She thought of her family’s Fugui and Qingyou, who were about the same age as Ye Zi’an and yet unmarried. She couldn’t help but envision being a matchmaker.
As she came out of the storeroom and was about to ask Xiu’er about her marriage plans when she returned to the living quarters, she saw a matron from the Yang family hurrying over.
"Respected mother-in-law!"
"Is my mother looking for me?" Yang Chuxia looked at her and thought to herself, "Now that I’m married, I’ve become a mother-in-law instead of a missy. This change in address involuntarily distanced her from her familial home to an extent.
"Yes, someone has come from honorable uncle’s side."
"Honorable uncle?" Yang Chuxia was puzzled, then she realized that the only ones whom the matrons at home could address as ’honorable uncle’ were her two uncles.
"Which honorable uncle has come?"
"It’s your second uncle!"
Yang Chuxia nodded, turning to Xiu’er, she said, "You carry the goods inside and inform the young master when he comes out."
With those words, Yang Chuxia went with the matron towards the Yang family residence. When she entered, she heard sobs. It was Ms. Liu from the Wang family, it was unexpected that she had come over. What could have happened?
"Grandma, second uncle!"
"Xiaxia!" Seeing her, Ms. Liu hurriedly held her and burst into loud sobs.
"Grandma, what happened? What’s the matter?" Yang Chuxia asked while she looked at Wang Yongshan.
Her second uncle’s eyes were red, so were the eyes of the rest of the Wang family.
"Mother, what happened? Don’t just cry!"
Only then, with a sweep of her tears, did Ms. Liu say, "Your second cousin, your second cousin has been chosen..."
"Chosen?" As she asked, Yang Chuxia suddenly remembered the recent draft, "Chosen in the draft? Can it be? Didn’t mother send word to you?"
"All because of your second aunt-in-law, all her fault..." Ms. Liu cried again, "My poor granddaughter, how could she have such an unreasonable mother...
Hearing it had something to do with Ms. Qian from the Wang Family, Yang Chuxia felt that it was unsurprising. That second aunt-in-law’s thoughts were always peculiar.
Shortly after, she heard Wang Yongshan speak, "Your mother sent someone to notify us about the matter. At that time, your second aunt proposed to discuss it with your cousin Yun Lian’s in-laws. Your grandma and I, we thought it would be better sooner than later, and wanted to solve everything in July. But your second aunt-in-law did not agree, insisted on waiting until August, under some pretext that the draft was towards the end of August. Your grandma and I thought we had enough time and did not insist."
"Only when the imperial decree reached our town did your second aunt-in-law slip up. We found out she intentionally postponed it that late. What is more infuriating is that your cousin’s in-laws didn’t know anything about the draft. Your second aunt-in-law didn’t tell them the truth when discussing the wedding date."
After her son finished speaking, Ms. Liu started cursing in a rage, "We’ve lived together for twenty years, how could I have known she would do something ? Now, your second cousin’s in-laws come over to create a ruckus day after day. Now that your second cousin is either in the local city or prefecture, we won’t be able to see her in the future. If something happens, we won’t be able to help her.
"Your second aunt-in-law has really messed things up!" Yang Chuxia was speechless.
Wang Yongshan helplessly said, "Your second aunt-in-law is daydreaming at home every day, saying that your second cousin might become the empress one day."
"Empress?" Yang Chuxia forced a smile, "My second aunt-in-law certainly has ambitions that are larger than life."