The legitimate daughter returns, and everyone in the Marquis's mansion regrets and begs for for

Chen's mother came from a wealthy family and married into the second branch of the Chen family. Old Master Chen's elder brother was a bookworm, and Chen's father was a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations. The Chen family originally had some prestige, but it had declined with the family's downfall. If it weren't for Old Master Chen's strategic planning and the cultivation of several loyal advisors, the family would probably have perished long ago.

Chen's elder brothers, Chen Wenye and Chen Wenchang, also found jobs in the capital. The Chen family's foundation in the capital was unstable, so they had been living in seclusion in Jiangnan for many years.

Chen Wen was the only member of the Chen family to pass the provincial examination, but he did not participate in the imperial examinations. This was not because he lacked the desire to take the exams; on the contrary, he was extremely ambitious. He once boasted that he would become the first top scholar in the Great Yan Dynasty. Unfortunately, Chen Wen did not live to see that day and died of illness in the Hanlin Academy.

As for Chen Wenchang, although he passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, he was not content with a quiet life. He went to the northern frontier to gain experience, made some friends, and obtained a military rank. Chen Wenchang was very successful in the army, and he would write home every now and then to report his achievements. Chen Wenchang was a pragmatic person; once he set his mind on a goal, he would follow it step by step without ever looking back.

Although the Chen family is now in decline, Chen's third brother is a formidable figure with high prestige in the northern frontier. Without Chen Wen's support, Chen wouldn't be as prominent in the Chen family. Chen has always remembered her kindness and hopes that Chen Wen can return to the capital to help her mother manage the household affairs.

The third son of the second branch of the Chen family is twenty-six years old this year and is Chen Wenye's second son.

The second son of the Chen family was born out of wedlock and was not well-liked in the family. The eldest son of the Chen family, Chen Shi's uncle, was also born out of wedlock, but with the protection of the old patriarch, he successfully passed the county-level imperial examination and continued to take the provincial-level imperial examination, and is now a provincial-level imperial scholar.

The third young master of the second branch of the Chen family was an illegitimate son and was not favored by Old Madam Chen. However, the second branch of the Chen family was quite well-known in the martial arts world, and both Old Master Chen and Old Madam Chen liked the third young master very much.

Chen Jinhui, the third young master of the Chen family, is married to a woman surnamed Liu, who is twenty-one years old this year. The Liu family is wealthy and is one of the most prominent families in Jiangnan. The patriarch of the Liu family is also a scholar with official rank.

The Chen family and Chen Jinhui had a very good relationship.

Mrs. Chen did not have a good impression of Chen Jinhui's wife, Mrs. Liu. Mrs. Liu was meek and submissive to her husband, and extremely filial to Old Master Chen and his wife. Mrs. Liu had recently given birth to a daughter named Chen Yuzhu, who was only three years old. Chen Yuzhu inherited her father's personality and was very mischievous.

Chen Jinhui and his wife also owned an estate in the capital, which was filled with fruit trees. The fields on the estate were rented out to tenant farmers. These fields were all private property of the Chen family, and the people who collected the rent were sent by the Chen family. Generally, the tenant farmers dared not disobey the Chen family's orders.

Chen and Zhou were chatting when they discussed the marriage of Chen's niece. Zhou suggested that Zhao Wan-ting, the second daughter of Zhao Dan-niu, the elder brother of Zhou's sister-in-law Zhao, should marry into the family. This way, the Zhao family could leverage the Chen family's influence to establish themselves in the capital.

The Zhao family was the wealthiest family in Jiangnan and enjoyed considerable prestige there. Zhao's eldest uncle was a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, and the Zhao family was not short of money, so they had no worries about supporting their son-in-law.

"I think this is a good suggestion. Although the second daughter of the Zhao family is not Zhao's biological sister, both families share the surname Zhao. I think Wan Ting is a good girl; she has good character and is beautiful."

She is the eldest daughter of the Zhao family, more than a match for our Yao'er.

Madam Chen shook her head. "Let's wait until Wan Ting has finished her mourning period before discussing marriage again."

Zhou was somewhat surprised and asked, "What? Don't you think Wan Ting is suitable?"

Madam Chen nodded. "Yes! Wan Ting has a gentle personality and a good temper, which is completely different from Yao Jie'er's. If Yao Jie'er were to spend time with her, I'm afraid they wouldn't get along. I don't want to make Yao Jie'er suffer."

Madam Chen genuinely loved Zhou Yao and naturally couldn't bear to see her suffer. Zhou Yao's personality was too strong; she wasn't suitable to be a concubine. Even though Zhou Yao's father was the current emperor, Madam Chen still couldn't bear to see her wronged.

Madam Zhou sighed, "Alas! I know what you're thinking. How I wish Yao'er could find a suitable son-in-law! But this matter cannot be rushed; it depends on fate. Our Chen family has already lost power. If we cannot cling to the royal family, I'm afraid it will be even more difficult for us to recover in the future."

After a moment of silence, Madam Chen said, "I want to send Yao to live in a villa in the suburbs of Beijing."

Madam Chen was not foolish; she was well aware that the situation in the capital was becoming increasingly dire. She did not want her daughter to enter the palace, lest she be drawn into the turmoil.

Zhou said, "Alright, leave this to me. I'll find a suitable candidate for you."

Ms. Chen said, "Then I'll trouble you."

Madam Zhou waved her hand and smiled, "There's no need for formalities among family. If it weren't for your care for me and the children all these years, I don't know what we would have gone through. We owe you so much. If there's an opportunity in the future, I also want Yao'er to be successful. I'll be content if she marries into a good family."

Madam Chen smiled and said, "Don't worry. With Yao'er's intelligence and talent, she will definitely marry a good husband. Unlike me, I don't have any skills. I can only teach Yao'er music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and needlework. Luckily, I have a polite and understanding mother-in-law. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know what to do."

"Don't belittle yourself. It's our family's good fortune to have such a virtuous wife as you. It's also Yao'er's good fortune to have you as her mother."

Zhou smiled and said, "I'm just an ordinary person, not that lucky. I just want to live a simple and peaceful life."

Mrs. Chen smiled and said, "You're just being modest."

“I’m not being modest. I really think so. You’re my sister-in-law, we’ve always been family. I trust you completely and have never doubted you.”

"Sister-in-law, we're relatives, so just say what you have to say."

"Since you're so straightforward, I'll be frank with you. Actually, I'd like to marry my second son to your eldest daughter-in-law."

Madam Chen frowned. "I remember your family is in the medicinal herb business. I completely forgot to ask what your nephew's name is. I'm so forgetful."

“My eldest brother’s name is Zhao Dahu, and he’s twenty-five this year. He’s the youngest son in the family, so he’s been spoiled a bit. This kid is a bit impulsive and sometimes unreliable. If you dislike his impulsive nature, I’ll send him home so he won’t hold your precious daughter back.”

Madam Chen waved her hand, "No need, this marriage is quite good, it suits our family's conditions perfectly. I think Zhao's eldest son is a good person, he's steady and reliable. Besides, his brothers all have their own jobs and can't help him much anymore. Let him go home and study hard."

Zhao smiled and agreed, "Okay, when Zhao Dahu goes back next spring, I will arrange for him to meet your Yao'er."