After the three people finished speaking, the biggest suspect undoubtedly fell on Xu Manjin.
But Xu Manjin's father and grandmother passed away successively, and the double filial piety lasted for four or five years.
She has not been around Beijing for four or five years.
Where could she go to instruct a maid to run errands for her?
So if the three people are telling the truth, then we still have to find the maid who passed the message at that time.
But today, the birthday banquet of the eldest princess in Xiangyang, all the servants in the mansion are busy. There are hundreds of people, plus the maids and women from each mansion, going through the layers of scrutiny, it is not a matter of a while, let alone the banquet now
Even if it's open, we can't drive away all the customers just because of an accident.
From now on, Princess Xiangyang will lose her face.
It is basically impossible to thoroughly investigate whether these three people are really innocent or whether there is something behind them.
Maybe the maid who sent the message had already left the eldest princess's mansion.
No clue.
The person who set up the trap was also very smart. He took advantage of the large number of people at the birthday banquet today and the opportunity for confessions. The person who set up the trap should have cleaned up his tail long ago.
So it cannot be said that it is completely impossible to find out, but finding out the truth will not take a while.
The eldest princess of Xiangyang really has a heart attack.
She glanced at the three of them and said: "There are so many people in the mansion now, and I can't prove whether what each of you said is true or false. I am now in front of the noble concubine and Mrs. Dou."
I promise that after today’s birthday banquet, we will investigate all the servants in the mansion and inform you immediately if there are any clues.”
"Prince Chen is the junior of this palace. Before Hui Wang's wife left the capital, she also entrusted me to take care of Prince Chen. With the presence of Mrs. Dou, I have entrusted you to acknowledge this matter for Prince Chen. Do you have any ideas?
Bring it up. Miss Xu, you can rest assured that since the matter has happened, for the sake of your reputation, I, the imperial concubine and Mrs. Dou will all make decisions for you."
"It's all up to my aunt and grandmother to make the decision. I should bear the responsibility and will never shirk it." Lian Jinchen stood up and expressed his attitude.
Qi Mingyue's expression changed slightly, and her nails dug into her palms, which allowed her to maintain her composure.
Xu Manjin sat absentmindedly, her eyes empty, not knowing what she was thinking.
"Rong Xuan thanks the eldest princess,... the noble concubine, and Mrs. Dou for their love and care." Qi Rongxuan stood up, tried his best to move his eyes away from Qing Hui, and said in a firm voice, "Let Jin Niang do what is going on today.
My sister and I have been wronged, and we have to ask the eldest princess to help us not to spread this matter. Jinniang and I have been engaged since childhood, and we have a very deep relationship. I have sworn that no matter when, where, what the situation is,
, I will never let Jin Niang down."
"Jin Niang's filial piety period has passed, and we were also preparing for the wedding. What happened today is not Jin Niang's fault, so I hope that the wedding will go on as usual, and I will marry her as promised."
After he said this, Qi Mingyue, who was tense, breathed a sigh of relief.
The eldest princess of Xiangyang and Mrs. Dou were also a little surprised. The marriage of Qi Rongxuan, the eldest son of Qi Guogong, has been one of the hot topics in Beijing in recent years. The Xu family is now in a state of decline, and Xu Manjin has also wasted her years because of the delay in filial piety. Now they have all
At the age of 20, Qi Rongxuan persisted in the engagement and refused to break off the engagement, which already made people in the capital praise him for his love and righteousness.
Now that something like this happened, even though it was an accident and was calculated, it has already happened. Regardless of whether it really happened or not, in the eyes of the world, Xu Manjin is no longer innocent.
It is already difficult for a woman in this world, and just the rumors will make her sad in the future.
But I never thought that Qi Rongxuan could still remain true to his original intention.
It’s also really moving.
Although it is difficult to completely prevent this matter from spreading, if the eldest princess of Xiangyang opens her mouth, no one will dare to discuss this matter openly. Xu Manjin will marry into Qi Guogong's mansion as the eldest son's wife as usual, even if it is inevitable
There is some criticism, but it is still satisfactory.
A couple of lovers were made happy.
The eldest princess of Xiangyang and Mrs. Dou both wanted to make things come true. They looked at each other and Mrs. Dou nodded slightly.
The eldest princess of Xiangyang understood what she meant, and just as she was about to speak, she heard a faint voice from Qing Hui next to her: "Oh, this is really a good thing that love is better than gold. I just don't know what Prince Qi's intentions are.
For the sake of my sweetheart, or for my good sister~ I can be a princess, why should I be your crown prince’s wife?”
"Are you Xiliang people so loyal in love?"
As soon as her words came out, everyone's expressions changed.
Lian Jinchen was the only one who looked normal. He was obviously the center of the incident, but he seemed to have completely acknowledged the incident and was silently waiting for the verdict.
