Where does the joy come from?
Yu Yadan knew she was going to meet the princess today, so she dressed up specially. She had a beautiful appearance and a graceful demeanor. Her long black hair was tied into a lily bun, and she wore a peony and misty flower dress with a matching silk ribbon around her waist, which made her exquisite figure stand out.
She bowed gracefully to Zuo Murui, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Greetings, Your Highness."
Zuo Murui sat in the seat of honor, nodded slightly, and took off the jade bracelet from her wrist and put it on Yu Yadan's hand.
Yu Yadan was somewhat at a loss: "Your Highness, this item is too precious, I cannot accept it."
Guo Sulan also declined, saying, "Mu Rui, this bracelet is too valuable. Ya Dan can't afford it. You should take it back immediately."
"Don't worry about whether it's valuable or not, consider this bracelet as a gift from me."
Yu Yadan blushed and became shy, casting an inquiring glance at Guo Sulan. At Guo Sulan's prompting, she finally accepted the bracelet. She lowered her eyes slightly, pretending to be indifferent, but the upturned corners of her mouth betrayed her joy.
Yu Yadan had long been in love with Xie Zhuo, and Xie Zhuo was the kind of husband she dreamed of. Now that her wish had come true, she couldn't hide her heartfelt joy.
Guo Sulan couldn't stop smiling. How could she not be happy? Her daughter was about to marry into the Prince's mansion, and she would be the future mistress of the mansion!
After seeing Zuo Murui off.
"Yadan, the Crown Prince is the eldest son of the royal family. When he inherits the throne, you will be the head mistress. After you arrive at the royal family, you must behave well, be filial to your parents-in-law, and be careful with your words and actions. You must not act according to your own whims. As long as you win the favor of the Princess Consort, your position will be secure. Do you understand?" Guo Sulan patiently taught her.
"I understand, Mother."
Zuo Murui was also very satisfied with Yu Yadan as her daughter-in-law. Wasn't she much better than some merchant's daughter? In her opinion, a woman as talented and of good family background as Yu Yadan would definitely become Zhuo'er's virtuous wife in the future.
She returned to the Prince's Mansion and discussed it with Xie Chi. Both of them felt that there was no problem with the marriage. Then, Zuo Murui went to ask the old prince for his approval.
"The Minister of Rites' family?"
Zuo Murui answered carefully, "Yes."
Why would they suddenly want to propose marriage at the Minister's residence?
Zuo Murui noticed Xie Heshan's question and recounted to him how, during the Wangfu's time of crisis, the Shangshu Mansion not only did not distance itself from the Wangfu but also helped to gather information.
Xie Heshan pondered for a moment: "Does Huaiyan know about this matter?"
“Huaiyan and that girl from the Yu family have known each other since childhood, and our two families know each other very well.”
The recent rumors of a rebellion show that the emperor is wary of the Prince's Mansion. Xie Zhuo is currently riding high, so it would be better for him to marry a woman he knows well than to have the emperor bestow a noblewoman upon him.
After receiving permission from Xie Heshan, Zuo Murui immediately sent a matchmaker to the Yu family to propose marriage, leaving Xie Zhuo no room to refuse.
By the time Xie Zhuo found out, the matter was already a done deal.
Granny Zhang reported, "Your Highness, the Prince has returned."
Zuo Murui was pondering how to get Xie Zhuo to agree to the marriage, but when she saw him come in, she couldn't help but feel a little guilty: "The Minister's Mansion and our Prince's Mansion are barely a good match, and you are about the same age. What a wonderful marriage this is!"
Xie Zhuo looked at Zuo Murui in disbelief, his voice revealing a hint of anxiety and dissatisfaction, "This matter was not discussed with me, so it doesn't count!"
Left with no other choice, Zuo Murui told him about what the Ministry of Rites had done during the Prince's Mansion's crisis. When the Prince's Mansion was under intense scrutiny, the Minister of Rites was the only one who did not distance himself from the Prince's Mansion but instead helped him gather information.
Xie Zhuo lowered his head and remained silent, while Zuo Murui continued to patiently persuade him, "A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude..."
With only six months until the next talent show, Yu Yadan is expected to enter the palace. However, the current emperor is old enough to be her father. Yu Haoying and Guo Sulan are unwilling to marry their daughter into the palace, so they want to arrange Yu Yadan's marriage before the talent show.
Of course, Yu Haoying's reluctance to send his daughter to the palace could not be too obvious, otherwise, if the emperor saw through it, he would lose his official position. So he had to make plans in advance.
"It's not easy to find a young, promising man from a similar family background in such a short time..."
Xie Zhuo was speechless after hearing this. "So you sold your own son to repay a debt of gratitude?"
“You child, what do you mean by selling or not selling? You’re making it sound so awful. Your father and grandfather have both agreed to this marriage.”
Marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers, and Zuo Murui had proposed marriage several times before, but Xie Zhuo had rejected it each time.
Seeing Xie Zhuo's ashen face, Zuo Murui felt very embarrassed, and her inner strength was also ignited: I am your mother, and I am determined to take charge of your marriage!
"You don't need to worry about anything. Your mother has already sent a matchmaker to propose marriage. Knowing that you have military affairs to attend to, your mother will take care of everything for you."
Xie Zhuo's face grew even uglier upon hearing this. He clenched his fists, his eyes filled with anger. Although he was furious, he couldn't vent his anger on his mother, so he could only go out to stop the matchmaker.
Zuo Murui knew what he was thinking. "It's too late. The matchmaker has already arrived at the Minister's residence. If you insist on breaking off the engagement, wouldn't you be putting your mother in an unjust position? What about the reputation of both our families?"
