Quick Transmigration: Drama Queen's Daily Life Chapter 1449 - 1438: The Lady Who Doesn’t Want to Rise in Status

Ever since that day when Zhang Yanjing quietly sounded out Ye Qiu’s true thoughts, she had become much kinder to her, even willing to take her along when going out to socialize or for leisure.

Seeing that Zhang Yanjing was genuinely showing goodwill, and knowing she truly needed to learn, Ye Qiu followed her most of the time, though she was, after all, a Filial Daughter in mourning and had many occasions she had to avoid, so she did not always accompany her.

The Old Lady doted on her and often kept her by her side, even trying to introduce to her two other cousins who were studying at the academy, which troubled Ye Qiu greatly; over this, the Second Aunt, who had just returned from offering incense at the temple a few days ago, had given her a stern warning.

Her words held no other meaning than this: as a lone girl, Ye Qiu was unworthy of the Second Young Master and the Fifth Young Master, both sons of the Second Old Master in this mansion, and should give up such thoughts early; to guard against her, the two cousins who were supposed to return to the Marquis Mansion at the end of the month had not come back at all.

Ye Qiu had never intended to reach above her station, but no one in the Marquis Mansion believed her. One after another they treated her as some seductive creature, guarding against her as though against a scourge. Even though she had spoken so plainly before, her Aunt never allowed her any chance to be near her elder cousin.

"Great-great-grandmother, I truly have no such feelings toward my cousins. Could you just let this matter go for my sake?" Ye Qiu said helplessly.

"And why is that? You say you have no designs on your elder cousin, but you haven’t even met the other two cousins yet. How can you know they won’t suit your heart?" The Old Lady was sincerely thinking for Ye Qiu’s sake; her grandniece was a solitary girl, and if she married into some other family the Old Lady would not feel at ease. Only by keeping her under her own eye did she feel most assured.

Seeing that Ye Qiu did not look troubled, the Old Lady spoke as if making decisions for her: "Are you afraid your Second Aunt dislikes you? Am I not her mother-in-law? If I choose to protect you, what dare she say against it?"

At this moment, the Second Madam Duan was just about to enter to pay her respects. Hearing this sentence, she was so angry her nose nearly twisted, her face alternately flushing green and white. Both hands clutched her handkerchief in a death grip, and her steps halted at the threshold. She very much wanted to hear what more those two inside intended to say about her, wanting her two sons to marry such a girl—over her dead body!

"Great-great-grandmother, I know you truly cherish me, but apart from you I have no one to rely on. You may be able to suppress Second Aunt for a while, but can you suppress her for a lifetime? When the time comes, how am I to conduct myself?"

"Qiu’er, your great-great-grandmother’s health is still quite sturdy. Living another ten years is no problem. By then you should have children of your own; with children at your side, your Second Aunt will also have to restrain herself somewhat. Or is it that you have no confidence in winning your cousin’s heart? Old Second is a filial one. Before I die, I’ll speak to him. Your Second Uncle will stand in for me and protect you." As the Old Lady spoke she glanced toward the door. Could she not know what was happening in her own courtyard? She was deliberately speaking for the ears of the daughter-in-law outside.

Outside in the courtyard, Duan Family listened, her chest tight with anger. She had endured this unreasonable old woman for half her life—was she to spend the rest of it suffering at a daughter-in-law’s hands as well? There was no such logic under Heaven!

Let her husband suppress her? How much did a husband truly know of back courtyard affairs? If Ye Qiu really dared to marry in, Duan Family had no shortage of ways to torment this bringer-of-bad-luck girl to death.

"Great-great-grandmother, you are so good to me, but I’m still unwilling." Ye Qiu lay against the Old Lady’s knees.

"Why? Your great-great-grandmother would never harm you." The Old Lady stroked her head fondly.

"Though I am a lone girl, I don’t want people saying I’m here to take advantage. Great-great-grandmother, it’s one thing for you to love me and give me some Silver Coin and jewelry, but as for a marriage with the sons of this Marquis Mansion, that is something I absolutely dare not accept. I’m already deeply grateful to be allowed to live in the Marquis Mansion—how could I dare ruin my cousins’ futures? They could marry noble ladies whose families match their own status; the Yue Family could even become a help to my cousins on their path upward. If they married me, what could I do besides drag them down?" Ye Qiu spoke slowly and gently, once more laying her true heart bare.

Listening outside, the Second Madam slightly relaxed her expression, her gaze seeming to say that at least the girl had some self-awareness.

Yet the Old Lady said, "A man, if he’s truly a man, should carve out his own future. Back then your great-great-grandfather started with nothing—wasn’t it by his own effort that he built up this great Marquis Mansion?"

Ye Qiu gave a soft laugh. "How can the circumstances then be compared with now? Great-great-grandmother, I truly don’t wish to marry upward. If, in the future, you could find me a man from an ordinary family, I would be very happy. At the very least I am considered a Lady of this Marquis Mansion; if I marry into an ordinary family, others won’t dare bully me."

"But listen to me—when the time comes, your cousins’ wives will all have Imperial Decrees to their names, and only you will marry into an ordinary household. Would that not mean you are fated to be cut off from Fu Gui for life?"

"How could I be cut off from it? Grandmother, haven’t you already given me so much jewelry? Ordinary folk would never have such wealth."

"What’s that to count as ’much’? And what do jewelry really amount to? Power and influence are what matter most."

"Before you found me, great-great-grandmother, did you not get by all the same? And life was not even this good then. Great-great-grandmother, I truly don’t feel wronged. When Father was gravely ill, I thought this life of mine was hopeless. It was you who brought me back; to be able to safeguard the property Father left, and to have you thinking ahead for my future—that already makes me very content. I don’t dare climb higher."

"You truly are willing to accept this?" The Old Lady sighed again and again.

"I am." Ye Qiu raised three fingers in a vow.

"But you are the only younger generation left from my maiden family. How can I bear to let you go off to suffer?" The Old Lady still could not bring herself to accept it.

"It won’t be suffering, not at all. Great-great-grandmother, if you pity me, keep me with you a few more years. When you arrange my marriage in future, just choose a family of simple means, with a kind mother-in-law. If it’s convenient for Eldest Uncle, have him casually find that fellow a minor post. How would that be hardship? And if you still cannot bear to part with me, then marry me nearby, so I can come to the mansion often to visit you."

Seeing that Ye Qiu was adamant, the Old Lady did not dare press her further and retreated a step: "Since you insist, then let it be so. In any case, there are still two years until your mourning ends. If during these two years you change your mind, your great-great-grandmother will stand ready at any time to make the decision for you."

Realizing that the Old Lady had truly let it go this time, Ye Qiu’s face blossomed into a bright smile. "Thank you, great-great-grandmother. I knew you treat me the best. I wish I could never marry and stay by your side all my life."

"Nonsense." The Old Lady tapped her forehead. "Since when do girls not marry? You’d be criticized to death, and even this old woman would be called senile."

This was precisely what made Ye Qiu sigh. The world was such that if a woman did not marry, apart from going into a temple, she had no other choice; and in doing so she would drag her family into the line of fire with her.

First, she could not endure the austere life of a temple. Second, she was unwilling to have the loving Old Lady’s reputation ruined because of her. So in the end, she was bound to marry. Only, in this age of blind marriages and mute betrothals, finding a husband who truly suited her heart would not be easy.