Qiao Ruoyi waited for the people from the Marquis Jingwu Manor to leave before she took the thousand taels of silver from the pawnshop and left.
Qiao Ruoyi had something on her mind, so she did not notice Xie Yun, who had brushed past her.
Xie Yun did see Qiao ruoyi, but he thought that he had seen wrongly. He entered the door and asked the manager of the pawnshop, “Was the person who left just now the fifth miss of the Qiao Family?”
“Yes, Master.”
Xie Yun frowned slightly and said, “Today, the imperial court has just paid her salary. Why did she come to the pawnshop to pawn?”
How could the marquis an Yuan’s manor let their daughter be short of silver? Why would she need to come to the pawnshop to pawn?
The shopkeeper said, “Master, you may not know this, but this fifth young miss has a lot of calligraphy and painting. Therefore, she would come to the pawnshop to pawn some of the jewelry and clothes given by the manor to exchange for some calligraphy and painting. This fifth young miss is really pitiful.
“If she wasn’t the daughter of a concubine, with her current status, why would she fill the room for Marquis Jingwu? That Marquis Jingwu is only two years younger than Marquis an Yuanhou.”
In the bookstore.
When Qiao Ruoyi arrived, she saw that Gu Kaizhi’s Weimojie portrait, which had been in the bookstore for a long time, had disappeared.
“Fifth lady, I’m really sorry. I’ve been waiting for you for three months for this painting, but you still can’t gather enough silver. Yesterday, the head of the Xie family saw this portrait and bought it for three thousand taels of silver. I’m really sorry.”
When Qiao Ruoyi heard the shopkeeper say this, she could only say, “It’s just that I have no fate with the painting.”
The shopkeeper said, “There are still a few imitations here. Do you want to take a look?”
Qiao ruoyi said, “There’s no need. After all, the imitations are not authentic.”
Qiao ruoyi left the bookstore. The scorching sun in the sky was extremely dazzling. She could not help but laugh at herself and said to the servant girl, “Go to the Changle Palace and hand over a post.”
..
In the Changle Palace, Qiao Jinniang had just rested in the afternoon. When she heard that Qiao Ruoyi had passed her a post, she ordered someone to let her in.
Qiao ruoyi saw Qiao Jinniang putting on her makeup and said sweetly, “Sister, even if you don’t put on makeup, you’re still extremely beautiful.”
Qiao Jinniang said to Qiao ruoyi, “Why are you here?”
Qiao ruoyi said, “Sister, today, the old madam of the Marquis of Jingwu came to tell me about the marriage.”
Qiao jinniang said, “Although the heir apparent of the Marquis of Jingwu is young, he is handsome. He is a good match for you.”
“Not the heir apparent of the Marquis of Jingwu, but the Marquis of Jingwu,”Qiao Ruoyi said, “Sister, can I be the wife of the Marquis of Jingwu? Although he is much older than me, he should dote on me. If there is a difference in age, it is inevitable that there will be some bumps and bruises.”
Qiao jinniang said in surprise, “The Marquis of Jingwu? His age should be about the same as father’s. How could he have the nerve to eat young grass at such an age?
“Moreover, he already has a legitimate son and daughter, and also a bastard son and daughter. How tiring it must be for you to marry such a cheap mother. His legitimate daughter is now fourteen years old and is about to discuss the marriage. This marriage is terrible.” It would be better to be Princess Lu!
It’s not like Chang ‘an really doesn’t have any young talents. Even if you look for a commoner, it would be better than finding a husband!”
Qiao ruoyi said softly, “Sister, but low-class scholars would also look down on me as an illegitimate son and not look down on me. They probably want to get some benefits from marquis an Yuan’s estate.
“I shouldn’t be picky. There are many disputes in the backyard of King Lu. Concubine Jian is also extremely powerful. I can’t Oppress King Lu.
“Although mother-in-law is also powerful when I marry Marquis Jing Wu, she still wants to see the power of my family behind me. The legitimate son is already old. I Won’t fight with him for the Marquis Manor’s title.
“Even the legitimate daughter and daughter-in-law have to rely on me to find a marriage for them. They definitely won’t be disrespectful to a stepmother like me.”
Qiao jinniang said unhappily, “Then what if the heir-son of the Marquis of Jingwu Gets Married? You also said that old Madam Sun is powerful. What if she controls the power of the household and marries the granddaughter-in-law all of a sudden?”
