Tianliangyuan

Chapter 228 Betrothed to a Powerful Playboy

Chen Cong had always known that Xu Zhaozhao was very clever, and he also knew that the old lady was making plans for the Chen family.

However, the old lady's idea was to use the marriage as an opportunity to marry Chen Xiangxiang to a higher social class, while also helping Xu Lin out.

They were all family members, and they helped each other out, so Chen Cong didn't feel any aversion to it, but he was unwilling to take advantage of his sister.

A woman's marriage is a matter of her life's honor and happiness. How can one not consider a woman's future simply because one wants to climb the social ladder?

Chen Cong was invited to Ziyuan Garden, and Xu Junqing was also there to avoid suspicion.

"Please sit down, brothers."

Inside the hexagonal pavilion, the three sat around a stone table. Dingxiang and Shaoyao offered a ceramic stove and tea pot, and Xu Zhaozhao began to boil water and brew tea.

"Cousin Chen, please forgive me for inviting you here so abruptly."

"How could that be! I knew my sister must have something important to tell me. It's just that I can't hold my liquor and I was really drunk yesterday. I haven't even thanked my sister for the hangover soup she sent me yet."

"We're all family, cousin, you're too kind."

Xu Junqing smiled and said, "Since we're family, there's no need to be so distant. Zhaozhao, is there something important you want to say?"

"Cousin Chen, please take a look at this first."

Xu Zhaozhao raised her eyes to signal, and Dingxiang handed over a stack of papers. Xu Junqing turned his head and could see them too.

After reading it, Chen Cong's expression turned slightly cold: "What does Sister Zhao Zhao mean by this?"

Xu Zhaozhao added tea to the teapot, brewing only clear tea for them today.

"These are all things that Grandmother sent people to inquire about. I'm sure Cousin Chen can guess what Grandmother's intentions are."

Chen Cong's expression changed slightly: "Impossible! My sister is the legitimate daughter of the Chen family, how could she be worthy of marrying such a dissolute man?"

Xu Junqing frowned. Seeing that the two of them didn't try to hide it, he simply took it and glanced at it.

"Zhaozhao, is there some misunderstanding? These men are all notorious playboys in the capital. Even if they haven't committed all sorts of evil deeds, they are certainly not good men. How could Grandmother choose such husbands for Cousin Xiangxiang?"

"Fourth Brother, you only saw their despicable character, but you didn't pay attention to their family background. Grandmother intends for Cousin Xiangxiang to marry into a higher social class, but given the current status of the Chen family, how could someone like the Cui family's young master possibly agree to let Cousin Xiangxiang be his principal wife?"

The two looked unwell.

Xu Zhaozhao continued, "As the legitimate daughter, my cousin Xiangxiang could not possibly marry a concubine. That's why Grandmother chose these dissolute men who are despised by everyone in the noble ladies' circles of the capital. To put it bluntly, these men come from prominent families, and some of them may even inherit titles in the future. They also have fertile land and shops. If my cousin marries into one of them, she will be living a life of extravagance, if not extravagant."

Xu Zhaozhao's words were actually telling Chen Cong that the old lady valued these people's family backgrounds, and that if her cousin Chen were to become an official in the court in the future, someone would be able to pave the way for him.

Chen Cong slammed his hand on the table: "I will not agree to this marriage."

Xu Zhaozhao chuckled: "I knew my cousin would definitely not agree, which proves I didn't misjudge him. But since Grandmother has made the decision, we are all juniors, how can we decide our own marriage?"

This is the truth.

Chen Cong hesitated for a moment.

“If Grandmother has chosen someone from among them, she will definitely write to Uncle. If the elders of the Chen family agree, there should be no turning back on the marriage.”

Chen Cong's eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately understood the purpose of her inviting him here today.

"Thank you, Sister Zhao Zhao. I owe you a favor."

Chen Cong stood up and bowed to her formally.

Xu Zhaozhao turned slightly to the side, but remained seated, which was considered a partial bow.

“Brother Chen, there are countless powerful and influential people in the capital. Some good young men who don’t care about family background may already have wives, but that doesn’t mean we can only rely on such a dissolute man. Take, for example, the top scholar you met yesterday. He is someone we can rely on.”

Xu Junqing's eyes lit up: "That's right. I heard that this top scholar is also deeply favored by the emperor. Although he comes from a poor family, he has solid knowledge and is favored by the emperor. It is only a matter of time before he rises to prominence. Most importantly, he is of impeccable character and is highly regarded by students in the capital. He is a good candidate for a husband."

Chen Cong was indeed tempted.

However, everything will have to wait until the elders in the family come to Beijing.

"This matter cannot be rushed. However, does Sister Zhao Zhao have a way to get the old lady to give up this idea?"

“Grandmother has always been strong-willed. Not to mention us, even if my father occasionally disobeys her, Grandmother can point her finger at him and scold him. With just the few of us, I’m afraid it’s unlikely.”

That's another truth.

It's really quite frustrating to hear that.

Chen Cong looked remorseful. If he hadn't been so useless, why would anyone have set their sights on his sister?

However, he couldn't blame his great-aunt entirely for this, since her intentions were good.

Besides, they were elders; no matter what, he couldn't just rush up and question them.

Seeing that the two men looked somber, Xu Zhaozhao handed each of them a cup of tea.

“Things will work themselves out, brothers, so don’t rush things. As for Grandmother, why don’t you go and plead with my mother? If she’s willing to stand up for Cousin Chen, even if it’s just to appease the old lady, at least we can hold out until Uncle comes to the capital. What do you say?”

After much thought, Chen Cong realized that this was the only solution.

Wang Ruolan had actually discussed it with Xu Zhaozhao yesterday.

In any case, Chen Xiangxiang is a relative of the Marquis's family. If she were to marry that kind of tyrant in the capital, who knows how many troubles would come to the Marquis's family to clean up in the future.

Given the old lady's personality, even if she was the one who arranged the marriage, she wouldn't step in to resolve it.

In the end, it's Wang Ruolan who will suffer all the hardship, and she might not even get a good outcome.

It would be better to simply cancel the marriage and let the Chen family decide for themselves when they arrive in the capital.

As soon as Chen Cong entered, he knelt down, which greatly frightened Wang Ruolan.

"What are you doing? Get up and speak."

"Please, Auntie, do me a favor!"

In the end, Wang Ruolan agreed, but she had to carefully consider how to bring it up with the old lady.

Li Shi happened to be there as well, and now that Chen Cong has left, the two sisters-in-law couldn't help but feel a bit resentful towards the old lady again.

"What is the old lady thinking? Xiangxiang is a good girl. She seems polite and sensible, and she's still young. Why are you in such a hurry to get engaged now?"

Li sneered: "These days, Xu Lin comes almost every day. Last time, I saw her carrying several portraits. I don't believe it if you say that none of them are her work."

Wang Ruolan had also heard about this, but she never expected that her younger sister-in-law would actually encounter it herself.

"This Xu Lin is really living too comfortably; she dares to come up with all sorts of brainless ideas."

“Sister-in-law, now I’m worried that if the old lady tells the elders of the Chen family about this plan, given Xu Lin and the old lady’s personalities, they will only say nice things in the letter, and they will never mention their character.”