Tong Mingyu had been struggling with whether or not to reveal some information to Prince Jing's Mansion. If she did, she was afraid that the Mansion would misunderstand that her family was anxious to marry off their daughter; if she didn't, she was also afraid that the Mansion would think that they didn't value them enough.
Just when Tong Mingyu was in a dilemma, King Jing handed over an invitation, inviting the old man and Xiao Jingkang and his wife to have tea together tomorrow.
"Oh" Tong Mingyu put down the big stone in her heart and began to think about tomorrow. Tong Mingyu, who had married off her two sons, now deeply understood the difference between marrying off a daughter and marrying off a son's daughter-in-law.
Marrying a daughter-in-law is like adding a new member to the family. As long as all preparations are made, you will always feel happy. But marrying a daughter is different. The difference in mood is like a world of difference. Not only do you feel anxious about gains and losses, but you also have to worry about things one after another, which makes you always feel nervous.
"As for you, just accompany the princess for tea tomorrow. Father and I will take care of the rest. Our daughter will not suffer any loss." Although Xiao Jingkang felt very uncomfortable, he felt more sorry for his wife. If his daughter really married into Prince Jing's Mansion, it would not be easy to meet her again.
Tong Mingyu nodded slightly, leaned her head on her husband's shoulder, tears welled up in her eyes, and fell drop by drop on Xiao Jingkang's shoulder.
It wasn't until he felt his clothes getting wet that Xiao Jingkang realized his wife had been crying. He stretched out his broad hand and gently stroked her back. He also wanted to cry bitterly to relieve his depressed mood, but as a man, a husband, and the head of the family, he couldn't do that.
"Will the prince treat Ping'an well in the future? If... I mean if he falls in love with someone else in the future..." Tong Mingyu murmured after silently shedding tears for a long time.
"If that's the case, we'll take Ping'an back, then hand the mansion over to Ayi and take our daughter to travel around." Xiao Jingkang couldn't bear to see his daughter suffer any injustice. He had already agreed on this with King Jing and his son.
Tong Mingyu put her arms around her husband's waist, and the two of them snuggled up together. They loved their children like all parents do. The difference was that in other families, boys were valued more, but in their hearts, they loved their daughter more.
The next day, the time agreed with King Jing was approaching. Tong Mingyu sat in the car and looked anxiously at the door of her house. She didn't know what was wrong with her father-in-law today. He wore the wrong boots and forgot to take the horse whip.
The old man kept dithering and was unwilling to leave the house. Finally, Qin got impatient and shouted, "If you don't want to go, just send someone to tell them. Why bother yourself and waste other people's time?"
The old wife rarely loses her temper, but it seemed that she was really angry. Looking at the helpless and speechless faces of his children and grandchildren surrounding him, the old man gritted his teeth and finally walked out the door, leading the horse.
When they arrived, King Jing and his wife were already sitting in the private room, and General Yuan and his wife were also with them.
"My dear relative, did you walk here from home?" You arrived after you had already finished two pots of tea. It was not the first time for me to act as a matchmaker. I had seen the elders of the female side put on airs, but this was the first time I saw anyone who dared to put on airs in front of Prince Jing's Mansion.
Old Madam Yuan couldn't help but tease her in-laws.
Old Master Xiao didn't want to quarrel with his mother-in-law, so he stroked his gray beard and looked at King Jing, as if to say, "If you dislike me for being late, I'll turn around and go home right now."
"It's not too late, it's not too late, please take a seat, old man, Brother Xiao, and sister-in-law." The progress was much faster than he expected. He had guessed that the old man would not agree to the marriage so readily. It would be against his character not to cause trouble.
"I'm really sorry. Something happened before I left, so I'm late. Please forgive me, Prince Jing, Princess, uncle, and aunt." Tong Mingyu hurriedly explained. Although the situation was not caused by her, she couldn't help but mention it. The old man could be willful, but for the sake of her daughter, she dared not be careless.
"Come and sit down. Let their husbands discuss the matter today. The rest of us can just drink tea and chat." Old Madam Yuan had a very good impression of Tong Mingyu and was very grateful for her care for her daughter and granddaughter over the years. She smiled and waved at Tong Mingyu, inviting her to sit on the other side of her.
"Aunt, Mrs. Xiao and I are relatives now, so shouldn't we sit together and kiss each other?" Seeing that Tong Mingyu was a little unnatural, Yin Qianhua quickly livened up the atmosphere.
The women knew they were there to listen and to cheer on, so they looked much more relaxed. After the men were seated, Prince Jing stood up and personally poured tea for Old Man Xiao and Xiao Jingkang. Xiao Jingkang didn't dare let Prince Jing pour tea for him, so he quickly stood up to stop him.
"There is no prince or princess here today. There are only a couple of parents who want to marry their son to Miss Xiao, plus the matchmaker they invited." King Jing held Xiao Jingkang down to prevent him from moving. He knew in his heart that if he did not lower his posture and dispel the concerns of the Xiao family, the next thing would not be discussed.
