Did the third place winner regret it today?

Chapter 22

Mrs. Shen said a lot of words in one breath, but Shen Ti just kept his eyes down and remained silent.
Unable to refute, he actually knew that she was right.
He was just angry about this feeling of powerlessness. When he was young, he thought that when he grew up, he could do anything he wanted after passing the imperial examination. But when he grew up, he found that it was not the case. It turned out that a person was subject to so many constraints.

Madam Shen took a sip of water to moisten her throat, put down her teacup and was about to say something else when the maid's voice suddenly rang out from outside: "Madam, someone is coming from the master's place. Please come over and talk to him."
"Got it." Madam Shen responded outside, turned back to look at her son who was kneeling upright on the ground, "You see, your grandfather is not stupid. We came back so suddenly, he must have asked me about it. I will explain it to him clearly. Your grandfather still has the final say on the Yin family's affairs."
"You, think carefully about what I just said."

Mrs. Shen got up and left.
The maid opened the curtain for her, and when it was lowered, she could see through the half-transparent bamboo curtain that the thin and tall boy was still kneeling there, with his head slightly lowered, as if looking at the ground.
The maid dared not say a word and just listened quietly.

Shen Ti stared at the shiny blue brick floor.
After a long time, the handsome young man stood up, smoothed the wrinkles on his clothes, and without waiting for the maid to raise her hand, he opened the bamboo curtain and left.

Old Master Yin is old and has long been separated from the old lady, living in the study room every day.
Mrs. Shen came to the study to see her father.
Old Master Yin didn't beat around the bush and asked his daughter directly, "Fourth Lady, why did you suddenly come back this time?"

The last time Mrs. Shen came to visit her parents, she had something to do. She communicated with Huaixi through letters half a year in advance and then brought her children back to visit her parents.
This time, someone was suddenly sent on a speedboat to report the news. When the messenger arrived at Huaixi, Mrs. Shen was already halfway there. If something goes against common sense, there must be something fishy.

As expected, Madam Shen sighed and told her old father: "To be honest, Dad, I came back this time to choose a wife for Jiyun at home."
If Master Yin Da or Master Yin San heard these words, their first reaction would probably be surprise and joy.
The old man was shocked and asked directly: "What hidden illness does Jiyun have?"

With the Shen family's background, if it weren't for that life-saving grace, the Yin family would not be a good match for them.
Old Master Yin was already very satisfied to marry a daughter to the Yin family. Because of this marriage, everyone in the area looked up to the Yin family. Many things went smoothly.
It seems that the Shen family has not taken the initiative to do anything for the Yin family, but in fact, the Shen family is the Yin family's in-laws, which has brought a lot of convenience to the Yin family.

Old Master Yin had never thought that the Yin family could marry another girl to the Shen family. He had never dared to think so before, but now that Shen Ti was the third place in the imperial examination, if he dared to have such a delusion, it would not be a marriage, but an enemy.
But this matter was brought up by Mrs. Shen herself. How could Jin Lin'er, a good girl from the Shen family, settle for the daughter of a local gentry? The old man's first reaction was that Shen Ti had some hidden illness - the kind that was difficult to talk about and would affect her marriage.
His good grandson, who was obviously the God of Literature, was born on earth, but how could he be so pitiful? It really broke his grandfather's heart.

Mrs. Shen was very troubled and quickly denied it, "No, Dad, don't make wild guesses."
"Eh?" Old Master Yin's heartache was gone. "Why is that? Are you crazy? Let me tell you, this is not the way to pull your mother's family together. A forced melon is not sweet. Some marriages can actually lead to enmity. Don't be confused."

"Dad, you think too much. Jiyun's marriage is not something I can decide on my own." Madam Shen said speechlessly, "Please listen to me slowly."
"Jiyun was engaged to a woman named Feng, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites."
"This child is one year younger than Jiyun. The two children are well matched, talented and pretty. The two families had agreed that when Jiyun passed the imperial examination, they would hold their wedding in a grand ceremony. Who knew..."

"Who knew that at the end of the year before last, the Feng family was in trouble. Her father was exiled, and the women were not sold as slaves to the government. Although it is better than going to the Jiaofangsi and other places, it is still limited. If there is no amnesty, they will be slaves forever in this life."

After hearing this, Old Master Yin couldn't help but sigh.
Because he is the patriarch of a large family, parents like him are most sensitive to the rise and fall of the family.
How can I not feel sad when I hear about such a thing of going from rich to poor?

"At that time, Jiyun was still studying outside and had not returned yet. My husband and I, thinking of our engagement, rescued the child from the Feng family and settled her there. We were doing our best for her."
"Jiyun got the news outside and rushed back early. This silly boy was very angry with us because we didn't marry Feng's daughter before Minister Feng was convicted."

The old man stroked his beard and praised: "This child has a conscience."
Because the crime did not extend to married women, if the Shen family married the Feng family's daughter in the name of marriage before the Feng family was convicted, the girl could escape the fate of becoming a slave.

