Chapter 80 Don’t Disturb My Cousin!

The two met Lian Ding in the front hall and they came to the parlor and sat down.

After the greetings, Ruan Qingyan sent the servants and maids away and came to the point, “The housekeeper Mr. Ruan has found my aunt’s dowry list. What about the old Princess’?”

Lian Ding said instantly, “Grand aunt’s list is also here.” He looked at Qiu Yelan. “The people recommended by Cousin Qiu were terrific. They brought it in with the box. Grandpa saw it and said they had traveled for such a long distance and the box had been so well kept that there wasn’t even a scratch on it. If he had known them earlier, he wouldn’t have hired the escorts when he returned to our hometown.”

Ruan Qingyan coughed, “I got to know them by chance when I was in the South. I just mentioned them when I heard my cousin talk about them that day.”

“It was you who recommended them?” Lian Ding came to understand. “I was wondering how Cousin Qiu could know such people.”

Ruan Qingyan stared fiercely at his cousin who bowed her head and digressed, “Since the dowry lists are here and Qiu Mengmin has recovered. Then it is time that we agreed on a date for the visit.”

Lian Ding nodded, “Before I came, my grandfather said that you are the new Jinshi. It would be better for you to deal with this matter than him.”

“How can this matter be done without Mr. Lian?” Ruan Qingyan smiled, “But there is no one of the same generation with Mr. Lian in Prince’s Mansion of Xihe. It’s not appropriate for Mr. Lian to go in person. In my opinion, let’s make a copy of the list and visit Qiu Mengmin first. If he agrees, then there is no need to bother the elders. If he refuses, then we’ll ask the elders to talk to him about the matter. What’s your idea?”

Lian Ding said briskly, “That’s perfect.”

Next, they discussed over the date to visit Qiu Mengmin. Since Ruan Qingyan had to support Peng Laiyue, so it was scheduled after the Courtesan Competition.

Lian Ding had no objection over the date but disclosed a message, “My uncle was made Prefect of Kuaicheng the other day and my father was also made Justice of Dali Temple. We don’t wanna disturb the Jiangs any more and are planning to buy a new house. It’s good that we just have the time to deal with the new house and then we can settle down to confront the Duke of Xihe.”

“Both uncles have been promoted?” Qiu Yelan asked in surprise, “This is a happy event. Why didn’t you tell us early? I should have congratulated them.”

“Actually, my uncle was Prefect.” Lian Ding sighed, “My father also served in Dali Temple. But my great-grandfather died that year and they came back with the coffin for the funeral and were never called back. Thanks to the pity of the Empress, she demanded the Official Department to ask about it and resume their original ranks.”

The most outstanding of the Lians’ Family was the old Princess’ father Minister Lian. When Minister Lian was still alive, though his sons and grandsons were not well educated, they still found their way in the officialdom thanks to his blessing. When Minister Lian died, the Lians’ Family quickly returned to its original form. To be honest, it was common for someone to lose office and become a squire during his mourning for his parents just because he had no relatives in the imperial court.

Therefore, the four of the Lians came not only for the sake of Qiu Yelan, but also they wanted to take this opportunity to seek recovery.

Now they had achieved what they wanted and built a relationship with the booming Jiangs. What a bonus it was!

Ruan Qingyan and Qiu Yelan congratulated. Ruan Qingyan asked, “Have you found the new house? When I first came to the capital, I didn’t expect to inherit anything, but I was also looking for a house for a while. So, I know a bit about houses here in the capital and might be of any help.”

Lian Ding said with a smile, “Thank you. But the Jiangs sent a butler to help us. My father told me it was almost settled.”

Ruan Qingyan nodded and told Lian Ding to let him know if he could be of any help. Lian Ding asked for the opportunity to go to his house to ask for help with his lessons in his spare time. After all, only Minister Lian was a Jinshi in the family and the others were at most Juren. They needed someone like Ruan Qingyan for guidance.

Ruan Qingyan, who had wanted him to cover his cousin’s blind date, naturally agreed.

At this point, Ruan Qingyan looked at the bronze clock in the corner of the room and was about to ask Lian Ding for dinner when Lian Ding pondered and said to Qiu Yelan, “I heard you’ve opened a school for girls and invited Madam Shao, the most famous female teacher in the Capital.”

Qiu Yelan asked, “How did you know that? Is Madam Shao so famous?”

“We haven’t been in Jing City for more than ten years. Somebody else told us about that.” Lian Ding explained, “It is said that Madam Shao is expert at teaching. All the young ladies taught by her are elegant and virtuous, and are praised by others.”

Uh, hope I won’t ruin her reputation….

Qiu Yelan felt a bit guilty for no reason and was about to speak when Lian Ding asked embarrassedly, “My aunt came to the capital for treatment with us. She brought her daughter… I wonder if you would accept her to your school?”

Qiu Yelan was stunned. Ruan Qingyan cut in, “I’m afraid this is inappropriate.”

“Sorry, I’m too reckless….” Lian Ding was young and inexperienced. He was so awkward when he was refused.

Lian Ding felt ashamed and was about to apologize when Ruan Qingyuan said, “Please don’t get me wrong. I say this for such a reason: Madam Shao may be a good teacher. But the school is in the Prince’s Mansion. You know Qiu Mengmin and his wife have always been unkind to Yelan and we are gonna talk to Qiu Mengmin about the dowry after the Courtesan Competition…. Yelan is from the Qiu Family and she just has to live there. If your cousin is there, I’m afraid she has to suffer!”

I have broken my heart for my cousin who lives alone in the Mansion! And now you want your cousin to be there too. Whatever your purpose is, my cousin will have to suffer if anything happens to your cousin in the Mansion. How can this be!

