Chapter 20 Hidden Truth
At this time in Songhe Hall, Wang sent Mrs. Ruan and her daughter back and saw the old lady leaning on the big pillow with her eyes closed to rest.
At this moment, it is neither possible to advance nor to retreat.
"I know what you want to say. Go down first! If that kid comes back, let him come to me." The old man's voice was slow and leisurely, and he didn't sound angry.
Wang breathed a sigh of relief. She had been looking forward to her eldest son getting married soon.
In the past few years, Xiao Mo was at the border, so there was naturally no talk of marriage.
When she first returned to Beijing, the girl from the Shen family was only fourteen years old and could only wait.
Now, two years have passed and everything is ready except the marriage, but something goes wrong with the son.
Wang didn't dare to arrange the marriage without his consent. She and her mother-in-law knew Xiao Mo's character well. He was a man who could turn things upside down.
If the government really dares to act on its own, who knows what will happen!
Wang helped the old lady pull the mattress on the kang, then walked out quietly.
Old Madam Xiao was not asleep and opened her eyes after a moment.
Seeing the old lady sitting on the kang, not knowing what she was thinking about, Aunt Liu beside her called out tentatively, "Old Madam..."
Madam Xiao glanced at her and said, "Who was guarding outside then? Let those two come over!"
Aunt Liu didn't understand at first, and after a pause she said, "Okay!"
Soon, the two maids in charge of opening the curtains were called over. Seeing that their master was silent, one of them said timidly, "Madam! Is there anything you want us to do?"
Madam Xiao then said, "Don't worry, let me ask you, did the prince really come to Songhe Hall?"
Seeing that it was this question, the little maid was obviously relieved, "Yes, I was watching from afar!"
"Tell me, how did the prince speak to the girl from the Xu family at that time?" Old Lady Xiao asked again.
The little maid frowned as she thought carefully, "The prince was almost entering Songhe Hall, but for some reason he walked over and stopped Miss Xu. He said something so far away I couldn't hear, and then he left."
After a long while without receiving any reply, the maid who had just spoken and Nanny Liu both looked towards the old lady.
"What's wrong?" Nanny Liu couldn't help but ask.
"Nothing." Old Madam Xiao smiled and shook her head.
"I remember that the prince seemed to smile." Another maid added in the gap between the two people's conversation.
Looking at the expressions of Matron Liu and the old lady, she seemed to vaguely understand something, so she boldly added this sentence.
"Did you actually see him smile?"
"It's absolutely true. The prince smiled once when the two were talking, and then turned back and smiled again after walking a few steps." The little maid seemed to have finally caught the opportunity to show her face in front of her master, and her voice was quite loud.
Madam Liu scolded, "You're the one who talks too much. If you tell even one lie, I'll have you whipped."
Madam Xiao waved her hand: "Forget it, you guys go down!"
Seeing that they were about to leave, she called over the little maid who was talking behind them and asked, "What's your name?"
"Slave girl Chun Ya."
"Come back and run errands for me!"
It was not until the little maid went down with such joy that Aunt Liu said, "This Chun is indeed quite clever, and she's also very quick-witted."
Seeing that the master in front of her did not respond to her words, and not knowing what he was thinking, she felt a stir in her heart, "Old Madam! Are you worried about the prince's attitude towards Miss Xu..."
Madam Xiao came back to her senses and waved her hand, "Not necessarily."
It's just that her grandson rarely takes the initiative to get involved with the young lady except for his own sisters. Today, he actually asked Miss Xu to help pass on a message.
She was curious and asked a question.
Since I have reached the door, I naturally plan to come in, otherwise I would suddenly remember some important business.
Even if she didn't agree to this marriage, who was her grandson afraid of?
When do you need an excuse that's obviously flawed?
Old Madam Xiao raised her eyebrows, thinking about that young Miss Xu, who was as young as a flower, but was also very serious. She didn't show any shyness when talking about Xiao Mo. Why should she worry about her?
As expected, Xiao Mo returned home at dusk that day. He didn't even change his clothes and went straight into Songhe Hall.
He met Madam Liu at the door and asked about the situation in the mansion today before going in.
The old lady had already finished her dinner and was playing backgammon with the maid in the room. She didn't even raise her eyebrows when she saw her grandson come in.
Xiao Mo stood by and watched patiently until the winner of the game was decided. Only then did the old lady let the maids leave.
"You still remember to come back?" Seeing that he was just sitting quietly beside her and didn't mention it, she finally asked.
"Grandma, there are female relatives here, so what's the point of my grandson coming over?" Xiao Mo replied without feeling guilty.
"Don't fool me. Is the girl from the Shen family another female member? When have the two families ever been shy about their interactions over the years?" The old lady sneered.
Seeing that the person in front of him didn't speak, after a while he suddenly said, "You don't want to, do you?"
"Yes." Xiao Mo answered clearly and neatly.
The old lady's eyebrows twitched, but she felt relieved in her heart.
It’s good that he’s not ambiguous. Two years ago, he was in a state of being indifferent.
So even though her daughter-in-law brought it up many times later, she didn't push it hard.
"Mo'er! You should know that this marriage was arranged by your great-grandfather's generation, right? Although the two families only have a verbal engagement, our Duke's Mansion cannot do such a thing of breaking our promise." The old lady said this very solemnly. She looked straight at her eldest grandson who was taller than her even when sitting in front of her.
The Shen and Xiao families have been friends for generations, and Mo'er's mother is also a close friend of Madam Ruan.
If the engagement is cancelled, it will inevitably damage these relationships.
But her grandson had been lonely since childhood. Even though he was born as a prince, his life was not easy. He was responsible for the future prosperity and decline of the Duke's Mansion.
From the age of five, she got up at dawn every day to practice martial arts and archery, and went to the palace during the day to accompany the prince to study.
Even though he is now the leader of the imperial guards at a young age, if he had not been tempered in those years at the border, and if he did not have solid martial arts and knowledge, how could he be able to lead the troops?
People are selfish. Old Madam Xiao also wants her eldest grandson, who has carried too much burden since childhood, to live an easier life. She wants him to find someone he likes to be by his side.
The old lady had experienced a lot in her life and knew too well the importance of finding a wife to satisfy her, so she didn't force him.
But he must know the price he has to pay for this.
"Grandson knows!" Xiao Mo also looked at his grandmother in front of him, "You don't have to worry. The Shen family doesn't necessarily have to marry into our Chengguo Mansion."
There was a smile in his eyes, and Madam Xiao's expression changed when she heard it.
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