Ninety-Nine Pre-Marriage (One)

  The imperial edict was soon issued——

  "By the Emperor's decree: We have heard that Wen Jiu, daughter of Wen Chonghu, a lady outside the imperial court, is gentle, kind-hearted, clever and elegant, with outstanding appearance. The Empress and I are delighted to hear about her. As Wen Jiu is waiting for marriage in her chamber, she is well-matched with Yang Guofeng, Prince of Weiyuan, as if heaven-ordained and earth-created, a perfect couple. Therefore, we hereby grant permission for you to marry Wen Jiu as the Princess of Weiyuan. All rituals shall be handled jointly by the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Observatory..."

  In front of the Wen family hall, listening to He Gonggong's sharp and fine voice, the Wen family members who were kneeling on the ground were shocked, so shocked that no one thanked him after the imperial edict was read.

  "Thank you, Ninth Sister!" Old Master He handed the imperial edict to Ninth Sister, who was relatively normal compared to the others.

  Her gaze fell on the bright yellow thing held up by a pair of white hands, and Jiuniang couldn't help but feel complicated. She took it over and felt its weight was as heavy as a thousand catties.

  It's just this thin piece of paper in front of her eyes that will tie her down for the rest of her life, and how can she not have mixed feelings in her heart.

  After all the planning and scheming, with so many twists and turns, I never thought it would end like this.

  There's truth in the saying: "Flowers that are carefully tended may not bloom, while willows that are carelessly stuck in the ground may grow into shade trees."

  "Mr. He, please come in, please come in..."

  The Wen family finally reacted after a long period of buffering, and Wen Chongjiang and Wen Chonghu hurried forward to greet He Gonggong.

  He Gu Gong didn't decline and followed everyone.

  "What's going on, Ninth Sister?"

  "Yes, Ninth Sister, why don't you say anything..."

  The women of the Wen family suddenly surrounded Jiu Sister, who was holding the imperial edict, with a loud "hula".

  "I... I don't know what's going on?" Jiū jiě also looked bewildered, "Yesterday, after I discussed the matter of the congratulatory gift with Empress Yang, she said... said she wanted to reward me, but I never thought it would be... a marriage like this..."

  She didn't dare tell anyone in the mansion about what happened yesterday, after all, the matter of Fifth Sister was like a thorn, stuck in everyone's heart.

  As for what happened yesterday, in her opinion, it was really not very glorious. Although the imperial couple had arranged the marriage, the consequence was still caused by her own words.

  Alas...

  The people in the government office are easily fooled, and a small lie can get by, but what about another place?

  The imperial edict of marriage should have arrived at Commissioner Wang's mansion by now. How will Yang Guofeng think of her?

  At this thought, she couldn't help but cover her face again and again, wishing that she could evaporate into thin air at this moment and cease to exist...

  ……

  Just as Jiuniang was so ashamed and humiliated that she wished to disappear, the Weiyuan Wangfu in the most prosperous street of Bianzhou City, closest to the imperial palace, presented a different scene.

  "Feng Er, I do know this Korean lady, she's the granddaughter of Yao Ge Lao, I met her once at Liu Daren's temple fair last year, indeed a remarkable person. But who is Wen Jiu Niang? Do you know?"

  Old Lady Meng, sitting in the red sandalwood armchair, looked at her son Yang Guofeng, who had been lost in thought with a unclear expression since seeing off the imperial edict, and asked in surprise.

  "Hmm..." Yang Guofeng looked up at his mother, hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, "Don't recognize!"

  "Unfamiliar..." Madame Meng's expression changed instantly, furrowing her brow, "And the proper consort, what kind of girl is she?"

  Yang Guofeng looked at his mother and didn't say a word.

  "Alas..." The old lady Meng sighed and fell silent.

  "The old princess and the three madams have returned!" The mother and son remained silent for a while, then a maid wearing a silver-red jacket and looking pretty came in and reported.

  "Oh," Old Lady Meng nodded and instructed the maid, "Chao Hong, have her come over and tell her I need to ask her something!"

  Yang Guofeng immediately looked at Old Lady Meng.

  Chao Hong left after being called, and only then did Old Lady Meng explain to her son, "Your third aunt often goes out to socialize, perhaps she met this Wen Jiugu niang behind your back."

  Yang Guofeng merely raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this.

  Not much effort was required before Cui Hong lured a woman into the house.

  The woman looked twenty-five or six years old, born slender and beautiful, wearing a pink lotus-colored straight-collared dress, who was the legitimate wife of Yang Guosheng, the third son of the mansion, Mrs. Yan.

  Madam Yan made a curtsy to Old Lady Meng and then also exchanged greetings with Yang Guofu who was sitting on the other side.

  The old lady Wang then ordered the maid to pour tea, and after everything had settled down, she said to Madame Zheng, "Did you hear about the Emperor and Empress granting a marriage to your fourth brother earlier?"

