Some small countries around the Great Zhou Empire would send envoys to Beijing to pay homage to the Great Emperor of the Zhou Empire every one or two years. Since the story of the Great Zhou Dynasty beating the Tatars to a pulp last year had spread all over the world, King Baekje of the Baekje Peninsula

Trembling with fear, at the beginning of spring this year, four beauties were quickly sent to the Emperor of the Zhou Empire to enjoy them as a sign of filial piety.

Zhenbei Hou Ning Hansong was ordered to escort the Baekje beauty to Beijing, and also reported his duties to the emperor.

This is not a big deal, since Baekje will send a group of beauties here every few years, but the four sent this year are said to be particularly beautiful.

Marquis Ning has not returned to Beijing for three years. After returning home to have some fun with his wife, concubines and children, he suddenly discovered that his legitimate daughter Ning Yueyao, who was almost nineteen years old, had not yet married!

"Nonsense! It's just nonsense!" Lord Ning slapped the table angrily, "She will be nineteen in one month. Do you think she will never get married?"

Marquis Ning's wife, Mrs. Wang, was his step-mother. She was almost twenty years younger than Marquis Ning. She was aggrieved and did not dare to speak, but looked directly at the old lady.

The old lady of the Ning family loved Ning Yueyao the most. She hugged her granddaughter and got angry at her son: "What's wrong with Nineteen? Our Yao'er is beautiful and smart, why can't we get married? It's my old lady who makes the decision, we

Yao'er just doesn't like it! If you want to blame me, blame me, if you have the ability to get angry at me, an old woman!"

"Mom! Don't you want to cause more trouble? Look at the city, how many girls aged 19 have not been married? There are very few who are not married!" When facing the old lady, Mr. Ning's tone softened.

.

"But what our Yao'er doesn't like is bad! At worst, my old lady will support her for the rest of her life, and I won't be able to support her anymore." The old lady hugged Ning Yueyao and was very stubborn.

In fact, she was not worried about her granddaughter, but she really couldn't defeat her granddaughter and felt sorry for her. The old lady was just a biological granddaughter and a motherless child, so she couldn't love her anymore?

"This... mother!" Lord Ning was so anxious that he was like ants on a hot pot. After holding it in for a long time, he finally couldn't hold it back and spoke out. He reached out and touched Ning Yueyao, his hands were trembling: "

Who could she fall in love with like this? Yao'er, my father knows that you only like that boy from Prince Su's family. But that boy already has a concubine. What, are you going to be his concubine, or are you going to be with your little aunt?

Same, hoping that when the imperial concubine dies, she will become that boy's step-mother?"

When these words were spoken, everyone in the hall stopped breathing, especially the old lady. Thinking of her two daughters, her heart trembled with discomfort.

That year, what happened back then...

Lord Ning looked at his mother with resentment in his eyes.

The old lady dejectedly let go of Ning Yueyao's hand, closed her eyes and didn't want to look at her anymore, let alone face her son.

Ning Hansong glared at his stepwife Wang and walked away.

Mrs. Hou Wang quickly followed him out and returned to the room. Ning Hansong slammed the tea cup on the table and shouted: "The old lady is confused, you are also fooling around!"

Madam Hou, Mrs. Wang, shrank her neck and said, "I... I... I can't control Yao'er."

"You are her legitimate mother. If you don't care about her, who else can care about her? Do you expect my mother to discipline her granddaughter when she is old?"

"Master Hou, there is nothing I can do, I really can't do anything!" Mrs. Wang began to sob.

Ning Hansong pinched the bridge of his nose worriedly: "Stop crying! Cry, cry, cry! Cry when something happens!"

Wang's sobs became quieter, but she shrugged her shoulders, obviously still crying.

Ning Hansong pondered in silence for a while, then softened his tone and said, "In this way, when the spring comes, each government will hold a flower-viewing banquet. You can go out and walk around more. If you think there is a suitable one, make a list for me, and I will personally do it then."

Come to your door and ask for Yao'er's marriage to be settled before I leave!"

After a pause, he changed his mind again and said: "Forget it, please help me pass a message to Duke Rong, and I will go directly to my two uncles to discuss it."

