Chapter 51: Queen Meng

September 6th.

The relatives of the Meng and Yuan families entered the city from the west gate, passed the West First Street where the government office was located, turned left into the main street, walked north for a distance, and then turned right into North First Street.

It was a short distance, and many people gathered along the way to watch the excitement. After the relatives of the Meng and Yuan families entered the house, the servants and maids who were delivering the news from each family dispersed from the crowd and returned home to report to their masters.

Su family.

The capable maidservant in Madam Lu's courtyard reported, "There are an unusually large number of people coming from both families this time. I counted them, and there are thirteen large carriages carrying people alone."

"What carriage? The carriage that the eldest lady of the Meng family used to travel in?"

"It's the carriage that Madam Yuan rode in. We're all familiar with carriages of that type. It must be filled with the owners of the family. I'm afraid all the unmarried daughters and cousins ​​from the Meng and Yuan families are here."

The servants of some wealthy families are well-informed and know more about some unorthodox news than their masters. Everyone knows why the young ladies of the Meng and Yuan families come to Songjiang City time and time again.

Mrs. Lu raised a smile and said, "Look, that's why they say every family has its own problems. Not to mention the general's daughter, even the emperor's daughter has trouble finding a husband."

The daughter-in-law who was serving beside her smiled and said, "Madam, what you said makes sense."

Mrs. Lu glanced at her silent little daughter, and the smile on her lips disappeared immediately. This girl is nineteen years old this year, which really makes her worried.

Mrs. Lu perked up and asked about the Gu family: "Gu Wen is now a third-rank official. Will he be attending the Meng family's Chongyang Banquet?"

"Of course I'll go. Gu Dalang is old enough to get married, and the impetuous young lady of the Gu family isn't young anymore. I heard the Gu family hired two embroiderers to make clothes at home, and they're very busy."

Mrs. Lu couldn't help but sneer, "It would be strange if she wasn't busy. I invited Mrs. Du three times and she only came once. She's really putting on so much airs."

Their master supported Gu Wen. Logically, the Su family was indebted to the Gu family, but from beginning to end, only Gu Wen had frequent interactions with his master, while Mrs. Du rarely visited her Su family. It was normal for the two families to exchange gifts during festivals, as if they did not take the Su family seriously. Mrs. Lu was very concerned about this.

The servants exchanged glances, and finally the serving wife mustered up the courage to say, "Madam, please don't bother with such a fool. I heard that Mrs. Du originally came from a humble family and doesn't know the rules."

When the words came to her lips, Madam Lu snorted, "If it weren't for her son who is quite promising, do you think I would bother with the Gu family?"

Mrs. Lu said something disdainful of the Gu family and glared at her daughter: "I told you to get close to that girl from the Gu family, why didn't you go?"

Su Xiang lowered her head and whispered, "I sent someone to ask at their house, but they were busy."

"What is she busy with that doesn't make her free? I think this is just an excuse for you not to go out. You're already grown up, but you stay at home all day and don't go out to socialize. Who would know you, the young lady of the Su family?"

Who in Songjiang City doesn’t know that the Su family has an old girl who can’t get married?

Su Xiang was scolded by her mother so much that she couldn't even lift her head. She clenched her fists tightly before she mustered up the courage to defend herself: "The young lady of the Gu family runs such a large caravan, traveling back and forth from north to south. She's very busy. I don't know her well, so how can I bother her?"

Mrs. Lu became even angrier when she heard this. A woman from a small family like Mrs. Du had such a capable daughter, so how could she have raised such a not presentable daughter?

Mrs. Lu came from a good family. Even when she was in Luoyang, she always held her head high in front of other wives of officials, except for the women of the royal duke's family.

Things change over time. Who would have thought that she had never raised her head up all these years because of her youngest daughter's marriage? The more Mrs. Lu thought about it, the more depressed she felt.

Mrs. Lu really didn't know how to teach this girl. She held back her anger and asked the old woman, "Has Mr. Cai's son returned?"

