Duke Lu was not a womanizer. Although he occasionally took in young women, he never disdained the aging Concubine Liu. "I already have grandchildren, so I must have wrinkles, right?" He was old too!
Concubine Liu understood what Duke Lu was thinking, and she immediately and subtly tried to cover it up. "Men and women are different! Women naturally age faster than men, and besides, Master has practiced martial arts for many years, so he only looks to be in his thirties."
But I was in constant fear, applying this medicine and that ointment all day long, fearing that one day I would look a generation older than the master.
Duke Lu's mood improved a bit. "You just love to daydream!" He paused, then added, "That's not right. What do you mean you're a generation older than me?"
Aunt Liu covered her mouth and laughed secretly, "I said it looked like that, not really..."
Gao was a master of etiquette and had always been dignified and self-possessed, earning her great respect from Duke Lu. But Concubine Liu was different. She was the daughter of a minor official, and had learned to read people's expressions and exercise restraint from a young age, so she never made a mistake regarding the major rules.
She looked up to Duke Lu every day, grateful for every little thing he gave her. Occasionally, she would throw a tantrum and deliberately make Duke Lu nervous about her.
Duke Lu had many wives and concubines, but the one he loved the most was Concubine Liu.
Gao stood outside the study door and found the laughter of Duke Lu and Concubine Liu inside very harsh.
She used to think that she and Duke Lu were husband and wife, and the concubine was just a plaything, but now, she clearly realized that she was the outsider.
Her husband was unreliable, her family had lost power, and her son was paralyzed. Gao was heartbroken and almost fell down. The nanny behind her supported her. "Go back!"
After returning to the yard, Gao drove all the servants out and burst into tears.
Upon hearing the news, her daughter Wan Shan'er rushed over and, despite the nanny's obstruction, forced her way in. "Mom, what's wrong with you?"
The nanny also followed in and handed Gao a handkerchief, "Madam, don't be sad. The eldest young master and the third young lady still rely on you to support them."
Wan Shan'er had a short temper. "Mom, did Concubine Liu make you angry again? I'm going to find my dad."
"You're back! What's the point of looking for your father? Even if you do, he won't make the decision for us."
Whether it is useful or not, what does it mean to score? "If it is useful, I will tell you, it will definitely be useful!" After saying that, he turned and left.
Gao chased to the door, "Shan'er, don't do anything rash!"
The nanny consoled her, "Don't worry, Madam. The Third Miss has always been intelligent."
In the study, Aunt Liu had already gone back.
Duke Lu and Wan Shan'er sat opposite each other. "Do you have anything important to tell me?"
"Father, I am already fourteen years old. It's time to discuss marriage. I want to marry the Eighth Prince."
The eighth prince, Chai Shiqin, was born to a palace maid. His mother was of low status, he had no maternal family, he himself was not outstanding, and was not favored. He was seventeen years old and had not yet been crowned king.
"Why did you choose the eighth prince?" Although the daughter was a little willful, she was not stupid.
Wan Shan'er suppressed the image of someone in her mind and replied, "No matter how bad the Eighth Prince is, he is still a prince. He has reached adulthood and can take on responsibilities. If Dad takes care of him, wouldn't it be easy for him to be crowned a king?
The Crown Prince's domineering behavior has already caused dissatisfaction among the court officials. If he really loses his position as Crown Prince in the future, Dad still has the Eighth Prince at his disposal."
There was another benefit, one that Wan Shan'er hadn't mentioned, but Duke Lu had already anticipated. The Eighth Prince was cowardly, and if he became emperor, Duke Lu would be the true master of Dayong.
Duke Lu was very moved and smiled even more cordially, "Shan'er, your suggestion is feasible. I am very pleased that you are willing to consider the Wan family."
Wan Shan'er knew that what moved her father most was always profit. "As long as Dad is satisfied! However, I'm afraid His Majesty won't agree. I've already thought of a plan to deal with it."
When His Majesty returns from his spring hunt, I will find an opportunity to have physical contact with the Eighth Prince. I am the legitimate daughter of the Duke's family and the niece of the Queen. His Majesty will surely give my family a respectable status."
She looked at Duke Lu with confidence, "Dad, do you think this is feasible?"
Duke Lu's heart skipped a beat, but his face was full of admiration. "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Shan'er is very thoughtful."
Wan Shan'er's eyes turned and she looked at a bow in the study. "Dad, I remember that bow was used by my great-grandfather when he accompanied the Holy Ancestor to conquer the world. It's really a good bow. I still remember when I was a child, Dad said he would pass it on to my eldest brother in the future."
This is when he started to put forward conditions. Duke Lu smiled wryly and said, "Since I said I would pass it on to your eldest brother, I will naturally not lie!"
"Of course I believe Dad, but I just think it's a pity. In previous years, during the spring and autumn hunts, my elder brother always caught a lot of prey, and His Majesty praised him in public countless times."
"I've been looking for a famous doctor. Maybe I can cure Guoxing someday. It's almost noon. You should go back to your room and have dinner."
Wan Shan'er knew that she couldn't force him, so she obediently left the study.
Duke Lu kept looking at Wan Shan'er's departing back with a serious expression.
Not long after the conversation between father and daughter ended, the news reached Aunt Liu's ears.
Concubine Liu racked her brains to think of a solution. Gao had a biological daughter, Wan Shan'er, and she also had a biological daughter, Wan Qi'er. If Gao's daughter could marry, her daughter could also marry!
A female bandit leader dares to covet the title of first-rank prince. Her daughter is a girl from the Duke's Mansion, so why shouldn't she dare to think about it?
She was afraid that Duke Lu would find out that she had placed spies in the study, so she didn't dare to act rashly, but was thinking carefully in her mind.
In early March, the shop owners who had opened shops in Mingzhou and other places returned to Anzhou, and Kang Yueran called them to a meeting.
When Beigu Kiln first came into Kang Yueran's hands, she placed her two servants, Luo Jun and Zheng Yuan, under the tutelage of Manager Qiao to learn from them.
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