“Ruoyi, there are still many marriages that you can choose…”
Qiao ruoyi looked at the Jinniang and said, “Are there really many?”? Among the families that had been talking about marriage all these years, this marriage was already pretty good. The Marquis of Jingwu was capable and was a second-rank high official. I think he could also guide me in the officialdom.
“Sister… I think this marriage is very good.”
Qiao ruoyi then said to Qiao jinniang, “Mother Doesn’t know about this marriage yet. I’m afraid that mother won’t agree to it. I beg sister to persuade Mother.”
The jinniang sighed and said, “I can’t even convince myself to marry my sister to such an old man.”
Qiao ruoyi pulled on Qiao Jinniang’s sleeve and said, “Sister, this marriage is really very good for me.”
Qiao Jinniang said, “You go and persuade mother on your own. I won’t interfere, but I won’t help you persuade father and mother. You are so young and beautiful, why do you look down on yourself?”
Qiao ruoyi said, “Sister, I am a concubine’s daughter. I don’t mind other things, but when it comes to marriage, I still have to put myself in a proper position.”
Qiao Jinniang had not seen many fights between heirs and concubines in Lin ‘an. After coming to Chang ‘an, most of the people who interacted with her were also legitimate daughters. They did not know the difference between heirs and concubines.
It was only when she became the Crown Princess Consort and saw the marriage alliances between the various noble families in Chang ‘an that she realized the difference between heirs and concubines.
“Ruoyi, don’t belittle yourself too much. which young man do you like? Tell me. I don’t believe that they dare to defy my next marriage decree. And they dare to despise you as a legitimate daughter?”
Qiao ruoyi said, “I’m afraid that old man Hong Yang will really spill blood in the main hall and scold sister for being a demon Empress.”
“I’m not afraid of them. ruoyi, I’m not joking,”Qiao Jinniang said. “You might as well be younger. There’s no need to be so anxious.”
Qiao ruoyi said, “Yes, I know sister is good, but I still think that this marriage is extremely good.”
Qiao Jinniang:”…”
..
Three days later, the old madam of the Marquis of Jingwu invited the Marquise of Wu An to come as the iceman to accept the marriage proposal.
Zheng Xiao changed into a new set of clothes early in the morning and happily welcomed the old madam and the Marquise of Wu An. The two live geese at the door croaked.
The old madam of the Marquis of Jingwu said, “Madam Qiao, I’m really sorry. The Marquis of Jingwu just received an imperial edict and went to suppress the bandits. It’s not good for him to come personally today to propose the marriage.”
Zheng Xiao said, “It’s fine, it’s fine. Why Can’t I See Young Master Sun?”
The old madam of the Marquis of Jingwu said, “Madam Qiao, are you referring to my grandson? This father is looking for his stepmother. It’s not appropriate for him to come along with his stepson to propose marriage.”
Zheng Xiao’s face instantly turned ashen. Just as he was about to wave his sleeves and chase them away, he saw Qiao ruoyi gracefully walk over. She bowed to the old madam of the Marquis of Jingwu and said, “Auntie, you’re here. Please come in.”
Zheng Xiao smiled apologetically at the two madam marquises and said, “The two madam marquises need to rest for a while. Ruoyi and I have something to say.”
Zheng Xiao brought Qiao ruoyi to a remote courtyard. He frowned and asked, “Did you know that the marriage that the Marquis of Jingwu came to talk about was not for the heir-son of the Marquis of Jingwu, but for the Marquis of Jingwu?”
“This marriage is extremely inappropriate. The Marquis of Jingwu is only three years younger than your father. He already has all the legitimate children, illegitimate children, and illegitimate children in the manor! If he marries over, he will have to fill up the house. I Won’t agree to this marriage.”
Qiao ruoyi said, “Mother, this marriage is extremely good. I don’t want to talk about other marriages anymore. Every time I talk about it, I will be trampled on by others. The illegitimate daughter is the illegitimate daughter. It is already extremely good that I can have this marriage.”
“Ruoyi, but…”
Qiao ruoyi only said, “Mother, I have admired Marquis Jingwu for a long time.”
Zheng Xiao could only sigh when he heard Qiao Ruoyi’s sincere expression. “Sigh!”
