Chapter 96 Cannot Marry Prince Ming
Ming Weisu was originally a first-rank duke and concurrently served as a governor. This time his rank was raised to a super-rank.
Mingzhao was restored to his original official rank of the third rank, and after being rewarded, he was promoted to the second rank commander-in-chief.
Ming Zhouhe and Ming Zhouqing were promoted from soldiers to general flags after the last bandit suppression in Shouzhou. This time, they were promoted two ranks and became the fifth rank captains. Ming Zhouwu and Ming Zhoulu were promoted to the sixth rank pacification officers.
Rewards flowed from the palace to the Duke of Anguo's mansion.
This family's glory naturally won congratulations and envy from other officials. After the court session, they all came forward to greet them.
In the palace, the fifth princess lay on Concubine Jiang's lap, and the mother and daughter listened to the news of this morning's rewards and punishments that the palace maid had inquired from outside.
The Fifth Princess twisted her fingers around the pearl necklace on her wrist. After the palace maid left, a glint flashed in her eyes. She took Concubine Jiang's hand and said, "Mother, didn't the Yang family daughter die of illness? How about you ask Father to let me marry Mingzhao? That way, I can surpass Zhou Hongjing."
"Mingzhao has been promoted again and is also very good-looking. He is the perfect candidate for a husband."
Zhou Hongjing's fiancé is only the prince of a marquis's mansion, while her fiancé is the prince of a duke's mansion, and she will be the duke's wife in the future.
The fourth prince was born sickly. Who would support a sickly child? It's useless.
Fortunately, my father is now in his prime and in good health. My brother the Crown Prince is unable to succeed him yet, so my seventh brother still has a chance.
Concubine Jiang patted her hands and said, "Peiyi, don't think about it. The Prince of Ming is engaged again. Besides, the Anguo Mansion is now in the limelight and is already highly favored. How could they let their family marry a princess?"
"The Empress and the Marquis of Jining's wife are close friends. Kang Ning's engagement to the Marquis of Jining's son is a natural progression. What does your father think of you marrying the Duke of Anguo's son?"
Concubine Jiang was extremely troubled. Her two sons would endure and wait for the opportunity, but her daughter loved to show off and wanted to compete with the fourth princess born to the Queen in everything.
Wouldn't it be a waste of time for the emperor to become suspicious of their intentions by insisting on marrying Ming Zhaohuan?
The Duke of Anguo's Mansion and the Duke of Fuguo's Mansion were both neutral and loyal ministers. At that time, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Fuguo's Mansion broke off the engagement with the prince of the Duke of Anguo's Mansion. Not long after that, the Duke of Anguo's Mansion allowed the only legitimate daughter of the first wife to renew the engagement with the Duke of Fuguo's Mansion. This may have been intended to guard against several princes of the same age.
The two dukes' offices were unwilling to get involved in the open and secret struggles within the royal family.
This daughter is so stupid and loves to show off. If she hadn't been born from her womb, Concubine Jiang wouldn't have bothered to care about her.
"Is Mingzhao engaged? To which lady?" The Fifth Princess frowned.
"She's not a lady from some noble family, but an orphan." Concubine Jiang leaned on the imperial concubine couch and sneered, "Back then, the second son of the Duke of Anguo married the daughter of a fifth-rank official, and that official's daughter became the prestigious Second Madam of the Ming Dynasty."
"She had a niece who came to seek refuge and hooked up with the Prince of Anguo. After the Yang family broke off the engagement, the Prince of Anguo became engaged to the niece of Madam Ming Er, who had an unlucky father and mother."
"That orphan girl is truly resourceful. She managed to convince both the old Duke's wife and the Duke's wife to agree to be engaged to Prince Ming." The Fifth Princess snorted, still feeling restless. "Is it true that she can't marry Prince Ming?"
A man with such outstanding looks, who is already a second-rank military officer at such a young age and will be able to inherit the position of Duke in the future, really makes her envious and excited.
