This is the first time Cui Xingzhou pay a visit to the Lu family except for meeting with her Elder Uncle previously. He wanted to make a good impression on Miantang’s Grandfather, so he let Miantang return to her carriage.
Cui Xingzhou then ignored Miantang and let the coachman raise his whip to go to Lu’s Mansion first.
Miantang couldn’t stop him, so she had to make her coachman drive faster, but it was still slower than Cui Xingzhou’s carriage with two axles and big wheels.
When she arrived at the door of Lu’s Mansion, she just saw Cui Xingzhou and her Eldest Uncle, as well as several cousins standing on one side “greeting”.
Today, because it was just an engagement party, they didn’t inform any relatives and friends. All the people who came here were close relatives of the Lu family. They are just here to witness the Lu and Su families signing the marriage certificate and discussing the etiquette.
Suddenly, they saw a very expensive carriage parked in front of the door. The Lu family was also very shocked.
The Second Master of the Lu family is a prospective father-in-law today. Naturally, he will accompany the Old Master to wait in the hall. Therefore, there is only the Lu family’s Elder Master waiting at the door, ready to wait and greet the elders of the Su family when they arrived.
As a result, before the Su family’s horses and carriages arrive, an unknown one came. When Prince Huaiyang came down with a crutch, Lu Xian was dumbfounded.
Ignoring the etiquette, he trotted to Cui Xingzhou and whispered, “Your… Your Highness, we have something important to do today. If you want to question, Can you… Can you come another time?”
Lu Xian was guilty. Always afraid that the matter of Prince Huaiyang and his niece will be revealed, he just wants to stop Cui when he sees him coming down from the carriage, so as not to break up the marriage that his Second Younger Brother has been waiting for.
Cui Xingzhou has put Miantang’s words to his heart. She said that it was her cousin who was having an engagement today. She asked him not to come to not steal the limelight.
He must definitely come! However, it is inappropriate for him to propose marriage today. He has to leave a good impression on the elderly. Then, he can direct his intention slowly and it will naturally make the process smooth.
So Cui Xingzhou followed Miantang’s example and said in a low voice, “Miantang told me that there is a happy event in your family. So please don’t make a noise. Mr. Lu, just tells the others that I am an old friend of yours.”
Hearing this, Lu Xian couldn’t make out what The Prince wants. He could only stare at The Prince and say “ah”.
Just then, several young people came over and looked at Prince Huaiyang curiously. They couldn’t figure out who this noble young man was.
Cui Xingzhou, however, did not look at anyone else and said, “Mr. Lu, would you please introduce me? Are these gentlemen from your Mansion?”
Lu Xian said “ah” again, counted several younger generations, and introduced them to Prince Huaiyang one by one.
So when Miantang finally arrived, Cui Xingzhou had already mixed around with her cousins.
When Miantang realized that Cui Xingzhou was acting like an old acquaintance of her Elder Uncle, she secretly glanced at Prince Huaiyang with her eyes and signaled him to leave quickly. But Cui Xingzhou act like he couldn’t see it. He ordered the attendants to bring the gifts down and send them to the Mansion.
When Cui Xingzhou and Lu Xian came to the hall, they first said hello to the Old Master sitting in the seat.
He came with the identity of Cui Jiu today. Thus, she couldn’t kick people out randomly. She could only watch him greet her Grandfather and was politely given a position.
Lu Xian is just like his father. People in the Jianghu like to make friends with others, so it’s normal for him to have a friend of different ages coming to join.
It’s just that the young man at present can’t say what he is doing. If they said that he was a dandy with high prestige, but he is much more capable and heroic than the former Marquis of Zhennan.
But if they were to say that he was a person in the Jianghu, although there are thin cocoons made by holding a sword and gun in his hand, he lacks the boldness of the Jianghu roughnecks who don’t stick to details.
Lu Wu looked up and down. Although he couldn’t see through the Young Master Cui, he had to admit that he was really a beautiful man.
And Lu Qingying, who was about to make an engagement, also looked straight at him. There was such a handsome man in the world, but unfortunately… He was a cripple.
However, this shortcoming was quickly ignored.