Zuo Murui deliberately called Xie Zhuo over to talk in order to buy time.
Having said all that, he couldn't refuse out of courtesy or reason. Breaking off the engagement at this point would also involve the reputation of both families. Xie Zhuo felt a headache coming on and hurriedly walked out.
On the way, he ran into the matchmaker who was on her way to the Minister's residence to propose marriage. Coincidentally, the matchmaker was just returning to report the progress to Zuo Murui. When she saw Xie Zhuo, she immediately smiled like a flower: "Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Your Highness!"
Seeing the matchmaker's beaming face, Xie Zhuo became even angrier: "What's there to be happy about?" With that, he turned and left.
The matchmaker was adept at reading people's expressions, and she looked at Xie Zhuo's departing figure, feeling at a loss.
What should we do? It seems this marriage wasn't arranged voluntarily by either party.
*
The matchmaker has returned to report after proposing the marriage, and there is no turning back now that the marriage has been arranged with the Minister's family.
Xie Zhuo rushed to Fu Zhiqiao's residence, preoccupied with how to explain the matter to her. Was the marriage alliance with the Minister's family not his idea, but purely his mother's own decision? Or should he tell her not to take it to heart and just pretend it never happened?
No matter what I say, it's wrong, but I can't stay silent.
When Xie Zhuo arrived at the gate of the Fu residence, Fu Zhi Qiao was in the courtyard just a wall away from him, but he was a little hesitant to go in.
He knew perfectly well that Fu Zhi Qiao would choose to leave him after he got engaged. The two of them had agreed that Fu Zhi Qiao would not leave him before he got engaged, but once he got engaged she would... Xie Zhuo shook his head, unwilling to think about it anymore.
Xie Zhuo stood in the cold wind for a while and gradually calmed down.
He has to fight for it; he can't just give up like this.
Before Xie Zhuo could come up with a solution, news spread within half a day that the Prince Duan's mansion was going to arrange a marriage with the Minister of Rites' family.
The news was deliberately spread by Guo Sulan. Not only that, she also specifically instructed her servants to talk about it in crowded places, which is why the news spread so quickly.
"Miss, miss, the young master and the daughter of the Minister are engaged! Everyone outside is saying that the Prince's mansion has already sent a matchmaker to exchange marriage certificates!"
If even the marriage certificate has been changed, then it's no longer just a matter of casual talk.
Fu Zhi Qiao immediately dropped the handkerchief she was holding to the ground. She even wondered if there was something wrong with her ears and asked, "What did you say? Who's engaged?"
Who else could it be? Ginkgo swallowed hard. "It's the Crown Prince."
Fu Zhiqiao looked bewildered, feeling that it was all too real.
Although she had mentally prepared herself to break up with Xie Zhuo, she was still shocked at this moment. After all, just two days ago, she and Xie Zhuo were still very much in love, and who knew that he would be suddenly engaged.
Xie Zhuo had just returned to the capital after a victorious battle and was riding high on his success. Many ministers sent invitations to pay their respects, and he was busy with these social engagements. It had been three days since the two of them last met at the Wenyuan Villa.
Ginkgo said indignantly, "I never expected the young master to be this kind of person. He's clinging to you, young lady, while he's getting engaged to someone else."
Fu Zhiqiao appeared calm on the surface, but in reality, her knuckles were clenched so tightly they turned white.
Xie Zhuo is engaged, but the person he's engaged to isn't her!
Fu Zhi Qiao waved for Yin Xing to leave. Yin Xing didn't dare to disturb her but was also worried, so she stood guard at the door, listening intently to any sounds coming from inside the room, afraid that something might happen to her.
After an unknown amount of time, Yinxing pushed open the door and entered the room. She walked around the screen to her side and said respectfully, "Miss, the young master has arrived."
Fu Zhiqiao was dozing off on the chaise lounge when she heard Yinxing's words and opened her eyes.
Xie Zhuo walked in, and the two remained silent.
Yinxing knew they had something to discuss, so she bowed and withdrew.
Fu Zhiqiao broke the silence first: "Today is truly a double celebration day. Oh, by the way, I haven't congratulated you on your promotion yet!"
Getting promoted and getting married—isn't that a double celebration?
Fu Zhi Qiao's expression remained unchanged, which gave Xie Zhuo a sliver of hope that she might not know he was already engaged.
Xie Zhuo looked at her hesitantly, as if he wanted to say something.
Fu Zhi Qiao noticed his gaze, glanced up at him, and asked, "Do you have something to say to me?"
Xie Zhuo hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but avoid her gaze.
Not knowing how to start the conversation, Xie Zhuo struggled with his thoughts for a long time before finally deciding to say nothing.
He would definitely find a way to break off the engagement. He didn't want these messy rumors to pollute her ears. He even planned to take Fu Zhi Qiao to stay in a villa outside the city for a while.
"No, no." Xie Zhuo took a sip of tea, coughed lightly, and racked his brains to steer the conversation in another direction. He talked about his interesting experiences in the Northern Frontier, and asked her how business at Taibai Tower was going and when they would release new wines.
Aside from occasionally answering, Fu Zhi Qiao didn't speak up; she remained quiet throughout.
The two spent about fifteen minutes alone together. Before leaving, Xie Zhuo leaned down, intending to kiss her lips as usual, but before he could get close, Fu Zhi Qiao turned her head away.
She dodged it?
Upon realizing Fu Zhi Qiao's resistance, Xie Zhuo froze completely.
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