Chapter 348: Chapter 348, Intimidation
"Second Madam, I’m willing!"
Although Madam Cui from the merchant family didn’t know the actual situation, if she were to come to the Capital City to buy a daughter from an official family, it would still leak some rumors.
She certainly didn’t want Yun Zihan to marry into a merchant family.
For this reason, Liao Shijie indeed was the best choice.
Although he was born of a concubine, he had academic honors to his name. Once he placed high in the exams, with the help from Prince Rui, he would surely stay in the Capital City to serve as an official. Even if he were sent elsewhere, at the very least he would be a Magistrate.
If Yun Zihan were to marry him, at worst she would still be an official’s wife.
Yun Zihan also knelt before Mrs. Han, "It’s all up to Aunt to decide!"
Mrs. Han helped the mother and daughter up, "This matter is not urgent, we need to plan carefully!"
Madam Cui and Yun Zihan each returned to their own courtyards.
Yun Zihan lay on her bed and started crying.
At the General Weiyuan’s Residence
General Weiyuan poured wine for Yun Chen, "Master Yun, I invited you over today because there is something I would like to consult you about!"
"Say it without reservation, General!" Yun Chen said, feeling somewhat agitated in his heart.
He didn’t have any particular relationship with General Weiyuan.
"Some days ago, thieves struck the General Residence. I apprehended three people in the Yun Residence. After interrogation, only one turned out to be a thief. The other two..." General Weiyuan paused before continuing, "Guess who the other two were, Master Yun!"
"This..."
Yun Chen didn’t dare to guess.
"The two confessed, saying they had been bribed by someone specifically to ruin the reputation of Miss Yun, the fourth daughter of your family. Master Yun, guess who bribed them!"
Yun Chen felt his mind in disarray.
He jumped to his feet abruptly and asked in shock, "Who?"
"Your mother, the Old Madam Yun!"
Yun Chen felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He collapsed dispiritedly onto the stool, and because his body went limp, he knocked the stool over and tumbled onto the floor.
General Weiyuan looked at the disheveled Yun Qi with disdain and snorted coldly.
These literary officials scorned military men, yet they were the filthiest.
"No, how could..." Yun Chen murmured in disbelief.
Although his mother didn’t like Jinnian, she was still her flesh and blood granddaughter. How could she heartlessly harm Jinnian like that?
Did his second brother and sister-in-law know about it?
If they did know, with his sister-in-law’s temperament, could the Yun Family stay peaceful? It would be a wonder if it didn’t cause a scandal known by all.
Moreover, the Han Family had a deeper foundation than he had thought. That day, when Yun Jinnian entered the palace, it was to diagnose the Emperor, and this time she left for the sake of the Emperor as well, hence those gossipmongers, even when executed by tongue-ripping, didn’t stir up any trouble at all.
"General!" Yun Chen said gravely.
General Weiyuan laughed coldly, "Master Yun need not be nervous. Since I invited you today, I am willing to cover up a thing or two for you. Otherwise, if I publicize this matter, and if Divine Doctor Han reports it to the Emperor with conclusive evidence, not to mention the Old Madam’s life or death, Master Yun and the entire Yun Family likely won’t be able to escape unscathed!"
Yun Chen was terrified by these words.
The recent affair with the former Minister of War was still vivid in his mind. His grandmother harming her own legitimate granddaughter—if this got out, how could he face anyone? How could the children of the Yun Family get married?
"Could the General give some guidance?"
"I have a distant relative who has come to the Capital City to participate in the examinations. He intends to settle down here and has also reached the age to marry. I heard Master Yun has a daughter who is both beautiful and intelligent. I wonder if Master Yun would be willing to grant this match?"
"The elder daughter?"
Yun Chen inquired.
Given that the General had come to talk about this in such a roundabout way, it seemed likely that the young man was not decent.