Chapter 436: Marriage
The Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince were treated coldly by the late Emperor for many years. She had to go through many undercurrents and dangers, and many conspiracies and intrigues in the palace to make it through.
He believed that with the support of the Queen Mother and the Duke of Anguo, he could control the overall situation in this wilderness.
But now... if everyone speaks frankly, the show will not go on.
What does Zhao Tingduo mean?
Nanny Xu subconsciously looked at Zhao Tingduo. The fact that several palace maids were sent from so far away actually meant very clearly that they were sent here to be wives and concubines.
As long as the young master says a word, Madam Wuya, as his mother, will definitely obey.
Zhao Tingduo, who was struggling with Xiao An over a pot of rabbit, seemed to have eyes on the back of his head. Without looking up, he simply said, "I don't need a servant to serve me!"
Xiao An looked up in surprise and said, "Madam Xu, when you grow up, you should be able to eat and dress yourself without any help from others."
Not getting an answer, Aunt Xu was a little disappointed, but she didn't take Zhao Tingduo's words to heart: all men are the same, they may say they don't need servants to serve them, but in the end they still enjoy it.
So she sighed and said to Madam Wuya, "Madam, can you please have a moment with me?"
She thought it would be better to state the Empress Dowager's intentions directly. After all, the Madam was a straightforward person, so there was no need to beat around the bush.
Considering the relationship between the Wuda tribe and the Zhenbei Army, Madam Wuya will consider it carefully for the sake of future peace.
However, Aunt Xu was disappointed again.
Madam Wuya didn't stand up, but just said to the beggar nanny beside her: "Nanny, please have someone watch over those maids who ran away and don't let them cause trouble in the tribe!"
She had no habit of talking in private, and this matter was related to her son and daughter-in-law, so she couldn't talk about it privately.
Madam Qi nodded. She was in charge of the affairs of the women in the tribe. In the past, those maids were guests and it was not convenient for her to interfere. But after hearing what the lady said, she took over.
Madam Qi stood up and said to Xiao An with a smile, "Young Master, come with me! Lao Yan will be waiting for you in the stable to feed him!"
Xiao An followed Aunt Beg and the maids also quietly retreated. Only Aunt Xu, Madam Wuya, Song Liyun and Zhao Tingduo were left in the tent.
Nanny Xu sat up straight with a serious expression, and instantly she had the majesty of the head nanny in the palace.
"Please forgive me, Madam. I will tell you the truth. These four girls are concubines given to the young master by the Empress Dowager and the Duke of Anguo.
Originally, Duke Anguo intended to select a royal noble lady to serve his wife.
However, the Dilu royal court also intends to negotiate peace with the Wu Dynasty. All the ministers in the court share this intention. Then the royal lady...
Madam, you also know that wars and plundering of borders have brought suffering to the people. If the Dilu royal court could stop plundering Yunzhou, it would be a blessing for the border people."
"So, the imperial court has reached an agreement with the Dilu royal court!" Madam Wuya's voice turned cold.
"You're sending a royal lady to the royal court as a bride, but all I have here are the wives of traitors?"
Aunt Xu was a little embarrassed, but she didn't soften her words: "Madam, you know that these four people were also carefully selected by the Queen Mother and the Duke of Anguo.
Aside from their family members' guilt, these four are as talented and beautiful as the princess, if not better."
Seeing Madam Wuya's gloomy expression, Nanny Xu decided to finish her words directly and continued, "Madam, the court is still full of evil, and the emperor is new to the state. It's not easy for the Duke of Anguo either.
You and the Duke are one. If you feel that there is something wrong with these palace maids, please forgive me, Madam.
Our own family members should be more understanding and tolerant.”
It would have been fine if the Duke of Anguo was not mentioned, but as soon as she mentioned the difficulties faced by the Duke of Anguo, Madam Uya's eyes turned red.
He slammed his hand heavily on the table: "What understanding! What tolerance! How could I not have been understanding and tolerant enough over the years? You even used some sinful women to humiliate me!
Don't think I don't know what he's up to. He's set his sights on my son again and wants to brighten his legitimate son's future."
Seeing Madam Wu Ya suddenly furious, everyone stood up in fright.
Zhao Tingduo's expression changed slightly, and Song Liyun was confused, not knowing why the lady was so angry.
However, the meaning behind these words was not because of the palace maid, but the matter between the lady and the Duke of Anguo.
