Shangguan Wanning saw the sadness between her mother's brows and couldn't bear to continue asking questions, so she had to hold her hand to comfort her.
She originally wanted to meet her father as soon as possible to hand in the evidence, but it happened that her father went out of the city for inspection after the morning court the next day and would not be back until three days later. She could only wait anxiously and patiently.
The rumors in the court about Mu Jingrui colluding with the enemy and committing treason became more and more intense, until Mu Jingrui appeared in the court, the rumor was self-defeating.
The emperor was overjoyed to see Mu Jingrui return, and rewarded him handsomely in the court.
After the court session, Mu Jingrui came to the Prince's Mansion. Xiao Yujue had been waiting for him and couldn't wait to greet him.
"Jing Rui, didn't you say that you had brought back evidence of the crime of Minister of War Li Dahai and that it would be presented by Lord Shangguan? Why has there been no movement in the past few days?"
Xiao Yujue is very concerned about this matter.
He had tried to win over Li Dahai many times, but the old fox remained indifferent.
But the position of Minister of War is very special. If one really wants to achieve hegemony in the future, the Ministry of War must arrange its own people.
"I find it strange too, and Lord Shangguan didn't attend court today. I think... I should go to Shangguan's mansion and ask Ning'er in person what's going on."
Xiao Yujue thought about it and nodded.
He regarded Mu Jingrui as his own, and he also hoped that Mu Jingrui could marry Shangguan Wanning smoothly. Then, the power of the Shangguan family would also become his help.
Mu Jingrui bowed and stepped back. He returned home, changed his clothes, and brought a few servants and the prepared gifts to openly ask for a meeting.
Under the guidance of the butler, he came to the side hall for receiving guests. Along the way, every familiar plant and tree in Shangguan Mansion brought back many memories that were sealed deep in his heart.
"General Mu, please wait here. I will go and report to you."
"good."
Mu Jingrui had a deep impression of this foreign affairs steward. When he was sent to Shangguan Mansion as a slave, he was beaten many times by him.
Now, he could feel that the foreign affairs steward was observing him stealthily with his eyes.
Soon, the foreign affairs steward took Mu Jingrui to the hall.
A young man of the same age passed by him. He walked into the hall and saw boxes of gold, silver and jewelry that were particularly dazzling.
Aunt Zhao was holding a pearl necklace around her neck, gesturing with greed on her face.
Mu Jingrui glanced around and couldn't help but frowned.
At this time, Aunt Zhao turned around and looked at Mu Jingrui with an unfriendly look.
"General Mu came to see my master..." Aunt Zhao looked behind Mu Jingrui and smiled contemptuously, "Could he come empty-handed?"
Mu Jingrui raised his lips slightly and said disdainfully: "Of course not. Although our Mu family is a martial arts family, we also understand the etiquette of learning. How can I come to pay respect to my elders empty-handed? It's just that my gift is for Lord Shangguan and Madam Shangguan, who are you?"
Mu Jingrui had heard Shangguan Wanning complain more than once about the actions of Aunt Zhao and her daughter, and he also knew that they had once plotted to harm Shangguan Wanning.
He also knew that what he said at the moment was inappropriate, but his preconceived disgust made it impossible for him to remain calm.
Sure enough, Aunt Zhao was very angry.
"You... you are just a general of the Shenji Camp, and you dare to come to the Prime Minister's Mansion and act so presumptuously? The dog squatting in front of my Prime Minister's Mansion has the same official title as you. What's more, you used to be worse than our dog." Aunt Zhao said without thinking, "Come on, beat him out."
A group of servants rushed up and surrounded Mu Jingrui.
Mu Jingrui glanced around with his sharp eyes, and the servants seemed to be hit by something. They stood there in a daze, too timid to move forward.
Aunt Zhao suddenly felt ashamed.
"A bunch of rubbish. Call the palace guards over."
"What happened that made my sister so angry?" Madam Shangguan came over with the help of her maid. Her eyes were tender and when she looked into Mu Jingrui's eyes, it seemed that her hostility melted away in an instant.
Mu Jingrui suppressed his biting coldness and bowed respectfully.
"Turns out Jingrui is here." Mrs. Shangguan actually always had a good impression of Mu Jingrui, and she also knew her daughter's feelings, so when she looked at Mu Jingrui, there was a little more smile in her eyes.
"Sister, the second young master of Beilin Marquis's family came just now and brought many valuable gifts, all for the eldest lady to play with."
Aunt Zhao walked past Mu Jingrui with a swagger. "The Marquis of Beilin wants to marry the eldest daughter. As long as the eldest daughter agrees, the betrothal gifts will be sent separately."
As Aunt Zhao spoke, she saw from the corner of her eye that Mu Jingrui's expression suddenly changed.
This made her feel very happy.
"Sister, the eldest daughter is already past the age of marriage, and even her younger sister is already married. If she stays at home, she will probably be laughed at."
Madam Shangguan looked at Aunt Zhao, smiling as she said, "Ning'er is arrogant. She doesn't want to marry anyone who is not her favorite, not even the prince or nobleman, let alone the second son of the Beilin Marquis. I am happy that Xiaoxiao can get married before Ning'er. However, if it wasn't absolutely necessary, she wouldn't have been so hasty. Now I think that Xiaoxiao has been wronged."
"you……"
Aunt Zhao had never expected that Madam Shangguan, who was usually quiet, could be so sharp-tongued and could make people so angry that they vomited blood without even using a single curse word.
"We'll talk about Ning'er's marriage later." Madam Shangguan dismissed Aunt Zhao with a few words. She turned her gaze back to Mu Jingrui. "It's a rare opportunity for you to come here. It's a good opportunity for you to talk to me."
After saying that, he took Mu Jingrui and walked towards the garden.
The two of them were silent along the way, and Mu Jingrui felt that Madam Shangguan seemed to be worried. Before he could figure out how to break the deadlock, he heard a melodious and pleasant piano sound.
"I know you came here today to see Ning'er, go ahead." Madam Shangguan looked towards the pavilion where Shangguan Wan Ning was playing the piano, her eyes dark.
"lady……"
"You don't have to say anything." Madam Shangguan smiled and said, "My daughter, I have never thought of using her marriage as a bargaining chip. As long as she is happy, I am satisfied. I hope... my own vision is not wrong."
Mu Jingrui suddenly felt relieved. He bowed to Madam Shangguan and walked towards the pavilion.
At the end of the song, Shangguan Wanning sighed deeply.
She didn't know why, but she always felt like... something was missing.
She looked up inadvertently and saw a familiar tall figure.
Shangguan Wanning was slightly stunned, and it took her a long time to come back to her senses. She hurried over with joy on her face.
"Why are you here?"
"If I don't come soon, I'm afraid... you'll be taken away by someone else."
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