Chapter 1970
Late Ming Dynasty 6
Chapter 1970 Late Ming Dynasty 6
Just as Zhao and Qian had this idea, Zhu Youxun's family came to propose marriage.
Zhu Youxun's family was not wealthy, but they held a high social status and were related to the Marquis's family by marriage.
After careful consideration, Lord Liu agreed to the marriage, and the two families began to exchange names and establish a marriage contract.
However, the marriage should take place after Liu Wenqiu comes of age.
Liu Niandong looked at Liu Xueyi expectantly.
Liu Xueyi signaled with his eyes: Leave it to him!
then……
Liu Xueyi never came to the Liu family to study again; he was confined to his home by his own mother.
Liu Xueyi, the legitimate second son of a noble family, should marry a woman of equal social standing, even if she is not a princess or a noblewoman. How could he possibly marry the daughter of a minor official, who is also an illegitimate daughter?
If it were the legitimate daughter, the Lady of the Marquis might give it a second consideration.
However, illegitimate daughters are definitely not on the list of daughters-in-law of the Marquis's wife.
Since Liu Xueyi didn't come, Zhu Youxun naturally didn't come either.
Fortunately, he and Liu Wenqiu were already engaged, which put Liu Wenqiu at ease, unlike Liu Niandong who was filled with anxiety and ultimately disappointed.
She understood that her relationship with Liu Xueyi might be coming to an end.
But how could she accept this?
Liu Xueyi was the best husband she had ever met. What would she do if she missed him?
Her stepmother couldn't choose many families for her, but the old lady wanted her to marry into a family of farmers and scholars.
They were described as noble and refined, but in reality, they were poor.
Having grown accustomed to a comfortable life, she couldn't bear hardship.
Liu Niandong became depressed and brooded, eventually falling ill from the stress.
The doctor arrived and diagnosed Liu Wenqiu with a heart ailment.
The reason for the heartache was clear to everyone in the Liu family except for a few men.
Zhao didn't bother with it anymore, and only instructed the maid to give Liu Wenqiu his medicine on time.
Madam Liu sighed and called the person to her side for a long talk.
Not long after, Liu Niandong recovered from her illness.
Madam Qian pulled Liu Yinxia aside and mocked Liu Niandong: "That girl's ambitions are higher than her fate, she doesn't even know her own status, yet she still wants to climb up to the eldest son of a marquis's family. I wouldn't even dare to think that way..."
The Qian family never intended for Liu Yinxia to marry into a wealthy family.
Firstly, they knew that Liu Yinxia's status as an illegitimate daughter meant she could never become the legitimate wife of a high-ranking family; if she wanted to enter, she could only become someone's concubine.
Madam Qian understood best the hardships of being a concubine, and of course she didn't want her daughter to suffer the same fate.
She hoped her daughter would become someone's legitimate wife.
Secondly, the backyards of wealthy and powerful families are bound to be more troublesome than those of the Liu family, and she doesn't want her daughter to get caught up in the mess.
Therefore, when Liu Xueyi and Zhu Youxun came to the Liu family to study, Madam Qian often told Liu Yinxia to stay away from the two of them.
Liu Yinxia: "Mother, does Father know about this?"
Madam Qian shook her head: "Neither Madam Zhao nor I told him. With your father's temper, if he found out about this, that girl Liu Wenqiu wouldn't survive. He idolizes Hai Rui the most..."
What is Hai Rui most famous for?
Besides his fearlessness in the face of power and his incorruptibility as an official, his harsh treatment of his daughter, who was only a few years old, was the reason he drove her to her death using so-called traditional ethics.
Although Lord Liu is not as extreme as Hai Rui, it is uncertain whether he will deal with Liu Niandong, given that his family's reputation is at stake.
They might not kill Liu Niandong, but more likely send him to a temple to live a life of quiet contemplation.
Although Zhao and Qian disliked Liu Niandong, they had no grudges against her and couldn't bear to see her, a young girl, spend her life as a Buddhist nun.
