Chapter 21

After finishing her snack, she went to the Three Provinces Hall. Since Grandfather Yu had retired, he stayed at home every day and wasn’t too busy. She happened to catch him just then and asked why he wouldn’t let her go out.

Grandfather Yu first inquired about the palace situation. After hearing the details, he said, “If I say you’re not going out, then you’re not going out. There’s no need for so many questions.”

“How can there be no reason? What right do you have to ground me? You’re retired but still have the taste of an official, so now you want to punish your own granddaughter, is that it?” Yu Ying snapped harshly.

Grandfather Yu was about to get angry at her and puffed his beard, saying, “What nonsense are you talking? Do you think I want to keep you in check?”

“Then don’t bother!” she retorted.

He looked at her and said, “What’s this? You insist on going out even though I said no? You weren’t happy about the marriage before, but now you are?”

Yu Ying quickly replied, “That’s not it! This has nothing to do with marriage. I just want to know why you won’t let me watch the variety show!”

“If you want to watch, have your mother invite performers to the house in a few days, or you can go out yourself...” He started to say, then changed his mind halfway, “Forget it, you’re not young anymore. Don’t keep running off. Just stay at home properly.”

After saying this, Grandfather Yu went to get some tea. Yu Ying suddenly grabbed his arm and shook it, nearly spilling the tea on him, so he had to set the cup down again.

Pulling him along, she asked, “Why won’t you let me go out? You were once an official at the Ministry of Rites, not at the Court of Judicial Review. Why are you acting just like them, so unreasonable?”

Grandfather Yu was troubled. Why did this child always say such reckless things? The Court of Judicial Review was one of the three judicial agencies, known for fairness and strictness. How could she speak so carelessly! It was a blessing from their ancestors that she came out of there unharmed.

He said sternly, “I said no going out, then no going out. At least for these few days, stay home. After a few days, we’ll see.”

“What situation? Why? You have to give me a reason!” Yu Ying tugged harder on his clothes, making his head ache.

Annoyed by her pressure, Grandfather Yu finally said, “There’s something going on these days. Just stay home for now. When things settle, you’ll know.”

“What is it?”

“You’ll know in a few days.”

Yu Ying wanted to ask more, but Grandfather Yu waved her off and went to his bedroom, ignoring her.

Yu Ying was both angry and puzzled. She had no idea what her grandfather was up to but felt uneasy, suspecting it might be bad for her. Yet, she couldn’t figure out what he intended.

This confusion lingered until afternoon without resolution, so she gave up and fell asleep, forgetting about it.

The next morning, still asleep, Yun Jin came to wake her.

Since she usually didn’t get up early, her maid wouldn’t call unless there was something important. Half-awake, she responded and asked what was going on.

Yun Jin said, “A matchmaker came to the house and is talking with Madam in the Chengchun Garden.”

Yu Ying went back to sleep, thinking matchmakers were none of her concern.

But then she thought, no one in the family was arranging marriages except the elders who always wanted to marry her off. Could this matchmaker be here for her?

She sat up abruptly.

After half an hour of grooming, she hurried to Chengchun Garden. Just as she arrived, Madam Feng was seeing a matchmaker out. The matchmaker saw her and said, “Third Lady, long time no see. You haven’t changed a bit—truly like a celestial being.”

Yu Ying found her somewhat familiar but couldn’t place her immediately. Assuming the matchmaker was there for her, she gave her a cold glance and entered straight towards Madam Yu.

“Mother, why did the matchmaker come here?”

Madam Yu frowned, seeming troubled. Distracted, she replied, “To discuss marriage.”

“For whom?” Yu Ying scoffed inwardly, already guessing.

Madam Yu glanced at her and said simply, “You.”

Yu Ying was stunned. The first person who came to mind was Zheng Boru.

She hadn’t even agreed, and yet he came to propose? Wasn’t that courting trouble?

She asked, “Who? Who sent her?”

Madam Yu looked at her quietly and said, “Cheng Zijun.”

She herself was full of questions, confused and anxious. When she gave this answer, she thought her daughter would be just as shocked, if not more, so she waited expectantly.

