NFBE Chapter 187 Your Majesty Grants Marriage
Chapter 187 Your Majesty Grants Marriage
The Chengyang Marquis's martial arts competition took place at the Yueqi Camp, on the north bank of the Wei River, thirty miles north of the capital. Despite its distance from the capital, it was still visited by a constant stream of carriages and pedestrians.
At the gate of Chengyang Marquis Mansion, Lu Mingyang, dressed in military uniform, accompanied Lu Mingyuan into the carriage.
"Sister-in-law Yang!"
A familiar voice came, Lu Mingyang turned around and saw Chu Yueling jumping off the carriage and running towards him.
Behind her was the palace carriage. No wonder she changed her address. Lu Mingyang held Chu Yueling's hand and asked, "Why is the princess here?"
Chu Yueling winked at her, "Grandmother Royal Mother allowed me to watch the Chengyang Marquis's martial arts competition."
"Let's get together then!"
"Okay!" Chu Yueling nodded vigorously.
Lu Mingyang looked at the young eunuch standing beside the carriage and said, "Eunuch, please return to the palace first. I will take Princess Qinghe back to Shoukang Palace after I'm done."
Without waiting for the eunuch to answer, Princess Qinghe pulled Lu Mingyang into the carriage. Lu Mingyuan asked Zhuxin to give him some silver, exchanged a few polite words, and then got into the carriage as well.
Chu Yueling watched the carriage go away, and her eyes suddenly reddened. "Sister-in-law, is there any news about Brother Zhou? His Majesty wants to grant me a marriage. Sister-in-law, please help me. I won't marry anyone else except Brother Zhou."
No wonder His Majesty hasn't mentioned sending someone to send Ling'er back to Jinyang for so many days. Lu Mingyang asked, "What did your elder brother say?"
Chu Yueling burst into tears, "Big brother agreed."
No way! This was clearly Concubine Song's idea. She wanted Ling'er to stay in the capital as an extra bargaining chip to contain him. Lu Mingyang advised: "Your eldest brother is deceiving outsiders. He must be thinking of a way."
"No way!" Chu Yueling said fiercely, "Not only did he agree, he was also very happy. He wished I could give it to that Ministry of Justice Deputy Minister Shen right now..."
"Shen Yan!" Lu Mingyang looked at his elder sister in surprise.
"Yes, it's him." Chu Yueling gritted her teeth and said, "I don't care if he saves salt or rice. If he dares to marry me, I will twist his head off."
"Ling'er, Ling'er, it's not necessary!" Lu Mingyang hurriedly held down Chu Yueling's restless hands.
If it were Shen Yan, everything would make sense.
The Emperor and Concubine Song wanted to keep Ling'er, but they didn't want her to marry into a noble family. In order to add to Chu Mingzheng's help, Shen Yan, a Jinshi from a humble family, was the most suitable candidate.
Chu Mingzheng has always admired Shen Yan, and his confidants are all military generals, so he is naturally willing to go with the flow.
The Queen Mother prefers a harmonious family.
Everyone was satisfied with this matter except Chu Yueling.
Lu Mingyang thought for a moment and said, "Well, I'll discuss this with your eldest brother when I get back home."
"What are we still discussing?" Chu Yueling said anxiously, "Sister-in-law, please help me find out where he lives. We'll go and tie him up today and make him refuse the emperor in person."
Lu Mingyang: “…”
Unexpectedly, Shen Yan also came to watch the martial arts.
Inside the Yueqi Camp, a high arena was built and a huge crowd of people gathered. Shen Yan stood at the camp gate, watching the Chengyang Marquis' carriage stop and stepped forward to salute.
"Your humble servant greets Lord Lu and the princess."
Lu Mingyuan and Lu Mingyang turned their heads at the same time and looked at Chu Yueling on the right.
Chu Yueling was curious: "Sister-in-law Yang, who is this?"
"A friend!" Lu Mingyang hurriedly pulled her inside.
