"That's enough, I know. I guess perhaps Young Master Gu has long sensed your affection for him, but he felt unworthy and dared not get involved with you."
Du Lanyue found this plausible. Suddenly, her heart felt heavy.
At this moment, a maid entered to report,
"Miss, the luggage is packed. Steward Xu has called the carriage and is waiting outside."
The two women left and got into the carriage, their luggage being moved by the servants.
Upon returning home, Madam Du kept observing Du Lanyue. Then she said to her daughters,
"While you were at the estate, was Lanyue studying more diligently?"
The two sisters were now prepared for a rebellious act. Therefore, other than Steward Zhu, they had not informed anyone in the family about Du Lanyue and Gu Qingcheng going out.
Steward Zhu was usually the one looking after the Gu sisters, and he always covered for them, so Madam Du had no suspicions.
As for learning skills, Du Lanxing was indeed studying diligently. Every time Steward Zhu visited, he would see the second young lady learning various dyeing techniques. Naturally, he would report back to Madam Du.
At this moment, upon hearing this, Du Lanxing smiled and asked,
"Mother, what do you mean?"
Madam Du playfully remarked, "Lanxing, look at you, plump and fair. Lanyue, on the other hand, her cheeks have caved in, and she seems to have lost several pounds. If she weren't studying hard, how could she be so thin?
Lanxing, you clearly haven't been studying very seriously. You need to learn from your sister."
Du Lanxing felt both exasperated and amused when her mother said this, but she couldn't argue with her mother about it.
She had managed to get by with vague answers, and she wasn't going to be so foolish.
Du Lanyue could only offer an awkward smile and dared not say anything.
Du the Elder returned home last night, and when he couldn't see his two precious daughters, he was extremely worried. Now that he saw them home, he was very happy.
At this moment, he said, "Lanyue, be prepared. Young Master Wang is preparing to come and propose."
"Propose? Father, I don't want to get married yet!"
Du Lanyue exclaimed in surprise.
"You're not young anymore, it's time you got married. His father and I are old friends, and I've watched Junyan grow up since he was a child. His character and family background match well with ours. Believe me, I won't arrange a bad match for you."
As Du the Elder spoke, he also felt a little strange. Why would his daughter object this time? Wasn't she usually so obedient?
When Du Lanyue objected, she was afraid her father would get angry, but to her surprise, her father discussed it with her calmly.
Thus, Du Lanyue suddenly mustered her courage and said,
"Father, I don't want to marry Young Master Wang. I already have someone I like."
Du Lanxing, hearing this, was so startled that she covered her mouth and widened her eyes. She never imagined that her sister would bring this up before confessing to Young Master Gu.
She felt her sister had lost the initiative.
Wouldn't it be more natural for her and Young Master Gu to exchange affections, for them to clarify their feelings for each other, and then for Master Gu to find a respected figure in the city to propose?
She never expected her sister to be so bold.
Du Lanxing would have applauded her sister's courage before, but now, after discovering that Young Master Gu had a hidden ailment, her heart was filled with bitterness.
She hadn't expected her sister to be so rash as to directly express her feelings.
"What? Who is your beloved?"
Madam Du's mind went blank upon hearing this. Her daughter had always been raised as a lady of refinement, and she had no idea when she had fallen for someone else.
Madam Du couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
"Mother, you probably don't know him. He's a merchant from out of town."
Du Lanyue calmed down now, realizing she hadn't discussed this matter with Gu Qingcheng yet.
If she were to tell her parents directly now that she liked Gu Qingcheng, her parents would surely be angry.
They would be angry that Gu Qingcheng hadn't proposed yet.
She didn't want to give Gu Qingcheng a bad impression in her parents' eyes from the very beginning.
So, she could only try to bluff her parents for now.
"Ah? It's fine even if he's from out of town, but why didn't you have him meet us?"
Du the Elder frowned slightly.
In the eyes of aristocratic families, he was just a nouveau riche. He had money, but he wasn't in their league.
Although he desperately wanted his daughters to marry well, he also knew that marrying into a declining and impoverished family might harm his daughters.
Therefore, he didn't mind his daughter marrying a merchant, even if it was an out-of-town merchant. If the other party lacked money, didn't he have enough?
His wealth was sufficient. What he valued more was the other party's character and whether they would cherish his daughter.
"Father, Mother, I liked him first, but I haven't told him yet, and I don't know if he likes me.
Because I don't know his feelings, I couldn't bring him to meet you. But for now, I don't want to marry Young Master Wang."
Madam Du's eyelids twitched, and she couldn't help but sigh,
"Silly child, you've put yourself in a passive position like this."
Indeed, for a young lady, others should take the initiative. How could she go and offer herself?
Seeing her daughter like this, it was clear she was deeply in love and wouldn't marry anyone else.
Madam Du was also a woman who had experienced the age of countless maidenly thoughts, and she could immediately understand her daughter's feelings.
Du the Elder remained silent for a long time, likely stunned by the unexpected news, speechless.
"Which lucky young man has captured my daughter's eye?"
In Du the Elder's heart, his daughter was a person of at least the rank of a noble consort.
Of course, once one entered the palace, it was a deep sea, and he definitely didn't want his daughter to marry into a powerful family.
As for the groom's requirements, looking at Wang Junyan, a match in social standing would suffice.
Men relied on their abilities, not their looks. So, just as he was about to make a final decision, he never expected his usually obedient daughter to pull this stunt.
He was just curious, who was the person his daughter liked?
Du Lanyue hadn't expected her father not to be angry and to even ask about the person she liked.
Du Lanyue fell silent for a moment.
Seeing her like this, Du the Elder didn't rush to ask further and said,
"How about this, tell your parents when you feel the time is right. As for the Wang family, I'll find an excuse to decline."
Du Lanyue and Du Lanxing were both stunned by their father's response.
They had expected their father to fly into a rage, but they never imagined he would indulge them so much?
Why?
"Father, aren't you angry?"
Du Lanyue blurted out subconsciously.
"What's there to be angry about? If it were before the famine, I might have forced an arrangement, because my arrangements would definitely not be bad!
But after experiencing so many hardships, I've come to understand. Life is about living each day happily. Live the life you want to live.
Especially when it comes to choosing a husband, if you have someone you like, and that person cherishes you, your mother and I won't object.
However, no matter what, you must find a place to introduce him to us so that we can take a look."
"Okay, I will do it as soon as possible."
Looking at her father's earnest and hopeful gaze, Du Lanyue's eyes welled up, and she said emotionally.