Free Web NovelChapter 1496: Brother Feifei Side Story (Part 2)_3
Lady Li found Madam Wan’s words reasonable.
Yueyao didn’t expect Li Guoxing would want Brother Feifei to be his granddaughter’s husband, and in such a time of rampant rumors, she was grateful that the Li family was willing to propose a marriage with them. However grateful she felt, she couldn’t accept this marriage proposal.
An Zhichen was puzzled as to why Yueyao didn’t want the marriage.
Yueyao said, "Sister Xiang is a good girl, but she’s not suitable for Feifei. Otherwise, I would have already proposed; I wouldn’t have looked at a girl from the Min family." Yueyao had a close relationship with the Li family, so she understood the temperament of the Li family’s daughters well. Sister Xiang was strong-willed and a bit willful, of course, nobody is perfect; everyone has flaws. But Brother Feifei likes gentle, calm, and amiable women. If Brother Feifei were to marry Sister Xiang, Yueyao believed the two would not get along in the future.
An Zhichen trusted Yueyao’s judgment; Brother Shengsheng’s marriage to the Princess was an imperial favor, not counting, but Brother Minmin and his wife, Madam Ping, were chosen by Yueyao, and now both young couples were living happily. An Zhichen said, "If you think they’re not suitable, then let’s refuse it!" An Zhichen was prepared for Brother Feifei to marry late, so even though Brother Feifei was twenty now, he was not in a hurry. As Yueyao said, as long as Brother Feifei achieves success in his studies, even if he doesn’t pass the imperial examinations at the highest level, but as long as he ranks among the top three, finding a good wife wouldn’t be a concern.
Yueyao went to the Li family the next day to apologize; she didn’t use any excuse to refuse the marriage, but directly stated that Brother Feifei and Sister Xiang’s personalities were not quite compatible.
Lady Li felt a bit uneasy about it.
Madam Wan quickly accepted Yueyao’s explanation. Face value wasn’t important, the daughter’s happiness was what mattered.
Li Guoxing heard the reason for Yueyao’s polite refusal of the marriage proposal, sighed slightly, and said, "What a pity." What a pity An Fei could not be his grandson-in-law.
Lady Li asked, "The Old Master thinks so highly of Brother Feifei?"
Li Guoxing nodded and said, "The child is naturally intelligent, has been through hardships, and with Yueyao’s guidance as a mother, his prospects are limitless."
Seeing Li Guoxing’s high praise for Brother Feifei, Lady Li’s heart was moved. If Brother Feifei was truly as her husband said, she thought about allying by marriage with Yueyao. Although Sister Xiang wasn’t suitable for Brother Feifei, her niece Biru from her mother’s side did meet Yueyao’s requirements.
Li Guoxing said, "This marriage, once formed, there will be no regrets." The good well water should not leave one’s own fields; if the granddaughter wasn’t suitable, the niece from his wife’s clan could work.
Upon receiving the news, Yueyao was very surprised but after the surprise came a bit of joy. Lady Li had to think Brother Feifei and Miss Meng were suitable; otherwise, she wouldn’t have mentioned it.
The marriage of Brother Feifei was also something Yueyao worried about. Although marrying late wasn’t a problem for a son, it would be better if a good marriage could be settled now and he could marry in three years; otherwise, if they wait three more years to talk about marriage, it would be another two or three years after that.
Yueyao didn’t dismiss Lady Li’s goodwill and suggested meeting Miss Meng first.
When meeting Miss Meng, Yueyao was very pleased. Miss Meng from the Meng family was elegant and graceful, dignified and courteous, exactly the type Brother Feifei liked.
Yueyao was satisfied with this; the Meng family also requested to meet Brother Feifei. This was personally arranged by Lady Li; otherwise, the Old Grand Master Meng wouldn’t even meet Brother Feifei. Brother Feifei was only a Scholar at twenty, a fact that made the Old Grand Master Meng look down on him.
Meng Biru reached marriageable age last October, now she was sixteen. After Meng Biru reached marriageable age, the Old Grand Master Meng started looking for a son-in-law but hadn’t been satisfied yet. Originally, he planned to choose a son-in-law from the palace graduates after the spring imperial examination, but because of Lady Li’s high praise for Brother Feifei, the Old Grand Master Meng didn’t want to miss out on a good son-in-law. If Brother Feifei were really as Lady Li described, then this marriage could be agreed upon.
Yueyao sought out Brother Feifei and discussed the matter with him, advising him to put on his best behavior.
Brother Feifei smiled and said, "Mother, matters of marriage are destined. What’s meant for me won’t pass by; what’s not meant for me, I can’t force."
Old Grand Master Meng met Brother Feifei and talked with him for half a day. After the conversation, Old Grand Master Meng approved Brother Feifei as his son-in-law.
An Zhichen was very satisfied with the marriage. The head of the Meng family, Old Grand Master Meng, was a high-ranking official, and now Old Grand Master Meng held a third-rank position. Additionally, Old Grand Master Meng’s two sons were a palace graduate and a Juren respectively, with promising futures. For Brother Feifei, the Meng family would be a great support. As for the girl’s character, since Yueyao liked her so much, she must be excellent.
Yueyao initially wanted Brother Feifei to meet Meng Biru, taking a look before marriage to leave an impression on both sides. Unfortunately, Brother Feifei refused: "Mother, you and Father can decide my marriage for me." His mother’s judgment was so good; there was no way it would be wrong.
Yueyao felt mixed about Brother Feifei’s attitude; she was pleased with his focus on the examinations but worried that his indifference to his marital affairs might lead to dissatisfaction in the future.
An Zhichen understood Yueyao’s worries, and said speechlessly, "You’re really worrying for no reason. As long as Miss Meng isn’t mentally unclear, things will be fine between her and Brother Feifei." After a pause, An Zhichen added, "I think you are just idle; you should find something to do!"
Yueyao laughed and said, "Alright, once the marriage is settled, I’ll go out to enjoy the scenery, what do you think?"
An Zhichen said nothing further.
