Chapter 566, Storm Rising
Just as the capital was in turmoil due to the war in the northern border, the situation in Ningmen Mansion was also not peaceful.
In early April, Governor Guo's wife quietly arrived at Ningmen Mansion. After tidying up the house, she prepared to host a banquet for Ningmen Mansion officials on April 20th.
"The wedding date has been agreed upon. It will be next year."
When Daohua came to Old Lady Yan's room, she happened to hear her mother talking about the marriage between her eldest brother and the second daughter of the Han family. Seeing her grandmother and her mother looking so happy, she couldn't help laughing.
No matter what, the bride's arrival is always something to look forward to and to be happy about.
When Old Lady Yan saw Daohua, she smiled and beckoned her to sit next to her. She took her hand and said happily, "You'll have a sister-in-law next year. Aren't you happy?"
Daohua was a little amused: "Grandma, why should I be happy? It's my elder brother who should be happy."
Madam Li glanced over with a smile: "Why, aren't you happy for your elder brother?"
Daohua immediately said, "I'm happy, of course I'm happy."
Soon, Sun, Wu, and three other girls in the family arrived.
As soon as Sun arrived, she asked, "Sister-in-law, why did you ask us to come here? Is someone planning to have another party?"
Mrs. Li glanced at her and felt a little tired.
My second brother's wife has too high standards and only looks at the daughters of fifth- and sixth-rank officials. But such families also have their own considerations. Although the Yan family has not yet split up, Wenjie is also the master's nephew and they will not ignore him.
However, in the eyes of most families, the master has three sons, and the Yan family comes from a farming and reading background, so their own foundation is insufficient. Naturally, the family resources will go to their own sons, and there will not be much that can help their nephew.
Every family is aware of this. Marriage is a union of the two sexes. Others do not see the value in the second wife and have no need to exchange interests, so naturally they will not agree to the marriage.
But my second brother and sister-in-law have no self-awareness at all about these things.
Mrs. Li sighed in her heart. Now that her second brother is back, she hopes he can be more sober. If he is like her second brother and his wife, Wenjie will have to wait a long time to settle down his marriage.
"There is a banquet at Governor Guo's house."
As he said that, he took the invitation from Pingtong and handed it to the old lady.
Daohua leaned over to take a look and said in surprise, "Governor Guo rarely holds banquets. Even when he does, it's usually because there's no hostess to manage the backyard, so he only invites male guests. Why did he send a notice to the female guests this time?"
Madam Li took a sip of tea and then said, "Governor Guo's wife is here with Miss Guo."
Daohua had already seen it on the invitation and her expression paused slightly.
Sun asked curiously, "Governor Guo has been in Zhongzhou for several years. Why did Madam Guo come here only now?"
Mrs. Li shook her head: "Who knows."
Yan Yile suddenly interrupted and asked, "Aunt, how old is Miss Guo?"
Madam Li paused for a moment and said, "He should be about the same age as the young prince."
Yan Yile glanced at Daohua and said with a smile, "Could it be that Madam Guo brought Miss Guo to Zhongzhou just for the young prince?"
Mrs. Li's expression changed, and she thought to herself, this might really be the case.
Yan Yile continued to smile and said, "The young prince is so close to Governor Guo. I guess this Miss Guo must be very special in his heart." As he said that, he glanced at the rice flowers again.
"This young prince is truly popular. A while ago, the Jiang family girl came to Zhongzhou and immediately started spreading the word that she and the young prince were childhood sweethearts. I wonder if the Guo family girl will spread the same rumor this time?"
Daohua glanced at Yan Yile indifferently and said nothing.
Madam Li looked at Yan Yile with some dissatisfaction: "Yile, I don't want to hear such words a second time. If you can't do it, don't even think about me taking you out to visit friends in the future, lest you bring trouble to the family."
The smile on Yan Yile's face froze, and she pursed her lips in a somewhat unconvinced manner. Looking at Yan Yihan who was anxiously pulling her sleeve, she lowered her head and remained silent.
Sun immediately smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, this child is just quick-witted. He won't go out and tell nonsense."
Madam Li looked at Sun disapprovingly and said, "Don't always make excuses for your child when she does something wrong. You're not helping her, you're hurting her. At home, we'll cover for her, but what about when she marries into her husband's family?"
"The Jiang family is the natal family of the Empress Dowager and the Empress, and the Guo family is from the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion. Tell me, which of these two families is the one we can mess with? Can we just make up stories about the girls from these two families? And we even involve the young prince."
Sun's face straightened: "What my sister-in-law said is right. I will definitely discipline Yile in the future." As she said that, she quickly pushed Yan Yile with her hand and said, "You little girl, why don't you apologize to your aunt quickly."
Yan Yile lowered his head and did not move.
