Chapter 231 - Su Shaoge Got Engaged

Song Yixiao didn’t know that Jiang Muting returned after leaving. When she came back to her seats, she asked people next to her where did Jiang Muting go, they all told her that they hadn’t seen Jiang Muting for a while. When she was just worried, she saw Jiang Muting walked in with a smile. She also held a blooming begonia in her hands. Occasionally, she put the flower under her nose to enjoy its fragrance. It was obvious that she was in a good mood.

Song Yixiao was relieved. She went to Jiang Muting and asked, “Where did you go, Muting? I was about to look for you when I didn’t see you here just now.”

Jiang Muting didn’t expose the fact that Song Yixiao stalked her just now, she said with a smile, “I had some wine just now and I didn’t feel well, so I went out for a walk.”

Then she gave the flower to Song Yixiao, “Sorry to make you worried, this is my apology.”

“Are you feeling better now?” Song Yixiao accepted the flower and asked with concern, “Do you want to eat something?”

Jiang Muting said in a good mood, “Sure, I am hungry.”

“What’s the situation? She spent a lot of effort copying the prescriptions. It was obvious that she really liked Yuan Xuepei. Even if she accepted the fact and chose to let him go, why would she be so happy?” Song Yixiao was curious when seeing Jiang Muting’s behaviors, “If I haven’t seen it with my own eyes, I would have thought that Yuan Xuepei is going to marry her tomorrow judging from how happy she is now.”

But Jiang Muting was still happy afterward. It could be told that she was not pretending to be happy or giving up on everything in desperation. She seemed to be really relieved.

Song Yixiao sounded her out a few times. Jiang Muting also didn’t avoid the questions and replied, “I just figured something out so I feel relieved.

She also said, “Relax. It’s not easy for my parents to raise me. I won’t let them down.”

As she said so, Song Yixiao couldn’t doubt her anymore and could only change the topic in embarrassment.

However, a few days after the wedding banquet, people of the Jiang Family came to Duke of Yan’s mansion.

It was Jiang Muting’s elder sister-in-law, Madam Zhuge. She was in her twenties. With her oval face and willow-shaped eyebrows, she was really a beauty. Although she seemed to be serious, she was quite polite. She sent a visiting card the day before the visit to settle the date with Song Yixiao, she also brought some gifts.

Song Yixiao went to welcome her at the door. The two of them had a small talk on the way back to the back hall. Before sitting down, they invited the other party to sit down first with courtesy. Then they also complimented each other for the clothes and the decoration in the room.

Finally, they were about to come to the point. But Madam Zhuge first looked around.

After Song Yixiao sent others in the room out, Madam Zhuge said with a forced smile, “Your Highness, you have a good relationship with Muting, so I will just tell you directly. Muting always refused to let us help her choose a future husband lately. After Miss Yuan’s wedding that day, she even made it clear that she doesn’t want to marry anyone. Now, my parents-in-law and my husband are all worried. But she refuses to tell us the reason. We don’t know what to do, so my mother-in-law sent me to ask you. You also went to the Yuan’s mansion that day. Do you have any clues?”

With the teacup in hand, Song Yixiao also smiled in embarrassment, “To tell the truth, although I also went there that day, I didn’t know why Muting got such an idea.”

God! She really told the truth! She only saw Yuan Xuepei reject Jiang Muting and Jiang Muting also didn’t continue to say anything.

Later, when Song Yixiao asked Jiang Muting about it, Jiang Muting said she figured it out and wouldn’t do anything to disappoint her parents. But she suddenly told her family that she wouldn’t get married anymore. Even Song Yixiao didn’t know what to say at this time.

But Madam Zhuge didn’t believe what Song Yixiao had said. Due to Song Yixiao’s current identity, she couldn’t doubt Song Yixiao directly. She said, “Muting is already seventeen. It is already late for her to choose her future husband now. Luckily, there was an imperial examination this year and the most talented men across the country gathered in the imperial capital. It’s a good chance for her to select a husband. But she doesn’t agree anyway. If she misses this chance, maybe she can’t get married for all her life. You are also a woman. You should know how valuable the youth of a woman is.”

Madam Zhuge sighed at this point. Then she implored, “So, can you help to persuade Muting if possible?”

