Chapter 144 – Taking the Initiative to Unite by Marriage

Liu Miantang didn’t expect her mother-in-law’s speech ability to improve, and she figured out her thoughts.

 

She immediately became speechless and said with a guilty heart, “I… Isn’t this my first marriage? Of course, it’s just the little girl’s shallow thoughts, only by looking at appearance. Moreover, I was shocked by your beautiful appearance when I met you for the first time. At that time, I couldn’t help but feel close to you. Later, when I went back to see the Prince, I suddenly realized that he was likable and had a similar appearance to you… So even if he had unintentionally deceived me for a while, I forgot later…”

 

This flattery has been ingrained in the heart of Old Princess Consort Chu.

 

For a moment, she forgot about her son’s sorrow of going on a long journey, People say that Xingzhou looks like his father, but although his father was handsome, he lacks some elegance. It was because he has some of her looks between his eyebrows that he was even more handsome than his father. However, just looking at a person’s appearance was not enough. She thought that Li Guangcai was quite honest, and their family’s Cui Fu doesn’t lack anything. If she finds a reliable son-in-law with a promising future, it is more useful than looking good.

 

Miantang tilted her head and said, “That’s right, Mother. You are experienced and you can see things through. I take your pulse and found that your accumulated indigested symptoms mostly disappeared a while ago. It can be seen that the prescription I made for digesting is effective. If I make more this time, you’ll have to drink…”

 

Old Princess Consort Chu patted her hand back and said, “Xingzhou said that you are a poor doctor, and drinking the medicine you mixed can pull out the entire intestines. However, in my opinion, your medical skills are not inferior to those of Marquis Zhao…”

 

Miantang sincerely said, “Thanks for your praise, Mother. You have caught up with good times. When I just starting to learn medicine, I was in the northwest. I felt embarrassed to approach the neighbors who had been having diarrhea when I went out. Now that I have gained more knowledge and experience in medicine, not to mention any major symptoms, I just learned some formulas to regulate intestines and stomach.”

 

Old Princess Consort Chu was so amused that she couldn’t help but laugh, and then she wanted to cry again, “You old and young are all leaving, making me miss you more. Else, let me go with you too.”

 

Liu Miantang didn’t dare to joke about her mother-in-law’s body. She only explained to Old Princess Consort Chu. With the prince’s ability, after two years, the war will come to an end.

 

When the time comes, their family will reunite in the State of Zhen, isn’t this better?

 

In summary, the topic of Li Guangcai not being handsome enough was finally fooled by Liu Miantang.

 

Most of the marriages were based on their daughter’s wishes. They also don’t expect to attach any wealth or glory to their doorstep in the Huaiyang Prince’s Residence. Li Guangcai can be considered as the confidant of Prince Huaiyang at any rate, with a deep understanding of his roots. If Cui Fu marries him, she will not suffer.

 

After the sad parting with Old Princess Consort Chu, she finally nodded in response.

 

After such an agreement was reached, the two families first signed a marriage certificate and waited until they were in the North Sea to hold the wedding, so as not to alert the people of Qingguo Mansion.

 

Although Cui Fu agreed to get married, she was inexplicably angry at Li Guangcai. Seeing him come to sign the marriage agreement with a cheerful expression on his face, she didn’t show any good face.

 

Jin’er turned around to Li Guangcai and asked him if he had brought any toys for him.

 

Li Guangcai asked the servant to bring a small horse, with a black body and snow-white hooves. It snorted and shook the mane, exuding great authority.

 

Jin’er didn’t expect Uncle Li to give him a pony, so he immediately exclaimed excitedly and called on his nanny to carry him up and ride.

 

Cui Fu stood on the embroidery tower and looked down, looking at the way Li Guangcai rode with Jin’er in his arms. She couldn’t help but laugh.

 

Miantang poked her neck around Cui Fu and whispered to her that Lord Li had spent a ton of money.

 

How can a thrifty donkey rider like Lord Li buy such a valuable Pony? How would a man who spends his money on the point not be able to marry a famous lady?

 

After discussing with Li Guangcai, Cui Xingzhou decided that the troops and horses would not move this time, and food and grass should be given priority. They must not let the northwest war of lacking army provision happen again, and he was not urgent to be on their journey now.

 

Moreover, unlike the battle where the people passed by to bid farewell during his expedition to the northwest, Cui Xingzhou politely declined to hold a farewell ceremony for him.

 

Cui Xingzhou knew that he had a high reputation among the people, and when seeing him off, the people in the street would be uncontrollable. He didn’t want to act like a powerful figure before he even set out, giving control to the Shi parties and the Mountain of Yang people.

 

At that time, the troops will gather outside the capital and quietly set off, saving a lot of trouble.

 

Although the prince thinks so, when Liu Miantang entered the palace and bids farewell to the empress, she did not convey directly what he said, “The prince doesn’t want the emperor to make a big fuss. He really thinks that the national treasury is not abundant, and all his strength must be used on the blade. If we go along with the order of the emperor and allow him to send us off personally, this expedition practice ceremony most likely will have large vats of wine or piles of beef and mutton! Which one of these doesn’t require money? With that money, prepare more army provision, more military supplies such as shoes, knives, and guns, which are much more cost-effective than eating a big meal, Empress, what do you think about this?”

 

Empress Shi heard the meaning of Miantang’s words and seemed that she wanted to exchange the ceremony for silver. She only smiled and said, “You couples are people who know how to save up, unlike those who fish for fame and reputation, who insist on putting on some laborers. Fine, I will talk to the emperor later, and the ceremony silver will be allocated to the military pay.”

