MYUFPC CHAPTER 33
Congratulations, Fourth Uncle
Zhan Tai was more than a decade older than Zhan Yue. Having already been named heir, he usually maintained a sense of self-importance and rarely argued with Zhan Yue. Of course, Zhan Yue was equally unlikely to initiate a conflict with him.
In the entire Duke's manor, apart from the Old Matriarch whom Zhan Yue might show a modicum of respect, he seemed to barely acknowledge the existence of anyone else.
It wasn't even that he harbored resentment towards them; he simply ignored them.
Yet today, Zhan Yue had suddenly bared his sharp fangs. Zhan Tai was momentarily taken aback, his usually composed and mature face flushing with embarrassment.
"I was only worried about Father," Zhan Tai said.
"The heir is a dutiful son," Zhan Yue replied with an unruffled expression. "I feel quite ashamed."
"You ingrate!" The Duke of Anguo was still fuming. He set the imperial edict aside and pointed at Zhan Yue, berating him. "You have no sense of hierarchy between legitimate and illegitimate children, no respect for the order of things! The princess is marrying into our family. How is your elder sister-in-law supposed to address her, how is she supposed to greet her? Is your sister-in-law more noble, or is the princess more noble?"
Zhan Yue smiled and replied affirmatively, "Naturally, it's the princess."
The Duke of Anguo was instantly enraged and launched into a tirade against Zhan Yue.
Zhan Yue lowered his head and took a sip of tea. His eyes were calm and serene, as if he were listening to a duck quacking. Only when the Duke had finished his rant did Zhan Yue lightly lift his chin, signaling to Liu Qi to collect the two imperial edicts.
Liu Qi stepped forward and, without glancing at Zhan Yue or the others, took the edicts directly from the Duke of Anguo.
Zhan Yue's eyes were as dark as night. Arching an eyebrow, he said, "If the Duke has finished his lecture, might I be excused?"
"I must also go and report this good news to Grandmother." Zhan Yue stood up. Dressed in his Jinwu Guard uniform and towering over eight feet tall, even when standing quietly, he exerted a considerable amount of pressure on Zhan Tai and Zhan Shaoying.
The Duke of Anguo remained silent and did not answer. Seeing that he was not going to get a response, Zhan Yue simply turned and left.
As soon as he left, a thud was heard. Zhan Shaoying, unable to hold himself up any longer, slumped sideways into the armchair.
Seeing her son like this, Zhang shi felt a thousand and one complex emotions. It was worse than as if Zhan Yue had stabbed her heart with a knife!
To kill a snake, strike it at its most vulnerable par. Zhan Yue had truly struck at the heart of the matter.
Zhang shi's lips trembled and she shuddered violently.
When Zhang shi and Zhan Tai returned to their courtyard, Zhang shi finally couldn't contain her emotions. Covering her face with one hand, her delicate makeup was smudged.
Her body tensed, she pushed away the tea offered by Yingchun and looked up at Zhan Tai, saying, "My lord, what are we going to do!"
Thinking about Chen Gong's attitude towards Zhan Yue, Zhang shi couldn't help but say, "If he really marries the princess, where will there be any place for Ying'er in this manor in the future!"
Although Zhan Yue was a son of a concubine, once his child had the blood of the Grand Princess, Zhan Shaoying would certainly be no match for that child! How could the Emperor allow a child with royal blood to remain without rank or title?
Could the Duke of Anguo's title really pass down to Zhan Shaoying?
The Emperor had granted this marriage, but what kind of marriage was it? It was clearly intended to sow discord among the younger generation of the Duke of Anguo's mansion!
Zhang shi's heart was filled with bitterness and resentment, but she dared not speak out directly due to the Emperor's authority.
Having been married to Zhang shi for twenty years, Zhan Tai understood her quite well.
