CH 54

Chapter 54 – Choice

In the end, Madam Wang and Madam Chen’s fears were unfounded. Conversely, it was the Wei family who was worried that the Yu family would dislike Lady Xiang’s stature. However, once the matchmaker conveyed the news, Madam Wang and Madam Chen both felt relieved and were joyfully awaiting the official marriage agreement with the Wei family after the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Yu Wen was having a heartfelt conversation with Yu Tang in the study. He said “Your seventh uncle was found. Presumably because he knew he had done something wrong so he planned to escape, but he had always been absent-minded and poor at directions, so in the end he didn’t manage to get more than 1.5km away before he was found by your eldest uncle’s people. After your eldest uncle’s questioning, it was indeed a person from the Li family who asked him to do it and he foolishly thought he was doing you a favor.”

After saying this, he smiled bitterly before continuing, “You can’t reason with people like him. Nevertheless, your eldest uncle told fifth granduncle that he cannot stay in the village anymore, at least, not in our family. However, he is your fifth uncle’s support and future successor, so if he were to leave the Yu family, your fifth grand uncle would have no one to rely on during his old age. Luckily, your fifth grand uncle was agreeable. He originally adopted your seventh uncle so as to comfortably enjoy his twilight years, but after this mess, he can’t enjoy his happiness and would be troubled by your seventh uncle instead, so he’s willing to give up this heir. Today, he went to find ninth granduncle, and wanted to severe their master-successor relationship in the ancestral hall. Your eldest uncle agreed and privately gave your fifth grand uncle 20 silver taels, promising to help care for him in his old age in the future. In this way, others will not be so bold as to meddle in your affairs carelessly anymore.”

Yu Tang thought that it was a good solution.

She replied, “It must be hard for Eldest Uncle, I’ll thank him properly when we have the Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet!”

“Of course!” Yu Wen said, “Your eldest uncle did a good job running around and settling things for you, and you too did good by helping out with Ah Yuan’s matter. That’s how things should be in the family, showing mutual care and consideration for one another .”

Yu Tang nodded her head repeatedly in agreement.

Without Madam Gao, her eldest cousin’s life would definitely be much better this time!

She then asked about the matter of the magistrate’s office, “Have those crooks confessed their crime?”

“Yes.” Speaking of this, Yu Wen furrowed his brows in annoyance. “After those people were brought in, without even having to torture them, they immediately confessed that it was the Li family. The Li Family wanted to have you marry over, but because of our family’s objection, the Li family then ask them to set up a ruse. They didn’t intend to do you any harm, just only to scare you a little, and then let the Li family’s second young master Li Jun step in like a hero to save the beauty, and thus create a good atmosphere. When the Tang governor informed me of this, he said that he is unable to give a heavy sentence, so the Li family at most, will be fined some silver to compensate our family. Moreover, if the matter is known to he public, it would also damage your reputation, so he advised us to settle matters with the Li family in private.”

Yu Tang quickly asked, “Then did Li Jun know of this beforehand?”

Yu Wen replied, “Listening to the Tang governor’s words, it seems like Li Jun was unaware of it.” After saying this, he paused slightly, “Tang governor also persuaded me to accept the marriage ……”

“That is impossible.” Yu Tang was afraid that her father would change his mind, and so she became agitated and said adamantly, “Even if I were to remain single my whole life, there’s no way I will marry into their Li family!”

“I know, I know.” Yu Wen hurriedly reassured his daughter, “I wouldn’t arrange a marriage for you without informing you first. I’m just worried that if we go on fighting the Li family like this, we will be the only ones to suffer. We have to think of a way to put an end to this.”

Yu Tang laughed coldly. She decided to let Li Jun know about this as soon as possible.

If Li Jun chose to go along with the Li family, she would find a way to stop the Li family; if Li Jun chose to stand on the sidelines, she would use another method to deal with them; if Li Jun chose to stand separate from his family, her methods would change again.

However, she felt that there was only a slim chance that Li Jun would choose to be at odds with the Li family.

No matter what, she was determined to make the Li family pay.

Yu Tang contemplated silently and asked Ah Cam to send a letter to Li Jun, telling him what her seventh uncle and those ruffians had said and also to check with the Tang governor if he is still doubtful.

Li Jun did not respond.

Yu Tang wasn’t in a hurry either.

The next day was Mid-Autumn Festival, so she had to at least let them have a good family reunion, right?

Nevertheless, her mood was still a bit low. Luckily both Madam Chen and Madam Wang didn’t notice her mood because they were immersed in settling things for Yu Yuan’s marriage, and their family spent the Mid-Autumn Festival together happily.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, so as to show the importance of Lady Xiang to them, Madam Wang spent a sizeable amount of silver to hire a matchmaker, and Madam Chen was at home checking to see what valuable things can be used. Yu Tang was invited by Ma Xiuniang to go to her house as a guest.

As Ma Xiuniang planned to have her marriage ceremony before Double Ninth Festival, so she had a lot of small things to prepare beforehand and wanted Yu Tang to come over and help her.

So Yu Tang put aside her concerns and concentrated on helping Ma Xiuniang prepare.

Right at this moment, Li Jun sent someone to Ma Xiuniang’s house, saying that he wanted to meet her.

Yu Tang guessed that it was about time that he responded. She too had to know Li Jun’s stance on this matter, so she said to the messenger. “Tell Gentleman Li that if he has any message, just have someone send over a letter, there is no need for us to meet. I’m afraid that I’ll fall into some kind of trap again.”

