Chapter 1343 - 22: Son
Yun Chu raised her hand to her forehead, she knew Shen Junshan visiting her big brother wasn’t a good thing; this wasn’t just speaking, but daggers were popping out along with the words.
However, these words hit Yun Chu right in her heart.
Actually, she and her second brother have said these words quite often, but no matter who said them, her big brother insisted with a righteous stand, claiming he was enduring humiliation for the sake of Wenyuan Bo Mansion.
It drove them half-dead with anger, yet he still acted according to his own will.
Now it’s Shen Junshan’s turn to make him eat crow, and he can’t utter a single word.
Young Master An was so angry that the taste of blood surged up in his mouth, and his mind was tangled, not knowing how to reply for a long while.
Seeing him silent, Shen Junshan said, "Why aren’t you speaking? Was it something I said that was unpleasant, are you mad at me?"
Young Master An even wanted to kick Shen Junshan out of the mansion.
But he only dared to think about it, and still had to accompany it with a smiling face saying, "What are you talking about, Second Young Master Shen, you’re our Wenyuan Bo Mansion’s benefactor for helping us redress, even if you want my life, I wouldn’t dare utter a word of complaint."
Shen Junshan touched his nose and looked at Yun Chu.
He initially felt a tiny bit guilty towards Yun Chu for breaking Young Master An’s leg.
Now hearing Young Master An say this, that tiny bit of guilt vanished instantly.
Well, Young Master An knew clearly if he’d even give his life, what’s a broken leg then?
Young Master An didn’t want to see Shen Junshan anymore, afraid he’d get angered to death if not falling to death, he cried out in pain, and Eldest Young Madam An hurriedly called for a doctor.
Things got chaotic in the room, Second Young Master An invited Shen Junshan to the flower hall for a conversation.
Once all left, Young Master An’s face was longer than a horse’s, while Eldest Young Madam An was even more indignant, "Thank goodness the Empress Dowager granted marriage to Second Young Master Shen, otherwise if Yun Chu marries him, who knows in whose hands your uncle’s title would end up."
Hmm.
Shen Junshan left.
But it wasn’t just Shen Junshan, there were Hidden Guards lurking around.
Openly telling Young Master An that Lady Ji Bei worries her son might be beaten to death on the street, so she must have sent people to follow, yet they smiled in front, secretly holding such thoughts behind.
The Hidden Guard had never seen someone this foolish before; their Second Young Master, although a bit of a rogue, once he sets his heart on a girl, it’s forever, he can cause trouble as well as take responsibility, how shallow Young Master An must be to choose to obstruct rather than marry Miss An to their Second Young Master.
Their Second Young Master dares even to hit the Second Young Master of Duke Chong, would he care about a mere Young Master An?
Running around for Wenyuan Bo Mansion, yet met with such fate, breaking his leg is truly too light!
Shen Junshan stayed at Wenyuan Bo Mansion for another quarter of an hour, knowing it’s his time to leave, Eldest Young Madam An went to send him off.
Then, just as she stepped out of the courtyard, she saw Yun Chu and Second Young Master An seeing Shen Junshan off from afar, she stepped down the stairs, and ended up tumbling forward, fall face first into the dirt, twisting her waist.
The maid helped her up, and she cried out in pain continuously.
In front of Wenyuan Bo Mansion’s gate, Shen Junshan flipped onto his horse, looking at Yun Chu.
Yun Chu’s eyes dodged, not daring to meet his gaze; Shen Junshan smiled and took out an invitation from his bosom, saying to Yun Chu, "Forgot to mention, Ningning invited you to the mansion to admire the flowers."
After speaking, he tossed the invitation out, which Second Young Master An caught casually.
He didn’t open it but handed it to Yun Chu.
Yun Chu accepted the invitation, saying, "I will certainly go."
Shen Junshan chuckled, mounted his horse, and left.
Yun Chu thought it was an invitation from Yan Ning, although deeming it unnecessary, if it’s written, it’s sure to involve numerous noble girls.
Yet upon entering the mansion and opening the invitation, it wasn’t an invitation for flower appreciation from Yan Ning, it was Shen Junshan inviting her for a boat ride!
Yun Chu stomped in anger, how could one fool people this way; yet she agreed, and agreed right in front of her second brother.
Trying hard to avoid him, yet forced closer to him.
Shen Junshan rode his horse back to the mansion, but while passing a bustling street, he encountered Heir of Duke Chong, Shangguan Ji, galloping back to the mansion.
Riding urgently, the whip snapping swiftly, yet the guard was behind.
Shen Junshan stopped the guard asking, "Why the rush, is something wrong?"
The guard laughed, "Just now, a messenger from Duke Mansion reported that the Heir’s wife is in childbirth, the heir is rushing back to the mansion."
After speaking, the guard chased after Shangguan Ji who ran far.
Shen Junshan thought he needed to congratulate having another nephew added to the family.
Since he was going to congratulate, he had to present a gift.
He dismounted and entered a shop to choose a greeting gift.
