Jian Ningchu always thought that he still had some affection for her, but she never thought that he would be so abusive and hurtful. She looked at him in a daze, feeling puzzled for a moment.
Gu Wangshu felt a little regretful, but he was always arrogant and never admitted his mistakes, so he said, "Just figure it out yourself, don't even think about leaving here."
"But I can't be a celibate for my whole life?" She rubbed her belly, feeling a little sad.
Is she going to be an unknown mistress for the rest of her life?
Gu Wangshu used to be smart and capable, but now he is angry that she ran away from home and wants to teach her a lesson. He has already persuaded the girl in the Qi family to cancel the engagement, so she will be the only one by his side in the future.
It is definitely impossible for him to marry her openly now. It’s not that he doesn’t dare, but her identity makes it difficult for her to take a single step in Shangjing.
In the future, only after he has avenged his mother, will he be able to escape.
Moreover, the emperor's grace is deep, and he cannot let His Majesty down.
Before he left, he told his servants to be strict. The servants who had sympathized with Jian Ningchu were all beaten with sticks. The housekeeper was feeling upset and did not dare to disobey.
Jian Ningchu felt sad inside.
Mi Niang was unaware of her pain because she had her own things to do. It turned out that Madam Li had introduced a marriage to Yu Heng. The family she was talking about was quite high-class; she was the daughter of the Jingxi Transport Commissioner.
This family used to be a prime minister's family, and now they are in charge of the grain transport, salt and iron business. It is indeed a very good marriage.
Of course, family background is only one thing, and she also has to consider what kind of girl she is. Otherwise, even if her family background is high, if she is a bad person, she will harm her own brother.
This was the first time she had been like this, and she was a little nervous. She couldn't help but ask Fang Weiyan, "What if I made a mistake in choosing that girl?"
After that, he sighed again: "Besides, you said that although we two boys are young, we will have to choose wives in the future. Thinking of this, I am really worried. You can choose in the future, and I won't choose. I am really afraid that we will not get along well in the future."
Fang Weiyan secretly complained that in his previous life, Empress Dowager Ruan and her daughter-in-law Empress Liu did not get along well. Empress Liu once complained to those around her, "How can I become the queen if the evil woman is not dead?"
Unlike Mi Niang, he has good relationships with outsiders and is very proficient in the ways of the world. However, his wife can be patient most of the time, but she has a strong temper and often says shocking things.
Therefore, of course he would flatter such a person.
It is impossible to be right, it will never be right.
Therefore, when Mi Niang said this, Fang Weiyan also said: "You are a person who knows people well. How can you say that? Before Lao Taishan and mother-in-law took office, they had already entrusted the marriage of the two uncles to you. Naturally, they trust you. Don't think too much. Madam Li is such a person. If she can introduce someone, it must be good."
"That may not be the case." Mi Niang thought of what the Li family did in their previous life, and in the end they married Guan Huiqing.
Fang Weiyan smiled: "You have to go and take a look. If it's good, you and Yuheng will have a closer relationship in the future."
Mi Niang nodded: "That makes a lot of sense."
However, before that, she still called her younger brother over. Yuheng and Mi Niang had always had a good relationship, but Mi Niang got married when she was 15 years old. Later, Yuheng had been studying. Although they had contact, Mi Niang didn't know what a boy of this age was thinking, so she asked him to come over to ask.
"Ahem, please sit down. I have something to ask you."
Yuheng sat down, placed his hands on his knees, and pretended to listen.
His sister asked, "Don't be shy. Men should get married when they are old enough, and women should get married when they are old enough. You should think about this. Of course, I'm not asking you to think about it. I'm just asking you, what kind of woman do you like?"
Although Yu Heng usually looked calm, his face turned slightly red: "Sister, I..."
"Don't be shy. This is your life-long event. You can't be careless."
Yu Heng pondered for a long time before saying: "She must be virtuous, kind, filial, and not too ugly, nor illiterate..."
Mi Niang heard him say that one should not be too thin or too fat, and thought to herself that he really asked for a lot.
