After comforting the old madam, Mo Xuetong had lunch at Fu General Manor. She chatted with Luo Mingzhu happily. After that, Mo Xuetong felt a little tired and she returned home with her maids after informing the old madam. Luo Mingzhu sent them to the door and bid her farewell reluctantly. Then, she told Mo Xuetong to be careful with her injured hands again and nagged at her to not touch water before she was healed.
Mo Xuetong agreed with everything she said and reassured her that she would not do anything but rest at home. Then, Luo Mingzhu allowed her to leave, satisfied.
“Second Miss, Old Madam wants you to look for her once you are done sending Miss Mo off.” Nanny Shen arrived in a hurry and said to Luo Mingzhu. She was the old madam’s personal maid.
“What does Grandmother want?” Luo Mingzhu agreed and asked curiously as she followed Nanny Shen into the house. Her grandmother had been worried about Cousin Tong before she arrived but why was her grandmother so distracted the moment Cousin Tong arrived? Even though her grandmother was still worried about her cousin’s injuries, she had been looking at Luo Mingzhu thoughtfully.
“Second Miss, you just have to go. Second Sir and His Excellency have already been there.” Nanny Shen answered with a smile.
Her father and eldest brother have all gone to her grandmother’s. It must be something big. Luo Mingzhu did not dare to dawdle and she hurried inside.
Nanny Shen did not follow her in when she lifted the curtains. Instead, she sat at the entrance of the hall and started on her needlework.
Luo Mingzhu entered the room and felt that it was rather stifling. Her grandmother was seated on the couch with a grave and worried expression while her father and eldest brother were seated on both sides of her. Even though she could not tell whether they were happy or angry through their expressions, it was obvious that they were feeling troubled. They wore frowns on their faces.
Before she could speak, the old madam pointed to the side and said, “Mingzhu, sit down too.”
“Mother…” Luo Bin looked up and said.
“Zhu’er is grown up too and there are some things that she can know about. There is no need to hide it from her. When will she grow up if you all keep protecting her? A family like ours will have to bear as much responsibility as the blessings we receive. This matter involves her. We should tell her about it so she can make decisions about it.” The old madam said lightly, her expression calming down.
“Grandmother, Father. Did something happen?” Luo Mingzhu was shocked when she heard what the old madam said. She sat down beside the old madam and tugged on her sleeves while questioning her anxiously. She looked like an adorable child.
“Zhu’er, you’re grown up now. Why are you still behaving like that? You do not behave like an adult at all. Look at your cousin, she is so young but has suffered so much. Your aunt passed away early and she grew up early as well.” The old madam could not help but pat Luo Mingzhu’s head when she saw her expression as she lamented.
“Cousin Tong had no one to dote on her in the past, but she has you now! You have to dote on her plenty and it will not be as tough on her then.” Luo Mingzhu’s eyes sparkled and she smiled.
The old madam sighed and then patted Luo Mingzhu’s head again. One could not tell what she was thinking.
The room quietened down. Luo Bin and Luo Wenyou did not speak. The room was heavy with silence and it made it feel as if there was a breath stuck in one’s chest. Luo Mingzhu’s eyes turned grave. She knew that something happened and she stopped fooling around. Instead, she listened to what her grandmother had to say quietly.
“Zhu’er, King Ning, Feng Yuzhen, wants to marry you. Are you willing?” The old madam said gravely after a moment, looking at Luo Mingzhu.
King Ning, Feng Yuzhen?
Luo Mingzhu’s mouth opened in shock. She could not understand what the old madam had said at that moment. Her eyes were filled with confusion.
“I heard that King Ning, Feng Yuzhen, is very close to the Grand Secretariat’s daughter. There were rumors about them a long time again in the capital. It is not news.” Luo Wenyou was not truly a useless scholar. He looked up at Luo Mingzhu with solemn eyes.
Luo Mingzhu blinked and understood after a moment. Her expression turned from confusion to shock.
