The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 522 - 489: Astrological Incompatibility (2)
Because of living in the waterways of Jiangnan for many years, Yun Huai was not very accustomed to the dry heat of the Capital. Even after being here for a few days, he still felt uncomfortable and went back to his room to lie down for a while.
When Minister Xue returned from the Lower Court, the steward indeed sent someone to knock on Yun Huai’s door.
Yun Huai sat up, rubbed his temples that were throbbing with a dull pain, and walked to the outer room to open the door.
The messenger was a young servant, who spoke very respectfully, "The old master has returned and asks your presence, sir."
Yun Huai gave a light nod, closed the door, and followed the servant.
Minister Xue was sitting in the main courtyard hall drinking tea. When he saw Yun Huai, his expression was indifferent, and he motioned for him to sit.
Yun Huai glanced at Minister Xue, his lips visibly curving downward.
Just like the day Yun Huai arrived, even if the two of them said nothing, the atmosphere in the room could immediately become oppressive.
The servant left after bringing him over, and there were no other attendants in the hall, leaving only Yun Huai and Minister Xue.
Minister Xue, being the host, could not lose his composure before the guest, even if he had no fondness for Yun Huai, so he spoke first, "I just returned home, and the steward said you had something urgent. May I know what it is?"
Yun Huai lifted his eyes with a half-smile, "Regarding Huanhuan’s marriage, I have already discussed it privately with His Highness. The engagement will be canceled, and hereafter they will marry separately, having nothing further to do with each other."
Minister Xue’s elderly face darkened, "Why was I not informed beforehand?"
He had always thought Yun Huai came to the Capital solely to send off Xue Yan, never expecting the Yun Family to pull such a stunt!
Yun Huai sneered, "When you decided to send Huanhuan to be someone’s concubine, didn’t you also fail to inform our family?"
Minister Xue’s chest heaved continuously, not because he was upset that Xue Yinhuan couldn’t marry the Eldest Prince which might have delayed his plans. Originally, he never planned to have Xue Yinhuan partake in a marriage of convenience; he simply couldn’t accept the Yun Family’s arbitrary decisions, blatantly disregarding him as her lawful kin.
In extreme anger, Minister Xue glared, "Yun Huai, don’t forget, Huanhuan’s surname is Xue, not Yun!"
Yun Huai’s tone remained unchanged, "For so many years without care, what good is the Xue surname? It’s nothing but an empty title."
Before Minister Xue could react, he continued, "The engagement with the Eldest Prince will be annulled. As for her future marriage, the Yun Family has already chosen a husband for her, so there’s no need for Lord Minister to bother."
Minister Xue’s brow furrowed tightly; soon after, he chuckled, "You’re planning to have her marry a poor boy with no family or background?"
"The Yun Family indeed lacks the ability to find her a husband from the imperial family." Yun Huai smirked, "But I can assure you, no matter who she marries, Huanhuan will be the main wife, not a concubine constantly overshadowed."
Throughout the entire conversation, the hall was filled with an intimidating, tense atmosphere.
Yun Huai, at nineteen years old, was visiting the Xue Family for the first time, and it was also his first meeting with Minister Xue. Yet, their mutual animosity had lingered for sixteen years.
Regarding Xue Yinhuan’s marriage, the Yun Family’s stance was firm: they did not wish to leave Xue Yinhuan alone in the Capital; they intended to have her marry into Jiangnan.
Minister Xue naturally disagreed, arguing that as a legitimate daughter of the Minister’s Mansion, bearing the Xue name, her marital matters should be decided by the Xue family elders without external interference.
Upon hearing the word "external," Yun Huai immediately sneered, "When Miss Qionghua from your family went to the Yun Family years ago, she didn’t consider herself an outsider. I’m merely following her example."
Upon hearing him bring up the past, Minister Xue was furious, "You hold your tongue!"
The tension in the room reached a stalemate, neither party willing to concede.
At this moment, Xue Yinhuan’s stepmother, Mrs. Xie, entered from outside, calling out affectionately from afar, "I heard Yinhuan’s marriage plans have changed; what exactly is going on?"
While speaking, she secretly glared at Yun Huai.
No wonder her eyelids kept twitching the past few days; indeed, when the Yun family appears, nothing good follows. The match between Xue Yinhuan and the Eldest Prince was already a certainty, yet they came to disrupt it. Does the Yun family naturally oppose the Xue family?
In the midst of his anger, Minister Xue heard Mrs. Xie’s voice, and with a cold face, reprimanded her, "This is none of your business, leave!"
Mrs. Xie was taken aback, "Father, I’m only concerned about the girl’s marriage."
Minister Xue raised his elderly eyes with a look of undisguised anger.
Mrs. Xie was so frightened that she stammered and quickly retreated, leaving without any further words.
With Mrs. Xie gone, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy again.
