Chapter 309: Reputation
Originally, Mrs. Lu just came to test the waters. If she responded with a smile and Mrs. Liu was indifferent, it would be obvious that she didn't like her son, and there would be a high probability that her proposal would be fruitless.
But now it’s different. Mrs. Liu looks enthusiastic and hopeful.
Originally I just wanted to have a conversation while choosing calligraphy and paintings, but after we got started, we visited three or four shops in a row, and by the end, the only thing left to talk about was the last layer of window paper left.
There was no point in proposing marriage on the street. Besides, for such a big matter as proposing marriage, she had to discuss it with her master, even though she knew that her master would not object. Moreover, even if she did not discuss it, Madam Liu would have to go back and discuss it with Lord Liu.
Madam Lu smiled and said, "We often meet, but we never talk much. We had a great chat today, but it's getting late, so we should go home..."
Madam Liu was also laughing, "Our two families are not far from each other, so we can visit each other often in the future."
Mrs. Lu nodded repeatedly, said a few more words, and then everyone went back home.
The two of them understood each other tacitly.
You like my son, and I like your daughter. Let's discuss it after we get home, and then send a visiting card to your house. If you are not interested and do not want to get married, then I will be busy and will not have time to meet you. If you are willing, I will come directly to propose marriage.
She would not let anyone come to her house, and she would refuse. Although it was normal to be rejected when a daughter of a family was sought after by hundreds of families, it was still not good for her reputation. It was better to avoid them if possible to avoid losing face. The masters of the two families were colleagues, and they would often meet at various banquets.
Mrs. Lu returned home with a smile on her face. She told Minister Lu that her son had found a lover and that the girl seemed to be very satisfactory to her. "I had a chat with Mrs. Liu for a while and she was full of praise for our son. This marriage will definitely be successful. What do you think, Master?"
Minister Lu held his forehead with his hand, "You've already gone to test the Liu family's intentions, and you're still asking me if I agree?"
Madam Lu asked, "You don't agree?"
Minister Lu said, "My son likes it, and you agree. Can I not agree?"
"I knew you wouldn't refuse," Mrs. Lu said happily.
The marriage of children is the decision of parents and the words of matchmakers. There were many times when Mrs. Lu liked a girl and Minister Lu also thought she was good, but he would always say, "Ask Li'er what he thinks." After all, this is the person who will accompany him for the rest of his life, so he has to be satisfied with her.
They fell in love with each other when they were young. Although they would quarrel occasionally, small quarrels were just for fun. Naturally, they hoped that their son would be like them.
This was also the reason why Madam Lu went straight to test Madam Liu's intentions without consulting Minister Lu first.
Now that Minister Lu has also agreed, all that's left is for Master Liu to nod. Master Liu is also well-known for doting on his wife, so in Madam Lu's opinion, this marriage is a sure thing.
She was an impatient person. What was important was that she had been looking forward to this for a long time. If Princess Duan had not gone there in time that day, Miss Zhao would have been promised to someone else. If the marriage was settled earlier, she would feel at ease.
Mrs. Lu returned to the inner courtyard and, without even waiting for the tea to cool down and soothe her throat, went to the storeroom again to prepare the gift for Miss Liu and the engagement token for when she went to propose marriage.
I picked out two pairs of jade pendants and I don’t know which one to choose.
It was already time for dinner, and Lu Li came to have dinner with them.
She was afraid that her son was shy and would leave after just a few words, so why didn't Mrs. Lu say anything during the meal? She only asked the maid to bring the two pairs of jade pendants after she was full.
Madam Lu asked Lu Li, "Which of these two pairs of jade pendants do you like?"
Lu Li said, "I have a jade pendant."
Madam Lu said, "Mother asked you which one you like, not whether you have a jade pendant."
Lu Li, "..."
Lu Li glanced at his biological father.
Mom is so domineering, and Dad doesn't care.
Lu Li raised his hand and pointed perfunctorily, "This is it."
Minister Lu saw through his perfunctory attitude and said, "The engagement jade pendant should be treasured for a lifetime, so choose it carefully."
Lu Li frowned, "Engagement jade pendant?"
Madam Lu said, "Tomorrow my mother will come to propose marriage to you, and she must bring the engagement jade pendant with her."
Lu Li, "......!!!"
engagement? !
Lu Li was shocked, "Whose house should I go to to propose marriage?"
Madam Lu asked, "Secretary Liu, don't you like Miss Liu?"
Lu Li, "......!!!"
