After a period of silence, the wind in my ears became cold.
Jiang Qing's expression was gloomy, but her eyes were pitiful.
She smiled, showing a strong look and said: "I know very well that this matter cannot be hidden. But I don't want to let go of the slightest hope."
"Madam is not in the boudoir, so she doesn't know how sultry the spring breeze blowing in the boudoir is."
"A few days ago, as soon as the ladies entered the city, many aristocratic families were ready to make a move. Even the people from the Mei family went to inquire about it. That day, Mr. Gao Xiangao went to the Mei family and sat there all morning.
Others ignored me, but in the end I left sadly."
"I don't want to enter the palace, so my mother will let me. Mei Min wants to enter the palace, but the emperor just doesn't want her to do it."
"Nowadays, among the children of aristocratic families in the capital, who are young, knowledgeable and have a bright future, besides Pei Shan, who else is there?"
"Even my brother, with a little bit of glory from him and Mr. Lu, is enough to be talked about in the capital."
"It's not that I don't want to let go, nor that I don't want to settle down. But I don't want to give in, and I don't want to regret it."
"If I had no choice today, then I would calmly accept my fate. But my mother puts all her hope in my younger brother. The eldest brother will probably be transferred back to the capital after his three-year term. As the daughter caught in the middle, my parents always
I turned a blind eye. If I don’t fight for it at this time, wouldn’t it make me look useless? If I don’t even have the courage to risk my life, how can I be worthy of him?”
"If in another two years I still can't get my wish when my eldest brother returns to Beijing, then I will follow my family's arrangements and marry a husband who respects me as a guest."
After hearing this, Wang Xiu was silent for a long time before smiling and said to the fearless Jiang Qing: "Although you grew up in a boudoir, you are smart and thoughtful. If you marry Pei Shan, I have nothing to worry about.
"
"But Pei Shan is not someone else. Although he is a student of my husband and I, in my heart, he is like my biological brother."
"I like you, but my liking is not enough for me to force him. I hope that the girl he wants to marry is one he truly likes and cares about, and is not something others can covet."
"Of course, waiting is your choice, and we have no right to interfere."
"So, let everything take its course."
Jiang Qing nodded and said, "Let everything take its course."
However, her eyes flickered and she looked dazed, as if she didn't listen to her heart.
Wang Xiu said no more, turned back with her, and then took Jiang Hua back to the Lu family.
…
Wang Xiu went to Jiang's house to pick up Jiang Hua. Isn't this a secret?
Many people who know about it are speculating that Pei Shan has left the army. This time he escorted his wife Wang Xiu to Taizhou, which shows his courage.
At that time, he left the capital without authorization. A censor named Cao got mad for some reason and impeached Pei Shan in front of the civil and military officials of the court.
As a result, the emperor was very angry and accused Cao Yushi of not having any relatives. Who taught him?
Finally, Cao Yushi's master was demoted three levels in a row, and then he calmed down his anger.
At that time, Lu Yunhong was fighting in Taizhou, and all the officials speculated that the emperor took Lu Yunhong's situation into consideration, so he punished Cao Yushi severely. But now it seems that this is not the case.
The emperor is still very protective of Pei Shan, and he will protect his wife regardless of his official career. Such a pure and kind person, how can he cause trouble in other people's mouths?
This is why after Pei Shan and Lu Yunhong came back, when everyone asked about the news about the Lu Mansion, they did not forget to ask about Pei Shan. They were afraid that Pei Shan would leave the Lu Mansion and set up his own business, and then he would be on par with Lu Yunhong.
Mei's house, back door.
The servants came in and out, most of them busy in the big kitchen.
A small part, such as Mei Min's errand boy Kongda.
He ran to Mei Min's yard and waited in the yard. After a while, he saw Mei Min lifting the curtain and coming out, standing in front of the door and saying, "Let's talk."
Kong Da saluted and then said: "I followed the order of the young lady and stayed at the door of Jiang's house for a long time. Mrs. Lu went alone, but she took Jiang Hua with her when she came out. Mrs. Jiang watched them leave and then smiled
He turned around and went back happily, not feeling reluctant at all, but looking very happy."
Mei Min frowned and asked again: "Where is Jiang Qing? The second young lady of the Jiang family."
Kunda continued: "I didn't see it."
Mei Min asked reluctantly: "She didn't come out to see Mrs. Lu off?"
Kunda shook his head and said firmly: "No."
This is strange, Mrs. Jiang came out to see her off, how could Jiang Qing not come out?
Could it be that Wang Xiu went to Jiang's house to discuss marriage for Pei Shan, and Jiang Qing was embarrassed, so she didn't come out to see Wang Xiu off?
Mrs. Jiang smiled so happily. Apart from her son's future, her daughter's marriage was the only one. Now that Jiang Hua has moved into the Lu family, what else is there to worry about?
That is my daughter's marriage.
Mei Min clenched her fists, filled with anger, and said displeasedly: "You go down first and continue to pay attention to the Jiang family's movements. If their family sends people out to purchase, no matter what they buy, you have to check it out."
"But you are not allowed to take people from our house out to investigate. If you want to investigate, you can only search outside, and you must find someone who is reliable and has a strict mouth. Otherwise, if something happens, I can't protect you!"
Although Kunda felt troubled, he still nodded.
At this time, Mei Min said to Chunfang, the maid next to her: "Bring him fifty taels of silver."
Kongda's eyes lit up, and all difficulties seemed to have disappeared. He quickly kowtowed to Mei Min to thank him.
Mei Min ignored him and waited until he left before saying to Chunfang who was beside her: "Tell your brother to keep an eye on him and see where he spends his money?"
