"Did I startle you?" the Old Madam asked with a smile when Li Nuan remained silent.
It wasn't that Li Nuan was timid; it was just that the words the Old Madam had spoken were rather unconventional. Normally, elders would offer advice to a bride-to-be about serving her in-laws well, regarding her husband as her heaven, and dedicating herself to her husband's family.
Her advice was unusual, encouraging her married daughter to protect herself.
"Nuan'er, Rou'er, Xuanxuan, you must all keep my words in your hearts. A woman's life is inherently difficult. If you don't treat yourselves well, who else will? I've lived more than half my life and have only just understood this. I'm telling you now, hoping you will have a better life after you are married," the Old Madam sighed.
The three girls nodded in unison, indicating they had understood.
Qi Xuanxuan blinked. "Grandmother, why do you only tell us three to remember your words?"
"Your second sister sees things more clearly than I do. Even without my instructions, she already knows what to do." The Old Madam chided Qi Zhenzhen. "Your second sister is intelligent. Xuanxuan, when Grandmother is no longer here, if you face something you don't know how to handle, remember to ask your second sister. You two have a good relationship, and she won't harm you."
Qi Xuanxuan nodded obediently. "I've remembered, Grandmother."
The Old Madam continued to impart some wisdom on how to conduct oneself, urging the young ladies to keep it in their hearts, as it would be useful one day.
"Old Madam, someone from the Qian family has arrived. They should be reaching Chaohui Hall soon," Madam Fang announced as she entered. Just as she finished speaking, Zi Ling entered from outside. "Old Madam, someone from the Qian family has come with a message and is waiting outside."
The Old Madam nodded to Zi Ling and instructed her to lead the person in.
They expected a mere messenger, but it turned out to be Qian Yuanbao himself.
Qi Zhenzhen, Qi Xuanxuan, and Li Rou greeted Qian Yuanbao with grace and poise. Although Li Nuan maintained her manners, her face was flushed red, and she kept her head down, not daring to look at Qian Yuanbao.
"Why have you come personally, young sir? Sending a message, you could have just sent someone," the Old Madam greeted Qian Yuanbao warmly.
"Grandmother instructed that this letter is very important. I thought servants might be careless and make mistakes, so I decided to deliver it myself," Qian Yuanbao replied respectfully. During his reply, he couldn't help but glance at Li Nuan. His grandmother had not kept it from him, so he knew that the shy girl with her head down was likely to be his future wife.
He couldn't see her clearly with her head bowed, but he could see her build. She was much more pleasing than Qi Zhenzhen's slender frame.
Her hair was dark and thick, and her exposed ears were delicate, though somewhat flushed.
Being so easily embarrassed wasn't good; he would have to teach her well in the future.
Qian Yuanbao hadn't paid much attention to her initially. It was only after discovering that he had no reaction to the incense she made that he became somewhat interested. This was also why he personally delivered the letter, wanting to get a good look at the girl who might marry him.
"Miss, you've been staring at me. Is there something unclean on my face?" Even with Qian Yuanbao's thick skin, being stared at by Li Rou without pause made him a little uncomfortable.
Li Rou continued to look at Qian Yuanbao with her usual confidence. "Your face is clean, there's nothing dirty on it. I'm staring at you because I want to see if you are worthy of my sister."
Qian Yuanbao was speechless, thinking that his future sister-in-law was quite bold.
"You've looked. Now you must tell me, do you think I am worthy of your sister?" Qian Yuanbao asked with a smile.
Li Nuan wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground. Why was Rou'er being so unreliable, and why was he following suit?
Li Rou nodded. "Your appearance is fitting."
"Am I only fitting in appearance?" Qian Yuanbao asked with a frown.
"Currently, yes," Li Rou replied honestly.
Appearance was just skin deep. Was she implying he only had a good face? He was clearly a man of substance, how could he rely only on his looks?
Qian Yuanbao felt dejected. He didn't need to boast about his appearance; everyone could see it. Unless someone had a problem with their vision, they wouldn't think he was unattractive. But substance and character were things he couldn't boast about. He truly had no way to display his substance and character in front of these girls, especially his future wife.
"Heh heh, this little girl is quite interesting."
This topic was truly awkward.
"Rou'er, don't worry. Could someone with poor character gain Grandmother's favor?" Qi Zhenzhen intervened to help Qian Yuanbao. "You've met Old Madam Qian before. Young Master Qian was raised by her. Can he be that bad?"
Although she was affirming his character, it somehow sounded a little strange.
"Rou'er, rest assured. Your sister's marriage prospects are not bad," the Old Madam said with a hearty laugh.
Li Nuan finally couldn't bear it any longer and fled after a hasty excuse.
As she passed by Qian Yuanbao, she brought with her a gust of fragrant breeze.
So this was the pleasant scent of a woman's rouge, refreshing and bringing him joy from the depths of his heart.
Not long after Li Nuan left, Qian Yuanbao took his leave. He had come to deliver a letter, and also to tease his future wife. Unfortunately, she was too shy and hadn't looked up to give him a proper glance. If she was still this shy after they were married, what would happen?
The Old Madam did not hide the contents of the letter from Qi Zhenzhen and the others. The Li family's intentions were clear: they agreed to the marriage. Li Nuan's father would bring Li Nuan's concubine to the capital to arrange the marriage, and they requested the Old Madam to handle the other matters. They also expressed their disappointment in Lu Shi and Li Qing. A separate letter was attached for Lu Shi, which the Old Madam was to deliver.
"It's fortunate your maternal grand-uncle is not foolish. If he were, the Li family would truly have no hope," the Old Madam remarked.
Besides the matter of Li Nuan, the letter also mentioned Li Rou, requesting the Old Madam to raise her for two years. As for the two boys, if they proved themselves, they could stay in the capital to study, with all expenses covered by the Li family. If they were not ambitious, the Li family would not presume to keep them there and would have them return early to make their own plans.
Overall, judging from the letter, the Li family appeared to be quite reasonable, with the exception of Lu Shi and Li Qing.
"Grand-aunt, is my father really going to send my father and concubine here?" Li Rou asked excitedly. "Did they say when they would depart?"
"They are already on their way. They said they would depart from Yunnan and Guizhou the day after the letter was sent. This letter used the Qian family's special channel, so it was faster, taking six days." the Old Madam said.
They had already been traveling for six days. At that time, their group had been traveling for exactly one month. This meant they would arrive in about twenty more days.
"Thank you, Grand-aunt. I'm going to tell my sister the good news so she can be happy," Li Rou said, her eyes narrowing with a smile as she hurried away, holding up her skirt.
After leaving the Marquis's residence, Qian Yuanbao headed straight for the Duke's mansion. Good news had to be shared with a good friend. It wasn't just Gu Sinian who had a wife; he had one too, and his little wife looked quite good!