Princess Xuan slapped her thigh and had the nanny bring Yongle's birth date and time, and immediately sent someone to the palace to find someone from the Imperial Observatory to match the birth dates and time!
"I understand what you mean. Anyway, everyone lives in the capital, so Yongle can go home whenever he wants. The Shen family doesn't have a rule that married daughters can't return to their parents' home, right?"
Aunt Shen's face twitched. According to custom, it's not good for a married woman to frequently visit her parents' home, as it's considered bad for her husband's family's reputation.
But remembering her younger brother's request, she took a deep breath and said, "Whenever Qing Que has time, he will accompany the princess back to visit the prince and princess."
This is the biggest concession she's ever made!
"That's wonderful!" Princess Xuan ordered more tea and refreshments to be served. "Please sit a while longer. Matching horoscopes isn't something that can be done in a short time. Let's chat some more! I wonder how the two younger ones are doing with their conversation!"
Princess Xuan beamed with joy, but Aunt Shen was restless. She hadn't left the house or spoken to anyone this much in years! Hurry up, hurry up and finalize this marriage; she just wanted to go home!
As the sun set, Song Yaozhu received wedding cakes from Princess Xuan. She was momentarily stunned, but Granny Feng explained, "Young Master Shen has come to propose marriage today. The Imperial Observatory has matched their horoscopes, and the two are a perfect match. The Emperor has even issued an imperial decree to grant them marriage."
Song Yaozhu smiled as she accepted the wedding cake, thinking to herself, "Isn't the Cui family in complete chaos?"
The Cui family was in complete chaos; Cui Yan could hardly believe the news he was hearing.
"The Emperor has decreed a marriage between Yongle and the Shen family? Who is Shen Qingque? What right does he have to interfere?!"
Cui Yan was so angry that his chest heaved violently. How could he be willing to do all this for someone else?
He put so much effort into Yongle, which displeased the Lu family, and now it's all for nothing!
Cui Maosheng was much calmer than him, and comforted him, "You should think about why Princess Xuan asked for an imperial decree to grant you and Yongle a marriage, but when the time came, the emperor married Yongle off to someone else."
"The Shen family has almost no presence in the capital. They are marginal figures in the court. There is no need to worry that they will try to seize the imperial power, nor is there any need to worry that Prince Xuan will form a faction because of the Shen family. In addition, Consort Xian's move to arrange a marriage between Lady Lu and the Song family makes the emperor think that our Cui family wants to control the government through marriage."
Upon hearing Cui Maosheng's words, Cui Yan instantly realized the truth. Although the Cui and Lu families had a falling out, in the Emperor's eyes, the two families were still related by marriage!
Cui Yan's marriage to his cousin was called off, but Cui Yan climbed up to the princess, and his cousin was to marry into the Song family, which had a concubine. Wasn't this just an attempt to control the court through marriage?
"Father, what should I do now?"
Cui Maosheng stroked his beard. "I'll write a letter and send it to my family to inquire."
His letter had barely left the capital when the rubbing was delivered to Xie Liwei.
After reading the letter, Xie Liwei threw it into the incense burner and lit it. "The Cui family is starting to panic now that they've lost the marriage proposal to Yongle."
Song Yaozhu put one leg on his leg and sneered, "The Cui family may not be in a hurry. Do you remember that merchant surnamed Fu who donated money to the Cui family every year? It has been found that his original surname is Cui. He was fostered out from a young age to learn the way of business, and when he grew up, he gave back to the Cui family."
Xie Liwei understood this tactic; the Xie family had used it before. Did Yuwen Wuji think that just because the Xie family had ostensibly withdrawn from court, there were no Xie family members left in the court? If he really thought that, then he was seriously underestimating the capabilities of a century-old clan.
Being prepared for potential dangers even in times of peace has always been a primary task for the patriarch of a large clan.
From the moment Xie Wanqing decided to assist him, Xie Lu had been planning for the future of the Xie family. Advancement meant a century of glory, retreat meant decades of dormancy.
“This Fu family is easy to deal with.” Song Yaozhu pressed his waist and said, “Let me send someone to persuade them and let the Cui family make a fuss first.”
Xie Liwei kissed her forehead. That merchant surnamed Fu had been brainwashed since childhood to unconditionally help the Cui family. How could he be so easily turned? Besides, his child was still in the Cui family school.
However, if my sister likes to do it, then let her do it.
He, his heart pounding, wrapped his arms around her waist, intending to turn off the light. But Song Yaozhu, having finished her flirtation, had already gotten up from the chaise lounge, put on her shoes, and left, saying, "I'm going to find Granny Qin. She said she'd make me ginseng soup tonight, but I haven't seen her yet."
Xie Liwei was helpless; this wasn't the first or second time this had happened!
Although Song Yaozhu understood her mistake last time, she was still angry.
Her anger stemmed from the question: Did this brat really like Xie Wanqing from the past? If so, it was probably not just that he liked her, but also a projection of his feelings for Xie Wanqing.
But if he only started liking her now, wouldn't that mean he has a sister complex? Her face is so similar to hers from her past life, how could he bring himself to kiss her?
Although I know that worrying about such trivial matters is a waste of time, matters of the heart always make people act strangely and beyond their control.
Song Yaozhu walked into the kitchen, where Granny Qin was chatting with Qin Yu. She was saying earnestly, "Hurry up and get married, then have a grandson. While I can still work, I can help take care of him."
"Is this my problem alone?!" Qin Yu drank his ginseng soup, feeling extremely troubled. His mother kept urging him on, but wouldn't help him find a wife!
"Isn't this your problem or mine? Oh dear, the prince is the same age as your brother, and he's still causing you trouble. He still hasn't been able to produce a son!"
Song Yaozhu stepped across the threshold just as she heard those words.
"Steward Qin has a younger brother?"
Qin Yu stood behind Granny Qin, waving his hand repeatedly at Song Yaozhu. He downed the soup in his bowl in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and said, "Let's not talk about old things!"
Song Yaozhu noticed that Qin Mama's complexion had turned sour, and she couldn't hide her sadness, but because she was her mistress, she forced herself to remain calm.
"Okay, then let's not talk about it." Song Yaozhu took the ginseng soup, and Qin Yu helped her carry it to Tingxue Courtyard.
“Your Highness, it is not that I am being offensive, but my younger brother has always been a source of heartache for my mother. Every time he is mentioned, he gets hurt.”
Song Yaozhu then learned that Granny Qin had a young son, who was the same age as Xie Liwei.
“When the bandits broke into our house to rob us, my mother, in order to protect the prince, had my younger brother, who was the same age, wear the prince’s clothes to lure the bandits away. My brother… died without a complete body, and we couldn’t even collect his body. Since then, my mother has had nightmares every time winter approaches.”
Song Yaozhu paused slightly, looking at Qin Yu. When her father brought Xie Liwei back, he said that his mistress had been robbed of their family fortune, and only this child had survived. At that time, the world was in chaos, and no one doubted his words, but Song Yaozhu always had doubts.
What kind of family has servants to escort them when they flee? What kind of family has a child who escapes, but the master dies? And what kind of family has a servant's child pretend to be the young master in order to save the young master's life?
Song Yaozhu lowered her voice and asked Qin Yu, "Is your Qin the same as the Qin King's Qin?"
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