Chapter 20: The Candidate for Marriage Alliance
At this moment, a man with a refined temperament, middle-aged yet still remarkably handsome, walked into the pavilion: “Zi Yao, what did you just say about not being able to stir up trouble?”
Hearing this, Princess Changle quickly stuffed the letter in her hand into her sleeve, then stood up and said with a smiling face: “Father, are you back from the Yamen?”
Wen Ruiqing nodded: “Yes, I heard the sound of the zither just now and knew you were playing here, so I came to take a look. What did you just say about not being able to stir up trouble?”
“It’s just that Aunt Wuyang sent someone to deliver a letter to me, saying that the maid by Cousin’s side has been sent away.”
Wen Ruiqing’s face flashed a hint of disgust: “How can she talk to you, a young lady, about such things?”
The son of Princess Wuyang’s Residence is simply useless!
“If my aunt doesn’t talk to me, who can she talk to? Was your day at the Yamen not going well, Father? Why does your face look a bit pale?”
Wen Ruiqing felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this. This daughter was just as considerate as Princess Pingyang, but it was a pity that Pingyang passed away early. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be just a minor Minister of Rites now.
He had long since wanted to quit this thankless position, but he couldn’t climb up to the position of Minister.
“There was news from the border today. The Zhao Kingdom is restless again.”
His daughter was as intelligent as Princess Pingyang and, because she lost her mother at a young age, she was deeply loved by the Emperor and Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager would often take her into the palace for a short stay every few days. Wen Ruiqing also liked to discuss court affairs with her.
Hearing this, Princess Changle’s delicate brows furrowed slightly: “Didn’t Eldest Princess go to the Zhao Kingdom for a marriage alliance? Why is the Zhao Kingdom still restless?”
“Eldest Princess lost her child again this time. It’s been several years, and she hasn’t given birth to a single child. The Zhao Kingdom Emperor must have some opinions about her! Now, seeing that the end of the year is just a few months away, the Zhao Kingdom is probably thinking of taking this opportunity to ask for more tribute. I’m worried that the Zhao Kingdom will propose another marriage alliance.”
Princess Changle was stunned for a moment: “Marriage alliance? But aren’t there no more adult princesses in the palace?”
Both the Eldest Princess and Second Princess had gone for marriage alliances, and now the oldest remaining princess was only ten years old.
Wen Ruiqing nodded: “So, the candidate has become the biggest problem. Without a princess, we’ll probably have to look among the princesses of the second rank. Then, won’t the matter of choosing someone fall on my shoulders? Tell me, wouldn’t recommending anyone offend people? Fortunately, you are deeply loved by the Emperor and Empress Dowager, so you don’t have to worry.”
Therefore, this Minister of Rites position was truly not for anyone! The Zhao Kingdom’s Minister of Rites was so arrogant in front of him!
It was all because he was born in the most backward Chu Kingdom.
Princess Changle was indeed not worried that she would be chosen for the marriage alliance.
The Empress Dowager would be the first to disagree.
At this moment, Shen Ruolan walked into the pavilion with a smile, holding three bowls of lotus seed and snow fungus soup: “Husband, Princess, I made some lotus seed and snow fungus soup. Please try it.”
The two immediately stopped talking.
Wen Ruiqing: “No need, I don’t like sweet things. I still have official business, I’ll go back to my study first.”
After speaking, he didn’t even look at Shen Ruolan and turned to leave.
This woman was his shame. If he had known before, he wouldn’t have married her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be his stumbling block now.
A look of disappointment flashed in Shen Ruolan’s eyes.
Yesterday, she saw the Princess making lotus seed and snow fungus soup for him, and he ate it with great pleasure.
“I love lotus seed and snow fungus soup the most. Thank you, Second Madam.” Princess Changle, however, took it with a smile, tasted it, and then said with a satisfied look, “The lotus seed and snow fungus soup made by Second Madam is the best. My brother loves it too. Second Madam, you should send him a bowl too!”
After Shen Ruolan arrived in the capital, she learned that Wen Ruiqing had been forced to marry the Princess, and she became Wen Ruiqing’s second wife.
Although she was angry and wronged, she understood that imperial power was supreme.
When she first arrived in the capital, Princess Changle was only two years old, and the Yong’an Heir Apparent was still an infant. The two children were always crying. She pitied them for having just lost their mother, and thought of her own dragon and phoenix twins. She poured all her maternal love on these two children.
Shen Ruolan smiled: “As long as the Princess likes it. I’ll send it to the Heir Apparent right away.”
