Chapter 226 - 225: Agreeing
Jin Rui returned to Anhua Courtyard.
Du Yunluo was taking an afternoon nap in the East Wing, and Jin Ling didn’t dare disturb her, so she sat in the central room embroidering a handkerchief.
Jin Rui moved a stool to sit beside Jin Ling and quietly said, "You have dark circles under your eyes, didn’t you sleep well last night?"
Jin Ling continued her needlework without pause, answering softly.
"If it were me, I also couldn’t sleep over a lifetime decision," Jin Rui smiled, "Perhaps you should return home tomorrow to visit your mother. Otherwise, there’s the Mid-Year Festival coming up, followed by the third girl’s marriage departure, and the mansion won’t be free until the end of the month."
Jin Ling pressed her lips together and after a while replied, "Alright."
Seeing this, Jin Rui didn’t say anything further.
She had already said everything she needed to say, each word sincere without any falsehood.
Although she was competing with Jin Ling, she genuinely felt Yun Qi was suitable. If someone clearly not suitable for Jin Ling had been proposed, she would definitely shake her head along with Du Yunluo.
Early the next morning, Jin Ling took her token and left the mansion, only returning at the eleventh hour.
Du Yunluo was in the study writing, unaware that the sky had gradually darkened outside.
Jin Rui quickly got up, glanced out the window, and laughed, "Miss, the wind is rising. I suppose it might rain soon."
"Rain would be good. The weather is terribly hot," Du Yunluo also laughed.
Jin Ling returned to the West Wing to tidy up a bit before seeking out Du Yunluo.
Seeing Jin Ling’s expression suggesting she had something to say, Du Yunluo ordered Jin Rui to guard the central room to prevent anyone from eavesdropping on their conversation.
Jin Ling lowered her head and twisted the handkerchief in her hands, saying, "Miss, I discussed with my mother at home. If Yun Qi’s intentions are sincere, I shall accept."
Du Yunluo looked deeply at Jin Ling.
She knew Jin Ling’s topic must be about Yun Qi, but she hadn’t expected Jin Ling to decide so quickly.
"Jin Ling," Du Yunluo gently asked, "Have you thought it through? Marriage is not a trifling matter. You need to be sure. What’s your opinion of Yun Qi?"
Jin Ling hesitated, glancing quickly at Du Yunluo before lowering her head again.
From the day Miss mentioned it, all Jin Ling could think about was why Yun Qi had chosen her, whether it was good for her mother and brother, and how it would affect Miss. She had never considered whether she was satisfied with Yun Qi.
Now, faced with Du Yunluo’s question, Jin Ling couldn’t answer.
She had only seen Yun Qi three times.
The first time was when Yun Qi came to deliver a horse to Du Yunluo; they only exchanged glances, nothing more;
The second time...
The second time was something she preferred not to recall, the day Yun Qi saved her.
Later, it was when returning from the Shao Family, Yun Qi reported Ma Dehai’s issue to Du Yunlo.
Truthfully, she felt gratitude and fear toward Yun Qi.
He had rescued her from dire straits and seen her at her worst.
At the time, she was so scared she could barely speak, and despite encountering such an event, Yun Qi, knowing full well, said he wanted to marry her.
Jin Ling didn’t quite understand Yun Qi’s thoughts.
The sky outside was getting darker, distant rolls of thunder could be heard, like knocking on her heart, making Jin Ling’s back break out in cold sweat.
The weather had been similar that day.
She had exchanged coats with Yun Qi’s sister and left the alley one after the other, as the clouds pressed down ever lower, and suddenly, a storm came, soaking them thoroughly.
Yun Qi went back to get his raincoat, and she stood by the roadside, in the wind and rain, feeling not of early summer, but rather like deep autumn.
Jin Ling shivered, then saw Yun Qi running toward her in a hurry; he appeared at the street corner without hesitation, just like when he had appeared in the small courtyard to rescue her from danger.
Taking a deep breath, Jin Ling said, "I don’t dislike him; he’s a good person."
Du Yunluo heard and smiled faintly.
Jin Ling had never had feelings for anyone, so when confronted with the problem suddenly, she couldn’t immediately feel like or dislike; not disliking was a good enough response.
"I understand, I’ll speak with the Princely Heir."
Jin Ling nodded lightly and, seeing the room become darker, lit the oil lamp.
The rain poured down for over half an hour, clearing away the muggy heat.
During dinner, Du Yunluo ate at Qinghui Garden, while Jin Ling and Jin Rui closed the door and ate casually in the West Wing.
Jin Ling gazed absent-mindedly at her chopsticks, her mind full of Mrs. Duan’s instructions.
Mrs. Duan said that the madam and miss had bestowed great kindness on their family, and Jin Ling ought to consider everything for the miss.
Yun Qi served as the Young Master’s attendant; the Young Master personally mentioned it to the miss. If Jin Ling hesitated, wouldn’t she trouble the miss?
If the Young Master’s first proposal was rejected by the miss for her, it’d damage the relationship between the miss and the Young Master—how could that be good!
Especially since Yun Qi was capable and kind, not minding that Jin Ling came with the baggage of an old and a young, even if Yun Qi were ordinary, Jin Ling ought to accept for the sake of the miss.
Mrs. Duan’s words fell heavily on Jin Ling’s heart, making her unable to refute them.
She thought Mrs. Duan was right, and Jin Rui was right too; for her mother and brother, for the miss, and even for herself, the marriage should be accepted.
Then she should accept it.
After all, it was merely living day by day; she didn’t dislike Yun Qi, and Yun Qi was outstanding, so surely over time, things would work out.
Jin Ling finished her meal in silence, absorbed in her thoughts.
After clearing the table, Jin Rui asked her softly, "Have you really thought it through? Once the miss tells the Young Master, there’s no going back."
Jin Ling propped her chin and said, "I won’t regret it..."
Jin Rui cleaned her hands, applied some fragrant ointment, and while massaging her fingers, sat beside Jin Ling, "Since you’ve agreed, have you thought about when to get married?"
Jin Ling widened her eyes and after a long time shook her head.
Jin Rui said, "Our miss will come of age in November, and didn’t Mrs. Shi say the Marquis Mansion is quite anxious? So, I guess, come next spring or summer, she’ll be married.
A maid accompanies the miss to help her establish herself at her in-laws’, to network with various households and understand relationships inside and out; if you get married then, wouldn’t the miss be short one useful assistant?
If the miss keeps you, it’ll delay for another half a year or a year, and if the miss becomes pregnant, she’ll be even less able to arrange your marriage, meaning it might be postponed again."
Jin Ling frowned; she knew Jin Rui was speaking the truth.
With so many families inside and outside the mansion, and she often heard that maids accompanying their mistresses were acknowledged and promoted within a month or two, rarely getting married. If a maid was quickly married off, people would secretly guess whether she had displeased the mistress.
Jin Ling herself wished she could serve Du Yunluo for another couple of years, but...