After exchanging greetings with the Old Master, Cui Xingzhou ordered someone to present the greeting gifts. In the bunch of gifts, just only a pair of jade walnuts were carved by topaz. There is a saying that “dry yellow jade is the best, followed by tallow”.
If it had been in the previous dynasty, topaz was not allowed to spread among the common people at all. It was a royal tribute! But in this current era, although it is not restricted now, the jade material is too rare, and it is not widely spread among the people. Even if there are, it will be a small piece in jade cicada pendants, how can there be such a large pair of walnuts?
The men of the Lu family must evaluate the escort items before escorting them. They have obviously seen many treasures. However, jade with dry yellow color and warm texture is invaluable!
Lu Qingying listened to his father’s whispering explanation to her mother about the value of the topaz walnuts, and then looked at Cui Xingzhou. She thought that her Elder Uncle’s old friend, Mr. Cui, was handsome again. She only hates that she has signed the marriage with the Su family early. She wonders if this Young Master Cui is married yet.
For a moment, everyone in the Lu family was wondering, who is this Young Master Cui that he can take such precious jade as a gift casually?
Miantang was sitting with her cousins. Although she had a headache, she couldn’t reach out and massage her head. But she really wanted to talk to Cui Jiu and asked, “Are these the gifts not too heavy as you said?”?
Lu Wu also felt that it was inappropriate to accept the gift hastily, and hurriedly said, “Young Master Cui, you are a guest paying a visit. Our Lu family will serve a good feast. You don’t have to prepare such a gift? Please take it back quickly. I can’t accept it.”
Cui Xingzhou smiled and said, “My mother likes to collect these things. There are many things in her family, but she just picks them out at random. I’m afraid that Old Master will dislike them. I was once favored by Mr. Lu and got a treasure from the Lu family. Even the most valuable items should be given away.”
Hearing this, Lu Mu couldn’t help asking, “What treasure did you get from my Elder Brother?”
However, Lu Xian knew what The Prince meant, and hurriedly said, “It’s not true! I never promised…”
His niece, Miantang has underhand secret dealings with The Prince privately. When did this matter agree by him? He won’t accept this accusation!
At that moment, the Su family’s engagement people finally came to the door, and the doorman rushed to report. For a while, the Lu family had no time to ask Cui Xingzhou what he had gotten from the Lu family, and went to meet the Su family.
Cui Xingzhou was not very interested when the Lu family made an engagement. He greeted Lu Xian first and went to the Lu family’s garden for a walk. Lu Xian welcomed the Su family on behalf of the Old Master, and later he had to accompany them with wine. He couldn’t take care of him at the moment, so he can only see him stroll to the flower garden with his attendants, and was dragged away by his Second Younger Brother…
Miantang now looks at Prince Huaiyang like a firecracker that can be lit at any time. Naturally, she couldn’t be at ease with him wandering around her Grandfather’s house.
She is a family member of a different surname. Thus, after she greeted the Su family at the door and stayed for a while, she could retreat. It doesn’t matter even if she didn’t was present at the table.
However, it is best to take Cui Xingzhou away before the Lu family comes to their senses!
Cui Xingzhou watched Miantang sneak around looking out at people all the way. Seeing that there was no one around, she walk over to drive him out, he sighed for a moment, “I’m here to propose marriage. I don’t know why, but I feel like stealing a girl…”
Miantang didn’t want to talk with him. She said softly, “It’s getting late. Hurry and return, Your Highness.”
Cui Xingzhou took her by the backhand and said, “I indeed have to go back. Your Grandfather will be free later. I will go back with you after I talk to him… Since I have stolen their girl, I shall keep it up. You can keep me accompanied to prevent me from wandering in the garden.”
But at that moment, there was a cough. Miantang looked back and saw her Grandfather with a gloomy face, watching Cui Xingzhou take her hand.
Miantang hurriedly shook Cui Xingzhou’s hand and said to her Grandfather, “… Young Master Cui is lost. I am guiding him…”
Lu Wu has seen all sorts of people all his life. But the expression that Cui Xingzhou looked at Miantang, where does he look like they just met?
In addition, the Young Master’s surname is Cui… Lu Wu’s face is more gloomy and says, “Please go to my study to have a chat.”
