Chapter 29: Rushing the Wedding

"Xuan'er, why are you here?" Lady Ye stood up abruptly, never expecting Tantai Xuan to appear at such a moment. She pointed at her and scolded, "Hurry back at once! This is no place for you to be speaking!"

Lady Ye was furious at her daughter's lack of restraint. Even she dared not defy Tantai Shanchang’s wishes, yet Tantai Xuan had the audacity to ignore them entirely and barge in!

Tantai Xuan, however, no longer cared about such trifles. Since childhood, she had always been overshadowed by Tantai Jing. She had finally endured until Lady Dong passed away and her own mother, the concubine, had risen in status, only for Tantai Jing to continue to outshine her. Even Brother Ziyu, whom she favored, was about to be snatched away by Tantai Jing. Why should this be?

"Mother, what are you saying? Are you trying to force Brother Ziyu to come to our manor to propose marriage? He merely spoke a few words to her—must he be forced to marry her because of that?" Tantai Xuan raised her eyebrows and sneered. "If Tantai Jing cannot be married off, must Brother Ziyu take responsibility? She has become a mute; isn't Mother making things unnecessarily difficult?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? Return to your Fragrant Willow Courtyard immediately!" Lady Ye rebuked her sharply.

Tantai Xuan had never feared Lady Ye. At this moment, terrified that a moment’s delay might turn Wang Ziyu’s visit into a formal proposal, she refused to budge. Weeping, she pleaded, "Mother, I like Brother Ziyu. If you are determined to make him take responsibility, then betroth me to him instead!"

Wang Ziyu could hardly believe his luck. With Tantai Jing’s marriage prospects seemingly ruined, he now stood to gain the favor of this bright and beautiful Fifth Young Miss. Truly, his family's ancestral grave must be emitting auspicious smoke; his future was secure!

Lady Ye was also frantic. She knew her daughter well—Tantai Xuan didn't necessarily love Wang Ziyu, but she simply could not stand for Tantai Jing to have anything she did not. It was just like when they were children; if Tantai Jing possessed something, Xuan would move heaven and earth to seize it, and even if she succeeded, she would still feel that whatever remained in Tantai Jing's hands was better.

Wang Ziyu was a pawn Lady Ye had positioned herself. Having learned from Tantai Xuan that Tantai Jing was well-liked at the academy and that the male students all favored her, Lady Ye had seethed with resentment. Why was the daughter of Lady Dong so popular, while her own daughter, despite also being a legitimate heir, was constantly eclipsed by Tantai Jing’s radiance?

Lady Ye had carefully scouted the students and quickly selected Wang Ziyu. Among those at the academy, he came from the most humble background. There was another, Ma Yuantong, also from a modest family, but his parents were still alive and he was indifferent to romantic entanglements; Lady Ye could not manipulate such a rigid person. Wang Ziyu, however, had been fawning over Tantai Jing.

Tantai Jing and the others were young and failed to see it, but Lady Ye saw clearly: Wang Ziyu was desperate to climb the social ladder by latching onto an official's daughter. Among those at the academy, only Tantai Jing’s status was ideal—high-ranking, with a solid background, and most importantly, she had no mother left to support her.

Wang Ziyu had designs on Tantai Jing, and Lady Ye had designs on Wang Ziyu. It was a perfect meeting of minds. Lady Ye had instructed her maid, Suye, to mention Wang Ziyu in Tantai Jing’s presence and had her servants whisper about his supposed brilliance. Once a name is heard often enough, one naturally begins to pay attention. Just as Tantai Jing was about to take the bait, Tantai Xuan had to interfere!

Lady Ye pulled Tantai Xuan aside, pinched her arm, and whispered, "Get back to your courtyard! Your father has grounded you—how dare you show your face! If he finds out, he will force you to kneel in the ancestral hall!"

Tantai Xuan had always feared the ancestral hall. Lady Ye hoped to frighten her, but she failed to realize that Tantai Xuan’s temper had flared. Raised by Lady Ye, she had never learned the concepts of propriety or shame; she simply believed that if it belonged to Tantai Jing, she must have it.

"Father isn't in the manor. If you don't say anything, and I don't say anything, who will know I left my quarters?" Tantai Xuan, relying on the fact that she had always been favored, tugged at Lady Ye’s sleeve. "Mother, why not betroth me to Brother Ziyu? Didn't you just say that the talk at the academy is rampant and needs a resolution?"

"Tantai Jing is a mute now. Brother Ziyu is destined to be a great official; how can he marry a mute as his primary wife? I caused a scene outside the academy too—if you betroth me to him, the matter will be settled!" Tantai Xuan’s eyes sparkled with hope, waiting for Lady Ye to nod.

"Preposterous!" The hope rising in Tantai Xuan was extinguished by a thunderous roar.

The curtain of the main hall was lifted to reveal Tantai Shanchang, his face dark as a thundercloud. Behind him walked a calm-looking Tantai Jing, followed by a stern-faced matron and Suxin.

At the sound of that voice, Tantai Xuan instinctively hid behind Lady Ye.

Seeing Tantai Shanchang enter, Wang Ziyu stood up immediately, bowing with a look of humble deference. "Lord Tantai, I have come today to offer my apologies to the two young misses. My actions the other day were truly abrupt; I am deeply ashamed."

Tantai Shanchang was filled with rage—if not for this man, his household would not be in such chaos. Yet, one does not strike a man who is smiling. Wang Ziyu’s stance was clear: he was merely here to apologize and had no other intentions. Any other interpretation was merely the gossip of others, unrelated to him.

Tantai Shanchang waved his hand, suppressing his anger. He didn't know what the future held for this young man, so there was no need to destroy him completely now, but he certainly did not want him lingering in his household any longer.

Wang Ziyu, sensing the mood, said tactfully, "I have disturbed you for too long. I shall take my leave."

Lady Ye, standing to the side, wished she could kick him. The boy had managed to distance himself completely, making it seem as if all the scheming she had done was merely her own internal monologue!

Tantai Shanchang nodded slightly and called out, "Steward Hu, escort Master Wang out of the manor!"

Wang Ziyu bowed and departed, not even glancing at Tantai Jing once.

Tantai Jing sneered inwardly. Wang Ziyu had always been like this; he knew exactly how to protect himself and knew that he could no longer entangle himself with her, lest he face total ruin.

No sooner had Wang Ziyu left the inner courtyard than Tantai Shanchang’s roar echoed through the main hall: "You have such audacity, daring to defy my orders!"