Chen Yi was a typical bully who feared the strong and oppressed the weak. Seeing Chen Xuan leave, his expression immediately changed. Like a strutting rooster, he was about to start showing off again.
"Actually, I came today to ask sister-in-law to do me another favor," he said.
Although he used the word "ask," his expression showed not the slightest bit of humility. Instead, he seemed to be the one being asked.
Madam Bai had long known he had other motives. At this moment, she sipped her tea leisurely and said nothing.
When Chen Yi saw that his words had no response, he immediately got angry. "Didn't sister-in-law hear what I just said!"
"Granny Li," Madam Bai looked at Granny Li standing beside her and asked curiously, "Why do I vaguely hear the barking of a dog? Has a stray dog sneaked into the mansion?"
Granny Li gave a knowing smile. "Maybe the gatekeeper was being lazy and let a stray dog in. Don't worry, madam. I'll drive it out right away."
As she said this, she cast a meaningful look at Chen Yi.
Even if Chen Yi was stupid, he understood at this moment that the mistress and her maid were scolding him both explicitly and implicitly. He trembled with rage, pointing at Madam Bai for a long time. His face was so red that it seemed as if he would faint from anger the next second.
Chen Huanyun's expression also turned ugly. Since they were scolding her father, how could she be happy?
She glared at Chen Yi resentfully. Her delayed marriage was entirely the fault of her parents!
If she had grown up in the marquis's mansion, she wouldn't be in such a difficult situation now.
Stimulated by her look, Chen Yi's anger-filled mind cleared a bit. Remembering the purpose of his visit today, he flung his sleeve and sat down. "Sister-in-law, no matter what, we are still a family. Even if the bones are broken, the tendons are still connected."
"Our Chen family should support each other to go far. Don't you think so?"
Seeing that he couldn't outargue her, he started playing the family card.
Madam Bai sneered. If the marquis's mansion ever encountered trouble in the future, this family would probably be the first to run away, let alone offer help.
She was too lazy to deal with them. "Just say it straight. What are you here for?"
Chen Yi gave a sly smile and pointed at Chen Huanyun beside him. "Our Huanyun has reached the age to get married. Logically, the marquis's mansion should help her find a good husband, right?"
Chen Huanyun lowered her head, her eyes changing. She thought they had finally gotten to the point. When she looked up, she pretended to be surprised. "Father! You didn't tell me about this today..."
The implication was that she didn't know about Chen Yi's plan.
Chen Yi snorted. "Don't interrupt as a girl." Then he looked at Madam Bai again. "Sister-in-law lives a privileged life and has a noble status. I'm sure you know many wealthy and noble young men. How about letting Huanyun stay in the marquis's mansion for a while so that you can help her choose a suitable one?"
Madam Bai's eyes swept over the two of them and she couldn't help laughing. They were really trying to treat her like a fool.
Just as she was about to refuse, Chen Tingfeng walked in, followed by the Second Prince. He bowed and said, "Greetings, mother."
The Second Prince smiled and bowed. "Auntie."
Madam Bai swallowed her words and quickly stood up with a smile. "Greetings, Second Prince."
The Second Prince supported her gently. "No need for such formalities. I'm just here to play with Shaochuan today. Don't be so polite."
Saying this, he sat down on a chair beside him. His eyes scanned the hall and finally landed on Chen Tingfeng. A mysterious smile appeared on his face.
Chen Tingfeng pretended not to see it and sat down on his own. His gaze turned to the father and daughter opposite him. After a moment of thought, he roughly guessed what had happened.
They came under the pretext of giving gifts but actually wanted to seek benefits for themselves. His Uncle Four really hadn't made any progress over the years.
The father and daughter, Chen Yi and Chen Huanyun, didn't expect this handsome and elegant man to be the Second Prince. They glanced at each other and both showed eager looks.
Chen Huanyun knew to lower her head to cover it up, but her eyes still kept glancing at Xie Yan.
Chen Yi, however, stared directly at Xie Yan with greedy eyes.
He said again, "I knew sister-in-law has a noble status and wouldn't be so unwilling to help me with such a small thing, right?"
"Moreover, my daughter is as beautiful as a flower. She can manage the household, do accounts, and is also good at cooking. She can help you manage affairs and relieve your boredom when she stays by your side. I wonder what sister-in-law thinks?"
Now Chen Tingfeng completely understood. This time, they weren't trying to get benefits by giving concubines to him. They wanted to directly stuff his daughter into the marquis's mansion to enjoy a comfortable life.
He looked coldly at the woman opposite. She was indeed beautiful, but as beautiful as a flower... A face that frowned at him flashed through his mind. He slowly took a sip of tea.
Beautiful as she was, she was rather insipid.
Chen Huanyun lowered her head and showed a shy look. She seemed to want to say something but hesitated, as if she didn't agree with what her father said. She pretended to be a decent person, but her eyes couldn't help stealing glances at Xie Yan.
Seeing this, Chen Tingfeng raised his eyebrows and let out a soft laugh in a low voice. "Our Second Prince is really charming."
Xie Yan couldn't help noticing the woman's flirting looks. He didn't take it seriously at first and planned to ignore it. The folding fan in his hand swayed gently, just like his nonchalant attitude.
But hearing Chen Tingfeng's teasing, he gave the other person a rather speechless look. "Thank you for the compliment."
Chen Tingfeng just smiled without saying a word. He casually sized up the woman who could be considered his cousin. He could see through the falsehood beneath her decent appearance at a glance.
He had seen this kind of falsehood too many times, and the disguise of the person in front of him was rather clumsy.
It was so boring.
His right hand unconsciously stroked the sachet hanging from his waist. The faint fragrance of mint lingered around his nose, and he couldn't help thinking of someone.
Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, he suddenly raised his eyes and stared at Chen Huanyun. Just then, he saw her look at Xie Yan.
Did she like Xie Yan?
Madam Bai was almost angry and laughed after hearing his shameless words. Just as she was about to refuse, unexpectedly, Chen Tingfeng spoke first. "So, Uncle Four means that you want to let cousin stay in the marquis's mansion?"
Madam Bai was stunned. She didn't know what Chen Tingfeng was up to. She looked at Chen Tingfeng with a calm expression and swallowed the words she hadn't said.
His sudden words immediately attracted everyone's attention. Chen Yi was a little afraid of his nephew, but he thought it was really embarrassing to be afraid of a junior. So he forced himself to put on an arrogant look on his face. "So what if I do?"
Chen Tingfeng smiled slightly. "The marquis's mansion is not a marketplace. We can't just accept anyone. Uncle Four wants cousin to stay in the marquis's mansion. That's okay. But cousin is after all your daughter. I'm sure you'll be responsible for her food, clothing, and daily expenses. Considering that we are relatives, we'll charge you three hundred taels a month. How about that?"
"Three hundred taels?" Chen Yi's voice suddenly rose. His face was flushed with anger. "Why don't you just rob me!"
"Uncle Four spends one or two hundred taels in the brothel every month. Does that mean that in Uncle Four's heart, cousin is not as important as your beautiful lovers?" Chen Tingfeng pretended to be surprised.
Hearing this, Chen Huanyun's face immediately changed. Who would like to be compared with those brothel women?
She forced a smile and secretly tugged at Chen Yi's robe with her right hand. She said in a very low voice, "Father, the marriage."
Chen Yi endured and endured. Many thoughts flashed through his mind. He looked at his daughter and then at Xie Yan. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, three hundred taels it is!"
"However, all of my daughter's food, clothing, and daily necessities must be the best!"