The matter was not any secret news in the capital. Grand Secretariat Wang was Feng Yuzhen’s teacher and was also very close to the Empress. They naturally had a good relationship. Rumors said that the young Miss Wang was very interested in King Ning. Wang Xiuxiu, Luo Mingzhu, and a few other young ladies were very close as well and would mention King Ning, Feng Yuzhen, from time to time. Their interest in him was known to all.
Even though King Ning was sent away to become a hostage son, and Wang Xiuxiu gradually stopped mentioning him, they could still see that something was going on as time passed. Wang Xiuxiu and Feng Yuzhen were truly in love with each other. Otherwise, Wang Xiuxiu would not be so anxious whenever she heard any news about King Ning, Feng Yuzhen.
Shouldn’t a man like that marry Wang Xiuxiu?
“Grandmother, Feng Yuzhen and Wang Xiuxiu…” Luo Mingzhu muttered. It was after all, inappropriate for a girl to talk about her own marriage. However, Luo Mingzhu trusted her grandmother. Her father had asked her about it so seriously, and there must definitely be a reason for that. As such, she ignored her embarrassment and tried to look up and pretend to be calm and composed.
However, her ears were flushed.
“Wang Xiuxiu is King Yan’s second consort now. She entered King Yan’s Manor yesterday.” The old madam said lightly.
Of course, this incident was not the main reason for King Ning’s proposal. The Empress Dowager had been extremely friendly to the old madam recently. The old madam thought that it was because the Empress Dowager was getting on the years and was ill, so she missed her old friends. They were close friends when they were younger. However, the Empress Dowager married the then Emperor, and they gradually grew apart given the difference in their statuses.
However, they had still been friends as children. As such, the old madam did not give it much thought at first.
She only understood when Mo Xuetong mentioned it.
“How did Wang Xiuxiu become King Yan’s second consort? Wasn’t the one she liked King Ning?!” The marriage had happened yesterday and there were a bunch of reasons that could not be clearly explained. It had something to do with the royal family’s image and no one dared to spread rumors about it. Luo Mingzhu rarely went out and this was her first time hearing about it. She could not help but felt that the whole situation was odd.
“The Emperor bestowed the marriage in an edict. Who would dare to go against it? King Ning is on the way back. If the Empress Dowager decrees that you marry King Ning, Zhu’er, what do you think about that?” The old madam picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. She looked at Luo Mingzhu deeply.
“Grandmother, I am not willing!” Since her grandmother had asked her, Luo Mingzhu decided to speak up about what she thought. She knew about some things since she lived in such a family. She knew that the Empress Dowager would not bestow marriage upon her and King Ning for no reason.
If she were to be dragged into those murky waters, her entire family would definitely fall as well!
This was not just a simple marriage anymore.
“Zhu’er, why are you unwilling?” Luo Bin asked, looking at his daughter.
“King Ning, Feng Yuzhen is the Empress Dowager’s biological grandson, and he is also a legitimate son. I heard that the previous Emperor once wanted to make the old King Ning the crown prince when he was on the throne. King Ning would have become the next Emperor. However, he died early and the throne went to the current Emperor. Father, I don’t know how others think but this is what I think. The utmost highest position was right in front of them, but then, it floated away…” Luo Mingzhu looked at Luo Bin and tried to hide the furious beating of her heart.
If there was something that you would never be able to touch, you would respect and admire it.
However, when it was something that you could reach out and take hold of but then, it floated away, further and further away from you, how would you feel? You would feel that the thing belonged to you. Why did someone else take it away? You would fight hard for it, and…
This was something Cousin Tong had told her earlier with a smile. She had held on to Luo Mingzhu’s hand then. Luo Mingzhu did not understand why her cousin would say something like this. Now, she understood completely. She suddenly felt that her cousin was talking about this matter. Cousin Tong had told her many things, but these words were the main point.
A flash of delight appeared in Luo Bin’s eyes when he looked at his obedient daughter. His daughter was not a useless girl. She had a keen sense too. He turned to look at the old madam and said, “Mother, Zhu’er has thought about this clearly. You deal with it as you deem fit. No matter what… we cannot drag the whole family into it.”