Seeing her reluctance, Madam Li waved her hand and said, "You don't have to apologize to me, but Yile, this is not the first or second time you've spoken out. You're grown up now, and you should know your limits and what's right and wrong."
After Sun's repeated urging, Yan Yile finally said, "Aunt, I was wrong. I won't do it again."
When it comes to educating her niece from the next room, Madam Li always stops at the right point and doesn't pursue the matter any further: "Remember what you said. You should keep your mouth shut not for me, but for yourself."
As he spoke, he looked at the other people in the room.
"I've asked the sewing room to make you some new clothes for going out. Everyone, get ready and follow me to the Guo family for the banquet in a few days."
After finishing her business, Madam Li went to take care of the chores, and the others sat for a while before leaving.
On the way back to the courtyard, Wang Man'er saw that her daughter was silent and could not help but speak: "My daughter, I think you don't need to worry about Miss Guo. Just like Miss Jiang, she kept pestering the young prince, but didn't the young prince pay any attention to her?"
Daohua stopped, turned around and asked, "Do I look worried?"
Wang Man'er nodded, then shook her head: "Anyway, it seems to me that the young lady is not very happy."
Daohua was silent for a moment and continued walking forward. "I'm not unhappy." After saying this, she paused and said, "It would be nice if a few more cousins came. Let's see how Xiao Yeyang reacts."
Xiao Yeyang likes her, but is this liking only for her, or is he like this for other girls as well?
Guo Mansion.
After Guo Xueming had dinner with his parents, he tactfully withdrew when he saw that the two seemed to have something to say.
As soon as she left, Governor Guo couldn't help but smile and praise her, "Our Xueming has become even more graceful and elegant."
Mrs. Guo glanced at her husband with a smile and said, "In the eyes of a father, his daughter is naturally the best."
Governor Guo was not happy with this: "My Xue is obviously the best. I think she outshines all the noble ladies from the Central Plains."
Mrs. Guo's expression changed. "Not necessarily. I heard that the daughter of Governor Dong and the daughter of the Ningmen Prefecture's governor's family both seem to be very outstanding in appearance."
Governor Guo casually laughed and said, "What's the point of a woman just being pretty? What matters most is her ability to manage a household and treat others well. Who can surpass our Xueming in this regard?"
Mrs. Guo smiled, then sighed: "So what if my daughter is outstanding? It's still difficult for her to find a marriage now." When she thought of the Jiang family, she felt so angry that her teeth itched.
If the Jiang family had not come to propose marriage with great fanfare, and after being rejected, had not made the matter known to everyone, why would she have taken her daughter, who had already reached marriage age, away from the capital to avoid the limelight, and even missed the opportunity to find a husband?
Governor Guo's expression also turned grim. "The Jiang family is so overbearing. Just wait and see. There will always be a day when they will fall from their height to the ground."
Mrs. Guo was shocked: "Did the master know something?"
Governor Guo never liked to talk about outside affairs in the inner chamber, so he changed the subject directly: "Nothing, I heard you are holding a banquet in a few days?"
Madam Guo nodded and said, "Since we're in Zhongzhou, we have to get to know the officials' wives here."
Governor Guo hummed, thought for a moment, and said, "The Yan family is quite close to Yeyang. They helped me out with the grain theft before. You should get closer to them."
Mrs. Guo agreed with a smile, and then continued, "My father told me something before we left, and I'm a little undecided."
Governor Guo: "What's the matter?"
Mrs. Guo: "Master, tell me first, is Ye Yang still the same as he was when he was little?"
Governor Guo smiled and said, "Yeyang is grown up now. How could he still be as naughty as he was when he was a child?" Thinking of the news from the border he received two days ago, the smile on his face deepened.
That kid is really good. He ran to the border quietly and made such a great contribution. It really surprised and relieved him.
Mrs. Guo glanced at her husband's face and said with a smile, "It seems that Yeyang has changed for the better now?"
Governor Guo smiled and said, "Not only has he improved, but he is also very promising."
Madam Guo raised her eyebrows, with some disbelief in her eyes, but thinking of the popularity of the Jingdu Liulichang, she smiled and said, "Yeyang built the first Liulichang in our Great Xia in Ningmen Mansion. He is indeed promising. But Master, how is the business of the Liulichang?"
Governor Guo smiled and said, "That must be good. Colored glass is in short supply."
Mrs. Guo quickly said, "Master, please tell me in detail."
Governor Guo: "How should I know that?"
Mrs. Guo frowned: "Didn't Yeyang tell you?"
Governor Guo shook his head: "That guy is getting better and better at hiding things nowadays, but Liulichang is his. If he doesn't tell me, I won't ask."
Mrs. Guo disagreed: "Master, what you said is not right. Yeyang is a child alone in Zhongzhou, and you are the only elder around him. Shouldn't you take care of him more?"
Governor Guo smiled and said, "That kid doesn't need my attention." Then he looked at Mrs. Guo and said, "What exactly did father tell you? You've been rambling on and on, but you haven't gotten to the point."