Chunfang was no longer surprised by her young lady's surveillance behind her back, so she responded and stepped back to send a message.
Mei Min returned to the room, upset.
If Pei Shan and Jiang Qing start discussing marriage, what hope does she have?
She had not forgotten how Jiang Qing secretly left the table to look for Pei Shan when they were at the Juxian Building. The two of them seemed to have known each other for a long time.
Yes, after all, Jiang Hua is still Pei Shan's junior brother.
As for Pei Shan, she was actually not familiar with him, but she just felt that Pei Shan was a better match than Gao Xian.
Just as I was thinking about it, Mrs. Li came.
She glanced at her unhappy daughter and said, "Wang Xiu is going to Jiang's house."
Mei Min didn't say a word, just turned her head.
Seeing this, Mrs. Li continued: "Your father and I discussed it last night. I know that I have wronged you by asking you to be Gao Xian's stepmother. But Pei Shan is not someone you can marry if you want, let alone if you have
With so many aristocratic families watching, the most important thing is that there is one thing we haven't told you."
Mei Min turned her head and slowly sat up straight. It was obvious that she was very curious about what her mother said.
Mrs. Li sat down and looked at the curling shadows of the trees outside the window. The light and shadow were mottled, and everything seemed just right.
However, there is a sense of melancholy that is revealed unintentionally, as if I am watching the flowering period pass before my eyes, and the following days will only be the depression after autumn.
After a moment, as if she had made some decision, she withdrew her gaze and sighed lowly: "At that time, you were just getting hairpins, and your father wanted to keep you for two more years. He couldn't look down on any of the children from aristocratic families who came to propose marriage.
.”
"It wasn't until later that Pei Shan passed the imperial examination that your father saw some traces of Lu Yunhong in him, and he became interested. But who are you? The daughter of a dignified tutor. You want to marry a young man who has nothing. Naturally, you can't.
You went to ask for marriage in a lowly manner. So your father interceded with the late emperor, hoping that the late emperor would grant you a marriage."
"At that time, the late emperor wanted to betroth Jiang Qing to Pei Shan, and wanted to leave you to the emperor's crown prince, but he did not agree."
"Unexpectedly, the prince has no intention of you, and Pei Shan has no intention of you or Jiang Qing. This matter was shelved secretly, and very few people knew about it. Yesterday, your father went to see Lu Yunhong for you. Such a thing should not have happened
I brought it up again, but for you, he did it with a shameless face."
"After a night, if Pei Shan is interested in you, today Wang Xiu will come to our Li family, not the Jiang family. Do you understand?"
Mei Min was stunned, her eyes wide open. In addition to shock, there was also anger at being humiliated.
Gradually, her eyes turned red, and she asked unbearably: "Mom, is my daughter bad?"
"Why..." Why do you treat her like this?
Mei Min hadn't finished speaking, but she couldn't control the sadness in her heart, and she fell on the desk and burst into tears.
Mrs. Li was heartbroken when she saw this. If the Lu family did not have such overwhelming power, and if Wang Xiu did not have the eldest princess to back her up, how could Wang Xiu dare to despise her daughter?
No matter how hard it is, they will force Pei Shan to marry.
But they never acted, refused to intimidate him, and made the choice entirely according to Pei Shan's preference. This was obviously a slap in the Mei family's face.
Now...the emperor refused to establish a queen, and Pei Shan refused to get married. The Jiang family took advantage of the situation and made her daughter a joke.
How could she be willing to do so? If she hadn't been like this, she wouldn't have refused to see the guests because she was sick. She would have almost turned Gao Xian away, causing a rift with her husband.
Mrs. Li closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, hugged her daughter and said, "We don't care about Pei Shan, so don't think about it anymore. Mother will find a good home for you."
Mei Min is still crying. She is unwilling to give in. She has been humiliated over and over again. From being the queen's candidate to Pei Shan's marriage proposal, and now, she is nothing?
Is it possible that she really wants to marry Gao Xian as her stepmother?
Pooh!
She never agrees!
Mei Min clenched her fists, wiped away her tears, and said bitterly: "Mom, leave me alone. Since it is my lifelong event, you should also learn from Lu Yunhong and Wang Xiu, and let me choose by myself."
Mrs. Li looked at her daughter's angry face and asked with a hint of uneasiness: "What are you going to do?"
Mei Min sneered coldly and said with a sneer: "What to do? I don't know what I want to do?"
"But if they don't make it easy for me, I will never make it easy for them!"
Mrs. Li was afraid that she would cause trouble because of her youth and ignorance, so she angrily said: "Your father is about to retire. If you dare to corrupt the family tradition, do you believe he can hang himself in front of you immediately?"
Mei Min felt sour in her heart, and the pain instantly spread to every part of her body. She thought that the late emperor had plotted against her father before he died, so that his father now lived a submissive life, and the hatred that had been accumulated for a long time swept over her instantly.
She said coldly: "I know, I even know better than anyone else what my father values most?"
"Don't worry, mother. I am not Zheng Sihan. I will be stupid enough to bring trouble to the family and leave me without any support."
"Without the Mei family, I am nothing. What's more, don't I feel sorry for my father?"
Seeing that she still had sense, Mrs. Li breathed a deep sigh of relief.
She stroked her daughter's forehead and sighed softly: "It's good that you understand. Don't worry, mother doesn't agree with you marrying Gao Xian either."
After hearing this, Mei Min finally felt some comfort in her heart. If her mother didn't stand by her, she really didn't know if she would do something crazy?
But...she will never let Pei Shan and Jiang Qing go.