Chapter 53: Living in Peace

Madam Ye pointed at Taohong, stamping her foot as she shouted, "Are you standing there like a fool just waiting to die? Why haven't you gone to look for the Fifth Young Miss yet?"

Taohong, who had been watching from the side, felt her legs grow so weak that she could barely move. Only upon hearing Madam Ye's roar did she snap back to her senses, lifting her skirts and running out.

Madam Ye cursed angrily in the background, "Start searching from right here! Then look for Wang Ziyu; the fifth girl must have been sweet-talked away by him again!"

What Madam Ye worried about most right now was that the Fifth Young Miss, Tantai Xuan, might be caught by someone together with Wang Ziyu, so she hurried frantically to search for her.

In the end, Taohong found Tantai Xuan in the Fifth Young Miss's Fangfei Courtyard. Tantai Xuan was sprawled inside the canopy bed, fast asleep and completely unaware of what had happened!

As for Wang Ziyu, the other person of concern, Mother Gui was personally seeing him out.

"Young Master Wang, look at this, what a truly rare stroke of fate. It has been such a short while, and this old servant is seeing you again." Mother Gui wore a beaming smile, one so flawless that no fault could possibly be found in it.

Recalling how he had stood awkwardly at the side gate of the Tantai residence that day, only to be told by this very servant woman that Tantai Zhai was someone he could never hope to aspire to, Wang Ziyu felt a slight displeasure upon seeing Mother Gui once more. Having such a wretched and humiliating plight witnessed by a mere servant was something no one could easily stomach.

Yet, Mother Gui acted as though she completely failed to notice Wang Ziyu's displeasure, rambling on of her own accord, "This really is how it is—if you aren't of the same family, you don't enter the same door. This old servant has already heard the news; you are now the prospective son-in-law! You must admit, the Fifth Young Miss's looks are the most outstanding. Though she is only ten years old now, she is already as charming and bright as a peony. In the future, she will surely blossom into the supreme beauty of Zecheng City. Young Master Wang, you are truly blessed with extraordinary fortune."

Wang Ziyu's expression cleared up slightly, but out of pride in his status, he did not want to show it before Mother Gui. Only the slightly pursed corners of his lips had long since betrayed his inner thoughts.

Mother Gui lowered her gaze and smiled. Glancing around to make sure no one was near, she drew a little closer to Wang Ziyu and lowered her voice. "Young Master Wang is of an age with this old servant's son. Since this old servant shares an affinity with Young Master Wang and finds you so amiable, let me offer you a few words of caution: when you come to the Tantai residence in the future, you must be extremely cautious and prudent. The mistress currently managing the household of this Tantai residence is not someone easy to deal with."

Wang Ziyu furrowed his brow and finally cast a sidelong glance at Mother Gui, his expression filled with inquiry.

Becoming even more mysterious, Mother Gui said, "To not keep it from Young Master Wang, our mistress originally wanted to marry the Fifth Young Miss to a high-ranking official's son so she could become an official's wife. Now that the master has consented to the marriage with Young Master Wang, our mistress is displeased. However, she dares not openly oppose the master's will, so she told the master that they would discuss the marriage only when the Fifth Young Miss turns twelve. But in reality..."

Mother Gui paused and stopped talking, leaving Wang Ziyu's heart leaping with anxiety. Unable to suppress his curiosity, he pressed urgently, "In reality, what?"

Mother Gui glanced at Wang Ziyu, looking as though she was worried about his intelligence. "Need you ask? Naturally, it is to find ways to dissolve this marriage and seek another fine match for the Fifth Young Miss!"

Wang Ziyu's brow furrowed even tighter. As if offering comfort, Mother Gui continued, "You needn't worry either. No matter what the mistress does, she cannot ruin the Fifth Young Miss's reputation. As long as Young Master Wang does not make any major mistakes over these next two years, the master has already given his nod, and even if the mistress wants to overturn it, she cannot."

If he himself made no mistakes... Wang Ziyu quietly ruminated on these words, and suddenly thought of the maidservant who had led him behind the Hundred Gardens just a moment ago. If not for the appearance of Ma Yuntong, would he have followed that maidservant over there?

When he turned back, why had he heard fellow students discussing how the Sixth Young Miss, Tantai Zhi, had fainted in the back?

Could it be that Madam Ye wanted to frame him for attempting misconduct against the Sixth Young Miss?

Wang Ziyu broke out in a cold sweat, silently resolving in his heart that before the marriage was officially settled, he would never set foot in the Tantai residence again, and he would keep his distance from the Sixth Young Miss even at the academy!

