Chapter 263 - Propose Marriage

Fortunately, Yuan Xuepei didn’t let the Jiang Family down.

Next morning, Jian Limiao sent a message to the Jiang Family’s residence, saying that he was entrusted by Marquis Boling and came to propose marriage for him.

Jian Limiao was in poor health all the time. When he was invited in, he couldn’t help but cough several times, so after he was seated, he apologized, “Marquis Boling wanted to ask his maternal uncle Prince of Hengshan to come, but the Dowager Consort passed away in the fourth lunar month, and the prince is still in mourning for his mother, so he can’t get involved in the happy events such as marriage. Marquis Boling hasn’t contacted his elder relatives for a long time, so after considering for a long time, he entrusted me as he is a good friend of Xubai. If he neglects your feelings, please forgive him.”

It was not that Yuan Xuepei hadn’t contacted his second paternal uncle for a long time. After all, at the beginning of last year, he kicked the family out of the marquis’ mansion. The problem was that his second uncle’s family was one of the chief criminals in the plot against Jiang Muting. If Yuan Xuepei asked this uncle to propose marriage for him, it meant that he didn’t want to be related to the Jiang Family by marriage but become their enemy.

Except for this uncle, most of the people in connection with Yuan Xuepei were the crown prince’s followers. Jian Limiao was the right assistant in the civil chancery, a fourth-rank official. Although he was not in a high position, he was a son of the former prime minister Jian Pingyu, a brother of Grand Princess Jinguo’s husband, so he had honorable identity.

More importantly, he had the same political stand as the Jiang Family and remained neutral.

When he came to discuss the marriage, at least, both sides would be relieved.

It could be seen that Yuan Xuepei made efforts for the proposal.

“Lord Jian, don’t take it to heart.” Jiang Yin ordered a servant to serve tea and then took a sip before saying gently, “You are a rare gentleman with a good reputation. You came today, and our shabby mansion is brightened.”

With a definite purpose, they had nothing useless to say after the conventional greetings and just decided the marriage. Because they were still at a summer resort and it was inconvenient to do many things on the mountain, the date of wedding, dowry and the others would be discussed in detail after they went back to the imperial capital.

Jian Limiao came with nothing in hands today, but now he took out a small and exquisite box made of sanders from his pocket. “Before Marquis Boling’s mother died, she said that this noble gold hairpin with jadeite embellished would be given to her future daughter-in-law. Since they are engaged today, it should be left to you as a keepsake.”

Jiang Yin looked around. Then Jiang Muying came out to receive it and expressed thanks to Jian Limiao. After they talked for a while, Jian Limiao said goodbye.

The marriage was hasty yet as all people expected. However, even though all people guessed that the Jiang Family would be unwilling to marry Jiang Muting to Ji Mingfei, they didn’t think it was proper for Jiang Muting to marry Yuan Xuepei. “His leg is injured and he can’t be an official. Only depending on the title of nobility, he will be always like that. The girl from the Jiang Family once had a chance to be a princess consort. Now she can only marry into a marquis’ mansion, and even Marquis Boling can’t have his own career. She would probably be embarrassed if she meets Princess Consort of Wei on official occasions in the future.”

“She could be a princess consort only when she was a virgin. Now who doesn’t know that she falls in love with Marquis Boling but has a vague relationship with the man from the Ji Family? If Marquis Boling doesn’t consider that the Jiang Family spoil her or he isn’t afraid that the family would be forced to follow Prince of Wei and Prince of Zhao, he was unwilling to marry her in the past. Why does he change his mind now?”

“So the two are matched now, with one disabled, and the other has lost her chastity?”

For a moment, there were such whispers everywhere.

