The daily life of a concubine's daughter

Chapter 294 Marriage Grant

Just when Shi Mingzhu's heartstrings were stretched to the limit and about to break, the old duke and the lady arrived.

The two knelt on the ground and kowtowed, saying in unison: "Your Majesty, I, your humble servant, pay my respects to you and congratulate you on your birthday. Long live your Majesty!"

The emperor hurried down, held out his hands to help the two elders up, and said with a smile: "Old Duke, please stand up, old lady, please stand up. I summoned you here because I have a happy matter to ask you about."

Shi Mingzhu felt a flash of darkness in front of her eyes.

Finished!

The most embarrassing thing in life is probably that her ex-boyfriend and current boyfriend are watching her despicable behavior at the same time.

Shi Mingzhu closed her eyes in despair, thinking, when the truth comes out, she will die here!

I have no face to live anymore.

The old Duke looked at the Fourth Prince Zhou Shao, the Fifth Prince Zhou Xu, and the Minister of Justice Cui, and finally looked at Shi Mingzhu, then he bowed and asked with a smile, "Your Majesty, please tell me everything I know."

The emperor asked, "I heard there is a second young lady in your mansion?"

"That's right. Because she had been in poor health since she was young and the capital was cold, she was sent to the warmer Jinling to be raised. She returned to the capital last year. She is the youngest granddaughter of this old minister and the youngest daughter of his youngest son."

The emperor asked again: "Have you promised to marry?"

Shi Mingzhu's pupils trembled and her eyelids twitched continuously.

The emperor actually asked directly whether the marriage was possible, without mentioning the Xie family or her at all.

She got up and was about to hit the corner of the dragon table when she heard the old Duke say clearly, "In reply to the emperor, the little granddaughter has been engaged. The man she is engaged to is Xie Jibai from the Xie family."

Shi Mingzhu suddenly turned her head and looked at her grandfather in disbelief. Her feet were stepping on cotton, as if she was falling into clouds and mist, and she seemed to be hallucinating.

how come?

Why did grandfather mention Xie Jibai?

She hurriedly looked at the lady again, anxious to confirm whether she had heard it wrong.

The emperor asked in confusion: "Shi, what are you doing? Why are you so pale?"

Shi Mingzhu hurriedly supported the lady and said apologetically, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. My grandmother is not in good health. I saw that she couldn't stand steadily and I was in a hurry."

The emperor said, "I was careless and forgot your ages. Come, take a seat and serve tea!" After hearing the eunuch's response, he asked kindly, "Old Madam, has the second young lady really decided to marry the young master of the Xie family?"

Shi Mingzhu tightened her grip and grasped the lady's arm tightly, wrinkling her sleeves.

The Madam Tai did not even glance at Shi Mingzhu, her voice calm and without any ripples: "Your Majesty, seriously, my family owes the Xie family a big favor. Originally, my seventh grandson was engaged to the second daughter of the Xie family, but the second daughter of the Xie family was ill, so the engagement was cancelled, and the marriage between my granddaughter and the third son of the Xie family was arranged."

The emperor sighed regretfully and said, "It seems to be true. What a pity."

The old Duke asked, "Why does the emperor feel sorry for it?"

The emperor pointed at the kneeling Fifth Prince Zhou Xu and said angrily, "This son of mine is really absurd. He admired the second young lady in the mansion and followed her several times when she went out to play. He even had someone catch her as an assassin.

Fortunately, the good news didn't get out, otherwise it would have ruined not only a good marriage, but also the girl's reputation! Bastard! Hurry up and apologize to the old Duke and the old lady!"

The emperor kicked the fifth prince Zhou Xu hard, knocking him over.

He didn't hold back any strength in this kick.

But after kicking him, the emperor first felt Wu Zi's body was stiff. When he exerted force, he could clearly feel his relaxation, so he kicked him to the ground.

The emperor became suspicious. He thought that these five men were probably practicing martial arts secretly. They were quite good at it and had strong bodies. If he hadn't relaxed, he would have been in a difficult position and might not be able to kick them. Instead, he would fall down and make a fool of himself.

Why did Zhou Xu practice martial arts secretly?

Who taught him Kung Fu?

However, this is something to be investigated later, so there is no rush at this moment.

Zhou Xu groaned, knelt down again, and faced the old Duke and the old lady, saying shamefully: "It was me, Meng Lang, who offended the second Miss Shi and almost ruined her reputation. I will allow the old Duke and the old lady to punish me!"

Shi Mingzhu bit her lip in pain, wondering if the old emperor's kick had hurt Zhou Xu.

The old emperor was so cruel that not only did he throw Zhou Xu to the most barren fiefdom, he also beat and scolded him whenever he wanted. How could he act like a father?

On the other hand, she doted on Zhou Shao and was afraid that he would be wronged.

They are all sons, how can the old emperor be so partial?

Shi Mingzhu felt aggrieved for Zhou Xu and wished she could kick the old emperor back and then kick Zhou Shao a few more times to make the biased old emperor feel the pain.

The old Duke knelt down hurriedly, stretched out his hand to help Zhou Xu, and said repeatedly: "No, no! Prince Duan is a prince, how can he kneel down to me? But this is too humiliating for me, Your Highness, please stand up quickly, I can't bear it!"

Zhou Xu apologized again, and the old Duke "couldn't bear it" again. After three rounds of apology, both of them stood up.

Zhou Shao looked around at the crowd. Everyone was standing except him, who was kneeling. When no one was paying attention, he quietly stood up.

The emperor scolded Zhou Xu harshly, saying that he was obsessed with lust and unworthy of important tasks, which made Zhou Xu kneel down again. Then he said to the old Duke with full apology:

"It was this unfilial son who caused all this trouble. I will punish him severely later. Alas, the old Duke has three sons. He knows how difficult it is to raise children. Please don't be angry. How about this? I will issue an imperial decree tomorrow to grant the marriage between the second Miss Shi and the third son of the Xie family as compensation."

The old Duke and his wife both knelt on the ground, and the old Duke kowtowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great grace!"

The emperor laughed heartily, helped the two elders up, and said, "It's getting late, and the feast should be served in the front hall. Old Duke, please come with me." He turned around and ordered coldly, "Zhou Xu, you kneel here and reflect on your mistakes!"

After saying this, the emperor took the old duke's hand and walked out first.

Zhou Shao hurriedly followed.

The lady looked coldly at the fifth prince Zhou Xu, then took Shi Mingzhu and left.

Shi Mingzhu looked back reluctantly and glanced at Zhou Xu several times.

In less than a moment, everyone dispersed and the imperial study fell into silence.

Zhou Xu knelt in front of the dragon table, his knees aching, but this pain was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.

Has Zhuzhu discovered it?

She discovered his feelings, so she protected him in every way and did not allow her second sister to marry him.

However, he was helpless and could only watch her become the fourth brother's concubine, but he was powerless to help her escape from the cage.

He slowly clenched his fists.

He needs to work harder and harder.

One day, he will succeed and win her back!

*

When they arrived at the back hall, the lady shook off Shi Mingzhu's hand.

Shi Mingzhu was confused and twisted her wrists. She was afraid and her eyes suddenly turned red. "Why is grandma angry? Have I offended grandma in any way? I know it's because I became the fourth prince's concubine. Grandma thinks I'm embarrassed, right?"

The Madam said coldly: "You know what you have done. You became the concubine of the Fourth Prince because of your own actions! Shi Mingzhu, from today on, my Shi family will treat you as an irreplaceable granddaughter!"