“Yes, I want another bowl. It’s so delicious!” Saying that, she took another bowl of lotus seed and snow fungus soup from the tray, leaving one bowl behind.
Shen Ruolan smiled, and the disappointment that had risen in her heart because of Wen Ruiqing’s coldness subsided a little.
Fortunately, Princess Changle and the Pingyang Heir Apparent respected her like their own mother. Otherwise, this life would be truly unbearable.
Shen Ruolan left with the remaining bowl of lotus seed and snow fungus soup.
After her figure disappeared, Princess Changle put away her smile. She picked up the tea bowl on the table, took a sip of tea, rinsed her mouth, and then said: “Nanny, pour out these two bowls of stuff!”
“Yes, Princess!”
Princess Changle touched the letter in her sleeve pocket, her heart stirred.
The person for the marriage alliance didn’t have to be a real princess or a princess of the second rank, right?
It seemed that she had to go to the palace tomorrow.
~
In the house
After Xingnong and the Village Chief finished discussing how to modify the windows of the house, they came out.
The two of them immediately stopped talking.
Xingnong: “…”
✿✿✿
Madam Gu smiled: “Thank you for your trouble, Yangbin.”
“What are you talking about, Aunt? This is what I should do.” The Village Chief waved his hand.
Madam Gu asked Xingqing and Xinghui: “What do you think about writing Xingnong’s name on the land deed and house deed?”
“Good, write Sister’s name!” The two siblings said in unison.
Sister earned the money to buy it, of course, it should be written in Sister’s name.
Madam Gu then said to the Village Chief: “Then I’ll trouble you, Village Chief.”
“Don’t mention it!” Village Chief Gu thought that Madam Gu was considering Xingqing and Xinghui’s situation, so she wrote Xingnong’s name.
It was indeed better this way.
He continued: “Tomorrow morning, I’ll go to the Yamen to take care of the land deed and house deed.”
Villagers didn’t like to go to the Yamen to register land deeds and house deeds for building houses and reclaiming wasteland, as this would allow them to avoid paying taxes.
But Village Chief Gu didn’t like this. His family’s fields and newly reclaimed wasteland were all properly registered at the Yamen.
After discussing everything, Madam Gu took the children home.
The Village Chief’s Wife gave them a basket of vegetables.
When they got home, Madam Gu only discovered there were also some dried squid, dried shrimp, dried octopus, seaweed, kelp, and the like under the vegetables when she put the things away.
Xingqing and Xinghui had never seen these before, so they asked what they were.
Madam Gu explained them one by one.
Before Shen Chongshan went to serve in the army, he was strong, knew martial arts, was literate, and knowledgeable, so he could earn a lot of money. Madam Gu had eaten these seafood products before.
Xingnong’s focus was on the cow’s milk.
With cow’s milk, she could make some milk candy.
Xingnong said: “Grandma, I want to make some milk candy with this cow’s milk.”
Hearing this, Madam Gu asked in surprise: “You know how to make milk candy?”
“Yes.”
Xinghui: “Sister, did you learn it from the chef when you were washing dishes at the restaurant? Is milk candy delicious?”
Xingnong automatically filtered out his first question, “Delicious.”
Cow’s milk was better fresh. Xingnong made the milk candy overnight by the light of the stove, and by the way, she also prepared breakfast for the next morning.
The sweet smell of milk lingered in the narrow alley all night.
~
Late at night, in the Shen family mansion at the front, Yao Shi and Shen Mingzhu were anxiously waiting.
The maid had inquired about the news at the Welcome Inn non-stop and rushed back to the village under the cover of night.
The maid got off the carriage, hurried into the house, and said excitedly:
“Madam, Miss, I asked the shopkeeper of the Welcome Inn, and he said that there was indeed a guest who lost a golden bead.”
Both Yao Shi and Shen Mingzhu’s faces showed joy.
Yao Shi: “Did you say what I told you to say?”
“Yes, Madam, I said everything you told me to say. The shopkeeper said that as long as we return the golden bead, he will personally come to thank us.”
Hearing this, Yao Shi stood up excitedly: “Haha, good! Now, we really have a connection with the Welcome Inn!”
Shen Mingzhu was also happy, but, “Why hasn’t Father come back so late?”
“Mingzhu misses Father? Father is back!” At this moment, a middle-aged man with a slightly rounded figure and a handsome face strode in.
“Father, you’re finally back! You made me so worried coming back so late!”
“Haha, it’s my fault, I’ll come back earlier next time!” Shen Shihua responded with a smile, then sat down next to Yao Shi and asked impatiently: “Madam, what did you just say about having a connection with the Welcome Inn?”