Seeing that Wang Ziyu had stopped speaking and lowered his head in deep thought, Mother Gui knew her purpose had been achieved. Smiling radiantly and remaining silent, she respectfully escorted Wang Ziyu out of the estate.

On the other side, Ma Yuntong was being seen off by the Third Young Miss, Tantai Jing, together with Mother Xu.

Tantai Jing respectfully curtsied to Ma Yuntong. She had not asked Ma Yuntong for any help. When she had risen to leave earlier, she had noticed that the seats of the Fifth Young Miss Tantai Xuan, the Sixth Young Miss Tantai Zhi, Wang Ziyu, and Ma Yuntong were all empty.

From the very beginning, Tantai Jing knew that Madam Ye did not have such kind intentions to host a birthday banquet for her own sake, yet she had accepted Madam Ye's proposal anyway.

There was no need to wrong herself just to be on guard against Madam Ye. Since it was her twelfth birthday banquet, having it celebrated for her was nothing improper.

Nanny Jiang was left behind to keep watch in Liruoxue Courtyard, Mother Xu was keeping watch in the kitchen, and Mother Gui stayed by her side. If even under these circumstances she could not guard against Madam Ye, wouldn't the people around her be mere soft persimmons for anyone to knead?

From the moment that little maidservant had tried to lure her to the back garden, Tantai Jing had steeled her heart to teach Madam Ye a lesson. She had never expected that Madam Ye would resort to such despicable methods just to deal with her!

Did Madam Ye think she would win simply by having everyone catch her and Wang Ziyu together in the same place?

For a brief moment, when the fifth and sixth young misses both fainted at the same time, Tantai Jing had even thought of throwing the Fifth Young Miss Tantai Xuan into the back garden to fulfill the pairing of that wretched pair, Tantai Xuan and Wang Ziyu. But in the end, she restrained herself; if Tantai Xuan's reputation was ruined, she herself would also be implicated. Although Tantai Jing had no desire to marry into a high and noble household, neither did she wish to be pointed at by others the moment she stepped outside.

The Fifth Young Miss Tantai Xuan had already disgraced herself enough. All Tantai Jing wanted was to facilitate this marriage between Tantai Xuan and Wang Ziyu without splashing any of that filth onto herself.

Therefore, in the end, Tantai Jing merely left the Sixth Young Miss Tantai Zhi trapped in the back garden. She wanted Madam Ye and that pair of twins to know that she was not someone who could be easily manipulated.

Ma Yuntong gazed at the face of the Third Young Miss Tantai Jing. Her delicate, oval face was filled with stubbornness. Clearly, she was only twelve years old—an age when girls should still be acting like spoiled children before their parents—yet she constantly had to face these underhanded schemes of the inner courtyard.

Ma Yuntong wanted to reach out, gently stroke Tantai Jing's temples, and tell her to wait for him, promising that he would return swiftly after completing his studies. In two more years, he would be able to take the provincial imperial examination. As long as he worked hard and passed it, he would be qualified to come and ask for her hand in marriage. By then, Tantai Jing would no longer have to live such a life; she could do whatever she pleased, with no one setting traps for her and no one playing him false behind her back.

Yet, Ma Yuntong stopped his movement. He lacked the qualifications right now. If he were to express the feelings in his heart to the Third Young Miss at this moment, it would not be a sign of love and respect for her, but rather taking advantage of her vulnerability. He could not do that! He wanted to bestow upon the Third Young Miss a grand and glorious wedding.

All of Ma Yuntong's overflowing affection ultimately condensed into two words: "Take care."

After sending Ma Yuntong off, Tantai Jing breathed a sigh of relief. She had truly been afraid that Ma Yuntong might blurt something out. Regarding the future and marriage, she had not yet thought things through, and she even felt somewhat fearful.

Mother Xu felt a tinge of regret. This Young Master Ma truly seemed like a fine choice, though his future prospects remained uncertain. If only they could have waited for the results of the provincial examination before discussing marriage with the Third Young Miss, perhaps it would have been even better.

Turning around, Tantai Jing walked back to Liruoxue Courtyard and instructed Mother Xu, "Trouble Mother Xu to make a trip to Qingshuang Study and tell Madam Ye that if there is ever a next time, the person who appears before her will definitely not be the Sixth Young Miss Tantai Zhi! Let her think carefully about how to get past the Old Madam's scrutiny. Only after she is properly entered into the genealogy register should she dare come before me and put on the airs of a mother!"