Chapter 122 It’s Too Early to Be Happy
It was a rare and new thing, and the Fourth Prince had already publicly admitted that the person he loved was the girl from the Shen family.
The smiling faces of Old Madam Duan, Madam Duan, and Duan Mengmeng all froze.
Duan Mengmeng tilted her head to look at Duan Yingying, her eyes were indescribably unfriendly and the corners of her lips turned down.
Duan Yingying immediately lowered her head and remained silent.
Although she was angry that Shen An'an was also betrothed to Xiao Yuan, she was the principal wife and she was just a concubine. The joy of the marriage far outweighed the jealousy and dissatisfaction in her heart.
Madam Duan glanced at Duan Yingying with a bit of disdain, "The Fourth Prince is a prince, it is normal for him to have three wives and four concubines. Besides, how can the Shen family today be compared with my Duan family? Mengmeng is the first wife who rides in a sedan chair with eight bearers and a large door in the middle, and she is just a concubine who is not even qualified to worship in the hall."
She reached out and pulled the unhappy Duan Mengmeng into her arms, comforting her softly.
"You don't have to worry so much. After you get married, she will come to visit you every morning and evening. There are many ways to torture people without bleeding. You can't just educate her however you want."
After Duan Mengmeng realized what was happening, she was not as optimistic as Mrs. Duan had thought.
"Mom, you don't know Shen Anan. She is not an easy person to deal with."
Madam Duan and Mrs. Duan frowned at the same time.
"Mother, logically speaking, since the emperor has issued an imperial decree, shouldn't the Fourth Prince's Mansion come to present the betrothal gifts tomorrow?"
"That should be the case." Madam Duan frowned. According to common sense, the Fourth Prince should have sent someone to inform them at this time.
But it’s been such a while since the imperial edict arrived, how come I haven’t received even a letter?
Madam Duan and Old Madam Duan looked at each other, and worry appeared on their faces.
Duan Mengmeng could no longer sit still, so she sent people to guard the door and wait for someone from the Fourth Prince's mansion to arrive.
"Third sister may send someone to guard the Shen family. If even the Shen family has not received it, then we don't have to worry."
"What do you mean!" Duan Mengmeng was already annoyed, and after hearing this, she glared at Duan Yingying angrily.
“You mean, I’m not as good as Shen Anan?”
She is the principal wife, and Shen Anan is just a concubine. How could the Fourth Prince bypass her and propose to the Shen family first!
Old Madam Duan and Madam Duan were not very happy either. They frowned and looked at Duan Yingying, "On such a happy day, why do you always say such depressing things? It's so unlucky. It's no wonder your sister got angry."
Duan Yingying pursed her lips and lowered her head.
Sighing, she continued, "Grandmother, mother, you don't know that the Fourth Prince and Miss Shen have been in love for a long time. If nothing happened to the Shen family, Miss Shen would definitely be the Fourth Prince's consort."
"Now... Third sister has suddenly been granted marriage by the Emperor. Miss Shen is not someone you can easily mess with. Plus, the Fourth Prince favors her, so I'm afraid Third sister's life won't be easy."
She shook her head and sighed, and what she said made Duan Mengmeng unable to refute and she felt very heartbroken.
But how could she admit that from now on she would be the most glorious girl in the Duan family and Duan Yingying was just jealous of her?
"Second sister, what are you talking about? Even if the Fourth Prince and Shen An'an have some friendship, the Fourth Prince and I grew up together, and we have a relationship with our grandfather. How could the Fourth Prince treat me badly?"
What's more, she is the imperial consort.
Duan Yingying still looked worried, and Old Lady Duan interrupted them, "Okay, the imperial decree has been issued, don't worry about those useless things anymore."
"Yingying, instead of worrying about your sister, you should think about your own marriage first. Your sister is going to marry the prince, and you can't even handle a son of a Shangshu family."
Madam Duan's eyes were full of disdain, and Duan Yingying blushed with shame, "Grandma, I am also a lady from a wealthy family, how...how can I take the initiative to chat up a man?"
"What are you trying to flirt with?" Madam Duan frowned. "Why are you talking so harshly? Your sister has never spoken to anyone else. People who come to propose marriage have already stepped on the doorstep, but they didn't even mention you. In the end, you are useless!"
