"A woman not marrying is not tolerated by the world, but one never knows what kind of person she will marry beforehand. Elders in the family can investigate the other party's character through various means, but the other party will also have various methods to deal with such investigations. Therefore, it is not necessarily true that a meticulously chosen match is a good marriage. A woman marrying is no different from a second birth; if she enters a good family, she will have a smooth life. If she enters a bad family, how she lives will depend on her own capabilities. Those with high capabilities will always live more as they wish," the Old Madam continued when she saw Qi Zhenzhen remained silent. "Therefore, Grandmother hopes you will be an insightful and capable person. In the future, if your husband treats you well and respects you, you will return the same respect. If he is a pretentious person, guard your dowry, protect your people, and if you have children, teach them well. Unreliable men are far less dependable than your own bloodline."
Qi Zhenzhen looked bewildered.
The Old Madam stroked her head. "Am I shattering your dreams by saying this? But if Grandmother doesn't tell you these things, perhaps no one else will. Although your birth mother was a good person, she lived a life too detached from reality, and she never paid attention to these mundane matters. Look, even now, after experiencing the embarrassment of leaving the manor, she hasn't thought about how to avoid such things."
This was genuine care from the bottom of her heart.
Qi Zhenzhen felt a little touched. She hadn't expected the Old Madam to treat her so sincerely.
In the memories of the original body, she and the Old Madam had no particular affection for each other. They simply went through the motions of paying respects. There was basically no bond between grandmother and granddaughter. Now that she had taken over, her feelings for this "cheap" grandmother were simple: she wanted her to be her and Yun Shi's and Qi Yi's backing in the manor. Thus, she tried to please her cautiously, not expecting that the Old Madam would actually put thought into her.
"Grandmother," Qi Zhenzhen nuzzled closer to the Old Madam, her movements carrying a hint of intimacy. "Your granddaughter has remembered everything you said. Thank you for your teachings, Grandmother."
The Old Madam felt Qi Zhenzhen's intimacy and reliance, and her mood inexplicably improved. "Come, Grandmother will go to the kitchen with you. You cook, and Grandmother will watch."
Jinghua Courtyard.
Qi Mingzhu reclined lazily against a bolster, picking at fruit with her slender fingers and a delicate silver fork.
Qin Shi, standing nearby, chattered on, "Child, why don't you listen to what your mother says? I told you to visit your grandmother more often, but you only go once in a while. With this attitude, how can your grandmother pay attention to you?"
"Mother, I've paid my respects as I should. What else can I do?" Qi Mingzhu said impatiently. "I've tried to get close to Grandmother as you wished, but you know I've never been good at getting close to people. What I've done is already my best effort."
"You child, she is your paternal grandmother. Shouldn't you be close to her?" Qin Shi's voice rose slightly. "Not to mention your grandmother's private wealth, even her connections. If you interact with a few of them, they will be assets in the future. And your marriage, your grandmother has a discerning eye and is particularly good at judging people. Any family she approves of must be a good one. We can't let those two girls get ahead of you."
"Mother, I am your and Father's daughter, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's manor. My marriage will be decided by you and Father. Why would I need Grandmother's help?" Qi Mingzhu mumbled.
"Are you trying to anger me to death!"
Qin Mama quickly handed Qin Shi a teacup. "Madam, please do not be angry. Eldest Miss is still young and has not yet grasped the key points. If you explain it a few more times, with Eldest Miss's intelligence, she will surely understand."
"Look at her attitude!" Qin Shi glared at Qi Mingzhu. "That little vixen goes to Chaohui Hall every day."
"Mother, can she compare to me? Her birth mother is not you, and she has no one to protect her, so she naturally has to find a pillar of support," Qi Mingzhu said. "Does Grandmother really have such kindness? Oh, right, today she gave us each a box of pearls, saying we could play with them. They were all small, chipped pieces, barely worth anything. Only someone like Qi Zhenzhen would fancy them. With this quality, even the maids in my room would look down on them. Are you sure? Does Grandmother have a lot of private wealth?"
Qin Shi glanced at them. They were indeed ordinary-looking things, and it was no wonder her daughter wasn't impressed.
"The pearls my maternal grandmother sent me to play with were all much larger."
Qin Shi chided her, "I know you have a good relationship with your maternal grandmother, but you can't be too distant with your paternal grandmother either. You've already come of age, and your reputation is most important. This reputation isn't just about literary talent; the reputation for filial piety and virtue cannot be ignored either."
Qi Mingzhu nodded perfunctorily, focusing on eating her fruit.
Qin Shi looked at her daughter, who was as beautiful as a flower, and felt increasingly reluctant. Her daughter, whom she had doted on and raised, was about to be married. Being a wife and a daughter-in-law was not an easy task. Although her daughter was intelligent, her disposition was a bit too proud; she looked down on everything, and she feared she would suffer losses because of it.
Thinking of this, Qin Shi recalled the day she met the Duchess. The Duchess had hinted that she fancied Mingzhu! How could she bear to give Mingzhu to such a family? The foundation was unsound, and the lower beams would be crooked. Although the Duke was capable in court, the affairs within his household, though no one dared to speak of them openly, were known to any influential family in the capital. The Duke doted on his concubines and neglected his wife, and the heir, at such a young age, was fond of men. How could such a family, such a person, be worthy of her Mingzhu?
When the Duchess mentioned this matter, she had not refused.
The Changping Marquis's manor was a notch below the Duke's manor. If she were too impolite, she might offend the Duke's manor.
She hadn't told the Marquis about this either, fearing he would sacrifice Mingzhu for the future of the Marquis's manor.
Thinking about it now made her incredibly vexed.
As for the Lu family, it was not good to bring up such issues so soon after making contact. Moreover, the Marquis's manor was the female party. If the female party initiated such matters, it would be a disadvantage from the start, and they couldn't let people from that side look down on Mingzhu.
Fortunately, the Duke's manor was not in a hurry for a reply, so they could delay it for now.
"Mother, what are you thinking about?" Qi Mingzhu interrupted Qin Shi's thoughts.
"What else can Mother be thinking about but your marriage? You've come of age, and your marriage is not yet settled. Mother is anxious," Qin Shi said, not hiding anything from Qi Mingzhu. She couldn't raise her daughter to be completely out of touch with reality.
"Mother, don't Maternal Grandmother and Auntie help with the matchmaking? There are so many noble sons in the capital; is there really no one worthy of me?" Qi Mingzhu asked.
Qin Shi chided Qi Mingzhu, "My daughter, how can you say such things so carelessly? Be reserved and subtle. If someone overhears these words, do you still want your reputation?"
"I'm just saying it to you, Mother. Besides, this is your courtyard; who would dare to gossip and spread rumors?" Qi Mingzhu said indifferently.