The Perilous Palace Dream - Chapter 100
Chapter 100
At that moment Princess Shaoyang received the news.
Hearing that the Grand Tutor’s parents had come in person, she was also a little flustered. She quickly changed her clothes with the assistance of Qiao’er.
“Why is the Grand Tutor acting this way?” An Qiao’er was worried about her young master, so she combed Princess Shaoyang’s hair while asking nervously.
Princess Shaoyang sighed “It happened by chance. That younger sister of mine picked a quarrel with the Grand Tutor, which led to so many complications. And the Grand Tutor is also one to act on impulse. It really shows how weak the imperial family is. He genuinely treats the Nie imperial surname as an ordinary family. Is he imitating a commoner’s house to propose marriage and offer betrothal gifts?”
At this point Qiao’er deftly helped Princess Shaoyang remove the sash of the formal guest gown, allowing the skirt to hang loosely.
She then added a draped gauze scarf around her shoulders and across her chest to perfectly conceal her bulging belly.
She looked graceful and dignified.
Arriving at the front hall, Princess Shaoyang looked up.
When the elderly couple saw her, they immediately stood up, bowed, and paid their respects.
They looked kindly.
The man was burly and solemn, and the woman was gentle and proper.
Comparing them, Wei Lenghou’s appearance favored his mother more, but he was much more outstanding than Madam Wei, having inherited the best traits of both parents.
However, because the Marquise of Dingguo’s eyes were often too intense, most people dared not look directly, thus overlooking many of the moving parts of his exceptionally beautiful face.
Without the Grand Tutor present, the elderly Wei couple did not know what to say to the Eighth Princess.
After performing their bows and greetings and receiving permission from the princess to be seated, they dared not sit fully, merely perching on the edge of the chairs, sitting obediently.
Princess Shaoyang was also at a loss.
How should one properly entertain the parents of the King of Hell? She was afraid she might accidentally say the wrong thing and cause trouble for her younger sister.
For a time, the three people in the hall were silently and awkwardly uneasy.
After the time it takes to quietly drink a cup of tea, the Grand Tutor finally arrived late.
He wore a golden crown and jade belt, his phoenix eyes were bright, and he was full of vitality.
He casually bowed slightly towards Princess Shaoyang as a greeting, then turned to the Wei couple and said “Father and Mother arrived so early. I wonder if you have had breakfast?”
In front of Princess Shaoyang, Old Master Wei had to restrain himself and could not raise his thick cane.
He held back his anger and said “It is not early. Your mother and I are not hungry!”
The Grand Tutor nodded, thinking it was true, it would soon be time for lunch.
Just then, Princess Shaoyang quietly said “This Princess had instructed the kitchen to prepare lunch long ago. I do not know the two elders’ taste, so the menu was selected with a balance of meat and vegetables. Do the two elders have any dietary restrictions?”
Madam Wei quickly said “That is unacceptable. We are already imposing on the Princess by coming here. How dare we eat a meal here!”
While they were speaking, the Grand Tutor waved his hand, and the accompanying maid immediately presented the lunch menu.
The Grand Tutor quickly scanned the items with his handsome eyes, then added several dishes that the Wei couple loved, as well as some snacks that Nie Qinglin habitually ate.
His manner made him seem like the host of the house, which made the Wei couple feel uneasy again and prevented them from raising their heads in front of the Eighth Princess.
Just at this moment, Princess Yong’an finally arrived late.
Being a man, Old Master Wei could not look up directly at the Princess.
However, Madam Wei quickly glanced at the Imperial Princess Yong’an as she stood up from her chair.
That single glance caused a slight tremor in her heart.
The Princess, though not tall, had a slender and curvy figure, and her appearance was of an exquisite beauty she had never seen before.
Her hair was styled in a soaring phoenix bun, her skin was fair and radiant, and a peach pink floral ornament was pasted between her distant mountain eyebrows, making her forehead look even smoother and fuller.
Her large eyes were naturally intense and shone with a graceful luster, making it impossible to look away.