After Jinxun heard about that, she told Song Yixiao and couldn’t help but spit. “These people are so mean. Miss Jiang just stayed with Master Mingfei alone for a while and they didn’t even touch each other’s finger, but she was said to have lost her chastity! Marquis Yuan has asked Master Limiao to go to the Jiang Family’s mansion and propose marriage for him. Otherwise, the comments would be too offensive. No wonder Lord Jiang asked His Majesty to send him out of the capital to stay away from the gossips.”

However, Song Yixiao didn’t think so after hearing that. If the Jiang Family feared the gossips, they should have married Jiang Muting to a man far away from the capital soon after she lost the chance to become Princess Consort of Wei. Since they didn’t, it could be seen that this family, at least the family master didn’t fear anything.

Now the gossips were unpleasant to hear, but they just talked behind their backs. After all, there were not so many fools who would talk to their faces and offend the Jiang Family just because they wanted to comment. Even if there were, Yuan Xuepei had proposed marriage to Jiang Muting, so the Jiang Family would certainly stand up for the daughter.

After all, the one who would marry Jiang Muting didn’t say anything. Would the outsiders have the qualification to disdain her bad reputation?

Song Yixiao didn’t worry about Yuan Xuepei, either. This Marquis Boling’s parents died when he was a child and he had resisted the plots of many elders such as his step-grandmother and second uncle. He took care of himself and brought up his younger sister. Then he was disabled, and even if he didn’t go through fire and water, at least he was long-tested.

If something so insignificant like this could frustrate him, he would have died long ago.

As for Jiang Muting, she had her family to protect her, and she was not a fool who could be forced to commit suicide by some evil remarks.

Therefore, Song Yixiao just forgot that after hearing it. Next day, when she went to the Jiang Family’s residence to congratulate Jiang Muting, she saw that the girl was joyful and wasn’t influenced by the public opinion at all.

On the occasion, somebody who came to congratulate her was long-tongued and mentioned Ji Mingfei. Before the speaker’s companion stopped him, Jiang Muting played with the fan in her hand and smiled first. “It a misunderstanding. The people in the palace and the elders have explained. Why do you keep it in mind?”

She was natural and graceful with no guilt, which made that person think that he was rash, so he apologized to her in embarrassment and didn’t say anything more.

In general, although some people came to congratulate her and wanted to watch the fun, it was peaceful. After all, the visitors were in connection with the Jiang Family or Jiang Muting. Even if they were not so close, they wouldn’t be impolite on a celebration occasion.

The one who mentioned Ji Mingfei was unfriendly.

However, Song Yixiao always thought that the two sisters from the Su Family who came early looked at her weirdly.

Especially Su Shaomo glanced at her belly from time to time, as if she saw a ghost. It was difficult for Song Yixiao to pretend to be ignorant. So after Song Yixiao finished chatting with Wei Yinlian, Xie Yiren and her other friends, she came to them. “Two ladies, you keep looking at me. Do you want to say something to me?”

“I heard that you are pregnant?” Su Shaoling heard that and felt awkward. She wanted to explain, while Su Shaomo asked bluntly, “Is it true?”

“Of course it’s true.” Song Yixiao was confused to hear that and asked in surprise, “Why would I pretend to be pregnant?”

If she didn’t know that Su Shaomo was plain-spoken and straightforward, she would be unhappy. “Why did she ask if I am really pregnant? It seems that I pretend to be pregnant to fight for my husband’s love. I have been married for less than one year and have a good relationship with my husband and mother-in-law. I live a good life, so why would I take a risk to lie for something like this?”

“Shaomo, what are you talking about?” Fortunately, Su Shaoling was present and hurriedly mediated. “Now all people on the mountain know that, but only you don’t believe it.”

Then she apologized to Song Yixiao. “Madam Song, please don’t mind. My sister means that we heard several months ago that both Princess Consort of Wei and Princess Consort of Liang are pregnant, and now you are pregnant, too, so she thinks that what a coincidence. But you also know that my sister is always careless while speaking. If she offends you, please forgive her.”