Mrs. Guo: "Father said he wants to marry Xueming to Yeyang. Master, do you think this is possible?"
Governor Guo was silent for a while before he said, "Okay, but Ye Yang has a big idea right now."
Before he could finish his words, Mrs. Guo interrupted him and said somewhat displeasedly, "Why, our Xueming is not worthy of him? How can he not be happy?"
Governor Guo showed his approval, but then added, "The two children are indeed a good match, but who can truly explain matters of the heart?"
Madam Guo snorted, "Marriage is a matter of great importance, decided by parents and matchmakers. Although you're not his parent, you're still his elder. How could he not listen to you? Back then, when he was bullied in the palace, you always stood up for him, and for that, you offended many people."
Governor Guo frowned and said unhappily, "It is my duty as an uncle to protect Ye Yang. Why are you saying these things?"
Mrs. Guo pursed her lips and suppressed the discomfort in her heart.
My master is good in every way, except that he is too good to my sister-in-law and Ye Yang.
"Okay, I can't say anything about him." Madam Guo paused. "Isn't Ye Yang training in your military camp? Call him over on the day of the banquet so I can see him. Speaking of which, I haven't seen him in years. Let me see how he has changed and whether he is worthy of my Xue Ming."
Governor Guo hesitated: "This."
Seeing her husband's hesitation, Mrs. Guo immediately became unhappy: "Logically speaking, when I, as his aunt, come to Zhongzhou, Ye Yang should come to pay his respects. But I've been here for a while and haven't seen him. Now I'm hosting a banquet for the officials and their wives in Ningmen Mansion. Why can't he come to see me?"
Governor Guo had already thought of an excuse: "It's not that I can't, but I just sent him into the mountains for training two days ago, and I can't find him here."
The nephew left secretly, obviously not wanting anyone to know his whereabouts, so he had to keep it secret.
Mrs. Guo looked skeptical: "Really?"
Governor Guo nodded: "Really."
Mrs. Guo was silent for a moment: "Okay, then, when he comes back, let him come to see me. It's hard to say what marriage our Xueming will have now, but if Yeyang is not a good man, I won't be willing to marry my daughter to him."
Just then, the maid ran in hurriedly.
Mrs. Guo frowned and said unhappily, "Although we have left the capital, we must not violate the rules of our family. How can we be so flustered?"
The maid quickly knelt down and admitted her mistake.
Mrs. Guo snorted before asking, "What's the matter?"
The maid quickly replied, "Master, Madam, the Queen Mother and the Emperor have each sent a nanny to take care of the young prince. They have already arrived at the young prince's residence in the city."
Hearing this, Mrs. Guo stood up suddenly with a very bad look on her face.
Ever since she rejected the Jiang family's proposal, her daughter's marriage has been particularly unsuccessful. She has already retreated to Zhongzhou, but she never thought that the Queen Mother and the Jiang family would still pursue her so closely.
"What a hypocritical Queen Mother! If she really wanted to take care of Yeyang, why didn't she send someone over when he was younger? Why did she have to wait until we arrived? Doesn't she think everyone else is a fool?"
Mrs. Guo was so angry that she didn't care about the rules anymore.
Governor Guo also had a grim expression on his face, but he was relatively calm. After a moment of silence, he said, "Madam, don't be angry. Didn't the Emperor send a nanny here?"
Mrs. Guo took a few deep breaths before calming herself down.
At the same time, Yan Mansion.
Daohua received the news earlier than the Guo family.
Xiao Yeyang's residence was not far from the rouge shop. When the steward found out, he immediately sent someone to tell her.
Daohua frowned and said, "The Empress Dowager and the Emperor sent two maids over." Then she looked at Wang Man'er and said, "Go and ask around."
Wang Maner nodded and went out for about an hour before coming back.
"Miss, I waited at the back door for a while before I learned from a doorman I know that not only have two maids come to the young prince's mansion, but also four beautiful palace maids. They say they are gifts from the empress dowager to the young prince."
Daohua frowned, feeling very disgusted with the behavior of giving women to others at every turn.
Wang Man'er looked at Daohua's expression and continued, "Those two maids, one is called Jia Ma, an old lady in the Empress Dowager's palace; the other is called Zhen Ma, who serves the Emperor."
Daohua couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Fake nanny? Real nanny?" She shook her head speechlessly. "The Emperor and the Queen Mother are a truly bizarre pair, but..."
Daohua narrowed her eyes: "One is true and the other is false, true and false are relative, why do I feel there is a sense of contradiction in it, does this mean that" the emperor and the queen mother are not in harmony?
"First, the Guo family mother and daughter arrived, and now the real and fake nanny has arrived. Xiao Yeyang hasn't returned yet, and a storm has arisen."
(End of this chapter)
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