My Lord, your wife is spreading rumors about you again.

Chapter 68 Wedding (3)

Shen Sui was very satisfied with these words. He nodded and said, "I have read the documents reported by Sui Zhengbao. Ming Boyuan's legitimate daughter Mingli and Mo Zhao's illegitimate son Xi Mo are the key to this case. When the crown prince goes on a southern tour, Lord Sui will lead the way, and you will be his deputy. Mingli and Xi Mo will accompany you."

Zhang Zhi looked up. Xi Mo? Why was he still involved?
"Your Majesty, Xi."

"Mingli, this girl is definitely not simple." Shen Sui interrupted him, "I think she might be the prince's person, so when the prince came to ask me to grant her and you a marriage, I agreed. I think this girl must be an important person to attract the prince to come here in person. The prince doesn't know that you are my eyes and ears, so he must want to use this girl to tie you firmly to his side."

Shen Sui seemed to be very satisfied with his plan. He smiled complacently and said, "Therefore, I agree to the marriage. You watch her day and night. I believe that she and the prince will not cause any big trouble."

"But." Shen Sui changed the subject and asked tentatively, "When I was in the Imperial Concubine's Palace yesterday, I heard Heng'er say that the relationship between you two seemed to be different? Qi Hui, do you like her?"

When Shen Sui asked this question, his eyes were extremely sharp.

"Your Majesty is wise." Zhang Zhi bowed again, "I am the knife in your Majesty's hand. I am heartless and ruthless. I cooperated with her before because I saw her intelligence and wanted to use her to overthrow the Mo family. Now I marry her only because your Majesty has granted me the marriage."

Shen Sui smiled and said, "Well said, a knife is a cold weapon, how can there be any emotion? Since you are a knife, you should have the consciousness of a knife. You marry a wife because I want you to marry her, not because you want to marry her yourself."

"Minister, keep this in mind."

When Zhang Zhi walked out of Yongchen Hall, both of his knees were numb. He was supported by Wanshou, the emperor's personal eunuch.

Wanshou looked around and saw that there was no one around, so he lowered his head and spoke without even moving his lips: "Master, you shouldn't have acted so quickly. His Majesty is very suspicious, and you almost lost your life last time when you blocked the knife with your body, which touched him. He was originally planning to let you attend the court to discuss government this month, but after this incident, I'm afraid it will be postponed again."

"It doesn't matter." Zhang Zhi smiled and shook his head. "I made a profit by exchanging an official position for a marriage."

Wanshou was startled, then asked, "It seems that the master really likes the second daughter of the Ming family? But she is a second bride after all, master, you are at a disadvantage."

"Don't say that to her." Zhang Zhi's expression suddenly became serious, and Wanshou immediately lowered his head. "My servant said something wrong, please don't blame me, Master."

Zhang Zhi then let it go, thinking of Mingli, he smiled and said, "I am not at a disadvantage. I am marrying her because I am marrying above my station."

Wanshou was even more confused.

Zhang Zhi rubbed his knees and saw An Zhi, dressed as a palace maid, hiding behind a wooden pillar in the distance.

He patted Wanshou's hand and said, "Just send it here. I have to be busy with the wedding these days, so if you have anything to report, just send a message directly. The matter of the Mo family is not over yet, and the prince's southern tour is inevitable. You should be careful around His Majesty and in the harem, don't let His Majesty find out something is wrong, and don't let Yunlan and Shen Heng disrupt the plan."

Wanshou let go of his hand and said, "Yes, I understand."

Zhang Zhi continued to walk forward, and An Zhi also stepped out immediately, bumping into Zhang Zhi face to face. As they passed by each other, Zhang Zhi whispered, "Get Mo Zhao to confess as soon as possible. No matter how severe the punishment is, he will be sent to Jiangnan in half a month."

"I understand that you have worked hard, Your Highness."

After Mingli returned home, he was led to a new courtyard by the inkstone beside Ming Boyuan. This courtyard was the largest one except the main courtyard, and there were more than thirty slaves and maids alone.

The big courtyard is connected to the small courtyard, and there is a small kitchen and a flower garden in the back. As soon as you enter the courtyard, you will see the piles of betrothal gifts sent by the Zhang family, which almost occupy the entire road. I heard from Yan Tai that the courtyard was personally ordered by Ming Boyuan, and even if she gets married, the courtyard will still belong to her and will not be used for other purposes. In addition, in addition to returning the dowry that belongs to Wen Wan, the Ming family will also pay half of it as Mingli's private property, and all these things sent by the Zhang family will be taken to the Marquis' Mansion by Mingli.

Mingli watched in shock as Liuliu and Shancha unrolled the three-meter-long betrothal gift list. She felt that all the assets of the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion were probably in her yard.

"Look, young lady." Liu Liu pointed at several large sandalwood boxes lined up in a row and said, "This box is full of house deeds. That box is full of hundred-liang silver notes. And another box is full of jewels and jade. The Zhenbei Marquis is indeed worthy of being the largest family in Kyoto. He is so rich and arrogant!"

Mingli was stunned for a long time. Is Zhang Zhi crazy?

It was just an alliance marriage, was it necessary to empty out all the assets in the family? Did Lord Zhang just let him do whatever he wanted without any supervision?
Nanny Li came in from the outer courtyard and said, "Miss, the third lady is here."

"Ming'an?" Mingli asked doubtfully.

"That's right. She said that the girl is going to become a nun soon, and she has a few private words to say to you."

Mingli thought about it. During the time she had been in the Ming Mansion, Aunt Wang and Ming An had always been neutral, neither surrendering nor making things difficult. She nodded, "Then please come in."

"The second and third ladies please talk. The round fan used in the wedding ceremony needs to be modified. Liuliu and I will go and take a look." Shancha put away the betrothal gift list and placed it in front of Mingli. After she finished speaking, she immediately took Liuliu away.

After a while, Nanny Li brought Ming'an in. After sending him away, she left, closed the door, and dispersed the servants and maids who were working around the house.

Ming An knelt down and kowtowed heavily: "Please, second sister, lead me to find a way to survive."

"I don't like being forced to do things." Mingli didn't let Ming'an get up immediately. She kept her head down and drew circles on the paper. She said slowly: "If Third Sister only knows this one trick, then there is nothing to talk about. This square house and the same life as Aunt Wang are your future path."

Ming'an's eyes were already red. She stood up and looked at Mingli.

"Second sister, do you know what I am here for?"

Mingli didn't look up. She curled her lips slightly and said, "I'm not blind."

Ming An lowered his head again and spoke in a low voice: "I am a concubine's daughter and will be coming of age this year, but Madam Meng has already arranged a marriage for me. That man is the Prince of Wei."

Hearing this, Mingli finally stopped writing.

The Prince of Wei is fifty years old this year. He is lustful by nature and has more than fifty or sixty concubines in his room.

"Second sister, my mother has been a concubine all her life, and has been oppressed and looked down upon all her life. I have seen it all."

Ming An crawled on her knees and took two steps towards Ming Li, tears as big as beans fell from her eyes one by one: "I dare not fight with the mistress, but I do. I don't want to marry the Prince of Wei, so I am willing to entrust my life to my second sister. I only ask my second sister to save me from the Ming family and never be someone's concubine!"

(End of this chapter)