Chapter 236: Madam (Part 1)

Although Sun Wei had a genial expression on her face, she couldn't help but complain inwardly when she heard the word "Gu".

After all, Wang Xuanji is only two years younger than her.

"I heard that this young lady is extremely pretty and docile." She ignored Sima Jun's cold face and said to the Queen Mother with a smile, "From what the Queen Mother said, are you planning to arrange a marriage?"

"That's right," the Queen Mother said. "Now that Ah Jun has returned, we can't delay any longer. I've already had their birth dates calculated, and they're perfectly compatible. If Consort Ji has no objection, I'll have the Chief of the Imperial Clan sort out the rules and regulations first, and prepare everything that needs to be prepared. That way, once the mourning period is over, we can celebrate the six rituals. What do you think, Consort Ji?"

"Of course, that's fine. I'll follow the Queen Mother's arrangements."

The Queen Mother and others nodded in satisfaction, but Sima Jun suddenly stood up from his seat.

"When will Madam arrange my lifelong affairs?" he asked coldly, "Do you really think of yourself as the mistress of the Prince of Yuzhang's mansion?"

Everyone looked at Sima Jun in surprise.

Sun Wei was not surprised.

She recalled what Sima Jun had said before entering the palace. Perhaps at that time, he already knew what the Queen Mother was going to say.

The princess's face darkened. "Ah Jun, don't be rude. The Consort is the wife chosen by your father himself. How can she not be the mistress of the Prince of Yuzhang's mansion? How can she not be your master?"

"There is only one mistress in the Prince of Yuzhang's mansion, and that is my mother. I have never recognized anyone else." Sima Jun raised his head and said, "All matters in the mansion, no matter how big or small, are handled by me, let alone marriages."

The eldest princess angrily said, "The princess said you were sensible, but I think you are becoming even more arrogant! Since ancient times, marriage has always been a matter of matchmakers and parents' decisions. How can you make the decision on your own?"

Sima Jun said calmly, "My parents are gone, so I have to make my own decision."

"Can I make the decision?" The Queen Mother suddenly interrupted.

She sat at the head of the table, looking coldly at Sima Jun. "Don't mention your parents aren't around. Even if they were, I'd have to decide your marriage. What's wrong with me advocating for you today?"

"The Queen Mother is my grandmother, so she naturally makes the decision." Sima Jun bowed to her. "If the Queen Mother has anything to say in the future, she can speak directly to her grandson without having to consult Madam. She can't make the decision for her grandson, not today, and not in the future."

At this point, the situation had become somewhat tense.

But the focus seemed to shift away from the marriage and Sun Wei.

The Queen Mother stared at Sima Jun with an uncertain expression.

"What's going on?" Princess Wanshou stood up and came over, trying to persuade them. "It was such a happy event, how did it come to this? Ah Jun, please control your temper. The Queen Mother has put a lot of effort into choosing a husband for you. You have many official duties to attend to, and the Queen Mother didn't want you to worry, so she asked the Consort to help. She didn't mean to bypass you. If you don't want to, you will be the one to handle everything in the future. Don't think it's troublesome and try to refuse it."

Sima Jun said: "Jun now has no official position and no official duties."

Princess Wanshou said to the Queen Mother, "This is what Ah Jun meant. The Queen Mother should not misunderstand it in other ways."

The Queen Mother snorted coldly: "I don't know his temper, do I?"

After saying that, she looked at Sima Jun and said, "Let me ask you, if I can decide for you whether to marry you or not, are you willing?"

"My grandson doesn't want to." Sima Jun answered frankly.

As soon as these words came out, the Queen Mother's face turned pale again, and she said to Princess Wanshou: "Look! I have raised a good grandson!"

The eldest princess hurriedly patted the Queen Mother's back and comforted her, "Mother, calm down..."

The Queen Mother pointed at Sima Jun and said, "I have made up my mind on this matter. You have to agree to it even if you don't want to. It is settled!"

Sima Jun still refused to give in: "Your Majesty, it is my grandson who wants to get married. If he doesn't want to, how can this marriage be completed?"

"I think you've been too arrogant! Today, I'm going to teach you a lesson on behalf of your father!" the Queen Mother shouted, "Come here!"

Sun Wei was startled and was about to persuade her, but suddenly she heard a voice from behind the beaded curtain: "Queen Dowager, calm down!"

Looking over, I saw a young girl hurried out and kneeled down in front of the empress dowager.

"The Empress Dowager just took the medicine this morning. The imperial physician said that she must not get angry. I hope the Empress Dowager will calm down and take care of herself!"

Her voice was gentle and her eyes were filled with tears, which was very touching.

The Queen Mother looked at her for a long time, then sighed: "Xuan Ji, get up first. This matter has nothing to do with you."

After saying that, she asked someone to bring Wang Xuanji over.

Looking at Sima Jun again, he also prostrated himself on the ground without saying a word.

Sun Wei knew that it was time for him to step forward.

"Is the Queen Mother ill?" She stepped forward and asked considerately, "I didn't know. I deserve death!"

"The Queen Mother has caught a cold and has been ill for two days," the eldest princess said from the side. "She just got better, but when she heard that Ah Jun had returned, she insisted on worrying about all this. I advised her to wait until she was fully recovered before discussing it, but she refused to listen. Now that she's been upset again, she's definitely not going to sleep well tonight."

Sun Wei's face showed panic, and he hurriedly said, "How can this be serious? The prince has just returned and doesn't know much. Please don't take the offense personally, Your Majesty!"

The Queen Mother waved her hand: "It's just a minor illness, nothing serious. The serious matter is more important."

After saying that, she looked at Wang Xuanji and said, "I've come to meet Princess Yuzhang."

Wang Xuanji looked at Sun Wei and bowed her head, "Your concubine Wang Xuanji, pays homage to the princess."

Sun Wei hurriedly supported her.

"So this is Lady Wang." Sun Wei looked at Wang Xuanji carefully, a look of surprise on his face. "She is indeed a lady from a noble family, her reputation is well-deserved."

The Queen Mother looked at Sun Wei and felt that her breathing seemed to improve.

Although she still disliked this concubine, she was sensible in standing on the same side with herself in this matter.

The Empress Dowager was indeed very concerned about Sima Jun's marriage.

Although she had mentioned this marriage to him earlier, Sima Jun did not agree immediately. At that time, she had already felt that this marriage would not go smoothly.

She knew Sima Jun's temper. If he was unhappy about something, even ten oxen couldn't stop him.

In desperation, she heard that the concubine had some ability in divination and prophecy, and Sima Jun actually listened to her carefully.

So the Queen Mother thought of trying to start with the Consort and let her come forward to force Sima Jun to submit.

With six months remaining before Sima Jun's mourning period ended, the Consort was sent to meet Wang Xuanji. This Consort would surely not dare disobey the Empress Dowager. Later, through her influence, she could act as a mediator between Sima Jun and Wang Xuanji, perhaps even convincing Sima Jun to comply.

It now seems that the concubine understands what he means.

It’s a pity that it seems that Sima Jun doesn’t take the concubine seriously at all.

He acted on his own and dared to contradict the Empress Dowager in front of her, making both of them embarrassed.