While Zhan Tai's brow was also furrowed, and he showed sadness on his face, he had been an official for many years and had once enjoyed a harmonious relationship with the Emperor. With a half-sigh, he said, "His Majesty is not a foolish man. I don't think he would do something so unjust as to disregard the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children."
"The court has already promised me the position of the heir. I guess the reason His Majesty has sent him to the Five Armies Superintendent's Office is that he doesn't intend for him to inherit the title," Zhan Tai said. "Ying'er is also considered to be quite favored among the younger generation. Don't upset yourself."
If it weren't for today's edict regarding Zhan Yue's marriage to the princess, Zhang shi might have truly believed that Zhan Shaoying was favored. But now, who was truly favored?
Zhang shi couldn't help but compare Zhan Shaoying to Zhan Yue. She laughed bitterly and said, "He is already a third-rank General Commander. And now, with another position as a Superintendent of the Five Armies, even the Duke himself can't compare to his deep favor with the Emperor."
Upon hearing her say this, Zhan Tai felt a tinge of displeasure. What man likes to hear his wife praise another man? Although Zhang shi didn't mean to praise Zhan Yue, these words were even more flattering.
Zhan Tai's expression turned slightly cold, and his eyes, which closely resembled those of the Duke of Anguo, narrowed slightly. His nostrils flared with a hint of impatience. He said, "Let's wait and see."
Sensing Zhan Tai's change in mood, Zhang shi pursed her lips and clutched her handkerchief tightly. She didn't say anything more.
After leaving the main hall, Zhan Yue didn't go directly to the Old Lady Wen's courtyard. Instead, he returned to his own courtyard, took off his official robes, changed into casual clothes, and then went to see the Old Lady Wen.
He could disregard what the Duke of Anguo thought, he could freely belittle Zhan Tai and Zhang shi, and he could even ignore everyone in the Duke's manor, but he could not avoid personally informing the Old Lady.
She was the one who had carefully raised him for twenty years after his mother passed away.
Zhan Yue's steps were heavy. His face showed no emotion, and he lowered his head to look at his black and gold cloud-patterned boots.
Sheng mama was guarding the door of the Old Lady Wen's room, as if waiting for someone. When she saw Zhan Yue arrive, she smiled and said softly, "Fourth Young Master is here."
"The Old Lady has not rested yet," Sheng mama said.
Zhan Yue raised his eyebrows slightly. He said, "Is she waiting for me?"
Sheng mama didn't speak, she just nodded with a smile.
A slight smile appeared at the corner of Zhan Yue's mouth. It was unclear whether it was bitter or genuine happiness. He nodded indifferently.
Sheng mama lifted the curtain and invited him in, but she herself remained outside. Seeing this, Liu Qi also stood guard outside with his eyes fixed on his nose and his nose on his mouth, as motionless as a statue, dutifully carrying out his task.
There were no extra servants in Old Lady Wen's room. She sat alone in the upper seat, her hands constantly turning a rosary, and the room was still filled with the familiar, faint scent of sandalwood.
Hearing footsteps, Old Lady Wen lifted her eyelids slightly. She looked at Zhan Yue and said in a deep voice, "You're here?"
"Yes," Zhan Yue said.
The room was dimly lit, half of his face was hidden in the shadows, revealing only a dark side profile, still appearing as handsome as a jade statue.
Zhan Yue's voice was cold. He said, "Grandson once promised Grandmother that when the time was right, I would personally tell you why I was unwilling to marry Feng Shi. Now, Grandson has come."
Old Lady Wen half-closed her eyes. Although her body was still quite strong, her eyesight was not as clear as before. She squinted her eyes for a moment before she could clearly see Zhan Yue's figure.
She said, "I've already heard about it."
"You are going to marry a princess," Old Lady Wen looked at him, her voice revealing no joy or anger, "Are you happy?"
Zhan Yue replied, "Happy."
Old Lady Wen was not surprised by his answer. She continued to ask, "Why are you happy?"
"Because—" Zhan Yue paused.
