Time Travel: The Noble Family

Chapter 126: Chapter 55: Ma Peng’s Marriage_2

Yueyao was unsettled, “Has Uncle made any inquiries to clarify why the Eldest Miss Zhuang, with such a good family background, would choose my eldest cousin? Could there be anything improper about her?” With her maternal grandfather being the Duke Ning and her father a third-rank official, if there wasn’t anything untoward, she definitely should marry into a wealthy and noble family, not pick my block-headed eldest cousin. Yueyao instinctively felt there was a problem here.

“Nanny Deng, preoccupied with happiness, didn’t think much further, “Miss, don’t be in such a hurry. If there really was anything improper about the Zhuang Family’s Young Lady, Uncle Master would not have agreed. Don’t you think?” He wouldn’t cheat his own legitimate eldest son, his flesh and blood, and the future pillar of the family.

After pondering for a while, Yueyao thought, although Uncle was not fond of managing domestic affairs, he never made any mistakes in external matters; otherwise, he wouldn’t have steadily risen through the ranks.

After thinking, Nanny Deng said, “Miss, for such a joyous occasion, it’s not suitable for you to visit Uncle Master’s house, but this old servant can go. What do you think?” Since the Miss felt uneasy, it was best to go and find out the truth.

Yueyao hastily nodded; she also wanted to know what was really going on.

Nanny Deng came back in the evening and told Yueyao in detail: “Miss, the Zhuang Family’s Young Lady is top-notch in both looks and character, and she’s also very capable. However, it’s said that she’s a bit headstrong and has a fierce temper. It’s rumored that Madam Zhuang, her stepmother, has never had any advantage over her.”

Nanny Deng had heard this from Granny Liu. The current Madam Zhuang, Madam Bao, was also a stepmother, and the mother of Miss Zhuang, Madam Lu, passed away many years ago. While Madam Bao is the blood niece of Old Madam Zhuang and the cousin of Lord Zhuang. They say there’s always a downside to having a stepmother, and here the stepmother is the blood niece of Old Madam Zhuang. Normally in such tales, the stepchildren are horribly bullied. Unfortunately for them, Miss Zhuang’s maternal family is from the Duke Mansion, and the Duchess has a very strong character. Madam Bao could not do anything to her siblings.

After listening, Yueyao laughed. Miss Zhuang’s fiery temper might be seen as undesirable by other families, but for the Ma Family, it was perfect. She could keep Lady Cheng in line and also support her eldest cousin. Yueyao believed Ma Peng was too honest, and if he married someone equally gullible, they wouldn’t get far in officialdom. If he could marry such a capable helpmeet, it would truly be a blessing from heaven.

Nanny Deng said with a smile, “Miss, the Eldest Young Master Zhuang has excellent literary talent. This time, he was successful in the examination alongside your eldest cousin, ranking among the top twenty-plus candidates. In the future, this will be a significant assist to your cousin.” Unlike Second Young Master, the Eldest Young Master shared no camaraderie with his cousin; as a lone figure, he was somewhat vulnerable. But now with a promising young uncle, he could lend a helping hand in the future.

Yueyao genuinely became intrigued, “How could such a wonderful young lady still be unmarried until now?” Miss Zhuang was only a year younger than her eldest cousin, soon to be sixteen. With such an excellent family background and top-notch personal qualities, why was she still unmarried? It was quite peculiar.

Nanny Deng shook her head, “Every family has its own difficult scripture. There must be a reason for the delay in her matchmaking. However, I heard from Granny Liu that apparently, Eldest Young Master Zhuang took a liking to your cousin, but the exact circumstances are unclear, even to Granny Liu.”

Upon hearing this, Yueyao was taken aback, “It was Eldest Young Master Zhuang himself who took a liking to my cousin? What did he see in him?” Her cousin’s looks were average, nowhere near handsome; he was too simple and honest, bluntly put, rather dull; and his literary skill was not outstanding, just an everyday person. Yueyao couldn’t understand what the Zhuang Family’s young master saw in her cousin. But it couldn’t be that he had any ulterior motives. Miss Zhuang was, after all, the granddaughter of the Duke, and by all accounts marrying her cousin would be a step down, somewhat beneath her.

Suddenly, Yueyao’s expression changed somewhat, “There wouldn’t be anything improper with Miss Zhuang, would there?” It wasn’t that she had some illicit affair and was seeking my eldest cousin as a scapegoat, for that would truly be a trap for him. Yueyao thought this way because she had heard too many such stories in the Nunnery. Usually, in major households where such things occur, they cover it up by marrying the girl off to someone else, making him the fall guy.

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Nanny Deng turned pale, not doubting Miss Zhuang’s reputation but being shocked by Yueyao’s idea, “What nonsense is this you’re speaking, Miss! Although Miss Zhuang has a somewhat fiery temperament, her reputation is excellent. Furthermore, with Lord Zhuang and Uncle Master serving as officials together, engaging in such actions would not just be a familial alliance but an enmity. I don’t know if the Miss is influenced by what happened before; why would she think in such dirty terms?”