As Queen Zhou had told her not to let Zhou Siming marry Tong Yingying, Mrs. Zhou was determined not to accept Tong Yingying as her daughter-in-law even at the expense of her mother-son relationship with Zhou Siming, so after Tong Yingying came in, she simply ignored her.
Mrs. Tong said with a flattering look. “Sister-in-law, I heard that Shihui has offended Princess Fulu? Princess Fulu really didn’t give any face to the Queen!”
Mrs. Zhou said, “Zhou Shihui was put in jail because she didn’t respect the royal family, and the Queen certainly wouldn’t cover up for her. Why did you come today, Sister-in-law?”
Mrs. Tong said with a smile, “I came to thank Siming for helping our Tong family out.”
More importantly, she heard a piece of news about the Zhou family.
It was said that Duke Wu had started to look for a suitable girl in the Zhou Clan to accompany Zhou Sisi to marry into the East Palace.
Tong Yingying was obsessed with marrying the Crown Prince, and if the Duke Wu Mansion could help her, it would be a win-win result.
Tong Yingying also said, “Auntie, I want to meet Cousin!”
“Unfortunately, your cousin went to the Qiao Mansion today. Today is Qiao Lu’s birthday.”
Tong Yingying paused. She should have inquired before she came.
However, since today was Qiao Lu’s birthday, His Royal Highness would definitely go to the Qiao Mansion to attend his birthday banquet.
If she went there to find Zhou Siming, maybe she could see His Royal Highness.
Although Qiao Lu was the young master of the Duke Anyuan Mansion, his birth date hadn’t been known to many people.
He and Qiao Ruoshui were born on the same day, and every year on Qiao Ruoshui’s birthday, the Duke Mansion would hold a big birthday party for her.
But he would just have a good meal with his friends in the academy or in the military camp on his birthday.
This year was different. He had already passed the Imperial Examination. Even if the Emperor had not assigned him any job, he needed to build connections.
So the Duke Mansion held a big birthday banquet for him.
Zheng Xiao was about to give birth and was resting in her courtyard. Qiao Lu’s birthday made her think of her poor daughter who passed away so early…
Outside, as Qiao Lu’s sister, Qiao Ruoyun was receiving the guests.
As for Qiao Ruoyi, she was receiving some “uninvited” young girls.
Most of these girls came with their elder brothers, and the Qiao family certainly couldn’t drive them away.
The girls said,
“Will the Crown Prince come today?”
“I think he will. After all, Qiao Lu is his brother-in-law.”
Qiao Ruoyi snorted and said to Qiao Ruoyun, “Sister Ruoyun, these women are too much. They said that they came to congratulate Brother on his birthday, but they actually came to meet His Royal Highness.”
Qiao Ruoyun sighed. “That’s human nature.”
Qin Shu’s Fourth Sister was obsessed with marrying into the East Palace.
After becoming the concubine of Prince Huai, she turned to try to persuade Qin Shu to take sides with Prince Huai, saying that doing this would lead to a brighter future for the Duke Qin Mansion.
Man struggled upwards. That was human nature.
When Qin Miaomiao got out of the carriage, she happened to meet Zhou Siming, Lin Mo, and Junior Duke Rong, who came together. She saluted. “Young Master Zhou, Young Master Lin, Your Highness.”
Junior Duke Rong shook his fan, winked at Lin Mo, and pulled Zhou Siming away.
Lin Mo knew that Junior Duke Rong was deliberately making space for him and Qiao Miaomiao, but he didn’t need it.
He had known Qin Miaomiao since childhood and had no feelings for her except that he often heard Fulu mention the grudges between her and Qin Miaomiao.
He didn’t know why Qin Miaomiao wanted to marry him. With the Qin family’s power, she could have married a man of noble title.
But anyway, at his age, he needed a wife, and it seemed that Qin Miaomiao would be the tolerant kind of wife, and that would be enough.
Dragged aside by Junior Duke Rong, Zhou Siming looked back at Qin Miaomiao and asked Junior Duke Rong, “Why didn’t you bring Princess Xiliang today?”
“Xiliang and the Qiao family have a bloody feud. I’m not stupid, okay?” Junior Duke Rong said, “Hey, don’t keep staring at the two of them. If you really envy them, ask your mother to get you a wife as soon as possible.”
Zhou Siming said coldly, “No need.”
When Tong Yingying rushed to the Qiao Mansion, she happened to see Zhou Siming about to enter the door, and she shouted, “Cousin!”
Hearing her voice, Zhou Siming frowned and looked back at Tong Yingying. “What are you doing here?”
Tong Yingying spread the rumors about Qiao Lu just a few days ago. How did she have the face to come here today?
Tong Yingying took out the jade pendant Zhou Siming gave her and said to him, “Cousin, do you remember what you’ve promised me? Now that Sisi also intends to marry into the East Palace, I’ll definitely protect her well. Please help me enter the East Palace.”
Zhou Siming glanced at the jade pendant in Tong Yingying’s hand, and then glanced at Qin Miaomiao who was beside Lin Mo, and hurriedly said to Tong Yingying, “Don’t talk nonsense. Sisi is just a child. How is it possible for her to marry into the East Palace?”
Tong Yingying said, “Cousin, hasn’t Aunt told you? Uncle is already looking for a suitable girl from among our relatives to accompany Sisi into the East Palace!”
Zhou Siming frowned. “Whether Sisi marries into the East Palace or not, you have humiliated the Crown Princess, and you still want to marry into the East Palace?”
Tong Yingying said to Zhou Siming, “Cousin, I know your feelings for me, but I’m a well-educated girl, and my goal is to be a role model for all women in the world. You’re a good man, but you’re not suitable for me!”
Zhou Siming was puzzled. What the heck was she talking about?
“What do you mean by my feelings for you? Can you explain?” Zhou Siming asked.
Tong Yingying said, “Cousin, I know how much you love me, and I also know that you have been staying single for me, but I swore since I was a child that I must marry into the imperial palace and become a role model for all the women in the world…”
Zhou Siming gaped at her. “Who said I love you? Stop talking nonsense!”
If it weren’t for the sake of manners, Zhou Siming would be swearing at this moment!
Tong Yingying handed Zhou Siming’s jade pendant to him and said, “You gave me this heirloom jade pendant back then and wrote to me, saying that if I needed any help in the future, you would try your best to help me. Have you forgotten all of these, Cousin?”
“Or, you just don’t want me to marry the Crown Prince?”
Zhou Siming took back the jade pendant. “Who told you that those letters and the jade pendant were for you?!”
Tong Yingying said to Zhou Siming, “Not for me? Cousin, do you want to deny what you have done? Are you just doing this to stop me from marrying another man?”
Zhou Siming said coldly, “Tong Yingying, you’d better take a mirror and take a good look at yourself. For god’s sake, look at your face, how can I possibly be in love with you?!”
Tong Yingying frowned and said, “But the letters and your jade pendant were given to me by your personal servant. I can confront him.”
The servant next to Zhou Siming hurriedly came out and explained, “Gosh, Miss Tong, didn’t I say those things were for Third Miss Qin at the time? How could you misunderstand that they were for you?”
