Chapter 784: Proposing Marriage to the Commandery Princess on Behalf of the Old Man

Su Chengji lay in bed, wishing he could kill Su Chengmin.

"Grandmother, you must stand up for me." Su Chengji pleaded with Old Mrs. Su.

Old Mrs. Su cried so heartbrokenly, making Su Chengji think his grandmother truly cared for him.

Old Mrs. Su wiped her tears and said to Su Chengji, "You are already crippled, and your elder brother still has to carry on the Su family’s lineage. Don’t even think about taking anything back from your elder brother. When you recover, I’ll arrange a wife for you, and in the future, we can adopt a nephew from your elder brother to carry on the family line for you. Don’t expect anything else."

Old Mrs. Su thought that since the eldest grandson had crippled the younger one, no amount of punishment could restore the younger grandson’s ability, so it was better to persuade him to accept reality.

After all, he couldn’t beat Su Chengmin, and if he provoked Su Chengmin further, Su Chengmin might just kill him, which would be even worse.

Su Chengji was so angry at his grandmother’s words that his neck stiffened.

Old Mrs. Su saw that her younger grandson was both weak and quarrelsome, lost her patience, and turned to leave.

This younger grandson was completely abandoned.

The eldest grandson’s side couldn’t necessarily be relied upon either.

Su Shihang’s concubines were like hens that couldn’t lay eggs, and in the whole mansion, there were only two grandsons, Su Chengji and Su Chengmin; the Su family still had few descendants.

Now that the annoying Lu Family had been sent back home, Old Mrs. Su had to quickly find a young wife for Su Shihang and add a few fertile concubines to bear more sons for the Su family.

...

The first snowfall in Shengjing was heavy.

The weather was very cold.

The Grandson sent some excellent silver silk charcoal to Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong sat by the charcoal fire, chatting idly with Mrs. Hong as they balanced accounts.

Lu Zhaozhao and Man Er were painting the Jiujiu Plum Blossom Diagram, occasionally joining in the conversation with a sentence or two, while Gu Jingzhe sat nearby reading a book.

Tong Huaqiong greatly admired her youngest son for being able to concentrate on his book in such an environment.

Gu Jingzhe had taken a leave from the Imperial College three days ago to study at home.

Because Princess Ming Yue had returned from Longhua Temple.

This Princess Ming Yue was truly persistent. The first thing she did upon returning from Longhua Temple was go to the gate of the Imperial College to see Gu Jingzhe, scaring him half to death.

To avoid Zhao Xiyue, Gu Jingzhe planned to study at home until the Spring Examination.

Tong Huaqiong felt that avoiding the issue temporarily would not solve the problem. As long as Zhao Xiyue remained a threat, she could cause great trouble.

If she were to act out of hatred and either harm Lu Zhaozhao or sabotage Gu Jingzhe’s Spring Examination, it would be too late.

Tong Huaqiong deliberated and decided to discuss the matter with Mrs. Min.

Mrs. Min confidently assured her that the matter was hers to handle.

Tong Huaqiong trusted Mrs. Min’s ability to handle matters. Since she took it upon herself, Tong Huaqiong let go and allowed Mrs. Min to resolve it.

As Tong Huaqiong was discussing the development of the Weaving Workshop with Mrs. Hong, Liu Yueer entered from outside, bringing a gust of cold air.

Liu Yueer stomped her feet and cursed the weather, warming her hands over the fire basin.

"Why are you back so early?" Tong Huaqiong asked Liu Yueer.

Liu Yueer quickly befriended several influential wives in the capital. These wives enjoyed Liu Yueer’s amusing and straightforward manner, inviting her to any family banquet they hosted.

Indeed, Liu Yueer had become much sought-after at parties.

Even the snowy weather couldn’t keep her from heading out to attend banquets, so it shocked Tong Huaqiong that she returned after only half a day.

This wasn’t like Liu Yueer’s style at all.

Liu Yueer rubbed her hands together, glancing at Lu Zhaozhao and Gu Jingzhe, then smiled and said, "Mother, Aunt Hong, let me tell you something funny—Su Chengmin’s grandmother, Old Mrs. Su, went to Prince Yu Mansion to propose a marriage."

Upon hearing the mention of Prince Yu Mansion, Lu Zhaozhao perked up and asked, "For whom was the proposal made?"

