Chapter 34: Confucian Scholar
The sons of the Tu family and the two elders from the Diep family, Prime Minister Diep and Old Madam Diep, became closer under the leadership of the Tu family's eldest son, Tu Thanh Tran. From a ceremonial greeting, the meeting turned into an intimate family gathering. Sitting off to the side, Vuong thi had wanted to interject several times but was unable to. The Tu family's Fifth Young Master implied, through his conduct, that he did not like to interact with concubines. That's right; in the eyes of the Tu family, Vuong thi was not the legitimate wife. Not to mention, there was bad blood between Vuong thi and the deceased Tu Madam. Furthermore, the Tu family didn't accept the practice of the concubine replacing the legitimate wife. Except for a few uncommon circ.u.mstances, the men of the Tu family did not take concubines. If Vuong thi was virtuous and upstanding, they could give her the respect her station warranted. Unfortunately, she was not.
As the conversation progressed, Tu Thanh Tran's tone became more respectful and yielding. He spoke of how much his father missed Diep Ly these past years and beseeched for her to come and stay at Tu manor for a time.
Naturally, Old Madam Diep reluctantly denied the request, but she replied in a placating manner that Diep Ly had to stay home since she was soon to be married.
Tu Thanh Tran immediately reb.u.t.ted that his aunt had died young. His grandfather was afraid that when this cousin of his married off she would be unable to handle the affairs of the manor and would be looked down upon by her husband's family. Specifically, Second Aunt had invited a few madams that were well respected within the city to come and teach. Additionally, a few mamas would also teach his cousin the proper etiquette and rituals. After all … There were rumors outside that spoke of how Diep family's Third daughter lacked talent, virtues, and beauty. This shows that, whether it was speech or etiquette, she needed to be strictly taught from the beginning.
Old Madam Diep showed hints of difficulty as if there were words she wanted to say but couldn't find them.
Once again, her thoughts were reaffirmed. Diep Ly knew that dealing with someone as experienced and old as Old Madam Diep one could not let the Old Madam lose any face. Using harsh methods to deal with harsh methods would not work here, flexibility was a must. Look at her older cousin: eloquent words, respectful demeanor. Who would believe that this youth was not the prime example of how someone of the younger generation should behave as they listened with reverence to the words of an elder?
But, Old Madam Diep did not show any conceit. Could she still propose anything else? This old madam had wanted to find a way for Diep San and Diep Lam to join Diep Ly at Tu Manor, but the idea was stopped by Tu Thanh Viem. Men and women should not mingle, this would ruin the reputation of the two young misses. She could only watch as the sons of the Tu family escorted Diep Ly from the front gates of Diep Manor.
Once they left Diep Manor, everyone relaxed and became more carefree; even Tu Thanh Trach, who generally had a cold face, revealed a faint smile. The unfamiliarity between cousins who had not seen each other in many years vanished in an instant.
As for Tu Thanh Viem, though he was too young and did not have an impression of Diep Ly, his personality was such that it made it easy for others to approach. It did not take that long for the two to act as if they were blooded siblings that grew up together.
Because the current family head of the Tu family, the father of Tu Thanh Tran, Tu Thanh Bach, Tu Thanh Viem, the older uncle of Diep Ly, Tu Hong Vu did not like pomp and circ.u.mstance, he did not stay at his younger brother's residence. Instead, he picked another location within the capital. The location belonged to the Tu family and was not very big. So, the delegation of Diep Ly and the Tu family sons directly went to this other manor.
"Eldest Uncle…" Diep Ly said in a hoa.r.s.e voice.
The man in front of Diep Ly's eyes was middle-aged, but he was still elegant, lively, and calm.
Tu Hong Vu looked at the niece he had loved since she was a baby. Her face was seven-tenths similar to his younger sister, but with an added strength and resilience. He let out a long sigh and signaled to Diep Ly with his hand. "In these past years, it had been difficult for Ly nhi. I know some of the machinations within the capital. Your uncle is here. Let's see who still dare to give you a hard time!" he said.
Diep Ly understood the words that her uncle said. Her eyes tingled with a sour and bitter feeling. She laughed and said: "There is Second Uncle here. Who would dare to make things difficult for Ly nhi? Ly nhi just misses Eldest Uncle and grandfather."
Tu Hong Vu looked in an unsatisfied manner at his younger brother sitting on the side and said: "If this younger brother was useful, would the two mother and daughter pair at Diep Manor be so smug?"
Tu Hong Ngan understood his older brother's temper. He could only chuckle helplessly and respond: "Eldest Brother's words are correct. It was this younger brother that could not shelter Ly nhi."
"Eldest Uncle!" Diep Ly refuted those words and clung to her eldest uncle's arm, swinging it back and forth. The actions and words of this eldest uncle held absolutely no pressure. It had always been this way. It wasn't her fault that at that time she was not really a child. Moreover, she was the only child within the entire Tu family that was not afraid of Eldest Uncle.
Too Hong Vu affectionately stroked Diep Ly's head. He chuckled and said: "Well, uncle was just talking. This little girl, after so many years of separation, only thinks about her Second Uncle."
"That's not true. Ly nhi always thinks about Eldest Uncle and grandfather."
"What of when grandfather wanted you to go to Vian Chau, yet you dared to refuse?"
