The eldest brother watched the matchmaker carry the man's engagement letter out of the courtyard, picked up the stick in the corner and went to the clan leader's house to ask for an explanation.
I grabbed my eldest brother and told my father I was packing up and going to stay at my grandfather's for a few days. He'd heard that the Huainan Marquisate was in a hurry, and their third master was a general in the northwest, so they needed to send someone there before he left. So, I hid. If they couldn't find me, what would they send me?
My father and mother finally realized what was going on and kept praising me for my good idea. My mother hurried back to the house to pack my clothes, my father held my hand and gave me some instructions, and my eldest brother carefully went out to harness the car.
However, he didn't expect that just as the eldest brother opened the gate, he saw the steward of the clan leader's family who always had a sinister smile on his face and his eyes seemed respectful but were actually warning.
His father watched him and two others guarding the gate. He picked up the stick his eldest brother had just dropped and walked over. "What's going on? Did we break any laws?"
The steward dodged his father's stick and said with a forced smile, "What are you talking about? The master is just worried about you. He found two people to watch over you at all times. If there is any work, we can assign them to do it."
I knew this was the clan leader's backup plan, whether it was breaking off the engagement or guarding the gate. I pulled my father back and closed the gate.
The mother picked up the half-packed clothes and threw them out. "Sue them. What's the difference between this and robbing a woman?" After saying this, she covered her eyes and started to cry.
The father slapped his head and squatted under the eaves, "I'm useless. I can't even protect my daughter."
I pulled my father's hand away from slapping his head distressedly, "Dad, Dad, don't be like this, can't I go?"
"What do you know? Prince Cheng is 28 years old this year, and you are only 11." After saying this, he wiped his face and stood up. "No, even if I die, I will never let my daughter enter Prince Cheng's mansion and endure that kind of torture."
The eldest brother replied, "Yes, I will go to the government to sue them tomorrow."
Looking at the three people I loved most, I smiled bitterly in my heart. That was the royal palace, and they were the emperor's sons. How could I sue them?
In the evening, it was past the time for the younger brother to finish school, but he was nowhere to be seen. The eldest brother was a little anxious. He opened the gate to pick up the younger brother, but was stopped by the gatekeeper. "I forgot to tell you, the younger brother has been taken to her home by the clan leader's wife. She said that since he is a rare scholar, he must be trained well. From now on, he will live in the clan leader's house, eat and drink well, and have someone to serve him. It will save you a lot of trouble."
"Despicable, how could you do this?" the father roared.
The steward came over, flicked his sleeves, and sneered, "It's getting dark, and the brothers can't stay overnight at your door, so we'll go back now. Madam has instructed you to clean up after Miss Zhi tomorrow and come to pick her up in the evening. Don't worry, I'll be back as soon as Miss Zhi enters the palace."
That night, the whole family stayed up. I knew my father and mother had no good solution. The clan leader's wife was holding my younger brother in her arms, threatening them with taking good care of him. How could that be possible? There was no need to beat or scold him. All they had to do was take my younger brother out a few times, or if someone caught them, he wouldn't even be eligible to take the imperial examination.
"Dad, Mom, I'm going."
"No." The three said in unison.
My father put his arm around my shoulders and said, "Zhi'er, the people at the Huainan Marquisate are very worried. I heard that Mr. Meng San can't stay in Beijing for too long. We just need to stay with him."
"But what about my brother?"
"It's okay, it won't be long. Besides, your brother is a man of his own ideas. It's okay, nothing will happen." My father murmured to himself while patting my shoulder.
They had originally agreed to come the next night, but before noon, there was a loud knock on the gate. The eldest brother opened the gate and was horrified to find a pink sedan parked at the door.
The clan leader and his wife stood at the door. His wife came in with a smile and said, "Congratulations to our little girl Zhi. This is a great blessing. Our Meng family will be counting on her from now on. Although there is no dowry for a concubine, your uncle and I have discussed it and decided to express our feelings."
After saying this, he handed the cloth bag to his mother, but his mother threw it to the ground. The clan leader's wife was not angry. "Have you packed it? If you ask me, the palace has everything. You just need to clean yourself up and dress nicely. Master, this yard is really too small. There won't be enough space for the banquet. Why don't you hold it at our house tomorrow and invite all the relatives in the clan. This is the most expensive marriage in our clan."
The clan leader nodded and called my father's name, "Why are you doing this? It's your blessing to be chosen as Zhi girl. Do you think anyone can enter the Cheng Palace? If it weren't for Master Meng's military achievements, if it weren't for Marquis Meng's personal intercession, Master Cheng wouldn't even look at you."
"If you want to send your granddaughter, I will. Our Zhi'er is not that lucky and cannot bear such wealth." The father said coldly, "Please ask your uncle and aunt to go back and find someone else who wants to marry into a higher-class family."
"Look for someone else? Humph, Zhi girl's name has been reported to Prince Cheng's Mansion. If you don't go, the whole clan will suffer. Do you think this is just your family's business? I tell you, don't refuse a toast and then drink a forfeit. Today you have to go whether you want to or not." The clan leader said viciously.
"What? Are you going to force me to take you away by force? If you continue to force me like this, we will go to the government to sue you." The veins on my father's forehead bulged.
"Sue? Haha, sue who?" The clan leader laughed heartily, as if he had just heard the funniest joke. "You're confused. If you dared to mention the title of Prince Cheng in the hall, I would admire you."
"Master, don't waste time talking to them. There is an auspicious time over there." The clan leader's wife stepped forward and said.
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