A family with three widows, after severing ties with relatives, she became wealthy and married into

Chapter 235 One Heart Matchmaking

Tian Tian thought that since Empress Li had been seen by Li Huaiyuan, she should go back to the county government office with him.

However, no one knows what method Empress Li used to get Li Huaiyuan to let her continue living in her house.

After Lu Tao and Liu San Niang learned that Empress Li was actually Li Huaiyuan's aunt, and also Young Master Ling's mother, they became even more enthusiastic towards Empress Li.

Besides Tian Tian, ​​Tian Xiang, the only one who knew Madam Li's identity, was extremely worried.

"Sweetie..." Tian Xiang arrived at Tian Tian's courtyard. "This Madam Li... is she the Empress?"

Tian Tian did not refute.

Empress Li is Ling Yao's mother, and Tian Xiang already knew that Ling Yao was the Crown Prince.

"The Empress's visit to our Baishi County isn't because of Young Master Ling's injury... she's here to cause trouble, is it?"

Tian Tian chuckled, "Big sister..."

“Young Master Ling’s injuries were not caused by us. If she wants to cause trouble, she should go after the Tian family. What does it have to do with us?”

"Besides, she's stayed at our house for so many days, how could she have intended to cause trouble?"

"Don't think too much."

Tian Xiang breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good."

Empress Li had no intention of causing trouble; she already knew the whole story of how Ling Yao was injured.

"Huaiyuan, tell your aunt how Ayao got injured..." After indulging in eating, drinking, and merrymaking for more than ten days, Empress Li finally remembered to ask about her son's condition.

Li Huaiyuan glanced at her and thought to himself, "Haven't I already written to you in the capital about what happened?"

"Tell me more details," Empress Li insisted.

She suddenly remembered recently that Li Huaiyuan had mentioned in his letter that Ling Yao had taken a blow because he was so eager to save Miss Tian.

When she saw the letter, she didn't think of blaming Miss Tian, ​​but she didn't think about it in any other way either.

But it's different now.

She's taken a liking to Tian Tian as her daughter-in-law...

Then she needs to figure out exactly how eager Yao'er was to save Miss Tian.

"Quickly, tell your aunt in detail again," Empress Li urged.

Li Huaiyuan said helplessly, "I don't know anything about what happened before; it was all revealed by those prisoners..."

"I went to the abandoned house in the suburbs with the guards who were with Miss Tian."

"When I arrived, I saw Heming holding Miss Tian in his arms, with his back to the prisoner..."

Empress Li asked urgently, "Hug? Is it a hug? How do you hug?"

Li Huaiyuan was stunned. How should he hug him?

This... "He's just...like this...like that...like this..."

He demonstrated without any prop, saying, "That's how you hold someone."

Empress Li had no choice but to call in a yamen runner, saying, "You carry him."

Li Huaiyuan glanced at the burly yamen runner who had been summoned in and sighed, "Aunt, he... he doesn't resemble Miss Tian Er at all."

The constable was quite clever; he fidgeted, touching the end of his hair, and asked shyly, "Sir, is this alright?"

"Pfft..." Li Huaiyuan was speechless with anger.

Seeing his predicament, Empress Li had no choice but to call in another bailiff.

Although this constable was not as large as the woman, he was much thinner than the previous one.

Li Huaiyuan reluctantly recreated the scene of Ling Yao holding Tian Tian with his back to Tian Zhigao that day.

“That’s it…” he said, maintaining his pose. “Aunt, did you see it clearly?”

Empress Li stood up and looked the two of them up and down, left and right, front and back...

Li Huaiyuan's movements were a precise replica of Ling Yao's posture when he was holding Tian Tian. He firmly gripped the yamen runner's shoulder with one hand and put the other hand through the runner's waist, pulling the runner into his arms.

He curled up slightly, as if protecting the constable in his arms.

The constable's face was pressed against Li Huaiyuan's chest, his long hair disheveled, revealing only a section of his slightly reddened neck.

The crucial point is that the constable's hand landed on Li Huaiyuan's back...

"Ah..." Empress Li noticed this and pointed to the bailiff's hand, "Were Miss Tian's hands like this back then?"

The constable nodded repeatedly; he had seen it with his own eyes—that's exactly how Miss Tian was back then...

He had even studied the strength in Miss Tian's fingertips.

Empress Li stroked her chin, then looked at Li Huaiyuan's actions...

With one arm around her shoulder and the other around her waist, she let Tian Er lean against her...

This is not just simple protection or support; it also reveals a very secretive possessiveness.

Empress Li frowned...

"It seems Yao'er really likes Miss Tian Er..."

"This Miss Tian doesn't seem to have any interest in Yao'er..."

Li Huaiyuan remained awkwardly in his position. "Aunt, can we separate now?"

Empress Li waved her hand, "Let's separate."

Li Huaiyuan breathed a sigh of relief and released the constable.

"What was Miss Tian's reaction when Yao'er left?" Empress Li asked again.

Li Huaiyuan recounted the scene of Ling Yao and Tian Tian's parting in great detail.

He was really afraid that he wouldn't be able to explain it clearly and would have to recreate the situation from that day.

From Ling Yao's lingering presence to Tian Tian's appearance, and then the seemingly casual farewell between the two.

All of this seems to make no problem at first glance.

But no matter how she listened, she felt that there was something wrong between Ling Yao and Tian Tian.

And it's a big problem.

When Su Weiyue brought tea, Empress Li stopped her there.

