Chapter 1472 - 1470: Matrimonial Fate
Chapter 1472: Chapter 1470: Matrimonial Fate
"What’s going on?"
"What does the Emperor mean by this?"
"Do you even need to ask?"
The Princely Heir of the first branch of Fuguo Duke’s Mansion glanced at his second brother.
Both the father and the son, that memorial was primarily contributed by the second branch.
Before, everyone had power and influence, and no one said anything.
Now, when trouble arises, they can’t help but blame each other.
After reading through the memorial, the Master Prince almost wanted to throw it in the face of the second branch.
"This is all your doing!"
The Second Master rubbed his nose.
"Brother, Liangliang is still missing, I..."
"What do you mean ’I’, not to mention your Liangliang, we are all at risk!"
The Second Master muttered in a low voice.
"This kind of thing doesn’t just happen to our family, it’s everywhere!"
"Our family is relatively fortunate, it’s just that for some reason, someone reported it to the Emperor..."
These words made the Master Prince furious.
"If it weren’t for your meddling, would we have caught the attention of the Imperial Censor?"
"And you don’t even consider what kind of trouble the second branch has caused!"
"I told you a long time ago not to provoke the Shi Family, not to provoke the Shi Family, but you wouldn’t listen!"
"Now look at what’s happened, are you pleased? Satisfied?"
The Second Master fell silent.
Indeed, the Shi Family is the marital family of the Fourth Princess, and this matter might even be orchestrated by the Fourth Princess.
He even heard rumors recently that before Liangliang went missing, he had visited the Mansion of the Fourth Princess.
This is rather awkward.
Who doesn’t know that the Fourth Princess is the legitimate daughter of the Taishang Huang, the current Emperor’s biological sister?
Provoking the Fourth Princess is like courting death.
So the Fuguo Duke’s Mansion didn’t dare to ask, they just searched around blindly like headless flies.
Now, after the Master Prince’s reprimand, the Second Master dared not investigate further.
He took the scolding, bowed his head, and retreated quietly.
...
The Emperor submitted the memorial to the mansion as a request for a statement.
The implication was: Someone reported these matters about you, aren’t you going to explain?
The Fuguo Duke’s Mansion did their best to present a relatively appropriate response, explaining each matter one by one.
The implication was:
Your Majesty, these matters are not only our fault, others were also involved.
In short, they implicated as many people as they could.
As the saying goes, if everyone is guilty, the law will be lenient.
Unfortunately, their calculation was wrong.
Zhao Qichen didn’t even look at their response, nor did he intend to.
Even before the memorial was recovered, the imperial edict was already prepared.
A few days later, a decree to strip them of their title was issued.
The decree was lengthy, but its meaning was clear.
Fuguo Duke’s Mansion, lacking virtue to match their position, exploited the common people, forcefully seized civilian girls; now stripped of their title and demoted to commoners as punishment.
In reality, the Imperial Court rarely strips a title completely this way; many are demoted rank by rank.
If not for committing a grave offense, such a drastic measure is seldom used.
So, it seems...
The Fuguo Duke’s Mansion, now the Lv Family.
They either committed a grave offense or offended someone important.
Analyzing the situation closely.
People found that many prominent families in the Capital City have more or less these charges, no worse than others, not a big deal.
So that was ruled out.
Then they must have offended someone important.
Considering the recent events at the Fuguo Duke’s Mansion, they concluded with one answer.
"The Shi Family!"
"The marital family of the Fourth Princess, the Shi Family!"
"It seems the Fourth Princess has intervened!"
"Ah, you can’t blame them, they almost drove the young girl to her death!"
"After all, they’re relatives, it’s not like they would stand by idly!"
"Indeed, the Lv Family is quite dismissive of others!"
Everyone was talking about it, with few sympathizing with the Lv Family.
It must be said that in the Capital City, with so many prominent families and so many rich, spoiled youths, there’s hardly anyone as infuriating as Lv Zhaoliang.
Now, the Lv Family has fallen, Lv Zhaoliang is missing, neither alive nor dead.
This event has vented the public’s grievances.
But no matter what, the people are forgetful.
After a brief moment of lament, everyone dispersed and returned to their own routines.
...
After October, winter came.
The Mansion of the Fourth Princess remained tranquil, undisturbed by the outside commotion.
One morning, Yue Er was reading in the study for leisure, with Shih Shaoling accompanying her.
Suddenly, a young maid came in to report.
"Reporting to the Princess and Prince Consort, the old Madam requests your presence!"
Yue Er was taken aback, looked up at Shih Shaoling and asked calmly.
"Is there anything the matter?"
Shih Shaoling looked puzzled as well.
The maid smiled and said,
"It’s nothing major, Madam has arranged a marriage for the cousin, and they are coming for a visit!"
Yue Er remembered there was someone living in the corner of the Princess’s Mansion.
She realized and calmly waved her hand.
"Understood!"
"Go back and report to Mother, say that the Prince Consort and I will return shortly!"
Before she finished speaking, Shih Shaoling stopped her.
"The weather is bad, stay inside and rest well!"
"I doubt there’ll be any major issue, I’ll go by myself!"
Yue Er thought for a moment and nodded slightly.
"Alright! Then you can explain to Mother!"
Shih Shaoling nodded in agreement.
He went to the bedroom to change his clothes, instructed Yue Er a few things, and was about to leave.
"Wait!"
Yue Er called him back.
"Any other matter?" Shih Shaoling retracted the foot that had stepped out, turned and asked with a smile.
Yue Er said calmly.
"No matter which family Jiang Wanrong gets married into, if it happens, I will provide her dowry!"
This is akin to lending her face and backing.
After all, not everyone can have a reigning legitimate Princess contributing to their dowry.
Shih Shaoling thanked her with a smile.
"Understood, on behalf of Mother, thank you!"
He understood that Yue Er was doing this not out of affection for Wanrong, but to respect his mother.
So he thanked her on behalf of his mother, not Jiang Wanrong, as he couldn’t do that.
Yue Er smiled lightly.
"Go on, come back soon!"
Shih Shaoling nodded, turned, and left, soon disappearing into the howling north wind outside.
...
Due to Lv Zhaoliang’s scandals, Jiang Wanrong’s reputation in the Capital City plummeted.
Even official families of the third or fourth rank avoided her.
This was with the Shi Family stepping in; without them, given the Jiang Family’s name, the results would have been far worse.
Under such circumstances, it’s clear the Capital City was no longer suitable.
Madam Shi found several matchmakers, and finally selected a well-educated family 500 miles south of the Capital City, in Luocheng City.
That family, surnamed Bai, was also a prominent local family.
They held official positions, came from a good background, and had high-ranking officials in their ancestry.
Although their current rank wasn’t high, the young man was very talented, reportedly good at his studies, and had become a Graduate at a young age.
Given the Bai Family’s capabilities, securing an official post after becoming a Jinshi and getting a slight promotion would groom him into talent.
Therefore.
The two families valued each other’s character and resources behind them.
Meeting their respective needs, they quickly reached an agreement.