"My father knows your family is a Duke's mansion?"
Upon arriving at the entrance of the Zhu residence, Wei Qinglou handed the umbrella to Zhu Jiayu with a wry smile, saying that he would not go in.
Zhu Jiayu asked him with a smile.
Wei Qinglou nodded.
"What was his reaction?" Zhu Jiayu asked, amused, then muttered under her breath, "Serves him right!"
Who told him to lie!
Wei Qinglou brushed the fine snow off her shoulder and said with a troubled expression, "I can't see any reaction."
But the old man was still not in a calm mood. He drank the scalding hot tea without even frowning. Who in their right mind could do that?
"Fortunately, the marriage is arranged, and the date is set for next spring." Wei Qinglou pulled her clothes closer and stroked her hair affectionately. "Next spring, you will be my lawfully wedded wife."
Zhu Jiayu lowered her head and smiled, then looked up at him: "Back then, Old Madam Qiu wanted to marry me to the heir of the Marquis of Kaiping. I told Qi Xiuyuan to go back and tell the old lady of the Marquis's mansion that if she was not afraid that a happy occasion would turn into a tragedy, she could ask for my hand in marriage for her grandson."
"Now I must say this to you again, Wei Qinglou: since you wish to marry me, you cannot betray me in the future. Otherwise, no matter how lively our wedding banquet is, your funeral banquet will be just as grand. It's not too late for you to back out now."
Wei Qinglou stood at the foot of the steps, looking up at her.
Behind her was the ornately decorated courtyard of the Zhu family mansion, beyond which lay the distant Long Mountain on the outskirts of Yujing City. In the dark blue sky, a lone goose trod through the snow-covered mud, skimming across the desolate landscape. A plum blossom under the eaves, unable to bear the rustling white snow, quietly fell from its branch.
The world is so vast that it can contain the profound and mysterious teachings of Buddhism, as well as the boundless ambition and naked desires of countless people.
Although he now holds a high position, he is still just a person of low status, only able to see her in this vast world.
He raised an eyebrow and smiled, "You've pledged your life to me, so surely I can't give you a sincere heart? Zhu Jiayu, aren't you underestimating yourself?"
"Who has pledged their life to you!" Zhu Jiayu was so embarrassed by his words that she knew he must have heard them from Jiang Shaoxing. She pushed him away, grabbed her umbrella, and ran into the mansion, refusing to stay and talk to him any longer.
Only after Zhu Jiayu disappeared from sight did Wei Qinglou smile, turn around, and walk back.
Just as he was about to walk out of the alley, Lüzheng chased after him, panting, "Lord Wei! Wait!"
Wei Qinglou stopped upon hearing the sound. Lüzheng ran up to him and handed him the red umbrella she was holding: "Miss instructed me to come out and bring you an umbrella."
Wei Qinglou smiled and said, "In that case, please thank your young lady on my behalf."
...
Back at the manor, Zhu Jiayu calmly apologized to her father: "...Yes, I knew about his background all along...I didn't intentionally hide it from you, it's just that his family is very prominent, and I was afraid that you would not agree to my relationship with him...No, no, since ancient times, marriages have always been arranged by parents and matchmakers. If you don't agree, then I won't marry him."
Zhu Congjian was initially quite agreeable and accepted his daughter's explanation that she didn't tell him Wei Qinglou's identity because he was too old to handle the shock. However, as an elder, having been kept in the dark for so long, how could he not put on airs?
If such a big matter is simply glossed over, where is his dignity as the head of the family?
However, upon hearing the rest, he couldn't sit still: "What did you say? I'm very satisfied with this marriage. Xiao Wei is handsome, sincere to you, and a good man of noble character. Who else would you marry if not him?"
Today, Xiao Wei talked to him a lot, and his manner was almost the same as when he went to the Qiu family to propose marriage back then.
He now views Xiao Wei like a father-in-law looks at his son-in-law, becoming more and more satisfied with him. He even wonders what his daughter has done to deserve such deep affection from Xiao Wei.
If his daughter doesn't marry Xiao Wei, then he, as her father, will be the first to feel resentful!
"Isn't it because your daughter sees you angry?" Zhu Jiayu said, feeling wronged.
Zhu Congjian waved his hand: "You!"
...
Before we knew it, it was December. The snow in the courtyard was getting deeper and deeper each day, and the cries of vendors on the street were getting louder and louder. Many families had hung brand-new red lanterns in front of their doors, and the end of the year was getting closer and closer.
Although the palace was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, these magnificent silk lanterns could not calm the anxious hearts of the people.
The ministers in the court didn't know, the common people on the street didn't know, but the palace servants almost all had a vague premonition—the emperor was about to die.
Because the year-end was approaching, the emperor suspended court sessions. Outsiders said that this was because the emperor was benevolent and had given the ministers a special holiday. However, the coughing sounds coming from the Hall of Mental Cultivation at night revealed that the suspension of court sessions was actually a helpless move by the emperor due to his lack of energy.
Where is the compassion for his subjects? It is clearly that the emperor's health is no longer sufficient to support him in handling state affairs.
However, to avoid turmoil in the court and unrest among the people, the matter was kept secret in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and palace servants were even forbidden from walking near the hall during the day. This was all to prevent anyone from leaking the news.
"Has the letter been delivered to my brothers?"
Inside the Eastern Palace, His Highness the Crown Prince, dressed in a bright yellow robe, bowed his head and asked his advisors.
"Your Highness, it has been delivered. All the princes have replied, saying they have already returned," the head aide answered.
In previous years, by this time, the princes in their fiefdoms would have already returned to the capital with their wives and children to pay their respects to the emperor. However, this year, His Highness the Crown Prince first sent a letter through his staff to delay their arrival in the capital. Now, he has directly sent a message from the emperor, instructing the princes not to return to the capital.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com