"No, Peiyi, you must listen to your mother and don't cause trouble. If you anger your father, your mother won't be able to help you." Concubine Jiang looked serious, and her tone was threatening.
Although Concubine Jiang and the Emperor were cousins, their relationship was not strong. The Emperor had no feelings for her and only chose her to enter the palace because of the Empress Dowager. If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's pressure and her success in getting pregnant, she wouldn't have the good life she has today.
Now that the Empress Dowager is gone, the Emperor has visited her palace only a handful of times in the past ten years.
The eldest son is sickly and the daughter is stupid. Fortunately, the younger son is relatively normal, otherwise Concubine Jiang would have a headache.
The Fifth Princess looked unhappy, temporarily gave up the idea, and replied reluctantly: "Okay."
…
In the afternoon, after waking up from her nap, Shi Jianli went to Qionghuayuan to talk to Qiao Ruoying.
It was the end of autumn and the weather was cool. Shi Jianli leaned on Qiao Ruoying's shoulder, watching her embroider and listening to her chatter.
Hearing the maids' greetings, Shi Jianli turned her head, sat up straight, and called out to the person who came in, "Auntie."
Yuan Yuhe came over with a small booklet, smiling, "Li'er is here too."
Qiao Ruoying put down the embroidery basket, first asked the maids to serve tea, and then asked, "Why is my sister-in-law here?"
Yuan Yuhe glanced at Shi Jianli with a smile and said, "You're still urging me yesterday, asking me when to set a date for the wedding. This morning I looked up the almanac and selected a few dates for next year, and came to discuss it with you."
"Since Li'er is here too, why don't you come and take a look? I'll be able to explain this to Zhao after we've finalized it." Yuan Yuhe handed the booklet and a piece of rice paper to Qiao Ruoying. She looked at Shi Jianli and smiled, saying, "Your eldest cousin is always steady. This is the first time I've seen him anxious."
"Okay." Shi Jianli responded softly.
It was clearly a statement to return the photo, but she felt her face getting hot.
Qiao Ruoying glanced at her with a smile and pulled her arm, "Come closer, how else can you see?"
"Oh." Shi Jianli looked at the words on the rice paper.
February 20th, March 15th, May 22nd, September 10th, October 10th.
Qiao Ruoying flipped through the almanac, comparing the five dates one by one. "I think these dates are all good. Which one do you like, sister-in-law?"
Yuan Yuhe said frankly: "Zhao will be 23 next summer. I want him to get married sooner. Li'er will be 18 next January. This is the right age. I think March is good. The weather is neither too cold nor too hot."
Qiao Ruoying nodded and asked Shi Jianli, "What do you think, Li'er?"
"Let my aunt and uncle decide." Shi Jianli lowered her head, took a sip of tea, and smiled at them.
Qiao Ruoying flipped through the book again and compared it, and finally decided, "Then let's set it for March 15th."
"What do you think, Li'er?" Yuan Yuhe asked again.
"……good."
"Then I'll take a photo and tell you about it when we get back." Seeing her well-behaved and shy appearance, Yuan Yuhe couldn't help but pat her on the head. Then, she happily took a pen and circled the chosen date. Then she asked Qiao Ruoying, "Isn't that the one you're embroidering an inner garment for Zhou He?"
"Well, that naughty boy went to the battlefield, and his underwear and knee pads were worn out a lot. There's no way he could wear them."
Yuan Yuhe couldn't help laughing, "Zhou Qing is the same, Zhao is better."
Speaking of Ming Zhouhe, Qiao Ruoying felt a little worried again, "Sister-in-law, now all the boys and girls of marriageable age in the family are engaged except Zhouhe. You can finally relax now. I am still worried about Zhouhe's marriage. Please help me keep an eye on it. Don't let Zhouqing get married by then and Zhouhe is still single, which will also hinder his younger brothers in the future."
"Of course. If there's something suitable, I'll come and discuss it with you."
When the sun was about to set, Yuan Yuhe stood up to say goodbye and said to Shi Jianli, "Li'er, come visit me when you have time."
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