TPGA - 57

Chapter 57: Refusing Marriage

Sure enough, Madam Du was cowed into silence. Just then, Du Ruhui hurried out and asked softly, “Mother, what are you doing here?”

Madam Du, still seething with anger, glared at him and scolded, “How dare you ask me that? Didn’t I tell you clearly before? Why did you go see that wild girl again and give her such an expensive hairpin? Is our family’s money meant to be spent like this?”

Her words made Du Ruhui frown deeply. Helplessly, he said, “Mother, Meixue has a name. Can you stop calling her a wild girl? Besides, I truly like her. Why won’t you let me—”

Madam Du interrupted sharply, “Enough! My answer is no, and that’s final! Give up this foolish idea!”

Du Ruhui protested, “But this is my marriage! It should be my decision!”

Madam Du sneered. “Since ancient times, marriage has always been arranged by parents and matchmakers. There’s no such thing as deciding for oneself.”

Du Ruhui looked at Yunyi, his eyes filled with inner turmoil. After a long pause, he hardened his resolve and said, “What if I insist on marrying her?!”

“Impossible!” Madam Du’s face darkened. “As long as I’m alive, this wild girl will never set foot in our house, and you’re forbidden from seeing her ever again!”

Faced with his mother’s refusal, Du Ruhui was caught between a rock and a hard place, unsure of what to say. At that moment, Yunyi stepped forward, stared at him, and said firmly, “Listen carefully. I, Wu Meixue, will never marry you in this lifetime. Everything... ends here!”

Du Ruhui was shocked and quickly grabbed Yunyi as she tried to leave. “Meixue, please don’t be angry. I... I will marry you. I promise!”

Yunyi shook off his hand and said, “I’ve already made myself clear. From now on, you go your way, and I’ll go mine. We’ll have nothing more to do with each other.” Meixue was already dead. Rather than continuing this entanglement, it was better to sever ties completely.

Her words filled Du Ruhui’s eyes with pain. “I’m sorry, Meixue. I know it’s my mother’s fault, but...”

Before he could finish, Yunyi cut him off. “I came today to return the hairpin. From now on, don’t come looking for me.” With that, she helped Wu Laosan leave. Du Ruhui tried to chase after them, but the steward held him back tightly, forcing him to watch helplessly as they walked farther and farther away.

After Wu Laosan and Yunyi had disappeared from sight, Madam Du finally signaled for the steward to release his grip. She smoothed out the wrinkles on Du Ruhui’s robe and said gently, “Ruhui, I know you’re upset right now, but everything I’ve done is for your own good. That wild girl is uncouth and ill-mannered—she’s not worthy of you. Once you pass the imperial examination and become a jinshi in the capital, I’ll find you a proper wife from a distinguished family. She’ll be a thousand times, no, ten thousand times better than that wild girl.”

“Other than Meixue, I will never marry anyone else!” With that, Du Ruhui quickly ran off in the direction Meixue and Wu Laosan had gone, leaving Madam Du shouting angrily behind him.

Meanwhile, after walking some distance, Wu Laosan turned to Yunyi with concern. “Child, are you sure nothing will happen after what you said to Madam Du? What if she really takes this matter to the authorities? I don’t know anyone in the government.”

Yunyi reassured him, “Father, don’t worry. As I said earlier, it’s just a broken nail—it’s not something the authorities would handle.”

“That’s good.” Wu Laosan let out a sigh of relief. Then he looked at Yunyi and asked, “Child, can you really let go of Ruhui?”

“Of course,” Yunyi replied without hesitation. She felt absolutely nothing for Du Ruhui, so there was no question of her being unable to “let go.” However, she couldn’t let Wu Laosan know her true feelings.

“Father, you saw how much Madam Du despises me. Even if I were to force myself into the Du family, I wouldn’t have a good life. I’d only bring trouble upon you as well. If that’s the case, why insist on it? Besides, I believe I’ll find someone far better than Du Ruhui in the future.”

Wu Laosan nodded repeatedly. “That’s right! My daughter is beautiful, filial, and obedient. So many people must admire her. Like that time in the teahouse when I heard the storyteller say something about... uh... ‘Peach Girl’... something or other... I can’t quite remember.”

Yunyi asked curiously, “‘Peach Girl’? What’s that?”

Wu Laosan furrowed his brow, thinking hard. Finally, he remembered. “Ah yes! There was another line: ‘A gentleman seeks.’“

“‘Peach Girl, a gentleman seeks...’“ Yunyi muttered the phrase a few times before breaking into a smile. “You mean ‘A graceful lady, a gentleman seeks,’ right?”

“Yes, yes, exactly those words! Look at my poor memory. Thank goodness it’s you here; otherwise, I’d be laughed at again.” Smiling, he gently stroked Yunyi’s long hair that hung down her back and sighed, “Perhaps you’re right. Not marrying Ruhui might be for the best. After all...” He shook his head and waved dismissively. “Never mind. Let’s go—I’ll take you to the governor’s mansion.”

“Meixue! Meixue!” The sound of Du Ruhui’s voice caused Yunyi to pause momentarily. She quickly pulled Wu Laosan along to walk faster, but they hadn’t gone far before Du Ruhui caught up and blocked their path.

Yunyi looked at him indifferently. “I’ve already said everything that needed to be said. Why are you still chasing after us?”

Du Ruhui caught his breath and pleaded, “Meixue, I know my mother’s words hurt you deeply. On her behalf, I apologize. Please don’t be angry anymore, alright?”

“You can apologize for her today, but what about tomorrow?” Facing her question, Du Ruhui hurriedly responded, “I always keep my word. We’ve known each other for so many years—don’t you understand my feelings by now?”

Yunyi fell silent for a moment, then turned to Wu Laosan. “Father, please go ahead. I want to speak with him alone for a bit.”

Wu Laosan nodded. “Alright. Be careful, and next time you come back, I’ll cook something delicious for you.”

Once Wu Laosan had left, Yunyi said firmly, “Even now, do you still not understand? There’s no future between us.”

Du Ruhui pleaded earnestly, “I know you’re worried about my mother, but trust me, I’ll...”

“You’ll convince her, right? But have you ever considered that your mother doesn’t like me at all? Even if I were to enter your household, she’d constantly criticize and humiliate me. She might even pressure you to take concubines. What then? Would you continue apologizing on her behalf while expecting me to swallow all my grievances?”

“I...” Du Ruhui was left speechless. After a long pause, he stammered, “With sincerity, even the hardest stone can be moved. I believe that over time, my mother will see your goodness and sincerely accept you as her daughter-in-law...”

“What if your mother doesn’t come around for ten or twenty years? What then?” Faced with Yunyi’s question, Du Ruhui shook his head. “No, my mother isn’t a bad person. She’s just...”