noffsinger Chapter 119: I am willing to be demoted to a commoner and marry Wei Qing
Chapter 119: I am willing to be demoted to a commoner and marry Wei Qing
Upon hearing that Qi Nanfeng had left, Mu Yanran sent someone to invite Fang Muyao and Zhang Qianqian to Prince Xuan's Mansion.
"Master Qi's return to the country must be related to Wei Zhiying, you don't know..." Mu Yanran exaggerated what Xia Taoyuan said on the day of Wei Jinghe's wedding.
Fang Muyao was so angry that her teeth were about to break. She was filled with resentment in her heart, but on the surface she tried her best to act calm and composed.
"Wei Zhiying has always liked to show off in front of men. She still doesn't restrain herself even after marrying Prince Jing. She has even charmed Young Master Qi and Young Master Mu so much that they all revolve around her." Fang Muyao said this lightly.
She thought that by bringing Mr. Mu along, she could divert the trouble away, making Zhang Qianqian hate Wei Zhiying as much as she did, and she would have a scapegoat to deal with Wei Zhiying in the future. Little did she know that Zhang Qianqian had seen through her a long time ago, and had been bewitched by her to target Wei Zhiying, making her mistakenly believe that Mu Yun, whom she had admired since childhood, was seduced by Wei Zhiying. But later, according to her observation, Wei Zhiying had no feelings for Mu Yun, and Mu Yun had no feelings for Wei Zhiying either.
Putting all this aside, Zhang Qianqian has always treated Fang Muyao as a good sister and a good friend, but Fang Muyao always inadvertently reveals her ridicule and disdain for her. This made Zhang Qianqian lose her trust in Fang Muyao. The main reason why she did not break up with her was that her father Zhang Wei worked under Fang Muyao's father Fang Zhong, and she did not dare to offend him easily for fear of implicating her father.
"I don't know. I haven't seen Wei Zhiying for a long time." Zhang Qianqian said.
"Hmph, it's no use telling you!" Fang Muyao muttered softly.
Zhang Qianqian pretended not to hear. Mu Yanran said, "Muyao, I heard that Zhang Zhihe, the son of Zhang Qianyou, the prefect of Yun County, is a very good person. Why don't you agree? You are not young anymore. You can't always refuse marriage proposals. Do you really like Master Qi?"
Fang Muyao's face changed slightly, and she said, "Him? How could I like a playboy like him?"
Zhang Qianqian cursed inwardly: Stop saying one thing and thinking another. You had your eyes on Qi Nanfeng at the beginning.
After returning to the mansion, Fang Muyao threw the tea and snacks brought by the maids all over the floor, scaring the maids so much that they trembled with fear.
Fang Muyao sat on the bedside, her eyes full of viciousness and resentment, completely different from the usual lady. She gritted her teeth and said, "Wei Zhiying, don't fall into my hands, or I will make you live a life worse than death!"
She hated Qi Nanfeng for rejecting her; she hated Qi Nanfeng for leaving North Vietnam and returning to Nanzhu Country. All of this was caused by Wei Zhiying.
She knew that Qi Nanfeng had no interest in her but still hoped for a miracle. She naively thought that if Wei Zhiying married Prince Jing, Qi Nanfeng would give up and look at her more, and she would have a glimmer of hope. Now it seems that everything was just her wishful thinking.
This winter was exceptionally cold, and it snowed several times.
In a blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve. Everyone in Prince Jing's mansion was very busy. Because they had to go to the palace at night, she arranged for everyone to have a New Year's Eve dinner at noon. After arranging the maids and servants, she invited the wet nurse, the housekeeper Xu Zhong, Qingyun Longyan, Yingge and Qilin. Xiao Feng went to the suburbs to reunite with Chen Yuke and was not in the prince's mansion.
At the table, Xia Taoyuan and Chu Xingluo toasted everyone one by one, thanking everyone for their contribution to the palace. They also prepared generous gifts for everyone, and asked the housekeeper to give each maid and servant ten taels of silver as a year-end bonus. Although the housekeeper didn't know what the year-end bonus was called, he did what the princess said.
Needless to say, the maids and servants were grateful. Chu Xingluo looked at Xia Taoyuan and couldn't hide his love and admiration for her.
Xia Taoyuan smiled and said, "Why? You never gave them anything during the Chinese New Year before?"
Chu Xingluo shook his head and smiled: "I have never cared about these. They are all done by the butler. I don't know whether he has given it or not."
"This is called a year-end bonus. People work hard in the palace for a year and only earn that little money. They will be happy to give them some money during the New Year. They will work harder for the palace in the future." Xia Taoyuan said.
As it got dark, the sound of firecrackers rang out one after another. Xia Taoyuan remembered that at this time every year she and her grandparents were busy preparing the New Year's Eve dinner, and then making dumplings and watching the Spring Festival Gala with her grandparents.
She took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. It was gloomy and it seemed like it was going to snow again. Chu Xingluo called her to go to the palace. The two of them got on the carriage. Xia Taoyuan looked up at Chu Xingluo's eyes and smiled, "Lolo, happy New Year's Eve!"
She wore red clothes today, which made her look particularly festive.
Chu Xingluo smiled faintly, held her hand, and said, "Taotao, happy New Year's Eve!"
Xia Taoyuan took out a small brocade box from her bosom and opened it to reveal a small gourd made of pure gold. She smiled and said, "This is what I prepared for Eunuch Liu. I know he often speaks up for you in front of the emperor. We should remember his kindness."
Chu Xingluo smiled and said, "Taotao is still very thoughtful."
After a while, they arrived at the palace, and the young eunuch led them to Yonghe Palace.
Xia Taoyuan happened to meet Eunuch Liu at the door. Seeing that there was no one around, she stuffed the brocade box into Eunuch Liu's hands and said with a smile, "Eunuch Liu, I wish you a safe and happy new year."