Cui Xingzhou nodded his head and followed Lu Wu to the study. Miantang, at the side, hopes that there’s an earthquake to come at once so that Cui Xingzhou could not make her Grandfather pissed off.
She turned to Servant Li and asked, “Is there no one in your Residence who can control The Prince? Is he not afraid to offend his mother when he acts in this powerful and unconstrained style?” Miantang felt that she had to know who Cui Xingzhou was afraid of before she could stop the mad Prince.
Servant Li honestly said, “There is someone originally… But the Old Prince passed away years ago…”
Miantang asked incredulously, “What about the Old Princess Consort… Oh right, didn’t he have an engaged cousin? Did his aunt allow him to withdraw the marriage letter so easily? Don’t they… Don’t they care about this?
Servant Li sighed, but she understood the reason why Miantang was so anxious, but she also told the truth, “The Prince usually listens to the Old Princess Consort, but he is used to making decisions. If he makes up his mind, even the Old Princess Consort’s words are unable to make him change his decision… As for Lady Lian, it’s most probably a past tense… The Prince is not a person who is willing to turn back easily…”
Miantang didn’t believe what Servant Li said. In the beginning, she had a good talk with him at the Wuning Checkpoint. Didn’t he also break his sayings? He had a great time turning back!
How can she trust such a dishonest person? Now that he wanted to marry herself as his legal wife. After a while when he thought it over, regretting and turning over his words is as easy for him too.
But he still wants to haunt her family. If her Grandfather was angry…
Miantang became more and more uneasy. Finally, she ran after him and chased them to the study. She thought that there would be shouting and scolding from her Grandfather. However, it was quiet inside.
When Miantang was young, she loved to lean over at her Grandfather’s study thus, she knew where it was most convenient to eavesdrop.
So she found the window near the rockery and poked a hole with her finger to see what was going on inside.
At this sight, Miantang was shocked to see Cui Xingzhou sitting cross-legged on the table drinking tea with his Grandfather.
He is good at the tea ceremony. A pot of fragrant tea is made in flowing water. When the tea was ready, he presents a cup of tea to the Old Master Lu.
Lu Wu did not take the cup but looked at Cui Xingzhou carefully. Suddenly he says, “My Granddaughter once met an acquaintance in the Northwest. My Elder Son said that he seems to have a surname of Cui…”
Lu Wu, after all, is a cunning old man. He saw that his Eldest Son doesn’t seem to have an intimate friendship with this Young Master Cui, so he attended him alienated and revered.
He didn’t think of anything else initially. But just now, when he saw this Young Master Cui holding Miantang’s hand and Miantang didn’t shake him off, he immediately knew.
However, Miantang is a girl with thin skin. He always has to save her some face. So he called the boy to the study and asked.
Cui Xingzhou knew that Prince Sui played dirty and sent a letter, which revealed Liu Miantang’s false marriage in the Northwest.
Although he thought he would not mention it today, since Lu Wu proposed it, he freely admitted it.
“I am the one who has been with Miantang for two years…”
Just when Cui Xingzhou confessed, Lu Wu’s old body seemed to be infused with spirit, jumped up, and turned to take out the long sword hanging on the wall.
Miantang thought it was bad. She pushed the window open and turned in from the window with her skirt. But even so, she did not manage to stop her Grandfather in time. The sword had already struck Cui Xingzhou.
Cui Xingzhou sat on the spot and dodged. At last, two long fingers clamped the blade of the sword. Seeing that Lu Wu could not stab him, he simply raised his foot to kick his crippled leg.
Cui XIngzhou didn’t hide this time, so he suffered from the Old Master’s kick.
Miantang knelt on the ground, grabbed the Old Master’s arm, and shouted, “Grandfather, don’t do this!”
However, Lu Wu kicked him several times. Cui Xingzhou did not hide. He only used his injured leg to bear the kick of the Old Master. Maybe his wound tore, and his white pants were dyed blood red.
Liu Miantang had no choice but to tell Cui Xingzhou’s identity and shouted to her Grandfather, “He… He is Prince Huaiyang… Grandfather, stop!”
