Chapter 134: Forestall (1/2)

“En!” Shi Lian could not hold herself back from confiding in her lover; skipping over the greeting, she hurriedly explained what she and Cai Yun had heard before asking helplessly, “Yufei, what should we do about this? Even though Auntie Fang went back today, surely she would pay a visit to Sister-in-law Sang Wan again tomorrow, or maybe even the day after tomorrow. If that happens——”

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Sang Yufei was stunned momentarily and was a little dumbfounded. He had met Shi Rui at one of the feasts and she was still a little girl with a round face and two round hair buns on her head.Marrying a child for a wife, a shiver ran down his spine.

“Calm down a little. We’ll think of a way together!” Although Sang Yufei was consoling her, he didn’t have a solution either. However, the marriage proposal must not leave Concubine Fang’s mouth.

He was not afraid of refusing their proposal. After all, the age gap between Shi Rui and him was too large, Shi Rui was still a little too young to be discussing about marriage. With just that reasoning, he would be able to refuse the marriage proposal easily. Even if Second Old Master Shi and Concubine Fang became unhappy about it, they could not be unreasonable. Ultimately, Shi Rui was too young and they could not force it upon him to wait for another three to four years!

However, if he were to do so, his Sang family could not propose to Shi Lian on his behalf anymore else, wouldn’t it be the same as slapping Second Shi family’s face? Wang Shi disliked inconvenience the most; she definitely wouldn’t want to offend her brother-in-law and her sister-in-law. Moreover, Shi Lian was not her blood-related daughter, why would she go through all that trouble for her?

“Concubine Fang will definitely mention it again, how can I not feel anxious!” Shi Lian was so worried that her tears almost fell. She spoke without hesitation but felt embarrassed soon after. Her face flushed red and she lowered her head, not knowing what to say anymore.

“You should head back first! Let me think through this slowly! You don’t have to mind Concubine Fang and act ignorant. I will meet with my younger sister later and talk to her about this.” Sang Yufei consoled her gently.

Shi Lian no longer cared about acting restraint and asked Sang Yufei tearily, “Have you thought of a solution?”

Sang Yufei raised his brows and said, “At most, I will just avoid this matter entirely. I’ll leave the household and head for the capital tomorrow. When I leave, this matter will not be raised anymore. Sang Wan is my younger sister. A younger sister doesn’t meddle in their older brother’s marriage. It will be futile for them to mention it to Sang Wan!”

Shi Lian felt relieved upon hearing him but felt a strong twinge of longing, “You’re leaving so soon?” Even though they did not get to meet everyday, but knowing that he lived in her household and that they were so close to one another, Shi Lian had been in a very good mood these few days! Now that he was leaving again so abruptly, she found it hard to accept.

“It is just a matter of time. Don’t worry and head back quickly, don’t let anyone see you!” Sang Yufei smiled and said.

“Then, please take care.” Shi Lian sighed and left hurriedly.

Sang Yufei was deep in thought as he strolled in the flower garden with his hands behind his back. Not too long after, he changed the direction he was facing and headed towards Ning Garden.

The day was short during winter. Sang Wan was resting her eyes in her chamber when she heard her second brother was visiting. She smiled and got up to welcome him.

They were close as siblings and they spoke in her chamber.

“Second Brother, is something the matter?” After the tea was served and the maidservants left, Sang Wan asked with a smile.

“Sang Wan, you have to help me this time!” Sang Yufei sipped a mouthful of tea before speaking to her about his problem. He did not mention Shi Lian and merely explained that he overheard one of Second Shi family’s maidservants in the flower garden. Sang Yufei did not want anyone to know about his relationship with Shi Lian as he did not wish for her to be looked down upon.

“This, this—— are you sure you didn’t hear wrong?” Sang Wan widened her eyes in disbelief.

Shi Rui? That playful, gluttonous, and cheerful little girl that was clearly still like a child, who would cry to look for her nanny when she fell down? Concubine Fang actually wants to marry her off to my second brother?

In the future, I’d have to greet her as “Second Sister-in-law”? Just thinking about it gave Sang Wan goosebumps and brought shivers down her spine.

“I didn’t hear everything clearly, but I am almost a hundred percent sure about this.” Sang Yufei smiled bitterly, “I think I will bid my farewells to Old Mistress now and leave for the capital tomorrow!”

“That’s a little too rushed!” Sang Wan sighed softly.

“Sang Wan, you’ve got to help me out, please!” Sang Yufei said and joked, “Unless you want that little girl to be your sister-in-law!”

Sang Wan laughed and reasoned, “There’s such a big difference between your age and hers, there wouldn’t be any impact even if you reject them politely. Why do you have to ——but that’s true, leaving earlier would be better!”

Indeed, it will be awkward to stay in someone else’s house after rejecting a marriage proposal that they had put forward. A lot of trouble could be saved if he left early.

“I had planned to leave in a few days anyway. It’ll be easier to find lodgings if I head to the capital earlier.” Sang Yufei smiled.