The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

The other path is to openly rebel against the marriage. However, the consequence of this is undoubtedly putting a knife to one's own throat. The stakes are so high that even the slightest move will have far-reaching consequences.

Master Yu was so worried about this matter that his hair turned quite white!

Some time ago, he sent a letter to Jicheng, but there has been no news yet. Thinking of this, Master Yu couldn't help but sigh again, feeling utterly helpless.

"Father...can you let Ling'er go out?" Yu Ling'er cried sadly in the room.

Master Yu was even more annoyed. Just then, the steward of the Yu family rushed in with a letter in his hand. Upon seeing Master Yu, he didn't even have time to bow before hurriedly saying, "Master, Master, a letter, a letter, from Jicheng."

Upon hearing the words "Jicheng," Master Yu's eyes lit up. He quickly snatched the letter, unfolded it, and saw that the handwriting was indeed from the King of Donglin. However, after reading the contents, Master Yu's face grew even more gloomy, a gloom that was strangely gloomy.

A funeral? Heh... that's certainly a good idea. If Ling'er is in mourning, then according to custom, she can only marry after three years. But, having the Yu family hold the funeral... and also having someone who can keep Ling'er from marrying while she's in mourning...

Master Yu frowned. He admitted it was a solution, but the thought still filled him with anger. This Prince of Donglin was truly ruthless; he himself was fine with such a scheme, but the Yu family was suffering greatly…

However, he couldn't help but ask himself, at this point, is there any better way than this?

The answer is yes, if there were a better way, he wouldn't have been racking his brains like this all this time.

"Master, what did the letter say?" Madam Yu had been paying attention to Master Yu's reaction from beginning to end. From his initial excitement when he received the letter to the somber look on his face now, Madam Yu suddenly felt uneasy. Master Yu rarely showed his emotions, but after the news of Ling'er's betrothal to Feng Yu, even she could see his sorrow.

What exactly did the letter say that made the master suddenly become so serious?

Master Yu looked up and met Madam Yu's worried eyes, but his brows furrowed even more. The only people who could make Ling'er temporarily put the marriage on hold under the pretext of mourning were himself and his wife!

Master Yu had to admit that the method devised by the King of Donglin was indeed too cruel.

"Master..." Madam Yu's unease grew stronger, and she suddenly grabbed his arm anxiously, "Say something! What exactly did the letter say?"

Master Yu gave Madam Yu a deep look, then quickly concealed the seriousness on his face and a smile appeared on his lips. "It's nothing, Madam, don't worry about it!"

“But…” Madam Yu did not believe Master Yu’s words. She had clearly seen his reaction just now, and it did not seem like “nothing was wrong” at all. Her intuition told her that something must have happened, and it was probably not that simple. Otherwise, Master Yu would not have been so unwilling to let her know.

"No buts, don't worry. No matter what happens to the Yu family, I will find a way to solve it. Let Ling'er stay here. You should go back to your courtyard and rest. A woman shouldn't worry too much." Master Yu said gently, giving the maid behind Madam Yu a wink, signaling her to take Madam Yu back to her own courtyard.

The maidservant received the order and helped Madam Yu. Madam Yu was unwilling to leave, but under the urging gaze of Master Yu, she had no choice but to take steps and walk towards the courtyard. Master Yu looked at Madam Yu's back, and the solemnity that had just been concealed reappeared. The look in his eyes was even more profound.

The butler observed Master Yu's reaction and was vaguely guessing what was going on, but he wisely refrained from asking any questions.

Master Yu stayed in the courtyard for a while, during which he couldn't help but sigh several times. The steward stayed by his side the whole time. Yu Ling'er's soft sobs could be heard from inside the house until a servant came to report that someone from the palace had arrived and that they were to wait in the main hall.

Upon hearing that someone from the palace had arrived, Master Yu naturally assumed it was someone sent by the Empress. He felt a surge of annoyance and paced around the courtyard for a long time. Knowing he had no choice but to meet them, he finally led his steward out of the courtyard.

In the hall, Eunuch Qin drank several cups of tea, but Master Yu did not appear for a long time. He had felt some sympathy for the Yu family along the way, but now he was also a little annoyed and couldn't help but urge, "What does your master want? If he is not here, you should at least say so."

The servants who were serving him trembled inwardly and dared not even respond, only hoping that their master would appear soon.

Finally, Master Yu entered the door. He thought it was someone sent by Empress Feng, but when he saw Eunuch Qin with a gloomy face, he was stunned and felt a little apprehensive. "Eunuch Qin, I was delayed by something. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Eunuch Qin glanced at Master Yu, his voice somewhat shrill, "This old servant would naturally not dare to blame you, however, this old servant came to your residence on the Emperor's orders. If my duties are delayed, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to the Emperor."

Upon hearing Eunuch Qin's words, Master Yu's heart skipped a beat. "It was my fault. I apologize here."

As he spoke, he even performed a grand salute to Eunuch Qin, befitting his high position in the court. Eunuch Qin saw this and was quite pleased with himself. Thinking of the Emperor's instructions, he felt a bit smug. However, his voice betrayed his displeasure, "Oh, Master Yu, this old servant cannot accept such a grand salute."

Master Yu chuckled and tentatively asked, "Eunuch Qin, does the Emperor have any decree for you to convey?"

"This..." Eunuch Qin frowned, meaning that the matter entrusted by the Emperor was confidential, and the presence of those servants in this hall was undoubtedly inappropriate.

Master Yu, being a shrewd old fox, quickly dismissed the steward and all the servants. Eunuch Qin also dismissed the eunuchs he had brought. Only the two of them remained in the large hall. Master Yu then asked again, "Eunuch Qin, may we now announce the Emperor's will?"

Seeing Master Yu's anxious expression, Eunuch Qin couldn't help but sneer inwardly. This Master Yu, so eager, does he think it's something good? Hmph, if he knew what the Emperor was trying to convey, I wonder what his anxious expression would look like!

Eunuch Qin raised the corner of his mouth and stared intently at Master Yu, saying, "Master Yu, some time ago, His Majesty issued an edict to bestow a marriage upon Miss Yu and General Feng, but His Majesty does not wish to see this marriage come to fruition."

Master Yu was secretly delighted. The Emperor didn't want to see this, and neither did he!