"Nanny, you say someone is here? Who is it?"
Su Jinhuan raised her eyes, feeling a flicker of curiosity.
Nanny Li was her wet nurse, a woman who had toiled in the Chancellor's Estate for half her life and was always the picture of composure. What kind of visitor could have made her so flustered?
Nanny Li caught her breath, her expression unreadable: "Young Miss, someone from the Anping Marquis Estate is here!"
The Anping Marquis Estate!
At these four words, Su Jinhuan’s fingertips tightened involuntarily.
Why would someone from the Anping Marquis Estate come at this time?
If her memory served her correctly, it was currently the thirty-second year of the Yong'an reign. She had seen Lu Jin'an accompanying his sister to the flower festival during the spring, which was when she had fallen for him at first sight.
Since then, she had secretly followed Lu Jin'an to the Xiaoyao Teahouse a few times behind Su Huaize’s back, pretending to run into him "by accident."
However, their relationship was nowhere near the point of formal visits.
"Nanny, do you know who exactly has come from the Anping Marquis Estate?" Su Jinhuan asked, frowning in confusion.
Nanny Li hesitated for a moment. "It is the mistress of the Anping Marquis Estate, Lady Li, along with several maidservants."
"Old servant thinks, judging by their demeanor... it looks like a marriage proposal!"
A proposal?
At these words, Su Jinhuan felt her skin crawl.
Painful memories of being tormented in the Anping Marquis Estate in her past life surfaced, sending a jolt of terror through her.
In her previous life, Lu Jin'an had indeed come to the Chancellor's Estate to propose. But back then, she had already confessed her feelings to him, and they were already in love.
Why had it come so quickly in this lifetime?
Could it be that her rebirth had shifted the timeline of this life?
Su Jinhuan felt puzzled. However, regardless of the reason, she had no intention of entangling herself with Lu Jin'an ever again.
Instead of becoming a pair of resentful spouses, it was better to go their separate ways and remain strangers.
She waved her hand. "Xiyin, Lianshu, let's go to the main hall."
Before Nanny Li could react, she had already strode far ahead.
Nanny Li’s voice came from behind her: "Young Miss! Young Miss, you cannot do this!"
"If the Lu family is here to propose, you shouldn't rush over even if you are anxious. It lacks all decorum!"
***
On the other side, in the main hall of the Chancellor's Estate, Lady Li—Li Wanqing—had been waiting for nearly half an hour.
She had already finished three pots of tea, yet she had not seen a single person in charge from the Chancellor's Estate.
She was becoming restless. The Anping Marquis Estate, while sounding prestigious, was merely a hollow, decaying shell. In terms of power, it was nowhere near the flourishing Chancellor's Estate.
Su Huaize was currently the most powerful official under the Emperor, deeply trusted by the throne. Su Huaize’s sister, Consort Su Jinyu, was the Emperor’s favorite, Noble Consort Yu, and the mother of the Third Prince. Even Su Huaize’s eldest son, Su Jincheng, was already a grade 5 Censor at the mere age of twenty.
Under normal circumstances, she would never have dared to aspire to such an alliance.
But for some reason, her son, Lu Jin'an, had woken up one day and insisted that she come to the Chancellor's Estate to propose, swearing that Su Jinhuan would surely agree if she did.
She knew of this Su Jinhuan—the only daughter of the Chancellor, spoiled and notoriously headstrong. She instinctively felt that such a coddled girl could be nothing but trouble. Was she bringing home a daughter-in-law, or an idol to worship?
However, she couldn't withstand her son's persistent nagging. Moreover, seeing his confidence, she formed a suspicion. Could it be that Su Jinhuan had already been in a secret affair with her son? Otherwise, how could he be so certain of a "yes"?
Thinking this, she felt a sense of disdain. If it weren't for the family's status and her son's insistence, she wouldn't have bothered with a Chancellor’s daughter.
