Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 439: Chapter 419 claims the mother-in-law is only 28—I believe it!

Yu Qingyi settled down in the Marquis Mansion, and the following day she sent a visiting card to the Changping Marquis Mansion.

Last month, Yang Yunxue gave birth, adding a precious daughter to the Changping Marquis Mansion.

Yang Yunxue hasn’t finished her confinement yet, so Yu Qingyi could only make a visit for now.

However, calculating the time, Yang Yunxue should almost be out of confinement.

With Yang Yunxue’s cultivation and constitution, confinement was actually unnecessary; if it were not for the personal vigilance of the Marchioness, Yang Yunxue would already have run out.

Upon Yu Qingyi’s arrival at the Changping Marquis Mansion, she naturally received a warm welcome.

Especially from Liang Han, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Changping Marquis Mansion, who greeted Yu Qingyi with a smile as bright as a flower.

”Ah, my dear mother-in-law, please come in quickly.”

”It’s been years since we last met, and you are still as young as ever!”

”Just look at that complexion, that skin; if you were to say you’re only twenty-eight, I would believe it!”

Flattering words tumbled out like a torrent one after the other.

Back in the day, when Liang Chu chose to marry into the Yang family, although she didn’t show it, she was somewhat unwilling and actually looked down on the Yang family.

Even though Liang Jinyan isn’t the eldest legitimate son, he is indeed the legitimate son of the main branch of the Changping Marquis Mansion.

At that time, the Yang family was indeed marrying above their station.

But now?

Who would have imagined that, within just a few years, the Yang family would be conferred a marquisate?

She, as the eldest daughter-in-law, has not yet become a Marchioness, while Yu Qingyi, the mother-in-law, had already attained that status.

”You haven’t changed either, just as young as when Yunxue got married!” Yu Qingyi said with a gentle smile.

”Ah, I can’t compare to you; I’m already fading!”

Speaking of her own appearance, Liang Han was even more envious of Yu Qingyi.

Envious of Yu Qingyi’s unchanging beauty, envious of her position in the Yang family, envious of the fact that there are no young and frivolous concubines in the household to add to her troubles.

Before Yang Yunxue married Liang Jinyan, Liang Hui had no concubines, but these last few years have seen him take two more concubines, resulting in a bastard son, much to Liang Han’s discomfort.

And looking at the household rules of the Yang family, one could take a concubine only when there’s no son by the age of thirty.

On this point alone, countless daughters of officials were eager to marry into the Yang family.

Thinking of the household rules of the Yang family, her thoughts turned to the eldest grandson of the Yang family, and Liang Han’s eyes lit up, ”I heard that Chengye has also arrived in the Capital City?”

”Mm, the old master wanted him to come gain some experience,” Yu Qingyi said with a laugh.

”Chengye is also of age to discuss marriage; it’s just your family that’s taking it slow. If it were any other family, at Chengye’s age, the marriage would have already been arranged,” Liang Han said.

Yu Qingyi maintained a gentle and serene smile, ”Actually, I’ve been looking for a suitable match for Chengye too. In Liaodong, I’ve spotted a few good choices among the officials’ daughters!”

”How could Liaodong compare to the Capital City!” Liang Han waved her hand and said, ”It’s a pity I don’t have a daughter, or I would surely seek to join families with you!”

”By the way, my maiden family has a niece who is fourteen this year, and we’re currently looking to arrange her marriage. Mother-in-law, would you like me to play matchmaker?”

Liang Han finally revealed her little scheme.

Her maiden family was not just any ordinary family, as ordinary families would not have daughters marrying into the Changping Marquis Mansion, much less become the eldest daughter-in-law.

Liang Han was born into the Han family of Wanping County, which is one of the two counties under the jurisdiction of Shuntian Prefecture.

Being close to the Capital City, there are many official families in Wanping County, and the Han family is one of them.

Since the Changping Marquis Mansion has always kept a distance from the circle of nobility, the marriage partners they choose are typically from the families of military generals at border towns or officials’ families from around the Capital City.

With its not-so-profound heritage and limited influence in officialdom, the Han family only has one member, the Family Head Han Yunting, serving as a governor in Sichuan and Guizhou Province.

Under normal circumstances, a marriage alliance with the Han family wouldn’t be considered marrying up, especially since the Yang family is an hereditary Marquis and the title, passed down to Yang Chengye, would be merely that of a Second-rank Earl.