As expected, Yu Ying stared wide-eyed for a long time without speaking, finally asking, “Did I hear wrong, or are you mistaken?”

Madam Yu replied, “You heard right, and I’m not mistaken. It was Cheng Zijun who sent her. Didn’t you notice she’s the same Matchmaker Zhao who arranged your previous matches?”

“Huh?” Yu Ying was stunned. Was she just slow to react, or had Cheng Xianzhang suddenly gone mad? Why would he come to their house to propose?

Her mind raced and she thought of one possibility: Cheng Xianzhang was rejected by the Su family; when they failed to find a suitable match, he blamed her and in anger decided to propose to her as retaliation. If the marriage went through, it would only be the beginning of a greater revenge.

She asked immediately, “You didn’t agree, right?”

Madam Yu hesitated, then said, “I didn’t want to agree. I don’t know what he’s up to. But your grandfather gave prior notice, so I had someone notify them. Your grandfather ordered immediate consent. So... the Cheng family will come in two days to formally propose and exchange the betrothal letters.”

Already shocked once, Yu Ying was stunned again.

She had thought it was a farce, but now they were talking about exchanging betrothal letters?

Was this really happening?

“So... why did you listen to grandfather? Why did he want you to agree?”

Madam Yu gave her a sharp look and said bitterly, “Because that’s your grandfather!”

Did she think everyone could argue back at their in-laws like her? Grandfather Yu was the undisputed head of the Yu family. After so many years of marriage, she didn’t dare say no to her father-in-law.

Yu Ying looked at her mother quietly for a long while, realizing that her mother couldn’t make decisions. She had to find someone who could.

Without another word, she turned and went to the Three Provinces Hall.

There, Grandfather Yu was amusing birds under the corridor, looking quite content and happy.

Yu Ying was displeased. He’d caused such a big matter but acted as if nothing had happened!

She approached without greeting and said directly, “Grandfather, what’s really going on? Why is Cheng Xianzhang proposing? Why did you agree?”

Grandfather Yu, already expecting her, frowned slightly at her disrespectful tone and said, “You’re about to marry; when you go to your in-laws’ house, mind your manners. Is that how you speak to your elders?”

Yu Ying grabbed his arm and said, “Explain Cheng Xianzhang’s business first, then scold me. You knew the matchmaker would come today, didn’t you? What are you scheming? Why decide my marriage without telling me?”

Grandfather Yu turned and walked inside; Yu Ying followed immediately.

He no longer tried to hide and said, “It was agreed upon. Now that things are settled, I expected the Cheng family to send a matchmaker in these days, so I told you to stay home. Now you know, you can watch the variety show, but don’t go to the Zheng family. Don’t see Zheng Qizhou anymore. Since you’ll be engaged to Cheng Zijun, you must avoid suspicion and idle gossip.”

Even after learning some details from her mother, Yu Ying was still shocked by Grandfather Yu’s matter-of-fact attitude.

She asked, “How was it agreed? When? Who did you agree with? Cheng Xianzhang? What did you agree on?”

Grandfather Yu calmly replied, “The marriage. If the Yu family remains safe and sound, you will marry.”

Yu Ying was puzzled. “How does the Yu family’s safety relate to the marriage?”

Lowering his voice, Grandfather Yu said, “He promised to help the Yu family on the condition that you marry him. I agreed. That’s it.” Then he warned, “This is confidential. Don’t tell anyone. You understand?”

“He promised to help the Yu family?” Yu Ying asked, then added, “Setting aside why he would do that or any schemes, he hasn’t helped the Yu family at all. So why did you agree to this marriage?”

Grandfather Yu answered steadily, “First, he has helped; second, it was a prior agreement. As long as the Yu family is safe, the marriage stands.”

Yu Ying didn’t know the full story, but Grandfather Yu clearly did. After the fire in Qingning Palace, the emperor ordered the Ministry of Punishments and the Censorate to investigate thoroughly. Zheng Qizhou deemed it an accident, but Cheng Zijun held a different view.

Grandfather Yu didn’t know the exact details of the conversation that day, but piecing together clues and his own deductions, he believed the fire in Qingning Palace was likely not accidental. The eldest granddaughter, in mortal danger, sacrificed herself to save the rest—she was the pawn abandoned.