After a long silence, Yun Huai suggested, "Since Lord Minister refuses to yield, why not let Huanhuan decide for herself? Whether to stay in the Capital or go to Jiangnan, it’s up to her."
Minister Xue snorted angrily, "Who knows what you’ve been telling her these past few days? If you let her decide, won’t she readily agree to leave with you?"
Yun Huai smiled slightly, "If Lord Minister had shown her care and concern all along, how could she decide to leave with me, an uncle she hasn’t seen for years, instead of staying in the Capital to care for her family out of appreciation?"
Minister Xue was at a loss for words, his aged face turning blue with frustration.
...
A quarter of an hour later, Xue Yinhuan was invited to the Xue Shang Academy.
Upon entering the room and sensing the unusual atmosphere, Xue Yinhuan hung her head, "Grandfather, Uncle, what is it that you wanted to see me for?"
Minister Xue looked at her for a moment and asked, "Huanhuan, if your marriage contract with His Highness is annulled, would you wish to stay in the Capital or follow your uncle to Jiangnan?"
Upon this question from Minister Xue, Xue Yinhuan immediately guessed what they had been discussing before she arrived.
The choice between staying in the Capital or going to Jiangnan was rather sudden for Xue Yinhuan.
For a moment, she couldn’t make up her mind, "Grandfather, could you allow me some more time to consider?"
Minister Xue nodded, not forcing her, "Think it over well, make your decision after you’ve thought it through clearly, so you won’t regret it for life." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Xue Yinhuan glanced at Yun Huai, seeing that her uncle showed no expression, which apparently meant he also consented to give her time to consider, she performed her curtsy and took her leave.
Xue Yan, who had followed unnoticed, stood outside the courtyard. Seeing Xue Yinhuan come out, he quickly asked, "Sister, how did it go? Did Grandfather and Uncle trouble you?"
Xue Yinhuan shook her head, and in front of her younger brother, her gaze involuntarily softened, "Ah Yin, do you wish for your sister to go to Jiangnan with you?"
Xue Yan’s eyes lit up at once, "Sister, can you really?"
Xue Yinhuan said, "If I marry into Jiangnan, I’ll be able to see you often thereafter."
"Great, great!" Xue Yan nearly jumped in excitement, "If Sister goes to Jiangnan too, with Uncle there, no one would dare to bully you in the future."
Xue Yinhuan smiled, but a bit of desolation lingered in her heart.
Although, she couldn’t quite pinpoint why she felt this delicate sentiment.
...
After returning to the palace, Zhao Xi went to see Emperor Guangxi, and told him that Xue Yinhuan’s maternal family wished to annul the marriage contract.
Emperor Guangxi almost thought he misheard, "What, that young woman’s maternal family?"
Zhao Xi nodded, confirming it.
It was the first time for Emperor Guangxi to encounter such a situation, "Isn’t Xue Yinhuan a daughter of the Xue Family? How can her maternal family have a say in her major life events like marriage?"
Zhao Xi was unclear about how the two families negotiated, but he distinctly felt Yun Huai’s strong aversion to him marrying Xue Yinhuan out of guilt during their tea house meeting. Such aversion seemed borne out of a deep-seated resentment; he knew that uttering a single refusal would have instantly ignited the other party’s fury.
"Xixi, what are your thoughts?" Emperor Guangxi inquired.
Though he wasn’t particularly fond of Xue Yinhuan, considering the marriage of his eldest son, as a father he needed to inquire further.
"A forced melon is not sweet." Zhao Xi candidly replied, "Besides, I can’t offer her the position of a legitimate wife. Since the Yun Family is resolute in keeping her out of the palace, let’s annul the marriage contract. It was merely an oral promise, the formal procedures haven’t even begun yet, so the impact won’t be too significant at this point."
"What do you intend to do then?"
"We’ll let it be known that Miss Xue and I have incompatible Eight Characters, making us unsuitable for a felicitous union."
...
Zhao Xi’s idea of using the Eight Characters as an excuse was his personal plan, but he needed to get the Xue Family’s opinion first. He took an opportunity to visit the Minister’s Mansion.
Minister Xue was just taking a rest when he heard that the Eldest Prince had come, and he personally went out to greet him.
Xue Yan was playing Cuju with several servants in the front yard, and when he accidentally kicked the ball astray, he rushed after it and collided with the Eldest Prince.
Minister Xue immediately frowned and scolded him, "Already grown, and still so reckless. Quickly apologize to His Highness!"
It was only then Xue Yan realized that the handsome youth in front of him was his sister’s fiancé, Eldest Prince Zhao Xi.
He pursed his lips, then knelt and kowtowed to Zhao Xi for forgiveness.
Considering this was the person who wanted his sister as a concubine, Xue Yan’s voice carried a hint of perfunctoriness.
Minister Xue detected the insincerity in his apology, and he reprimanded him anew.
His approach was excessively severe, not at all like a real grandfather to Xue Yan.
Zhao Xi listened, squinting his eyes slightly.