The Han family prides itself on its scholarly heritage, and though there may be ups and downs, as long as the younger generations put in some effort, it’s possible for them to rise again, even if Han Yunting were to pass away.

Much like the Lu family of Anning County, the Lu family head has retired from his official position and returned home, yet the Lu family remains the largest noble clan in Anning County, with the Yang family’s standing in both Anning County and Jing’an Prefecture still falling below the Lu family.

Liang Han suggesting to play matchmaker was actually to Yu Qingyi’s taste, as the primary purpose of her trip to the Capital was indeed to arrange a marriage for Yang Chengye. Liang Han bringing up the topic was very much in line with her intentions.

Of course, she wouldn’t readily agree.

”Mother-in-law, Chengye’s marriage still requires the old master’s approval, as you know it’s not my place to decide on such matters!” Yu Qingyi said with a smile.

She is the stepmother, and although she is the mistress of the Yang family, she is not Yang Chengye’s birth grandmother after all.

She could manage Yang Chengye’s marriage, but couldn’t make the decision on her own, lest others gossip.

Liang Han understood Yu Qingyi’s difficulties and said with a laugh, ”Oh, it was my bluntness!”

”Not at all, not at all!” Yu Qingyi shook her head and glanced at Ms. Wang behind her, saying, ”If appropriate, I will certainly not oppose it. How about this — I will discuss it with Ming Cheng and his wife when I return, and ask them to get to know the situation first!”

Upon hearing these words, Liang Han’s smile grew even warmer, ”Of course, that’s only right. I’ll wait for your news, mother-in-law. Whether this matter is successful or not, it won’t affect the relationship between our two families!”

After all, matters like this take time, and Liang Han doesn’t believe that she can win over the Yang family for the Han girl with just her words alone.

Besides, she has not yet discussed this with her maiden family; it was a spontaneous idea, and nothing to be rushed.

The two chatted about family matters, and after a while, a maidservant arrived in the main hall to invite Yu Qingyi to the Happy Longevity Hall.

The Happy Longevity Hall was where the Marchioness, Mrs. Lin from the Liang family, resided. Liang Chu was now fifty-eight years old, and the Marchioness was also fifty-six. They could definitely be considered elderly in this world.

However, Mrs. Lin was still in robust health. She chatted with Yu Qingyi and Ms. Wang for over two hours, and then had them stay for a meal in the Happy Longevity Hall, not letting them leave until the afternoon.

After leaving the Happy Longevity Hall, Yu Qingyi and Ms. Wang finally saw Yang Yunxue.

”Mom, Sister-in-law!”

Seeing Yu Qingyi and Ms. Wang, Yang Yunxue was naturally filled with joy.

It was a pity that she was still in her postpartum recovery period, otherwise she would have run out to welcome Yu Qingyi and Ms. Wang.

Yu Qingyi entered the room where Yang Yunxue was sitting her month, and looking at the baby in the swaddle, said, ”This must be Qingqing. Look at those brows and eyes, she looks almost exactly like Yunxue!”

Liang Qingqing, Yang Yunxue’s daughter, indeed bore striking resemblance to Yang Yunxue.

”Really, she looks just like Yunxue when she was little, tsk tsk~~” Ms. Wang said in amazement.

She had married into the Yang family even before Yu Qingyi did. At that time, Yang Yunxue was only five or six years old, with her brows not yet fully developed, looking just like the baby now.

Yang Yunxue looked lovingly at the little one and said with a gentle smile, ”Everyone says Qingqing takes after me!”

Yu Qingyi turned to Yang Yunxue and asked, ”How are you feeling? Are you well?”

At this moment, Yang Yunxue had a rosy complexion, and her skin was taut. She looked just like a young girl and not at all like someone who had given birth to two children.

”Don’t worry, Mom. My cultivation has already reached the Postnatal Fourth Layer!” Yang Yunxue raised her fist, saying proudly.

When it came to training, Yang Yunxue really hadn’t slacked off. Besides the few months of childbirth, she had been practicing diligently every day.

Now, at twenty-three, her cultivation had reached the Postnatal Fourth Layer. If she hadn’t given birth, she might have even progressed further.

Even so, her pace of cultivation still shocked Liang Chu.