"Your Highness is really courteous today!" Old Master Xiao said sourly. In order to marry his son-in-law, he put on a proper attitude. Don't think that he is talking nicely now. After he puts forward the conditions, it will be time to test their sincerity. It would be good if they don't turn against each other at that time.
"The younger generation will treat the Xiao family this way in the future." King Jing said with a smile. This was not a difficult matter for him. He got along well with Xiao Jingyan and the two girls of the Xiao family, so what was the difficulty in adding other people?
"I'm not one to beat around the bush. Since you parents are both interested in getting married, I won't make things difficult for Yun."
You also know that you have been making things difficult for my son! It is really not easy. Now you are not going to make things difficult for my son, but to confront the Jingwang Mansion instead! What else can I say? Who made me choose Xiao Yao as my daughter-in-law? Listen!
"I have a few things to say out loud. These conditions aren't just because you, Prince Jing's Mansion, came to propose marriage. I've prepared them from the beginning. No matter whose family Ping An is at the stage of discussing marriage, I will always mention these conditions."
"If you have any requests, just ask."
Old Master Xiao picked up the teacup and took a sip slowly. Seeing King Jing's eyes fixed on him, he thought to himself: You are so anxious already. I want to think about it for a while!
"If you have something to say, say it quickly. Don't delay lunch. We have tribute wine and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall today. I will be angry with anyone who delays my meal." Old Madam Yuan glared at her relative who was speaking in a pretentious tone. This old guy was looking for trouble because he felt uncomfortable after being hurt by someone. How could she let him get what he wanted?
Old Master Xiao looked at his mother-in-law resentfully. Couldn't he just sit there for a while? It seemed that the Yuan family was still closer to Prince Jing's Mansion!
"The first rule is that the grandson-in-law of our Xiao family cannot take a concubine. Apart from my granddaughter, he is not allowed to have any other woman." Old Master Xiao spoke in a firm tone, leaving no room for negotiation.
"I'm here to join in the fun. I wonder if you welcome me." The door of the private room was opened, and Yun Aoyuan, wearing a robe with a dragon pattern, walked in from outside. He was dragged out of the palace by his nephew and pushed in here.
"Your Majesty, why are you here?" Old Madam Yuan didn't expect that her niece actually invited the emperor. In order to marry Ping'an, Prince Jing's Mansion really spent a lot of money.
A group of people stood up and gathered around to pay their respects to the Emperor. Old Master Xiao also gave up the idea of making things difficult for Prince Jing's Mansion. It was obvious that the Emperor was coming for him, and Prince Jing's move was quite cruel.
"I heard Xiao Aiqing talking outside the door. You guys go on with your conversation. Just treat me as an ordinary guest and discuss things as you would like." This stubborn old man refused to allow his nephew to take a concubine right from the start. Didn't he know that the Jingwang Mansion had few descendants and needed to expand the family? Your granddaughter is so young, when can she let Achen become her father? This kind of thinking that only cares about himself and does not consider others is absolutely unacceptable.
"I have said that if you want to marry my granddaughter, you are not allowed to take a concubine." Old Master Xiao suppressed his anxiety and said with his eyes closed, facing the emperor's obviously displeased look.
Perhaps this statement would displease the Emperor, or perhaps Prince Jing's Mansion would regret it. But Old Master Xiao did not regret what he had said. If he had to watch his granddaughter juggling between her husband and a group of women every day, he would rather she stay at home for the rest of her life.
"Does Marquis Xiao have the same opinion?" The emperor played with the teacup in his hand. He wanted to see how resolute the Xiao family's attitude was on this issue.
"In reply to Your Majesty, my daughter has been spoiled since she was young. She will not be able to survive if she marries into a family with many concubines. Therefore, the first condition for our family to choose a son-in-law is that he must not take concubines." Xiao Jingkang walked up to the emperor and knelt down. He did not expect the emperor to come so suddenly, and he did not expect that his daughter's lifelong happiness might be ruined because of such a condition.
But he did not regret the decision he made. Even if his daughter could not marry Yun Yichen, he would not use this as a bargaining chip, because he was sure that his daughter would agree with his and her father's choice.
“Where’s Mrs. Xiao?”
Yin Qianhua and Old Madam Yuan looked at Tong Mingyu nervously, fearing that she would displease the emperor. Based on their understanding of Tong Mingyu and the Xiao family, the answer should be the same as that of the two men.
"I am only a woman in the inner chambers. I do not understand other great principles. I only know that if my husband has only me in his heart, I will be willing to follow him even if it means eating coarse food. If he has concubines, I will not be able to treat him wholeheartedly.
Xiao Yao is my daughter. I know her personality. Even if she never gets married, she will not be willing to share her husband with others.
"With the status and position of a prince, he can indeed have more and better women. It's our Xiao family's fault for marrying into the Jing Palace. Let's just forget about this and never mention it again!" Tong Mingyu knelt beside her husband. The couple smiled at each other silently, giving each other a supportive look without saying a single extra word.
Xiao Jingkang and his wife have well interpreted what it means to be one as husband and wife and what it means to support each other through thick and thin with their actions. How could a child from such a family be willing to marry a man with many concubines?
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