  "Of course I've heard!" Mrs. Yan smiled, then turned to Yang Guofeng, "Speaking of which, I forgot to congratulate Fourth Uncle."

  Yang Guofeng, who was sipping tea, simply nodded at her.

  As for her own brother-in-law's calm and taciturn demeanor, Mrs. Yan had long been accustomed to it and didn't think much of it, so she just smiled.

  "Third daughter-in-law, I called you over for this matter... You often go out to socialize, I suppose you've also heard about the Ninth Young Lady of the Ningping Marquis's household, what is she like?" The old Madame Meng asked her.

  "Haha......" Yan Shi heard this and smiled, "Mother, I've not only heard of Wen Jia's ninth young lady, but I've also seen her."

  "Oh?"

  "You forgot, two years ago in the winter month, I attended Jiang's daughter Yingniang's hairpinning ceremony. This Wenjiu girl's mother is actually Yingniang's paternal aunt." Yan Shi said with a flash of her eyes and a faint smile.

  After hearing this sentence, Madame Na Meng's face couldn't help but sink.

  She naturally knew about the Jiang family, and this Jiang Yingniang was almost sent over to be a concubine?

  That Jiang family girl should have married the younger son of the Wen family, and this Wen family girl was also a concubine's daughter, which means that the daughter-in-law he married was actually a lower-born woman than Xia Shi.

  "Feng'er..." The old lady looked at her son, wanting to say something.

  "Jingguo Gong's eldest daughter-in-law was her third sister, and the soap that her aunt had given to her mother, which her mother used every day, was also a gift from her aunt." At this point, Yang Guofeng suddenly spoke up and said a very long sentence.

  "Uh..." Xiaoyan and Old Lady Meng couldn't help but freeze at the same time.

  "Mother, I have something to attend to, I'll leave first!" On the other end, Yang Guofeng had already stood up and bowed to Old Lady Meng before turning around and leaving.

  "Ah, this child..."

  Out of the door, along the corridor with peach blossoms in full bloom on both sides, Yang Guofeng's sword-like eyebrows couldn't help but furrow slightly again.

  What is Na Wen's daughter up to again?

  He had never met his aunt before, but the trusted eunuch of his aunt who came over just now has already revealed to him the meaning of this marriage.

  I didn't expect that Wen's daughter would actually say she had a private relationship with him, and even helped her aunt prepare the gift. When her aunt asked what reward she wanted, she brought it up and said it with confidence. Her aunt has always been fond of him and is generous, so naturally she agreed to his advantage.

  That girl must be plotting something again. But she actually plotted against him, and in such a way, isn't it a bit inappropriate?

  Thinking of this, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly...

  ……

  "Achoo——"

  Jiujie, who was pondering the soap formulas in front of the red sandalwood octagonal table, suddenly felt her nose itching and couldn't help but let out a sneeze.

  "Miss, it's chilly in the spring, have a cup of hot tea to prevent catching a cold." Qing Xiang immediately poured a cup of tea and handed it to Jiu Sier, then went to close the window.

  The ninth sister held a cup of tea in one hand and gazed out at the obscured sunlight with a hint of melancholy.

  What's going on with this weather? It must be Yang Guofeng who is behind it.

  Alas...

  However, after a morning of sorting out her thoughts, she no longer hated herself for what she had done, nor did she blame herself. She was just trying to protect herself, wasn't she?

  He didn't want to marry her, did he think she would be willing to marry him?

  The Yang family's high-ranking household, the inner house must also be quiet, this is one thing, and the second thing makes her even more unbearable, so many concubines, and a royal-named noblewoman who married in as a side consort just a month after she did.

  Uh...

  The emperor and empress are still quite humanized, they will be married in two months, while the time for Han Jing's marriage is one month after her marriage.

  Afraid of two women fighting for one husband, the competition is too fierce, Wei Yuanwang can't take it, huh...

  "Miss, the 4th, 6th and 8th young ladies have all returned home today. They are currently with Old Lady and will come to see you after a while." Just then, Qing Tao pushed open the door and came in, saying this to her.

  "Oh, you've all come?" Before Jiujiu could speak, Qing'an on the other side had already spoken up.

  "Of course, with such a big happy event, they would naturally come to congratulate the bride." Qing Tao said with a smile.

  "It's also good..." Hearing Qing Tao mention his own daughter being married off, Qing Xing was also delighted.

  "Heh heh, Qing Xiang sister, don't you think we girls are the most fortunate? Even the third sister who became the Shizi's consort isn't as good off as us." Qing Tao said again, her small face full of joyful and proud smile.

  The girl finally made it through the difficult times and from now on, she will no longer be discriminated against or bullied. She was truly happy for her own daughter.

  "Qing Tao," Qing Xing's expression immediately turned serious as she began to educate Qing Tao, "You can't say things like that. These are all matters of personal fate and fortune. We girls are just lucky to have caught the emperor's eye and obtained this good marriage. You must remember, in front of people, never forget yourself, don't speak rashly, especially at this moment, only humility can prevent others from resenting you..."

