Chapter 174 If he wanted to, he could marry her right now!
Guo Fang kicked Zhou Congxian, who was walking out of the restaurant.
Chai Sijiu seemed to hear the "crackling" sound of Gao Zhian's bones.
He hunched his neck, thankfully he didn't stick his head out recklessly...
Yao Shisan didn't say a word from beginning to end.
She didn't need to run or explain herself.
Someone has already taken care of it for her.
Zhou Congxian looked into her eyes, which seemed to have been crying, and asked, "Are you alright?"
Yao Shisan couldn't help but wonder if things would have been different when she was still a lowly concubine.
Tell her to be patient.
Or, to put it another way, she shouldn't have gone out at all.
Her eyes were lowered and rested on his right shoulder.
The wounds here once saved her, and also saved her brother.
She lost her life in her previous life, and although he doesn't know it now, it's barely even.
Yao Shisan still didn't answer him, and turned to go up the steps.
Fu'er likes the chestnut cake here.
"Shopkeeper, one box of chestnut cake and one box of hibiscus cake."
Dexinglou's chestnut cake and hibiscus cake are both pastries that require queuing and pre-ordering.
It's something you can't buy even if you have the money.
However, Dexinglou always keeps a few extra portions each day in case of emergency.
In the past, she had to obediently have her maids line up.
Now, she doesn't need to.
"Yes! Please wait a moment, the waiter will pack your food in a container!"
The shopkeeper has managed to navigate this place, where influential people abound, with ease for so many years; he simply has a bit more shrewdness than others.
Sure enough, the person who gave the money had a token from the Northwest Camp hanging from his waist.
The young waiter quietly approached him, "Boss, you're simply amazing."
Dexinglou's pastries are sold out, and ordinary people can't get them. The extra ones are reserved for important people.
The shopkeeper grunted twice, "Learn more."
Actually, in a situation like this, if you're wrong, it's just two boxes of pastries; if you're right, it's avoiding offending someone important.
Yao Shisan carried the pastries back home.
Zhou Congxian stood at the door watching him buy pastries, and then watched her walk back.
He never spoke another word to her.
I don't know if it was just his imagination.
He had a feeling that his relationship with her was about to hit rock bottom again.
It felt like he had it all within his grasp, but just a turn away and he was back at the starting point.
They were once the closest people, but now they are the most familiar strangers.
Chai Sijiu patted his shoulder, "Brother Congxian, what happened? You were fine in Chuzhou."
The other person, who has been completely oblivious to the situation, still hasn't realized what's happening.
"When did such an unapproachable figure emerge in the capital?"
Zhou Congxian withdrew his gaze, "She is Master Meng's granddaughter, her name is..."
He suddenly paused in his speech.
The name on the imperial decree bestowing the marriage was Meng Shilan…
His fingers trembled violently!
He could marry her right now if he wanted to!
A huge wave of surprise overwhelmed him.
"She is from the Meng family..."
The man's eyes widened in disbelief. His mother had complained a few days ago, sending three invitations to the Meng family, but hadn't received a single reply.
His mother was trying to take advantage of the fact that the man had just returned from the countryside and knew nothing, hoping to build a connection with him.
You should go back and have a serious talk with his mother. Don't let the situation escalate and ruin your own family's chances.
Chai Sijiu looked at Zhou Congxian instead, raising an eyebrow, "Who is he? Why are you so happy?"
Zhou Congxian couldn't help but touch the corner of his lips.
"Really? You're mistaken."
Chai Sijiu clicked his tongue softly, "Brother, that's not very nice of you. You have a story to tell but didn't tell me!"
Zhou Congxian pursed his lips and walked straight in the opposite direction. "There's no story here. You've been in Chuzhou too long, so you think everyone is like you."
Chai Sijiu caught up with him, "You can keep it from others, but you're trying to keep it from me?"
The two men didn't even glance at Gao Zhian, who was lying unconscious on the ground, and walked straight past him.
The next day.
The news of His Majesty's personal visit to the Duke of Zhenguo's residence has spread throughout the capital.
Meng Yushan is already a first-rank duke. At this critical juncture, His Majesty's personal visit is not only an honor for him, but also an honor for this newly adopted heir.
The streets were swept and cleaned, and the ceremonial procession passed through the streets.
It's not far from the gate of the Imperial City to the gate of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
The head of the ceremonial procession had already reached the gate, but the tail of the procession was still inside the imperial city and had not yet come out.
His Majesty was dressed in a royal blue brocade robe.
Meng Yushan and his entourage greeted them at the entrance.
He's not alone anymore.
On either side of him were his two grandsons, Meng Xingjiang and Meng Shilan, who had joined the clan.
There are two more little ones behind him, and he also wants to join the Meng family, but that girl won't agree yet.
"Your subject Meng Yushan pays his respects to Your Majesty."
"Your subject... Meng Xingjiang greets Your Majesty."
When Meng Xingjiang kowtowed on the ground, his hands were clasped tightly together, and his voice was full of restraint.
His Majesty reached out and personally helped him up, saying, "Now you should call me Meng Qing. You're still not well, so get up quickly."
"When I first saw you, I felt that you looked familiar. It turns out that our fate was still here."
"Lord Meng, please rise. I have come here today to join in the joyous celebration."
Meng Yushan was naturally in a good mood. "Jiang'er is already engaged to a girl from the He family. When their wedding comes, Your Majesty will be invited to drink a cup of celebratory wine."