She also promised, “If she changes her mind, the whole Jiang Family would be grateful to you.”

Song Yixiao knew it clearly that Madam Zhuge still doubted that she was hiding something for Jiang Muting. Madam Zhuge couldn’t say it directly, so she tried another way to put pressure on Song Yixiao.

But Song Yixiao was also surprised at Jiang Muting’s words. She thought for a moment and then agreed, “You don’t have to be like this. It’s about Muting’s lifelong happiness, how can I stand by? But in terms of relationship, you guys are closer to her. After all, you are her family. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to fulfill the duty.”

“Thanks a lot! She has grown up and wouldn’t tell us everything. She might be willing to tell her friends. Please help us, Your Highness.” When hearing what Song Yixiao said, Madam Zhuge didn’t doubt her that much anymore. Then they continued to chat for a while and parted.

After sending the guest off, Song Yixiao returned to her room. As she was thinking about how to invite Jiang Muting over, Jinxun came in and told her a piece of news, “Your Highness, it is said that Dowager Consort of Hengshan wants to marry Fourth Commandery Princess to the champion scholar in the palace exam.”

“Really?” Song Yixiao was a little surprised when hearing the news, “Dowager Consort of Hengshan doesn’t plan to marry Lu Kou’er to a distant place anymore?”

Jinxun was obviously not optimistic about the marriage. She pursed her lips and said, “Dowager Consort of Hengshan must think the champion scholar is handsome and promising so that she chose him for Fourth Commandery Princess. There are many girls with noble backgrounds in the imperial capital, why should he marry someone insolent and cunning like Fourth Commandery Princess!”

“You’ve never seen Helou Duhan, how do you know that he is handsome?” Song Yixiao was amused, “Moreover, whether Lu Kou’er is just insolent and cunning depends on the one she faced with. She is like this in front of us. But in front of Commandery Princess Qingjiang, she was obedient, right?”

“Anyway, I don’t think they are a good match,” Jinxun pouted and said, “Your Highness, didn’t Captain Yu help the champion scholar last time? What about asking him to do a favor again to tell the champion scholar what kind of person Fourth Commandery Princess is? So that the champion scholar would refuse to marry her…”

“What are you talking about?!” The slight smile on Song Yixiao’s mouth gradually disappeared. Her voice also turned to be cold, “Prince of Hengshan’s mansion raised me. Even if I don’t pay them back, how could I ruin the marriage of the legitimate commandery princess of Prince of Hengshan’s mansion? If others know about it, what will they think of me? Even my husband would be affected. Moreover, everyone has their own choices, how did you know that the champion scholar doesn’t like Lu Kou’er?”

In fact, Song Yixiao thought Helou Duhan would be willing to accept this marriage. Not only because of Lu Kou’er’s identity, appearance, and talent but also because of the standpoint of Prince of Hengshan’s mansion!

After all, Helou Duhan became the champion scholar at a very young age. As long as he was not stupid to the extreme, he would definitely have a bright future.

But he came across the battle for the crown. The three parties of the battle were equal in strength. It was hard to tell who would win at last. If he chose the wrong side, no matter how talented he was, he would still end miserably.

So, except for the one who was born with a certain standpoint, like Su Shaoge, someone with a clean background like Helou Duhan had better stay neutral. With his age and talent, as long as he didn’t choose the wrong side at this time, he would definitely become a high-ranking official no matter who became the emperor.

As the commandery princess of the imperial clan, Lu Kou’er’s family would definitely stay neutral. Also, Prince of Hengshan’s mansion was competent to help his son-in-law. For his own future, it was a good choice for Helou Duhan to marry Lu Kou’er.

To be honest, if he wasn’t the champion scholar, Prince of Hengshan’s mansion wouldn’t choose him, either.

So, how could Song Yixiao let Jinxun mess up with this marriage?

“Don’t be angry, Your Highness. I just said it casually.” Seeing that she was really angry, Jinxun hastened to please her with a massage, “I was just angry that Fourth Commandery Princess once bullied you. In addition, it is really a pity for someone as talented as the champion scholar to marry Fourth Commandery Princess.”