Eunuch Liu smiled and said, "I, your old servant, thank you, Princess Jing."
Xia Taoyuan and Chu Xingluo lifted the curtain and entered the house. Eunuch Liu found a bright place and opened the brocade box to take a look. It was an exquisite golden gourd with the words "Fu Lu Mian Chang" carved on it. Eunuch Liu was very happy. He put the brocade box in his arms and entered the Yonghe Palace.
Except for the eldest princess and her husband, everyone else had arrived. Xia Taoyuan and Chu Xingluo paid their respects to Emperor Ying and the Empress and Consort, then sat next to Ye Yiyi.
"How have you been recently?" Xia Taoyuan asked Ye Yiyi in a low voice.
"That's good. He came to bother me again and again, but was driven away every time by Fu Mo." Ye Yiyi said in a low voice with some pride.
Xia Taoyuan laughed when she heard this, and when she looked up, she met the inquiring eyes of Chu Xinghai, the Prince of Xiang, and she put away her smile. She looked around and saw that Emperor Ying was sitting on a chair with his eyes closed, and Mu Yanran and Empress Wei were talking about something.
Princesses An Yue, An Yang and An Le and Zhang Cai Feng were playing some game. Two imperial concubines were watching them and joking from time to time.
The Prince of the South was whispering something to his mother, Concubine Ling. Concubine Ling looked worried and glanced at Emperor Ying from time to time. Xia Taoyuan guessed that the Prince of the South and Concubine Ling were talking about Wei Qing.
At this time, the palace maids served wine and dishes one after another, and the eldest princess and her husband finally arrived.
When Emperor Ying saw that everyone was present, he said something, reminding the princes to remember that the North Vietnam was hard-won and that they should do their best to keep it. He also gave some advice to the princes. Finally, he talked about the theme of this banquet, that the New Year is about reunion, that the family should get together, live in harmony and friendship, and he hoped that this would happen every year in the future.
Then the dinner started. Prince Huai, Prince Xiang and Prince Xuan brought wine to toast Emperor Ying. Emperor Ying was very happy and drank all the wine his sons offered him.
Xia Taoyuan touched Chu Xingluo with his arm, indicating why he didn't go to toast. Chu Xingluo smiled and said, "Old Five asked me to join him later."
Zhang Caifeng came over and took Ye Yiyi and Xia Taoyuan to toast the queen and the concubines.
After a few drinks, Emperor Ying was already a little tipsy. Seeing this, King Nan winked at Chu Xingluo, and the two of them held up their wine and walked towards Emperor Ying. Chu Xingluo toasted him first and said a few words.
The Southern King was a little nervous. He said a few auspicious words at first, but suddenly got stuck. Emperor Ying smiled and said, "What's wrong, Lao Wu, do you have anything else to say?"
The Southern Prince made up his mind, toasted, and then drank the wine himself, saying: "Father, I will be seventeen after the New Year."
Hearing this, Emperor Ying smiled and said, "I know. After the New Year, your sister will be twenty-four, the eldest will be twenty-three, the second will be twenty-two, the third will be twenty, the fourth will be a few months younger than the third, and will also be twenty, and you will be seventeen. Although I am busy, I still remember your ages and birthdays."
When these words were spoken, everyone was deeply touched. He was not only the emperor, the ruler of a country, but also a father, a father who loved his children.
"Old Fifth, please continue." Emperor Ying gestured to King Nan.
"Father, I met a girl some time ago and I just can't forget her. I want to marry her." Prince Nan was still nervous.
Everyone was very curious about which girl it was and waited to hear what he had to say.
Emperor Ying was also curious, which daughter was the one his son longed for so long that he had to marry her?
"Tell me, which family is this girl from?" Emperor Ying spoke in a kind tone, which gave King Nan confidence.
"Your Majesty, I have my eyes on Prime Minister Wei's daughter Wei Qing." After saying this, the King of the South paid attention to the expression on Emperor Ying's face.
Emperor Ying stroked his beard, as if thinking. After thinking for a while, he said, "Prime Minister Wei's daughter? Wei Qing? Is she the Wei Qing that General Lu adopted as his adopted daughter a few days ago?"
The Southern King nodded and everyone looked at Emperor Ying's reaction.
"I heard that she is the concubine daughter of Prime Minister Wei?" Emperor Ying said, and then paused and said, "If you like her, I will discuss with Prime Minister Wei to make her your concubine, how about that?"
"Father!" The King of the South cried, "I do not want to take concubines. I only want to marry Wei Qing. If you do not agree, I am willing to be demoted to a commoner and marry Wei Qing!"
Concubine Ling was afraid that the Prince of Nan would anger Emperor Ying, so she stepped forward and whispered, "Liang'er, don't make your father angry."
Xia Taoyuan hurried forward and said, "Father, although my sister Wei Qing is a concubine's daughter, my parents love her very much and have never cared about Qing'er's identity. My mother said in the mansion that Qing'er is the same as my sister, regardless of whether she is legitimate or illegitimate."
Chu Xingluo also said: "Yes, Father, in the Prime Minister's Mansion, Wei Qing has the same status as Zhiying."
The eldest princess also came over to say something nice: "Father, I heard that the second young lady of the Wei family has recognized General Lu as her adoptive father. This is enough to prove that Prime Minister Wei and Madam Wei value the second young lady of Wei. If the fifth one likes it, you should agree to it!"
Emperor Ying drank a few more glasses of wine and got a little drunk. Even so, he did not give in and said, "Today is New Year's Eve, a good day for the family to reunite. Other things can be discussed later!"
Eunuch Liu on the side winked at the princess, and the princess tugged at Prince Nan and Chu Xingluo, signaling them to stop talking for the time being.