Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots-Chapter 1446 - 265, Refuse (7)

Lady Jiang could not help but ask, "Old Sister, what is wrong with you? Why have you suddenly started sighing? Is there some difficulty with this matter?"

Upon hearing that there might be a complication, Chen Leyao’s face also filled with worry. Her dream of becoming an Imperial Concubine was almost within reach—she could not let it be ruined!

After persistent questioning by the mother and daughter, Tao Hua finally slapped her thigh and mustered her courage, saying, "Well, since I’m already here, I might as well tell you. The Third Prince means that he hasn’t married his Main Consort yet, and it would be against the rules to welcome a concubine into the mansion too early. Moreover, a Prince’s Consort is personally conferred by Your Majesty; even if he does not like the lady, he must obey the decree if Your Majesty finds it suitable."

Both Lady Jiang and Chen Leyao were aware of these matters concerning the palace, yet it was clear that Tao Hua had not finished speaking.

Indeed, Tao Hua continued, "Actually, the Third Prince truly likes Yaoyao, but he cannot disregard the ancestral rules, and he is still a young prince. I believe you both know about the conflict between the Third Prince and the Second Prince... ahem, I digress. In short, according to the Third Prince, he hopes that Yaoyao can enter the mansion without an official title for now, and once the Main Consort is in place, he will beseech His Majesty to officially bestow Yaoyao as a concubine."

After finishing, Tao Hua looked cautiously at the two women, "What do you think about this..."

"I refuse! I do not agree!" Chen Leyao was the first to object. Although she could date and have outings with the Third Prince, it did not mean she was a frivolous woman. To enter without an official title? Wouldn’t that make her the same as a Serving maid?

She suddenly recalled the nursery rhyme that had been widely circulated on the streets recently, which was said to reflect the household matters of the Wu family of Jiangnan, including a line about Young Master Wu sending his sister as a gift to the Prince for the sake of his career. Regardless of whether or not the rhyme was about the Wu family, she had not heard any news of the Wu brothers sending Wu Hanyu to the Second Prince Mansion.

On the contrary, she had heard that the Wu brothers were already seeking a suitable Husband from Officials for Wu Hanyu, and leveraging their status as an Imperial Merchant family, they insisted on a union with legitimate primary lineage. No matter whom they might find for Wu Hanyu in the future, it would certainly be more honorable than her position as a nameless, unofficial Serving maid.

Furthermore, it all sounds good now, but once the Main Consort is in place, will they really petition for her to be conferred as a concubine? Did they take her for a three-year-old? Who knows if they would even consider her important after sleeping with her? ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

While Chen Leyao was resolute, Lady Jiang was somewhat tempted. In her view, the Third Prince was a man of his word; since he said he would petition for Chen Leyao to be named a concubine, he would surely do so.

"Yaoyao, why don’t you think it over?"

As soon as Lady Jiang spoke, Chen Leyao looked at her incredulously, "Mother, what are you saying? Think it over? Is there even a need to think about it? Absolutely not! Definitely not!"

She was unwilling to be someone’s concubine, let alone be someone with improper status and legitimacy.

Seeing her daughter so resolute, Lady Jiang also hesitated, but wasn’t it too risky to let go of such a good opportunity?

Tao Hua, a shrewd woman, immediately saw the disagreement between the mother and daughter and formed a plan. Convincing the younger one might be difficult, but there seemed to be a chance with the older one.

Tao Hua chuckled twice, quickly easing the somewhat tense atmosphere. "Niece, don’t be angry. I’m just passing on the thoughts of His Highness the Third Prince. Ah, chiefly, it’s because the Third Prince is so fond of his niece that he also fears she might change her heart if she waits too long. That’s why he’s a bit worried and asked me to test the waters. Since the niece isn’t willing, we can wait a bit longer. As long as the two of you are genuinely in love, surely you wouldn’t mind waiting another year or two, right?"

Hearing this from Tao Hua, Chen Leyao’s expression finally eased slightly. She smoothed back a stray lock of hair, her voice gentle, "Please tell His Highness on my return, whether it’s one year or two, Leyao is willing to wait for him."

"Ah, ah! Exactly! That’s what the Third Prince was waiting to hear from you!" Tao Hua clapped her hands and laughed heartily, her eyelids beginning to tremble with joy.

Tao Hua clearly wanted to dismiss Chen Leyao, so she began discussing future dowry issues with Lady Jiang. Naturally, the girl felt shy about such matters, and Chen Leyao blushed, finding an excuse to leave.

Once Chen Leyao had left, Tao Hua sighed and said, "Ah, my dear sister, your daughter is really too stubborn. You can’t keep spoiling her like this. It’s one thing to be headstrong at your own house, but once she’s married and enters the Prince’s Mansion, such a stubborn temperament won’t endear her to her husband."

Lady Jiang wasn’t convinced by Tao Hua’s words. Her daughter was naturally like herself, and she hadn’t noticed Chen Haigang disliking her.

However, she wouldn’t express such thoughts to Tao Hua, especially since Chen Leyao’s affairs were still undecided, and she still needed this go-between!

"Yes, yes, big sister, you’re right. This girl has been spoiled by her father and me. Ever since she was little, she’s had this stubborn streak, never listening to anyone. Once she sets her mind on something, she follows through to the end. Ah, it does worry me!"

Tao Hua nodded, took a sip of tea, and said, "Exactly! Take just now, for example. If it were someone else’s daughter, hearing that the Third Prince fancied her, not to mention entering the mansion under irregular circumstances, she would be overjoyed even to be sold into the mansion as a serving maid! But this girl, ah, really makes me at a loss for words!"

This time, Lady Jiang had nothing to say because what she worried about most was indeed this potential problem—that someone might jump ahead and steal Chen Leyao’s marital fate.

"That was indeed Leyao acting immature just now. Please don’t take it to heart, big sister. I’ll definitely talk to her properly."

Hearing this from Lady Jiang, Tao Hua’s heart finally blossomed with happiness. She patted Lady Jiang’s hand with a knowing look, "Big sister, you can’t miss this opportunity. We’ve already come so far and prepared so much, just waiting for this final step. If we give up halfway, wouldn’t we be letting someone else benefit?"

Someone else?

Lady Jiang’s brows furrowed slightly.

A sly smile crossed Tao Hua’s eyes as she leaned in mysteriously and whispered, "I’ve heard that the legitimate daughter of the Wu family from Jiangnan has already hooked up with the Second Prince. I heard they’re preparing to carry her in through the back door in a sedan next month!"

The legitimate daughter of the Wu family from Jiangnan? Could it be...