"Dad, it's not that the Shen family has no conscience." Madam Shen explained, "Her father was involved in the issue of establishing a crown prince, which touched the emperor's reverse scale. No one dared to act against the emperor's wishes at that time."
The old man nodded: "I know, I know. There are so many things to do in the officialdom. Everyone has to take care of their own affairs first, and only when they have time can they help others. Otherwise, if they reach out blindly and fail to help others, but are pulled down by others, then they are fools."
Madam Shen said, "That's right." The old man asked, "Then let's call off the marriage, right?"
"That's right. It has always been like this. The noble and the humble cannot marry. She is pitiful and has become a slave. There is nothing she can do about it. The marriage with Jiyun has naturally been cancelled."
"Jiyun is such a stubborn kid that he has set his sights on her and is arguing with us. Sigh..."

The old man guessed: "This little girl is pretty good, isn't she?"
Mrs. Shen admitted: "She is not only good, but also a beauty. She is also quite talented and has read many more books than me."
The old man asked: "How about Jiyun?"

Mrs. Shen sighed, "We had already decided that last year would be the date of his demise. How dare the family let him be distracted by this matter at such an important time."
"His father told him that the matter of the Feng family's daughter would be discussed after the palace examination. Before that, if he dared to mention it, the Feng family's daughter would be sold."
"Jiyun devoted himself to studying, and won first place in the provincial examination and first place in the metropolitan examination. Unfortunately, he failed to pass the third place, and only won third place in the palace examination."
Mrs. Shen felt quite regretful.

The old man thought, my family is so happy to have a scholar, but you are so disappointed that you only got the third place.
He asked: "What's going on now? Why do we need to choose a wife for Jiyun from our family?"

I feel angry when I mention Mrs. Shen.
"Jiyun was named the third place in the imperial examination, and everyone in the capital knew that the previous marriage had been cancelled. The matchmaker for him almost broke down the door of our house."
"He went to his father and said that he didn't plan to marry because the Feng family's daughter couldn't marry him."
“He actually chose the daughter of the Feng family.

"It's normal for young people to be lustful, normal." The old man smiled and twirled his beard. He is old and has seen everything. It is normal for young people to be a little persistent, a little stubborn, and not be able to see clearly what is in front of them.
After all, Shen Ti is only seventeen years old.

"So what's going on now?" the old man asked.
Madam Shen sighed again: "The father and son, ah, his father would never allow him not to marry, he just wants to protect the daughter of the Feng family."
"These two people are making such a fuss... I think it's really not going to work, so I came up with an idea."
Old Master Yin understood everything and laughed, clapping his hands: "Good idea!"
She is worthy of being my daughter.

Old Master Yin guessed it exactly.
Shen Ti was unwilling to marry because all the people who came to his house to propose marriage were from families of equal status, and there were many noble ladies with even stronger family backgrounds.
Shen Ti also grew up in a wealthy family. Even though his family was very harmonious, he was well-informed and knew a little about the secrets of the backyard. If he married such a wife, it was hard to say whether he could protect Miss Feng in the backyard.
So he wanted to protect the daughter of the Feng family by "not marrying her".

But he is the only son of Lord Shen. How could his father tolerate him not getting married? At most, he can only accept letting Feng's daughter be Shen Ti's concubine, but he must marry a wife.
One of them refused to marry, and the other insisted that he marry. When the two were deadlocked, Mrs. Shen gave an idea: marry someone of lower status.
Marry someone of low status, so that the Shen family will have a proper young lady, and won't have a concubine breaking the rules.

In fact, Shen Ti was at a disadvantage in the confrontation with her father, because a father naturally had many rights over his son, including the right to marry.
Regardless of whether Shen Ti is willing or not, Lord Shen can arrange a marriage for Shen Ti, force him to get married, or even let the bride complete the ceremony alone without Shen Ti being present.

In this way, the Shen family will have a legitimate and proper young lady.
As the legal wife, she naturally has many rights over her concubines, just like a father has over his son.
As a son, Shen Ti had no way to stop his father from marrying him a wife, so he compromised.
Only if the wife is of low birth, her family is not supportive, and she dares not act domineeringly in her husband's family, will the Feng family's daughter be safe and have a good life.

Since Lord Shen decided to marry someone of humble origin, he first thought of the Yin family.
Mrs. Shen was born into a lowly family, the daughter of a merchant. But Lord Shen had married her for many years, and they lived in harmony and warmth in the harem. Lord Shen therefore had no objection to "marrying a daughter-in-law of low status."
"It wasn't me who brought it up first. It was really him who brought it up." Madam Shen said, "How could I bring up my family first? It would seem like my idea was calculated."
The old man was delighted: "Good girl, you look like me."
He is clear-headed and not confused.

"There are, there are...how many are the suitable nieces in your family? The one from the first wife, the one from the second wife, and the one from the third and fourth wives..." The old man counted on his fingers and tried to sort them out, but because there were too many granddaughters and great-granddaughters, he could no longer figure out the names and rankings of these children.
He simply waved his hand and said, "There are several anyway! You can pick whatever you want."
After thinking for a while, he said, "I remember there are two who are engaged. It's okay if you like one. If you like one, tell me. I will handle the matter over there. I guarantee that it will be resolved amicably without causing any trouble."
Marrying another girl to the Shen family and further binding the Yin family to the Shen family will only benefit the Yin family and not harm it.
The old man rubbed his hands with joy.

Mrs. Shen didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Don't do anything stupid. How can you take away someone's engagement? You will be sued."
She coughed lightly, her eyes flickering: "Actually... I already have a candidate in mind."
"I just wanted to see her more."

(End of this chapter)