Han Jianye looked burly and had an imposing stature which resembled an angry King Kong. These two types of attributes were really unpopular in the capital, and it was not easy to find a marriage prospect to people who had these attributes. However today it was all about dressing up, and Han Jianye was seen wearing a purplish red round-necked gold brocade changpao. On his waist, his belt was decorated with a yupei and his black hair had been neatly combed into a bun, decorated with a pure gold tiger shaped head zan.

A round neck changpao

Image Credit

Paludan, Ann. (1998). Chronicle of the Chinese Emperors: the Reign-by-Reign Record of the Rulers of Imperial China. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd. ISBN 0500050902. Page 115. via Wiki

The one with the arrow is called a zan

Image Credit

To the rightful owner via

The one with the green arrows are called a yupei

Image Credit

To the rightful owner via

Yuxi happily said, "ErgeSecond brother¹, you look very nice in this dress. You have to wear something like this in the future!" Han Jianye used to bask in the sun every day on the mountain, and he loved to dress himself in black, which made him look like a piece of black charcoal. If you prepared clothes in bright colors such as blue or red for him, he wouldn't wear them. In the end, Qiu s.h.i.+ had no choice but to make him darker coloured clothes, such as in grey and cyan.

Han Jianye was currently trying to make a good impression on a girl, otherwise he wouldn't have worn such a garment! Only those who were sissy would wear red and green. It could only be said that Han Jianye had been misled by a master who did not have any aesthetic ideas.

As they arrived at the entrance of the satin shop, Yuxi was just getting out of the carriage when she saw Second Lady Lu and Lu Xiu who were on their way to enter the shop. Yuxi called out, "Lu Jiejieelder sister³." After she called her out, she walked to Lu Xiu's side and happily said, "Lu Jiejieelder sister³, I didn't expect to run into you here, what a coincidence."

Qiu s.h.i.+ looked at Lu Xiu up and down. Lu Xiu was indeed like what Yuxi had told her: Lu Xiu had a big chest, and a big hip. Her body was definitely good for bearing children.

Han Jianye's eyes lit up at once when he saw Lu Xiu. What Yuxi said was right. With this look and body, there was nothing that he could nitpick!

Yuxi immediately saw something was wrong with Lu Xiu, so she said with a smile, "Lu Jiejieelder sister³, let's go in! Let's see what good material is in the shop." Once her words ended, she held Lu Xiu's hand and went into the store.

Once Qiu s.h.i.+ saw the real person, the last bit of worry in her heart finally went away, and she enthusiastically said to Second Lady Lu, "Let's go in too!" After taking two steps, she saw that Han Jianye was going to follow as well and she said to him, "You just wait outside."

When Second Lady Lu heard this, she smiled.

Lu Xiu was a little embarra.s.sed to hear this praise, but before she could say anything, she saw Han Jianye fixed his eyes at her. She felt annoyed in her heart and could only smile reluctantly at Qiu s.h.i.+ as a response.

Lu Xiu got into the carriage as fast as she could.

Not surprisingly, what came out from Lu Xiu's mouth was, "Mother, why does Yuxi Meimeiyounger sister⁴ have such a brother?" He was completely a skirt-chaserplayboy⁵.

Lu Xiu's eyes went wide, but then she remembered Han Jianye's performance, which made her become reluctant. "Mother, Second Master Han is too...."

Lu Xiu opened her mouth, but she couldn't say a word because she didn't know what to say to that.

Lu Xiu's eyes were red as she said, "For my sake, my parents and Gegeelder brother⁷ have been troubled about it." To keep her parents from getting anxious, Lu Xiu tried very hard to act like nothing was wrong. Unfortunately, what Lu Xiu didn't know was that the more she was like this, the more her family felt sorry for her.

And on the other hand, Yuxi didn't speak at all after she got into the carriage. Seeing this situation, Qiu s.h.i.+ curiously asked, "What's wrong?"

Qiu s.h.i.+'s face was a bit unnatural, as she reluctantly smiled, "We should live our own life. Let others say what they like to say, and we have no control over other people's mouths." Seeing Yuxi's worried face, Qiu s.h.i.+ felt warm and said, "When your ErgeSecond brother¹ marries his wife, I will take off the heavy burden and leave the matter of socialising to your Dasaoeldest sister-in-law⁸."

It wasn't that Qiu s.h.i.+ wasn't worried about it, but there was nothing she could do. The Old Lady had made it clear to her the benefits from the relations.h.i.+p, and her eldest son had also made it clear to her. What could she do other than back down? Opposing it till her death would only make things difficult for her son.

Qiu Shu revealed a look of surprise, "What idea do you have, tell me quickly."

Qiu didn't quite understand, "Put on a play? What kind of play?"

Qiu s.h.i.+ was choked with emotion for a moment. What kind of an idea was this?

Qiu s.h.i.+ thought it was a good idea, but then she would be condemning her youngest son at the same time.

Qiu s.h.i.+ was silent for a moment, then responded, "Let me think about it first."

As soon as Qiu s.h.i.+ returned to the state residence, she immediately dragged Han Jianye into the house and told him about it. If her son didn't agree, she wouldn't be using this method.

Seeing that Han Jianye didn't have a hint of reluctance on his face, Qiu s.h.i.+ said, "I've wrong you." Making Jianye married the Lu girl had already aggrieved him enough, and now for him to carry such a reputation, Qiu s.h.i.+'s heart felt both sad and heartache.

After the mother and child had their talk, Qiu s.h.i.+ thought for a moment and immediately went to find the Old Lady as she talked about the matter with her. Qiu s.h.i.+ also knew her shortcomings and told the Old Lady that she hoped to improve the matter and not leave any flaws.

Qiu s.h.i.+ shook her head and said, "No, it was Yuxi who came up with the idea. She said that in this way, we all will not be pointed out, nor will let Ye s.h.i.+'s mind create estrangement. It also won't harm Jianye's future and reputation. I have thought about it for a moment, and I think Yuxi's way to stop the gossip is really good. I have already asked Jianye and he agreed." Qiu s.h.i.+ didn't sell Yuxi on purpose, but she didn't want to hide it from the Old Lady.

Noob Translator's MusingSo, from this chapter, it was clear that Old Lord Lu is actually Lu Xiu's grandfather, while Second Lord Lu is Lu Xiu's father. Problem is solved!

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