His long eyebrows raised slightly, his facial features were distinct. He looked at Old Lady Wen and said word by word, "I like the Eldest Princess."
"Mm," Old Lady Wen nodded slowly and said, "You're happy because of that, right."
Zhan Yue's lips moved. His eyes seemed to be casual, but in those pupils, there seemed to be a hint of gloom that was inconsistent with his clean appearance.
Old Lady Wen said, "Marrying a princess is a big deal. If something goes wrong, His Majesty will also have some reservations about the Duke's Mansion. I've already had Sheng mama pass a message to the people in the eldest branch. I will personally handle your marriage and won't let your eldest sister-in-law interfere."
Zhan Yue's nose was high and his eyes were like stars. Hearing Old Lady Wen's words, Zhan Yue couldn't help but blink his long eyelashes. His face was white and smooth.
"Thank you, Grandmother," Zhan Yue said softly.
Old Lady Wen looked at him quietly, her gaze sometimes complex, sometimes filled with compassion and pity. She turned the rosary in her hand and closed her eyes slightly. She said slowly, "The Zhan family owes your mother."
Zhan Yue's teeth clenched tightly. His face was half-stiff, and after a moment, he slowly returned to normal.
Old Lady Wen's authoritative and calm voice sounded again. She said slowly, "I have only one request of you."
Zhan Yue knelt down straight, his eyelids trembled. "You say."
"As long as I'm alive, as long as your father is alive," Old Lady Wen opened her eyes. Her gaze was not as confused as that of an elderly person, but rather filled with sharpness.
She stared at Zhan Yue and said softly, "I don't allow this Duke's Mansion to be in turmoil."
Zhan Yue knelt on the ground expressionlessly, his knees ice-cold, and his narrow eyes devoid of color. After a brief moment, Zhan Yue gently touched his distinct knuckles with his forehead.
He said, "I will listen to Grandmother."
Old Lady Wen said, "Get up."
She reached out a hand to help him up. "It's getting cold. The ground is chilly."
Zhan Yue was helped up by Old Lady Wen. In turn, he slowly supported his grandmother's hand. He felt that the skin on those hands was already showing signs of old age and was very loose.
Yet, the burning temperature was as thick and warm as it had been in the past.
Zhan Yue's eyes were slightly sore.
After leaving Old Lady Wen's main courtyard, Zhan Yue took a detour to see Zhan A Li.
In just one afternoon, the news of Zhan Yue's marriage to a princess had spread throughout the Duke's Mansion, and Zhan A Li had already heard about it. Seeing Zhan Yue, the joy on his face was genuine. He waved his hands and feet excitedly and said, "Fourth Uncle, am I going to have a princess aunt?"
"Yes," Zhan Yue was infected by his happiness, and finally a smile appeared on his face as it should have been.
Zhan A Li was smug. "That's great, congratulations Fourth Uncle!"
This was the first congratulatory message Zhan Yue had heard today. Perhaps in the entire mansion, only Zhan A Li's congratulations were sincere and without any impurities.
Zhan Yue smiled and said, "I should be thanking A Li instead."
Zhan A Li didn't understand, but he was happy to hear his fourth uncle say that. He grabbed Zhan Yue's hand and said, "Then, when can I have a little brother?"
Zhan A Li was the youngest in the Duke's Mansion and was often treated like a little radish head, so he was very much looking forward to the birth of someone younger than him.
Hearing that his fourth uncle was going to get married, Zhan A Li's first concern was this matter. He looked at Zhan Yue with sparkling eyes.
Zhan Yue's gaze drifted a little. Thinking of Jiasan's words about "not being able to bear him a son or daughter in a short time," his expression was as calm as a lake. As for whether there were turbulent waves or icy cracks beneath that surface, it was impossible to know.
He pinched Zhan A Li's face and said in a low and soft voice, "I'll try."
Zhan A Li reached out a hand and laughed as he hooked his pinky with Zhan Yue's.