The crimson silk embroidered phoenix dress she wore trailed behind her like a phoenix tail, and her half length sleeves revealed two sections of white jade like wrists, adorned with several delicate mutton fat jade bracelets that occasionally clinked with a crisp and pleasant sound as she walked…
That overall elegant demeanor was incomparable to her niece Ruoshan, a mere daughter of a minor official’s family.
No wonder her son Yu Lang did not take a liking to her.
After Princess Yong’an was seated, the Wei couple quickly bowed and paid their respects to the sisters of the present Emperor.
Princess Yong’an had only been seated for a moment when she keenly sensed the awkwardness in the hall.
Her Eighth Imperial Sister was naturally introverted and was never one to start a conversation.
The two elderly individuals also looked very constrained and polite.
She wondered how such a simple couple had managed to give birth to the adult demon general who brought such trouble.
The originator of all this, Wei Lenghou, was leisurely sipping tea on the side.
After drinking half a cup and seeing that his parents had not spoken, he raised his thick eyebrow and said “Reporting to Princess Shaoyang, my parents came personally to the temporary residence today to propose marriage to the Princess on my behalf. Although the Emperor, through his great favor, sees that I am fundamentally reliable and stable, courteous and proper in my interactions, and also because I have not yet taken a proper wife and am of a similar age to the Princess, he has long intended to appoint me as the Prince Consort of Princess Yong’an. However, to express my sincerity in marrying the Imperial Princess Yong’an, I still requested my parents to come forward to complete the formalities. When we return to the capital, I will ask the Emperor to issue an imperial decree so that everyone in the world will know of my devoted and sincere admiration for Princess Yong’an.”
Apart from the Grand Tutor’s usual calm expression, everyone else present blushed slightly upon hearing these words.
Especially Princess Yong’an Nie Qinglin. She felt that this Marquise of Dingguo was truly bold in his speech! His self praise was smooth and seamless.
If that was the case, why did he even invite his parents? He had perfectly completed the matchmaker’s job all by himself.
Madam Wei heard that this rebellious son had cornered them into this situation and could no longer remain silent.
Seeing that her husband was keeping a grim face and did not wish to speak much, she forced a smile and spoke “The Princess is of noble birth, originally not someone that families of merchants like ours could seek to marry. Fortunately, the Emperor’s immense favor towards our son, in view of the small merits he has established, led to his ennoblement as a marquise and a general. We just do not know if the Wei household has the good fortune to marry the Imperial Princess Yong’an.”
At this point, Princess Shaoyang was pushed into a corner.
A pregnant woman’s emotions should not fluctuate.
If the situation allowed, Shaoyang really wanted to grab Madam Wei’s sleeve and cry profusely, telling Old Madam Wei The Grand Tutor holds the lives of our Nie clan in his hands, and long ago forcibly took my sister’s chastity.
If Madam is amenable, could you please persuade your son the Grand Tutor to restrain his wicked actions of oppressing men and women. If he must oppress a woman, then let it be. But do not oppress the man. If he marries Princess Yong’an, would he please spare the Emperor’s life?
Unfortunately, before her emotions could fully develop, the Grand Tutor’s sharp eyes, like a cold glare, shot towards her, not allowing her to think further.
She spoke in a mosquito like voice “The Grand Tutor’s sincere admiration for the Princess is known by everyone… If the Emperor grants permission, it would truly be a great marriage…”
Although her voice was low, the Grand Tutor was quite satisfied.
After this formality, no one would be allowed to speak ill of Princess Yong’an’s reputation. Moreover, he wanted Guo’er to see that when that thief Ge forcibly married her, did he have the same complete set of courtesies as he did?
In a couple of days, he would have his younger brother Wei Yunzhi transport three boatloads of betrothal gifts into the capital.
Large boxes of treasures would line up in a magnificent procession into the palace, letting the whole world see the grandeur of the Marquise of Dingguo marrying a princess.
It would be nothing like that poor, disastrous Ge residence, which actually wanted to empty the Fengchu Palace to fill their own household’s coffers!