By the time he finished picking the gift and returned home, the news of the Duchess of Chong giving birth to a big fat son had already reached Jibei Marquis Mansion.
He carried the gift home, where Lady Ji Bei was urging the Eldest Young Master Shen to quickly marry his wife and give her a grandson soon.
After urging the Eldest Young Master Shen, she urged the Second Young Master Shen, who hurriedly said, "Mother, I am the third son. Shouldn’t you be focusing on my second brother before urging me?"
Lady Ji Bei gave him a fierce glare.
He brought up what shouldn’t be mentioned!
Third Young Master Shen didn’t take it seriously. He knew his second brother well; urging him wasn’t urging him to marry the second sister-in-law decreed by the Empress Dowager, but to quickly break off the engagement.
The second brother wasn’t in a hurry, but he was anxious.
Shen Junshan walked in and said, "Mother hasn’t seen Brother Shangguan’s son; is she that envious?"
"Dragons give birth to dragons; phoenixes give birth to phoenixes. Prince Shangguan is outstanding, will his son be any less?" Lady Ji Bei retorted.
Shen Junshan sat down, took tea to quench his thirst, and said, "Since Mother likes Brother Shangguan’s son so much, tomorrow I’ll talk to Brother Shangguan and let his son recognize me as a godfather. It’ll count as half a son to me and half a grandson to you, to save you from envy."
Lady Ji Bei glared harshly at Shen Junshan, "You’re getting more mixed up in your speech. Your mother is willing to have such a grandson, but does Duke Chong dare let his grandson recognize you as godfather?"
"It’s fortunate enough if you don’t lead the Heir of Duke Chong astray."
The maids covered their mouths and secretly laughed, and Shen Junshan’s face darkened.
Did his mother think he was so incompetent?
Yet the Heir of Duke Chong, as a standout among noble sons, was exceptional enough that many parents hoped their sons could be half as good as Shangguan Ji.
It’s unlikely they can compare in talent or martial arts, but producing sons is something that can be compared.
Lady Ji Bei hadn’t gone to Duke Chong’s Mansion to give her congratulations yet, but she first selected a few auspicious days and sent them to her in-laws’ mansion to quickly arrange the Eldest Young Master Shen’s wedding.
In the Capital City, besides the Heir of Duke Chong, the most outstanding noble son was the Heir of Duke Zhen.
However, the Heir of Duke Zhen was ordered to go to Nanliang to give congratulations and hasn’t returned yet. Princess Nanzhang, who wholeheartedly admired the Heir of Duke Zhen, feared being preempted and pleaded with the Empress to confer a marriage.
The Empress summoned the Duchess of Zhen into the palace, intending to complete Princess Nanzhang’s beauty, but the Duchess of Zhen disagreed, saying she couldn’t make decisions for the Heir of Duke Zhen.
The Empress was annoyed by her lack of tact, knowing why she disagreed, fearing Princess Nanzhang marrying into Duke Zhen Mansion would disrupt her plans. But what the Empress wanted to do, no one could stop!
If she could marry Princess Nanzhang to Duke Zhen’s son, it would not only fulfill her niece’s passion but also align Duke Zhen through marriage. This would be of great benefit to the Sixth Prince’s fight for succession.
Regardless of the reason, it was enough for the Empress to strive for it.
The Empress devised a plan and went to persuade the Emperor to decree the marriage, initially meeting no agreement, but the Empress said, "But I’ve already summoned the Duchess of Zhen into the palace and spoken about this matter. She also agreed, and the match between Nanzhang and the Heir of Duke Zhen is indeed a perfect match."
"I only started matchmaking because I find them suitable, yet you surprisingly don’t agree. Why doesn’t the Emperor agree to a matter of mutual willingness?"
The Emperor knew the Empress summoned the Duchess of Zhen into the palace but didn’t know why.
He understood now, but could the Emperor explain why he disagreed?
He simply didn’t like Duke Zhen Mansion getting involved in the succession struggle.
However, the Empress and Duchess of Zhen had already communicated, and Princess Nanzhang, although living under the Empress’s care and titled as a Commandery Princess, was ultimately not part of the Imperial Family. Her marriage with the Heir of Duke Zhen didn’t really need the Emperor’s nod.
As the Emperor, could he issue a decree openly to stop their betrothal?
Since he couldn’t stop it, he might as well give the Empress some face and fulfill the beauty.
The Duchess of Zhen returned to the palace, and immediately after, the decree of marriage arrived. The Empress sent a nanny out of the palace to convey a message to the Duchess of Zhen—
That she was in favor of the marriage in front of the Emperor.
The Duchess of Zhen was furious.
But what could she do? She could only swallow her anger and frustration.
Having been angered by the Empress here, Duke Zhen learned the Emperor decreed a marriage, rushed back from the military camp, and blamed her for such a significant matter without consulting with him.
Though distressed in her heart, the Duchess of Zhen could only bear it, "I think this marriage is good; Haohao is of marriage age and cannot be delayed any longer."