Chapter 229 All Wives and Concubines Were Bestowed Marriages
Everyone looked at Zhou Congxian.
"His Majesty has decreed that Meng Shilan of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion shall be my wife."
These words were like a bolt from the blue.
When did this happen?
One has an imperial edict, the other has a promise made by His Majesty.
Should they all be the legal wife?
This was unprecedented and groundbreaking.
Meng Shilan, who was suddenly drawn into this, was as if she had been stunned by the sudden news.
When was she betrothed to Zhou Congxian?
How could she not know? How could the Meng family not know?
His Majesty frowned slightly as he looked at Zhou Congxian, then said with a cold, hard smile, "I am right. Miss Song should choose someone else."
Song Jiyun watched Zhou Congxian's cold and aloof back, still tightly clutching the folded document in his hand.
It turned out that His Majesty had already issued the decree of marriage, but he was willing to wait for her to agree and had not yet revealed it.
Song Jiyun glanced at Meng Shilan, who had just come back to her senses.
His Majesty values the Meng family, and she cannot break the engagement between Zhou and Meng.
But she can interfere.
The entanglement between the three of them is not over yet; it has only just begun.
If she's not happy, nobody else will be happy either!
She knelt down with tears in her eyes, saying, "Your Majesty, a woman's reputation is worth more than a thousand pieces of gold. In this life, besides the Zhou family, who else would want a woman like me?"
"I do not wish to trouble Your Majesty. I am willing to become your concubine and serve the Crown Prince and Miss Meng."
His Majesty nodded. "If you don't feel wronged, I will certainly stand up for you."
Zhou Congxian's eyes widened. "Your Majesty!"
Song Jiyun immediately knelt down, tears streaming down her face, "This humble woman thanks Your Majesty!"
Meng Shilan was struck dumb, and she quickly stood up.
"Your Majesty, this humble woman..."
"Miss Meng, is there anything else you're dissatisfied with?" His Majesty interrupted her, his voice filled with displeasure.
All of Meng Shilan's voices seemed to have been suddenly cut off in her throat, and she could no longer make a sound.
dissatisfied.
But can she express her dissatisfaction now?
His Majesty looked at Song Jiyun and said, "Since you saved the Empress, you shall marry from the Marquis of Wanning's residence."
Marquis Wanning immediately bowed, "Your subject will certainly do his utmost to ensure Miss Song's successful marriage!"
Some are happy, some are sad.
During a hunt, Lord Tan was investigated, and the privileges afforded to his noble family were stripped away.
It seems that only Lord Zhou enjoyed such a blessing.
All wives and concubines were bestowed upon him in marriage.
If these two start fighting in the future, it might be difficult to persuade them to stop.
Zhou Congxian's fingertips, gripping the folded document, turned deathly pale.
Eunuch Tian reminded him, "Lord Zhou, both thunder and rain are acts of imperial favor, let alone such a double blessing."
"My lord, please express your gratitude."
The Duke of England watched his son's retreating figure, his heart pounding in his chest.
He feared that his stubborn son would openly defy the imperial decree.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."
Zhou Congxian's back hunched over.
The British Duke breathed a sigh of relief.
Song Jiyun's lips curled up, and a surge of pleasure rose in his heart.
His Majesty raised his wine cup and drank with his ministers.
In an instant, the sounds rose in waves.
It's as if what just happened was insignificant.
What was meant to be a stage for three people eventually became a playground for one.
Song Jiyun got completely drunk at the banquet.
Some people said privately that Song Jiyun was foolish. The Emperor's words were law, yet she wanted to be someone's concubine. She should ask to be granted the title of county princess. Would she be afraid of not finding a good family?
Some say Song Jiyun is clever; a woman must eventually marry, and she now has no father, mother, or brother.
Now that the imperial edict of favor has been abolished, families will be even more cautious in choosing sons-in-law and daughters-in-law.
Even if she is granted the title of county princess, without a family behind her, who will remember this little county princess after a long time?
As long as she was ordered to marry Zhou Congxian, no one could punish her unless she committed murder or arson.
Meng Shilan left the banquet before it was over.
Dusk falls.
No one noticed that the Meng family's tent was empty.
Eunuch Tian leaned down and whispered in His Majesty's ear.
His Majesty paused for a moment, holding his wine cup, then said calmly, "Let her be."
"Where is Zhou Congxian?"
"Lord Zhou is on patrol," said Eunuch Tian.
His Majesty gave a soft "hmm" and said nothing more.
Three days later, the autumn hunt ended and the troops returned to the city.
Zhou Congxian finally had a chance to see Meng Shilan.
He ran into a wall at the door.
Butler Qi opened the door a crack and said, "Lord Zhou, you should go back. Miss has already instructed that she will not see anyone."
Zhou Congxian said, "Please ask Seventh Uncle to convey my words to her."
Seventh Uncle shook his head, "Lord Zhou, you should go back."
Zhou Congxian lowered his eyelids in defeat.
Seventh Uncle remained unmoved and said the same thing again, "Lord Zhou, please go back."
He took two steps back, and the door in front of him slammed shut.
Only the door knocker was gently swaying, indicating that the door had just been closed.
He had just turned around when he saw Wei Xun walking over carrying a food basket.
Wei Xun saw him but turned and left.
"stop."
Zhou Congxian caught up with him in three quick steps, "Why are you running?"
Wei Xun said helplessly, "My lord, it's not that I want to run away, it's that if I don't run away, I'll be locked out like you."
Zhou Congxian was too lazy to banter with him. "Can you see Miss Meng?"
Wei Xun didn't speak, he just shook his head.
Zhou Congxian thought he wouldn't see it and sighed, "His Majesty gave me that imperial edict a long time ago."
"I was hoping to wait until she agreed willingly, but I never expected that it would be brought out in such a situation."
He gave a wry smile. "But if I don't bring it out now, I won't have another chance."
Wei Xun couldn't help but say, "My lord, you really know how to keep things a secret. His Majesty gave you an imperial decree, but you didn't reveal a single word."
Zhou Congxian said, "That's just her personality. The more you push her, the more she backs down, which is why I didn't dare to bring it out."
Wei Xun said, "My lord, please forgive me for being powerless to help you."
Zhou Congxian nodded, took one last look at the Meng family's gate, and then turned and left.
Inside the house.
Meng Shilan was calmly making insoles for the child.
Shuang'er is still frowning. "We finally got out of the Duke of Ying's mansion, and now we're going back again after all this time."
"Isn't it a waste of effort?"
"Everyone in the Duke of England's mansion knows we faked our deaths to get out. And once we're inside, who knows what they'll say about my sister."
"Especially Madam Zhou, we have completely offended her."
“She’s definitely on Song Jiyun’s side. If she uses her seniority to pressure you and your sister, you’ll be in for a lot of trouble.”
The more I think about it, the more terrified I become.
"The Crown Prince kept the imperial edict so secret, without revealing a single word, catching us completely off guard and leaving us unprepared."
Meng Shilan had been listening to Shuang'er's complaints for three whole days, and his ears were practically calloused from it.
"Was it a waste of effort?"
“I have the Meng family behind me. If I suffer any injustice, I can go back to my parents’ home. Who dares to stop me?”
"From now on, you just wait for me at home. I suffer every day, and I will come back every day."
Shuang'er blinked. "You'll still come back to live here after you get married?"
Meng Shilan looked at her, raising an eyebrow slightly, "Does the law prohibit me from returning to my parents' home?"
"No……"
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