Chapter 166 Zhao Xiaokun's Marriage 2
Zhao Xiaokun didn't take Concubine Yuan into his palace. She looked down on prostitutes like Liu Rushi, and wouldn't even call her "sister." So Zhao Xiaokun arranged for her to live in a newly purchased house, complete with several maids to serve her. Her treatment was even better than in the palace. She had daily delicacies, more varied than those in the palace. While her clothes weren't as lavish, they had more styles, allowing her to wear a different outfit every day of the month without repeating a single one.
Emperor Chongzhen was poor, so he didn't treat his concubines so well. Apart from the majesty and royal bearing that he never used, he really lived worse than a wealthy mistress.
In the evening, Zhao Xiaokun came to see her and asked, "Are you satisfied? Tell me if you need anything, or tell Aunt Li in the mansion. She will come in and tell me!"
"It's really good, more comfortable than living in the palace. I don't have so many expenses in the palace! I am a concubine in Prince Xin's mansion. If Prince Xin hadn't become the emperor, how could I have the status of a concubine!" said Concubine Yuan.
"Okay! Let the past be the past! I don't even know your maiden name? I always call you the Imperial Concubine or the Dowager Concubine, which always feels weird!" said Zhao Xiaokun.
Concubine Yuan chuckled and said, "My maiden name is Lan'er!"
"Yuan Lan'er! What a nice name!" Zhao Xiaokun said. Why don't I think this name sounds nice? It seems that Empress Dowager Cixi's nickname was also Lan'er. This is what it means when a lover sees beauty in others!
"From now on, I will be called Zhao Yuan!" said Yuan Lan'er.
Zhao Xiaokun lifted Yuan Lan'er's chin with his hand and kissed her gently. Yuan Lan'er closed her eyes, feeling Zhao Xiaokun's tenderness. The two slowly moved to the bed. Zhao Xiaokun took off Yuan Lan'er's clothes. When he saw the wounds on her shoulders, Zhao Xiaokun gently stroked them and said, "I will spend my whole life to protect you and never let you get hurt again!"
When Zhao Xiaokun touched Yuan Lan'er's wound, she suddenly felt her body stiffen. This reminded her of that terrifying moment. But when she heard Zhao Xiaokun's sweet words, she was moved to tears.
The two of them clung to each other, their love blending seamlessly into each other's hearts. The next morning, Yuan Lan'er hugged Zhao Xiaokun and said, "I heard the Queen Mother gave Wu Sanmei to you as your legal wife?"
"Yes! To give those surrendered officials hope. Otherwise, who would marry the sister of a traitor?" Zhao Xiaokun said.
"I saw Wu Sanmei on the road. She is very beautiful! It won't be a loss for you to marry her! It's better than marrying Princess Zhaoren!" Yuan Lan'er said.
Zhao Xiaokun sensed something was wrong with the words and said, "Why do I smell something sour? Where does it come from?" Then Zhao Xiaokun pretended to sniff all over Yuan Lan'er like a dog. Yuan Lan'er felt so weak that she cried out that she wouldn't dare to do it again. But Zhao Xiaokun wouldn't let her go, and another fierce battle ensued. Yuan Lan'er couldn't even get down from the ground!
When Zhao Xiaokun returned to the mansion, he saw Zhao Xiaofei coming, accompanied by Wu Xiang, Wu Sanmei, Wu Sanfeng, and Wu Sanfu. Wu Xiang said, "Your humble servant greets Admiral Zhao!" and was about to kneel before Zhao Xiaokun.
Zhao Xiaokun quickly helped Wu Xiang up and said, "How can a father-in-law kneel down to his son-in-law?"
"My son Sangui is so stupid! Even if he surrendered to the rebels, he is still better than the Jianlu. If it weren't for Prince Anqing protecting me, I would have been beheaded long ago! Back then, I was reluctant to leave the capital with Prince Anqing's subordinates. Now when I think about it, I can't help but feel cold all over and scared!" Wu Xiang said.