Lu Wu kicked a few more times, and then gradually realized what his Granddaughter was shouting.
Prince Huaiyang now has the reputation of expelling barbarians being the Grand Admiral of the Northwest. Who from the old to the children of the Great Yan Dynasty doesn’t know?
Lu Wu did not expect that such a meritorious Prince was the shameless one who cheated on his Granddaughter. He was stunned for a moment, then stared at Miantang and said, “He told you? You believe that!”
Cui Xingzhou stood up helplessly, regardless of his bloody leg, and said to Lu Wu, “Old Master, I’m really Cui Xingzhou.”
He then shouted to Mo Ru outside the door, “Go, bring me the decree of The Emperor and show it to the Old Master.”
After a while, Mo Ru came in and presented the yellow scroll respectfully to Lu Wu from a brocade box.
The bright jade seal is not something that ordinary people dare to forge. If he really uses this to cheat on the girl, he really puts in a huge amount of money!
In fact, Lu Wu woke up after he had just asked the question. This young man is very generous. A casual greeting gift is the former royal tribute topaz, which shows his extraordinary wealth. His style when he was just drinking tea was by no means a common person.
More importantly, he didn’t get up when he fought with him just now. But he can also see that his skills are extraordinary.
If he was an ordinary cheater, how can he have these skills? In the beginning, his Eldest Son always hesitated to give the name when he talked about this cheater. Lu Wu now knows why, it’s because he dare not tell!
Miantang was also worried. She never expected that the Old Master who was always struggling to walk would beat Cui Xingzhou up.
Although Cui is a scumbag, he deserves to be killed by the girl’s family! But he was the Mashal of the Northwest, Prince Huaiyang, whose armies were still camping in the suburbs. Her Grandfather kicked his wound open. If he became angry, her Grandfather would immediately be in prison and sentenced to heavy punishment.
At the thought of this, Miantang was also angry. She turned around and looked at Cui Xingzhou. However, Cui Xingzhou didn’t have any means of getting angry, but stood up in a straight way, arch his hand to Lu Wu, and said, “Miantang said that you were the one who loved her the most in the world. I had a misunderstanding with her at the beginning, and she left with her Elder Uncle in spite of anger. I was dragged down by the Northwest war at that time, so I couldn’t go after her. Now in the Northwest war has come to an end, and I can report back to the Capital. So I come to the State of Xi to propose marriage. I wonder if Old Master would entrust Miantang to me. I will definitely treat her like a treasure!”
Lu Wu has just become agitated. Now he is shocked by Cui Xingzhou’s real identity. His strength was immediately deflated and is supported by Miantang to sit on a chair beside him.
He coughed a little and said weakly, “Are you going to take her as a concubine?”
Cui Xingzhou immediately replied, “I haven’t got a wife yet. Why should I take a concubine? Naturally, I want to marry Miantang as my legal wife!”
Hearing this, Lu Wu didn’t believe it. He only said with a gloomy face, “Your Highness, although our family is an escort, it’s no better than the Princes and Generals, but we are not a weed to be bullied by others. You are high and powerful, but you can’t lie to my girl. When you say you are going to marry her as your legal wife, are you going to make a private deal with us? Who are your Elders? How can the legal marriage procedure be arranged?”
Miantang listened and said, “Grandfather, I don’t…”
Unfortunately, before she finished, Cui Xingzhou smoothly replied, “Don’t worry, I have thought about all these things. According to the Law of the Great Yan Dynasty, if my parents are not present, the local official family can witness the marriage. Li Guangcai, the County Magistrate of the State of Xi, has already written the marriage certificate. When our two families sign the marriage certificate, he will bring the respectable officials and gentry of the State of Xi to witness it. The legal marriage procedure will not be lacking either. When I bring Miantang back to the State of Zhen, I will pay tribute at my royal residence and ensure that it will be lively, and Miantang will not lose face. ”
Hearing this, Lu Wu nodded with satisfaction and said, “Although it is far away, I will ask my two sons to attend so that Miantang’s side will not be empty…”
Miantang never expected that this young and old who was still in a state of tension just now, can even talk about the details of the wedding, and the discussion was in full swing.
