Chapter 436 Miss Xue's Marriage
"The local doctors had never encountered such a severe epidemic before, and they were helpless for a while. Hundreds of people must have died, and they could only seal off the place where the epidemic was discovered.
This matter must not be made public. Your Majesty has already sent an imperial physician who is good at treating epidemics to Jiangnan, hoping that he can find a good remedy to resolve Jiangnan's predicament. ”
Prime Minister Xue was also very worried. He turned around and saw a figure on the screen window. He asked in a stern voice, "Who is outside?"
"Father, mother, your daughter is here to bring you some food." Xue Zhiqing came in with a tray with two covered bowls on it.
Prime Minister Xue's expression softened: "It's Zhiqing, these things are done by the servants, why do you have to take care of it?"
Madam Xiao smiled and waved gently, "Zhiqing, come here, mother, don't be like your sister who has worries all day long, just do what you want.
Mother has selected several families for you. You can take a look and see if there is any that you like. If you are satisfied, mother will arrange your marriage. ”
Xue Zhiqing walked over and placed the covered bowl in front of Prime Minister Xue and Madam Xiao.
"Father, Mother, this is freshly stewed blood swallows. Eat it while it's hot. It will have a fishy smell when it cools down." Xue Zhiqing pointed at the covered bowl and did not continue Mrs. Xiao's topic.
"Okay, mother knows how filial you are." Madam Xiao picked up the covered bowl and slowly ate the blood swallow, and signaled Prime Minister Xue to eat as well.
"Zhiqing, you should also pay attention to what your mother said. Although it doesn't matter how long you stay at home, it's time for a girl to get married. Having a good husband will make your father and mother feel relieved."
Prime Minister Xue paused here before continuing:
"It's a pity that you were born a few years later, and Master Su's daughter got the upper hand. Qin Hanzhang is a rare man, and a man like him is hard to come by."
"Don't say such irrelevant things and make the children laugh at you." Mrs. Xiao glanced at Prime Minister Xue in a reproachful manner, and Prime Minister Xue quickly smiled and stopped talking.
Xue Zhiqing lowered her eyes slightly. She could only fight for what she wanted. The parents in front of her did not completely belong to her. In their hearts, they felt that they were not worthy of a man of King Xiang's status, so they had never thought about her wishes.
But she just wanted the man standing on the high ground, and she would do anything to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
"Mother, I just came back to you not long ago. I want to spend more time with you. There is no rush for marriage. If there is a destiny, there will be a good man waiting for me."
Xue Zhiqing shyly leaned towards Madam Xiao, half acting coquettishly and half responding.
Madam Xiao's heart softened. She put down the bowl, took Xue Zhiqing's hand, and gently stroked her daughter:
"That's what I said, but mothers are always anxious, fearing that it will delay their daughter's marriage. I also want you to stay with me for two more years, but I'm also afraid that it will ruin your life."
"Don't worry, mother. I have my own plans. I want to go to the Wuning Marquis' Mansion tomorrow. I have been busy since the New Year and haven't had the chance to see my stepmother. I should go and say hello." Xue Zhiqing said.
Madam Xiao nodded repeatedly: "That's right. I heard that the second son of the Zhou family proposed to the third daughter of the Qin family. This is also a happy event. Qing'er should go and congratulate her."
"Du Yunqi's daughter is going to harm the Zhou family's youngsters again. Poor Zhou Jingnan, he is so blind that he can only see Miss Qin San. Otherwise, it would be such a good match for her and our Qing'er."
Prime Minister Xue always spoke in a sarcastic tone when he mentioned Du Yunqi, but he only dared to say this behind her back. When he met her in person, his tongue was tied. Although he regretted being too cowardly, he could not change this bad habit.
"You are talking nonsense again. Do you dare to tell it to Madam Du?" Madam Xue could not help but glare at Prime Minister Xue.
Prime Minister Xue coughed and did not respond to the topic.
On the second day, after Xue Zhiqing left home, she did not go directly to the Wuning Marquis' Mansion, but went to the palace to meet Concubine Xiao.
"Are you serious?" Concubine Xiao leaned lazily on the beauty couch and put a grape into her mouth. The grapes that can be eaten at this time of year are all specially supplied by Cuiying Tower.
"Aunt, how dare Zhiqing lie to you? I heard that His Majesty is very worried about this matter. Aunt should know this better than Zhiqing."
Xue Zhiqing said meaningfully.
Concubine Xiao recalled that Emperor Gan De had been sleeping in the imperial study these days, and even the princess from Daliang was missing, which was indeed a bit strange.
"You said that there was a plague in Jiangnan, but you wanted to go to Jiangnan, and you also wanted me to ask His Majesty for help. What does this have to do with me? Why should I speak for you? What's your reason?"
Concubine Xiao asked a series of questions, not giving Xue Zhiqing a chance to think seriously.
"Aunt, if the King of Xiang is infected with the plague in Jiangnan, the Marquis of Wuning will be exiled by Your Majesty. If the Marquis of Wuning is infected with the plague, he will naturally be unable to protect the King of Xiang.
No matter which of them gets into trouble, the credit for disaster relief will become a sin. Then why worry that my cousin won't stand out? Zhiqing's trip to Jiangnan would naturally make this happen! ”
Xue Zhiqing paused, raised her head and looked directly into Concubine Xiao's eyes:
"To be honest with you, Auntie, Zhiqing loves His Royal Highness Prince Xiang. I only want to win his heart and help and comfort him in his time of trouble. This is what Zhiqing wants in her heart."
Concubine Xiao looked at Xue Zhiqing and gradually raised the corners of her lips: "You are indeed a scheming person, just like your mother. Well, then tell me why you want to let the wife of Wuning Marquis go with you?"
"Aunt, the wife of Marquis Wuning has a scroll she got from her mother. It records many prescriptions and all kinds of strange things. Even the snowstorm was predicted by her according to the book's observation of the stars. So I would like to invite her to go with me to find a good prescription to control the disaster."
Xue Zhiqing explained patiently.
"I see." Concubine Xiao slowly stood up, and Xue Zhiqing hurried over to support her.
"You are a capable person, but the wife of Marquis Wuning is not a good person. She is willing to be used by you. Don't try to steal the chicken and lose the rice."
Concubine Xiao's body was limp, and her pair of slender white jade hands were even more delicate and boneless. She held on to Xue Zhiqing's arm and stood up.
"Don't worry, aunt. No matter what she does, Zhiqing is just borrowing her strength. It would be best if she can succeed. At most, she will return empty-handed. She won't lose anything."
Xue Zhiqing supported Concubine Xiao and walked to the corridor to look at the canary in the cage, and took some grain to feed the bird.
"Since you have made up your mind, I will help you. But if anything happens to you, don't blame me. If then, I'm afraid your mother will hate me even more." Concubine Xiao chuckled.
"Aunt, don't worry about Zhiqing. Zhiqing won't blame you if anything happens. Zhiqing has made up her mind. I beg you to fulfill my wish." Xue Zhiqing knelt down and bowed.
"Go back and wait for news. The imperial edict will arrive at your residence tomorrow at the latest." Concubine Xiao said softly and turned to the back hall.
Half an hour later, Xue Zhiqing appeared in Wuning Marquis's Mansion again, sitting in Madam Qin's Fushou Hall.
"What did you say? The flood in the south of the Yangtze River has turned into an epidemic?" Madam Qin looked serious.
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