dtnovels Chapter 233 Hard to Refuse
Chapter 233 Hard to Refuse
"Marriage?"
These two words made Liu Yuechu's eyes widen; she was indeed quite surprised.
"Who is it that wants to arrange a marriage for my elder brother?"
"They didn't say anything. I came to see you as soon as I heard the news. The eldest young master is at the horse farm. Uncle Chun has already sent someone to deliver a message. It seems that he has received news that the eldest young master should go directly to the palace," said Liu Fujia.
Liu Yuechu instantly lost her appetite for the delicious food. Why was she suddenly being forced into marriage?
She quickly summoned the palanquin outside and headed straight for the gate. Huang Wanwan's good mood had vanished. "...Should I wait for you in the courtyard? It's not appropriate for me to go to the gate to meet the palace people."
Liu Yuechu turned her head and saw that Huang Wanwan's expression was not good.
"What's wrong with you?"
"It's alright, go ahead," Huang Wanwan urged.
Liu Yuechu was anxious, so she told her to wait in the courtyard and hurried to the gate.
Meanwhile, the eunuch who came to deliver the message also heard that Liu Yuechu wanted to ask a few questions, so he sat in the gatehouse drinking tea and waiting for her.
"Is Lady Liu well?" The young eunuch immediately stood up to greet Liu Yuechu.
"What's going on? Why the sudden bestowal of a marriage? Which household's lady has been chosen? I've never heard of this idea in the palace before." She asked several questions in a row.
As if he had anticipated her question, the young eunuch answered respectfully, "It is because Consort Yu feels apologetic about what happened before, that she specifically requested His Majesty's permission to arrange a marriage for the eldest son of the Liu family."
"The chosen bride is the young lady from the Left Chancellor's household; she is sixteen years old this year."
Liu Yuechu had just summoned Granny Fang to come along, and Granny Fang arrived at the door just in time to hear this.
The old woman was very surprised. "That's the daughter of the Left Chancellor's family." The look in her eyes when she looked at Liu Yuechu clearly said that our young master was not good enough for her.
Liu Yuechu really didn't know who this young lady was, but when she heard the words "Zuo Chengfu", she knew that it would be hard to refuse.
"But my elder brother seems to already have someone he loves, so perhaps he will have to disappoint Consort Yu's good intentions."
"Her Highness the Imperial Concubine was afraid that the young master had his own plans, so she specially summoned him to the palace to ask. But which mansion's lady can compare to the young lady of the Left Chancellor's mansion?" The eunuch smiled broadly, even revealing his threshold for refusal.
Liu Yuechu bit her lip. "This is, after all, a family matter of the Liu family. I should go to the palace to thank the Imperial Concubine for her grace..." If she didn't go with her, wouldn't Liu Musheng be completely fooled?
The young eunuch quickly said, "This matter concerns the eldest son. Her Highness the Consort specifically instructed that Lady Liu should not be disturbed. She should simply stay at home and rest during her pregnancy, and wait for the good news."
……
Having said everything he needed to say, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and left the Liu residence to return to the palace to report back.
Liu Yuechu gave Huajiao a reward, and then sat down in the gatehouse to ask Granny Fang, "Who is this young lady from the Left Chancellor's residence? I don't recognize her at all; I don't think I've ever seen her before?"
"She was a famous talented woman in the capital, and the most beloved daughter of the Left Chancellor. Many sons of dukes and marquises had their eyes on her, but the Left Chancellor refused them all." Granny Fang's expression grew increasingly unpleasant as she spoke.
This ancestor is going to marry Liu Musheng?
What merit or ability does Liu Musheng possess to accept this?
"No need to be so polite, just say that my elder brother is not good enough for you."
"So there's something wrong with this matter. What is it all about?" Fang Mama naturally didn't believe that Consort Yu really felt any guilt towards the Liu family, giving up her best daughter of marriageable age to Liu Musheng.
Liu Yuechu reacted very quickly, "What else could it be? To become the eldest sister-in-law, to seize the power in my hands, and to take control of the Liu family's money."
She had learned this lesson the hard way in her past life, so she reacted immediately.
In her past life, she was helpless against a mere concubine's daughter from a prefectural governor's household, but now a wolves and tigers from the Left Chancellor's household have come to her?
If this woman were to marry into the family, she, a mere fifth-rank concubine, would not be able to resist her.
"I'm afraid my brother won't be able to refuse, so he'll have to bite the bullet and agree." She guessed that Liu Musheng would definitely back down.
Granny Fang sighed, "Otherwise, shall I go to the palace gate to greet them?"
"What are you welcoming? Come back and wait." Liu Yuechu thought of her missing father again.
If he were in the capital, as a father, there might still be room for maneuver.
Even if she were the eldest daughter of the Liu family, it would be impossible for her to overstep her seniority and interfere in Liu Musheng's marriage. Moreover, Princess Chen, his adoptive mother, was not in the capital. Even if she were, she probably wouldn't be able to stop Consort Yu's "good intentions."
She and Granny Fang didn't say much, and went straight back to Yuanchu Pavilion to wait.
"Where's Wanwan?" Liu Yuechu returned to the courtyard, but Huang Wanwan was not there.
Gu Yu hurriedly said, "Miss Wanwan said that her mistress had something to attend to here, so she went back first. She left through the side gate, not the main gate."
Liu Yuechu couldn't help but sigh; she had left first after all.
“It’s fine if she leaves, otherwise we can’t take care of her.” After considering it, she sent someone to find Chen Zhongyao. “We must tell my sworn brother about this. He’s the only one who can make decisions about my elder brother’s marriage.”
……
Liu Musheng was summoned from the horse farm to the palace, and by the time he returned home, it was already dark.
He was absent-minded and dazed the whole way. When he returned home, he found Xia Zhi already waiting for him. "The master has been waiting for the young master and wants you to go directly to her courtyard after you return."
Liu Musheng nodded and went to see Liu Yuechu.
Seeing his dazed expression, Liu Yuechu knew he must have agreed.
"You didn't refuse? You agreed?"
"How can I refuse? What face do I have to refuse?" Liu Musheng didn't sit in the chair, but sat directly on the steps by the door. He sighed, obviously not very satisfied with this bestowed marriage. "The Imperial Concubine's few words left me speechless and trembling all over. I can't do anything except kneel down to express my gratitude."
"Did you see the daughter of the Left Chancellor?" Liu Yuechu asked directly.
Liu Musheng shook his head, "I didn't see her. It seemed like she was behind the screen."
"But you said before that you had someone you liked, why didn't you bring it up?" Liu Yuechu thought that he would at least say a few words and try to smooth things over. Since he agreed so decisively, there was nothing he could do but respectfully marry a princess.
Liu Musheng moved his lips, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
But he was really upset inside. "What can I say? If the Imperial Concubine asks me who my sweetheart is, and I tell her name, she'll keep asking me questions. How can the daughter of the Left Chancellor's family compare to such a woman?"
"Moreover, mentioning her is tantamount to putting her on the fire."
"Besides, she might not even like me. I don't need to push her to the front to be a target. That would be too inhuman of me."
……
Liu Yuechu stared in disbelief, as if she didn't recognize the person in front of her. "Are you really in love? You've never been this attentive to me before."
Who exactly have you set your sights on?