The Mu family of Duke Rongguo's residence is the natal family of Mrs. Zhenyuan Hou and the natal family of Mrs. Ninghan Song's original wife.

However, Ning Hansong's first wife was the daughter of Mu Detao, the second master of Duke Rong's palace, and the current Duke of Rong is Mu Kui, the eldest brother of Mu Detao, Duke of Rong.

Grandpa Mukui has always been in poor health. He used to serve in the Ministry of War, but now he is resting at home. Mu Tao, the second master, was the commander-in-chief of the Five Cities Military and Horse Division before he was injured and died, but he was not able to inherit the title of Duke.

But when he was young, he gained a lot of military merit by fighting against the Tartars, and was personally appointed as the General of the Zhu Kingdom by the emperor. Although the two brothers no longer have any real power in their hands, they still have a transcendent status in the Zhou Dynasty.

The two brothers in the government have always had a very good relationship, and their wives and sisters-in-law are also relatively harmonious, with no conflicts.

The reason why Ning Yueyao is so willful is not only because the old lady of the Hou Mansion dotes on her, but also the two old ladies of her maternal ancestral home and the Duke of Rongguo dote on her.

Ning Hansong's current stepmother Wang is just the daughter of a fourth-grade doctor. She doesn't dare to care about Ning Yueyao at all. As long as she speaks louder to Ning Yueyao, the old lady of the Hou Mansion and the two old men of the Duke's Mansion will

Man, three old ladies working together could torture her to death.

Mr. Hou is another hands-off shopkeeper who doesn't care about anything when he reaches the frontier. Mrs. Wang is really a poor daughter-in-law struggling to survive in the cracks.

A few days later, Ning Hansong went to the Rongguo Palace to find his eldest uncle and second uncle, and told him about Ning Yueyao.

The two Mr. Mu, both old men with gray hair, smacked their lips when they heard the news.

How can you say that you are nineteen and still don’t want to get married?

The second master, Mu Tao, sighed: "It's also my old lady's fault for spoiling her."

Ning Hansong waved his hand: "Second aunt, please don't say that. Second aunt is right to love this child who lost his mother early. Thanks to second aunt and eldest aunt's care these years. This is all my fault, yes

I didn’t discipline my children well.”

Grandpa Mu Kui stroked his beard and frowned, and asked tentatively: "How about we choose a child for Yao'er in our family?"

Ning Hansong quickly bowed to his uncle and said with great embarrassment: "I'll be honest with you, this is what my nephew means."

The second master, Mu Tao, also stroked his beard, hummed in agreement, and said with a smile: "My family is more reliable, and I am not afraid of Yao'er being bullied."

Grandpa Mu Kui said: "In that case, Hansong, do you have a child you like? It's a pity that the prince's eldest son got married four years ago. If he could have settled it earlier, he would be a good match for Yao'er."

When Ning Hansong heard this, he felt even more embarrassed.

At that time, Duke Rongguo often revealed his idea of ​​letting Ning Yueyao marry into the Mu family. Unfortunately, at that time, the mother-in-law in the family only wanted Yaoer to marry the eldest son of Prince Su, Li Zhao, and the two ladies in Duke Rongguo's palace were also happy to see it.

As a matter of fact, Ning Hansong himself thought it was so good.

At that time, the answer given by Prince Su's Mansion was that the two children were still young, so there was no need to worry, and the decision would depend on the children's wishes. What he should have thought of at that time was that, in fact, Prince Su's Mansion should already have another candidate for the Crown Princess.

They take it too much for granted.

Ning Hansong sighed: "If I had known earlier, it would be better not to send her to the palace as a companion."

The father-in-law Mu Kui was more open-minded. He patted his nephew on the shoulder and said, "I won't talk about this now. I just thought about it. How about Alei, the third child of the family? Although he is a concubine, our family

Among the juniors, he is the most promising. He has been in the army these years, his marriage has been delayed, and he is at the right age."

The second master, Mu Tao, nodded: "That kid is really good! Come and take a look when he comes back from the military camp next month. You will definitely like Han Song when you see him. Although he is a concubine, he is really a promising person and has a very good temper.