"Oh? They're already engaged? That's wonderful news! I'll definitely come!"
Meng Yushan smiled and said, "It is also thanks to General He's kindness that Jiang'er was able to accept our engagement. At the time, Jiang'er was just a minor county magistrate in Ding County."
His Majesty's smile widened even more. "This is the top scholar personally selected by me, so he is certainly not bad. General He has excellent judgment!"
"Meng Qing has been in Ding County for a year now. The river channel has been completed, and the four rivers and six channels in Jiangnan are now more unobstructed, which will also facilitate drainage and flood control in the future."
His Majesty paused, then asked in a seemingly friendly tone, "Does Minister Meng wish to return to the capital?"
Meng Xingjiang clasped his hands together and said, "I dare not take credit for it all. The smooth navigation of the river is not the work of me alone, but the work of thousands of river workers."
His Majesty laughed, "Lord Meng, you've struck gold!"
Meng Yushan couldn't help but burst into laughter, "Your Majesty is right. This old minister is getting old and thought he would leave alone like this, but I didn't expect that Heaven would send such a great gift."
His Majesty nodded, then his gaze fell to the other side. "This is Miss Meng."
Meng Shilan bowed and greeted Your Majesty with perfect, fluid movements, saying, "Your subject Meng Shilan greets Your Majesty."
His Majesty raised his hand in a gesture of support, "Please rise quickly."
"As expected of a descendant of Lord Meng, even in poverty, he could raise two fine sons!"
Meng Xingjiang lowered his head and said, "Your subject dares to ask for a request."
Your Majesty, "Tell me about it."
Meng Xingjiang said, "The person who raised my siblings was Jiang Wuwei from Dahe Village in Chuzhou. My adoptive father devoted himself to my studies, but he did not get to enjoy the benefits I had."
"Your subject requests that a monument be erected for my adoptive father, Jiang Wuwei!"
His Majesty glanced at Meng Yushan, then raised his hand and waved it, "Minister Meng's gratitude for being raised is truly filial piety, granted!"
Meng Yushan's expression remained unchanged. He waited for His Majesty to finish speaking before raising his hand to invite His Majesty into the palace.
"Your Majesty, please."
The group then entered the mansion, at which point those eavesdropping and gathering information moved to a different position.
The conversation at the entrance of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion quickly spread throughout the capital.
The siblings that the Meng family had just recognized were indeed from the countryside.
The heir of the Meng family also wanted to erect a monument for his adoptive father.
Some people say that since they've all come back, they're still thinking about the past, which is a slap in the face to Meng Gong.
Some people say that even after returning home, the fact that one still remembers the good things about their adoptive father is the greatest act of filial piety.
It's just that the adoptive father was unlucky; he raised two children from the Meng family but couldn't enjoy the family's blessings.
If they were alive, even if they didn't live in the Meng family, but found a new house elsewhere, they would still be surrounded by maids and servants.
Everyone has their own destiny.
*
Yang Shuyue returned to Beijing from her maternal grandparents' home. Now, there are many more gossip stories circulating in the capital, but she knows nothing about them.
When she got home, she heard her mother cursing the Duke of England's family for being dishonest.
"Does he really think his son is some kind of hot commodity?!"
"My Yue'er wouldn't even look at him! He hasn't married in all these years, who knows what's wrong with him!"
Lord Yang couldn't stand his wife's complaints any longer. "Alright! There's no engagement yet, it's just a meeting."
Yang Shuyue frowned. "Father, Mother, what are you talking about?"
When Madam Yang turned around and saw her daughter, tears welled up in her eyes.
"My poor, wretched moon..."
Lord Yang scolded, "You still have the nerve to cry? Do you want Yue'er to become the laughingstock of the entire capital?"
Yang Shuyue: "Why don't I understand?"
Lord Yang sighed, "The Duke of Ying's mansion found a middleman and said that Zhou Congxian and Yue'er's horoscopes are incompatible."
"You haven't even gotten engaged, so where did this horoscope come from? It's just an excuse."
Madam Yang snorted, "Don't think we don't know. We just heard that the Meng family found their granddaughter."
"Now they've set their sights on the gate of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion!"
Yang Shuyue's heart skipped a beat, and then her lips trembled slightly.
"What are you saying, Father and Mother? Your daughter has absolutely no relation to Prince Zhou."
"You're making it sound like your daughter has been abandoned, which will only cause misunderstandings."
Madam Yang realized what was happening and quickly wiped away her tears.
"Right, right! Our two families have absolutely no relationship, yet they specifically sent someone to say this, as if we'd be clinging to them!"
"They're going to ruin my daughter's good reputation!"
Lord Yang was even more furious. "Enough! Stop shouting!"
Yang Shuyue forced a smile. "Father and Mother, I'm tired from the journey. I'll go back and rest now."
"Okay, okay, you should get some rest!"
Madam Yang quickly instructed her maid to escort her daughter home first, saying, "There are plenty of fine young men in the capital; tomorrow, I'll pick one out for you!"
Yang Shuyue smiled and then nodded.
As she turned around, the smile on her lips vanished instantly.
Do you think you can just hire Yang Shuyue and then fire her as you please?
The head housekeeper knew her best and knew that she was angry. "Miss, a man like that isn't worth it."
Yang Shuyue snorted lightly, a cold glint flashing in her eyes, "Whether it's worth it or not is up to me."
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