The messenger looked to be fifteen or sixteen years old. In her past life, Yu Tang had also seen him. He was a steward in charge of the Li family’s fields and had been Li Jun’s personal attendant. After Li Jun’s death, the Li family gave him a better position in the household because of his service for Li Jun.

Yu Tong had long forgotten the name of this man.

Seeing this person, Yu Tang remembered that Li Jun fell from the horse on the second day of October.

Her previous life and this life were vastly different; what kind of fate would await Li Jun?

Li Jun’s attendant seemed to be embarrassed after hearing her words, and hurriedly gave her a bow before running away.

Ma Xiuniang did not know the underlying details, so she only looked on with some pity. “I wonder why don’t you like the second young master of the Li family? He treats you really well!”

Yu Tang could only laugh and change the subject.

On the way home, she met Li Jun.

Li Jun was waiting for her at the entrance to Qingzhu Lane.

When he saw her sedan chair, he hurriedly ran over and said, “Lady Yu, I know my family has wronged you, and it’s right that you don’t want to see me, so I’ll come over instead to see you.”

Yu Tang lifted the curtain and replied, “That’s not necessary. I have made it very clear with Gentleman Li before.”

“It’s important!” Li Jun said as his eyes turned red.

Only then did Yu Tang realize that Li Jun was wearing a wrinkled, blue fine cloth robe, his hair was casually tied with a headband, his forehead was pimpled, the corners of his mouth were blistered. His appearance was sloppy and haggard, and also appeared to be emotionally weary, like a frost-bitten aubergine, exuding a deep sense of exhaustion.

Yu Tang felt some pity, thinking that Li Jun at least had a good heart, unlike Madam Lin and Li Duan, who had acted selfishly to pursue their own happiness at the expense of others.

She thought about it and got out of the sedan chair.

Li Jun got relieved and he bowed deeply towards Yu Tang, saying sincerely. “I want to apologize to you first on behalf of my family. Secondly, I didn’t know about this matter at all, but no matter what, since this matter started because of me, I should also apologize to you myself. I promise you that this will never happen again.”

After he finished, he looked even more haggard, and his back seemed unable to straighten properly.

Yu Tang held no malice towards Li Jun, but she just couldn’t take Madam Lin’s viciousness and Li Duan’s perverseness.

Just like their Yu family, “Innocent but still guilty”, although their family obtained the painting innocently, but now they had no choice but to find a way to get rid of it safely.

Li Jun wasn’t at fault. The fault was with his relatives.

Yu Tang said to him with sincerity. “I have no grudge with Gentleman Li and it was also a coincidence that we met. However, your family has really gone too far, so I do not want to have anything to do with you or your family anymore. Please return to your father and head of the family, telling him not to trick our Yu family again. Our family is ordinary and can’t afford to engage with your family in such a battle. “

Ever since Li Jun found out that it was his own family that had instigated this, he knew at once that he had lost his chance to be with Yu Tang. He went to his mother, Madam Lin, who was unconcerned and said indignantly that she was helping him. Upon hearing that, he was dumbfounded, too hurt to think of what to say in reply.

He spent the whole Mid-Autumn Festival in a daze.

His elder brother even advised him that it was all for his own good, and told him not to think too much about it, and just to wait patiently until he married Lady Yu.

At that moment, he suddenly experienced for himself the reason for Yu Tang’s anger – she was clearly the victim, but everyone else didn’t think that it was wrong.

He was on pins and needles and couldn’t stay at home for even a moment.

Although he could not give Yu Tang an explanation, but he should at least make amends with Yu Tang, right?

Therefore Li Jun did not think much about it and impetuously found Yu Tang.

Yu Tang only had a distant and avoiding attitude towards him, and seemed to have meekly accepted the aftermath. This only served to make him feel worse.

They could have had a good start, but because of those circumstances, it became this way.

Li Jun’s face was full of shame, and he whispered again “I’m sorry”

Yu Tang shook her head and said, “I can’t forgive your family. Let’s just pretend we don’t know each other from now on. Gentleman Li, please go home early, lest your elders have any ideas again. This time I was lucky to have the third master of the Pei family lend a helping hand, but if there is another time, I dare not assume that I would be so lucky in future.”

Li Jun left with his head hanging in despair.

Yu Tang looked at his back with some regret.

Perhaps Li Jun was the only one in the Li family who still had a conscience.

She turned around and prepared to get on the sedan chair, but who knew that when she turned around, she saw Wei Xiaochuan standing under the big tree at the entrance of the alley.

“Xiaochuan!” Yu Tang walked over in surprise, “When did you arrive? Why didn’t you go in and sit for a while?” Seeing that he had his school bag in his hand, she asked, “Did you come to school after Mid-Autumn Festival was over?”

Wei Xiaochuan just “hmmed” and said, “I heard that my cousin is marrying your elder cousin soon?”

“Yes.” Yu Tang replied. However, she saw no trace of smile on his face, so she couldn’t help but continue on cautiously, “You disapprove?”

“No.” Wei Xiaochuan replied, “My cousin is quite nice, your family is also good, so she should not be disliked by your family when she marries in.”

Yu Tang was surprised by his words.

However, Wei Xiaochuan already continued on, saying. “The Li family has a small farmland that is situated quite close to my grandfather’s farm. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, I went to deliver gifts to my grandparents, and so I asked my cousin about the Li family. He said that the people hired by the Li family in that farmland were all vagabonds who had fled and were all fierce and vicious, and the people all didn’t dare to mess with them. He also said that when the Li family used to compete with other families for the division of the fields, those people ran over and……”