“Decisions about marriage are all made by parents. It has nothing to do with you, why do you bother?” Song Yixiao snapped, “Do you also want to get married? Do you come to tell me about their marriage because of this?”

Jinxun blushed at once. Then she pouted, “I don’t want to get married.”

Song Yixiao finally managed to stop Jinxun. She said with a smile, “No more talking about this!”

The messages about the intellectuals of the imperial examination getting married came out one by one. Nearly everyone in the noble families was talking about it. Song Yixiao only stopped Jinxun. Others wouldn’t dare to be as bold as Jinxun. So, she wouldn’t bother with their small talks in private anymore.

Su Shaoge was born in a noble family and he became famous at a young age. He was young, strong, and even handsome. He was also the No. 3 Scholar in the palace exam. Such a good husband could only be found in fairy tales. Although his choice for the future emperor was obvious because of his family, there were still lots of people who wanted to marry their daughters to him.

He was even more popular than the champion scholar, Helou Duhan, who was born with a humble background.

“Su Shaoge’s wife is decided? Who?” Song Yixiao didn’t allow Jinxun to talk about the marriage between Helou Duhan and Lu Kou’er, but she was quite curious about Su Shaoge’s marriage. The chaos created by Princess Yushan angered her father to illness, people who knew the details were still worried about His Majesty Emperor Xianjia’s health now.

“The youngest daughter of Prince of Yi.” There was pity in the servant’s respectful words, “It is said that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager personally chose her for Master Shaoge.”

Her Majesty the Empress Dowager supported the Crown Prince, she definitely wouldn’t like Prince of Zhao’s cousin Su Shaoge. She surely didn’t mean well by marrying the youngest daughter of Prince of Yi to Su Shaoge.

Song Yixiao frowned when hearing this, “Prince of Yi just passed away.”

His youngest daughter should observe mourning for him for three years.

The servant also said resignedly, “That’s right. Her Majesty the Empress wanted to refuse. She said that Master Shaoge is already in his twenties. If he waits another three years, it is too late for him to get married. But Her Majesty the Empress Dowager said that true men should focus on career first and put things about love aside. She also said that the Su Family isn’t short of new members so that Master Shaoge doesn’t need to have children at present. Why can’t he wait another three years? Also, Prince of Yi is the son of the late emperor. His widow and daughter are quite pitiful after he died. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is the elder of the imperial family, she is also the legitimate grandmother of the commandery princess. She said that she had the duty to find a good husband for the commandery princess.”

The servant mentioned the widow and the daughter of Prince of Yi. But Song Yixiao’s attention wasn’t on this. Prince of Yi was a prince and he was even more related to the emperor than Prince of Hengshan by blood, but he had been a coward for more than 20 years. Moreover, he didn’t have any power or left much money. Even if his other family members wanted to develop after he died, they should first observe the mourning for him.

The political situation now was already in tension. A lot of changes could happen in three years. It was hard to tell whether Prince of Yi’s family could rise or not. Even if they could, it was already too late.

Su Shaoge’s future wife seemed to have a noble background. In fact, her family couldn’t help Su Shaoge or Prince of Zhao at all.

There was still something that made her feel more pity. She said, “It is said that Prince of Yi’s youngest daughter looks ordinary and there is nothing special about her. To be honest, except for the identity of the commandery princess, such a girl can’t match Master Shaoge at all.”

Song Yixiao didn’t let the servant shut up as she did to Jinxun. She only signed. When she went to mourn Prince of Yi, she glanced at the commandery princess across the curtain. She remembered that the commandery princess was a plain-looking girl who even seemed to be dull.

Imagining the image of the commandery princess standing beside handsome Su Shaoge, not only the servant found them not a good match, even Song Yixiao didn’t think the Empress Dowager’s decision was a wise one. Most importantly, Princess Yushan was still there. She and Prince of Yi’s youngest daughter were also cousins. Although there hadn’t been any information about Princess Yushan, it could be expected that she wouldn’t give up judging from how much she liked Su Shaoge before.

“Wouldn’t the Empress Dowager worry that the two sisters will fight for one man in the future?” Song Yixiao remembered that Princess Yushan was learning from her elder sister, Princess Changxing. She couldn’t help but shake her head.