Liu Shanggong took a step forward, bowed to Mrs. Cui and said, "Please, madam!"
Mrs. Cui turned around and bowed to the queen, told the queen to take care of herself, then turned and walked out.
After leaving the room, Mrs. Cui looked back. Guessing that the queen could no longer see her and hear her voice, she quickly moved to Liu Shanggong's side and asked softly: "Master Shanggong, I'm here."
Let me ask you something."
Liu Shanggong stopped, turned around, bowed to Mrs. Cui, and said respectfully: "What's the matter with Madam Madam? Just tell me."
Mrs. Cui looked around, stretched out her hand and pulled the corner of Liu Shanggong's clothes, and whispered: "Sir Shanggong, don't stop, let's talk as we walk."
Mrs. Cui walked forward as she spoke, pulling Liu Shanggong forward.
Liu Shanggong followed Mrs. Cui for two steps, then lowered his voice and asked, "What did the old lady ask you?"
Mrs. Cui said softly: "I want to ask you, what do you think about Princess Changle's marriage?
I just noticed that there was something in the Queen's words. Shang Gong has been with the Queen for many years, and he also knows that the Queen has a lot of thoughts.
Your Majesty is in ill health, and I am worried about your Majesty. I didn’t feel like asking more questions just now, so I would like to ask Lord Shang Gong for advice.”
Liu Shanggong looked up at Mrs. Cui and saw Mrs. Cui looking at her closely, waiting for her to reply.
Liu Shanggong bowed, followed Mrs. Cui's example, leaned towards Mrs. Cui, and said softly: "Mrs. Madam, what I just said is the truth.
The Duke's wife is the mother-in-law of the Empress. What can the Empress conceal from the Duke's wife?
The Duke's Mansion is my natal family and my mother's support. If anything happens, not only will I not hide it from the Duke's wife, I will also ask the Duke's wife for advice."
Liu Shanggong looked at Mrs. Cui's face as he spoke. He spoke extremely sincerely and calmly.
Mrs. Cui felt very comfortable after hearing Liu Shanggong's words, and asked with doubt on her face: "Seriously?"
Liu Shanggong patted Mrs. Cui's hand and said with a smile: "If the Duke's wife doesn't believe me, how can I not believe the empress?
Let me tell the Duke's wife, your Majesty, I respect the Duke's wife the most."
Mrs. Cui saw that Liu Shanggong didn't look like he was telling lies, so she immediately responded with a smile: "How could I not believe Lord Shanggong?
My Majesty has been caring since she was a child, and I am only worried about your Majesty. When I saw that your Majesty was ill, I wanted to share my worries with you."
Liu Shanggong smiled apologetically and said, "The old lady has a motherly heart, I understand."
Mrs. Cui found out what she wanted to know and said goodbye to Liu Shang Palace with great joy.
Liu Shanggong sent Mrs. Cui to the gate of Kunning Palace. He watched Mrs. Cui walk away before turning around and walking back.
When the queen saw Liu Shanggong coming back, she asked: "Sent him off? Has the duke and his wife come to find out about you?"
Liu Shanggong leaned forward and said truthfully: "Yes, the Duke's wife asked me about Princess Changle's marriage."
After speaking, Liu Shanggong secretly glanced at the queen.
The queen's face sank.
Liu Shanggong sighed slightly in his heart, it was her fate to be with such a mother.
After a while, the Queen said: "Just now, when I said that the Emperor needs to make the final decision on Changle's marriage, the Duke and his wife could not hide the joy in their eyes.
That's all, she doesn't want Brother Gu to marry Chang Le. I'm worried that Chang Le will be wronged if she marries him.
Now it's okay, Chang Le's marriage will be discussed separately, and her wish will be fulfilled, which saves me from worrying.
After all, the Duke's government is too lucky to be able to support a nobleman like Chang Le."
Liu Shanggong stood aside and did not answer. She did not dare to answer this.
The queen said: "I am tired and want to take a rest."
Liu Shanggong hurried forward to wait for the queen to rest.
Mrs. Cui returned to Duke Chengguo's mansion and went straight to Duke Chengguo's study.
Duke Chengguo was sitting in the study, reading absentmindedly and glancing at the door from time to time.
I've been reading a book all morning without turning a page. My mind is full of things and I can't have a moment's leisure.
"My lord, the old lady is back." The servant came in and reported.
Then, when Duke Chengguo saw Mrs. Cui coming in with a smile on her face, he quickly put down the book in his hand, stood up and came out, "How is it? What news did you find out?"
Mrs. Cui looked at the servants in the room.
Chengguo was stunned for a moment, then he came over and ordered, "You guys should step back first."
The servants all bent their knees, bowed and retreated.
Duke Chengguo walked to the table, poured a cup of tea for Mrs. Cui himself, and asked, "How is it? Does the empress know what happened yesterday?"
Mrs. Cui picked up the tea cup and took a sip of tea, then put down the cup and said, "I see that the cold is coming so hard that the empress is so ill that she has no time to care about anything else.
Your Majesty still doesn’t know what happened yesterday.”
Mrs. Cui said the last sentence very quietly.
Duke Chengguo asked worriedly, "How sick are you? How many days have you been ill? Which imperial doctor saw you? If the medicine is not right, please change it to another imperial doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Are you really ignorant?"
Duke Chengguo agreed and asked in a lowered voice.
After listening to Duke Chengguo's words, Mrs. Cui remembered that she had not asked about her condition at all.
Mrs. Cui nodded and said: "Your Majesty is the lord of the first palace, who dares to neglect the imperial doctor of the imperial hospital?
Master Yizheng is more worried about your mother's condition than we are. We don't understand this matter, so don't worry about it blindly."
Duke Chengguo felt relieved and said: "Madam is right, I will be in trouble if I care about you. Has Madam asked about the marriage between Brother Le and Princess Changle?"
Mrs. Cui said with a smile: "This is why I came to find the Duke."
Duke Chengguo leaned forward and asked, "What does the empress say about this matter?"
Mrs. Cui repeated the Queen's words and finally said: "My Majesty knows the seriousness of this matter. Brother Gu is my nephew. How can I be willing to watch Brother Gu suffer?"
Duke Chengguo pondered for a moment and asked, "Did the Empress really say that the Emperor must decide on Princess Changle's marriage?"
"Of course, for such a big matter, how can I deceive the Duke?" Mrs. Cui said.
After saying that, Mrs. Cui didn't wait for Duke Chengguo to speak, and then said: "Mr. Guo, should we quickly discuss the marriage with Brother Gu?
As long as Brother Le's marriage is discussed, when the emperor chooses a bride for Princess Changle, he won't choose our brother Gu. How about that?"
Duke Chengguo looked at Mrs. Cui and did not agree immediately. He only said: "Don't rush this matter. I will ask His Highness the Crown Prince first to see what His Highness the Crown Prince means.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has given permission, and it won’t be too late for us to discuss marriage with Brother Gu.”
Although Mrs. Cui was not happy, she did not dare to go against Duke Chengguo's wishes because of the trouble she would cause.
"Okay, let's wait a little longer until the Duke of Guo asks His Highness the Crown Prince and gets His Royal Highness's reply.
In the past two days, I have discussed with Mrs. Li to look at the ladies from various families in the capital and select a few who are well-matched."
