Chapter 387 Your Breath Stinks Me
A hint of coldness flashed across the Queen Mother's eyes. She probably thought of something. She insisted on asking, but her face was calm as water:
"Since there was a marriage decree, why didn't anyone go to the Shen family to announce it when the marriage was granted?"
Father Gu's face flushed, "My son was still young at that time... The late emperor told my son to choose a suitable candidate, so the emperor let my son decide who the woman was. My son loved Fourth Miss Shen, and with the late emperor's encouragement, he shamelessly asked to marry Fourth Miss Shen."
Everyone present understood what he said and looked at Father Gu with a bit of contempt.
How shameless!
He didn't ask for marriage earlier or later, but when the Shen family reached its peak, he filled in the name of Fourth Miss Shen. What admiration do you have? What he admired was power!
Father Gu knew what others were thinking, but he didn't care.
I also know that the Queen Mother at the top is extremely furious.
But the ladder to climb up is at home, we can’t let it go to waste!
That was the late emperor’s decree, and the empress dowager had to obey it!
If the Queen Mother denies it, she will be handing her handle to old antiques like Grand Tutor Gao.
The reason why he chose to take it out now was because he was afraid that after the imperial edict was presented, the empress dowager would take it away and go back on her word.
Empress Dowager Shen, who was at the top, said calmly, "Oh? Scholars of the Hanlin Academy, check the records of the imperial edicts during the previous emperor's time."
The scholar from the Hanlin Academy bowed quickly and left with a few attendants.
After a long two quarters of an hour, the scholar from the Hanlin Academy finally came back and brought a backup copy of the imperial edict from that year:
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the late emperor did grant a marriage to the Ningguo Marquis's son. The current Ningguo Marquis's son is... Gu Yang."
It is unknown how many imperial edicts, big and small, the emperor issued in a year.
Sixteen years ago, the late emperor did grant a marriage to the son of Ningguo Marquis and gave a blank imperial edict. The scholar of the Hanlin Academy finally remembered something.
Because the name and wedding date were left blank, it was a bit special, so he had some impression of it.
Empress Dowager Shen said, "Oh, if it is true, then obey your order. Yu Kang, read it."
All the ministers and their families present knelt down.
Eunuch Yu walked over, took the imperial edict, and began to read:
"The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims: There is Gu Yang, the son of the Marquis of Ningguo, who is both talented and virtuous, and has a good character; and Chen Manman, the daughter of the Marquis of Dingguo, who is gentle, virtuous, and intelligent. The two are a match made in heaven, and I am very pleased. I hereby grant them a marriage, and the marriage shall be completed on the twenty-sixth day of the first month of the fifth year of Mingxuan, and there shall be no delay. I decree this."
Father Gu looked excited: "I obey your order!"
As he said this, he raised his hands and took back the imperial edict.
Everyone looked at him, awesome! There was contempt in the looks he gave him, but more of it was envy, and some were even shaking their heads.
The wedding will be held on the 26th day of the first lunar month, and today is New Year's Eve, isn't there less than a month left?
This is to resolve the issue quickly!
Father Gu indeed thought so.
He was afraid that if they delayed for too long, the Queen Mother and the Shen family would plot to punish them.
The New Year is coming soon, and there are a lot of things to do. After the New Year, there are more things to do, leaving the Shen family and the Queen Mother too busy to do anything.
Moreover, even if they had time, they would not dare to do anything to the Gu family.
So many eyes are watching!
The marriage was just granted and something happened to the Gu family. Isn't it obvious that the Shen family is causing trouble?
Although the Queen Mother seems to be in a stable position now, Grand Tutor Gao and Grand Tutor Zhang have always been disgusted with the fact that she is a woman in power. I want to find something to hold against her every day!
Now I have become her ready-made handle, and Master Gao and the other two will definitely keep a close eye on me.
If she dares to cause trouble, there will be endless trouble! Maybe even the right to rule behind the scenes will be lost.
Father Gu looked excited, and Gu Yang on the side had a smug look on his face, glancing at Shen Manman opposite him.
