Chapter 517 Marriage Proposal
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“When Tang Chunlai says you can be released, that’s when I’ll release you.” Yuwen Chu was dressed neatly. He said, “Several fiefdom princes have arrived in the capital these past few days. I need to help with arrangements. You rest for a while longer, and I’ll have Changhua and Wenwen come to accompany you later.”
Mingzhu watched him leave helplessly. After lying on the bed for a while, feeling unable to sleep, she called Su Lan in, “Prepare a good meal for Tang Chunlai and bring a jar of twenty-year-old pear blossom wine. Tell him that whatever he wants to eat in the future, the kitchen will make it for him. Beg him to release me soon. My bones are rusting from lying down all this time.”
Su Lan stifled a laugh and said, “The Wangfei can’t even stand lying down for two days. What about those who have been bedridden since birth?”
Mingzhu hurried her away, saying, “Stop with all the nonsense, get married as soon as possible. Hurry up, go!”
Su Lan left as ordered, and Mingzhu called Su Jin and the others in to play games and dice with her. She barely managed to endure until dawn and eagerly asked, “Shouldn’t Changhua and Wenwen be getting up by now?”
Changhua’s voice came from outside the window, “We’re here, we’re here. We know you miss us, so we came.” After chatting for a while, Zheng Momo came in with a smile and said, “Qi Wang sent someone to pass on a message. She didn’t dare disturb Wangfei earlier, but today she wants to invite a few Wangfei to visit.”
Mingzhu now attached great importance to interactions with various female relatives, so she quickly said, “Hurry, have them prepare food and entertainment, and make sure to treat the guests well. And Changhua, I’ll trouble you to entertain them.”
Changhua knew Mingzhu was using this opportunity to get closer to these female relatives and smiled slightly, “You can trust me.”
Wenwen was eager to try, “I’ll help the Wangfei.”
After lunch, sure enough, Qi Wang brought the side concubine of Fu Wang, Hua Yang Wangfei, and several other relatives of the royal family to visit Mingzhu. Mingzhu saw the Wusun Princess, feeling somewhat strange, but still greeted her politely in accordance with the principle of treating guests.
The Wusun Princess looked a bit listless. Seeing Mingzhu greeting her, she quickly forced a somewhat flattering smile, completely different from her attitude when they met in the palace on New Year’s Day.
No kindness is purely kind; no malice is entirely malicious. Mingzhu always felt uneasy, so she gave Su Lan a look, signaling her to keep an eye on the Wusun Princess.
After the guests exchanged pleasantries, Princess Changhua and Zheng Momo were about to lead Qi Wang and the others out to watch a play and have tea. Qi Wang asked the others to go ahead first; she had something to discuss with Mingzhu, “I wonder if my nephew’s wife still remembers my eldest grandson?”
“I’ve seen him from afar.” Mingzhu remembered him as a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy. After Yuwen Chu returned from the palace, Qi Wang sent his heir and eldest grandson to visit her. She only saw him from a distance, so she didn’t have a strong impression.
Qi Wang said, “My grandson has not yet been married.” She smiled, “I wonder if the daughter of Fu Xiang, Wenwen, is engaged?”
Could it be? Was she here to propose marriage for her grandson? Mingzhu smiled, “Auntie is too straightforward.”
Qi Wang smiled, “Everyone knows you are straightforward. I’m not going to beat around the bush with you. I’ve seen Wenwen when she was young and thought she was good. Seeing her today, I like her even more. She’s grown up well, with good manners and looks, and she’s gracious in her interactions. I don’t know what you think of my grandson, but I’m not boasting. Since childhood, he’s been filial, not the smartest, but very honest and sincere. He treats people well and won’t let anyone down.”
In Mingzhu’s memory, Qi Wang’s family was relatively well-off, at least there were no major problems at the time of her death in her past life, and they had no connection with scandals. However, she didn’t know much about this eldest grandson of Qi Wang. If his character was really good, it might be worth considering.
Mingzhu discussed with Qi Wang, “Uncle and Aunt are good people, and the children they raise can’t be bad. But Wenwen is just my niece. I can mention her lifelong major event, but it depends on the opinions of her grandparents and parents.”
Qi Wang was understanding and didn’t expect immediate results. Seeing Mingzhu not outright rejecting the proposal already made her happy, “It’s not that I don’t know what’s appropriate. It’s just that these past few days have been full of banquets and revelry, and I’ve heard many people asking about Wenwen from your family. They say they met her at your place earlier and thought she was a good girl, and now they’re plotting to bring her back home as a daughter-in-law. So, I took the initiative and hope my nephew’s wife won’t blame me.”
Mingzhu smiled, “If someone is interested in my niece, I’m happy about it. How could I blame Auntie? You can rest assured that I will definitely talk to my brother and sister-in-law.” Then she asked Qi Wang, “Did you send for the Wusun Princess?”
Qi Wang said, “Originally, I didn’t plan to summon her because we can’t communicate with her, and even if she came, she wouldn’t speak. But a few days ago, the palace suddenly sent someone to say that no matter what we do, we must bring her along and not isolate her. After all, she’s the Wusun Princess. Even if we don’t consider the relationship between the royal families, we still have to consider the face of the King of Wusun. So, I had to send someone to summon her, and unexpectedly, she came as soon as she was called.”
She also whispered to Mingzhu, “Haven’t you heard? His Majesty appointed Linan Wang as the Commander-in-Chief of the Longlin Guards a few days ago, and he’s going to hand over the entire Longlin Guards to him. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager also called him over and personally encouraged him to assist His Majesty.”
This was aimed at Yuwen Chu. Last time, the person she shot and killed, Yang Yizun, was just an ordinary person from a common background with no family or background. Killing him didn’t attract much attention; no one kept an eye on it. But if Yuwen You, who had enmity with them, took over the Longlin Guards, things might not go so smoothly. Both sides had equal status, and it was possible for them to fight on the spot. Yuwen Chu must have known about this, but he didn’t tell her, probably to spare her the worry. Mingzhu understood this and smiled, “Then I must congratulate Linan Wang. After all these years of idleness, he finally has a proper job.”
“Who said he didn’t? He gained favor in front of His Majesty, so naturally, the Wusun Princess wants to ride his coattails. That’s how it goes. Alright, I’ll go mingle with them outside and then leave. I won’t eat dinner, so I won’t trouble you.”
Shortly after Qi Wang left, Su Jin came in to report, “Linan Wangfei just requested to change clothes and use the restroom, and then she said she wants to see Wangfei, she has something to discuss with Wangfei.”
Mingzhu, remembering the unpleasant encounter with the Wusun Princess on New Year’s Day, felt annoyed, “Tell her I’m asleep.”
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