"Okay, I roughly understand it. However, no one in the world is perfect, and I can't find a perfect person for you, but I will definitely find someone from a good family. There is only one thing, the daughter of the fortune-teller introduced by Madam Li is a concubine's daughter, and our family is not the kind of family that picks on the legitimate and illegitimate children. Besides, I heard that all families have the same upbringing." What Mi Niang didn't say was that since ancient times, wives have been virtuous and concubines have been beautiful. From what she had seen, the children born to concubines were mostly much better looking than those born to the wife's wife.
Her family wasn't wealthy, so if she married someone with a bad temper, it wouldn't necessarily be a good thing.
Yu Heng said hurriedly, "Sister, you underestimate me too much. As long as the family tradition is good, what difference does it make between legitimate and illegitimate children? If it is a bad family, they will do everything wrong. I don't want a daughter of such a family, no matter how noble her status is."
Mi Niang nodded slightly: "That's quite ambitious."
So, on a sunny morning, Mi Niang met Madam Jiang at Li's house. Madam Jiang also came from a famous family. Her husband passed the imperial examination at a young age. She herself was a woman in her forties and was in very good shape.
There is only a vertical wrinkle between his eyebrows, which suggests that he may not be in a very good mood, so he often frowns.
But his actions were unusually polite.
Next to her sat a girl in a light pink shirt. Without saying anything else, her eyes revealed a rare sense of peace.
Mrs. Jiang was somewhat amazed by Mi Niang's beauty. She thought it was strange that after the old man saw the eldest son of the Ruan family at the Li family, he told her that he wanted to arrange a marriage for Ba Niang. So that's the reason.
Mrs. Li was the introducer, so she started the conversation: "Mi Niang, you have always loved playing the pipa, and so does the eighth young lady of the Jiang family."
Mi Niang heard the music and understood what was going on. She said, "Please stop saying that. My skills are all fake. I have become rusty these days because of my busy schedule at home. I wonder which piece Jiang Ba played?"
This is also a first-class consideration. If the daughter of a noble family does not have perseverance, it will be difficult for her to be a housekeeper in the future.
Jiang Banniang said, "To answer the scholar's wife, my daughter is not very talented now, and she has just learned "Zhaojun Goes to the Frontier."
That's not bad. She looked no more than fourteen or fifteen years old. Mi Niang quickly praised her, "That's really good. For someone your age, it's already very good."
Madam Li pointed at Mi Niang and said, "If you ask me, meeting is fate. Since you both like to play the pipa, I have plenty of pipa here. Why don't you teach me a few, Mi Niang?"
Of course Mi Niang thought this was unacceptable.
Madam Jiang knew that Mr. Ruan's father did not hold a high official position, but at least he had a quiet life at home. More importantly, his sister was already the wife of a Hanlin scholar, so Scholar Fang would probably have a bright future.
Although her daughter, Ba Niang, was born out of wedlock, she was of the right age. Moreover, the daughters of the Jiang family were carefully cultivated from childhood and each of them was very capable.
If you choose a legitimate or illegitimate daughter and discuss dowry from the beginning, then no matter how educated you are, you will not be able to marry into such a family.
This was quite good. Mi Niang and Jiang Banniang walked together arm in arm. Although they spoke only a few words on the way, Jiang Banniang was somehow a little scared of her.
It's not that she is afraid of her status. Her grandfather was once a prime minister, her father was also a high-ranking official, and her uncle was also a local earl. She was born and raised in a family of officials and has long been immersed in the pampering and is not afraid of humiliation.
But this Mrs. Fang is first of all very attractive in appearance, and secondly, she speaks very little but always to the point.
I heard that the Ruan family was a poor family, but they were able to raise such an outstanding daughter like Madam Fang. It must be extraordinary. Jiang Banniang did not dare to slack off.
Before playing the pipa, Mi Niang asked, "I am delighted when I see a beauty like you. Have you ever been educated?"
Jiang Banniang nodded and said, "I studied at the girls' school with my sisters, and I know a few words."
Then she played another tune. Although she played a wrong string, it still sounded very serious and familiar.
Mi Niang couldn't help but nod. She had a very good impression today.
But she couldn't jump to conclusions based on just one encounter, so she naturally asked Fang Weiyan to ask around, and without exception, they all said that the Jiang family had a good upbringing and Mrs. Jiang was strict in managing the household.
