sisters would all have to rely on him in the future, he acted without restraint.

Over time, not to mention the inherently perceptive Little Five, even his own biological sister, Yun, might feel a chill in her heart.

Even though she tried her best to smooth things over afterwards, these young ladies in the household are not foolish. How could they not see through it?

He didn't even bother to plant the tree with care, and now he wants to enjoy its shade? It's not that easy!

"Ah, the eldest young master is, after all, the legitimate heir and successor. It's natural for him to have some pride in his heart."

Hearing this, Lady Jiang only smiled slightly, her hands already opening the previously prepared dowry list.

Fortunately, Yun and Little Five have always been close. Now that this marriage is settled, Yun's life in the Marquis's household is sure to be much more comfortable.

As the saying goes, speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives. The two hadn't been talking for long when news came that the eldest young lady and her husband had returned and were currently waiting in the front hall.

"Fifth Sister, you scared me to death! When I first got the news, I thought I had misheard. It was only when Mother-in-law specially sent her head maid from her room…"

With a look of astonishment mixed with a reproachful glance at her, Zhou Yun then smiled, happily pulling her close as she said joyfully:

"Alright, Eldest Sister won't ask how this marriage came about. Since it's already a settled matter, and Fifth Sister likely isn't clueless about it, I won't ramble on about it now."

Carefully observing her increasingly radiant younger sister before her, Eldest Young Lady Zhou was genuinely happy at this moment.

Just as the Grand Princess had said earlier, although Lord Jing Guo's health isn't exactly robust, the Grand Princess's Residence has only one son. At the very least, within the household, it's destined not to have too much messy conflict.

Not to mention power and influence, Young Master Xie is of proper imperial lineage, the Grand Princess's own son, the current emperor's own nephew. With this status, as long as he doesn't rebel, it's enough to ensure a life of honor, favor, and nobility.

Even in the worst-case scenario, if his health fails and he passes early, as long as younger sister can have a child before then, her life will still be quite comfortable.

It's better than the Duke of Wei's household, where, if things go badly, one might have to fight tooth and nail for the young master position.

Moreover, with such a disparity in status, for the other party to still seek the marriage and even specially request an imperial decree for a bestowed marriage, it could only be due to Lord Xie's own intention.

The only thing that worried Eldest Young Lady Zhou was:

"Ah, it's just that I don't know if the Grand Princess is easy to get along with?"

Seeing the concern in the other's eyes, sitting on the small stone stool as before, An Ning couldn't help but chuckle:

"What is Eldest Sister thinking? What kind of person is the Grand Princess? The matters she has to worry about every day are too numerous to count. Would she really lower herself to make things difficult for a junior like me?"

She is, after all, a true hero who fought on the battlefield. Playing the role of a malicious mother-in-law would be rather beneath her dignity, wouldn't it? Besides, unlike other princesses, earlier, to counter the imperial clan and the ministers, the Late Emperor granted the Grand Princess not only the right to participate in court politics but also vast estates and income.

She doesn't have the leisure to waste on inner household affairs.

Of course, if she really did, An Ning wouldn't be polite either.

Recalling the legends about the Grand Princess from earlier, Zhou Yun quickly laughed. Pulling her little sister, she was about to say something more when, turning her head, she caught sight of Third Sister's somewhat dazed and absent-minded expression beside them.

Remembering that the other hadn't chimed in for a while, the smile on Eldest Young Lady Zhou's lips couldn't help but falter slightly.