Song Yixiao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and expressed that she didn’t mind, yet she didn’t believe Su Shaoling’s words. After all, the sisters from the Su Family looked at her and it didn’t seem that they were just surprised, but their eyes were complicated as if they saw something that they couldn’t understand.

However, obviously the sisters didn’t want to tell her why, and she wouldn’t pester them because they stared at her for a moment, so she talked with them for a while and then found an excuse to say goodbye, going back to her seat.

“What do you think?” As soon as Song Yixiao left, Su Shaomo couldn’t wait to ask Su Shaoling, “Can you see whether she is really pregnant or just pretends?”

Su Shaoling looked baffled. “I just read several books about medical skills with Shaoge. How can I confirm something like this just after I see her? However, all people on Cuihua Mountain know that she is pregnant now. And it can’t be false anyway, right?”

In fact, she sighed in secret. If Su Shaomo didn’t ask Song Yixiao whether she was really pregnant as soon as they talked, Su Shaoling could find a reason and show her concern in name by checking Song Yixiao’s pulse to confirm it. But Su Shaomo spoke loudly. How could Su Shaoling make such a demand?

“But with Shaoge’s insight, he wouldn’t misjudge.” Su Shaomo tilted her head and asked curiously, “What happened? With the identity of Duke of Yan, he wouldn’t allow his wife to be with somebody else…”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Hearing that, Su Shaoling blushed and hurriedly covered Su Shaomo’s mouth. Then she looked around. Seeing that nobody paid attention to them, she heaved a sigh of relief and said in a low voice, “Madam Song is present. If you speak recklessly and she knows that, she wouldn’t let us go. What’s more, how can you say something like this with no evidence? If the news spreads, it would force somebody to death.”

Su Shaomo didn’t harbor an evil intention, and she just guessed randomly. Seeing her sister’s nervous expression, she pursed her lips and said in the end, “Fine, but I don’t think Shaoge would misjudge. There must be something wrong with this couple.”

“Let’s go to talk with Miss Jiang!” Su Shaoling was afraid that Su Shaomo would cause trouble again, so she instantly changed the subject and got up. “We came to congratulate her today, yet we just greeted her till now.”

After the occasion for celebration, Song Yixiao came back to the residence and told her husband about the unusual behavior of the sisters from the Su Family. Then she said in confusion, “I don’t know if they have heard some gossips. I just think it is odd.”

“Really?” Hearing that, Jian Xubai thought of what Lyu Qinghong had reported to him. When they were in the Zhanchun Venue last year, Su Shaoge once entered Song Yixiao’s temporary room at night, but first, Lyu Qinghong was guarding outside in person and made sure that the madam didn’t suffer losses; second, although Jian Xubai didn’t like Su Shaoge, he trusted him. With Su Shaoge’s moral quality, he wouldn’t talk with his sisters to ruin a married woman’s fame. So he pondered for a moment and then asked, “Now all people on the mountain are talking about Xuepei and Miss Jiang. Who is free to mention us? Moreover, what can make others comment on us?”

He and Song Yixiao got married openly and had been married for almost one year. His wife was pregnant, and it was reasonable and should be congratulated. Who would whisper about it?

Song Yixiao responded, “Right! Moreover, I am not familiar with the sisters from the Su Family, and we are just polite to each other after we meet at ordinary times. They are not like Muting and Yiren, who are close to me and can talk about anything with me. Logically, the sisters won’t pay special attention to me. Even if they heard some comments about my pregnancy, do they need to show their feelings so obviously that I can’t help but ask them?”

If only Su Shaomo did that, she wouldn’t take it to heart. It was mainly because Su Shaoling was always calm and was not the kind of person who would act on hearsay and like to ask about others’ privacy. Even she looked unusual evidently today. How would Song Yixiao not think more about it?

Hearing his wife’s words, Jian Xubai rubbed his brows and pondered for quite a while. Then he suddenly had a brainwave and blurted out, “Is it…”