The eldest son of Prince Yu was already married, and while Princess Ming Yue was unbetrothed, she doubted Old Mrs. Su had the capability to arrange a good marriage for Princess Ming Yue.

Liu Yueer covered her mouth, laughing, "Obviously, the proposal was for Princess Ming Yue."

"For whom is Zhao Xiyue being proposed?"

Tong Huaqiong and the others exchanged glances.

Could Old Mrs. Su be proposing on behalf of Su Chengji? She truly dared to dream.

"Hurry and tell us; don’t keep us in suspense," Tong Huaqiong urged.

Liu Yueer took a sip of hot tea. In her eagerness to inform her mother-in-law of this gossip, she had left the banquet early, not even waiting for the show.

Liu Yueer said, "Old Mrs. Su was proposing on behalf of her son, Lord Su, Su Shihang, to Princess Ming Yue."

This news was so explosive that it not only shocked Tong Huaqiong, Mrs. Hong, and Lu Zhaozhao, but even Gu Jingzhe found it unbelievable.

Who was Princess Ming Yue?

She was a noble branch of the Royal Family, whose names adorned jade plaques, while Su Shihang was merely a second-rank court official, one who had had two wives and two sons poised for marriage—a man of age. Old Mrs. Su had some nerve indeed.

Mrs. Hong asked, "Didn’t Prince Yu Mansion throw Old Mrs. Su out?"

Liu Yueer replied, "Of course they threw her out! If it were you, wouldn’t you? Su Shihang, even if painted green to appear young, could not be a match for a prime-aged Commandery Princess."

After the initial shock, Tong Huaqiong quickly regained her composure.

This was indeed the sort of thing Old Mrs. Su was capable of doing.

There must be a touch of Mrs. Min’s influence in this.

Tong Huaqiong guessed right; Mrs. Min had devised a clever plan overnight to help Tong Huaqiong neutralize the Zhao Xiyue bomb.

Mrs. Min visited Su Mansion, and somehow persuaded Old Mrs. Su to actually go to Prince Yu Mansion to propose marriage for her elderly son.

When Prince Yu Mansion learned of Old Mrs. Su’s proposal, they initially thought they had misheard, confirming several times that Old Mrs. Su wasn’t senile but was soberly proposing marriage for her son.

The whole thing nearly drove Prince Yu Mansion to consider chopping Old Mrs. Su to pieces.

Proposing marriage for her elderly son to a Commandery Princess—was Old Mrs. Su mad or had she gone senile?

Were it not for Old Mrs. Su’s official title, Princess Consort Yu would have dragged her to the palace to file a formal complaint with the Emperor.

After being expelled from Prince Yu Mansion, Old Mrs. Su was very dissatisfied.

No wonder Mrs. Min knew so well how to deal with her in-laws.

In Old Mrs. Su’s view, Su Shihang was the hope of the entire Su Family Village, having climbed the ranks to a second-rank court official. She always believed not only could he be matched with a Commandery Princess, but even a Royal Princess wouldn’t be out of reach.

Whether it was Lu Family or Min Baozhen, she always felt her son was aggrieved.

With Mrs. Min’s provocation, Old Mrs. Su truly believed Princess Ming Yue was a suitable match for her son.

"Don’t think just because your daughter is a Commandery Princess that you don’t worry about her marrying out. Her reputation has long been tarnished. Every young nobleman in Shengjing whose marriage could be decreed by the Emperor hastens to engage elsewhere overnight. Zhao Xiyue will become a spinster if she can’t marry. Don’t think I desire Zhao Xiyue—if she weren’t a Commandery Princess, her looks and character wouldn’t be worthy of my son at all."

Leaving Prince Yu Mansion, Old Mrs. Su seethed with anger, muttering curses at Princess Consort Yu for not recognizing an opportunity.

Zhao Xiyue marrying Su Shihang was better than not marrying at all.

Her son was currently a second-rank official, bound to rise to the cabinet as a Prime Minister, which meant Zhao Xiyue would bear dual titles as a Commandery Princess and Lady of the State. Wasn’t that better than marrying into an empty shell of a noble family?

When Prince Yu heard that Old Mrs. Su proposed marriage for her son to the Commandery Princess, he nearly fainted with anger.

He was convinced it was all Su Shihang’s idea.

"An old scoundrel relying on women to advance his position, daring to covet my daughter! Does he take me for a soft persimmon?"

Prince Yu cursed and grumbled as he headed to the palace to file a formal complaint with the Emperor.