Li Dahu lowered his head guiltily. How could he not trust his mistress? He had been with her for some time, but he knew nothing about her past. His mistress was not someone who was easily swayed by money; she held a significant amount of wealth.
"I know I was wrong." Although he found it a bit difficult to admit, Li Dahu still quietly apologized to his mistress.
"It's good that we've cleared the air. In the future, when you see him, don't always have a gloomy face. Be more enthusiastic."
"I won't next time," Li Dahu replied quickly. He would also be his mistress's master in the future, so of course, he should be enthusiastic.
Soon, the matter spread throughout the streets and alleys. Before Wu Caiwei arrived a person whom she expected – Madam Li.
"I heard you are going to marry Young Master Ye. I want to know if this is true." Madam Li looked at her with a serious expression. This was the first time they had met several times that the other party had sat down and talked with her so formally.
Wu Caiwei nodded calmly. Madam Li became indignant. "You've just arrived in the capital, why are you acting so recklessly? Don't be so eager to agree just because he's an official's son. Do you know him? Marriage is a lifelong matter. You must choose carefully."
Wu Caiwei looked at her with a hint of amusement. "Madam, your words are misplaced. If I were a daughter of an official family, I would definitely choose someone of equivalent social standing or someone beneficial to the family. But don't forget, I am just a peasant girl, struggling to find my next meal. Marrying Young Master Ye at least ensures I won't worry about food and clothing. As for being looked down upon, that's just a matter of face. If people can't even survive, will they still care about such things?"
Hearing her say this, Madam Li's intended reprimand got stuck in her throat, unable to be swallowed or spat out. After a long while, she said somewhat irritably, "You are not an ordinary peasant girl. Do ordinary peasant girls stay in such nice inns, wear such fine clothes, and adorn themselves with such beautiful hair ornaments, all while accompanied by a servant?"
"Can't these things be provided by a servant? Otherwise, tell me, as a peasant girl who doesn't know a single character and has worked in the fields since childhood, where would I get the money? You may not think highly of Young Master Ye, but for me, it's like ascending to heaven. Why would I give up this opportunity?" Wu Caiwei looked at her meaningfully.
Madam Li followed her line of thought and found that what she said made quite some sense. If she were truly in such a situation, not seizing the opportunity would be foolish. But the key was that she wasn't an ordinary peasant girl. She was the daughter of a madam, and her father had a distinguished status. Marrying that Young Master Ye was truly a compromise.
"Listen to my advice. Absolutely do not agree to this marriage. I truly care about you. Just wait a bit longer, and you will have better choices." Madam Li looked at her earnestly. The madam had instructed her to look after her and would help her find a suitable marriage in the future, along with a secret dowry. She believed her future days would not be too difficult.
"There's no need to persuade me. My mind is made up. For me, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Besides, we're not close. Why should I listen to you?" Wu Caiwei directly picked up her tea and saw her out.
Madam Li wanted to persuade her further, but the other party was utterly unyielding. Knowing that any more words would be useless, she could only stomp her feet in frustration and leave in a huff.
Li Dahu slowly approached his mistress and asked curiously, "Why does Madam Li come to see you every few days? Does she have some ulterior motive?"
"What? Did you notice something?" Wu Caiwei looked at him with curiosity, thinking he had made some progress.
"I just feel that she's too enthusiastic. You've only met twice, and she's meddling quite a bit. I always feel her motives are not pure," Li Dahu expressed his truest feelings.
Wu Caiwei immediately looked at him with an appreciative gaze. "Not bad. You're finally thinking. Everyone acts with a purpose. Stay away from her in the future."
This was the first time he had been praised since following his mistress for so long. Li Dahu's heart bloomed with joy, and he sheepishly touched his head. He somehow felt that Madam Li's target was his mistress. Fortunately, his mistress was already on guard.
At the same time, in a courtyard of the Duke of Anning's manor, an elderly nanny looked at the leisurely dressed madam beside her and replied cautiously, "Madam, Madam Li just sent word that the young lady is being rather stubborn."
The hand applying rouge paused, then she said as if nothing had happened, "Those with shallow vision will eventually suffer losses. Since she is determined to leap into the fire, we don't need to stop her. However, her face is troublesome. I heard she resembles me by about seventy percent, or else Lijuán wouldn't have spotted her in the crowd. The capital is full of astute people, and it's hard to avoid causing speculation. From now on, subtly hint to Madam Ye that once she enters the Ye family, she must adhere to wifely virtues and go out less often."
The nanny lowered her head and replied yes. She couldn't fathom her mistress's thoughts. In her youth, she had advised her mistress not to have the child, but her mistress refused to listen and insisted on carrying through. Now, she didn't care.
"Did I hear correctly? Our Young Master Ye is finally willing to get married." Madam Ye looked at Ye Xingli, who stood before her with a serious expression, feeling somewhat estranged.
When Old Master Ye heard this, he became interested. His son was willing to get married, which was a good thing. "Which family's daughter is she?"
"I don't know. In the vast sea of people, I fell for her at first sight. However, she's staying in an inn and must have just arrived in the capital. I feel she's the one I've been waiting for. I won't marry anyone else in this lifetime."
Madam Ye, who had been appraising him with a scrutinizing gaze, took a sip of tea upon hearing him say this, a smile involuntarily appearing on her face. She knew it. How could such a dissolute person suddenly reform? She had been overthinking.
Old Master Ye's smile froze on his face. As expected, he couldn't place too much hope in him. Angrily, he wanted to hurl the teacup in his hand at him. Then he thought, if the teacup broke, he'd have to spend money to buy another one, which wasn't worth it. He slammed it down on the table with a "bang," momentarily speechless. He didn't even know her name, where she lived, or her family background, yet he boldly declared he would marry her.
"Father, didn't you tell me to cause less trouble and stay out less in the future? As long as you agree to this marriage, I promise to stay only with her and never go out on the streets to tease virtuous women again." Ye Xingli looked at his father with sincere eyes, almost swearing an oath.
Old Master Ye snorted coldly. How dare he say it as if it were an honor? However, for a moment, he was tempted. If he could truly reform, even if the other party's family background was a bit lacking, he could accept it. After all, he knew his son had a bad reputation in the capital, and no young lady would be willing to marry him.