In the Mo Family Village, Madam Yang walked through the crowd gracefully and enjoyed the warm greetings of the passers-by. This was much better than her miserable life when she was chased out of the Martial House. The reason why she could live today was all because of her good daughter, Wu Meiniang, the eldest senior sister of the Mo Family.
"Madam Wu, has Mei Niang returned recently?" A neighbor greeted her warmly.
Madam Yang smiled slightly and said proudly, "This wretched girl is very busy in Chang 'an City. She seems to be busy with the four-faced clock and hasn't been back for a long time."
Speaking of her daughter, she was full of pride.
"Mei Niang is really promising. I heard that many people from the Mo Family Village were transferred to build the four-faced clock this time." The neighbor exclaimed.
"That's because Merton taught her well. As the saying goes, a woman's virtue is if she has no talent. In my opinion, Mei Niang should be an ordinary woman so that I don't have to worry so much." Madam Yang was half proud and half sighed.
"In my opinion, Mei Niang is not young anymore. You should settle down. My eldest daughter is the same age as Mei Niang, and now they even have two children." The neighbor gossiped.
Madam Yang's momentum suddenly weakened. Wu Meiniang made her proud in all aspects except for one, which was that she was old and unmarried. Every time, she could not raise her head in front of others.
"I can't control her. Merton advocates the freedom of marriage for the women of the Mo Family. She doesn't listen to me, her mother." Madam Yang said helplessly. It was not that she had never thought of introducing a man to Wu Meiniang, but Mei Niang did not like him at all.
"In my opinion, young master said that freedom of marriage is good, but we can't let our children make the decision. I heard that even Prince Jin is pursuing Mei Niang. This is a good match. If we wait any longer, the young talents of Chang 'an City will be married. At that time, even if Mei Niang wants to marry, she can't be a concubine." The neighbor gossiped.
"Your Highness, Prince Jin!" Madame Yang's heart couldn't help but move. When she was young, she was a descendant of the Imperial Family, so she naturally knew the power of the Imperial Family. Once Mei Niang married His Highness Prince Jin, not to mention her status would greatly increase, even taking back the Wu Clan would not be impossible. However, she had once asked Wu Meiniang, but Wu Meiniang flatly denied it. She was unwilling to marry His Highness Prince Jin, which made her quite angry.
Madam Yang didn't want to talk too much about this topic, so she went home resentfully.
"This child greets Mother!" Madame Yang had just reached the door when a nightmarish voice suddenly sounded in her ears.
"Wu Yuanshuang!" Madame Yang was so scared that her face turned pale. She forced herself to calm down and said, "Don't be presumptuous. This is the Mo Family Village. If you do anything, Mei Niang will not let you go."
Wu Yuanshuang replied respectfully, "Mother, you worry too much. Your son is here today to discuss Mei Niang's marriage. I have no ill intentions."
"Don't interfere with Mei Niang's marriage. Otherwise, you won't be able to pass Merton's test." Madame Yang warned Wu Yuanshuang.
Wu Yuanshuang humbly said, "What this child is talking about is the marriage between Mei Niang and His Highness Prince Jin. Even Merton is happy to see it happen. Now, we are just waiting for Mei Niang to agree. Once Mei Niang marries into the Imperial Family, Mother will be a relative of the Imperial Family. Why are you still hesitating about such a good thing?"
"But Mei Niang doesn't agree. I can't do anything about it." Madame Yang helplessly said.
"It's said that a grown woman can't be kept at home. Mei Niang is nearly 20 years old. If she misses His Highness Prince Jin, Mother thinks that Mei Niang can find a good match. In my opinion, this matter can't be allowed to be messed around. It's most appropriate for you to come forward and propose a marriage with His Highness Prince Jin." Wu Yuanshuang's words hit Madame Yang's sore point. Madame Yang had always been worried about Wu Meiniang's marriage. Moreover, she also felt that His Highness Prince Jin being able to take a fancy to Wu Meiniang was already her fortune.
"I!" Madame Yang couldn't help but be stunned.
"That's right. You are Wu Meiniang's mother. As the saying goes, parents' orders and matchmaker's words. As long as you write the marriage contract, with parents' orders and matchmaker's words, even if Mei Niang is unwilling, I'm afraid she can only go with the flow." Wu Yuanshuang made a bad move.
Madame Yang couldn't help but be moved. If it was before, Madame Yang would definitely not interfere with Wu Meiniang. But seeing Wu Meiniang getting older and older, she became more and more anxious. Moreover, she also believed that Wu Meiniang couldn't find a more suitable partner than Prince Jin, Li Zhi.
