Exchange Fate! She Saved the whole family and the Short-Lived Marquis!-Chapter 156: Complaints

Yan Liqing sat back just in time to catch the kind gaze Fu Mingzhu cast her way.

Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, Aunt and Fu Mingzhu were both generous and didn’t hold grudges against Mother.

All said and done, not a single thing worked out.

Mrs. Yan felt somewhat embarrassed and said, "Sister-in-law, I have back pain from the carriage ride, I’ll go rest first."

"Sister-in-law, go ahead. We’ll send someone to invite you for dinner," Madam Fu said, tired of dealing with Mrs. Yan.

Yan Sikang and Yan Liqing followed Mrs. Yan back to the courtyard.

Mrs. Yan remarked unhappily, "Your aunt just says nice things, claiming she prepared a courtyard for us long ago. Look, I still have to share a courtyard with Liqing."

"This is already quite good. In the capital, land is precious, it’s not easy to stay in a big mansion like this without breaking norms," Yan Liqing said. "I’ve seen it on the way here, the courtyard provided by Aunt is in a prime location. If it weren’t truly impossible to make room, how would they let Mother and I squeeze into one courtyard?"

"Besides, although it’s one courtyard, it’s not small, and we’re not crowded together," Yan Liqing persuaded.

"But both Fu Mingzhu and Fu Shinian have their own courtyards."

"Mother," Yan Liqing exclaimed in shock, "This is our cousins’ home! We’re guests, how can we expect them to vacate space for us?"

"Do you want Uncle and Aunt to move out, give us the entire Fu Mansion?" Yan Liqing shook her head, "Mother, you’re being unreasonable!"

"Presumptuous!" Mrs. Yan was still sulking, "I am your mother! How dare you speak to me like this!"

"Earlier at your aunt’s, you didn’t let me finish speaking and interrupted me. How dare a junior interrupt her mother!" Mrs. Yan recalled the incident angrily.

Yan Liqing was too upset to directly refute, taking a deep breath.

Grandmother was right, Mother does act improperly once out of restraints.

"Mother," Yan Sikang spoke, "What were you planning to say if Liqing hadn’t interrupted you earlier?"

"To ask how Cousin is feeling about calling off the engagement, if she’s doing well now, perhaps counsel her to endure a bit. Xiao Fengxing is from the Marquis Changping’s household, considered a good match for Cousin. An affair with a maidservant is trivial." Yan Sikang knew Mrs. Yan well.

"That’s how it was," Mrs. Yan insisted.

"Then why does Mother dislike Aunt Fang so much? Only willing to bring Liqing for a marriage proposal, but refusing to bring Lilan? Lilan is also of marriageable age."

"Mother only brought me to the capital, wanting me to enter Bailu Academy, but refused to bring Sicheng. Sicheng is also well-educated," Yan Sikang said in a serious tone.

"How can it be the same? They are from different backgrounds, how can they compare to you? Besides, Liqing’s marriage isn’t even settled, how can we talk about Lilan’s? Bailu Academy is hard to enter, being able to get you in is already fortunate, even your father isn’t confident he can secure another spot. Since Sicheng studies well, it’s fine to study diligently in Jinzhou," Mrs. Yan explained.

"I was thinking, if you could study under Mr. Changshan, then Sicheng could take that extra spot at Bailu Academy." Mrs. Yan stated in defense, "But now, without your aunt’s help, the Bailu Academy spot is naturally yours, not for the second child."

"Mother!" Yan Sikang said helplessly, "Do you not understand that only by everyone uniting as one can the entire family prosper?"

"If Aunt Fang, Sicheng, and Lilan weren’t good people, it wouldn’t matter, naturally we can’t let them take the lead and ruin us." He pleaded earnestly, "But Aunt Fang has been honest and low-key, despite your targeting and withholding in the house over the years, she never complained."

"Sicheng and Lilan are also honest and never caused trouble for the family or contested anything with us. Whenever anything arises, Mother, you’re always the first to ensure I and Liqing get it, Sicheng and Lilan never fought over it."

"Even now, Sicheng knew you definitely wouldn’t want to bring him, so he didn’t want to make it difficult for the family, voluntarily saying he wants to study peacefully in Jinzhou."

"Lilan also said to first settle Liqing’s marriage without any intent of coming along," Yan Sikang stated, "Mother, they’ve already done their utmost, repeatedly yielding, why can’t you restrain yourself a little?"

"Being kinder to them, Sicheng is a good student, sure to succeed, serving in the court together with me and Father as a trio benefits the family."

"If Lilan marries well, with strong in-laws, it’s only good for us."

"When Liqing and Lilan marry, if treated badly at their husband’s home, I and Sicheng can stand up for them. Having more strength is better than standing alone."

"Enough." Mrs. Yan said impatiently, "I have my own considerations."

"You really think those two siblings don’t contest?" Mrs. Yan said, "I don’t manage them, but your father does! Because they know as long as they yield, your grandfather and father will sympathize and compensate."

"Your grandfather personally visited Guan Youqi, the former dean of Bailu Academy, now retired in Shuo City, right by Jinzhou. Yan Sicheng went to study under Mr. Guan, do you really think Sicheng is disadvantaged?"

"So why bring me to the capital?"

"Mr. Guan was a dean, but how can he compare to the many teachers at Bailu Academy, with expertise?"

Yan Sikang shook his head, "Even so, what’s the point of getting worked up over it? Acting as if Sicheng gained some immense advantage."

"As family, I can enter Bailu Academy, but he can’t, inherently unjust," Yan Sikang remarked, "No matter how it’s spun, it’s unfair."

"Humph!" Mrs. Yan wasn’t swayed, "As for Yan Lilan, she remains in Jinzhou, with your grandmother feeling compassion, she’ll definitely scheme her marriage."

"Your grandmother had many friends in the capital back in the day, all fine lady friends," Mrs. Yan said, "With your grandmother’s help, Yan Lilan’s marriage won’t be poor, you need not worry about her."

On the matter of education, seeing Yan Sikang still wanted to speak, Mrs. Yan spoke, "Enough, I haven’t even mentioned you. If you could let your aunt approach Marquis Changping for an introduction to Mr. Changshan, then Sicheng could enter Bailu Academy."

"You yourself refuse, now you come complaining I don’t give Yan Sicheng a chance?" Mrs. Yan expressed dissatisfaction, "The relationship between the Fu Mansion and Marquis Changping is clearly close, for your aunt it’s a trivial matter. But she won’t mention it to the Marquis, won’t even try."