Chapter 63 Ugh, I can't take it!
With Min Qiao's permission, Min Yuexi reached out to help Wu up and gently comforted her, "Mother, please calm down. Father only said he wanted to give Wang a proper title. Don't forget, besides you, Father also has Concubine Liu and Concubine Sun by his side."
"You are the first wife, a noblewoman with an imperial title, what's the rush?"
As if she had just remembered this, Ms. Wu nodded repeatedly, "Yes, I'm not in a hurry. I'm not in a hurry."
Despite saying that, Wu's tightly furrowed brows remained unchanged.
Just kidding, how can this He Shi compare to Aunt Liu and Aunt Sun?
Since Aunt Liu and Aunt Sun entered the mansion, Min Rong has never mentioned inviting them to the Marquis's New Year's Eve banquet.
It would never be like this, where they bring them directly to the New Year's Eve dinner without even a word of introduction.
Min Yuexi didn't try to persuade Wu Shi any further. Instead, she bowed gracefully to Min Rongying and said softly, "Father, may I ask what title you wish to give He Shi?"
Min Rong frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure in her expression. "Is this something you, as a daughter, should be concerned with?"
Undeterred, Min Yuexi continued, "I have overstepped my bounds, and I beg Father's forgiveness."
Min Rong's expression softened slightly, and then Min Yuexi changed the subject, saying in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant: "Father, the laws of Dayan state that anyone who takes a concubine as his wife shall, at the very least, be flogged one hundred times and exiled. At worst, he shall be stripped of his official position and title, beheaded, and have his property confiscated."
Upon hearing this, Min Rong's face darkened, and he raised his hand to slap Min Yuexi, but seeing that Min Yuexi's pale and sickly appearance could not be concealed even with makeup, he immediately withdrew his hand.
“Father, your daughter has been disobedient and unfilial. But I am doing this for your sake and for the future of the Marquis’s family. I beg you to reconsider.”
Min Yuexi was respectful and sincere. After speaking, she knelt down and kowtowed to Min Rong.
"Xi'er! The ground is cold, get up quickly!" Upon seeing this, Madam Wu exclaimed and hurriedly went to help Min Yuexi up.
But Min Yuexi firmly pushed away Wu's hand, knelt on the ground with a straight posture, and looked up at Min Rong with a firm and persistent gaze.
"Father, the Emperor's heart is unfathomable! You are currently favored by the Emperor. If you lose his favor and ruin your future because of such a private matter, would you be willing to do so?"
"As the saying goes, it's better to be safe than sorry. Is Father really so sure that His Majesty won't be angry with you for this?"
"Enough." Min Rong sighed and raised his hand, saying, "Get up. She's just a concubine; why are you so flustered?"
Upon hearing this, both Wu and Min Yuexi visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
Madam Min secretly curled her lip. Anyone with eyes could see that Min Rong's initial intention was definitely not as simple as making Madam He a concubine.
Sure enough, the next moment, everyone heard a sudden voice.
"etc!"
Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw He Rui, the little girl who had been silent all along, glaring angrily at Min Rong and Min Yuexi.
"My lord, you said you wouldn't wrong my mother! You promised my mother that you would make her a secondary wife! How can you go back on your word?"
Mrs. He quickly grabbed He Rui, waving her hands and shaking her head. It was clear she didn't want He Rui to continue speaking.
However, the more Ms. He tried to stop her, the angrier He Rui became.
She broke free from Madam He's grasp and shouted at Min Rong, "My lord, answer me! You clearly said before that you would make my mother a secondary wife and that you would let her enter the manor to manage the household affairs! How can you go back on your word?"
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Min Rong in shock.
A concubine?
It's amazing that Min Rong dared to make that promise!
Also in charge of central administration?
Is he really not afraid of losing his official position and ruining his future?
Min Rong had indeed intended to do just that. After all, he wasn't the first, nor would he be the last, to do so.
As for matters of law, they can be considered either very important or very minor. In truth, it all depends on the Emperor's will.
Just like before, the matter of the Marquis's family breaking off the engagement with the Lu family caused a great uproar in the city. During those days, there were at least twenty or thirty memorials impeaching him.
Even the Dali Temple gave him a leave of absence so he could go home and rest.
But what was the result? The Emperor himself summoned him.
The next day, the Court of Judicial Review urged him to return. The rumors detrimental to the Marquis of Xuanping's household also quietly subsided.
Therefore, Min Rong was not entirely without confidence in making He Shi his secondary wife.
However, Min Yuexi's words served as a wake-up call, bringing him back to his senses from his wishful thinking.
But he couldn't keep his promises to the He family. Now, facing He Rui's questioning, how should he respond?
However, before Min Rong could come up with a solution, He Rui continued, "My lord, don't forget, I still have the vast fortune left by my father! I've said it before, only if you make my mother your secondary wife and me the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's mansion will I hand over my family's assets to you to manage!"
"Hmph, if you can't keep your promise, I'll take my mother and all the money in my family and go far away, so you'll never see us again."
Everyone was stunned by these words.
Min Qiao was utterly dumbfounded. She had thought Min Rong's feelings for He Shi were genuine love, but it turned out he simply "loved money"!
Sure enough, everyone's gaze towards Min Rong changed.
Enraged by the stares from everyone, Min Rong glared at He Rui with displeasure, "I'm not with your mother for your family's money! I fell in love with your mother at first sight, it's true love! Don't insult my feelings for your mother!"
Madam He looked at her daughter with a wronged expression and said softly, "Rui'er, the Marquis and I are truly in love. I believe that even without that money, the Marquis would still treat me with all his heart. You can't slander him like this."
He Rui rolled her eyes and looked at He Shi speechlessly. "Mother, wake up! A man like the Marquis, if it weren't for money, would he really be interested in an old widow like you?"
Madam He's face paled, and then she looked at Min Rong with tears welling up in her eyes: "Lord Marquis?"
Seeing this, Min Rong quickly went to He Shi's side, ignoring the strange looks from everyone, and put his arm around He Shi, saying with heartache, "Don't cry, it hurts me to see you cry."
"Believe me, I am sincere towards you. If it weren't for our social status, I would definitely take you far away to a place where no one knows us, and live a simple life together, with the man farming and the woman weaving."
"Yes. I believe you." Madam He nestled shyly and sweetly in Min Rong's arms, and said affectionately, "As long as the Marquis treats me sincerely, I don't care about titles or ranks, I only ask to stay by the Marquis's side."
Min Rong said sincerely, "Mei'er!"
Because the two met during the season when plum blossoms were in full bloom, and under the red plum trees on the back hill of Fahua Temple, Min Rong gave He this nickname.
Lady He remained devoted: "My Lord!"
The two of them completely disregarded the lives of others and put on a mindless, lovey-dovey act in public.
Finally, Madam Min couldn't take it anymore.
She stood up and gestured for Wei Jia and A Jiu to come and help her. The two quickly stepped forward to assist her.
"Alright, I've had my fill of looking, so I'll head back now. You guys continue."
After saying that, he ignored the affectionate embrace of Min Rong and He Shi, the dumbfounded Wu Shi and her daughter, the stunned Min Changzhong brothers, and the bloodshot He Rui, and walked straight past everyone without looking back.
Forget it, I'd better go back and have the reunion dinner with the maids at Songhetang!
We agreed to have a reunion dinner, but we've been here for 45 minutes and still haven't eaten.
Tsk tsk, not only can they not get food, but they also have to watch them put on a hypocritical and pretentious middle-aged love drama.
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