Chapter 344: Chapter 344 Several Small Countries at the Border Are Stirring (3)
After the morning court session ended, the ministers practically flew out of the main hall in the blink of an eye.
"Prince Mei, this humble servant has a fine wine at home, would Prince Mei honor me with a visit to taste it?" Xiao Yiran approached Prince Mei, smiling at Dugu Chen.
"The fine wine from uncle’s home, Chen, must certainly be tasted."
"Hahaha, please."
Arriving at the Prime Minister Residence, the two entered the study, and dismissed all the servants attending to them. It was over an hour later that Dugu Chen finally left the Prime Minister Residence.
"Master, why didn’t you invite Prince Mei to stay for a simple home-cooked meal?" Zheng Qianye watched Dugu Chen leave, looking somewhat reproachful at her own husband.
Xiao Yiran sighed, "Let’s have our meal."
Seeing her husband’s distressed expression, Zheng Qianye did not press the matter further.
At the dining table, thinking of his daughter who was now also fourteen, although there had been numerous marriage proposals, none seemed to match his own desires.
"Master, our Jiazhen is now fourteen as well, isn’t it time to consider a suitable match for marriage?"
Xiao Yiran put down the chopsticks in his hand, having only this one beloved girl, he originally wanted to keep her with him for a few more years, yet seeing the urgency of his chief wife, it seemed that it was time, "Speak, whose young master caught your eye? I’ll have someone look into it."
Zheng Qianye, sensing a possibility, placed her chopsticks down, dismissed the servants and spoke softly, "Originally I thought of the Emperor, but I couldn’t bear to let my daughter suffer in that cutthroat place, and after much consideration, only Prince Mei seems the most appropriate." The key issue was that Prince Mei was ever loyal, and with the relationship of little cousin, she wouldn’t suffer in his residence.
Xiao Yiran looked coldly at his chief wife and spoke in a stern tone, "Is this your idea or that of Xiao Jiazhen’s?"
"Mine... my idea." She stammered, facing his angry expression.
"Do you have the heart to let your legitimate daughter be someone’s mistress?" His furious gaze swept towards her.
Seeing his anger, Zheng Qianye’s face paled, and she nervously clutched the handkerchief in her hand, recalling the words of her good sister, she summoned up the courage and said to her husband, "How could she become a mistress? If Jiazhen marries there, she will be Prince Mei’s princess. With Feng Xuxu’s background, she should be thankful to be made a concubine, or even at the least, a secondary wife."
"Be quiet, foolish woman! Jiazhen will never marry into their family, neither of those two brothers. From now on, you needn’t worry about her marriage matters. Jiazhen is no longer little, she should familiarize herself with the affairs of our household. You, on the other hand, can reflect on your thoughts in seclusion."
He glanced at her and stood up to leave.
"Wait, Master." She hurriedly stood up, blocking his path.
"What’s wrong with Prince Mei? Caiqing has mentioned to me many times that she wanted me to matchmake her daughter to become someone important, to become a concubine in Prince Mei Residence, but I refused. Why won’t you let our daughter marry there?" She puffed up her chest, infuriated as she looked at the man she had lived with for twenty-five years.
"Caiqing?" Yiran looked at her with a puzzled expression.
"Yes."
"You really are naive! Xun Caiqing’s legitimate daughter has already married Hou Wei’s son Hou Zhen, who is Prince An’s cousin. With Prince An being hostile to both Prince Mei and the Emperor, how could she possibly send her daughter into the fire pit? Besides, are you suggesting she marries a second time?" No wonder Zheng Qianye had her sights set on Prince Mei; it turned out someone had been instigating within his own residence. He glared at her, the disappointing woman before him.
Realizing his glare, and with another thought, Zheng Qianye turned the corner, "Master, I was momentarily deluded, I almost fell for it. It won’t happen again."
"Sigh, our daughter is still young, and the current situation is unstable. It’s better to wait for another two years." He sighed and stood up to leave.
