Granny Qin didn't know how to comfort Madam Qin. The Old Madam and the Marquis had made their decision, and no matter how unwilling Madam was, she had to agree.
"My mother is right, I was too soft-hearted back then," Madam Qin said after calming down from her frenzy. "I'm going to the Prince's Estate."
On this matter, she could only return to the Prince's Estate for help.
The Princess Consort was always full of ideas and methods, and Granny Qin agreed that Madam Qin should go back for assistance.
Meanwhile, at the Duke's Estate.
After Madam Qin returned to the estate, she immediately sent someone to the martial arts field to find Gu Sinian. As soon as he arrived, she dismissed all the servants attending them, keeping only Granny Li by her side.
"Mother, did something go wrong with the Marquis's Estate?" Although he knew the betrothal token had been tampered with by the Marquis's Estate, his mother didn't. Naturally, he had to pretend ignorance at this time.
"I told the Marquis's Estate that I wanted to marry their legitimate daughter. The legitimate daughter of the Marquis's Estate is, as everyone knows, only one, Qi Mingzhu. But now the person on the betrothal token has become Qi Zhenzhen, who was originally the Marquis's illegitimate daughter, now registered under the Marquis's wife, acting as the legitimate daughter. I don't know what means they used; it was clearly Qi Mingzhu's name and birth date before." Madam Qin said angrily, "This Marquis's Estate dares to falsify such a matter. Are they openly looking down on people?"
Gu Sinian remained silent. Madam Qin, feeling she had spoken incorrectly, quickly comforted him, "If they look down on people, our Duke's Estate looks down on them even more. Don't worry, Mother will absolutely not allow them to fool us with an illegitimate daughter. This marriage is canceled, and Mother will find you a good girl!"
"Forget it, Mother. I'll take this one. An illegitimate daughter is fine, as long as she's a good person. Her status doesn't matter. Those noble ladies from aristocratic families have always avoided me, so which one would be willing to marry me? I saw that illegitimate daughter at the Old Madam's birthday banquet. Yuanbao also told me that his grandmother fancied that illegitimate daughter and was thinking of proposing!" Gu Sinian said.
Madam Qin looked suspicious. "Really? Anian, don't say this just to avoid trouble and settle for it. Mother doesn't want you to wrong yourself."
"Mother, when have I ever lied? Shall I call Yuanbao over to ask? However, Old Madam Qian only fancied the second daughter of the Marquis's Estate, and now they are discussing marriage with our estate. Old Madam Qian will likely overthink this." Gu Sinian said.
Madam Qin nodded. "If it's really as you say, then it must be. I'll ask when you call Yuanbao over later. No, let's do it now. What if you conspired with him?" Madam Qin shook her head and instructed Granny Li to send someone to the Qian family. That way, she wouldn't worry about them conspiring.
Gu Sinian was helpless, but he couldn't defy Madam Qin, so he let her have her way.
Qian Yuanbao arrived at the Duke's Estate in a daze. Upon seeing Madam Qin, he paid his respects properly.
Gu Sinian, standing beside her, did not look at Qian Yuanbao, giving him no response.
"Aunt, did you need me for something?" Qian Yuanbao asked.
"Sit down, Yuanbao, don't be so reserved. I called you here so abruptly, did it delay anything?" Madam Qin asked with a smile.
Qian Yuanbao shook his head. "No, my grandmother has me confined at home. If your estate hadn't sent someone, I probably wouldn't have been able to get out."
"Confined? Why?" Madam Qin was a little puzzled. "Did you do something wrong to anger your grandmother? You and Anian have been close since you were young. Aunt will take the liberty to say a few words to you. It wasn't easy for your grandmother to raise you. Now that she's older, you should appease her in everything and not upset the old lady."
Qian Yuanbao scratched his head. "It's a misunderstanding, Aunt. I didn't upset her. She feels my temperament is too unrestrained and fears that I won't be able to control myself when my wife enters the household, leading to conflict. So she's keeping me confined in advance!"
Madam Qin's eyes lit up. "Have you settled on a girl from which family? Is this a good omen for an upcoming marriage? It should be, it should be."
"If others ask, I definitely wouldn't say, but Aunt is like family, so I can't hide it from you. My grandmother fancies the second daughter of the Marquis's Estate. You saw her at the birthday banquet, her tea ceremony was superb, and all the guests present praised her highly," Qian Yuanbao said. "However, whether the young lady fancies me is another matter."
For the second daughter of the Marquis's Estate to be fancied by Old Madam Qian was good. If so, the Duke's Estate could also accept it.
But if the Duke's Estate accepted, what about the Qian family?
Madam Qin was at a loss for what to do for a moment. Anian was good friends with Qian Yuanbao. Although the two estates didn't interact much, this matter was not proper.
"Mother, you've asked what you needed to ask. Don't keep him here. Let him go home and stay there properly, otherwise, Qian's grandmother might think I conspired with him to let him out to play." Gu Sinian said.
Qian Yuanbao was called here and then sent away, feeling a bit bewildered the entire time, not knowing what this mother and son duo meant.
"Mother, don't dwell on this. We can't discuss this with the Qian family. Besides, the Qian family only fancied her, but they haven't proposed yet. Our two families have even exchanged betrothal tokens. If there's any issue, it's the Marquis's Estate that should explain to the Qian family, not us. When a daughter is sought after by many, it's just the Marquis's Estate's improper conduct." Gu Sinian said calmly. "Don't worry, wait a few days and then arrange to discuss this with the Marquis's Estate."
Gu Sinian suppressed the joy in his heart and said this to Madam Qin.
He wished Madam Qin would immediately go to the Marquis's Estate and say that marrying Qi Zhenzhen was his wish.
Madam Qin nodded helplessly. At this point, there was nothing else they could do.
Two days later, the Old Madam personally sent a post to the Qian family, inviting Old Madam Qian over. She dismissed all the attendants, closed the door, and they spoke for half an hour. During that time, sounds of argument could be heard. When Old Madam Qian left, her expression was blank, making her look chilling.
The Old Madam sat in a daze for a while and then sent Granny Fang to call Qi Zhenzhen over.
The table in the room was filled with things, various boxes.
"Grandmother, are we doing a big cleanup?" Qi Zhenzhen asked.
The Old Madam pulled her to sit down. "These things were all taken out by Granny Fang for you, and there are some that need organizing. I'll give them to you after they're organized. In addition, several shops I own in the capital are also yours. All of Grandmother's good things are yours."
Qi Zhenzhen: ...
What happened? Or was the Old Madam stimulated by something?
"It's Grandmother's fault, it's Grandmother's incompetence, she couldn't protect you. Grandmother feels guilty and doesn't know how to make amends. Grandmother is giving all the things she's accumulated over the years to you, not to anyone else." The Old Madam's face was full of apology.
Qi Zhenzhen was truly bewildered. "Grandmother, you're so good to me, how are you not good? Tell me what happened!"
"The marriage with the Qian family cannot proceed," the Old Madam said in a low voice.