He is honest, tolerant, and good-looking."

Ning Hansong handed over his hands to his two uncles: "Thank you two uncles for taking the trouble! Yao'er is willful and she really needs to find a boy who can tolerate her. It doesn't matter if he is a concubine or a direct descendant. As long as he is a motivated person, I can promote him in the future.

.”

After hearing this, the two old men, Mu Kui and Mu Tao, stroked their beards and laughed together.

Another half month later, Ning Hansong went to the palace to meet the child named Mu Lei, and he was indeed very satisfied.

This young man is twenty-two this year. He is tall, handsome, and has resolute eyes. Ning Hansong tried his skills, but was almost beaten to the ground by this boy. Mu Lei was born with supernatural powers, coupled with hard training, martial arts

His academic attainments were extremely high. Lord Ning burst into laughter with joy and praised Mu Lei as a genius.

Afterwards, he took the exam on Mu Lei's Art of War. Not only did the kid answer questions fluently, he also had his own ideas.

I also heard that there was no brothel for this child. When he was not in the military camp, he was studying and practicing martial arts at home. He had never even been to a brothel. Ning Hansong wanted to call him his son-in-law on the spot.

Sure enough, the two uncles are really good to Yaoer.

Where can I find such a good young man?

Isn’t he a better match than Li Zhao?

Ning Hansong went home happily and told his mother and wife Wang about the incident.

Mrs. Wang definitely has no objection. She is eager to throw out Ning Yueyao as a hot potato as soon as possible. She has suffered countless injustices over the years because of her stepdaughter.

The old lady was dissatisfied because her elder brother and younger brother actually chose a concubine for Ning Yueyao.

Ning Hansong explained patiently: "Mother, you can't look at it this way. Anyway, the eldest son of the prince's son is already married. What difference can there be among the remaining children? They still have to be singled out! Don't they still have sons?

As long as he is a promising boy, are you still worried that your son will not be able to promote him into a young and promising general?"

The old lady sighed: "That also wronged my Yao'er! This child is worthy of being the son of a dragon or a phoenix grandson!"

Ning Hansong waved his hands repeatedly: "Mother, don't think about this matter anymore. There is already a eldest concubine in Prince Su's palace."

The old lady said unwillingly: "But I see that the concubine of the Song family can't compare to my Yao'er. I don't understand what my son-in-law thinks! Why can't I look at that child Zhao'er?

Are you in love with my Yaoer?" the old lady said, as if she was about to cry.

"Mother!" Ning Hansong raised his voice, trying to wake up my mother who was still dreaming: "If you say such things again, you will lead Yao'er to become a concubine!"

"Isn't this because I think my son-in-law is a man of good fortune..." The old lady hesitated to speak. She grabbed the lapel of her clothes and said heartbrokenly: "A girl like our Yao'er should be honored throughout her life. You call her now

How can you bear to marry a bastard? Is it because Wen Xin is dead and you don’t care about the child she gave you? You don’t care, I care!”

"Mother, mother, my mother!" Ning Hansong was so mad that he was pulling at his beard, "Mother! When did the son not care about Wen Xin's child? The son just cares about her, so he takes so much trouble to consider her.

My son has come to find a home for her, and you still say that I don't care about her. Mother, you are killing your son's heart!"

The old lady held the handkerchief and wept, and began to recall her virtuous and noble niece: "Wen Xin is such a good child. The heir apparent was born in the first year after marrying you. For more than ten years, she has worked hard to manage the family business and accompany you.

I, this aunt, gave birth to four sons for you and raised them up one by one. She was already thirty-seven when she was pregnant with Yueyao. She gave birth to your child when she was thirty-eight, and she went there because of her own health.

, even if you are now married to someone else and don’t have her in your heart, you still have to think about her hard work! You are sorry for her, you are sorry for her! Wuwuwu..."

Mrs. Wang, who had only given birth to a daughter after many years of marriage, lowered her head aside and held the handkerchief tightly in her hands, her knuckles turning white.
To be continued...