It was clear what the Empress Dowager was planning. She wanted to use Luo Wenyou’s power with the military to fight for King Ning. The Empress Dowager and King Ning were too good at plotting.
“There are still more than ten days. The journey from Yan Kingdom to Qin Kingdom…” The old madam said meaningfully.
“Grandmother, that’s impossible!” Luo Wenyou said urgently, his heart chilled.
“Rest assured. I will not do such dangerous things.” The old madam looked at Luo Wenyou who had not managed to remain calm. She had never thought of causing an accident for King Ning on his way to the Qin Kingdom. Doing something like this was considered treason. Fu General Manor had already been involved in an incident and they must not make another wrong move.
“Mother, engage Zhu’er to someone these few days.” Luo Bin said as he also looked at his disgruntled nephew.
Luo Mingzhu was so shocked her lips trembled. She did not know what to say as she wrung the handkerchief she held under her sleeves tightly. How could she not be worried when her marriage was planned so hastily? However, when she thought of the plot the Empress Dowager and King Ning cooked up, she could only purse her lips tightly.
“Second Uncle, is that not too hurried?” Luo Wenyou who had just relaxed slightly grew worried again. A young lady of Luo Mingzhu’s status should have a long engagement process. It was not appropriate for her to be engaged so hastily. How could they tell others to hurry the entire negotiation process?
Luo Wenyou and Luo Mingzhu grew up together by the old madam’s side. Even though they were cousins, they were as close as siblings. He was worried that Luo Mingzhu would not marry well because of the haste.
However, there was no other way out. The Empress Dowager would not be able to say anything if Luo Mingzhu were engaged.
Everyone knew that but this was extremely unfair toward Luo Mingzhu. Her future might be affected if her marriage were to be settled so hastily. Everyone only got engaged after asking around several times. The official engagement process only started once every criterion was met. Everyone knew how important marriage was to a girl.
This was also what the old madam was worried about. She even asked Luo Mingzhu about it especially. The old madam doted on her only unmarried granddaughter and wanted to keep the girl by her side for another year. As such, they had not negotiated an engagement for her. However, she did not expect that the Empress Dowager would take advantage of this. There was no other way out in their hurry.
“Grandmother, Zhu’er will leave my marriage for you to decide.” Luo Mingzhu’s heart fluttered. She said firmly, disregarding the embarrassment she felt. She understood what the old madam meant.
In order not to implicate her family lest they were drawn into King Ning’s and the Empress Dowager’s plot, she had to settle her marriage as soon as possible. The last dateline was in ten days. If they waited for the Empress Dowager to issue a decree, Fu General Manor would not be able to refuse the marriage. Luo Mingzhu knew that she had to get engaged and it had to be done quickly so that the Empress Dowager would not be able to say anything even when she found out.
“Zhu’er!” The old madam was reassured when she saw how sensible her granddaughter was. She looked at the girl’s beautiful face and felt sad. She reached out to hug Luo Mingzhu and sighed softly. She had postponed her precious granddaughter’s engagement because she doted on her. However, she did not expect that it would harm Luo Mingzhu instead.
“Mother, you do not need to be sad. It might not necessarily be a bad thing for the engagement to go through quickly. I will definitely find a satisfactory husband for Zhu’er. He does not need to be wealthy but at least he has to treat Zhu’er well.” Luo Bin stood up and said. Given Fu General Manor’s abilities now, what they wanted was not another powerful faction to work together with. If there was too much power between several big manors, it would only cause the Emperor to feel threatened. Luo Mingzhu might as well marry down.
For one, it would make the Emperor feel assured. On the other hand, they could make sure that Luo Mingzhu would not be bullied after she got married. With Fu General Manor as their backing, no one would dare to look down on Luo Mingzhu.
“Find someone who has a strong character and will. Don’t find a man who cannot take any beatings…” The old madam patted Luo Mingzhu’s head and said softly.
They had to find a man of strong character who can withstand storms. No one would know how the fight for the throne would turn out. If it implicated Fu General Manor, they had to make sure Zhu’er had strong and firm support. They must not let the same tragedy happen again!
How could a girl with many burdens not be weak and sickly? She would then die young…
