nucmednet Chapter 613: Marrying the eldest daughter of the Song family
Chapter 613: Marrying the eldest daughter of the Song family
After returning home, Prince Rong was trying to comfort his wife and daughter. Unexpectedly, the Second Prince suddenly came to ask for an audience. Prince Rong was delighted, knowing that the Second Prince was here to discuss marriage.
He went out personally to greet them and invited them to the hall.
It is said that one should raise his head to marry a daughter and lower his head to marry a wife, but Prince Rong really cannot raise his head now. He only hopes that this marriage can be smoothly settled and this scandal can be covered up.
The Second Prince followed Prince Rong into the hall, sat down and said, "Your Majesty, I came here today to discuss something with you."
Prince Rong laughed awkwardly, "Second Prince, please speak."
The second prince did not beat around the bush and said directly: "Since the prince said so, then I will speak directly. I want to marry the sixth lady into the prince's palace as a concubine."
Prince Rong was shocked when he heard this, "Concubine?"
"How could the daughter of my Rong family be a concubine? What does the Second Prince mean by this? Are you trying to humiliate the Rong family?"
The humiliation that Prince Rong had suffered in recent days flooded into his mind and he could no longer suppress his temper.
The Second Prince seemed to have anticipated this reaction from Prince Rong, and chuckled, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I made this decision for a reason."
Prince Rong narrowed his eyes and stiffened his neck, "What's the reason? No matter what the reason is, the daughter of my Rong family cannot be a concubine."
"I know that His Highness originally wanted the daughter of the Song family. But no matter what, my daughter has lost her innocence. The Rong family would rather send their daughter to the temple than let her be a concubine."
The second prince had a mocking smile on his face and said, "Your Highness may not know that during the birthday celebration yesterday at noon, the maidservant beside the Sixth Miss went to Chunxiang Tower."
"Otherwise, Your Majesty, why do you think I can't control myself?"
"If the prince does not agree to let Miss Six be his concubine and insists on sending her to the temple, then I can't say anything."
After saying this, the second prince picked up the teacup and began to drink tea without speaking again.
Prince Rong's expression changed again and again. How could this happen? Could it be that Rong Jin had drugged him and was plotting against the Second Prince?
Of course, we cannot just listen to the Second Prince's one-sided opinion on this matter.
After a moment, Prince Rong coldly ordered the servants around him to bring Rong Jin's maid Xiang'er over.
Soon, Xiang'er was brought to the hall.
Prince Rong did not avoid the Second Prince and interrogated him directly in front of him.
Of course Xiang'er couldn't stand Prince Rong's interrogation and told the truth after a while.
Fortunately, Xiang'er only mentioned that she was going to buy medicine, and did not say that Rong Jin's original intention was to lure Qin Yuan over.
Prince Rong was so angry that he ordered his men to drag Xiang'er away and lock her up first.
Then she sat there and thought for a long time before she said to the Second Prince, "Your Highness, I was wrong in this matter."
"But can Your Highness forgive her this time and let her enter the palace as the principal wife?"
"Before she gets married, the Rong family will definitely teach her well. If she does it again in the future, Your Highness will punish her."
For the Rong family, it would be a loss of face if their daughter became a concubine. So Prince Rong was humble and only asked the Second Prince to take a step back.
The second prince, however, had a tense expression on his face, shook his head and said, "Your Majesty also knows what kind of personality the Sixth Miss has. With such a personality, how can she be the principal wife?"
"Being a concubine is the biggest concession I can make to the Rong family. If Your Majesty agrees, I will ask my father to grant the marriage. If he disagrees, then forget it."
"No matter how far this matter goes, this king is not afraid."
The second prince's attitude was tough and there was no room for maneuver.
In fact, if the Song family had not agreed, he would not have forced Rong Jin to be his concubine. With the power of the Rong family, it would not be a loss for him to have Rong Jin as his principal wife.
Prince Rong suddenly realized that it was no wonder that the emperor was so cold to him during the morning court session. He was afraid that the emperor had already known about it, so he was angry with the Rong family.
If that's the case, then no matter how he plans, it will be in vain.
