Chapter 349: The Lady of the Marquisate vs. the Younger Prince 92
Two days later, Kong Liang brought the elders of the clan to visit. Ji Tongfu and Mrs. Ji entertained the Kong family and gave them full courtesy.
The elders of the Kong family were all smiling. Even though they had lost the position of Prime Minister, they were still very satisfied with this marriage because of the Ji family's high status.
"After I returned, I offered the birth dates of my two children to the gods and asked a master to calculate. The birth dates were compatible, so they were a perfect match."
"Thanks to your family for not giving up on me. Aliang is able to find such a good marriage. His father would be very pleased if he knew about it. Among all the descendants of the Kong family, Aliang is the most promising. It is worth it that his mother has worked so hard to raise him. Why don't we set the wedding date today?"
Madam Ji was just about to ask someone to get the almanac to calculate a suitable day for the wedding, as Confucius' mother was not in good health, so this matter had to be done as soon as possible.
Kong Liang suddenly stood up, bowed deeply, and said in a hoarse voice: "The third daughter of the Ji family is as beautiful as a flower, and I am really not worthy of her. Let's forget about this marriage!"
When the elder of the Kong family heard this, he jumped up and said sternly: "What nonsense are you talking about? I think you are crazy!"
After everyone scolded Kong Liang, the most senior person turned to Ji Shoufu and said with a trembling hand, "Since ancient times, marriage has always been decided by parents and matchmakers. His father passed away early and his mother is in poor health, so naturally it is up to me to take care of it."
"Young people are unstable and act on impulse. They will become sensible after they get married. Lord Ji, please do not be angry because of his young age and ignorance."
Ji Tongfu did not get angry, but just sighed and said: "Kong Liang, do you know how people outside will talk about you if you cancel the engagement today? You became famous at a young age, and there are many people who want to discredit you."
"I will pretend I didn't hear what you said today. The Kong and Ji families are still relatives, so you can still marry my daughter. When Yue'er marries into the Kong family, she will be a member of the Kong family, and I will not interfere in your affairs."
Ji Tongfu understood that it was not Kong Liang's wish to cancel the engagement. It was most likely his foolish concubine's daughter who wanted to cancel the engagement. Ji Tongfu did not want to bear the bad reputation, so he forced Kong Liang to cancel the engagement.
Kong Liang was so smart that when he came to visit the patient on the day he resigned from office, he already understood the key. It would be beneficial for Kong Liang to get married at this time. After he resigned from office, Kong Liang still married the concubine's daughter of Ji family. It can be seen that he has noble character and values friendship and loyalty, and his reputation will be well known.
As for Yue'er, he no longer had any expectations. After all, Kong Liang would not treat his wife harshly. He could just marry her and treat her as a decoration. At that point, he would have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of his life.
Ji Tongfu had said so much, and the elders of the Kong family also heard that Lord Ji disliked his concubine's daughter, but he still valued Kong Liang very much, and that was enough.
The elder of the Kong family pulled Kong Liang to his knees and said sternly: "Why don't you thank your father-in-law quickly? If you continue to talk nonsense, I will punish you according to the family rules when you go back!"
Kong Liang knelt on the ground, silent.
The words of the Third Miss Ji yesterday were so hurtful. His family was poor, not even as good as the servants of the Ji family. He still had no official position and could not grant the Third Miss an imperial decree.
The third girl used both soft and hard tactics. After scolding him, she cried and begged him. The third girl said that she had someone in her heart and begged him to let her go!
That man was in a high position with great power and wealth, a thousand times more than her, which was why the third girl could not stop thinking about him.
The third girl is completely different from the eldest girl of the Ji family. She is spoiled and willful, and speaks vulgarly. Even if she marries into the Kong family, her heart is not with him, and it is unknown how she will make trouble in the future.
He was totally focused on the imperial examination and had never been attracted to women. The first time he went to meet his fiancée, he was filled with joy and prepared gifts, but in the end, this was the result.
He didn't want to marry a wife who didn't care about him. Would he have to live in such chaos for the next few decades? He didn't want to.
After a long silence, Kong Liang said with difficulty: "Just think of it as me being treacherous and betraying Lord Ji's love and care. I am sorry to Lord Ji!"
It doesn't matter if you have this bad reputation. A man's future success depends on his real ability, not these false reputations.
If those words were spoken, the Third Young Lady's reputation would be ruined, and he would be even more sorry to Lord Ji.
Kong Liang bowed down with his forehead against the ground. No matter how the elders around him beat and scolded him, he refused to change his mind and insisted on canceling the engagement.
Mrs. Ji also sighed. Kong Liang was a rare honest man. Marrying Ji Rongyue would be an injustice to the child.
"Mr. Kong, you are too serious. It is just that the horoscopes show that they are not compatible, which is not good for health and longevity. Mother Kong is not in good health, so she cannot marry a daughter-in-law whose horoscope conflicts with hers. This is not Mr. Kong's fault. We can only say that they are not destined to be together."
"In the future, the two families will marry separately and have nothing to do with each other. Mr. Kong doesn't need to take it to heart. Come on, help Mr. Kong up."
Mrs. Ji meant that Ji Rongyue was unlucky in both husband and mother-in-law, but Ji Tongfu remained calm and agreed with this statement.
Kong Liang was helped up. The elders of the Kong family sighed, but they could do nothing about Kong Liang.
Madam Ji sent someone to see the Kong family off, and naturally the gifts that had been brought in during the marriage proposal had to be returned as well.
Kong Liang felt very guilty towards the elders in the clan, "I have troubled all the elders to run around. I am unfilial and have brought shame to my uncle and grandfather."
At this point, the elders of the Kong family began to comfort Kong Liang.
"Aliang came back yesterday and said he wanted to cancel the engagement. It was all Uncle Grandpa's fault. You must have your reasons for not wanting to marry. After all, we shouldn't marry into such a family."
"Fortunately, Lord Ji and Madam Ji did not blame me, but simply cancelled the marriage proposal from the Ji family. No matter what the reason is, I'm afraid that ordinary noble families will not be willing to marry Aliang, so we can only look for someone lower down."
"Ah, in the end it's all our fault. Aliang is such a good person, but we farmers don't have any connections, so we can't find a good relative!"
The Kong family did not have a horse-drawn carriage, so they came here in an ox-drawn cart. Oxen can both plow the fields and pull carts, and are the most valuable assets of farmers.
The two wild geese were well-fed. They cackled and jumped restlessly on the ox cart.
After putting the gifts in the car, Kong Liang helped his elders get in. The driver was Kong Liang's cousin, who had dark skin and was very strong.
"Brother Liang, aren't you getting in the car?"
Kong Liang shook his head and said, "Please send the elders back safely. I will go back by myself."
The cousin knew that Kong Liang was in a bad mood, and he didn't know how to comfort anyone, so he patted Kong Liang on the shoulder and drove away in the ox cart.
A carriage stopped at the gate of Ji Mansion.
Zhao Baozhen stuck her head out of the carriage, looked in the direction where the oxcart was going, and shouted excitedly, "What a big ox! It must be a good ox by its coat color! It plows the land quickly and pulls the cart steadily, more steadily than a horse."
"Sister Ji, did you see that? There are two wild geese on the car. They look plump and delicious. They will be especially delicious when roasted! I want to go out hunting, but my father won't let me. I'm so mad!"
Zhao Baozhen sipped her saliva and soon saw Kong Liang at the door. She waved excitedly at Kong Liang and shouted, "Mr. Kong, why are you here? Is the ox cart yours?"
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