Nanny Xu hadn't anticipated Madam Wuya's reaction. She stood up in shock and said, "Madam, calm down. Duke Anguo certainly didn't mean that. He just wanted the tribe to thrive!"
Madam Wu Ya was not prepared to listen to her flattery. She waved her hand and said, "Madam, please stop talking. Don't worry, these maids are gifts from the Queen Mother and are the property of the tribe. I will not torture them.
It is impossible to become my daughter-in-law and dream of giving birth to a son or daughter.
As long as they follow the rules and do their duties well, they can live better than those criminals and their families. If they act recklessly, they will be thrown into the grasslands and sacrificed to the gods!"
Having said this, Aunt Xu turned pale, knowing that if she continued, it would only make Madam Wuya even angrier, and she might even be the first one to be sacrificed to the gods.
No one here can save his own life.
I could only bow and say, "I will remember what Madam said and will definitely discipline those maids!"
"It would be best if you could remember this. If Duke Anguo wants to take charge of these matters, have him stand before me and speak."
When only three people were left in the tent, Song Liyun calmed Madam Wuya down, saying, "Don't be angry, mother. They are just a few unarmed women. It's okay for the tribe to keep them!"
Zhao Tingduo sat down next to him and said, "Don't worry, mother. These maids are a gift from father. It's hard to return them, but I won't have anything to do with them!
Madam Wu Ya shook her head and said, "Now that things have come to this, I'll tell you the truth. This isn't just about your father.
Although I have never been to Kyoto, I know that your aunt, the Empress Dowager, is not as weak and gullible as she appears to be."
"Think about it, if I were truly weak, how could I have survived the late emperor's hatred until now?"
“Your father is her elder brother, so naturally the entire family’s wealth is based on the Queen Mother.
The Empress Dowager had already arranged your marriage. She wanted you to go to the capital of Wu Dynasty to recognize your ancestors, recognize the current wife of the Duke as your mother, and then grant you the marriage.
This would not only help her win over the ministers, but also allow her to tie the Wuda tribe to her chariot and make them slaves. It was only because of my strong opposition that she gave up! "
"The Wuda tribe is no longer what it used to be. As the leaders of the Wu Dynasty, she and your father can't just ignore it. We must do something to feel at ease!"
“It’s human nature that one cannot sleep peacefully next to wolves.
I'm not afraid of spies from the tribe reporting back, but Empress Dowager Wu Chao, don't even think about interfering in my family affairs!"
Song Liyun's face darkened.
Although the Wuda tribe now relies on the Wu Dynasty and the Zhenbei Army for development, it is more of a mutually beneficial relationship.
They are not master and servant. If the queen mother intervenes, the Wuda tribe will become a puppet.
Madam Wuya continued, “This is just my guess, I don’t know what the real intention is.
The tribe still relies on Wu Chao for many things, so it's not easy to turn against him. So, you shouldn't be cold to Aunt Xu and the others either."
The Queen Mother is the Queen Mother. No matter what, she and Zhao Yanjiao have been friends for decades.
Song Liyun nodded and said, "My daughter-in-law, listen to your mother and be polite to them."
Duke Anguo and Zhao Tingduo are father and son, and the "dowry" he brought to the tribe this time is also very valuable.
Now Madam Wu Ya is on guard against the Queen Mother, but many of the children in the tribe are descendants of the Zhenbei Army.
The Wuda tribe is closely connected with the Wu Dynasty's Zhenbei Army by blood and cannot be separated.
Even Song Liyun is still a military household of the Zhenbei Army, so he has to endure what he should endure.
Mrs. Wu Ya's anger was more about the matter between Zhao Yanjiao and his wife, which was naturally not something Zhao Tingduo and Song Liyun could discuss easily.
Song Liyun talked about another thing.
"Mother, just now Aunt Xu said that the Wu Dynasty court and the Dilu royal court have reached peace?"
Zhao Tingduo nodded. "This kind of thing is not uncommon. The royal court used to harass the border every year, and the Wu Dynasty sent at least five princesses and noble ladies from the grasslands. Talking and fighting was common.
How can a few women solve a problem that can't be solved on the battlefield?"
Song Liyun was silent. Of course this was impossible.
Force is the only way to make people sit down and talk properly.
The Dilu tribe had been in conflict with the Wu Dynasty for thousands of years, and how could a woman resolve the conflict?
One year after the new emperor ascended the throne, the court had stabilized and he had to stabilize the borders.
Sending a woman to marry a foreign prince probably gave both sides enough time to mobilize their troops.
(End of this chapter)
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