"Duke Guogong's wishful thinking is actually using my daughter to seek riches and honor for you." Madame Yang suddenly sneered. According to Wu Yuanshuang's temperament, she didn't believe that Wu Yuanshuang would be so kind.
Wu Yuanshuang bluntly said, "This child has some selfish motives. However, if Mei Niang enters the Prince's Mansion, I'm afraid that Mother will receive the most benefits. I believe that Mother is the clearest about this point."
Hearing Wu Yuanshuang's words, Madame Yang instantly became silent. Indeed, Wu Meiniang becoming the Princess Consort of Prince Jin, the biggest beneficiaries were Wu Meiniang and her mother. Although Wu Yuanshuang received the benefits, it was still very limited.
"Alright, I'll believe you this time. However, Mei Niang must marry Prince Jin as his official wife. You know Mei Niang's personality, it's impossible for her to become someone's concubine." Madame Yang clenched her teeth and said.
"That's natural!" Wu Yuanshuang straightforwardly replied.
Very quickly, Wu Yuanshuang took the marriage contract and left excitedly. With this marriage contract, he could take the opportunity to establish a relationship with Prince Jin. This was a situation that everyone would be happy about. As for Wu Meiniang, the current situation wasn't something that she could decide.
… … …
"This time, I have to thank Prince Jin. Otherwise, I'm afraid that my unfilial son's life would be in danger!"
In Prince Jin's residence, Zhangsun Wuji sincerely expressed his gratitude.
Zhangsun Chong was the legitimate son of the Zhangsun Family and was the hope of the next generation. If it wasn't for Prince Jin, Li Zhi, informing him, he would probably still be in the dark. Once he returned to the imperial court, it would be too late. Fortunately, he received a warning from Li Zhi in advance and paid an unknown price to reduce Zhangsun Chong's crime to the lowest.
"Uncle, you're thinking too much. You and I are close relatives. How can Slave Zhi not help when Cousin is in trouble? However, Slave Zhi thought that Brother Crown Prince would share Uncle's burden, but I didn't expect Brother Crown Prince to just stand by and watch." Li Zhi shook his head and sighed.
Zhangsun Wuji was embarrassed in his heart, but his face didn't reveal anything, "The Crown Prince is the Crown Prince. He can't easily take risks. There's nothing wrong with the Crown Prince's actions."
Li Zhi sneered in his heart. What the Crown Prince did was beneficial to him. He directly abandoned Zhangsun Chong. He didn't believe that Zhangsun Wuji didn't have a knot in his heart.
"However, it's still a pity that Cousin still couldn't keep his position as the Firearm Army's General." Li Zhi said regretfully.
"Mo Jiazi!" Zhangsun Wuji gritted his teeth and said in his heart.
"Being a Martial General is risky. It might not be a bad thing for Cousin to give up the martial arts and become a scholar in the future." Li Zhi consoled.
Zhangsun Wuji felt even worse. Being a Martial General was risky, but everyone knew that being a Martial General was the fastest. Especially the Firearm Army's General, they didn't lack military merits. For this position, the Zhangsun Residence had paid a hefty price. Now, they didn't even get any merits and actually lost it. It could be said that they had suffered a double loss.
"Uncle knows what you're thinking, but Uncle will give you a word of advice. This path isn't easy!" Zhangsun Wuji was silent for a while before he said bluntly.
Li Zhi was stunned when he heard this. He laughed and said, "Even if it's not easy, I still have to go. If I don't go, how can I be satisfied? I was born in the royal family. I didn't have a choice. Father left me in Chang 'an City because he wanted me to be a candidate for the Crown Prince's position."
"Since you have already made up your mind, Uncle won't say anything more." Zhangsun Wuji sighed. He had experienced the incident at the Xuanwu Gate and naturally knew how dangerous the battle for the throne was. However, he also knew that it was impossible to persuade Li Zhi.
Li Zhi frowned. He tried his best to drive a wedge between his uncle and the Crown Prince, but he didn't get any promise from his uncle. Just as he was about to ask, there was an urgent knock on the door.
"Come in!" Li Zhi frowned. He had instructed not to disturb him if there was nothing important. Now that there was a knock on the door, there must be something urgent.
His personal eunuch pushed the door open and entered with a joyful face. He held a red marriage certificate in his hands and said, "Your Highness, Duke Ying just sent a marriage certificate and requested for the Duke Ying Residence to be connected by marriage with King Jin."