"…"
Diep Ly accompanied her two uncles in a conversation for a moment before Tu Hong Vu directed Tu Thanh Viem to show Diep Ly her room. It had been prepared well in advance and two mamas were already awaiting her there. Diep Ly knew that her uncles and cousins had things to say in private and followed Tu Thanh Viem out.
Diep Ly's room was very well arranged. It was located in a small courtyard that was the calmest and quietest spot in the entire manor. The home of the Tu family, regardless of it being the manor of an Imperial Censor or Tu Manor in the capital, was simple and elegant. This was exactly to Diep Ly's taste. One step through the door, a person immediately ran out to welcome her.
"Young Miss!"
The two mamas dressed in white ran out to welcome her. They say Diep Ly and could not help but be a bit dazed. Tears blurred their vision.
"Lam mama… wet nurse…." Diep Ly called out.
Lam mama was her mother's personal servant. This year she was over 50. Diep Ly's wet nurse was also a servant from the Tu family, around 40 this year. Diep Ly could still remember with clarity when she was still young, weak, and unable to protect these two. Preferring to die rather than leaving her, the two knelt with wretched faces in front of her. Ever since then, until she acquired Thanh Suong, there was no one trustworthy at her side. But, Diep Ly did not have any regrets. She understood very clearly that she had just recovered her chaotic memories, coupled with an ill-ridden body, and could not protect these two sincere people.
"Young Miss…Young Miss…" The two mamas quickly arrived before Diep Ly. Lam mama, with tears in her eyes, said: "Young Miss has finally grown up… growing up to look so similar to Eldest Young Miss…"
Nguy mama's affection for Diep Ly ran even deeper. After all, it was her that had raised Diep Ly from when she was still a baby. "Oh… This servant apologizes to the young miss. So many years have pa.s.sed and young miss was all alone in that Diep Manor. Luckily…luckily, nothing happened to young miss…"
Diep Ly sighed lightly in her heart. In that situation, she handled it a bit awkwardly. She needed to encourage these two mamas.
Tu Thanh Viem saw Diep Ly stiffen and secretly laughed. He also reaffirmed that the Diep family mistreated his cousin. "Lam mama. Nguy mama. From now on, you two will follow beside older sister Ly. How about entering the house first and then slowly speak?"
With Tu Than Viem's reminder, the two mamas quickly wiped their face and nodded. "Fifth Young Master is right. This was these servants carelessness. Hurry. Hurry. Does the Young Miss like her room? Even she does not like it, we can switch rooms."
Looking at Diep Ly being dragged away by the two mamas, Tu Thanh Viem was tossed to the side and forgotten. He rolled his eyes, stared at the boundless sky for a moment, and turned to leave.
Diep Ly felt the warm and enthusiastic atmosphere. This was in stark comparison to the atmosphere in another area of the manor, a study.
Tu Hong Vu sat behind a bookshelf as he stared at his younger brother. Though a smile graced his lips, it caused Tu Thanh Phong and Tu Thanh Bach, sitting in the background, to be unable to help themselves and shivered. "So, His Highness Prince Le does not think that Ly nhi can match up to him and went around colluding with Diep family's Fourth Young Miss. And the Emperor thought to use Ly nhi, a Third Young Miss with a ruined reputation (three no's: no talent, no virtue, no beauty), to humiliated Prince Dinh?"
No one could stand the pressure, the edge of their lips trembling. Colluding… Father, you are a great Confucian scholar. Can you not speak a bit more elegantly?
Tu Hong Ngan nodded: "That is the situation."
As if the pressure in the study was not low enough, Tu Thanh Tran had a more relaxed style than his father. Within the sleeve of his robe, he brought out a letter. "Earlier today, Prince Le at Do Huong Cac blatantly said that regardless of how Ly nhi tried to win his favor, he will never marry her."
Shiver… Having just arrived, Tu Thanh Viem slipped in next to his Fourth Older Brother.
Tu Hong Vu accepted the letter and quickly looked at it. For a long time, he didn't say anything. When Tu Hong Ngan wanted to speak in his anxiousness, Tu Hong Vu chuckled loudly: "Not bad… not bad… Worthy of being a daughter of the Tu family…" After he finished speaking, he straightforwardly gave the letter to Tu Hong Ngan.
Tu Hong Ngan jerked the corner of his lips up, not being able to endure and leaked out a chuckle. He was always in the capital. How could he not know that his niece was more elegant than her appearance? But her fierceness was rare, it could be considered that Prince Le's provocative behavior made her impatient.
"At that time, Prince Dinh was also there?" Tu Hong Ngan folded the letter up, not noticing that behind him were a pair of eyes filled with yearning belonging to Tu Thanh Viem, and placed the letter within his sleeve. He had to go home and research how to add more work for Prince Le. The prince was too bored and had to go and find trouble with Ly nhi.
"It would seem like Ly nhi was speaking to Prince Dinh. The two had reached some sort of consensus." Tu Thanh Tran smiled faintly.
Tu Hong Vu though and said: "Your Older Brother has a high opinion of Prince Dinh. If Ly nhi has no dissatisfaction with this marriage, then Thanh Tran will handle everything."
Tu Thanh Tran nodded and smiled. "This son understands. It has been many years since this son has left the capital and it has been a while since this son has seen Prince Dinh."