"Alright," Mu Hanyan nodded immediately. First out of curiosity, and secondly because she found it truly tedious to accompany the old man drinking tea every day, listening to his repetitive apologies.
Soon, they arrived at the council hall, only to see that both the Yuan Family Patriarch and Xu Family Master were there.
"Brother Wu, youâre here too, just in time. Thereâs a huge piece of good news to inform you about; your timing couldnât be better," Mr. Yuan said beaming with joy.
Next to him, Xu Family Master was also smiling broadly, rubbing his hands together excitedly, showing the same kind of behavior as Wu Longji earlier.
A huge piece of good news? Mu Hanyan looked curiously at Mr. Yuan, then at Xu Family Master, and then at Wu Longji... Hmm, has my auspicious beast shown its powers again, bringing so much good news?
But why does Father look so troubled and sorrowful? Oh right, he seems like he wants to cry but canât shed any tears, with not a hint of joy visible.
"Whatâs going on?" Wu Longji asked curiously.
"Itâs like this, I have already discussed with Family Head Mu and agreed to betroth my eldest daughter to Young Master Han Yan, who is also Tian Boâs sister. Young Master Han Yan, you must have met her," said Yuan Family Patriarch, stroking his beard with a smile.
"What?" Mu Hanyan felt as if struck by thunder and almost doubted her own hearing.
"Young Master Han Yan, you will be my brother-in-law from now on, but donât worry. I, Yuan Tianbo, am certainly not someone who doesnât know his place. Once we become family, I will call you Brother Han Yan," Yuan Tianbo said with a shameless smile.
Mu Hanyan looked at Yuan Tianboâs sneering face and really wanted to kick him out.
"And my familyâs eldest Houseâs daughter is also betrothed to Young Master Han Yan. However, I was a step too late and had to settle her as a concubine," Xu Family Master added with a forlorn tone. The truth wasnât that he was a step too late, but rather the Xu Familyâs current status was not secure enough to dispute the primary position with the Yuan Family.
"Father, this... this..." Mu Hanyan was in complete disarray, looking helplessly at Mu Ruiâan.
Others might not know the inside story, but could her father be unaware? What kind of joke was this? Could she even get married, not to mention marrying twice? Everything had turned into a complete mess.
"I didnât say a single word; they arranged it all by themselves," Mu Ruiâan shrugged his shoulders and said helplessly.
He had long been frustrated by the two old men chatting away, each going back and forth with their points. And there were some matters he couldnât just come out and state directly. Unable to refuse any longer, he had to let the two of them talk amongst themselves.
"By the way, Brother Wu, did you come to see the City Lord for something?" Elder Yuan asked.
"Heh, I also came to discuss a marriage proposal. A few days ago, I sent a message via our flying eagles, reporting the affairs of the Mu Family to our clan. The Family Head and the elders, feeling ashamed for not having lent their full support previously, have decided as a way to make amends to betroth our youngest daughter to Young Master Han Yan.
"Although the girl is only thirteen, she is endowed with natural grace, well-read, and well-mannered; she is even more so blessed with a beauty that could overthrow states and cities. She has always been the darling of the Family Head and the Supreme Elder, and she will certainly not dishonor the Mu Family," Wu Longji revealed, laughing cheerfully.
While it was a step late, with the Wu Familyâs status, it was inconceivable that their daughter would become a concubine once married into the Mu Family. Of this, he was quite confident.
Mu Hanyan was at her witsâ end, with cold sweat streaming down. What kind of situation was this? Two wasnât enough, and now here came an underaged one? This wasnât the way to make a joke.
"What, youâre here about this matter too?" the Yuan Family Patriarchâs face subtly changed. With the Xu Familyâs fall from grace, their Family Headâs own granddaughter can only be a concubine; his own Yuan Familyâs status was far below that of the Wu Family, wouldnât they face the same fate?
Beside him, Xu Family Master showed a schadenfreude expression.
Wu Longji smiled silently, some things were well understood by everyone; there was of course no need to speak them aloud.
"How about this, letâs have the two girls become official wives, what do you think, Family Head Mu?" the Yuan Family Patriarch asked.
Mu Ruiâan watched his nose and his heart, pretending he hadnât heard. He had already been confused by the two old men earlier, and now with another one joining in, it was even more unclear, so he simply couldnât be bothered with them and let them fend for themselves.
Mu Ruiâan didnât speak, but Wu Longji showed a displeased expression. It wasnât that he looked down on the Yuan Family Patriarch, but among families, face mattered most; everything needed to have clarity on status and respect, and to match their Wu Familyâs girl with a mere Yuan Family girl as an official wife would surely make others think the Wu Family had completely fallen into misfortune.
"How about this, Miss Wu is still underage, letâs hold her matrimonial events later on. At noon, letâs just carry out the ceremony between my Qingqing and Young Master Han Yan, and they can consummate the marriage tonight." The Yuan Family Patriarch indeed had courage; with a slight thought, he made up his mind.
Never mind being the first or second family of Nanxi County, there was always an order to such matters. How could his Yuan Family not count as a large and prosperous one, they were not just some common family, as long as they cooked the raw rice into cooked rice first, could they still fear not getting the position of an official wife?
Consummation... Mu Hanyan felt a chill, if it wasnât for the fact that the Yuan Family Patriarch was quite old, she really wanted to hurl a few llamas at him.
"Old fellow, youâre ruthless!" Wu Longji glared fiercely at the Yuan Family Patriarch.
"Elder Grandfather, what should we do?" Wu Qiuyun asked worriedly.
"What else can we do? Itâs all because of the stubborn old men in our clan dragging their feet and being miserly. If it were up to me, I would simply pick a suitable age, and not even bother with asking for marriage, forcing a marriage would do, using drugs would also do, just cook the raw rice first and talk later." Wu Longji said fiercely.
Mu Hanyanâs ears were sharp, and upon hearing this she nearly stumbled and fell to the ground.
Indeed, the second largest family in Nanxi County, they were ruthless and decisive! Mu Hanyan truly witnessed it.
"Family Head Mu, if you donât speak up, weâll take this as settled, Iâll have Qingqing brought over right now and quickly prepare the bridal chamber," the Yuan Family Patriarch said gleefully, seeing Wu Longji being frustrated.
"Ah, I think Iâm on the cusp of a breakthrough, time to go into seclusion, time to go into seclusion," Mu Ruiâan suddenly slapped his thigh and darted out, vanishing instantly without a trace.
"Ah, I think I might have a breakthrough too, you all chat, Iâll take my leave first," Mu Hanyan also rushed out quickly.
Just reaching the doorway, she ran into Mu Hanfeng coming in.
"Big Brother, I heard several Family Heads came looking for Father for important matters, what exactly is it about?" Mu Hanfeng asked curiously as he walked in.
"Good things, tremendously good things." Seeing Wu Longji and the others coming up behind her, Mu Hanyan casually pushed Mu Hanfeng inside, then fled in panic.
Before leaving, she didnât forget to yell: "Old Sir Wu, Yuan Family Master, my younger brother will soon come of age too, heâs much better than this playboy, you all decide for yourselves, itâs all the same, no difference between us brothers! You must seize the good fortune, hahaha."
"My dear brother, in the past life I caused your death for my sake, this lifetime should be viewed as your sister compensating you. Beauties by your side, a sea of wives, thatâs something people canât even dream of," Mu Hanyan shamelessly thought, seeing a flabbergasted Mu Hanfeng swiftly surrounded by the old men.