"Reject it …" Li Zhi frowned. He had paid attention to all the important officials in the imperial court. How could he not know who Duke Ying was? Moreover, his heart was now on Wu Meiniang. He didn't care if she was the daughter of a duke or not. He wasn't interested at all.
"Wait, Duke Ying, Wu Shifeng, no, it should be Wu Yuanshuang now. He is Wu Meiniang's close relative." Zhangsun Wuji and Wu Shifeng were colleagues who started the war at the same time. He instantly thought of the relationship between Duke Ying and Wu Meiniang.
"Could it be …?" Li Zhi was delighted when he heard this. He took a look at the marriage certificate. It was a marriage certificate between him and Wu Meiniang. Moreover, it was written by Wu Meiniang's mother, Yang Shi.
"Mei Niang agreed. That's great!" Li Zhi said excitedly.
Zhangsun Wuji shook his head and said, "No, in my opinion, this matter is very likely to be done by Wu Yuanshuang and Yang Shi. Mei Niang doesn't know about it. But at this point, Mei Niang can no longer control it. It seems that uncle will be attending Slave Zhi's wedding soon."
"I also didn't expect it to be so smooth." Li Zhi said happily. He had been chasing Wu Meiniang for so long but to no avail. He didn't expect Yang Shi to make it happen so easily.
Zhangsun Wuji waved his hand and dismissed the eunuch. He then said seriously, "This is the power of power. If you ascend to that position one day, all the beauties in the world will automatically send themselves to your door."
Li Zhi laughed foolishly and said with a happy face, "I love Mei Niang and will not marry anyone else."
"No, you have to marry. You want to marry Wu Meiniang. This is a good move, but it's far from enough. The world is still the world of Confucianism and aristocratic families. If you want to reach that position, it's impossible to leave the support of the Five Families and Seven Hopes. Therefore, you need a wife with the Five Families and Seven Hopes."
"A wife with the Five Families and Seven Hopes? That's impossible. The Mo Family pursues a monogamous system. Not to mention a wife, even a concubine is not allowed." Li Zhi shook his head.
"You have to think about this clearly. With your status, it's impossible for you to make friends with officials. Marriage is the best choice. Only by obtaining the support of the Five Families and Seven Hopes will you have a chance to fight for that position. Back then, His Majesty was also deeply in love with the Empress. In the end, for that position, didn't he marry Concubine Yin, Concubine Yang, Concubine Wei …" Zhangsun Wuji said bluntly.
Although Empress Zhangsun was his sister, he supported Li Shimin's marriage. Concubine Yin's father, Yin Shishi, was the enemy who dug up the Li Family's ancestral grave. Concubine Yang was the descendant of the previous dynasty's royal family. Concubine Wei was the daughter of an aristocratic family in Chang 'an City and it was her second marriage. Furthermore, the favored Zheng Chonghua was from the Zheng Family of Xingyang. Everything was just for political benefits.
"Impossible. Mei Niang is extremely arrogant. It's impossible for her to agree to share a husband with others." Li Zhi shook his head resolutely. One must know that he was filled with joy and wanted to spend the rest of his life with the woman he loved. How could he bear to destroy everything with his own hands?
"Since ancient times, which Emperor didn't have a harem? Once you ascend to that position, what's the Mo Family's rules?" Zhangsun Wuji snorted.
"Even if the royal family ignores the Mo Family's rules, Mei Niang will definitely hate me for life." Li Zhi smiled bitterly. He naturally knew Wu Meiniang's temperament. She definitely wouldn't forgive him for his actions.
"Seeing that you helped me this time, Uncle will come out and be the bad guy. Later, Uncle will go to the Empress and request for her to choose a concubine for you. This way, one will choose Wu Meiniang and the other will choose a daughter from an aristocratic family. Both of them will be equal wives and be conferred the title of Concubine. This way, not only can you answer to Wu Meiniang, you can also obtain the support of the Mo Family and the Five Families and Seven Hopes. This way, you will have a chance to fight for that position." Zhangsun Wuji said solemnly. This way, he could easily return Li Zhi's favor and wouldn't need to be overly involved in the royal family's turmoil.
"But Mei Niang won't agree …" Li Zhi said in pain.
"Do you want the country or the beauty? Choose for yourself." Zhangsun Wuji pressed.
Li Zhi instantly closed his eyes in pain and struggled in his heart.
"If Wu Meiniang loves you, she will naturally compromise for you. If she doesn't love you, she will also fall in love with you when you ascend to that position." Zhangsun Wuji whispered.
"Everything will be decided by Uncle."
Li Zhi closed his eyes in pain. He knew that from today onwards, he would personally destroy his love.
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