"Not yet. But even if he doesn't come back today, he should be back tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. After the Double Ninth Festival, it will be the old lady of the Cai family's 60th birthday. He is the old lady's grandson, so he should be back at least."

The people living on the Second Street in the west of the city are all the prominent families in Songjiang City. The first family on the street is surnamed Cai. The master of the Cai family is a second-level official in charge of the affairs of Songjiang City, and has the same rank as their master.

Putting aside the rank and talking about actual power, the second-level official in charge of prisons is not as good as the official in charge of the entire Songjiang City.

Besides, Cai Erlang, the second grandson of the Cai family, was selected as a military officer two years ago. Before he even reached adulthood, he was already a captain in the city defense army. He was a young man with a promising future.

In terms of family background and personal talent, between the Cai family and the Gu family, Mrs. Lu definitely prefers Cai Erlang to be her son-in-law. However, the Cai family has no interest in her Ah Xiang. She has hinted at this several times, but Mrs. Cai did not respond.

If the Cai family doesn't work, the Gu family is the backup option. Mrs. Lu didn't expect that the Gu family would not respond, leaving her at a loss as to what to do.

Do I have to choose further?

Mrs. Lu was unwilling.

Mrs. Lu said irritably, "Go, bring me my booklet. I want to take a look."

"yes."

In order to marry off her daughter, Mrs. Lu has written down all the suitable men in Songjiang City in a book in the past two years.

When Su Xiang saw the old woman take the booklet out of the cabinet, she suddenly became angry and wanted to run out and find a man to marry.

No matter whether he is a butcher or a farmer, it’s good to get married. Once you get married, you won’t have to be criticized by others, and you won’t have to live a life of being despised.

If she cannot get married, let her become a nun. Even if she can only eat simple meals, let her live a quiet life for a few days.

Su Xiang doesn't dare!

Hiding the loneliness in her eyes, she really wasn't looking forward to the Meng family's Double Ninth Festival banquet at all.

Prince Qi is the king of Songjiang City. The Meng and Yuan families are related to Prince Qi's mansion. Every family in Songjiang City is eager to attend the banquets held by their family. When they learned that people from the two families had entered the city, every family began to look forward to the invitation from the Meng family.

At this time, at the Meng family's home, the eldest daughter-in-law, Madam Yuan, had settled the distinguished guests and then instructed the housekeeper, "It's still the old rules. Send invitations to officials above the third level."

The housekeeper agreed, then hesitated and asked, "Should we send an invitation to the palace?"

Madam Yuan said swiftly, "Send them off! Prince Qi's uncle, aunt, and cousin are all here, and the master and the old lady will be here in two days. If he doesn't give me face, will he not give face to the three elders?"

Madam Yuan went to Songjiang City at least twice a year, but rarely saw Prince Qi. It was impossible to say that Madam Yuan had no complaints about Prince Qi.

The room was filled with maids brought from Madam Yuan's family. Madam Yuan wasn't afraid of word getting out and people finding out. She said angrily, "This time, all the young ladies who can come from our family are here. No matter who they are, it would be best if the title of Princess Qi is confirmed this time. This would save me from having to run around like this year after year, wasting time and effort to get things done for nothing."

The housekeeper whispered, "It's just this time. Prince Qi's aunt is here, and our old general and old lady are here too. They can't accomplish anything, so it can't be blamed on you."

Humph, if Prince Qi wasn't so important to the Meng family, Madam Yuan would have wished the marriage wouldn't take place, so that she could slap the faces of those in the Meng and Yuan families who said she was incompetent and vent her anger.

Oh my God, who knows how much bullying she has endured from both her husband's family and her own family over the years because of Prince Qi's marriage.

Madam Yuan was the mistress of the household, so no matter how unhappy she was, she wouldn't be held back from her duties. After handing over the Double Ninth Festival banquet, Madam Yuan called the steward who stayed behind in Songjiang City and asked about the medicinal herbs available there this year.