 

The person with a clear mind speaks freely, and Liu Miantang naturally thanked the two saints for their grace on behalf of the prince.

 

However, when Empress Shi heard that Miantang was also going to the North Sea with Prince Huaiyang, she gently discouraged her and said, “The emperor heard Minister Cui say that you will bring your young child back to the State of Zhen with the Old Princess Consort. But now, you don’t mind the fatigue of the boat and carriage but follow the Prince to that place where malaria is rampant. I’m afraid… The Emperor…”

 

A while ago, the rumors about the Mountain of Yang Lu Wen and Ziyu Young Master were so fierce that Miantang guessed that Empress Shi must have heard something.

 

However, this hearty and plump empress was someone who can hold onto things in her heart and never shows a trace. But what she just said, clearly revealed something.

 

Miantang just act like she didn’t understand, smiled, and said, “I know that if a military general is going on a battle, he should leave his family in the capital as collateral. However, the emperor knows that the prince is honest and loyal, and he is willing to release all his family back to the State of Zhen. Only a virtuous king has such a heart of not being suspicious and having an unnecessary mind when working with someone. However, I once made a poisonous oath to marry a military general, regardless of the sword, mountain, fire, or sea. I hope that the queen can plead with Your Majesty and fulfill my foolish wish.”

 

Empress Shi listened quietly and smiled slightly, saying, “Prince Huaiyang is truly a blessing from a previous life. He can have a woman like you who values love and righteousness with him in life and death. Being admired by a woman like you is probably a taste that will never be forgotten in a lifetime.”

 

Miantang raised her head slightly and looked at the peaceful face of Empress Shi, saying, “Who in the civil and martial arts department is not envious of the emperor, who can marry a virtuous queen like you? It is said that high places are unbearable, but the emperor, with you, can withstand numerous storms and revitalize the Great Yan Dynasty. Isn’t this great love of dragons and phoenixes that can be compared to a couple like me and the prince in terms of living?”

 

A person with a clear mind not only speaks freely but also sometimes does not need to speak too thoroughly.

 

Empress Shi understood the meaning of Miantang’s words and smiled as she stood up and supported her, saying, “Since you have spoken, it’s not easy for you and the prince to live separately for too long.”

 

Just as Miantang told her that she was preparing to leave the palace, Empress Shi seemed to have just remembered and accompanied her on a slow walk in the imperial garden and said, “The State of Qing and the State of Zhen are not far apart. You are also someone who knows the root and bottom of me, so I don’t have to be as uncomfortable as I am with other wives of hereditary princes. You also know that my father had a daughter in his later years, and he doted on my younger sister so much that she was always thinking of unrealistic things at a young age. She grew up with no suffering. Now, I am the Queen, and the Shi family has become the imperial relatives. With the grace of longevity, they didn’t pay much attention to their words. Although I am her sister, my words of advice are half-heard. Father is also spoiling his daughter too much. A few days ago, his words seemed to offend the prince… He asked me to apologize to the prince.”

 

What Empress Shi said, Miantang doesn’t know the details. She can only answer it first. Empress Shi sighed at the end and said, “Before I got married, I was just a concubine’s daughter of the Shi family and not very close to my father. You can just tell the prince that the Shi family’s actions don’t represent mine.”

 

Upon hearing this, Miantang seemed to have something to say, but Empress Shi did not continue, and she was not in a position to ask.

 

Due to the imminent departure, Cui Xingzhou was usually busy in the military and rarely returns to the residence. Today, it was rare for him to return to the residence early to pick up his son.

 

When Miantang returned to the inner courtyard, she saw him holding Xiaoyi’er and playing with the branches under the peach blossom tree.

 

She didn’t rush to change her clothes either. Instead, she came to Cui Xingzhou and, while teasing her son, spoke about Empress Shi’s words today.

 

Upon hearing this, Cui Xingzhou was not surprised, He explained, “A few days ago, the Imperial Uncle, Shi Yikuan, talked to me and said that my trip to the North Sea was a bit overkill. The Imperial Uncle thought that this was also a bit unfair, and he also said that this appointment was not without room for maneuver. However, this time it was the efforts of the old tribe of the Mountain of Yang, and it was inappropriate for him to speak up for me to maneuver. He had a little girl who admired me for a long time and refused to marry because of me. If the two families were to get married and he became my father-in-law, he could help me to turn over the situation… In the future, with mutual relations, one can also take care of each other in court.”

 

Upon hearing Cui Xingzhou’s words, Miantang immediately understood. She pulled her cloak and glared, “The surnamed Shi is so shameless. Even though he knew you were married, he was so shameless that he recommended his daughter. Is he willing to have his daughter as a concubine?”

 

Speaking of this, Liu Miantang paused for a moment and immediately said, “That’s not right! How can the Empress’s sister be a concubine? Is he encouraging you to divorce your wife, or is he going to make me a concubine?”

 

Cui Xingzhou placed Xiaoyi’er, who was spitting bubbles, in Miantang’s arms and said, “Before he finished speaking, I drive him out of the military camp directly. Stating that I have no interest in his words, don’t pay attention to this.”

 

Maybe Xiaoyi’er felt her mother’s displeasure, Yi’er’s chubby hands kept grabbing his mother’s face, his wet little mouth nibbling back and forth between her neck.