Mei's face was even more flushed, and she also glanced at Ye Caiping.
Shen Manman is the treasure of the Shen family. As long as Shen Manman is in their hands, the entire Shen family will be polite to her.
The peasant woman is the stepmother. If she is not supported, she will not live a good life in the Shen family.
Empress Dowager Shen at the top snorted and laughed, what a big deal.
It was just that first her husband died and then her family was wiped out, little by little.
As long as she is around, no matter whether Manman is getting married for the second, third or fourth time, she will be able to marry a rich man.
Empress Dowager Shen looked down and said with a smile, "Where is the Prince of Ningguo?"
Gu Yang immediately stood up and said excitedly: "Your humble servant greets the Emperor and the Empress Dowager."
Empress Dowager Shen raised her lip: "He is a handsome man. In fact, I don't have high requirements for Manman's husband, as long as he is good-looking and has a good character. Since it is the marriage granted by the late emperor, I am naturally happy."
Gu Yang: "Thank you for your compliment, Your Majesty."
Gu's family of three were even happier.
It seems that the Queen Mother still takes the overall situation seriously. No matter how noble Shen Manman is, she is just a girl. In addition, the marriage was granted by the late emperor. In order to consolidate her power, the Queen Mother will swallow this loss.
Father Gu breathed a sigh of relief silently, with a shrewd glint in his eyes.
What he was betting on was the Queen Mother's clarity of mind!
Empress Dowager Shen changed the subject: "Since Manman is getting married, I will give Manman a decent gift, Shen Manman."
Shen Manman walked out listlessly.
Empress Dowager Shen said: "Chen Manman of Dingguo Marquis's Mansion is specially granted the title of Princess Changyi of the first rank."
Shen Manman was slightly startled, and knelt down to express her gratitude: “Thank you, my lady.”
Gu's father and Gu Yang were even more surprised. She was actually conferred the title of princess. That would give their family even more face!
Master Gao and others had no objection to conferring the title of Princess on Chen Manman, it was just an empty title.
Empress Dowager Shen smiled and said, "The banquet continues."
The musician on the side immediately continued playing.
Father Gu also returned to his seat with a happy face, and the person sitting next to him quickly raised his glass to congratulate him.
Mei was very proud. After thinking about it, she took Gu Yang and walked to the Shen family.
Mei bowed to everyone in the Shen family and said with a smile, "Second Master Shen, Old Madam Shen, Marquis Dingguo, I hope you will bear with Yang'er from now on!"
Shen Zhiyan ignored her and poured Ye Caiping a glass of fruit wine: “This tastes good.”
Mei's face didn't look good, but Old Madam Shen smiled and said, "Haha, please take care of Manbao in the future."
It was the first time that Mei saw Old Madam Shen smile so sincerely. She was so happy that she didn't even bother to look at Ye Caiping.
Gu Yang was even more proud, his eyes were full of malice, and he politely bowed to Shen Manman: “Manman, you are polite.”
Unexpectedly, Shen Manman rolled her eyes, and with a "slap", she slapped him hard.
Gu Yang was stunned: "You——"
Mei also choked: "......"
Shen Manman sneered, "You rude fellow, are you allowed to call me by my name? Even if I am your fiancée now, as long as we are not married, I am still a higher-ranking princess than you. You are not allowed to call me by my name!"
Gu Yang was so angry that his face turned blue and veins on his forehead bulged slightly.
Mei was also so angry that she was shaking, and said with a fake smile: "Oh, sorry... Yang'er was rude."
She knew that Shen Manman was very dissatisfied with Gu Yang, but was it too much to slap him in the face in public?
After all, he is my fiancé! What a daughter of the Shen family, she has no manners at all!
Wait until she gets in and see how she teaches her the rules! Let her do it now!
Mei tugged at Gu Yang and said, "Yang'er, apologize quickly."
Gu Yang suppressed his anger and said, "I'm sorry, I was rude. Please forgive me, Princess. Princess--"
"Pa!" Shen Manman slapped him again.
Gu Yang: “You——”
Shen Manman sneered: "Your breath is irritating me, this is disrespectful again!"
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