Chapter 553 - 552: No Other Choice

Chapter 553: Chapter 552: No Other Choice

The Xiao Family and the Xiao Family are not the same, and the Dugu Family and the Dugu Family are not the same either.

If Xiao Xianghua could switch identities with Xiao Yixun, in the entire marriage market of the Great Tang’s upper class society, she could choose as she pleased.

Unfortunately, she does not have Xiao Yixun’s identity; she is merely a collateral branch split off from the Direct Lineage of Lanling Xiao Family Imperial Uncle’s House, and a gradually declining collateral branch at that.

When the Direct Lineage got involved in dragging down nine generations, she was implicated; when the Direct Lineage reached success, all she could do was look up to them. Fate is so unfair.

A tree needs to prune excess branches to grow strong, and it’s the same for a family; concentrating resources on the Direct Lineage ensures that the family always retains a place in high society.

Lin Wanwan does not know how to comfort Xiao Xianghua.

Xiao Xianghua is already engaged, and three out of the six wedding rituals have been completed. Given her personality and conduct, she would never back out of the engagement and elope.

From an outsider’s perspective, Lin Wanwan actually thinks Dugu Di may not be the ideal match.

He is more handsome than that young gentleman from the Wang Family collateral branch, but he has an eye ailment!

While not completely blind, it’s close enough. Regardless, a healthy husband is surely better, so appearance can’t be considered an advantage.

His greatest advantage is indeed his noble status.

As a descendant of the Direct Lineage of the Dugu Family, he is close to both the Xiao Family and the Li Family. However, due to his eye ailment, he can only be a noble idler with no hope in officialdom.

And the seventeen-year-old young gentleman of the Wang Family still has hope of passing the imperial examinations, potentially entering officialdom and overtaking others.

Of course, Dugu Di may also have hidden power. Judging by the tactics he has shown, he is quite likely a figure in the underworld.

Throughout Tang Dynasty history, despite the Dugu Family’s noble status, their power was not prominent, constantly being suppressed by imperial power. Their latter generations focused on maintaining a low profile, guiding the country from behind.

On the surface, the Dugu Family hasn’t stirred much in the official history, far less than the Xiao Family. As for wild history and legends, it’s hard to judge, true or false.

Back when Princess Pingyang captured a piece of land in Guanzhong, supporters behind included the Dugu Family. This is a Gate Valve accustomed to working from behind the scenes, affecting national affairs.

Whereas Xiao Xianghua clearly better suits a stable, tranquil life.

Marrying the Wang Family young gentleman won’t be far from her parent’s home, and it’s considered well-matched. Choosing Dugu Di, however, would be indeed marrying up.

She might not become the lawful wife, and even if she barely became the lawful wife with her status as a Xiao Family member, life might still be difficult.

Marrying up is exhausting, not like modern society.

Besides, Dugu Di’s life at home might not be smooth sailing, possibly struggling, otherwise why would his eyes be in such a condition?

Lin Wanwan did check his eye ailment, and it wasn’t congenital but damaged later on.

Not to mention now Dugu Di chooses to leave Chang’an, wandering the world, one can imagine how much longing he has for home.

If it weren’t for Xiao Chong keeping him as staff by his side, he would be a drifting wanderer.

In the Great Tang, anyone over twenty who doesn’t marry, regardless of gender, doesn’t belong to rule-following people anymore.

Marrying such a person, how could life be stable? It doesn’t match well with a refined influencer like Xiao Yixun.

Ah, but if love affairs could be considered merely by advantage and disadvantage, Lin Wanwan would be worldly enlightened. In fact, she herself can’t achieve that, rather confused.

That night, Lin Wanwan and Xiao Xianghua slept toe to toe, talking all night long.

With things as they are, there isn’t much left to say in terms of comfort, even in modern times, reaching engagement and then reneging is troublesome, let alone during the Great Tang.

Even if Xiao Xianghua had the courage to pursue love, after breaking an engagement she couldn’t marry into a high-gate family, not to mention a top-tier Gate Valve like the Dugu Family, she could only marry down.

So whether there is love or not is unimportant; she has no choice. She is destined to marry step-by-step, and live on.

"At least you’re not marrying blind or dumb."

Lin Wanwan can only console her with this sentence, as the Wang Family young gentleman’s appearance has been seen, his family history is clear, and his character and learning are slightly understood. This is already acceptable.

Marrying first, loving later, may not necessarily be unhappy.

Even in modern society, there are many who love passionately before marriage but find their love messy after marriage.

And those who just decide to marry because they’ve reached the right age, may not necessarily be unhappy. As long as both have enough responsibility and maintain the marriage well, they can grow old together.

Xiao Xianghua’s feelings for Dugu Di might still be because she has more daily contact with him through Lin Wanwan. It’s hard for her to interact with other young men.

Only because Dugu Di frequently moves around with Xiao Chong and Lin Wanwan gives Xiao Xianghua the opportunity to approach and understand him.

As for the Wang Family young gentleman, Xiao Xianghua has only met twice, both times during Lin Wanwan’s grand banquets. They were only acquaintances in name, no chance or time to know and love!

The next day, Lu Ying’er from the County Government sent invitations, inviting the girls of the family to a polo match at the Ge Xian Temple, and everyone went.

Xiao Xianghua was particularly valiant on this day at the polo field, seemingly trying to vent all her suppressed emotions with each strike of the polo stick.

This time Lu Ying’er didn’t intentionally target Lin Wanwan. Without Xiao Chong around to stir things up, she maintained respect for Lin Wanwan as an esteemed lady.

Lu Ying’er also reached the age to be engaged, but there was no hope on Xiao Chong’s side.

The age difference doesn’t really matter; when their families need to marry for political alliances, the age gap doesn’t matter as long as the status is suitable.

The real issue is Xiao Chong’s attitude; no matter how her mother hints, Xiao Chong remains indifferent!

It seems her cousin brother genuinely doesn’t want to be bound.

Lu Ying’er feels lost, but she lacks the courage to directly ask Xiao Chong if he is willing to marry her. She can only follow her parents’ arrangements, holding onto hope while attending family banquets.

According to her thoughts, if she can’t marry her cousin brother, she doesn’t want to be engaged at all. She wants to wait for her cousin to remember her when he feels like marrying.

But her parents don’t allow her!

She merely hints at such thoughts, and she was grounded for half a month, suffering for it. If only she could be like her cousin, choosing not to marry or to go where she pleases.

Ah, freedom is great, she desires to be a free bird.

Lu Ying’er swung the stick again, watching the polo fly westward, slightly squinting her eyes when suddenly the beloved figure in the blue robe appeared in her view, with the evening sun glowing behind him.

Lu Ying’er rubbed her eyes and looked again.

Oops! Not an illusion, it’s real!

Lu Ying’er ignored the polo, pulled the reins, flashed a bright smile, and rode towards the person at the edge of the field.

"Cousin, you’ve come! I’m here!"