"Sir Wu, let's not talk about the past now. You and I are now in-laws, and we must share honor and disgrace and advance and retreat together. I also hope that you can write more letters to my uncle and persuade him to return to the Ming Dynasty as soon as possible!" said Zhao Xiaofei.
"I will definitely do as you say! I brought my third sister here today to finalize the marriage." Wu Xiang said.
"The new dynasty has just been established and money is needed everywhere. The Queen Mother said that everything should be kept as simple as possible. The wedding should not be too grand. Just invite a few relatives and friends, that's enough!" said Zhao Xiaofei.
Wu Xiang didn't dare to object, so she agreed without hesitation. By relying on the Zhao brothers, the family's lives were saved. Wu Sanmei, standing nearby, kept sizing up Zhao Xiaokun and Zhao Xiaofei.
Wu Xiang then pushed his daughter forward and said, "Come and pay your respects to the two adults! This is the Prince of Anqing, and this is your future husband!"
"I greet the Prince of Anqing and Admiral Zhao!" Wu Sanmei wasn't shy like other women, but rather graceful and confident. This wasn't the first time Zhao Xiaokun had met Wu Sanmei. She was tall and had delicate features. Her height was especially impressive, at 1.75 meters, a typical model figure.
"No need to be so polite! Miss Wu, please take a seat!" said Zhao Xiaokun.
"Everyone, please sit down!" said Zhao Xiaofei.
As soon as the words fell, Wu Sanfeng and Wu Sanfu also sat down with their father. Their Wu family had escaped disaster this time. They had also heard about the torture and retaliation of officials in the capital to recover stolen goods and funds. The rebels' military discipline was corrupt, and many officials' wives and relatives suffered. Unable to bear the humiliation, they committed suicide. If they had stayed in the capital, the consequences would have been disastrous.
Wu Sangui unexpectedly surrendered to the Jianlu and became the King of Pingxi, leaving the family in a state of constant fear. They thought disaster was imminent and they didn't know when their lives would be lost. Just when they were worried about being beheaded, the Empress Dowager suddenly decreed that Wu Sanmei should be married to Zhao Xiaokun.
When the imperial edict reached the Wu family, Wu Xiang burst into tears and thought to himself: The lives of my family have been saved.
So he didn't dare to delay for a moment, and regardless of etiquette, he took his daughter to the Anqing County Prince's Mansion. After finding Zhao Xiaofei, they went to Zhao Xiaokun's house together.
Zhao Xiaofei said, "This is the gift list. Please take a good look at it, Mr. Wu!"
Wu Xiang took the gift list, took a closer look, and gasped. The betrothal gifts included silver and twelve glassware pieces. Perfumes and soaps were delivered by the truckload, but there weren't many silks and satins. But Wu Xiang felt that this was more than enough. It was better than her previous plan to marry her daughter to that military family. Unfortunately, the man died before she could marry her daughter. Her daughter was left a widow. However, the Wu family didn't have any tradition of chastity for the husband, so they had originally planned to find another one in the capital. But now Zhao Xiaokun got the chance.
Wu Sanmei was a wild girl, raised outside the Great Wall. She was proficient in horseback riding and archery, a perfect match for a military wife, someone who could even draw her bow and fight in the face of a surprise attack by the Jianlu. She was lucky to marry Zhao Xiaokun! The Zhao brothers were now extremely powerful and favored. Perhaps Zhao Xiaokun could even be crowned king, and her daughter could become a princess.
"Old man, what date do you think is suitable for the wedding?" asked Zhao Xiaofei.
"I'll follow the arrangements of the prince and the admiral!" said Wu Xiang.
"Hey, how can a younger generation decide the date? You are the elder, you decide the date!" said Zhao Xiaofei.
Wu Xiang was afraid of the long night and many more troubles, so he tentatively said, "I think the day after tomorrow is an auspicious day. Anyway, everything should be simple for the wedding. Why not..." Wu Xiang looked at the Zhao brothers and saw that they seemed to have no objection, then continued, "The day after tomorrow!"
"Okay! I'll listen to you in everything! Father-in-law, I'm here to pay my respects!" said Zhao Xiaokun.
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