The Court of Judicial Review, interpreting the emperor’s will, decided to implicate the Empress in the little princess’s case, giving the emperor a tool to bring down the Yu family.

The Yu family was a prestigious clan with extensive ties to other noble families in the capital. They were in a vulnerable transitional period, no longer holding their usual influence, making them prime targets.

But the Empress was innocent of the little princess’s death and was under strict investigation. She was tragically burned alive after suffering injustice and neglect. How could the emperor not grieve?

The emperor and empress had been married for over a decade; though their love may have faded, the bonds remained. With the Empress’s death, the emperor would surely regret it and would not further harm the Yu family, sparing them from further entanglement.

Only half the palace was burned; the Empress survived. The joint investigation by the Ministry of Punishments and the Censorate would surely uncover the truth.

But since the Empress had set fire to the palace in a suicide attempt, the matter was horrifying; no one could predict the emperor’s reaction.

Would he punish the Empress severely in anger, or would he repent and restore their marital harmony? Perhaps even the emperor and empress themselves didn’t know.

Hence, Zheng Qizhou chose to report the incident as an accident, while Cheng Xianzhang may have chosen to reveal the truth.

Whatever the outcome, it was ultimately positive. Grandfather Yu willingly fulfilled the promise made on that rainy night, especially since Cheng Zijun was the very grandson-in-law he had initially favored.

Yu Ying refused to accept this. She immediately said, “But I don’t want it! You didn’t even ask me!” Her eyes reddened.

Grandfather Yu sighed, “You know well that at that time, we had no choice. Compared to Zheng Qizhou, Cheng Zijun isn’t necessarily worse. You were willing then.”

“That was when I was foolish. Now I refuse. You go tell him it’s off. I won’t agree!” Yu Ying protested.

Grandfather Yu’s expression turned serious. “It’s settled. It can’t be changed.”

Yu Ying was dissatisfied, but she knew Grandfather Yu too well. She knew when to throw tantrums and when matters were set in stone. Continuing to fight would only bring punishment.

She turned and walked away, no longer arguing, instead going to her courtyard. She summoned the housemaids to prepare the carriage—she was determined to confront Cheng Xianzhang.

Initially, Cheng Xianzhang lived in an inn dormitory in the capital. Later, while awaiting his official appointment and arranging marriage, he rented a small courtyard. After marrying Yu Ying, with no house of his own, he lived in the residence provided by the Yu family as part of Yu Ying’s dowry.

The Yu family did not flaunt wealth. Their home was a modest two-courtyard house. The front courtyard was where Yu Ying and Cheng Xianzhang lived; the back courtyard was occupied by Cheng’s mother, Madam Zhou. Not lavish, but for a humble official just starting out, it was already ahead of many others.

After their divorce, Yu Ying took the property deed, furious at the time, thinking, “You live in my house, so why?”

After the divorce in Luoyang, they moved out of that small courtyard, stayed elsewhere temporarily, and a few years later acquired a new residence. This was her first time visiting it.

Fortunately, Cheng Xianzhang’s official rank was respectable. With a little inquiry, she quickly found the location. Standing before the courtyard gate marked “Cheng Residence,” she felt somewhat dazed but determined not to lose face. She told the maid to knock.

The maid stepped forward and struck the door knocker.

It was afternoon, hot, with few pedestrians on the street. Even the trees drooped lazily, and all was silent, making the knock sound loud.

The gatekeeper yawned and came to open the door. The maid asked, “Is the master at home?”

The gatekeeper glanced at the maid, then at Yu Ying behind her. Seeing such a stunning beauty, he became courteous and asked, “Does the lady have a visiting card?”

Before the maid could answer, Yu Ying said, “No card. Tell him my surname is Yu, and he’ll know.”

The gatekeeper was troubled. Judging by her demeanor and tone, she was clearly from an important family, but he didn’t recognize her. He replied, “The master just stepped out a moment ago...”

Yu Ying felt her luck was terrible, always missing people. Fearing the gatekeeper was deliberately stalling, she stepped forward and said, “Open the gate. Let me in to wait for him. I won’t leave without seeing him today!”