Lin Hairu and Luo Yihui had to go back to make preparations, so they didn't stay long at the Duke of England's mansion. The next day, after seeing them off, Yi Ning went to pay her respects to Wei Ling, who was discussing the guest list with Old Madam Wei.
Although the main branch of the Duke of Ying's Wei family was relatively small, it had numerous side branches. Zhao Mingzhu's mother was the daughter of Old Master Wei's concubine's younger sister. Old Master Wei had three brothers and four sisters, all of whom needed to be invited. There were also Wei Ling's friends in the officialdom and members of Old Master Wei's family.
Seeing the stewards carefully checking the items, Yi Ning carefully brought a plate of red date and yam cakes. She heard Wei Ling say, "Of course we have to invite the Dingbei Marquisate, and the Zhongqin Earl family..." A hint of coldness flashed in his eyes, "They're in decline now, so naturally we don't need them."
When he got into trouble, Uncle Zhongqin took advantage of his misfortune, and Wei Ling naturally did not let them go.
Once, Bo Zhongqin was walking too slowly and was blocked on the straight road. Wei Ling ordered the carriage to go straight over him. If Bo Zhongqin had not dodged in time, he would have been trampled by the horses' hooves. Bo Zhongqin was so angry that he went to the emperor to report him, but he was scolded by the emperor for "making a mountain out of a molehill." Everyone saw that the emperor was protecting the Duke of Ying, and no one dared to speak to Bo Zhongqin anymore.
Later, someone reported Zhongqinbo for neglecting his duties and allowing his soldiers to drink and beat people in a brothel. This was originally a trivial matter, but the emperor seized it to rectify the military style and banished Zhongqinbo to a remote garrison in Yunnan.
Yunnan had many hereditary chieftains. Officials sent by the imperial court were often left sitting idle, missing five or six years, and when they did return, they were often disgraced. From then on, Uncle Zhongqin lost his temper.
"General Lu is Yining's adoptive father and the Governor-General of Xuanda, your superior. He can't be left out," said Old Lady Wei. "I wonder if he'll be able to come back for the wedding? He'll naturally be given a seat at the top. If he can't come back, wouldn't it be a waste?"
Yining's eyebrows twitched slightly, and the plate in his hand knocked against the carvings of cranes and auspicious clouds on the Eight Immortals Table.
Wei Ling glanced at Yining and said, "Lu Jiaxue is in Datong. The Datong general is as obedient as a grandson. There's been no movement from his side. I don't know if he can come back. Let's reserve a seat. I'll send an invitation to Datong."
Mrs. Wei wrote down the name on red paper, then looked up and asked Yining, "Do you have any childhood friends or playmates you'd like to invite?"
Wei Ling smiled and said, "She's so lazy, she must not have many childhood friends. If you don't believe me, ask her."
Yi Ning said, "Father, please don't accuse me. How could I be dead?"
After thinking about it, I couldn't find many people who had said a few words to Miss He Er. Yi Ning was a little puzzled. Is she so unpopular? She doesn't usually feel that way.
Wei Ling laughed heartily and patted his daughter's head. "Well, when you get married, your boudoir should be lively and bustling. How about inviting your eldest sister, the two sisters from the He family, and a few young ladies from the Dingbei Marquis's residence?"
Yining thought again that she had two childhood friends, Luo Yiyu and Luo Yixiu.
But yesterday her elder sister told her about Luo Yixiu and Luo Yiyu.
"After Yi Yu married Liu Jing, Liu Jing doted on her, and the more she doted on her, the more she behaved. You know she didn't like Liu Jing in the first place, and she made Liu Jing sleep in the study at night. But when Liu Jing's mother found out, she accused her of being unvirtuous, and she went back to her parents' home in anger. Yi Xiu, on the other hand, became more restrained after getting married, and is much more gentle than before. Even when her fifth uncle wanted to take her eldest daughter as a concubine, she was unhappy and went back to her parents' home to live with Yi Yu. They had a big fight every three days and a small one every two days, blaming each other like a powder keg. Everyone in the family avoided them."
Yi Ning thought about it for a long time, and she felt that it would be better not to invite these two sisters who were enemies to come over...
The guest list has almost been finalized.
Wei Ling was going to the palace in the afternoon, so Yining helped Old Madam Wei back to Jing'an Residence for a nap.
Before going to bed, Old Lady Wei, dressed in a single layer of clothing, looked at Yi Ning's betrothal gift list and teased her as she read, "Where did he get so much money? If you marry him and find out he's a corrupt official and all this money was embezzled, what will you do?"
Yining thought that when Luo Shenyuan took control of the imperial court in the future, no official would dare to impeach him for his arrogance... maybe it was true.
She was slightly startled and suddenly remembered.
Who was Luo Shenyuan’s wife in his previous life?
Sun Congwan did marry him, but she died of illness just five years later. Two years later, he remarried, marrying Ge Miaoyun, the eldest granddaughter of Ge Hongnian, then the Chief Censor of the Censorate. Many were surprised that Ge Hongnian would marry his granddaughter to Luo Shenyuan. Yi Ning had little impression of her because Ge Miaoyun had rarely appeared in the family, a typical woman of the harem, submissive and submissive. She spent her life supporting her husband and raising her children.
Xu Wei died a year after Luo Shenyuan married Ge Miaoyun. Everyone thought Luo Shenyuan's career would decline because of this, but he became the Minister of Works within a year and entered the cabinet six months later.
In the end, Wang Yuan died at his hands, and everyone realized how forbearing and cruel this man was.
As for the woman in the harem, her name was more like a piece of background. Her only function was to embellish Luo Shenyuan's name, like a dim star under the bright moon.
The maid brought Wei Jia in to pay her respects to Old Madam Wei. Wei Jia was holding a small katydid cage, but inside it was a bamboo elephant. Wei Jia ran to Yining with the katydid cage, and her cheerful voice brought Yining back to her senses: "Sister Yining, I caught this in the bamboo forest. Look how beautiful it is!"
Wei Jia grew up in Shandong and often played with the girls under Wei Ying. She was not as spoiled as other children from wealthy families. She liked to raise animals and was like a lady from a country gentry family.
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