The arena was set up in the center of the camp, with benches placed on the south side, extending in rows to the camp entrance, with men on the left and women on the right.
Yang Nian'er stood on the bench and waved, "Second sister, this way!"
She arrived early to occupy the spot, but she didn't expect there were so many people that she could only occupy the middle spot.
Lu Mingyang pulled Ling'er over and said, "Nian'er, this is Princess Qinghe. Princess, this is my sister."
"As for Yang Nian'er, I know her." Chu Yueling took over the conversation with a look of enthusiasm: "I even spoke for you!"
"Are you speaking for me?" Yang Nian'er was surprised.
"Well, my little sister-in-law," Chu Yueling saw that Nian'er was a little confused, so she said directly, "It's Qin Miao. She told the Empress Dowager that you opened a beverage shop and were so public that you had no sense of shame. I was blaming her. I said your father was also so public that he was so shameless!"
"She got anxious and told me how men and women are the same."
"I said men and women are different. The clothes you wear were woven by women who are known for their appearance in public, and the patterns on the clothes were embroidered by shameless embroiderers. You are wearing shameless clothes, so of course you dare not show your face in public."
"Hey, I made her cry because of you."
These words made Yang Nian'er feel embarrassed: "Princess, why are you speaking up for me?"
Chu Yueling nodded vigorously: "I admire you, I think you are very amazing."
This was the first time someone complimented her like this. Yang Nian'er blushed, "If you don't mind, Princess, please sit with me!"
"Okay!" Chu Yueling walked past Lu Mingyang and sat down next to Yang Nian'er, rubbing her hands with a smile: "Sister Nian'er, after we finish watching, come with me to go somewhere!"
No wonder he's so flattering. Lu Mingyang held his forehead and sat down, whispering, "Ling'er, we need to think about this matter carefully."
There is no time to make long-term plans. She is locked up in Shoukang Palace all day long, so it is not easy for her to get out.
Chu Yueling complained disdainfully: "Sister-in-law, your sisters are so powerful, why are you so cowardly? You should stop being so timid and obedient to your eldest brother all day long. You should make him listen to you."
Lu Mingyang: “…”
Yang Nian'er interrupted: "What's going on?"
Chu Yueling looked at Yang Nian'er and wiped her tears with her sleeves. "I have a man I like, but Uncle Huang wants to marry me to a man I don't even know. His family is poor, and he's stubborn, pedantic, and sick. Do you think I can marry him?"
Unexpectedly, even a princess of such noble status could not escape the fate of being forced into marriage. Yang Nian'er's eyes gradually turned red. "You tell me what to do, I'll help you."
Lu Mingyang was speechless: "Ling'er, I'm a pillar of the country who passed the imperial examination at a young age, how could I be sick?"
"He is so old and still hasn't married. He must be sick." Chu Yueling retorted to her sister-in-law and continued in Yang Nian'er's ear.
Yang Nian'er listened and turned to look at her second sister.
Lu Mingyang nodded slightly. This matter was unavoidable today, so he decided to calm her down first.
Yang Nian'er said: "You can kidnap me, but Lord Shen is a good man, you must not hurt him."
Chu Yueling was surprised: "Do you know him?"
"Yeah! Didn't you just say hello? Right there." Yang Nian'er pointed to Shen Yan's seat. He didn't sit down, but stood right next to the corner of the ring.
"Sister-in-law!" Chu Yueling stood up suddenly.
"Ling'er, sit down first, sit down first!" Lu Mingyang stood up and pressed the girl who was eager to move.
A soldier approached and saluted Lu Mingyang, "Princess, our Captain Pei invites you to take a seat in the front."
"Need not……"
"No need, it's very clear in the front!" Chu Yueling pulled Yang Nian'er and jogged to the front row.
As the hour drew near, a huge crowd of people gathered outside the camp, all craning their heads to peer in. Inside the camp, although Chu Mingzheng hadn't restricted the identities of those entering, he had limited the number of people allowed in, so it was still quite spacious.