"Brother Shu, tell me, what were you doing in that courtyard? Although the Prince's mansion is large, there are maids and servants everywhere at today's banquet. Don't tell me you got lost or that it was just a coincidence that you got lost with Miss Wu?"
Song Xia looked at Zhou Shuqing mockingly, wondering if he could come up with a brilliant idea.
After much deliberation, Zhou Shuqing realized that he could only admit to having a secret rendezvous with the illegitimate daughter of the Wu family; he could not say anything else.
Even if Prince Huai were to back him up, and the Prince Cheng's mansion and his stepmother didn't kill him, his reputation would be ruined, and he would be disqualified from taking the imperial examinations again. If the Wu family's concubine's daughter had only mistaken him for Prince Huai and dragged Prince Huai into the mess, then the backer that he and his sister had worked so hard to secure would also collapse.
So he could only hold his breath and lower his head: "Father, Mother, Miss Wu and I are in love. I beg you to grant us your blessing."
"Brother Shu, are you confused?!" Zhou Yongli shouted in disappointment.
Upon hearing this, Liu Fangniang, who had rushed over, quickly grabbed Zhou Shuqing: "Shu-ge'er, what did you say?"
Zhou Shuqing shook his head at Liu Fangniang, whose eyes rolled back and she fainted again.
"Aunt Liu is overjoyed. She should be happy, though. Ying'er is getting married and Shu'er is about to get married. Both of her children have completed their major life events. My poor Yuqing is still all alone."
Song Xia not only provoked them, but also made a special trip to tell the old lady the news.
"Although she is a concubine's daughter, Shu-ge'er is just a concubine's son. At least the two of them are in love and can live a good life together in the future. Old Madam, don't glare at me. You should be happy. If you accidentally pass away, Shu-ge'er will have to delay your marriage and your imperial examinations. It will be even more unpleasant to hear about it."
As she spoke, Song Xia dismissed the servants and said softly, "Grandma, your health isn't good. You're not even as healthy as your own mother, the old lady of the Liu family. Is it because you don't know how to use incense and medicine?"
The old lady's breathing became lighter, and she stared at Song Xia intently.
Song Xia suppressed her smile: "Actually, I might as well tell you that it was I, the county magistrate, who arranged this marriage for Shu-ge'er. That Wu family's illegitimate daughter is proud and arrogant, and is indeed not a good match for him. Her heart has long belonged to someone else."
The old lady was furious, but she couldn't speak.
"You want to call me vicious, don't you? Actually, there are many ways to torture you. Do you know why I ruined Shu-ge'er's marriage? Because revenge has to be taken one step at a time. Who told you to be so cruel to my Yu-qing back then?"
The old woman opened her eyes wide in alarm, repeatedly uttering "Ah, ah."
"Actually, I already knew. I also know that the Liu family recently contacted your mother's clan again and got that medicine for Shu-ge and Ying-jie."
The old lady was truly frightened, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"You think you can turn your lives around just because Zhou Ying married Prince Huai? Little do you know that this is also part of my plan to take revenge on you. Prince Huai will not ascend the throne, and Ying'er will not have a good ending either. Do you really think the political situation is as simple as you imagine? Once Shu'er marries that illegitimate daughter of the Wu family, his future will be ruined."
Seeing the old lady's helpless yet anxious appearance, Song Xia felt a sense of satisfaction: "You are all either concubines or illegitimate children. I have so many ideas for tormenting you. The reason I've gone through so much trouble is to fill you with hope, only to let you collapse little by little. After you all meet a bad end, your good son Zhou Yongli probably won't be able to hold on any longer, right? After all, you are all people he cares about!"
After hearing Song Xia's words, the old lady finally couldn't take it anymore, rolled her eyes, and fainted.
Song Xia smiled and said, "Xiao Ling, is there any way to save her life and keep her alive until Zhou Shuqing gets married?"
The system, Xiaoling, was puzzled: "Why waste energy on her?"
"Of course it's for revenge. Wouldn't it be too easy for her to die now? What if it delays Zhou Shuqing's marriage? They're so in love, how can they be separated for so long?"
Xiao Ling really doesn't understand the complex thoughts of humans, but since Xia Xia needs it, he'll prepare it for her. Anyway, Xia Xia won't make a mistake.
At this moment, Liu Fangniang, who had just woken up, really hoped that her aunt would die, so that Shuge'er would have an excuse to postpone the wedding.
After all, if I don't get married now, who knows what unexpected things might happen in the future?
It would be best to wait until Prince Huai ascends the throne, then Yingjie can give birth to a son for Prince Huai, and then Shuge can be betrothed to someone else.
Liu Fangniang actually arrived at Fushou Hall. The old lady kept making "ah ah" sounds, as if she wanted to tell her something, but no one could understand her.
Moreover, the entire courtyard was filled with Song Xia's people, so Liu Fangniang couldn't even make a move if she wanted to.
“Auntie is here!” Furong walked in with a smile. “The matchmaker has already gone to propose marriage. Madam’s idea is that the marriage should be completed as soon as possible, so she asked Auntie to help prepare for the second young master’s wedding.”
"I understand." Liu Fangniang gritted her teeth in anger. Could it be that the matter was already settled?
Even if it can't be changed, she still wants to fight for more things for Shu-ge'er. Although Shu-ge'er is a son of a concubine, he is still a proper master of the mansion, and his wedding can't be too shabby.
However, when she arrived at the main courtyard, she learned that Song Xia had already entrusted many things to those two wretches, Aunt Gao and Aunt Meng.
How can we let two concubines arrange Shu-ge'er's marriage? Wouldn't that make us a laughingstock?
"Since Aunt Gao and Aunt Meng are in charge of preparing the food in the kitchen and decorating the new courtyard, Aunt Liu can take charge of arranging all kinds of flowers."
Liu Fangniang couldn't keep her composure any longer: "Shuge'er's marriage is a major event, how can you let us make the arrangements? What if something goes wrong?"
"I haven't been feeling well lately. Do you expect me to handle things while I'm sick?" Song Xia looked at her mockingly, as if to say that a mere illegitimate son was not worthy of her personal attention.
"Their wedding was already rather undignified, what more grand occasion do you want?"
After being stabbed again, Liu Fangniang turned pale.
At this moment, Aunt Gao and Aunt Meng still made sarcastic remarks: "Don't worry, Aunt Liu. Although we are novices, it is an important task entrusted to us by Madam. We will definitely do our best."
"Yes, there are things we can't arrange, but that's why we still have you, Aunt Liu."
Liu Fangniang's heart sank. If outsiders knew that this marriage was arranged by her concubines, what would they think of Shu Ge'er? Shu Ge'er's classmates would also know his status in the household.
But clearly, Shu-ge'er has always been Yong-lang's most valued child. She had imagined the scene of Shu-ge'er's wedding, which would definitely be grand and lively, instead of being hastily handed over to a few concubines. Yet, she was put in charge of the most unimportant part. These two wretches said nice things, that they would never let her interfere in their affairs.
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