Who likes Miss Liu? !
Lu Li asked anxiously, "Why does mother think that I like her?"
Madam Lu said, "I went out to play today, and the servant told me everything about you and Miss Liu."
Lu Li, "......!!!"
How could the servant know about his affair with Miss Liu? !
Lu Li really didn't want to think about such a shameful thing. He said, "This concerns Miss Liu's reputation. Mother, don't listen to the servant's nonsense!"
Madam Lu, "......???"
I just looked at Miss Liu a dozen more times. Doesn't this have anything to do with Qingyu?
Madam Lu sensed something was wrong and asked, "What did you do to ruin Miss Liu's reputation?"
This question made Lu Li confused, and he blurted out, "Didn't the servant tell mother?"
Madam Lu said, "The servant only told you that you stole a glance at Miss Liu for more than a dozen times and admired her, and he didn't say a word else."
"You confessed it yourself."
Lu Li, "......!!!"
Lu Li stood up and was about to run, but Minister Lu said, "Sit down!"
Lu Li didn't listen at all, he just took one step forward. Minister Lu said, "If you don't explain clearly, your mother will come to your house tomorrow to propose marriage for you."
"Once the marriage is decided, you have to marry her whether you want to or not."
Lu Li had no choice but to retract his foot.
Upon seeing this, Mrs. Lu waved her hand and sent all the servants away from the room.
Lu Li turned back and Mrs. Lu asked, "What's going on?"
Lu Li said with a stiff face, "It's okay, I just saw Miss Liu climbing a tree to pick wild fruits today..."
Madam Lu said, "This matter may damage the reputation of a lady from a noble family, but it will not damage her reputation."
Minister Lu asked, "Miss Liu is climbing trees to pick wild fruits, what are you doing there?"
"…It's convenient to go there."
Minister Lu: "..."
Madam Lu, "..."
There was silence in the room for a long moment.
Minister Lu raised his hand to support his forehead and said, "Go and propose marriage tomorrow."
Lu Li said anxiously, "Mom, don't listen to Dad..."
Madam Lu said, "You acted like a hooligan to the girl and ruined her reputation, why don't you marry her?!"
What does it mean to be a hooligan to a girl?
Is he such a person? !
Lu Li's face turned red with anger. "My son didn't know she was in the tree. Besides, I didn't do anything and she didn't see anything!"
"I didn't see it, so you are guilty, and you keep looking at the girl, letting the servant misunderstand that you admire her?"
"Which one of the Prince of Xuanyi and the Prince of Duan is not a shrewd person? Who do you think can be kept in the dark?"
"Besides, mother and Madam Liu have already half-decided your marriage, and you did something like this to ruin the girl's reputation, so you should be held responsible."
"Tomorrow, mother will come to propose marriage. If you want the Liu family to reject the marriage, then mother and your father will not blame you. But if the Liu family agrees, you must marry Miss Liu honestly. Do you hear me?!"
Mrs. Lu was firm in her attitude, and Lu Li knew it was useless to refute her, so he could only retreat.
He returned to the outer courtyard, called the servant over and gave him a severe beating.
Then I started to worry.
The engagement jade pendant has been prepared, how can the marriage not be finalized?
Birds of a feather flock together. Xie Guimo, Xiao Xun and the others all know how to climb over the wall, and so does Lu Li.
If this marriage doesn't want to go through, Miss Liu can only refuse to marry him. He wasn't seen, and Miss Liu didn't see him either. After they talked it out, they wouldn't be embarrassed when they met in the future, isn't that enough? There's no need to tie each other up for the rest of their lives over such a small matter.
Lu Li made his decision, then he climbed over the wall and entered Liu Mansion.
Um.
It would have been better if he had not gone, but by going, he had completely ruined the girl's reputation.
He was not seen.
But he saw Miss Liu naked.
He went there at an unlucky time, as Miss Liu was taking a bath. He was very polite, waiting for the maid to go out, then knocked on the window instead of rushing in rashly. But Miss Liu didn't listen carefully, thinking it was the maid knocking on the door, so she casually responded, "Come in."
Lu Li jumped in through the window.
Eyes met.
Each one is more confused than the other.
Then--
Miss Liu kept screaming.
Lu Li panicked and covered her mouth with his hand.
His whole body turned as red as a boiled crab.
When Miss Liu stopped yelling, Lu Li quickly turned his back. Miss Liu said angrily, "You!"
Lu Li wanted to punch himself to death, "I, I came here to apologize for what happened during the day..."
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