“Yunmeng is still so young. Why is Mother in such a hurry?” Su Xian could not understand her mother’s way of thinking at all.
A flicker passed through Xiao Yi’s eyes.
“It was Yunxi whom your mother had chosen,” Xiao Yi said, his voice carrying a trace of regret.
“What?” Su Xian froze.
No wonder her eldest brother had proposed separating from the family!
She had always thought of him as a man who followed the rules to the letter. Why would he do something so outrageous and contrary to filial duty?
So this was the root of it all!
“Who was the match?” Su Xian still found it hard to believe.
“The son of Vice Director Wang’s concubine.”
“What?” Su Xian was even more shocked.
Although the Su family was not a high-ranking household, with her as the Princess Consort of Pingyang, there was no reason for the daughters of the Su family to have poor marriages.
How could her mother have hurried to arrange Yunxi’s marriage to the son of such a minor official?
And not even the legitimate son, but a son born to a concubine?
Su Xian’s mind was in turmoil.
She had always been very fond of her niece Yunxi.
During the time Yunxi had spent at the prince’s residence, Su Xian had come to like her even more after getting to know her. She was a good girl.
Su Xian had already had a good relationship with her eldest sister-in-law.
She had made up her mind to find Yunxi a good marriage.
When her mother wanted to arrange a match for Yunmeng, Su Xian had not objected. Yunmeng’s parents, her second brother and sister-in-law, had both agreed. What right did she, as an aunt, have to interfere?
But Su Xian had never imagined that her mother had only been putting on an act. She had actually arranged Yunxi’s marriage instead.
No!
There had to be something she did not know!
“Your Highness, do you know why Mother changed the intended bride to Yunxi?”
Unable to figure it out, Su Xian could only ask Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow.
Not bad.
His wife was finally learning to think things through.
“Your mother-in-law probably intended to arrange a match for Yunxi from the very beginning.”
“She knew that if she said so outright, not only you, but also your elder brother and sister-in-law, might not agree.”
“So she deliberately claimed that she was arranging a match for Yunmeng. In reality, she switched the intended bride to Yunxi.”
That was the conclusion Xiao Yi had reached after examining all the information.
That was why he had said that people from the same family truly did share the same nature.
Su Xian still did not quite understand.
“Although the Wang family is not particularly distinguished, neither is the Su family a high-ranking household.”
“If that concubine-born son proves himself, and can one day earn Yunxi an honorable title, then the match could be considered.”
Seeing how seriously Su Xian was contemplating the marriage, Xiao Yi tapped his fingers against the table.
“My men uncovered something rather interesting.”
Su Xian looked up at him blankly. “What?”
“Apparently, your mother-in-law reached an agreement with the Wang family.”
“If the Wang family ever rises to prominence, they will help advance the Su family’s second branch.”
Su Xian was utterly astonished.
“The second branch?”
“Shouldn’t it be the main branch?”
“Yunxi is the one marrying into their family!”
Xiao Yi nodded, confirming that he had not misspoken.
Su Xian stood there in a daze.
Then, all at once, she understood her mother’s intentions.
Her mother clearly did not want Yunxi’s marriage to be better than Yunmeng’s.
So she had hastily arranged a match for Yunxi.
If the Wang family honored the agreement, Yunxi would have no choice but to marry into their household.
If the Wang family joined forces with Prince Rui and succeeded, Yunxi’s second uncle’s family would benefit as well.
But if the Wang family refused to acknowledge the engagement, Yunxi’s youth would be wasted, and by the time she grew older, she would no longer be able to marry into a good family.
Mother!
What a cruel heart she had!
Was her eldest brother truly not her own son?
“How could she treat Yunxi like this?” Su Xian asked, unable to make sense of it.
“Because when your families met the Wang family that day, it was Yunxi whom they took a liking to,” Xiao Yi explained.
There was one more reason Xiao Yi did not mention to Su Xian.
Yunxi had grown close to Duoduo while staying at the residence. She had told Duoduo about her grandmother’s movements.
Duoduo had then told Su Xian, and when Su Xian argued with her mother, she had accidentally let the information slip.
Old Madam Su had consequently come to resent Yunxi.
Then Yunmeng had fanned the flames, claiming that Su Xian wanted to find Yunxi an even better match and that Yunmeng would be overshadowed by Yunxi in the future.
That was when Old Madam Su had devised this scheme.
She agreed to the Wang family’s request, but she made one demand of her own:
The Wang family had to help advance her second son.
The Wang family agreed.
Old Madam Su deliberately had Yunxi embroider something for her, then turned around and gave the embroidery to the Wang family.
In this way, Old Madam Su had effectively sold her own granddaughter.
When the Su family’s eldest son found out, he had caused a tremendous uproar.
After hearing Xiao Yi’s explanation, Su Xian remembered as well.
That day, Old Madam Su had indeed taken Yunxi’s hand and praised her repeatedly.
At the time, Su Xian had not known the truth and had paid it no mind.
Yunxi was obedient, well-mannered, and sensible by nature. It was only natural that people would like her.
But now that she thought about it, she realized how foolish she had been.
“Your Highness, I have a favor to ask of you.” Su Xian bit her lip.
“Go ahead,” Xiao Yi said with a nod.
“Your Highness, the Wang family is not a suitable match for Yunxi.”
“Could you think of a way to make the Wang family willingly break off the engagement?”
The only person Su Xian could think of was Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi did not answer. His fingers continued tapping against the table, one beat after another.
Su Xian’s heart was filled with unease.
The Wang family served under Prince Rui.
Since they had agreed to the engagement, they had surely done so at Prince Rui’s instruction.
If Xiao Yi intervened, he would inevitably have to make a request of Prince Rui.
Su Xian even suspected that this marriage had been part of a scheme laid out by Prince Rui from the beginning.
He must be waiting for Xiao Yi to go and ask him for a favor!
The thought made Su Xian even more anxious.
On one side was her husband.
On the other was her own niece.
She found it impossible to choose between them.
“Your Highness, I was being presumptuous,” Su Xian said with great difficulty.
“Please pretend I never made that suggestion.”
Su Xian forced herself to make a decision.
She could not become a burden to Xiao Yi.
If she wanted to save Yunxi, she would think of a way herself.
She could not make Xiao Yi beg anyone for help!
Xiao Yi’s thoughts were interrupted. He frowned and looked at Su Xian.
“What? You agree to this marriage?” His tone held a trace of displeasure.
Su Xian hurriedly shook her head.
“No, I don’t agree!”
“It’s just that I don’t want to cause you any trouble.” Su Xian felt deeply guilty.
Xiao Yi leaned back in his chair.
“Oh? Just because of that, you’re willing to stand by and watch your own niece become a bargaining chip in a transaction?”
Su Xian could hear the anger in his voice.
Panic flashed across her face. She quickly rose and curtsied.
“Your Highness, you misunderstand!”
“I’m only worried that Prince Rui will use this matter to make things difficult for you!”
“I can’t help you in any way. I’m useless, and I don’t want to hold you back!”
A flicker passed through Xiao Yi’s eyes.
There was some truth in what Su Xian had just said.
Fourth Brother’s move had indeed been well calculated.
Unfortunately for him, the person he would have to face was Xiao Yi.
