Chapter 136 Nianxi, come to me
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole hall fell silent.
The daughter of a fourth-rank official in the imperial court couldn't even get a position as a concubine to the prince. Prince Jing went to such great lengths just to have Miss Nawen as his concubine!
Not only Li, but all the women present felt humiliated by this behavior.
The Minister of the Ministry of Rites was also a fourth-rank official. Xing Yan stood beside the fourth prince, feeling both relieved and afraid.
Although the Fourth Prince's status is not as high as that of Prince Jing, she is still the legal wife after all. Compared with the half-master and half-slave status of a concubine, it is much better!
Thinking of this, she silently looked in the direction of Miss Wen.
Nianxi was a little distracted just now. Seeing that Empress Lu arranged a marriage between the Fourth Prince and Miss Xing, this marriage was so simple and straightforward, but it bound the lives of two people.
For no reason, she thought of Gu Ci who was thousands of miles away.
It’s almost the end of the year, and she had already mailed out the rabbit lantern she had made two days ago. She wondered if it could reach him before the Lantern Festival.
If he received the lantern, he would definitely laugh at her craftsmanship.
However, she might have to wait until next year when the grass is green and the birds are singing before she receives his reply...
Just as she was thinking about her own things, she saw Xiao Xun stride over and said to her mother, "Since this prince has set his eyes on her, it is not up to the madam to decide whether she is worthy or not."
His attitude was truly arrogant, as if the concubines in Prince Jing's mansion were also inlaid with gold edging.
Li was so angry that she was shaking all over, and her heart felt like it would jump out of her chest at any time.
But she knew that she couldn't fall, because her Nianxi was right beside her. As a mother, she would rather die here than let anyone bully her daughter!
But Li was only a confined woman after all, and she didn't have much wit to deal with the situation. Under the pressure of the imperial power, she could only plead with the Empress, "Please have mercy on me, Her Majesty, and don't make me a concubine. Please have mercy..."
As soon as Prince Jing asked to take Nianxi as his concubine, Xiao Nanxi had already wanted to rush up to argue, but fortunately Concubine Shu was quick-witted and restrained her.
Now, with Madam Li's voice begging in her ears, she could no longer hold back and stood up and said, "Brother Jing, how rude of you! It is not right to force a man or a woman to marry. You have no ability, but you insist on using your power to force others!"
Since entering the palace, Concubine Shu has been fighting with the Empress. She was unable to restrain Xiao Nanxi for a while, so she waited for her daughter to finish her words before she shouted without any pain:
"Nan Xi! Don't be rude to His Royal Highness Prince Jing!"
Xiao Nanxi had a stubborn temper. She raised her little face and said loudly, "I am telling the truth. If Prince Jing is not convinced, then go to our father to seek justice!"
Prince Jing had always disliked the cunning and reckless Third Princess. Now that she had spoken out against him in public, it was even more humiliating for him. However, he endured it for the sake of their relationship as siblings.
"Sister, what are you talking about? I am a descendant of a noble family. I just want a woman. Why force me?"
As he spoke, he turned to Li, his eyes were cold and gloomy, but there was a hint of smile on his lips, "As for Madam Li, she must have been so happy that she was stupid, so she said nonsense."
Empress Lu kept a dignified smile on her face and said to Concubine Shu, "Nan Xi is too lively. She even wants to interfere in her brother's bedroom affairs."
Empress Lu spoke softly, but her words were shrewd and harsh, and Concubine Shu's face changed immediately. But before she could get angry, Xiao Nanxi had already sat down, muttering to herself:
"Little dick, talk softly~"
“So that’s the truth.”
Xiao Nanxi's voice was not loud, but the palace was very quiet at that moment. Apart from Li's heavy breathing, one could hear a pin drop.
Princess Wenshu's words were indeed vulgar, but...
It makes me feel better.
Even Xing Yan, who was just a background figure, gave Her Royal Highness the Princess a thumbs up in her heart, and at the same time suppressed the corners of her lips that were curled up, and lowered her head again.
"Nan Xi, stop talking nonsense!"
Concubine Shu almost wanted to cover her face. What kind of rubbish did her daughter learn from the storybooks?
Empress Lu and Xiao Xun were furious.
However, Empress Lu had always been known as a benevolent harem queen, and Xiao Xun couldn't get angry at his sister in public, so his anger was directed at Li and Nianxi.
The entire Wen family is a bunch of ungrateful people.
Wait until Wen Nianxi enters his house, then he will let her see what rules and etiquette are.
Nian Xi was distracted for a while and didn't understand what was happening.
It was not until her mother begged her that she learned of Prince Xiaojing's dirty plan.
It is absolutely impossible for me to be a concubine!
She was reborn not to make her parents sad or to satisfy that mean and violent man!
Nianxi knew that she had to stay calm during such a time. The imperial power was above her, so she had to come up with a perfect solution, and she couldn't let this cause trouble for her father and brother.
It just so happened that she had been working at Rokujikan during this period.
Whether it was Madam Chengjing or Madam Xu, both were single, without children, and they devoted all their energy to helping those in need. People in the capital all praised their noble character.
If Prince Jing continues to force her today, she will follow the example of the two ladies and remain unmarried for the rest of her life, devoting all her energy to alleviating illness and poverty, which can also be considered as realizing the value of life.
"Li——"
Empress Lu did not show it on her face, but she was already worried in her heart. Her son was the legitimate son and had a noble status, but she wanted to marry the daughter of a fourth-rank civil servant. Why would she bother with all this talk!
"As mothers, we cannot make all the decisions regarding our children's affairs. Why not ask Miss Wen for her wishes?"
After saying that, she looked at Nianxi and said, "Good boy, come to me."
It was exactly the same as what he had said to Xing Yan just now, but the expression and tone were not the same at all.
People who have been in a high position for a long time have a certain aura about them. They are usually kind and pleasant, but when they get angry, they are extremely powerful.
Nian Xi was only fifteen years old, but her majesty as the mother of a country was enough to scare the girl and make her obey.
Li shuddered all over, her heart filled with despair and frustration. A loving mother's heart was about to be broken. She couldn't hold back her tears, but still protected Nianxi behind her.
The imperial power is mighty, but it cannot break the backbone of a mother.
Nianxi felt A Niang's panic.
She held her mother's hand tightly, and said to her firmly, just as her mother had said to her countless times when she was a child:
"Don't be afraid."
Don't be afraid, I will protect myself.
I know what I want.
Nian Xi walked out from behind Li. Everyone in the hall was looking at her, but she was extremely calm. As someone who had died once, nothing could scare her more.
"Nian Xi——"
A melodious voice came from the side, clear and elegant, like spring water falling into a clear lake, with a warm and refreshing demeanor.
Nian Xi turned around.
Lu Wensheng just stood there, like a breeze, and the moon was bright. He looked at her, and his eyes were filled with surging emotions that had never flowed out, and with a hint of dawn, as if all the sufferings were no longer difficult to heal, and were filled with the tenderness of the world.
He chuckled and said:
"Nianxi, come to me."