Because her Imperial Sister and the elders of the Wei family were present, Nie Qinglin was not suitable to voice her opinion.
Her pink cheeks were lowered.
Occasionally raising her eyes, she saw the slightly solemn face of Old Master Wei.
A faint, indescribable apprehension arose in her heart, much like the feeling of anxiety she had as a child when she first entered the palace school, fearing that her learning was not proficient enough and would incur the teacher’s displeasure.
Not long after they spoke, it was lunchtime.
A large table full of exquisite dishes had been prepared early.
Princess Shaoyang felt sore and tired after sitting for a while.
Because she had once dined with the Grand Tutor and was terrified when he suddenly smashed a bowl, giving her a persistent illness, she now felt stomach pain at the thought of dining with the Grand Tutor.
Using the excuse of fatigue and weakness, she avoided the difficulty of eating together.
After Princess Shaoyang left, the Grand Tutor noticed his parents were constrained.
Once the servants had arranged the tableware and completed the taste test, he signaled them to wait outside the hall.
After the four of them were seated, he said “Father and Mother do not need to be so formal. Just regard Yong’an as your own daughter in law. There is no one else here, so there is no need for excessive formalities.”
As he spoke, he first scooped a small bowl of sweet white fungus and lotus root starch soup and handed it to Nie Qinglin.
“You did not eat anything this morning. Drink this first to line your stomach.”
Then, he took a spoonful with the silver handle spoon and brought it to Princess Yong’an’s mouth.
Nie Qinglin was usually a picky eater, and the Grand Tutor was constantly worrying about her.
Witnessing the setbacks in the northern territory this time, and seeing his precious girl, whom he had nourished back to being full and plump, inexplicably lose a lot of weight again, the Grand Tutor paid even closer attention to her diet.
He had always been unconcerned with minor details, and even with his parents present, he casually fed her himself as he usually did.
Nie Qinglin really wanted to severely pinch the Grand Tutor’s thigh under the table.
How dare he act so wild with his parents right in front of him! Seeing the beauty’s large eyes glare slightly, the Grand Tutor slowly put down the spoon.
He turned and calmly addressed the Wei couple.
“Father and Mother, please begin eating first!”
The Wei couple would not agree.
They insisted on inviting the Princess to lift her chopsticks first before they would start eating.
Madam Wei lowered her head, unable to stop the shock in her heart.
Was the person sitting at the dining table truly her son Yu Lang? Since childhood, he had been arrogant and proud, spending his days calling out to his companions from among the military men.
She had never seen him treat a woman with such attentiveness, not even his own mother.
He was respectful, but he was not a filial son who intimately served tea and water.
Was this gentle and considerate person possessed by a wandering spirit?
Old Master Wei’s face on the other side grew increasingly gloomy.
Although he despised fame and fortune in his youth, he had been raised reading the books of the sages.
A gentleman who fails to achieve his ambitions walks his own path.
Whether greatly hidden in the city or modestly secluded in the mountains, he remains aloof from the turmoil of the world.
However, the fundamental principles of the sovereign and subject must not be destroyed, otherwise the country will cease to be a nation.
But just now, from the moment his unfilial son entered the hall, he clearly saw that Princess Shaoyang had become extraordinarily constrained, speaking cautiously, and watching his son’s expression when she spoke.
Now, looking at his son’s demeanor towards Princess Yong’an, he treated this young Princess as if she were already his possession, showing none of the respect and adherence to etiquette expected of a subject.
This Princess looked like she had just reached the age of fifteen, possessing a beauty that could overthrow a city.
How noble was she as the Emperor’s own sister? Unless he was a son from a deeply established aristocratic family, how could anyone be worthy and capable of seeking to marry such a noble Princess?
It must be that the rebellious son, seeing the Princess was young and beautiful, used despicable means.
Relying on the power he wieldled that could overthrow the court, he forcibly took the Emperor’s sister.
What sin did Wei Yuande commit in his past life? To have fathered this audacious bastard who disregards moral principles and forcibly occupies a woman!
