21 Preparation (1/2)
After the crown prince left the high platform in front of the throne room, he was escorted by numerous palace guards to the East Palace.
Only then did Bai Chengze step down to the hundreds of levels. ”The direct descendant has a difference” Bai Chengze knew this very well.
Bai Chengze muttered these words in his heart, then suddenly turned his head to look at the tall and lofty Hall of Golden Chimes, so what if the empress had given birth to a direct descendant? As long as it was a dragon, they had the right to sit on that chair in the palace. Their royal father was also not the empress of the Middle Palace.
”Master.” After Bai Chengze stepped down from the steps, the eunuch who served him came up to welcome him.
”Return to the manor.” Bai Chengze didn't stop and walked straight out of the palace with a calm expression.
Gao Deng followed Bai Chengze and left the palace. Only then did he speak to Bai Chengze in a low voice, ”Master, this servant sent the Guan Yin image that this servant sought for the Empress into Qi Fang Palace. The Empress really likes it.”
”Is my mufei doing well?” Bai Chengze asked.
Gao Deng did not dare to lie to Bai Chengze, and quickly said in a low voice: ”Master, the newly chosen beautiful girl entered the palace a few days ago.”
Bai Chengze did not say anything else. When a pretty girl entered the palace, no one would be in a good mood like the woman in the palace. Concubines was chosen once every three years. Bai Chengze felt that the last talent show had just ended, but he didn't expect it to happen again so soon.
Gao Deng continued, ”The Empress also sent a servant to deliver a message to Master. The Second Miss of the Residence of An is not blessed.”
Bai Chengze urged his horse to a distance away from Bai Deng. Was it An Jin'sthat was unlucky, or was it that he had no fate with her? He had met An Jin twice. Back at the Eastern Palace, the girl had put on beautiful makeup. Back at the An clan's incense garden, the girl had put on clean makeup. As he read the name 'An Jin', Bai Chengze could not bear to part with it. The Crown Prince had spoken the truth, it was a pity that he matched Shangguan Yong's name to that beauty.
”Master,” Gao Deng caught up again. ”The Grand Preceptor.”
Bai Chengze didn't need Gao Deng to remind him. He had seen Grand Preceptor An and Shangguan Yong enter a restaurant. ”Were they going there to discuss the marriage?” Thinking of this, Bai Chengze felt that it was absurd, but at the same time, he felt annoyed. He suddenly whipped his horse and galloped forward.
Grand Preceptor An didn't notice that the Fifth Prince had passed in front of him on horseback. He brought Shangguan Yong into the capital's finest restaurant, and sat down opposite of Shangguan Yong in the small room. He asked, ”When do you want to marry this old man's second daughter?”
Shangguan Yong wanted to say tomorrow, but after some hesitation, he said: ”I want to wait for three days.”
”Three days later?” Grand Preceptor An asked.
Shangguan Yong nodded and said seriously: ”This general hopes the sooner the better.”
Grand Preceptor An knew that if he continued to talk to Shangguan Yong now, he would only be an exception. If that was the case, Shangguan Yong wouldn't have believed that An Jinxiu was living a good life at home. Add to that the words that Eunuch Xie had mentioned this morning, Grand Preceptor An nodded towards Shangguan Yong, saying, ”You can arrange the marriage in three days?” If you have something difficult to deal with, you might as well tell me. ”
Shangguan Yong didn't look at Grand Preceptor An, but shook his head. ”No.”
His future son-in-law's ignorance had angered Grand Preceptor An. How was he going to arrange a wedding ceremony in three days? The imperial court, ”Grand Preceptor An said kindly,” Yesterday, His Majesty bestowed upon us a large amount of gold, silver, and jade artifacts. His edict said that they were to be used as dowry for Ah Jin.
Shangguan Yong said, ”Your Majesty is merciful.”
”You don't understand what I'm saying!” Grand Preceptor An sighed, finding such a son-in-law for himself was asking for trouble.
Shangguan Yong looked at Grand Preceptor An with a puzzled expression. What did the dowry that the Emperor had bestowed upon her have to do with him? He wasn't the type to covet his wife's dowry.
”His Majesty bestowed a treasure to add dowry to Ah Jin,” Grand Preceptor An had no choice but to explain, ”General, how simple was your wedding with my daughter? This is a marriage bestowed by the Emperor.
On the day of marriage, you and my daughter even got the chance to kowtow in front of the palace door to express your gratitude to the e
Emperor. Do you really know the severity of this marriage? ”
Shangguan Yong sat there in a daze for a long time. How could he have thought of so much?
”Just listen to everything I say,” Grand Preceptor An didn't want to waste any more words with Shangguan Yong. ”We'll be family in the future, so there's no need for family members to talk about two things at once.
”Grand, Grand Preceptor,” Shangguan Yong vaguely felt that there was something wrong with his future father-in-law's words, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly what was wrong.
”You can go,” Grand Preceptor An caught up to Shangguan Yong and left. ”I'll send someone to your estate to help you. In three days, this old man will be waiting for you to come invite me to your wedding.”