"This year's harvest is not good. In order to prepare for Luoyang, the palace re-drafted the list of medicinal materials at the beginning of the year. After calculating the total amount, I estimate that the medicinal materials stored in Prince Qi's palace this year are 10% to 20% more than last year."

"What do you mean? Haven't you seen the account books?" Mrs. Yuan immediately caught on to the topic.

The steward reported, "Zhou Changshi didn't let us into Prince Qi's mansion this year. He only asked us to go with the steward to collect medicinal herbs. I don't know the total number."

Madam Yuan frowned and asked, "Such a big thing, why didn't you report it?"

"At first, Chief Zhou asked me to go collect the herbs, but I didn't notice anything unusual. The herbs I collected this month were prepared and ready for storage. When I went to look for the account books, I was repeatedly put off... Since I remembered you were coming over in the next few days, I didn't write to report."

"You're confused! The medicinal materials concern all the soldiers of the Northeast Army. After all, I'm just an official. What does it matter if I know it sooner or later? The key is that the old general must know."

The imperial court could not predict when the Northeast Army's food and wages would be cut off. If there were any problems with the medicinal materials again, the Northeast Army would be in chaos.

The steward knelt down and admitted his mistake: "It was my fault. I will write a letter and send it back right away."

"No need for you, I'll write it."

My father-in-law should be secretly preparing to set off for Songjiang City, so I must deliver the letter to him before he arrives in Songjiang City.

Prince Qi is not a blood relative of theirs after all. If Prince Qi doesn't speak up, many things will be difficult to handle. It's no wonder that her parents-in-law insist on marrying her daughter to Prince Qi's mansion.

Before the messenger from the Meng family left the city, the Prince Qi's Mansion, which was not far from the Meng family, received the news. Prince Qi was not in the mansion, so the news was naturally delivered to the Chief Secretary Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen knew that his master had become increasingly dissatisfied with the Meng family in the past two years, but he would definitely not use medicinal materials to control the Meng family. At most, he would just teach the Meng family a small lesson.

Zhou Chen wrote down the message and put it in the cabinet, waiting to show it to his master when he came home.

At this time, Prince Qi took his men hunting on Tiger Ridge Mountain and met Gu Youan. The two men looked at each other but neither spoke.

Xu Zhi was a man of good sense. When he led his men to retreat, he also took the maid behind Gu Youan away.

"Miss..." Xiaoju was uneasy.

Gu Youan's eyes didn't waver at all. He just waved his hand and said, "Go ahead. I'll call you later."

Everyone around her left, and Prince Qi slowly walked to her side, his eyes falling from her face to her hands.

"Is this bow useful?"

"It works great, thank you King Qi for your generosity."

Prince Qi's eyebrows moved slightly, and a smile suddenly spread in his eyes: "This bow was originally given to my mother by my grandfather. My mother didn't like riding and shooting. When I grew up, this bow came into my hands."

Gu Youan was surprised and confused.

She was surprised that the bow had such a history, and didn't understand why such a bow with such a history was given to her.

Prince Qi seemed very pleased with her expression. When he had seen enough, he smiled and said, "Because I have practiced martial arts since childhood, my arm strength is far greater than that of women. By the time I started practicing horseback archery, this bow was no longer suitable for me. After all, I have never used this bow. You are its first owner."

What could Gu Youan say but remain silent.

The smile in Prince Qi's eyes deepened.

"Do you know why I gave you this bow?"

"I don't know." But she wanted to know.

Prince Qi took the bow from her hand and examined it inch by inch.

"I don't like weak people who depend on others."

"Um?"

Prince Qi: "If my mother had listened to my grandfather's teachings, she could have lived a different life, but she gave up. Since she married my father, the queen, she lived under his control for the rest of her life until her death."

After suddenly hearing the royal secret, Gu Youan could only remain silent.

Handing the bow back to her, he said, "Life is difficult for women, but it's not completely hopeless. If my mother had even a third of your tenacity and independence, she wouldn't have suffered all her life."

Gu Youan held the bow, and stroked the fine wood grain inch by inch with his fingers. She seemed to understand a part of him.