Her face was full of impatience. "If your grandfather hadn't passed away, our Duan Mansion would have been able to use you to support the family in the future. At least your sister would be the prince's legitimate wife in the future. If you are capable, you can marry a prince too."
"Mother," Duan Yingying stood up with tears in her eyes, feeling humiliated, "I was only thinking about my third sister, why did you do this to me?"
She looked at Duan Mengmeng who was staring at her, and said in a hoarse voice, "How about this marriage? Third sister, don't you know what's going on? Not to mention that the Fourth Prince and Miss Shen are on the same page, can you handle Miss Shen alone?"
Duan Mengmeng was naturally unsure, but how could she admit it?
My grandfather is gone. From now on, whoever marries well in the Duan Mansion will have a higher status, and my grandmother and mother will look up to them.
Since childhood, they have liked her, isn't it because she is the most talented girl who can bring honor to the family?
"Things are different now. I am the principal wife and she is just a concubine. How could I be afraid of her?"
Duan Yingying wiped away the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief, snorted and laughed, "Even if Third Sister wants to have wild dreams, she has to wait until she can marry into the Fourth Prince's mansion."
She didn't think Shen Anan would be willing to be a concubine.
It's already this late, and not even a housekeeper has shown up from the Fourth Prince's mansion. This shows the Fourth Prince's attitude towards this marriage.
After saying this, she turned around and left the main hall, crying.
Duan Mengmeng was very angry, but she had no place to vent.
"Grandma, mother. Look at my second sister. She always spoils my fun and throws cold water on me."
Madam Duan patted the back of her hand and said, "Okay, don't bother with her. I'll marry her off in a while. If the son of the Shangshu family doesn't work out, I'll let her go to Xuzhou to be Master Liu's concubine."
"She didn't marry as well as you did, maybe she's unhappy about it."
Although the Liu family is not in the capital, they are also powerful families.
Duan Mengmeng snorted and then calmed down. Although she looked calm, she felt uncomfortable in her heart as if being scratched by a cat because of Duan Yingying's words.
Madam Duan's worried voice rang out, "Mengmeng, actually what your second sister said makes sense. Are you really sure..."
Duan Mengmeng was even more worried. "Grandmother, how about I ask the Fourth Prince to go to Xiangjue Temple tomorrow under the pretext of reciting scriptures for my grandfather to test his attitude? I think if the Emperor grants us marriage, he will have feelings for me, but for safety's sake."
"That's fine. We're already engaged anyway. No one else will say anything if we pray for your grandfather together."
The conversation in the room continued.
"Miss." Duan Yingying's maid said with a pursed mouth, "Don't be sad, Madam...Maybe she was just talking."
Duan Yingying came back to her senses, sneered and said nothing.
She raised her hand to wipe away the water stains under her eyes, with an extremely cold expression on her face.
She had long witnessed their partiality and greed. In this mansion, apart from Duan Mengmeng who could bring them glory, no one else did they really care about.
The maid helped Duan Yingying walk back, "The emperor granted the marriage today, and the third young lady is very proud. The old lady and the mistress will definitely be more partial to her. Why did you say those words to upset them?"
Duan Yingying didn't care, "I'm just telling the truth."
They were happy too early and failed to see the situation clearly.
No, Duan Mengmeng understood, but she was just having fantasies and didn't want to wake up from her beautiful dream.
"Just wait and see. If Duan Mengmeng can marry into the Fourth Prince's mansion, red rain will fall from the sky."
Anyway, she would never believe that Shen Anan would be willing to be a concubine.
When they returned to the courtyard, Duan Yingying instructed again, "Go and find out what kind of character the Shangshu son my mother mentioned is like? Has there been any scandals at home?"
"Is the girl planning to get married?"
Duan Yingying exhaled, "What else can I do? I can't go to Xuzhou to be a concubine for a man who is too old to marry my father."
Her mother is really capable of doing such a thing.
"Young lady." The maid's eyes flickered and she lowered her voice and said, "Perhaps there is another way."
Duan Yingying frowned and looked at her.
"I heard that Master Shen and Miss Lin seem to be withdrawing..."
"Shut up." Duan Yingying interrupted the maid harshly.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
The maidservant was confused. "Hasn't the young lady always been fond of the young master of the Shen family? I think now is a good opportunity."
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