Still, the status of the Chancellor's Estate would be a tremendous asset to her son and their estate. Su Jinhuan herself didn't matter; it was the power behind her that everyone coveted. She decided that if they married, she would just treat the girl like an idol on a shelf. Once her son achieved greatness, he could take as many concubines as he pleased.
With this thought, Li Wanqing calmed down and took a sip of tea. The Chancellor's Estate was a high-status household; they wouldn't neglect proper etiquette for long. She would just wait.
She did not expect, however, that the person to arrive first would not be the lady of the house, but Su Jinhuan herself.
The young girl who walked in appeared to be just at the age of crowning. Her face was like carved jade, still retaining a hint of baby fat. She wore a flowing cloud bun, and her pink dress made her look delicate and innocent. Yet, there was a clarity in her eyes that seemed far too wise for her years.
Li Wanqing looked her over. She was indeed beautiful. But for an unmarried girl to rush in before the mistress of the house had arrived was simply lacking in manners.
It seems her son was right after all. But why he would want to marry such a wayward girl was beyond her. She assumed he must simply be after the family background.
With that, her expression softened, masking her inner disdain as she rose. "You must be Jinhuan!"
As a guest, she was technically the elder, so she did not need to greet Su Jinhuan. But because she was the one seeking a favor from the powerful Chancellor, she had to be polite.
Su Jinhuan looked at Li Wanqing. She looked exactly as she had in her past life, but with a warmth on her face that Su Jinhuan had never seen before.
In her previous life, after she married Lu Jin'an, Li Wanqing had despised her, using her status as an elder to torment her constantly. Whenever she complained, Lu Jin'an would tell her that serving one's parents-in-law was only natural and that she should be more tolerant. Because she loved him, she had endured it all, only for Li Wanqing to grow more arrogant, eventually leading to the death of her maid, Lianshu.
Thinking of the past, she couldn't help but feel a pang of grief.
Lianshu tugged at her sleeve, bringing her back to her senses. Su Jinhuan bowed and said, "Auntie!"
The bow was an involuntary habit. She had been so used to bowing before Li Wanqing in her past life that she hadn't even thought about it.
In truth, given Su Huaize’s current power and her own noble title, Su Jinhuan was under no obligation to show such deference. Seeing this, Li Wanqing took it as an act of sycophancy.
Li Wanqing remained outwardly calm, but she felt smug inside. *Lu Jin'an was right. This girl is interested in my son.*
Still, she inwardly scoffed. *A young lady from a prestigious house like this should be self-restrained. To be so proactive is unheard of. How could the Chancellor’s Estate raise a daughter so ignorant of etiquette?*
Despite her disdain, she smiled warmly. "I have heard so much about you from my son. Seeing you today, it is truly a case of 'better to see once than hear a hundred times'! You are truly a beautiful and virtuous young lady!"
Xiyin noticed the fleeting look of contempt in Li Wanqing's eyes and whispered, "Young Miss!"
Su Jinhuan had seen it too. She was about to reply when she heard hurried footsteps outside.
Jiang Shuying, dressed in fine robes and followed by a group of maids and servants, arrived at the main hall in a measured, calm pace. Su Jinhuan noticed Nanny Li among them.
Jiang Shuying entered the hall, took the main seat, and looked at Su Jinhuan with a hint of exasperation. "Why are you still standing there? Come over and sit!"
She had known of Li Wanqing’s arrival. But for a declining estate like the Anping Marquis to think they could marry her daughter was sheer arrogance. She had intended to make Li Wanqing wait, but before long, Nanny Li reported that Su Jinhuan had already rushed to the hall.
She had been unable to sit still. Was that Lu boy really so good? If Li Wanqing saw her daughter rushing to meet them, she would think her daughter was throwing herself at him.
She had hurried over, hoping her presence would keep Li Wanqing in check. Instead, she arrived to find Jinhuan standing while Li Wanqing was seated.
She felt a burst of annoyance and quickly gestured for her daughter to sit by her side. Once Su Jinhuan was seated, Jiang Shuying turned to Li Wanqing. "Madam Lu!"