Phi-Fic Chapter 859 Visit Rejected!
Chapter 859 Visit Rejected!
Madam Lu was immediately stunned!
How could this be? Shouldn't His Highness the Crown Prince have taken pity on them and personally escorted them there?
Could it be because his daughter's appearance was too coarse and unappealing to the Crown Prince?
But when Madam Lu glanced to the side, she realized her daughter wasn't ugly at all. In fact, she was quite beautiful!
Why didn't the crown prince find it appealing?
Upon further reflection, I realized that my daughter might have been too shy and hadn't even looked up.
Once they were in the carriage, Madam Lu pinched her daughter, "Didn't you look up just now?"
Lu Xiaoxiao winced in pain, her eyes welling up with tears. "Mother, His Highness the Crown Prince is, after all, a man from another family. I am not yet married, how dare I be too intimate with a man from another family? Besides, His Highness the Crown Prince is very dignified, I dare not."
"Useless thing! Don't you think about it? Once the Crown Prince takes a liking to you, won't your status be higher than it is now? The Emperor is old, how much longer can he live? Once the Emperor passes away and the Crown Prince ascends the throne, think about it, with your status and that of our Duke of Dingguo's mansion, you should at least get the title of Imperial Concubine, right?"
Lu Xiaoxiao lowered her head, truly at a loss for words.
She knew, of course, that with the power of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, her future wouldn't necessarily be difficult if she really married into the Eastern Palace. But the problem was, the Crown Prince was in love with the Crown Princess and had never even considered taking a concubine. Why should she, a young lady of the Duke's mansion, humiliate herself?
She only thought these words in her heart; she dared not say them aloud.
Madam Lu looked the carriage over and over, and realized that it was not as comfortable as the carriage in her own residence.
But the mother and daughter couldn't just wander around the streets like that, could they?
The thought that they were riding in the Mu family's carriage made Madam Lu feel as if she had swallowed a fly; she was utterly disgusted.
Upon arriving at the Prince of Changle's residence, Madam Lu sent someone to deliver a formal invitation.
"I'm sorry to trouble you, Duchess, but the Crown Princess is unwell. The Crown Prince has just returned to his residence and has already sent someone to find the imperial physician. He is not receiving guests."
Upon hearing this, Madam Lu's expression turned somewhat unfriendly.
Is the Crown Princess truly unwell, or has she offended the Crown Prince and displeased him?
"I wonder what's wrong with the Crown Princess? Is it a stomachache? Since I'm here, it would be good to go in and take a look. I'm old and have children, so perhaps the imperial physicians can't help, but I can."
"I thank you for your kindness, Madam Lu, on behalf of the Crown Princess. But since Madam Mu and Madam Li are here now, there's no need for you to worry about us. Please go back."
The doorman's tone was already somewhat disdainful when he said this.
You can't even hear such obvious attempts to get rid of guests? Do you really think you're some kind of bodhisattva who appeared out of nowhere, deserving to be worshipped by the prince's people? How can you be so ungrateful?
Madam Lu realized that she had gone a bit too far with her question.
Hearing the gatekeeper's words, Lu Xiaorou wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground.
How could I be so shameful?
Their implication is clear: they don't welcome you. Why do you still insist on going up to them? She's the Crown Princess, not just an ordinary official's wife!
Madam Lu returned to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion in a huff, but before she could even settle into her seat, she was summoned to the Grand Madam's courtyard.
Madam Lu was somewhat displeased, but she dared not disobey the Grand Madam's words. After all, the weight of filial piety weighed heavily on her, and she really dared not do anything disobedient.
"Greetings to mother."
"No need. There's no one else in this house today, just the three of us, my mother and daughter-in-law. There are some things I need to make clear to you."
"Yes, please give your instructions, Mother."
"You don't need to worry about the marriages of Xiaoxiao and Xiaorou anymore."
The old lady didn't beat around the bush and said it directly.
Madam Lu was taken aback. "Mother, what do you mean? These two girls are both my own flesh and blood. If you don't let my daughter-in-law manage their marriages, do you mean you want my husband's concubines to manage them?"
"Foolish! What is your status? No matter how good the backgrounds of those concubines are, they are still just concubines. How dare they interfere in the marriage of the legitimate daughter?"
Madam Lu's expression relaxed somewhat. Fortunately, as long as those concubines didn't interfere, it was fine.
"But Mother, these two girls are already of marriageable age. What are you doing?"
"I, this old woman, will personally choose the husbands for both of them." After the Grand Madam finished speaking, she waved her hand, and Madam He brought over a stack of names.
"These are all sons of prominent families in the capital. Take a look and see if there's one you like. Don't think I'm being too powerful as your mother-in-law and won't let you interfere in your daughter's marriage. You can choose a few first, and then we can discuss it further."
Madam Lu was stunned. This list could not have been prepared all at once. It seemed that the old lady had prepared it a long time ago.
"Mother, shouldn't we also discuss this with the master?"
"I've already spoken to the third brother. His meaning is to do it my way. What? You're not happy about it?"
The old lady raised her voice at the end and gave her a sharp look, which almost made Madam Lu drop the booklet from her hand.
"Mother, I dare not."
Madam Lu knew in her heart that none of this family members were willing to live according to her wishes.
Well then, if that's the case, how could she possibly fight against such a large family all by herself?
"Mother, I've heard that these young men are all of questionable character, spending their youth in brothels. What do you think?"
Madam Lu wasn't stupid; her eyes lit up and a plan came to her.
You wanted me to find fault? Fine! Then I'll start by finding fault and see what you can say to shut yourselves up.
Upon hearing this, the old lady frowned. "In that case, let's remove them first."
Madam He merely glanced at her third sister-in-law and immediately knew what she was up to. She wasn't in a hurry, nor would she offer any advice; she'd let her do as she pleased. She'd see who won in the end, the old lady or the younger sister-in-law.
In fact, Madam He was somewhat displeased with her third sister-in-law's eagerness to curry favor with the Crown Prince.
Although the Duke of Dingguo's mansion may not be the most wealthy in the capital, it is still very prestigious and honored. Why should they demean themselves so much?
She was so eager to become someone's concubine; did she really think he would even notice her?
On the contrary, it made outsiders look down on her, Madam Lu.
She is clearly a first-rank duke's wife, so why does she act so haphazardly?
"Mother, I heard that these two already have concubines in the courtyard. I'm afraid our maid will lose her status if she marries into them."