Liang Zhirui sighed, looking at his granddaughter’s quiet face, he couldn’t help but think of his eldest daughter.
Yao ngxian hadn’t recovered from the words just now; she already felt that Gu Chengyu had no interest in her, so why did he agree to her grandfather?
Could it be to repay the kindness of his grandfather’s teachings over the years?
Since her grandfather said Gu Chengyu valued loyalty, it was very possible.
At this mont, Yao ngxian felt an indescribable mix of emotions, a bit of bitterness, guilt, and yet a trace of delight.
"Grandfather, Xianxian knows Mr. Gu is a good man, an excellent match. But I don’t want to trouble grandfather and grandmother, nor do I want to trouble Mr. Gu. He probably didn’t want to agree at first, right? What you’re doing is no different from leveraging kindness for repaynt."
Yao ngxian laid out her thoughts, unwilling for Gu Chengyu to marry her just to repay a debt of gratitude to her grandfather.
"You silly girl, you were born into the Duke Zhen’s Mansion, and as the legitimate daughter of the main branch, why would he not want to marry you? Don’t be foolish, are you really contemplating marrying Prince Jing?"
Mrs. Ning looked at Yao ngxian with eyes full of helplessness, almost hoping for her to see reason.
"You have your mother’s temperant? Being stubborn makes you easily disadvantaged." Looking at her granddaughter’s stubborn yet guilty eyes, Mrs. Ning was both exasperated and concerned.
"Though Prince Jing is not in good health, if he goes to his fief in the future, I could finally have so peace."
Yao ngxian shook her head, knowing that Gu Chengyu had better options and she didn’t want to hold him back.
She knew her own background wasn’t bad, but marrying Gu Chengyu wouldn’t provide him any benefit.
Could her father or grandfather support Gu Chengyu? How could that be possible?
What could Gu Chengyu possibly want from her? As for dowry, what could she bring other than what her mother left her?
Besides, Gu Chengyu was not lacking in wealth; the good things he had sent as filial gifts to her grandfather were shalessly enjoyed by herself.
Thinking of it this way, a person like Gu Chengyu with ambition, perseverance, and capability could surely marry an aristocratic legitimate daughter after ascending in rank a few years later.
"Would your maternal family harm you? Do you know what kind of person Prince Jing is?"
Mrs. Ning was almost jumping with anxiety, fearing her granddaughter might be blinded by the title of Princess Consort.
Yao ngxian was sowhat confused; what kind of person was Prince Jing? She really didn’t know.
In her dreams, her na had only been ntioned with him a few tis! Whether in dreams or now, she hadn’t t Prince Jing.
However, in her dreams, she heard that Prince Jing was born with a debilitating poison, and imperial physicians determined he wouldn’t live long.
After coming of age, he didn’t go to his fief but stayed in the capital to recuperate. Despite this, he frequently fell ill; in any case, he was an invalid.
What she’d heard since waking matched the rumors in her dream.
A person in poor health, long tornted by illness, might change temperant, which was possible.
Had her grandparents heard negative rumors about Prince Jing? Otherwise, her grandfather wouldn’t be in such a hurry.
"Prince Jing’s ambition is huge; who knows if he’s been truly or feigning illness all these years? If you truly wed him, and he raises a rebellion, how would you manage?"
Mrs. Ning spoke anxiously, realizing her granddaughter didn’t know Prince Jing’s true nature.
Ignoring any improper words, dispelling her granddaughter’s desire to marry Prince Jing was most important now.
"Indeed! If the Emperor chose Prince Jing as the Crown Prince, marrying him would be a rise. But I see the Emperor never favoring Prince Jing, and given Prince Jing’s ambition, if he’s not the Emperor’s choice for Crown Prince, he won’t stand idly by."
Liang Zhirui quickly added a few words; his granddaughter was just a young lady of the inner chambers. How could she know of Prince Jing’s private sches?
"What? Are you saying Prince Jing..." Yao ngxian was shocked, not expecting Prince Jing to be so ambitious, never intending to lead a peaceful life in his fief.
"Yes! So, I believe Jinyu is the best choice. Think about it, even if Prince Jing succeeds, the woman on the throne may not be you. Because of your choice, I and the other disciples must choose Prince Jing."
Liang Zhirui was sowhat helpless; marital alliances in aristocratic families were always entangled with interests.
Jinyu didn’t favor Prince Jing, and neither did he. So Jinyu agreeing to marry her was part of the reason.
Yao ngxian’s face turned pale; so Gu Chengyu’s willingness to marry her also had those considerations.
Did she have any other choice? Gu Chengyu seed like a good match at the mont.
"What do you think? If you’re unwilling, I won’t force you. Although I’ve set aside my dignity, I’m not afraid to lose face again in front of my disciple. He said it before; he would ask your opinion. If you don’t agree, he will find another way."
Liang Zhirui looked at his granddaughter’s sowhat gloomy face. Although he knew pressing a young girl to choose her marriage was improper, the timing was critical. They must act swiftly, or Prince Jing would seize the opportunity.
"But would Duke Zhen’s Mansion agree?"
Yao ngxian suddenly realized they were at the Liang Mansion. Her grandfather was rely her grandfather, unable to make the decision alone.
Hearing this, Mrs. Ning knew her granddaughter was willing. She just had so concerns, so she hadn’t voiced her agreent.
"I have my ways."
Being a man, Liang Zhirui naturally didn’t think too much. He was still waiting for Yao ngxian’s answer.
Yao ngxian took a deep breath, clenching her fists, "I want to see him first!"
Gu Chengyu stepped down from the carriage and swiftly entered the side gate of the teahouse’s backyard.
The location was at the innermost side of the alley, secluded to avoid being seen eting soone.
After entering the reserved private room, Gu Chengyu faintly heard opera singing from the downstairs hall.
This was a thod Gu Chengyu devised, partitioning several seats as private rooms on the second floor, naturally charging higher than the ground floor.
Besides opera, he also hired storytellers. Overall, it was a pleasant place for the wealthy to relax.
If the noise was botherso and there were matters to discuss, the upstairs private rooms provided the peace guests needed.
"Sir, I’ve already instructed the shopkeeper that when Miss Yao arrives, he will personally bring her upstairs."
"Hmm!" Gu Chengyu nodded.
"Miss! We’ve arrived, it’s this place." Lianxin was the first to jump off the carriage, assisting Yao ngxian out after she donned her veil.
This ti, Yao ngxian didn’t bring Qing Dai but left her at the Liang Mansion, as she planned to stay there for two more days.
The Liang Mansion’s driver drove the carriage away from the teahouse entrance to find a place to park.
Looking up at the gilded sign above, Yao ngxian took a deep breath and stepped inside.
"Sir! Miss Yao has arrived."
User Comments
0 comments from readers