Chapter 428 - 420: A Joyous Occasion
The matter of the Prince Mansion marrying a concubine spread throughout the Capital, even the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion received an invitation. Mrs. Gu Sr. was ill, so naturally, such an invitation would not be dared to be sent to her. When Suyi received the invitation, she directly had someone send it to the hands of Marquis East Mansion.
Gu Yifeng, after seeing the invitation, let out a cold smile, tossed it onto the table, and called Li Si over, "Go prepare some things to send over to the Prince Mansion, just say it’s a congratulatory gift from the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion."
Li Si didn’t say much, just turned away and left. But these matters were usually handled by Zhao Wu, after all, Li Si managed outside matters, Zhao Wu handled the domestic affairs. Li Si found Zhao Wu and explained the situation, Zhao Wu listened and laughed, went to the storeroom, and picked out some cloth and gift boxes, made arrangements and had Li Si send it away.
Li Si, though he didn’t understand, felt that the gifts seemed a bit insubstantial after seeing them, "Won’t the Prince Mansion find fault for this?"
"You don’t understand. Since the Marquis had you prepare it, he knew you’d find me, knowing you don’t comprehend these things. The Marquis doesn’t care about opinions from the Prince Mansion and naturally doesn’t regard them highly. Moreover, the matters between our Dingyuan Marquis Mansion and the Duke Mansion are known throughout the Capital. Now the Prince marries Mrs. Kong, yet sends an invitation to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, isn’t this a provocation? How could we send a heavy gift? Sending gifts as if to a commoner family is just giving them face."
Li Si, upon hearing this, suddenly understood, thinking no wonder the Marquis acted this way, it’s as if subtly smacking the Prince.
The Prince Mansion was very lively; although the Prince was already old, it was still marrying a concubine, so people from the Capital would give the Royal Family some face. Everyone who should be coming arrived, and when Mrs. Kong was welcomed into the mansion, the Prince didn’t personally come, nor did he perform rituals, being a concubine, she was directly carried into the backyard.
Mrs. Kong saw the people sitting in the room, among them Princess Yuanhua, she had anticipated this, knowing Princess Yuanhua’s temper, she would definitely come.
So when she saw Princess Yuanhua, Mrs. Kong didn’t show any expression, as if she didn’t recognize her. It was Princess Yuanhua who eagerly approached and spoke with Mrs. Kong for a while.
The madams from various families saw this scene but couldn’t understand what Princess Yuanhua’s intention was, though they knew it wouldn’t be a good intention.
After everyone retreated, a little maid brought food inside, and Mrs. Kong waved her hand after seeing it, and the maid put down the food and withdrew.
With no one else in the room, Mrs. Kong walked over to look at the food, just coldly smiled, and didn’t touch a thing.
Having gone through these changes, Mrs. Kong knew the Prince Mansion was not peaceful, never mind Princess Xian, even the Heir of Prince Xian was not easy to deal with, so she wouldn’t casually put any food into her mouth.
During the two years at the temple, Kong Tianru had a little maid who grew up in the temple, named Xiao Hong, having learned medicine from the masters in the temple for many years, generally able to smell out medicine in food.
When Mrs. Kong arrived, she brought Xiao Hong with her, knowing there would be many times to rely on her in the future. Since it was the wedding day, Mrs. Kong didn’t keep Xiao Hong by her side, so she was cautious about not touching any food or water from the Prince.
The Heir of Prince Xian didn’t know, feeling he got what he wanted, happily went to the brothel for fun, didn’t stay in the mansion.
Princess Yuanhua was also very happy, just waiting to see Mrs. Kong’s fate in the future.
After drinking wedding wine at the Prince Mansion, Mrs. Dong Sr. didn’t go to the Dong Mansion but directly went to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion. Having received a letter sent by her daughter the previous day, asking her to visit the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, Mrs. Dong Sr. knew what it was about, but there was no news from her grandson. She delayed going, but after two days without movement from her grandson, she dispatched someone to look, knowing her daughter’s situation couldn’t be delayed, she took this opportunity to visit her daughter.
After arriving at the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, Mrs. Dong’s face was sullen, though she said nothing in front of the servants. After the servants all retreated, Mrs. Dong spoke, "I always thought Side was good, but this child has embarrassed me too much; he’s my biological nephew, how could he do such a face-slapping thing? Mother always preaches about rules, and I know my sister-in-law always looks down on our Sister Hui, thinking our mansion is lackluster in discipline. But look at the son she raised, that’s the kind of son she teaches, casually harassing another family’s girl. Does he still look down on our Sister Hui?"
Mrs. Dong Sr. knew she would not hear good words after coming here, "Side is young, that’s why he did such things, and it was just a slight hand raise, his cousin is not an outsider. Why are you so angry? Sending the letter to the mansion that day looked like calling for a reckoning. Your sister-in-law was unhappy, saying when arranging the marriage, even though she didn’t favor your side, she said nothing, still agreed to the marriage thinking Sister Hui was being raised under her watch. Now it’s just this little matter, yet you come here for accountability, it’s a pity for her concern for Sister Hui. In future interaction at the mansion, you’ll spend a lifetime with your sister-in-law, why be cross over this little matter with a concubine’s daughter and upset your sister-in-law?"
"Mother, what you say is incorrect. With such a situation, I didn’t intend to mention it to our family, but the Marquis and the Madam over here were impatient. If not for Madam being angered and falling ill, she would have gone directly to your mansion, and I couldn’t have stopped her. Though just a concubine’s daughter, she is still the family’s girl. If Siwu had violated a servant, I wouldn’t say anything; but he did this in another’s mansion, and now the entire Capital is discussing it. My sister-in-law blames me for fussing, but does she see what her son has done?" Mrs. Dong didn’t care if her sister-in-law was unhappy; before, she did care, fearing her daughter would suffer after marrying. But now the marriage is not needed, so she’s fearless.
Mrs. Dong hadn’t mentioned these matters, waiting for her mother to arrive before discussing them.