She was so angry that she interrupted them loudly and said, “Now that I am the main character, I am the master of my marriage! Who said I would marry him!”
Lu Wu was stunned and said, “You don’t want to marry him… Does he have any bad habits?”
Hearing this, Cui Xingzhou immediately said, “I have been disciplined since I was a child, and I have no bad habits. When I was with Miantang, we are also a couple treating each other with courtesy and got along well. If I had not had to cheat her and was annoyed by her, I should have both sons and daughters now and they will be running around you.”
Lu Wu looked at Miantang and stared at Cui Xingzhou. Her small face was so angry that she seemed speechless. He thought for a moment and said, “Please give us a moment. I want to discuss something with my Granddaughter.”
Cui Xingzhou arched his hand and got up to leave, but his leg was badly hurt and he was reluctantly helped out.
After The Prince left, Lu Wu asked, “Do you really not want to marry him?”
Miantang nodded silently, and then slowly told her Grandfather about her worries.
Lu Wu heard this, but he thought it was all the anger of his girl. In the opinion of the Old Master, looking at Cui Xingzhou’s appearance and speech, he was a perfect match with Miantang. But his family background is too high. It’s indeed a challenge.
If Miantang has nothing to do with him, Lu Wu also thinks it is not a good thing to marry the nobles. Miantang has set up her own female household, and it is best to take in a son-in-law to bear the bride’s family name. At that time, Miantang will hold the house’s expenses and will have a good life in the future.
But she has given her first to The Prince and has been a husband and wife for two years, living and eating together. How can she marry another in the future? Fortunately, The Prince is responsible and is willing to marry Miantang. If they get married at this point, it will help Miantang keep her reputation and be open.
But if Miantang doesn’t agree, he can’t force her as her Grandfather. He then sighed, “It’s really not a good idea to marry the nobles. I don’t know what the temper of the Old Princess Consort was. Will she be angry when you marry over… I agreed with the married of your mother to the Liu family at the beginning, which made your mother hated by your father all her life and lived unhappily. Now it’s your turn, how can I force you to marry into the high-ranked to suffer? Since you don’t agree, I will turn down The Prince.”
Miantang frowned and didn’t say anything. After a long time, she said, “Grandfather, I’m independent, and I don’t want to involve the Lu family. So don’t worry about this marriage. I’ll solve it with him. Although he is arrogant sometimes, he is not the man who bullies men and women like Prince Sui…”
Hearing this, Lu Wu thought about something and asked, “If he is not a Prince, but an ordinary soldier, would you like to marry him?”
Miantang did not speak but hung her Grandfather’s sword back silently, and then greeted him and said goodbye.
Lu Wu looked at her back and sighed. He can’t participate in quarrels between children.
Since Prince Huaiyang came to ask for a fake beating and was kicked by him, he must know that his Granddaughter is not easy to coax and have to suffer.
Miantang’s idea is right. He will not participate in her marriage. Let her do it herself!
After leaving the Lu Mansion, Liu Miantang found that Cui Xingzhou had not left, but was waiting for her in the carriage.
When Mo Ru asked her to get on the carriage, Miantang got into the carriage and looked at his leg which had not been bandaged. She shouted angrily, “Who are you going to show without my Grandfather here? My Grandfather is so weak, can’t you escape? Must you purposely suffer the beatings from my Grandfather and let him bear the crime of beating the meritorious official of the Great Yan Dynasty!”
Cui Xingzhou raised his eyebrows and said, “If I don’t get hurt, will your Grandfather calm down so quickly? I think he is the most reasonable Old Master in the entire Lu Mansion. When you have nothing to do, learn from your Grandfather. Don’t be so grumpy, like a stone in a pit.”
Miantang was checking Cui Xingzhou’s wound, took the bandage from the medicine box of the carriage, and put medicine on him. Hearing his taunts, Miantang looked up and sneered, “It’s smelly and had, but it didn’t delay Your Highness from hugging and kissing!”
Cui Xingzhou thought this was very reasonable, so he hugged Liu Miantang and kissed her again, “It’s strange! It smells so bad, but why does it turn so sweet when kissing?”
Ruth Ibale On TSFLIP Chapter 1133