0p0 Chapter 211 Aunt's Visit!
Chapter 211 Aunt's Visit!
This matter was like a passing breeze; afterward, there was no further commotion, and life in the Mu family remained unchanged!
Mu Xin Nuan couldn't understand whether she was overthinking things, or whether the Prince of Chang Le was just idly teasing her.
That day, Mu Xin Nuan played a game of chess with the old master when someone outside came to report that the eldest cousin had arrived and was waiting outside to pay his respects to the old master.
The old man glanced at his granddaughter discreetly, then said, "Let him in."
"This junior greets Old Master Mu." As soon as Li Haoran entered, he bowed deeply. The old master smiled and told him to get up, and then stayed to have tea and chat.
“Anuan, if you have some free time, go to the Marquis of Anyang’s residence and keep Wanyue company. She must be feeling quite bored all by herself,” Li Haoran said with a smile.
"Yes, cousin."
Mu Xin Nuan sat for a while, then realized that she shouldn't stay there any longer. Li Hao Ran's gaze made her feel a bit of pressure, so she found an excuse to go to Jin Yuan.
When they arrived at Jinyuan, they discovered that their maternal aunt, Liu, was also there.
"Ah Nuan, tsk tsk, my Ah Nuan, she's growing more and more beautiful! Look at her, so lovely, it really breaks my heart," Liu teased.
Mu Xinnuan blushed. "Is Auntie too idle? Why is she making fun of Anuan like this?"
"Look at you! I was just teasing you a little, and you're getting all worked up!"
Li smiled and said, "Alright, sister-in-law, stop teasing her. She's young and easily embarrassed."
"In a few days, it will be the annual Dragon Boat Festival. I heard that His Majesty intends to hold a grand banquet for this year's festival."
Mu Xin Nuan listened but smiled faintly and remained silent.
Generally speaking, only high-ranking officials of the second rank or above are allowed to bring their families to the Emperor's grand banquets. Her father was a third-rank official, so it was unlikely that he would bring his family to the palace. However, her mother was a titled lady-in-waiting, so it was possible that she would accompany her father to the palace.
"Sister-in-law, have you heard some news this time?"
Liu's eyes gleamed with excitement. She glanced around before lowering her voice and saying, "I heard that at this palace banquet, Her Majesty the Empress intends to select a principal and secondary consort for His Highness the Grandson."
Mu Xin Nuan's heart skipped a beat. His Highness the Grandson? It seems like it's been a while since she's heard that name.
"Hasn't His Highness the Grandson's principal wife already been chosen? How could there be another selection? In my opinion, at most a few concubines will be chosen, just to make a token gesture. However, now that Wanyue is married, I'm afraid there's no one in our Zhenguo General's Mansion who is qualified to marry His Highness the Grandson, right?"
"Yes, my illegitimate daughter is determined to squeeze in!" Madam Liu said with disdain. "I really don't know what she's thinking. Others are trying to avoid her like the plague, but she's actually trying to squeeze in at all costs! Doesn't she even know her place?"
"Does elder brother know about this?"
"Of course I know! He understands Wanqing's thoughts too. However, in recent years, your elder brother has been focused on military affairs, and I've been managing the household affairs, so he hasn't been paying much attention. Mother also disapproves of Wanqing's feelings. She specifically instructed that she shouldn't go out casually anymore, lest she tarnish the Li family's reputation!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Li immediately became somewhat nervous. "Is it really that bad? Wanqing is just a young lady. Surely she wouldn't dare to go out into the street and chase after His Highness the Grandson?"
"What's impossible about that? Don't you know that little vixen knows how to seduce people now? Just like her aunt, she's a born seductress."
Whenever Liu talked about Li Wanqing, she would get angry. Li knew that her sister-in-law had been mistreated by that concubine before, so she could understand her anger to some extent.
"Sister-in-law, in my opinion, you should hurry up and arrange a marriage for her. Otherwise, she might continue to recklessly try to find someone to marry, which could bring trouble to the Li family, and that would be disastrous."
Mu Xin Nuan's brows furrowed slightly. Although the Ming Prince's power seemed unassuming, she knew that his secret guards and agents were no less formidable than those of the Crown Prince!
At this critical juncture, it's best for neither the Li family nor the Mu family to try and curry favor with the Crown Prince and the Prince of Ming!
That day, her uncle disapproved of her marrying Prince Chang Le for this very reason. After all, Prince Chang Le and the Crown Prince were siblings from the same mother, so naturally, he would side with the Crown Prince the most!
"What you said, I've thought about it before. But the marriage of a concubine's daughter is really a headache! If you marry into a family that's too good, they might not even want you! But if you marry into a bad family, outsiders will start gossiping and saying that I, as the mistress, am mistreating my concubine's daughter! That vixen in the mansion will then have another chance to cause trouble!"
“Sister-in-law, since it is my elder brother who has entrusted you with the affairs of the inner quarters, it is naturally up to you to decide our daughter’s marriage! If my elder brother truly had other intentions, he wouldn’t have waited until now without giving you any word.”
Liu agreed! If Li Feng truly cared for Wanqing, he wouldn't still not have said anything to her until now.
Mu Xin Nuan suddenly had a thought and remembered the painting Wan Qing had given to Wan Yue!
Could it be that she and Jin Er had been in cahoots all along? But with Li Wanqing's discerning eye, how could she possibly have taken a liking to Jin Er, an illegitimate son? Could there be something else going on here?
"Thanks to my sister's reminder today! Otherwise, I would have really been stuck in a dead end! You're right, she's my illegitimate daughter after all, and as her mistress, how could I not make decisions for her? I'll carefully select her again later, and within three days, I'll have her marriage arranged. After exchanging betrothal gifts, the matter will be settled!"
"Three days? Sister-in-law, you're quick! Aren't you afraid you won't be able to find a suitable one?"
"Given her background, her previous reputation wasn't exactly stellar. I figured I wouldn't marry her off to a merchant family."
Li smiled with relief, realizing that her sister-in-law was all bark and no bite!
Aren't there many other noble ladies in the capital who send their illegitimate daughters to work in merchants' homes? But since Madam Liu has said so, she will surely find her a suitable match, or at the very least, a scholar.
"Look at me, I've been talking about all the awful things in my family for so long, and I haven't even gotten to the real reason I came here!" As Liu said this, she gave Mu Xin Nuan a somewhat ambiguous look, which made Mu Xin Nuan feel uneasy.
Could it be that he came here today because of her wedding?
"The Chu family has asked me to arrange a marriage for the two children. Sister, what do you think?"