novel-bin Chapter 415 Family Scandal
Chapter 415 Family Scandal
The four of them sat in the teahouse, drinking tea and looking through the window at the bustling scene outside.
A man was riding a tall horse, with a big red flower tied on his chest, looking very proud. Behind him followed two rows of wedding processions, playing music and making a great scene.
The procession was surrounded by people on both sides, and everyone had an excited expression on their face as they joined in the fun.
Shangguan Qingyue picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea. She accidentally caught a glimpse of a familiar figure and almost spit out the tea in her mouth.
She coughed lightly, pointed out the window, looked at Xuanyuan Yan and asked:
"Outside, that guy outside who's carrying a bag and throwing coins, why does he look so much like Brother Bai Er to me?"
When Wan Linglong heard this, she immediately leaned out of curiosity to take a closer look, and then sat back in her seat with amusement.
"Really? Was it arranged by you, Your Majesty?"
Xuanyuan Yan was patting Shangguan Qingyue's back with one hand, while taking out a white towel to wipe the corners of her mouth.
He curled his lips slightly and said:
"Since I am the matchmaker for this marriage, I will naturally ensure that the two newlyweds can get married smoothly."
What he didn't say was that Zhu San also gave some medicine to Miss Zhao, who was sitting in the sedan chair, to make her feel weak all over and her voice soft, so that she would be able to spend the wedding night with the groom smoothly.
Seeing the man opposite her showing a wicked smile, Shangguan Lan couldn't help but shudder. Tsk, who said that the third prince was gentle as jade, modest and kind?
This guy is clearly a smiling tiger, and he shows no mercy when it comes to cheating people!
After watching the excitement, several people got on the carriage and headed towards Shancang County.
Having come all the way from the capital, Shangguan Qingyue had long been accustomed to riding in the same carriage with her fiancé. At this moment, she was sleeping soundly in someone's arms.
At some point, the carriage suddenly stopped, the familiar shaking stopped, and she opened her eyes unconsciously.
A middle-aged man's voice sounded outside the carriage.
"Your humble servant Zou Shiye respectfully welcomes Prince Yong'an."
Xuanyuan Yan couldn't help but frown, and after a little thought he understood roughly that when they entered the city, the guards guarding the city must have known their identities and informed the local county magistrate.
Zou Shiye is a man who lives up to his name. I wonder how Shancang County is doing under his governance today.
Therefore, he decided to give the other party some face, got out of the car first and then carried Shangguan Qingyue down.
Zou Shiye couldn't help but quietly raised his head, and happened to see this scene, his mouth opened in shock. However, he reacted quickly, immediately lowered his head, and knelt on the ground respectfully.
"Your Excellency the County Magistrate, there is no need to be so polite. Everyone, please stand up quickly. This time, I am traveling incognito, and I don't want too many people to know about it."
Zou Shiye felt something was wrong, and in order to show his seriousness, he knelt down in public to greet Prince Yongan.
As a result, the flattery backfired. I hope the prince is magnanimous and will not bother with a seventh-rank official.
So he quickly signaled to his confidant and quickly sent the onlookers away.
The only person who came with Zou Shiye was his youngest son, Zou Boyuan. Shangguan Qingyue looked around but could not see Zou Chunya.
She made two friends in Shancang County, and Zou Chunya was one of them.
She suppressed her doubts in her heart until she went to the best restaurant in the county and sat down in a private room. Then she couldn't help but ask:
"May I ask, Lord Zou, why didn't Madam Zou and Sister Chunya come? But they are not in the county town?"
Since we sincerely want to welcome Prince Yong'an, we naturally have to bring our families along, unless there are compelling reasons.
The middle-aged man, who was originally smiling, immediately turned dark and gray when he heard this.
His straight body was a little hunched. Upon closer inspection, I realized that after not seeing him for just one year, this Lord Zou seemed to have aged a lot.
Shangguan Qingyue's heart suddenly hung in her throat, fearing that something bad might have happened!
After a moment of silence, the other party sighed and said dejectedly:
"In front of the prince and the future princess, I will not say that family disgrace should not be made public.
My wife... was blinded by greed and had always dreamed of marrying my daughter off to a rich family, but she ended up ruining her reputation instead."
At this point he choked up a little, took out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of his eyes before continuing:
"My daughter has a strong temper. She even cut her hair and went to a nunnery to become a nun!
Now my wife is locked up at home and is not allowed to see anyone. Alas, a good family has been torn to pieces by her!"
Shangguan Lan helped pour a cup of hot tea and comforted her:
"Master Zou, don't be too sad. You have to look forward. Even for your son, you have to cheer up."
Everyone's eyes turned to the unusually silent young man sitting nearby, and Shangguan Qingyue couldn't help but sigh.
This child used to be a spoiled nobleman, but now he is like a sapling without water, lifeless.
"Excuse me, Lord Zou, in which nunnery is Sister Chunya practicing asceticism? I would like to go and see her someday."
This Lord Zou's words were vague, and it is unclear to what extent his so-called innocence has been destroyed.
If it was just a trivial matter like being caught having a secret meeting with a strange man, or being caught by a stranger when a man forced her hand, she felt that there was still room for improvement.
After all, she was not born and raised here, so she couldn't have the ridiculous idea that reputation is more important than life.
When Zou Shiye heard this, strong hope flashed in his eyes.
It is the greatest pain in his life that his good daughter has become a nun. If Miss Shangguan can persuade his daughter to return to secular life, it would be good even if she is kept at home for the rest of her life!
So he excitedly stood up from his seat, moved to Shangguan Qingyue and knelt down, saying with tears in his eyes:
"My daughter is now at Jingsi Temple in Lengxiang Village, which is about thirty miles away from Xiangxue Village.
I hope you can take more care of me, Princess-to-be. If you can help my little girl put her worries aside and return home, I will repay your kindness in my next life!"
A cold snort interrupted Zou Shiye's impassioned speech.
"Humph! Stop saying those high-sounding words.
My fiancée wanted to visit you because she was grateful for the friendship she had with you in the past. As for persuading her to return to secular life, we can only do our best and leave the rest to fate. Lord Zou should not hold out too much hope."
Zou Shiye knew that he had broken his promise, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back. He was so excited that he forgot that the person in front of him was an extremely noble prince, so he had no right to ask for anything.
"Your Highness is right. I lost my temper in a moment of panic. I hope Your Highness and the future princess will not blame me."
Shangguan Qingyue showed reluctance, stretched out her hand to support him, and said softly:
"Master Zou, please stand up first. Don't kneel down at every turn. I am still the same Zhou Xiaoxi, and I have never changed.
I will definitely comfort Sister Chunya, but we still have to respect her wishes in the end. Some things can't be forced."
A wave of warmth surged to his eyes, and Zou Shiye almost shed tears. The name Zhou Xiaoxi reminded him of many past events, and the little girl in front of him gave him too many surprises.
At this moment, all their anxieties disappeared. It was a blessing for them that the great god King Yong'an came to their Shancang County.
When lunch was almost over, there was a knock on the door of the private room, and a servant reported:
"Sir, Li Dali from Xiangxue Village brought his family and said they are here to take the prince and the future princess home."