Madam Sun looked at the crumpled note that Sun Ren had crumpled. The note said that if Sun Huohuo had the courage to elope with Yun Duoduo, the King of Western Chu was willing to help him. If he was willing, he could send a message to the guesthouse.
"how do you say?"
Madam Sun looked at Sun Huohuo, unsure whether to agree or not.
"Mother, Duo'er and I have been close since childhood, but there is absolutely no truth to the claim that I conspired with that madman Xi Jing to steal the bride."
Sun Huohuo frowned, his mind racing. He still couldn't understand why Xi Jing was so fixated on him, relentlessly tormenting him.
What did I, young master, ever do to offend him?!
A mother knows her child best. When Madam Sun saw the aggrieved look on Sun Huohuo's face, she could understand about 70-80% of what was going on.
This matter is most likely due to Sun Ren, that uncultured old man, misunderstanding his own son.
“Tell your mother in detail what exactly happened, starting from when you first met Xijing.”
Madam Sun touched her belly, adjusted her posture, and prepared to listen to Sun Huohuo's story.
Sun Huohuo recounted in great detail how she met Xi Jing, how he asked her strange questions about childhood sweethearts, and the fight at her coming-of-age ceremony.
He then poured out all his grievances to his mother in tears.
"Mom, Huo Huo is so wronged!"
“I even suspect that the assassination attempt on me at my residence was orchestrated by that madman Xi Jing.”
As Madam Sun listened, she pondered. Sun Ren, who was standing to the side, was already stunned. He hadn't expected that his son had had so many interactions with Xi Jing.
"So, according to this, Xi Jing has always wanted to marry the Ninth Princess, and he also thinks you are Duo Duo's childhood sweetheart."
Sun Huohuo nodded, pondering his mother's words. Then, he suddenly realized what she meant. He looked at his mother in shock and asked incredulously, "Xijing doesn't believe that Duo'er and I are in love, and that His Majesty is forcing Duo'er to marry Jin Jinzhi, does he?!"
Sun Ren's mouth dropped open in astonishment.
Madam Sun sighed: "The King of Western Chu has repeatedly caused you trouble, and he has also asked for Duoduo's hand in marriage."
"It is clear that the King of Western Chu is delighted with Duoduo, and you have naturally become a thorn in his side."
"Mother, you are the most reliable one, and you understand my predicament!"
Sun Huohuo buried her head in her mother's arms.
"Xi Jing is not only crazy, but also stupid and not very bright."
Sun Huohuo felt extremely wronged. The thought that all his suffering was because of Jin Jinzhi made him even more resentful. He was determined to get an explanation from Jin Jinzhi.
"However, Xi Jing's willingness to help his rival steal the bride shows some courage."
After speaking, Madam Sun glanced at Sun Ren and said, "You too, in the future, make sure you understand things before you discipline your son."
Sun Ren nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes, Madam is right, I will listen to Madam."
...
This day was the birthday of Left Prime Minister Xue Guangjin. Fine wine and delicacies had been prepared in the Left Prime Minister's residence, and the banquet was lively and bustling.
"Left Prime Minister".
Jin Jinzhi and Cao Canjun offered their birthday wishes to Xue Guangjin.
"Sumire's here!"
"Jinzhi, I really like the painting you gave me!"
Earlier, Military Advisor Cao had sent someone to deliver the congratulatory gift.
"Jin Zhi really understands me. I'm getting old and can't do many things anymore. I just look at these paintings to relieve my boredom!"
"If the Prime Minister is pleased, that's good. I came from the military camp, and my father and mother came from the manor. They should be arriving soon."
Jin Jinzhi spoke very respectfully to the elder in front of her.
"Okay, okay, don't stand, come on, sit down."
The Left Prime Minister gestured to the maid beside him to lead Jin Jinzhi to sit in the male guests' seats.
...
When Yun Duoduo arrived at the Left Prime Minister's residence, she truly witnessed what it meant to be surrounded by beauties. Compared to them, her father's harem seemed insignificant.
From afar, she saw two beautiful concubines sitting beside the Left Prime Minister. The concubines seemed to be a little younger than Xue Deyi.
She was too far away to see clearly.
Xue Deyi had somehow gotten close to Yun Duoduo and said in an unfriendly tone, "Can't you control your son-in-law?"
"What's the meaning?"
Yun Duoduo looked at Xue Deyi with confusion, but she could tell that Xue Deyi had come with ill intentions and seemed to be looking for trouble.
"Jin Jinzhi gave my grandfather a painting depicting a tender spring scene in a boudoir. What was his intention?!"
Xue Deyi rolled up his sleeves, as if he was ready to fight.
"What are you doing? You want to fight me?"
"Please explain yourself more clearly."
"Your son-in-law, Jin Jinzhi, sent my grandfather a painting full of beautiful women. Ugh, the things in that painting are simply unbearable to look at!"
"What did you say?"
"You're surprised too, aren't you? Don't be fooled by his usual gentlemanly demeanor. Look at where his mind is all over the place!" Xue Deyi pouted in dissatisfaction.
“My grandfather is very old, he really has no good intentions.”
"You said that picture was a gift for your grandfather?"
"Yes, look, my grandfather is looking at that picture right now, how embarrassing!"
Yun Duoduo felt as if she had been struck by lightning. It turned out that the painting of twelve beauties in their boudoirs was meant to be a birthday gift for the Left Prime Minister. How could she not have thought of that?!
Yun Duoduo felt someone was watching her. She turned her head and found that it was Jin Jinzhi, and Cao Canjun behind him.
Yun Duoduo avoided Jin Jinzhi's gaze.
Finding such a painting must have been quite difficult, right?
She destroyed the painting of a beautiful woman in her boudoir, so Cao Canjun went to find another painting depicting a tender moment in a boudoir.
[Military Advisor Cao, I'm so sorry, I've added to your workload...]
"After you marry him, you'll have to keep an eye on your husband!"
"I don't want to see my grandmother, who is younger than me, come into the house again!"
After saying "What bad luck!" again, Xue Deyi turned and walked away.
Yun Duoduo walked to the women's seats with her head down, looking sullen.
That was too hasty, so very hasty.
Thinking back, I even went to the Prince of Jibei's mansion and caused a scene, went into his study, and burned his paintings without his permission.
[Cough cough...]
...
Many military officers arrived one after another at the Left Prime Minister's residence, and several young juniors looked at Xue Guangjin with envy.
"I wish I could be like this when I'm old."
"It seems that being a womanizer in his youth, with beauties on both sides, didn't prevent him from fighting on the battlefield or becoming a high-ranking official in three dynasties!"
Several young men clinked glasses while their eyes darted lewdly over the graceful figures of several beautiful women.
"If you ask me, Old Master Xue is really self-disciplined. With so many beautiful concubines, he can still control himself and limit the number of times he does so. He's really amazing."
"If we didn't do this, our bodies would have been completely drained long ago!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com