  "Alright, alright, I know." Qing Tao was naturally impatient, but thinking about it, what Qing Xing said did make sense, so she could only pout and respond.

  But after you and I have been talking for half a day, we suddenly realize that the person involved has been silent all along without saying a word, and both of us can't help but look over.

  The ninth sister didn't look at them, she just lowered her head and busied herself.

  "Miss......" Two of them were astonished and at a loss.

  "How did you know they were here to congratulate me?" Jiujie remained silent for a long time, before slowly speaking up under the gaze of the two maids.

  "Uh..." The two of them were taken aback after hearing it, and they looked at each other in dismay.

  What else could it be?

  After the imperial edict was issued, not only were the people in the mansion overjoyed, led by Old Lady and Third Master, but also many relatives who had not been in contact for years came to congratulate them.

  "Perhaps it's come to comfort me?" said Jiu at this time.

  "Uh..."

  As expected, Jiu Jie's guess was correct ——

  "Hey, is our little fox sister going to get into trouble again?" The sixth sister teased and joked with the ninth sister as soon as she entered the door.

  "Alright... you!" The fourth sister who was walking on one side quickly poked her.

  " Ninth sister, are you... alright?" Eighth sister said after looking her up and down for a while.

  "Not good......" Jiū jiě didn't smile optimistically like before, but instead pulled a long face.

  "Uh..." Ba Jie'er was taken aback and didn't know what to say.

  Although this girl has become more confident since her marriage, she is still not good at saying sweet words and joking around.

  "Sister Fox, this doesn't seem like your usual way of doing things, are you afraid?" Seeing that she seemed to have really taken it to heart, Liu Jie's expression turned serious and he stopped teasing her.

  "Don't worry, Ninth Sister, you're steady and thoughtful in your actions, you'll definitely be able to handle being the queen!" Fourth Sister also hastened to comfort her.

  Ba Jie then sat down next to her and held her hand.

  Jiuer's heart surged with a warm and spicy current, her eyes also reddened involuntarily.

  While everyone in Wen's family was rejoicing at her good fortune, fortunately there were still a few sisters who understood her.

  Me too.

  In Old Lady's eyes, she was a granddaughter who had obtained a good marriage and brought honor to the Wen family; in her father's and Jiang's eyes, she was a daughter who had climbed up to a good future and brought them endless benefits and advantages; in Qinghao and Qingtiao's eyes, she was a mistress who had finally obtained a good marriage and made them proud too...... Even in her mother Xu Niang's eyes, she thought that she had suffered enough and would finally marry into a good family.

  But none of these people have personally experienced the worries of being a daughter of this declining family, actually thinking about it is also her fault, she is not always unknowingly influencing them, that sixth sister is not just because she was instilled with a brain full of ideas and then rebelled against Zou's family on the marriage path, thoroughly rebelling against Zou's family, marrying that Luo Siyuan...

  "Nine sister, don't be afraid of that Weiyuan Wang, I'll tell you, now I'm learning kung fu with Sixian, when the time comes, if he dares to bully you, I'll go and teach him a lesson!" Six sister thought for a moment and then spoke up righteously.

  "Sister Liu, I've heard that Wei Yuan's kung fu is very good and he has been leading troops to fight for many years. He scared those Tartars so much that they don't dare to invade our border." After hearing her words, Sister Ba blinked her eyes and said.

  The meaning is very clear, with your abilities, a three-legged cat, you still dare to attack others, they are people who have actually killed enemies with real knives and guns.

  The fourth sister and ninth sister couldn't help but laugh after hearing it.

  "Hmph, Wen Ba Jie, I'm telling you, don't be arrogant on behalf of others. Si Yuan will never stand by and watch me being bullied." Liu Jie Er was speechless for a moment before counterattacking Wen Ba Jie.

  "Hehe... Are you and Liu Mei's husband going to fight together, a couple's duel?" Fourth sister was amused and couldn't help but tease her.

  "Fourth sister..." Liu Jie's face immediately turned red.

  "Alright, alright..." Fourth Sister hastily showed weakness, "Don't make a fuss, let's talk about Ninth Sister instead."

  Sixth sister indeed stopped making trouble, then came over and sat down next to Ninth sister, saying solemnly and firmly, "Ninth sister, don't worry, as long as it's possible, we'll all do our best to help you!"

  "When I came, I specifically asked Xie Jun if this marriage was not allowed to divorce, and he said no!" The fourth sister then looked at the ninth sister.

  Jiujie'er was taken aback by his words, then looked at her and nodded deeply.

  Eighth sister didn't say a word, she just held ninth sister's hand tighter.

  "Miss, Third Miss has also returned home today and will come to see you in a while..." Just then, Qingtao outside the window interrupted their deep conversation among sisters.

  "Huh......" Several people were taken aback...

  ……

  Digression

  My dears, my arms and neck hurt, what's going on here... it's miserable... the big wedding is near!