Chapter 161 Trying on Wedding Dress
The news of the arranged marriage reached Jiang Fei's ears, and naturally also reached the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.
Ever since Wei Ciying heard the news, she was so excited that she couldn't sleep at night. She also asked people to make careful inquiries and confirm that the news came from the palace.
"Miss, please have some tea." Zi Fu presented the teacup and said, "Since the news came from the palace, it must be correct. Given the emperor's love for Prince Zhaoning, if Prince Zhaoning didn't want it, this news wouldn't have been spread."
Wei Ciying turned the teacup in the sunlight, "The Emperor must have considered granting the marriage because he saw that he had sent many gifts to the Marquis' Mansion."
"Congratulations, Miss. Congratulations, Miss."
Wei Ciying put down the teacup and said, "Your congratulations are premature. I'm afraid my father is already restless and anxious to show his loyalty to the Crown Prince."
Zi Fu said, "But my Lord wouldn't dare disobey my order, would he?"
"Father doesn't dare disobey the Emperor's order, but he can enter the palace to pay his respects before the Emperor issues his order." Wei Ciying frowned. "If Father really messes things up, then all my previous efforts will be in vain."
Thinking of this, Wei Ciying couldn't sit still any longer. She stood up and said, "No, I have to go see my father and stop him."
In the study.
Marquis Dingyuan swallowed a tranquilizing pill, and Wei Mingzhen quickly gave him some water to drink.
He then advised, "Father, there's no need to get angry about this. After all, the imperial decree hasn't been issued yet. Pei Jing has always acted erratically. Even if the emperor grants the marriage, it will probably be just a warning."
Dingyuan Hou sighed, "If we really wait for the Emperor to grant us marriage, it will be too late. Your sister suffered enough as a child, how could a father be willing to push her into the fire pit?"
Wei Mingzhen thought of Wei Ciying, and his expression darkened. "What kind of family does father want to find for Ciying?"
"I disagreed with Jiang Linyuan before, not because I looked down on the chivalrous men in the martial arts world. The Sword Forging Pavilion has considerable influence in the martial arts world. If Ciying were to marry there, it would indeed be a great help to the Marquis' Mansion."
Marquis Dingyuan put down his teacup. "But the Jiang family has been practicing martial arts for generations, which makes them different from official families like us. Ciying has been pampered since she was a child. If she were to marry far away, I'm afraid she would suffer."
"And Pei Jing is no pushover. He's moody and murderous, and certainly not a good match. Your eldest brother is a jerk, and your second is a scoundrel. The future glory of the Marquisate rests entirely on you. How could I not make more plans for you? If the eldest prince ascends the throne in the future, the glory of the Marquisate will be preserved."
Wei Mingzhen pursed his lips. He didn't care about these things at all, but he had been educated since childhood and dedicated himself to his family.
"After you get married at the end of the month, only Ciying's marriage will be unsettled. Your mother is looking for someone for her. She must choose someone with a gentle personality, and preferably one with a good family background."
Suddenly, a maid's voice came from outside the door, "My Lord, Third Young Master, the young lady is here."
"Come in."
Wei Ciying pushed the door open and walked in. Seeing Marquis Dingyuan rubbing his forehead, she hurried forward and asked with concern, "Father, is your headache coming back?"
Dingyuan Hou waved his hand and asked, "What brings you here?"
Although Wei Mingzhen had told him that he had learned from Jiang Rufei that Wei Ciying was indeed going to find Jiang Linyuan, Marquis Dingyuan still felt that her behavior was suspicious.
Wei Ciying suddenly knelt down and said, "I know why you are worried, and I am here to share your worries."
She raised her head and said firmly, "My daughter is willing to marry into the palace."
The study suddenly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Wei Mingzhen stood up suddenly: "Nonsense!"
Dingyuan Hou narrowed his eyes and examined his daughter kneeling on the ground: "Do you know what you are saying?"
"I know it very well," Wei Ciying said in a steady voice. "Although Pei Jing has a bad temper, he is extremely powerful. If I marry him, it will not only help my father out of his current predicament, but I am also confident that I can control him."
Wei Mingzhen's face turned blue with anger. "What do you have to say? Is Pei Jing's reputation as a murderer just a lie?"
