Cheng Jiao Jiao was practicing calligraphy when she heard footsteps that sounded wrong. She looked up and saw her brother walking in with a dark expression. "What's going on between you and Ouyang Wen?"
What was bound to come had indeed come.
Cheng Jiao Jiao put down the brush in her hand, pulled him to sit by the table, and poured him a cup of tea. "Third Brother, please calm down."
"I can't."
"Third Brother, listen to me."
"No matter what you say, I will never agree to this marriage."
"Why?"
Cheng Bei Zheng was choked with anger. "You're truly infatuated by him! Not to mention his romantic entanglements with women in the pleasure quarters, I just ask you, do you know how many concubines he has?"
Cheng Jiao Jiao's heart tightened, but she still appeared indifferent. "Does Third Brother know?"
"I don't know, but it's certainly not a small number."
"Third Brother, what man isn't like this? Even the personal attendants serving Father have four concubines. If I were to fuss over this, I'd truly never be able to marry."
"But it doesn't have to be Ouyang Wen?"
"Why?"
"Because you've been wronged, and I, your brother, am not capable of seeking justice for you."
Cheng Jiao Jiao's nose felt sore, and she almost shed tears. Third Brother was always considering her, which made him so conflicted. She pushed her chair away and sat down beside Cheng Bei Zheng, deciding to have an honest and thorough talk with him. "But Third Brother, you also understand in your heart that Young Master Gong is already the best choice for our family. Young Master Gong's background is special. Whether it's the Crown Prince or Prince Ning, even if they are displeased with him, they wouldn't dare to act rashly. If I marry him, they will have to restrain themselves when they consider you next, won't they? It's killing multiple birds with one stone."
Cheng Bei Zheng looked at her in shock, disbelief gradually filling his eyes. "You, you didn't go and provoke him yourself, did you?"
Cheng Jiao Jiao lowered her head in shame. "I was just taking a gamble, and it seems I've won." kuAiδugg
Cheng Bei Zheng was so angry he couldn't speak.
"Third Brother..."
"Don't talk to me. I need to calm down."
Although Cheng Bei Zheng was stimulated by this, he still had to worry about Cheng Jiao Jiao when he recovered his senses. Fortunately, Ouyang Wen knew that he was not favored by his elder brother-in-law. He indirectly had Lu Nian Fu prove his innocence with Jing Hong, the courtesan from De Yi Lou, and then took the opportunity to visit and win over his mother-in-law.
After a few days of earnest effort, Lu Nian Fu, acting as the matchmaker, had a smooth process.
When the news spread, it stunned a lot of people.
Although Ouyang Wen had a reputation for being a philanderer, he was, after all, a Duke. No one was more noble than him, except for the princes. Even though the Zhen Guo Duke's mansion had declined, with that plaque, there were plenty who wanted to marry their daughters into it. Who would have thought that he, at the ripe old age of twenty-six, would choose a merchant's daughter after much deliberation?
Since when did merchant daughters become so desirable?
To show his sincerity, the envoy brought many gifts. Along with the guards, the large entourage could not travel quickly.
When they reached Yanmen Pass, Meng Chang Dong caught up.
Situ Yan was very surprised. "Aren't you the Salt Commissioner in Shanxi?"
"Things over there have almost come to an end. His Majesty has decreed that this subordinate will continue to serve you."
"Hmph, my father is just stingy. He's definitely eyeing that fat official, planning to keep him for his own people to help him save up his private fortune. Pity you traveled all this way and got nothing."
Meng Chang Dong chuckled. "This subordinate still feels that following you is more profitable. The money I got from eradicating those bandit dens this time is enough to buy a large mansion in the capital and marry several wives."
"Several?"
"Just an analogy." Meng Chang Dong quickly changed the subject. "Your Highness, what's the situation with the Hui Ge now?"
"They're in an internal struggle. The old Hui Ge King suddenly fell ill, and the Great Prince and the Fourth Prince are fighting fiercely. Now it's just a matter of who will emerge victorious."
"No wonder the Southern Barbarians and the Northern Frontier are at war, yet there's no movement here. The old Hui Ge King's illness came at a most opportune time. Your Highness, what are your plans?"
Situ Yan said, "It's all a complete mess. We'll take it one step at a time. Since you're here, let's sneak over and take a look. We'll see which heir is suitable and then lend a hand."
Meng Chang Dong said, "Even if I hadn't come, you would have made this trip, wouldn't you?"
Engaging in witty banter was never the prince's strong suit. It would be a strange thing if he stayed honestly within the envoy.