PFC Chapter 152 The Road Heads East
Chapter 152 The Road Heads East
"Oh? Aren't there two young masters in Duke Wen's mansion who are both adults but have not yet married?"
"Your Highness is indeed well-informed, but my eldest son has someone he loves. I only have this one son in my life, and I just want him to choose someone he loves."
"As for my bastard son, he is of low status and cannot be seen on the stage. He is really not worthy of the princess, so please don't worry about him, Your Majesty."
Nian Shilan had an unpleasant look on her face, and the ladies from other mansions who were sitting below didn't even dare to breathe.
"Since Madam Qiu despises the royal family, please leave first, so that your ears won't be polluted by the topics we discuss."
Mrs. Qiu was also a little embarrassed. She was not like this normally. However, today she saw her own son-in-law talking to the princess, and she was confused for a moment.
"Your Highness, I am not feeling well today, so I will take my leave now."
Duke's Mansion Study
"Master, is there anything you can do for me?"
"How about going to the party today?"
"Master, you never care about these things. Why did you think of asking about the banquet today?"
"Why? Why don't you know?"
"Look at your son. You've spoiled him to such a state that he never does his job. He's grown up now, but he's not good at literature or martial arts. How can he support our Duke's Mansion in the future?"
Mrs. Qiu Xu was very unhappy when she heard him say this.
"Why can't he hold on? Our son is living a carefree life. Wouldn't it be great if he could marry a virtuous daughter from a wealthy family to be his principal wife?"
The Duke was so angry that he laughed when he heard what his stupid wife said.
"A wealthy family? Virtuous? A legitimate daughter? Is he worthy of her? Unless the parents are blind."
Xu's eyes were filled with disbelief. "That's our son. How can you say that about him? Is he his biological father?"
The Duke threw his sleeves in anger and said, "Humph, I actually hope that Li'er is the only child."
Xu started screaming as if her tail had been pulled out.
"He's just a bastard born of a whore. He's just as lowly as his mother. He hooked up with the princess as soon as he went to the banquet."
Before Xu could finish her words, the Duke slapped her in the face with a big slap.
His eyes darkened, "If you want to die, go out to the east where there is a moat, don't take the entire Duke's Mansion with you."
"Take the lady back. No one is allowed to let the lady leave her yard without my order."
"Master, the second young master is back."
"father."
"Did you hear everything?"
Qiu Li nodded indifferently, "Dad, haven't you always been worried about my marriage?"
"You and the princess?"
Qiu Li lowered his head somewhat embarrassedly, "The princess and I get along very well."
"Hey~"
"The princess's mother's family is weak and has no status in the palace. It has been so long since the emperor thought of finding a husband for his sister."
"Father originally wanted to let your eldest brother marry the princess. With royal status, it would protect his safety for the rest of his life and make him more peaceful."
"And you are young and talented in both literature and martial arts, and you have a bright future. Dad wants to let you inherit the Duke's Mansion and find a wealthy family to help you."
"Dad, I don't care about those things."
"Your personality is very much like your mother's. If it weren't for the accidental coincidence back then, ah~"
"Dad agreed?"
"It doesn't matter whether Dad agrees or not. What matters is whether the Emperor agrees or not."
"Dad, our Qiu family has been avoiding the limelight for so many years, do we still have to avoid it?"
"Our Qiu family has had two emperors' tutors, but your father and I were thrown into the military camp by your grandfather when we were young. Just when I was about to be promoted, your grandfather had someone send me back to the capital to be raised in honor."
"I, your father, became a big idler at a young age. I am also largely responsible for your elder brother's current state."
"Now, I see that our emperor seems to have an attitude of re-employing the major families. Li'er, Daddy does not ask for the Duke Wen's Mansion to restore its former glory, but only hopes that it will not decline. Therefore, you cannot marry the princess unless the princess is willing to marry into our family."
"Dad, what if I must marry Princess Shang?"
"You~, you would rather have a woman than a future or a family?"
Qiu Li shook his head, "Dad, was this how your grandfather forced you back then?"
Qiu Li looked at the man slumped in the chair calmly, turned and left, and stopped at the door.
"My mother died because of you."
The chrysanthemum viewing banquet ended with much thunder but little rain.
"Your Majesty, there has been no movement from Princess Chaogui these past few days. The Emperor went to Concubine Hua's place once, but he left after a short while, and his face looked very bad when he left."
"Why is it so late?"
"Your Majesty, what did you say?"
"Nothing, just go to the Yangxin Palace and tell him that I have prepared old duck soup and invite His Majesty to have dinner."
It was getting dark, and the queen picked up a bowl of soup and drank it to warm herself up.
"My lady, you won't wait for the emperor?"
"Your Majesty is busy with government affairs, and I am weak and cannot stand being hungry." As soon as she finished speaking, the door curtain was opened.
"Has the Queen already used it?"
The queen did not stand up either. "Jianqiu, serve the emperor a bowl of soup to warm him up first."
The emperor waved his hand to stop them, "Wait a minute, I'm in a hurry, we've walked a long way, eating like this will overwhelm the wind, and it will make you feel uncomfortable."
The emperor said this while looking at the queen.
The queen felt the emperor's gaze and hurriedly uttered five words in between sips of soup, "Your Majesty is right."
The emperor felt a little bored and took a break, then took the soup from Jianqiu.
"When I first came in, I heard the Queen say she was weak, but has she consulted the imperial physician?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. This is just an old illness."
"Then I'll let Wei Lin show you tomorrow."
"Your Majesty, the weather is getting colder. I think the ladies in the harem all have some minor health problems. It must be great to be able to soak in hot springs in this season. Your Majesty, can you take the sisters to live in the palace for a few days?"
Yinzhen put the duck leg meat back into the bowl and looked at the queen with scrutiny in his eyes.
After a long while, Yinzhen finally spoke, "Although the economic situation of the Qing Dynasty is still good this year, there are more places to spend money than in previous years. I have asked the guards to accompany you. If the queen likes, she can stay in the palace for a few days."
The Queen paused with her chopsticks, looked at Yinzhen, and smiled sincerely, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness. I need to pack my things and discuss my official duties with Concubine Hua, and then I will leave for the temporary palace."
"Well, you are the queen, you can do whatever you want."
Yinzhen had unknowingly finished three bowls of soup, and saw that the queen was still unaware.
"Queen, your old duck soup is really delicious. I have already drunk three bowls and I still want more."
The queen still had a beautiful smile on her face, "If your Majesty likes to drink, please drink more. I also think it tastes good."
The emperor pushed the soup bowl aside and said, "I am full. If I drink more, I won't be able to eat anything else."
Five days later, the Queen sent Jiang Fuhai to tell the Emperor that they would leave for the temporary palace the next day.
Jian Qiu was puzzled. "My queen, we have already packed our things. Why did we have to wait three more days before going to the palace?"