Lian Ding did not understand him and said, “Actually, my grandfather is worried about Cousin Qiu. He thinks, though Cousin Wang is one year younger than Cousin Qiu, she has always been calm since my uncle passed away early. If she is with Cousin Qiu in the girls’ school, they can take care of each other.”

Ruan Qingyan didn’t like these words. He thought, “Your twelve-year-old cousin is calm? Could she match my thirteen-year-old cousin who is able to talk eloquently in the court?! Doesn’t that mean your cousin is more capable than my cousin?!”

“But it’s not up to my cousin to decide whether she can enter the school or not. You’ll have to ask Princess Yang for permission.” Ruan Qingyan said lightly. “So… when are you going to talk about it with her?”

Before Lian Ding could speak, Ruan Qingyan said, “If you go to see Princess Yang now, I don’t think she will refuse. But we’ll go there after the Courtesan Competition. I am afraid your cousin will be awkward then. However, if we talk about it after we see Qiu Mengmin, even if you may ask, Princess Yang may not agree.”

Lian Ding was stunned. Realizing that Ruan Qingyan was suspicious of their sincerity in recovering the dowry for Qiu Yelan, Lian Ding said, “It’s not like what you think….”

“Please tell me more!” Ruan Qingyan changed so quickly and seemed to be alienated with Lian Ding.

Qiu Yelan had a chance to get in now, “Cousin! If Granduncle didn’t care for me, why should he send Cousin Lian here today? Cousin Lian is not an outsider!”

She lightened the atmosphere and Lian Ding went on with a wry smile, “It’s not what Brother Ruan thought. Well, to be frank, we really don’t wanna hurt Cousin Qiu although the purpose may not be so graceful.”

He opened his mouth and said helplessly, “I heard that Madam Shao has taught many ladies from eminent families. Even Princess Chunfu was his disciple… I just want Cousin Wang to know more people.”

To put it bluntly, they wanted to seek backyard diplomacy.

In fact, Qiu Yelan had guessed their purpose when Lian Ding started to talk but she was unwilling to admit his cousin into the school. Lian Ding vowed how calm Cousin Wang was. How could a twelve-year-old girl be that calm? Even if she was really calm, there was now the 14-year-old Sheng Shishui and 15-year-old Qiu Mingzhu in the school.

Even if no more people were added in the future, the two would be mischievous enough.

Qiu Yelan was already very busy, and now she had to take care of Wang Qingqian. It would be troublesome.

After all, they were cousins. Qiu Yelan had not found a suitable refusal when Ruan Qingyan said, “Since Brother Lian has talked of it, I also wanna ask something. Is Miss Wang valued in the family?”

“Of course.” Lian Ding was stunned. “There are not many heirs, especially girls, in our recent generations. Both her mother, my youngest aunt, and cousin Wang are the apples of the eyes in our family.”

Ruan Qingyan put on a kind expression, “Your family wants to choose Madam Shao as Miss Wang’s teacher since you love her so much. But I don’t think it’s appropriate… I also heard of Madam Shao’s female disciples—my cousin the Commandery Princess, the honorable of Princess Chunfu, the daughter and granddaughter of Mayor Qiao, the daughters of the Chief and the Director of the Directorate of Education, the daughter of the eminent Tao’s….”

The more he said, the uglier Lian Ding’s face became. Lian Ding was about to break out when Ruan Qingyan changed his tone. “I did not mean to belittle Miss Wang. But there are many people in the world who please those in power and bully those disadvantaged. If Miss Wang’s father is not a high official and we put her among the noble female group, even if my cousin protects her, there might still be troubles for her. I’m afraid Miss Wang, who is already used to being the apple of your eyes, may not be able to bear!”

They all belong to the princess party. Can a lady from a humble family have a good life among them?!

“Cousin Wang is calm, but the noble ladies are not necessarily the same.” Qiu Yelan took over deliberately. “To tell you the truth, the other day, three ladies of the Yangs’ were impolite to my father and his concubine in front of me. I was so angry that I had a fight with them. Guess what? It turned out to be my fault!”

Frowning slightly, she continued, “I heard later that the three ladies of the Yangs’ wanted to be disciples of Madam Shao.”

Lian Ding’s face changed at these words, “That’s right, but we didn’t think of it… Alas! It’s a shame for us. There has been no Jinshi in our family after my great grandfather, and my grandfather is aged. I’m afraid…”

At this point, he shook his head and stopped. But Ruan Qingyan and Qiu Yelan were clever and knew everything as soon as they heard that. Lian Chen knew that he was old. One day when he died, his nephew and son would resign for the mourning period and return to the rank of squire again.

“However, something still can be done.” Ruan Qingyan thought that he still needed the Lians. Lian Ding was easy to deal with, but Lian Chen and other older ones might have complaints. So he said, “In my opinion, there are two choices. Firstly, your uncle and father now have official positions and have no time for the imperial exam. But Brother Lian is still young. If you study hard, it’s not difficult for your cousin to be honored with your promotion one day. Secondly, since your aunt is here for medical treatment, Miss Wang can take care of her during the time. If she is known for her filial piety, there is also no need for her to bow before the noble ladies. What do you think?”

This kid isn’t even a Xiucai. If Miss Wang wished to rely on him, she might have to wait until she has her own children!

If she wishes to be a filial daughter, then she will have no time to go to school since she has to be always with her mother.

So it’s unlikely that she will disturb my cousin!

Ruan Qingyan narrowed his eyes and thought, “But I have taken the trouble to give them an idea and that’s good enough. If they still want to send that young lady to my cousin’s school, that’s to admit Miss Wang isn’t so valued. In that case, there’s nothing to do with my cousin if anything happens to the girl. The Lians didn’t care about their niece in the first place!”