Chapter 204: Marriage Arrangement
The next day, it was rainy and cloudy.
The ground was still wet, and a few raindrops fell from the treetops from time to time.
Zhao Hu rarely had a day off, so he stayed at home, waiting for the old Minister Zhou.
Su Cheng was also beside him, wearing a light pink top and a moon-white skirt. A pair of embroidered shoes of the same color as the top protruded from under the skirt. It was rare for her to wear such delicate colors. Now she sat quietly at the top, looking like an exquisite porcelain doll when she didn't speak.
"My dear second brother, the Zhou family has come to offer betrothal gifts, so I should be the one to entertain them." Zhao Chen, now sober, was overjoyed to hear that his daughter had hooked up with Zhou Qi. He dug out all his best clothes and hurried to the Yanzheng Hall, only to find Zhao Hu and Su Cheng already waiting there. He immediately became annoyed, "You're sitting up there, and you're bringing a junior with you. What's going on?"
Zhao Hu glanced at him and said gloomily, "Don't think I care about your eldest wife's dirty business. Zhou Qi broke into the Zhao family at night. It is only right that the old minister should come and apologize to me in person."
He will soon take up the position of Minister of War, and some sweet-talkers have already called him Minister Zhao in private. Judging from his official position, he naturally deserves an apology from Zhou Yue.
"You!" Zhao Chen knew he was too simple-minded to be defeated by Zhao Hu. He snorted heavily and cursed inwardly, "You are such a filthy person who looks down on others. Wait until Sheng'er marries into the Zhou family and becomes the mistress. I'll see if you can still sit there so comfortably!"
"Uncle, you'd better save your energy, lest someone from the Zhou family comes and see you being so stingy." Su Cheng only glanced at him and knew what he was thinking. He raised his lips and sneered, "You are not the head of the Zhao family. How can you bypass my father and speak to Minister Zhou?"
"You little bitch—"
"What did you say."
Zhao Hu raised his eyes coldly, and with just one look, he suppressed Zhao Chen's anger.
Zhao Chen shrank his neck, muttered softly that a good man doesn't fight with a woman, and sat aside in a sullen manner.
Su Cheng rolled her eyes at him, afraid that looking at him any longer would pollute her eyes.
The three of them waited from early morning to night, from noon to sunset, but there was no sign of Zhou Qi, let alone the so-called betrothal gift from the Zhou family.
Zhao Sheng'er even sent her maid to ask several times. Seeing that Zhao Chen's face was getting paler and paler, Su Cheng pursed his lips, suppressed the smile on the corner of his mouth, looked back at Zhao Hu who was sitting next to him, and whispered, "Father, is Minister Zhou coming?"
Zhao Hu's face was gloomy, his eyes were dark and unclear, "This marriage is probably off..."
"Impossible!" Zhao Chen stood up suddenly and interrupted him. "The Zhou family is such a big family, and this marriage was initiated by Zhou Qi. How could they go back on their word?"
Zhao Hu looked at him coldly, his expression uneasy. "If you don't believe me, you can go to the Zhou family and ask them."
Zhao Chen immediately lost his temper, looking a little embarrassed. "Ahu, you are the head of the family. If you want to ask, you should come forward. Sheng'er is your niece—"
Zhao Hu sneered coldly, showing him no mercy, "Not that close yet."
"I..." Zhao Chen pursed his lips and whispered, "You just said that Zhou Qi visited the Zhao family at night, and Minister Zhou must give an explanation. If I go and make a scene, Minister Zhou may not see me. Not only will it bring shame to the Zhao family, but if this matter gets out, it will also ruin the reputation of the Zhao family's daughter..."
Zhao Hu's face turned pale, and he curled his lips in a cold smile and said, "You are quite clever and know how to bring down the Zhao family's daughter."
Zhao Chen didn't hear the sarcasm in his words and chuckled, "Ahu, I'm speaking the truth. Su Cheng hasn't married yet. If this incident affects the rest of her life, wouldn't it be worth it? As long as you help Sheng'er settle this matter and let her marry into the Zhou family as she wishes, you will naturally help our Zhao family in the future."
Su Cheng glanced at him, then turned back to look at Zhao Hu with a calm expression, "Father, we have to go to the Zhou family this time."
Zhao Chen's face lit up with joy, and he sat firmly on the stool. "Look, my niece is still sensible!"
Zhao Hu frowned and looked at her in confusion, "Why are you getting involved in this mess?"
"Zhou Qi is a playboy. Regardless of whether he's in front of the old minister or not, he can't help but brag about his achievements to outsiders." Su Cheng patiently explained to him, whispering, "If everyone knew that the Zhao family's back door was accessible at will, there would be real trouble."
Zhao Hu's anger grew even more intense. Glancing at Zhao Chen's smug expression, he suppressed the urge to blast him over the head with a vase and said in a deep voice, "In that case, you will accompany me."
Su Cheng nodded slightly and responded softly, "Okay."
-
Shangshu Mansion
The gatekeeper came running over, bowed to the father and daughter outside, and said apologetically, "Minister Zhao, I'm really sorry, but the master of the family is not feeling well today and won't see anyone."
Zhao Hu's face turned even worse. For a moment, he even wanted to just walk away and throw the mess back to the main house.
"Young man, go in and tell them I'm just asking you one question: Is the old minister refusing to admit what happened yesterday?" Su Cheng curled her lips. Although her tone was gentle, her suddenly cold expression completely exposed her feelings. "Today, as long as the old minister slaps that denial in front of us, we will leave immediately. Tomorrow morning, we will confront him in court in front of Lord Zhang!"
Meeting her gaze, the servant broke out in a cold sweat. He responded hastily and turned around and ran back.
An unknown amount of time passed before the servant hurried back, sweating profusely, not even bothering to wipe it off. "Minister Zhao, Miss Zhao, the master invites you two in for tea."
Zhao Hu glanced at Su Cheng, a little surprised, "With just a few words from you, that old man actually gave way?"
Su Cheng smiled, covering her lips with her hand. "Barefoot are not afraid of those who wear shoes. The old minister has no children and only this one grandson. To be honest, half of his body is buried in the ground, and the thing he worries about most is his grandson's marriage."
"He's keeping us at bay, just gambling. He's betting that we won't make a big deal out of this, but if we announce that we'll meet in court, he'll be the one to lose his composure. If this gets out to everyone, I'm afraid the old minister will never rest in peace."
Zhao Hu was quite shocked and secretly looked at the girl next to him.
He was a rough man who had been holding swords, guns, sticks and clubs for half his life and didn't understand these twists and turns. If Su Cheng hadn't been there, he would have turned around and left today.
After walking around the screen wall and passing through the hanging flower gate, we arrived at the front hall of the Shangshu Mansion.
An old man sitting at the top of the hall was none other than the old Shangshu Zhou Yue. As for Zhou Qi, he didn't even dare to show his face.
Seeing the father and daughter walking slowly from afar, Zhou Yue frowned and didn't even bother to stand up to greet them, making it clear that he didn't welcome them.
"Minister Zhou." Zhao Hu stepped into the hall, his eyes fixed on the old man, and he curled his lips coldly. "Minister Zhou, you are still able to take the time out of your busy schedule to meet with me and my daughter. I am truly grateful."
Zhou Yue held his forehead, pulling him with a forced smile, "I was not feeling well today, so I had to stay home. I didn't know Minister Zhao was coming, so I'm a little slow. Please forgive me."
"It's okay." Zhao Hu led Su Cheng and sat down on the side without the old man's permission. "I came here today to discuss the marriage of our two children."
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