Thinking of this, Prince Rong could only take a step back, "She's a concubine, so be it. Your Highness, please go and ask for permission."
Seeing that Prince Rong had backed down, the Second Prince was relieved. After dealing with the Rong family, the rest would be easier.
He then comforted her in a slow voice, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, even if the queen enters the mansion in the future, she will not step on Rong Jin's head."
"I will return to the palace and discuss this matter with my father."
It was two days later when the imperial edict of Emperor Xuande granting marriage reached Rong's house.
At that time, Shen Zhizheng was handling official business in the study, and Su Qingyu was half lying on the small couch in the study, holding a travel book in her hand.
These days, Shen Zhixiu took back all the official business that he could to handle.
Su Qingyu followed him in the study during the day. The two of them played the piano and chess. Sometimes they could talk for half a day about an old story from history books.
When Su Qingyu wanted to rest or read alone, Shen Zhixiu would handle official business.
What Su Qingyu didn't know was that these days, when she often fell asleep, Shen Zhixiu would go to the study and work for two hours.
Fortunately, his ability was there and he did not affect the government.
At this time, Su Qingyu saw that the South China Sea was rich in agarwood, and wanted to ask Shen Zhixiu if he had ever been to the south.
Before he could speak, Wen Zhu knocked on the door and reported, "Third Master, the eunuch from the Palace Ceremonial Bureau has gone to the Rong family to deliver the imperial decree. Rong Jin, the sixth young lady of the Rong family, is the concubine of the King of Pingxi."
Hearing about the concubine of King Pingxi, Su Qingyu no longer cared about studying the agarwood of the South China Sea. She sat up and asked, "Why is she a concubine?"
Isn’t it easy for the daughter of the Rong family to become the principal wife of the King of Pingxi?
Wen Zhu said, "She is indeed a concubine, and when the eunuch went to announce the decree, Prince Rong did not show any displeasure or surprise. It was as if Prince Rong already knew that Miss Six would be a concubine."
Shen Zhixiu's eyebrows also raised. He knew a little bit about Prince Rong's temper. Logically, this shouldn't be his reaction.
He motioned Wenzhu to go down first, and sat behind the desk to think for a while. He guessed that it must be what happened at the Qin family that day, and the second prince caught Rong Jin's fault.
The Second Prince requested for permission to make Rong Jin his concubine. Does that mean he hasn't given up on marrying into the Song family?
While he was thinking, there was another knock on the door outside the study, and Jiang Qi reported: "Third Master, the Duke of Zhenguo and the Third Young Master of the Qin Family want to see you."
Shen Zhixiu was surprised. What did the Duke of Zhenguo want to talk to him about?
After thinking for a while, he said, "Please ask the Duke of Zhenguo and the Third Young Master to go to the main hall for tea. I will be there soon."
Then he stood up, walked around the desk, went to Su Qingyu and said softly, "I'll go take a look, you rest here first."
Su Qingyu motioned for him to go and get busy, while she leaned back on the couch and continued reading the travel book.
When Shen Zhixiu came out of the study and arrived at the main hall, Duke Zhenguo and Qin Yuan just happened to walk over.
"How come Duke Zhenguo has time to come here today? You are such a rare guest." Shen Zhixiu greeted with a smile.
"Zhi Xiu, I came here today to ask for a favor." The Duke of Zhenguo said after sitting down.
Qin Yuan performed the etiquette of a junior to Shen Zhi and stood behind the Duke of Zhenguo.
Shen Zhixiu looked at the Duke of Zhenguo in surprise, "Duke, if you have anything to say, just tell me. I will definitely help if I can."
He has some friendship with the Duke of Zhenguo, but not as close as he is with Song Zan and Zhao Jingwu.
This was the first time that the Duke of Zhenguo came to ask for a favor. Judging from the expressions and tones of the father and son, it didn't sound like a business matter.
Even though Shen Zhixiu had planned everything, he still couldn't guess the purpose of the Qin father and son's visit today.
The Duke of Zhenguo smiled and said upon hearing this.
"I would like to ask you to help our third son find a matchmaker. The Qin family wants to marry the eldest daughter of the Song family in the Marquis of Loyalty."