Fang Weiyan also said: "The girls of the Jiang family all married well before, but since Prime Minister Jiang passed away, several of Lord Jiang's sons have been appointed to official positions, so I thought that was the reason, so I started looking for young scholars."
If you can't do it yourself, you can find a substitute.
Mi Niang nodded: "I understand now. In fact, I also like Miss Jiang very much. She is a person who sees things clearly, has a gentle temper, and is well-educated and reasonable."
So, Mi Niang talked to Yu Heng again and asked a famous matchmaker in Beijing to go to the Jiang family to propose marriage.
Mrs. Jiang was also very happy to see that the Fang family was very polite. When she was young, she was quite straightforward and strong-willed, and she and her husband were very loving. Later, the couple had a respectful relationship, and she went from being uncomfortable to accepting it silently.
Now she is very comfortable in her position as Mrs. Jiang.
Her biological daughter, Jiu Niang, the youngest, was no more than thirteen years old this year. Seeing that Ba Niang had been married, she was somewhat disdainful: "Mother, Ba Niang is only marrying the son of a fifth-rank official. Although his brother-in-law is Scholar Fang, the Ruan family is from a poor family. If Ba Niang marries him, won't she suffer?"
Jiu Niang couldn't help but wonder secretly, could it be that because Eighth Sister was born out of wedlock, she was married off to such a poor husband?
Mrs. Jiang said, "What do you know? Most of your older sisters were arranged to marry by your grandfather when he was the Prime Minister. Although they were from high-class families, they could not bear the hardships of the imperial examination. The only good thing was that your third brother-in-law finally passed the imperial examination and became an official. Your older brothers have not made much of a difference. Ruan Yuheng is only 18 years old this year and he is already a scholar. Mrs. Li said that he has always been indifferent, but he is very knowledgeable, but he is unwilling to show it. He is a very upright person."
"An 18-year-old scholar is nothing special. There are more scholars at the age of 12 or 13."
This is true, but Madam Jiang laughed and said, "You only know one side of the story, but not the other. This boy is handsome and extraordinary. Moreover, although the Ruan family is from a poor family, they educate their children very well. I think Madam Fang is very noble, and your eighth sister will marry into the family and find a good husband."
"Besides, it is also my selfish desire as a mother. If she is really a rare talent, young, good-looking, and has a rich family, I will naturally leave her to you."
After hearing this, Jiu Niang said nothing more.
Partiality has existed since ancient times, so just treat everyone equally.
The emperor in the palace also faced this problem: how to treat everyone equally? The eldest and second sons of the emperor had both reached marriageable age, so how should they choose wives?
Gu Wangshu submitted the relevant report, and the emperor asked him, "Is this little daughter of the Marquis of Dong'an the sister of Fang Weiyan?"
"Yes, but from a different mother. She was born in the side chamber."
The emperor said, "Marquis Dong'an once saved me, so he is loyal. Fang Weiyan is also a pillar of the court, but I heard that the Marquis Dong'an's mansion is married to the eldest prince's mansion?"
Gu Wangshu nodded: "To reply to your Majesty, it is true. I heard that Fang Weiyan was not very satisfied with this, so he divided the family."
Hearing this, the emperor smiled and said, "This Fang Qing is really careful."
"Then let's give the daughter of Marquis Dong'an to the Second Prince. As for the First Prince, I have other plans."
Gu Wangshu still answered yes without any expression.
That's how he was. He would do whatever the emperor told him to do, no matter if it was good or bad.
Just as Gu Wangshu was about to leave, the emperor stopped him again and said, "Your marriage is not going to take place, so what are you going to do? Are you really going to ruin your life for me? If you don't find a wife, I will let you marry a princess."
Gu Wangshu was startled and quickly knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I..." Marrying a princess would mean becoming a rich and idle man, and a real man cannot live without power for a day.
He uttered a few words with difficulty: "I already have someone in my heart."
The emperor said playfully: "I am shedding tears when I give you my pearl. I regret that we did not meet before you got married. You can't stay single for her all your life."
Gu Wangshu's face turned pale. He didn't know that the emperor already knew what was on his mind.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