Postnatal Martial Artists in their twenties were not uncommon in the Capital City, but a twenty-three-year-old reaching the Postnatal Fourth Layer was definitely one of the top among her peers in the Capital City.

”Yunxue is indeed impressive. I’ve only cultivated to the Postnatal Fifth Layer, and I expect that in a few years, Yunxue will catch up to me!” Ms. Wang said with a hearty laugh.

”How can you even brag? I ask you to train, and all you think about is slacking off! Just wait and see, in a few years, not only will Yunxue surpass you, but even Qing Wan will too!” Yu Qingyi said grumpily.

The cultivation of the female members of the Yang family had always been supervised by Yu Qingyi. Yang Zhenshan really wasn’t suited to urging his daughters-in-law to train. He could give a word or two, but he couldn’t exactly watch over his daughters-in-law while they practiced.

So ever since Yu Qingyi joined the family, she had been responsible for overseeing the cultivation of the family’s female members.

Over the years, the female members of the Yang family had achieved some accomplishments in martial arts, but the most outstanding was actually from the Liang family. She began her training late but had advanced rapidly, and her current cultivation was not inferior to Ms. Wang and Mrs. Li, and even surpassed them.

As for Ms. Wang, one could tell from her figure that she hadn’t been very diligent.

Mrs. Li, on the other hand, truly lacked talent. Even with the nourishment of Spiritual Spring Water, she could not be considered outstanding, just average. Her cultivation had just reached the Postnatal Fifth Layer, almost a year later than Ms. Wang.

”Mom, it’s because I have to look after the household affairs!” Ms. Wang clung to Yu Qingyi’s arm, her face full of ingratiating smiles.

Yu Qingyi looked at her plump face and immediately lost her anger.

Among the three daughters-in-law, Ms. Wang was actually the most endearing.

Ms. Wang was a bit clever, but sometimes her cleverness could be particularly silly, which didn’t repel others.

Moreover, with her carefree nature, few people felt any animosity towards her.

Seeing Ms. Wang looking at Yu Qingyi with a face full of flattery, Yang Yunxue couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

”Sister-in-law is still the same!”

”How am I the same? I am now the major young mistress of the Duke Mansion,” Ms. Wang said with her double chin raised, a look of satisfaction on her face.

”Yes, now you are the major young mistress of the Marquis Jing’an Mansion, and not the same as before! Giggles~~” Yang Yunxue could not help but laugh out loud.

The three women chatted and laughed in the room, occasionally letting their laughter spill out, which made Liang Jinyan slightly relax outside.

Damn, my wife’s mood has finally improved!

If not, I would have had a hard time!

Recently, Liang Jinyan’s days had been quite difficult.

The Duke Mansion had its own family rules, and Yang Yunxue had her personality. When there were no conflicts, all was well. But when conflicts arose, it was Liang Jinyan, stuck in the middle, who suffered the most.

There were traditions for the women of the Duke Mansion to sit their month after giving birth, and both the Marchioness and Mrs. Liang Han were worried about any mishaps befalling Yang Yunxue, so they insisted on her following the protocol.

However, Yang Yunxue felt she didn’t need to sit her month at all. After giving birth, she thought resting for three to five days would be sufficient, and there was no need to stay shut in a room for an entire month.

Yang Yunxue certainly wouldn’t say that to the Marchioness or Mrs. Liang Han, so she could only vent her frustration to Liang Jinyan.

This left Liang Jinyan feeling both pained and distressed. It’s better left unsaid how difficult it was.

The day after visiting Changping Marquis Mansion, Yu Qingyi took Ms. Wang to visit Duke Ning Mansion, mainly to visit Zhou Lan.

Yang Zhenshan was acquainted with Zhou Lan, but Yu Qingyi and Zhou Lan were not well-acquainted, having met only twice.

However, Zhou Lan was a female general in the military, and Yu Qingyi used to be a martial artist from the worldly society. Both were the kind of women who did not fuss over trivial matters and did not kowtow to worldly customs; sitting together, they would never run out of topics to discuss, and in fact, they found they had similar interests.

Yu Qingyi had once fantasized about becoming a female general, and Zhou Lan had dreamed of wandering the worldly society, practicing chivalry and upholding justice.

Women like them couldn’t find much in common with the sheltered ladies from prestigious families.

The two enjoyed their drinks and had lively conversations, truly presenting a different kind of elegance.