The Ma Family's Ambitions, the Zhu Family's Schemes

Chapter 93 The Ma Family's Ambitions, the Zhu Family's Schemes

My family has passed away.

At this moment, Wang Jingshu and her son Ma Wencai were in a room together.

Wang Jingshu asked Ma Wencai, "What did you think of the young lady from the Zhu family today? Did you like her?"

Ma Wencai smiled and said, "She has a good appearance and an interesting personality. She is not the kind of timid and submissive young lady you might expect. My son is very pleased with her."

His tone was confident and self-satisfied, as if he were talking not about an uncertain marriage, but about something that was already in his grasp.

Wang Jingshu smiled and said, "If you like it, that's good."

It turned out that Ma Yue and Wang Jingshu, seeing that their eldest son Ma Wencai had reached marriageable age, decided to turn their attention to the Zhu family.

Although the Ma family was the most prominent family in Shangyu and had a powerful private army, they had been struggling to make ends meet in recent years, and their wealth had been gradually diminishing.

The root of the problem lay with the private army, which numbered two thousand, each with their own families. The Ma family spent an astonishing amount of money and grain each year to support such a large population. This expenditure was like a gaping maw, constantly devouring the Ma family's foundation.

The Zhu family was extremely wealthy. Zhu Guang was skilled in business, and now the Zhu family's granaries were full and overflowing. However, Zhu Guang had no sons, only two daughters. His eldest daughter, Zhu Yinghua, had married into the Xu family. Xu Zhang was not the eldest son of the Xu family, and the Xu family's social standing was far inferior to that of the Ma family.

Once Ma Wencai marries Zhu Yingtai, Ma Yue and Wang Jingshu are quite confident that they can seize a portion of the Zhu family's wealth, and are even more confident that they can take over the Zhu family's vast fortune after Zhu Guang passes away.

Ma Yue and Wang Jingshu had always doted on their eldest son, Ma Wencai, so they told him about their scheme in detail.

Ma Wencai agreed after hearing this.

He had met Zhu Yingtai once two years ago and was already somewhat attracted to her at that time.

This marriage is also related to the Ma family's future plans, and the Zhu family's wealth can just fill the hole left by the Ma family's private soldiers.

For him, it was a win-win situation to marry a talented and beautiful woman from a prominent family and to take over the Zhu family's fortune.

Today's banquet was meticulously arranged by the Ma family.

Ma Wencai wanted to see Zhu Yingtai in person, so he asked his mother to make arrangements for him. Wang Jingshu, who doted on her son, naturally agreed.

At this moment, Wang Jingshu said with a smile, "That Zhu family girl is also good in my eyes. She is beautiful and talented. Although she is not as docile as ordinary young ladies, marrying such a woman will not disgrace you. Don't worry, your father and mother will find a way to make this marriage happen. Although Zhu Guang did not agree on the spot today, with the influence of our Ma family, he would not dare to refuse easily. You just wait."

Ma Wencai chuckled, a determined glint in his eyes: "With Mother's words, I am at ease."

When Zhu Guang, Wei Shi, and Zhu Yingtai returned to the Zhu family manor, it was already night.

At this moment, the family of three is gathered in one room.

Zhu Guang and Wei Shi sat down, while Zhu Yingtai stood to one side.

Lady Wei said to Zhu Yingtai, "Yingtai, it's getting late. You should go back to your pavilion and rest."

Zhu Yingtai did not take her leave, but sat down opposite her mother and looked at her parents: "Daughter would like to hear what Father and Mother have to say about today's events."

Madam Wei was slightly taken aback and said, "How can a daughter listen to her parents' plans for her marriage in person?"

She glanced at Zhu Guang, then at Zhu Yingtai's earnest face, shook her head, and sighed, "Fine, if you want to listen, then listen."

This daughter is different from ordinary young ladies; she has studied, acquired knowledge, and even spent two years studying abroad as a man. She is not the kind of obedient daughter who listens to whatever her parents say; she has her own opinions and views. Rather than letting her go back to her room and indulge in wild thoughts, it's better to let her hear things clearly in person.

Wei turned to Zhu Guang, her voice becoming more serious: "Zhu Lang, today Madam Wang from the Ma family brought up the matter of a marriage alliance with me. She said that she and her husband both intend for Yingtai to marry Ma Wencai, thus establishing a marriage alliance between the two families."

Her tone held a hint of dissatisfaction: "Midway through the banquet today, Madam Wang invited me to the back garden to admire the yellow plum blossoms. When we reached a yellow plum tree, Madam Wang suddenly said that she wanted to have a private conversation with me, and told me to leave Yingtai behind and leave her alone under the yellow plum tree. I felt something was amiss at the time, but I couldn't refuse."

