Watching Yun Jinnian leave, Dai Hanmi turned and wiped her face.
Men of the Dai Family never took concubines, yet she had no idea what her future husband would be like.
If only she could go find her third brother.
Together with the third brother, they could have roamed the world with swords in hand, but she couldn’t break her mother and grandmother’s hearts any longer.
Yun Jinnian, sitting inside the carriage, was also filled with emotion, "Sister Hanmi is a good girl!"
"Good girls will be happy!" Han Tianci said.
"Yes, good girls will be happy. Sister Hanmi is too. She is certain to marry a satisfactory gentleman, and from then on, enjoy connubial bliss..." Yun Jinnian said, pausing ever so slightly.
Lifting the carriage curtain, "The snow is getting heavier!"
"A snow year, a rich year, it’s a good sign!"
The carriage clattered along, soon arriving at the courtyard of Liao Shijie and Yun Zihan.
With the examination coming up next year, Liao Shijie and a few close friends were studying diligently.
Yun Zihan was busy managing the household and taking care of Liao Shijie, as well as several other scholars. In addition, being three months pregnant, she was currently resting on the chaise longue.
Liao Shijie was doing business with Feng Wushuang. The farm had seen good returns, and the shop was on the right track. Liao Shijie and a few fellow scholars from his hometown had also started selling calligraphy and paintings, and they no longer relied on money from the residence. Occasionally, they could afford to buy a table’s worth of good food to share, the discussions enriching everyone involved.
It had been over a year since the passing of her aunt, and Liao Shijie was very kind, not taking any concubines or mistresses. Since all household affairs were decided by her, she was in good spirits, and hence, after a miscarriage of her first child, it took her a while to conceive the current one.
Yun Zihan was extremely cautious.
But upon hearing the old servant announce, "Miss Yun of the Yun Residence has come to visit!"
Yun Zihan, excited, quickly got down from the chaise longue, "Bring me my cloak, I want to go and welcome my younger sister!"
"Madam, Madam, please be careful, don’t hurry!"
A woman in blue quickly walked in, "Cousin sister-in-law, what is the matter with you?"
"Chuxi, my fourth sister has come to see me!"
Xun Chuxi was a cousin of Liao Shijie’s late aunt. With no one else left in her family, she sought refuge at the Liao Residence, and Madam Liao had sent someone to bring her to the Capital City.
The girl, about fifteen or sixteen, seeing Liao Shijie’s utmost care for Yun Zihan, began to get ideas.
Liao Shijie, however, remained quiet.
Yun Zihan, on the other hand, talked to her at length.
Telling her that even as Liao Shijie’s cousin, she could only ever be a concubine, and if she behaved with propriety and stability, she might have a peaceful life.
If she did not remain content and keep to her place, she would end up with nothing in the end.
In the Capital City, a concubine was but a plaything, a woman who could be sold by the main wife at will, and even the children she bore might not have much of a future.
Not every concubine could be like her, with a kind cousin to lend a hand.
The dirty truth between the legitimate and the illegitimate finished, Yun Zihan left Xun Chuxi crying in fear.
For the sake of Liao Shijie, Yun Zihan felt some compassion for Xun Chuxi and gently persuaded her, suggesting they arrange for her to marry a scholar from the front courtyard and become the principal wife, even promising to help with her dowry.
Xun Chuxi, timid but sensible, was frightened by Yun Zihan’s words and went to see Liao Shijie.
Liao Shijie wouldn’t undermine Yun Zihan’s authority, and since he had no intention of living a life of polygamy, his words were even more severe than Yun Zihan’s.
This truly frightened Xun Chuxi and she dared not harbor any more thoughts.
She stayed obediently by Yun Zihan’s side, waiting to be married off as a principal wife.