"Weiyue, do you think Yao'er has feelings for Miss Tian Er?"

Empress Li and Li Huaiyuan both looked at Su Weiyue.

Su Weiyue nodded firmly, "Of course!!"

Li Huaiyuan lowered his head... He knew that Ling Yao had feelings for Miss Tian, ​​but Miss Tian had obviously already rejected Ling Yao.

Why make my aunt sad...?

“However, Miss Tian Er refused,” Su Weiyue answered honestly.

Empress Li and Li Huaiyuan both looked at Su Weiyue in surprise.

"How did you know?" Li Huaiyuan asked, extremely curious.

Heming can't speak, so how did she know?

Su Weiyue blinked. "I could tell from Heming's downcast mood."

“Miss Tian has her own ideas. Although I don’t know what she’s thinking, I can understand her.”

Su Weiyue approached Empress Li and bowed slightly, "Aunt, please don't blame Miss Tian Er."

Empress Li naturally wouldn't blame Tian Tian; matters of love between men and women are inherently difficult to explain.

"I can see that the Second Miss also has feelings for Heming."

"She's a good girl..."

"If my aunt thinks the same way, perhaps she can try to advocate for Heming..."

Su Weiyue winked at Li Huaiyuan.

"I'll fight for him?" Empress Li waved her hand dramatically. "No, no, it's his wedding, not mine..."

“But Miss Tian is so wonderful, and she’s reached marriageable age. She could be betrothed at any time…” Su Weiyue said with difficulty.

"I heard about her sworn brother..."

Empress Li suddenly stood up. "Um...I...I can't stay here any longer, I need to go back..."

"I want to go back to the Tian family."

After saying that, Empress Li hurriedly ran away.

Su Weiyue sat down happily, even crossing her legs.

"Madam, what's going on?" Li Huaiyuan looked at Su Weiyue suspiciously.

Su Weiyue rolled her eyes at Li Huaiyuan. "What? You don't want Miss Tian Er to be your cousin's wife?"

Li Huaiyuan was stunned.

That's a statement...

If that's the case...

He really wants to!

Su Weiyue smiled faintly, "In the end, it's because I like Miss Tian Er, and I also like the people from the Tian family and the Liu family."

"It's great to be related to them."

"Besides, as his cousins, do we really want Heming to suffer the pain of not being able to have his way with Miss Tian?"

Li Huaiyuan shook his head slightly; he really couldn't bear to part with it.

That day, seeing Heming so dejected, he felt very sad.

“Aunt...maybe she can help Heming…” Su Weiyue said.

*

When Empress Li hurriedly returned to the Tian family home, it was already evening.

Tian Jinghe had just finished school.

"Madam Li," Tian Jinghe said obediently, bowing.

Empress Li reached out and supported him, saying, "Jinghe, no need, no need."

She pulled Jinghe aside and said, "Jinghe, Madam Li has something to ask you."

Tian Jinghe craned his neck, puzzled.

"Jinghe, has your second sister mentioned to you whether... she has a man she's interested in?"

Tian Jinghe frowned slightly and replied with some dissatisfaction, "Madam Li, my second sister has just come of age and is not yet married. She is focused on her business, how could she possibly have a man she likes?"

"Don't ruin my second sister's reputation."

Empress Li was taken aback, only then realizing that her question was inappropriate.

"Oh, Jinghe, that's not what I meant."

She quickly changed her question, "I wanted to ask... what requirements would be needed if I wanted to propose to your second sister? Has your second sister mentioned it?"

To everyone's surprise, Tian Jinghe's expression hardened again. "My second sister's marriage is naturally decided by my mother. Why would my second sister bring it up?"

After saying that, Tian Jinghe hummed and left.

He's very clever now; no one can set a trap for him.

Empress Li watched awkwardly as Tian Jinghe's departing figure...

"Oh dear." Empress Li stamped her foot in frustration and went to Lu Tao's courtyard.

Lu Tao and Liu San Niang have been spending more time at home lately. In the mornings, they water the sprouts and then make spring clothes for the girls.

She gestured with the fabric and whispered to Liu San Niang, "I think... my sweetie's size has... grown a bit."

"The chest area needs to be widened a bit more."

Liu San Niang suppressed a laugh and tugged at the fabric, "This is still before she's married. When she's actually married, she'll have to put it on again."

Lu Tao slapped her, "How can you talk about your own daughter like that?"

“Then I wasn’t wrong either.” Liu San Niang raised her eyebrows.

Empress Li took the opportunity to lightly knock on the door.

"Oh, Sister Li." After learning that Madam Li was Ling Yao's mother, Lu Tao's goodwill towards her increased even more.

"You're back, come in quickly."

Madam Li entered the room and sat opposite Lu Tao.

"Sister Lu, I just heard you say that you want Tian Tian to get married?"

"Then tell me, what kind of husband's family do you want to find for Tian Tian?"

Seeing her interested expression, Lu Tao didn't guard up and started talking.

"I don't really have any requirements, just..."

"As long as I'm good to her, that's enough."

Liu San Niang added from the side, "Sister Lu, it's not enough to just be nice to Tian Tian."

Empress Li looked at Liu San Niang.

Liu San Niang counted on her fingers, "Look, Tian Tian has opened two shops now, and she also has a share of the Fu Lai Restaurant. She'll be opening more branches soon."

"She has so much wealth; if a man only values ​​her possessions and doesn't truly love her, what good would that do?"

"The future may not be easy."