Of course, this is because Liu Niandong did not harm the interests of their children.
If they really hurt someone, neither of them will show any mercy.
Three months later, the Liu family finally understood why Liu Niandong had cheered up. It was because Old Madam Liu had used her connections to put Liu Niandong's name on the talent show list.
This imperial concubine selection will not only bring new women into the emperor's harem, but will also select a princess for Prince Xin, Zhu Youjian, who has reached the age of sixteen.
Liu Niandong wanted to take a gamble.
With her beauty, she would have been more than qualified to enter the emperor's harem.
If she could meet Prince Xin, she would definitely try her best to impress him and become his consort.
Full of fighting spirit, Liu Niandong left the Liu family to participate in the imperial selection at the palace.
Seven days after she left home, an imperial edict arrived.
The Liu family thought Liu Niandong had been chosen, but the imperial decree was actually given to Liu Yinxia.
Liu Yinxia was betrothed to Prince Xin, Zhu Youjian, and became his consort.
Everyone thought they had misheard; it should be Liu Niandong, right?
Liu Yinxia did not participate in the talent show.
The eunuch delivering the imperial decree cheerfully announced that although the second young lady of the Liu family had not participated in the imperial selection, Prince Xin had personally petitioned the emperor to grant him and Liu Yinxia a marriage.
Everyone in the Liu family looked at Liu Yinxia.
Lord Liu: "Second daughter, when did you meet Prince Xin?"
Liu Yinxia whispered, "We've known each other since we were little."
Lord Liu: "What?"
Liu Yinxia: "You all know him too, he's Liu Deyue."
Everyone exclaimed in unison: "What? Liu Deyue is Prince Xin?"
Liu Yinxia: "Liu is his mother's surname, and Deyue is his courtesy name."
No one expected that the young master who often came to their house to play with Liu Tong was Prince Xin. Their daughter had even saved Prince Xin's life, and the two could be considered childhood sweethearts.
Madam Qian was overjoyed; her daughter had become a princess!
Although she married into a prestigious family, the most prestigious one at that, she was the principal wife, not a concubine who could be beaten and scolded at will. Her status was guaranteed, and she didn't have to live a hard life!
Zhao looked at Qian with jealousy.
Although her daughter also married into the Zhu family, the status of a member of the imperial clan is vastly different from that of the emperor's own brother.
Lord Liu was also very pleased. After placing the imperial edict properly, he discussed with Old Madam Liu, Madam Zhao, and Madam Qian about preparing a dowry for Liu Yinxia.
While happy, Madam Liu was also worried about Liu Niandong in the palace, wondering how she was doing.
Princess Xin has already been betrothed to Liu Yinxia, so the best outcome for Liu Niandong is to enter the palace.
That night, Liu Tong and Liu Yinxia slipped out of the Liu family home again, jumped over the wall, and saw Liu Deyue, oh no, Zhu Youjian, waving at them from not far away.
The three of them have known each other for seven or eight years and have a very good relationship.
One day, the three of them went out of town to play and encountered bandits. Liu Dong and Liu Yinxia beat the bandits so badly that they ran away with their heads in their hands.
Zhu Youjian thus learned that both siblings knew martial arts, and he pestered Liu Tong to learn martial arts as well.
Liu Tong really wanted to teach Zhu Youjian the Sunflower Manual that had appeared in his mind.
But in the end, he only taught Zhu Youjian the Northern Darkness Divine Skill.
Zhu Youjian's aptitude was not particularly good; after several years of cultivation, he had only just begun to learn.
Liu Dong and Liu Yinxia caught several scoundrels in the martial arts world and had Zhu Youjian absorb their internal energy.
Therefore, Zhu Youjian is now considered a top-notch martial arts master, able to easily escape from the Prince Xin's mansion without being discovered by the guards.
The three of them, relying on their superior agility, often went out together at night.
Liu Tong and Liu Yinxia even took Zhu Youjian to a casino.
This time, the three of them specifically sought out casinos with bad reputations, where they made a fortune, each winning ten thousand taels of silver.