"Third brother," Wei Ciying turned to look at him, a meaningful smile on her lips, "Your marriage to the Jiang family's second daughter is imminent, so you should worry about your own affairs first."
Wei Ciying continued, "Father, if I marry him, I'll be the best insider for Pei Jing. If the eldest prince wins, I can protect your life. But if he loses the battle for the throne, I can also protect the Marquisate. No matter how the court changes, the Marquisate will remain invincible."
The room became quiet.
This is indeed a huge temptation.
Seeing Marquis Dingyuan's wavering expression, Wei Ciying added fuel to the fire, "If father is worried about the Crown Prince becoming suspicious, then just follow our explanation today and say that my daughter is marrying him as a traitor. I'm sure the Crown Prince will be happy to see that happen."
Dingyuan Hou stared at Wei Ciying for a long time, and finally waved his hand wearily, "Let me think about this matter again, you can leave."
Wei Ciying bowed and left the study, with a determined smile on his face as he turned around.
In the room, Marquis Dingyuan's headache seemed to be getting worse. He rubbed his forehead and asked, "What do you think?"
"Neither Pei Jing nor the First Prince are easy to fool."
…
When Wei Mingzhen left the court, he was surrounded by several good friends as soon as he stepped into the palace gate.
Even though Chu Xiu was wearing his official uniform, he couldn't hide his carefree demeanor. He hooked his arm around Wei Mingzhen's neck and said, "Let's go have a drink? I haven't had a drink with you guys in a few days."
Wei Mingzhen pulled his hand down, straightened his official uniform, and said, "I'm busy today. Let's do it another day."
"What are you busy with?"
"I have to go back today to try on wedding dresses." Wei Mingzhen smiled, "I'll get together with you another day."
"Trying on wedding dresses?" Chu Xiu's eyes lit up, and he turned around and called out to the others, "Did you hear that? Mingzhen is going to try on wedding dresses! Let's all go and take a look!"
Zhuang Jitong immediately agreed, "Yes, yes, yes. I heard that you hired twenty of the best embroiderers from Jiangnan to make your wedding dress. Let's see what they have to offer!"
Wei Mingzhen smiled helplessly and shook his head, "What nonsense! There's no etiquette for watching the groom try on his wedding suit."
"Rules are dead, but people are alive!" Chu Xiu leaned closer with a wink, "Did Miss Jiang embroider a purse for you?"
Wei Mingzhen's ears turned slightly red, and he was about to refute when he suddenly saw a commotion at the palace gate.
Everyone turned around and saw Pei Jing walking out slowly in a dark court robe. Officials made way for him wherever he passed.
Zhuang Jitong lowered his voice and asked, "I heard that Prince Zhaoning is going to be your brother-in-law. Is that true?"
Wei Mingzhen didn't respond, and saw Pei Jing walking straight towards him.
Everyone bowed and saluted, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Pei Jing raised two fingers lightly and asked, "Where are you going?"
Chu Xiu was afraid that if Prince Zhaoning said anything about drinking, he would go too, so he hurriedly said, "Mingzhen is getting married at the end of the month, and is trying on wedding clothes today. We were just thinking of joining in the fun."
Pei Jing raised his eyebrows slightly, his eyes falling on Wei Mingzhen, "Oh? Trying on wedding clothes?"
Wei Mingzhen bowed and said, "Your Highness, this is just routine preparation."
Pei Jing nodded thoughtfully, walked past a few people, mounted his horse and left.
The sound of horse hooves gradually faded away, and Pei Jing's figure soon disappeared outside the palace gate.
Chu Xiu breathed a sigh of relief and patted Wei Mingzhen on the shoulder: "I was so scared. I thought the prince really wanted to go with you to watch you try on your wedding dress. After all, he might become your brother-in-law in the future."
Wei Mingzhen forced a smile, but he felt vaguely uneasy in his heart. He always felt that Pei Jing's eyes just now had a deeper meaning.
On the other side, Duan Jiu saw the prince change the road to the Jiang Mansion at an intersection.
"Your Highness, are we going to Jiang Mansion?" Duan Jiu asked cautiously.
Pei Jing twisted the reins, "Wei Mingzhen wants to try on the wedding dress, so Xiao Cui should try it too, right?"
———
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