Lin Wanli sat down opposite Su Chengye, his elbows casually resting on the armrests of the chair.
A servant brought tea. Lin Wanli picked up the teacup and took a sip, then turned around and talked to Su Yuanzhou about the engagement today.
The uncle and nephew were chatting and laughing, leaving Su Chengye aside.
Su Chengye was anxious and angry, and finally interrupted while Lin Wanli was drinking water.
"Yuanzhou is a child of the Su family after all, so it is reasonable for him to get married in the Su family."
"Master Lin, we are talking about Yuanzhou's marriage now, not the dispute between the Su and Lin families. I think you are doing this on purpose, deliberately trying to make me unhappy."
Lin Wanli was neither anxious nor impatient when he heard this, and there was not even a trace of anger on his face.
He had been in business for many years and was an old fox. He shook his head at Su Yuanzhou, signaling him to be quiet. He was enough to deal with the Su family alone.
"The Emperor recently issued an edict, instructing the Ministry of Works to expedite the repairs to Prince Ning's Mansion so as not to delay Yuanzhou's wedding."
"It seems that the Marquis of Pingning is dissatisfied with the emperor's decision and the renovation of the mansion by the Ministry of Works."
"Yuanzhou, go to the palace this afternoon and tell the emperor and explain everything to Minister Rong of the Ministry of Works. Get married at the Su family. No matter how old the emperor is, can he be older than your biological father?"
Su Chengye's expectant expression froze on his face. How could he have the guts to question the emperor's decision?
Inwardly, he blamed himself for forgetting about this matter. With the emperor around, the Su family really had no room to speak.
After a moment, Su Chengye's face returned to normal.
He coughed lightly and continued, "In that case, let's get married at Prince Ning's mansion. Your grandmother, your third uncle and I will come over two days before the wedding. We will help you with all the arrangements and receive the guests."
He deliberately spoke in a decisive tone, but to Su Yuanzhou, it just sounded like a joke.
After returning to Beijing, he found out about his mother's past in the Su family over the years, and became more and more disgusted with his father.
"No need. My mother will take care of these matters. I won't bother my father and grandmother."
"I will send an invitation to the Su family. Father can come as a guest on the sixth day of the New Year."
Su Chengye was stunned for a moment, "Guest? What kind of guest am I? You guys are going to get married, and I'm going to sit in the main seat."
Su Yuanzhou shook his head. "We pay our respects to our parents, and the one we pay our respects to is my mother. Since my father has divorced my mother, it is inappropriate for him to sit in the main seat."
Su Chengye never dreamed that when his son got married, he could only be a guest standing aside and watching the ceremony.
He could even imagine how others would look at Su Yuanzhou when he kowtowed to Lin Wanyin. Overnight, he would become the laughing stock of the entire capital.
Without thinking, he blurted out: "Since only one person can sit in the main seat, it should be my father. Don't forget, your last name is Su."
Su Yuanzhou looked at Su Chengye with a puzzled expression, as if he was watching a joke.
"My mother is a First Rank Princess appointed by the Emperor himself. We should kneel down and bow to her when we get married."
"From what my father said, if I make this decision, I can no longer keep the last name Su? That's fine. If I change my last name to Lin, I think my uncle won't have any objections."
Lin Wanli immediately smiled and said, "If this good thing really happens, my Lin family will hold a banquet for a month and inform our ancestors."
He knew it was just a joke. Changing one's name was not such an easy thing, but he was still happy.
Su Yuanzhou's words were like a heavy hammer that woke Su Chengye up.
This son is really not afraid of being expelled from the Su family. He doesn't care about the surname Su at all.
Su Chengye moved the corners of his lips and spoke after a while, "Since you have made up your mind, I will do as you say."
The dry words he said were so funny that even he himself felt it was a joke.
Su Yuanzhou added, "On the second day after the wedding, I will bring my wife back to the Su family to pay homage to our ancestors."
As soon as he finished speaking, a servant came in and reported, "Your Highness, the old princess said she made some snacks that you and your uncle would like to eat. Please bring your uncle over to talk to her."
Su Yuanzhou nodded and said to Su Chengye, "Father, is there anything else?"
Su Chengye shook his head subconsciously. It had nothing to do with the Su family, so what else could he be involved in?
Su Yuanzhou raised his voice and ordered the butler, "Show the guests away."
Then he said to Lin Wanli, "Uncle, let's go to mother's place."
Su Chengye looked tense, stood up and walked out.
After leaving the palace gate, he turned around and looked up at the vermilion plaque.
He had never regretted as much as he did at this moment, regretting why he didn't live a good life with Lin Wanyin.
If they had been a happy couple and not divorced, he would be the old prince now, enjoying the most glorious life.
*
After Shen Yue's wedding date was set, the Shen family became busy, and each room was preparing to add makeup for Shen Yue.
Li Chaoyun spent most of her time at Hanshuiyuan to take care of her pregnancy, returning to the Li family every few days. Although it was against the rules to go out during mourning, since the Shen family didn't mention it, naturally no one else would mention it.
Su Qingyu is busier than others. Not only does she have to take care of the Shen family's affairs, but she also has to go to Prince Ning's Mansion often to talk to her mother and uncle.
That day, Shen Zhixiu told me that Guangfulou had hired a chef from Sichuan Province. He was a master at making spicy dishes that were very satisfying.
She didn't like spicy food, but her uncle Lin Wanli did. So after breakfast, she went to Prince Ning's mansion. She planned to take her uncle, mother, and the others to Guangfulou for lunch.
The carriage stopped outside the second gate of Prince Ning's Mansion. As soon as Su Qingyu got off, she heard voices coming from not far away.
"Fourth sister, what should I say if I go? Do I have to go? I have something to do at noon and can't stay too long." Su Zhilan took Su Shunci's arm, looking conflicted.
After Lin Wanyin and Bai Sulian moved into the Ning Wang Mansion, Su Shunci also moved in. These days, Su Zhilan was helping Su Shunci draw pictures, so she often came to the Ning Wang Mansion.
Hai had always had a good relationship with Lin Wanyin, so she was completely relieved that her daughter came to Prince Ning's Mansion.
Su Zhilan also became more and more willing to play with Su Shunci here, which was much more interesting than being at the Su family.
The two men looked up and saw Su Qingyu, and walked over quickly together to greet their elder sister.
Seeing that they seemed to be going out, Su Qingyu asked, "Where are you going?"
Su Shunci smiled and replied, "Sister Wanwan said that the gardener in the flower room of the Marquis of Loyalty Mansion has grown pink and yellow camellias and invited us to take a look."
Su Qingyu recalled what Su Zhilan had just said and asked softly, "Fifth sister, don't you want to go?"
Su Zhilan pursed her lips and said, "I don't really want to go, but Miss Song invited me, so it would be awkward not to go."
"I'm just afraid of seeing King Chungyong. Big sister, what did you say when you met your brother-in-law before you got married?"
Today she wore a peach-colored brocade dress with a nipped waist and a scarlet gold flower hairpin. Her delicate face already showed the beauty of a young girl. When she grew older, her beauty would surely be renowned throughout the capital.
Su Qingyu took Su Zhilan's hand and comforted her, "You are going to the Song family's inner courtyard, so you may not meet the King of Loyalty and Bravery. Even if you do, just greet him according to the rules."
"You are still young. Even if you go to the Song family, they won't specifically mention marriage. Just treat it as an ordinary relative's visit. Don't think too much about it."
Su Zhilan nodded and took note of Su Qingyu's words.
Afterwards, Su Qingyu watched the two sisters get on the carriage, while she took a sedan chair to the inner courtyard.
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