Upon returning, I questioned Yingtai in detail and learned that Wang had instructed Ma Wencai to meet with Yingtai privately while she was speaking with me alone. This was extremely impolite; how could two unmarried individuals be allowed to meet privately? Even if they were engaged, such recklessness would be unacceptable.

Zhu Guang frowned as he listened.

Lady Wei then asked, "Zhu Lang, did Ma Yue mention the marriage alliance to you today?"

Zhu Guang nodded: "He did mention it. At the banquet, he said that he and Wang wanted to ask for this marriage for Ma Wencai. His words were polite enough, but his meaning was clear."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yingtai could no longer contain herself and resolutely declared, "Father, Mother, I will not marry that Ma Wencai. Today, under the yellow plum tree in the back garden, when he spoke to me, his attitude was arrogant and rude. He called me 'Miss Zhu,' openly commented on my appearance, and even—he even called me 'Ninth Sister.' I asked him to move aside, but he refused. I absolutely do not wish to marry such a person of questionable character."

Wei looked at Zhu Guang.

Zhu Guang's voice deepened: "When Ma Yue proposed marriage today, I felt something was amiss. The Ma family is the most prominent family in Shangyu, with a powerful reputation, and they only have one legitimate son, Ma Wencai. What kind of marriage couldn't they find? Why are they so eager to form a marriage alliance with my Zhu family? After thinking about it for a moment, I understood."

Over the years, the Ma family has maintained a private army of two thousand soldiers, each with their own families. The expenses for their food and supplies are immense. While the Ma family estate is grand, ultimately, the amount of fertile land and annual income is finite. Maintaining two thousand soldiers is a never-ending hole. The Ma family has been living beyond its means for years, merely maintaining a facade of respectability.

While my Zhu family may not be as powerful as the Ma family, we are certainly well-off. I have no sons, only two daughters, Yinghua and Yingtai. Therefore, I suspect the Ma family harbors ill intentions; they are not after Yingtai, but rather the wealth of my Zhu family.”

He had calculated Ma Yue and Wang Jingshu's conspiracy with perfect accuracy.

Upon hearing this, Madam Wei's face tensed up. She had originally thought that the Ma family's marriage proposal was just a common alliance between prominent families, but she never expected that such a deep scheme was hidden behind it.

She hurriedly asked, "Zhu Lang, what should we do? You didn't agree to this marriage, did you?"

Zhu Guang said, "Of course I did not accept the offer. I said that I only have Yingtai as my daughter at present, and there is no rush to let her get married. It would be better to discuss the marriage in a year. This was already a polite refusal, but Ma Yue said it was fine, and that waiting a year was also acceptable. He said that he could wait, and his son could wait too."

Wei became increasingly anxious: "What should we do? The Ma family is powerful. If they are determined, how can we resist them?"

'

Zhu Guang said, "Ma Yue is truly determined to make this happen. He said we can wait a year, after which Yingtai will be seventeen and it will be time to discuss marriage. All I can do today is delay it for a year. If he brings it up again after a year, and I refuse again, I will have offended the Ma family. The Ma family is indeed powerful, with a strong private army, and they have the Langya Wang family as their backing. If we really offend them, my Zhu family may not be able to withstand it."

Madam Wei's face turned pale. Suddenly remembering something, she said urgently, "Master Zhu, could you betroth Yingtai to the Xie family of Chenjun? The Xie family manor is in Shining, not far from here, and Master Zhu has some dealings with the Xie family."

Zhu Guang pondered for a moment, sighed, and said with emotion, "Although I have dealings with the Xie family, our relationship is not deep. The Xie family is now a top-tier aristocratic family, and the marriages of their direct descendants are naturally chosen by their elders from among several families of equal standing. How could my Zhu family possibly have a chance?"

Besides, even if a direct descendant of the Xie family were willing to marry Yingtai, I would still want to see what kind of person he is, what his talent and character are like. I can't let Yingtai suffer. And even if he were both talented and virtuous, the rules in such a powerful family are very strict. You know Yingtai's personality; she's not an ordinary young lady. If she went to such a high-ranking family, she would inevitably be constrained in every way, and she might not be able to be happy there.”

At this point, he reached up and pressed his temples, a look of weariness on his face: "It's getting late, and I'm tired."

Let's set this matter aside for now and discuss it again later.

Madam Wei nodded and looked at Zhu Yingtai: "Yingtai, go and rest."

Zhu Yingtai stood up and bowed respectfully to her parents.

She seemed to have something to say, but ultimately remained silent.

He simply left silently.