Chapter 23: Preparing for Rain

"Miss—!"

Cuiyu glared at our miss, how could such a matter be taken so lightly!

How could a family like that, a young master like that, come without reason to ask to marry our miss?

"That person is from Jingcheng!"

"Letting someone ask to marry for no reason—what are they after?"

Cuiyu couldn't believe that our miss, so clever, would overlook this.

"Cuiyu, couldn't you aim for our miss, whose beauty can topple a nation?"

Shen Yunyao wore a playful smile, teasing Cuiyu.

"Miss, the servant is about to die of anxiety, why are you still like this!"

Cuiyu remembered to stomp his foot.

Shen Yunyao still laughed, lightly clapped her hands and said, "Good, Cuiyu, I know you care about me."

"But, regarding this matter, I think it might not be a bad thing."

"A loss may be a blessing in disguise."

Shen Yunyao truly felt this matter was interesting.

A completely unknown young master inexplicably sent official envoys to ask to marry her, a woman whose engagement had been broken.

And the top scholar who broke off her marriage is about to become the little son‑in‑law of the main branch of this family!

If I were the protagonist, the plot would go like this: after the broken engagement, I become the male lead's little aunt; seems like a female‑oriented storyline!

Then, am I the protagonist?

Shen Yunyao would not be arrogantly self‑important, nor would she belittle herself.

As a woman who has transmigrated, she truly could become the protagonist.

After all, without a bit of great destiny, she couldn't have transmigrated.

But the problem lies here: everything has two sides.

Being an outsider, to the heavens of this world, she is a black household.

Would the heavens favor a black household?

Hmm, unless the heavens are blind!

Therefore, Shen Yunyao has always been very cautious, basically avoiding causing trouble; even when trouble arises, she responds passively.

One must never become complacent.

But this time's matter is unusual, stirring a bit of interest in Shen Yunyao.

First, if she truly marries far away in Jingcheng, then she and the Liu Cheng Shen Family will be far apart. Some who don't want to see her, some who might notice her oddities, will gradually distance themselves.

Distance can change many things.

Environment can change a person even more!

"Cuiyu, how about, before our miss gets married, I grant you freedom?"

Shen Yunyao saw Cuiyu still frowning and felt compassion.

Going to Jingcheng, she doesn't know what the future holds.

Although she feels she should be able to stand her ground in Jingcheng, nothing can be too optimistic; considering failure before success is normal.

"Miss, what do you think of this servant?"

"Cuiyu, I was born as your person, will die as your dead, this life I'm bound to you!"

Cuiyu, though full of apprehension about the future, could not abandon Shen Yunyao.

Her family's miss treats her so well; as her sole confidante, if she herself isn't by the miss's side, who can the miss rely on when she needs help?

"Miss, if you truly marry that Xie Family young master, wouldn't the madam have to prepare a generous dowry for you?"

"That's certain!"

Since it's a high marriage, the dowry certainly won't be lacking.

Although Lu doesn't like her, if she values this marriage, she will surely arrange a proper dowry.

"Miss, the madam will definitely prepare a bridal entourage, right?"

"Do you have any ideas?"

Shen Yunyao may not know the marriage customs of this era, but learning them isn't difficult.

"Miss, the servant thinks your bridal entourage selections must be chosen carefully."

"These people will be your core team when you arrive in Jingcheng!"

"You mustn't be dazzled by Jingcheng's splendor and be easily bought off!"

Listening to Cuiyu, Shen Yunyao felt he was right.

But soon, Shen Yunyao shook her head again, stared at Cuiyu repeatedly, and said, "Girl, have you read too many story novels?"

"Our matter hasn't even taken its first stroke, why are you already thinking trouble will happen in Jingcheng?"

Shen Yunyao felt the girl's paranoia was rather severe.

Cuiyu firmly said, "Miss, I call this preparing for a rainy day!"

"Is that so?"

Shen Yunyao squinted, "Then tell me, if you were to choose the bridal entourage, what standards do you have?"

"First, the accompanying maids must not be too beautiful, lest they become seductive foxes!"

"Second, it's best to find those with no family ties."

"If they must bring families, you must hold all their household contracts in your hand!"

"Later, Miss, tell the madam that my father and they should all go with me!"

"If your father knew how filial you are, what do you think, would he accept you?"

Shen Yunyao was defeated by Cuiyu's magnanimous righteousness.

This truly is being strict with others and strict with oneself.

"Definitely not!"

Cuiyu chuckled, "My father, you see, has always been all talk and no action, bragging all day about how capable he is, but never having a chance to realize his ambitions!"

"Miss, when the time comes, you mustn't be fooled by my father's grandiose words!"

"My father, just being an accountant would be fine!"

Cuiyu is a native-born child of the Shen Family; her father Lin San is one of the household accountants, and her mother Fei is the matron who oversees the main kitchen.

Besides that, Cuiyu's elder brother oversees a manor outside the city, her second brother runs errands beside Shen Yunyao's eldest cousin, and their futures are fairly decent.

Furthermore, Cuiyu's older sister is already married, having married the son of the household steward.

Overall, Cuiyu's family is regarded as respectable within the Shen Family.

That's also one reason why Cuiyu is so well‑informed in the household—she has a big tree to lean on!

"Your elder brother and second brother, should I also summon them?"

"Summon them!"

Cuiyu gritted her teeth, "My elder brother and second brother are both capable individuals, not just a servant's bragging. Miss, if you are willing to use them, then your dowry, be it a manor or a shop, will never lack people to manage it!"

"You call that promoting the worthy without avoiding relatives!"

Shen Yunyao did not reply right away, but she felt a desire to find out more.

Conversely, if Cuiyu's family truly is this capable, bringing them along as part of the dowry entourage wouldn't be unreasonable.

If her situation in Jingcheng's Xie Family is unfavorable, then at least she could rescue Cuiyu's family.

Of course, Shen Yunyao would not follow Cuiyu's suggestion merely because of her words.

She ultimately needs to learn the details about Cuiyu's family.

While Shen Yunyao and Cuiyu were half‑seriously, half‑not seriously plotting the future, Lu also met with Third Master Shen.

"Wan Ning!"

Third Master Shen, after seeing his two sons, realized Lu had also returned, and just as he was pondering when Lu would come to see him, Lu arrived.

Having not seen each other for years, Lu's appearance remained unchanged, her charm still gracefully captivating.

"Third Master Shen, you never fail to have a red‑sleeve companion at any time!"

Lu glanced at a concubine kneeling beside Third Master Shen and spoke coldly.

(End of chapter)