Chapter 109 - Jiang Ying Yue (6) (1/2)

After the latest banquet hosted in the palace by the Emperor, three stories circulated and became household topics in the capital.

First, Rui Wang was gay so he annulled his engagement with the Jiang's first miss. When the prince managed to clear his name, three days had already passed and quite a number of ladies were already sent crying, lamenting why another handsome man fell to the dark side.

Second, the Jiang's first miss and Chen Wang were in love with each other. This was the reason why after the Emperor approved the dissolution of the betrothal, the former immediately cried in delight and jumped into Chen Wang's arms.

Most from the upper ranks who heard of this tale snorted and thought, 'What a joke! She threw herself against a pillar, and the prince just happened to save her! Whoever spread this beautified tale is obviously just doing so to clear her bad reputation. Hah, let's see if Chen Wang doesn't smack her down!'

While these people brainstormed to guess what would happen to the one who courageously created this rumor, the courageous one they were talking about was busy investigating the people involved in the third news.

A day after the banquet, Hai Wang requested an audience with the emperor and asked for a decree to give the first miss of the Sheng family to him. On the same day, he proposed and sent a hundred chests full of valuables to the prime minister's estate as betrothal gifts.

Jiang Li didn't know if this was because it was a formal event starring the male lead, but even though Hai Wang was not as popular as him and Rui Wang, the high-profile proposal became the greatest talk of the week.

...

It was in the afternoon of the second day that Lady Lu, his mother, visited his residence to confirm the validity of the stories. Apparently, even though the middle-aged lady was anxious for the 24-years-old oddball who was sought after but had neither wife nor concubine, she didn't consent to the idea of welcoming Jiang Ying Yue into the house.

”Ah Ling [1], I'm sorry, but if you're thinking of making the first miss of the grand marshal's household as your Chen Wang Fei, I have to say, that young lady is unsuitable for you.”

Jiang Li sipped on his tea without breaking eye contact with the preaching woman.

”The grand marshal seems to dislike her. But even if he doesn't, since the marshal is supporting one of the princes competing for the throne, marrying her would mean getting embroiled in the war of princes. Ah Li, more than enough history books already accounted how perilous a battle for the throne always is. This is why our wise ancestors passed down a family rule that at times like this, we must stand on the neutral side and not get involved. You should not forget this!”

'Uhhh, how about sure for the last one?'

The elegant and soft-spoken lady threw him a worried gaze.

”Please forgive your mother for being like this. But, believe me, I'm saying all of these with your future and reputation in mind. Rui Wang has just annulled his engagement with that young lady and all the other aristocratic families know. A prince like him would not just do things on a whim. There must be something wrong with her. My son, how about you just pick someone from the royal family or the other first-rank families?”

”I will think about it.”

The madam was not discouraged by his lackl.u.s.ter response. ”Ah Li, to be honest, I've brought the portraits of the fairest unmarried ladies in the empire with me. Why don't we take a look at them together? Maybe one of them will capture your heart!”

Jiang Li did not reply and only rolled his eyes at her. The madam instantly froze, asking herself numerous times if she had seen wrong. She felt that her eyes were playing with her because the son she was most proud of was very filial and courteous. There was no way he would do something childish and ungentlemanly, right?

It was when she was busy gulping down her tea to calm herself down that Mao Hong entered the audience room and walked to Jiang Li's side. The man did not forget to salute at them before speaking in a low voice. ”Your Highness, two of our people had just come back and said that something went wrong in that place.”