Xu Manjin looked at Qing Hui in a daze. This was the first time she saw Qing Hui's face clearly.
She was so shocked that she almost blurted out the name,
"Night--"
"The noble concubine, the eldest princess, Mrs. Dou, I would like to thank all of you for protecting my sister." Xu Chengyu, who had been pursed in silence, took two steps forward, bowed respectfully to everyone, and then said:
"Although the boy is young, he has inherited the title of family and is the head of the family. My sister does not need to get married, I will take care of her for the rest of her life. She will always be the eldest daughter and aunt of our Lin'an residence."
"Chengyu, believe me, I will definitely treat your sister well." Qi Rongxuan said hurriedly.
"Brother-in-law," Xu Chengyu also saluted him, "I will call you brother-in-law one last time. I thank you for your care and help to us in the past few years. I will remember this kindness and will definitely repay it twice as much in the future. But
I only have one eldest sister, and I hope that she will live a good life, without any criticism, or seeking other people's wealth and honor. All honor and glory should be brought to her by me, the younger brother."
"Chengyu, listen to me..." Qi Rongxuan spoke again, wanting to explain to Xu Chengyu and ensure that he would treat Xu Manjin well, but at this time, Xu Manjin stood up.
Xu Manjin glanced at the aggrieved Qi Mingyue who was sitting beside her, and suddenly laughed. She stood up and saluted upward, saying: "My daughter thanks the eldest princess and the old lady for their protection, but I feel that the imperial concubine is right. I am lucky enough to marry her."
It is my daughter's blessing to enter Prince Chen's Mansion. I know that my identity is clear and I am not qualified to be the concubine, so I don't ask for status. I am willing to enter Prince Chen's Mansion."
"Jin Niang——" Qi Rongxuan looked at her in disbelief.
Xu Manjin met her gaze without hesitation: "Brother Xuan, I have been really happy these years. I have been engaged since I was a child. It is my blessing to meet you and have you stay with me all these years.
But now, my reputation has been ruined. Even if you don't care, who among your parents, your family, and even the servants in your house will think highly of me? Your grandmother has always valued honor and integrity, how could she let me
Enter? Even if I enter, how can I bear these visible and invisible rumors?"
"I understand your intentions, and it's not that I don't want to share the joys and sorrows with you, but I, Xu Manjin, cannot bear this kind of humiliation. My innocent girl, why should I suffer such humiliation?"
Xu Manjin's eyes moved away from Qi Rongxuan, who was lost and speechless, and fell on Qi Mingyue, who was so shocked that she could hardly maintain her expression. She said word by word: "The world is unpredictable. You and I are destined to be like this. It's our fault that our love is shallow and we have no destiny.
Min. I have my own place to go and seek my justice."
Qi Mingyue looked at her in horror.
It was as if Xu Manjin had seen through all her plans.
Xu Manjin raised the corners of her lips at her, then slowly turned around and knelt down, "Xu Manjin, please make the decision with the eldest princess and Mrs. Dou. Thank you for your grace."
The eldest princess of Xiangyang and Mrs. Dou never expected that Xu Manjin would make such a choice, but they invariably showed appreciation in their eyes.
This woman's character is truly a blessing to our family.
Both the eldest princess of Xiangyang and Mrs. Dou were quite happy that Prince Chen could marry such a woman.
But the eldest princess of Xiangyang thought of Qi Wan back then, sighed in her heart, and asked Mrs. Dou, "What do you think?"
"I said that you will be the one to decide this matter. Since you are willing to enter Prince Chen's palace, are you willing to take the position of concubine?" Mrs. Dou asked Xu Manjin.
"My daughter is willing," Xu Manjin replied.
Mrs. Dou nodded and asked Lian Jinchen: "Prince Chen, where are you?"
"I have no objection, but my grandmother will make the decision." Lian Jinchen replied.
"Brother Chen!" Qi Mingyue couldn't hold it back and screamed out, biting her lip in disbelief, looking at Lian Jinchen with hope and despair: "Brother Chen, you said that you will only have me.
One person, you promised..."
Why, why is this happening?
How could he?
How could you let her down?
Why?
Qi Mingyue was in a state of despair, as if she had no idea how things turned out like this.
"I...will marry you as promised." Lian Jinchen looked at Qi Mingyue like this and felt an unspeakable feeling in his heart. He couldn't describe it. He just told him over and over again that he could not let Qi Mingyue down.
But that feeling really made him uncomfortable, extremely uncomfortable.
"I dare to ask the imperial concubine for permission to marry Xu Xu into Prince Chen's palace as a side concubine." Mrs. Dou glanced at Qi Mingyue, her turbid eyes darkened slightly, and then she looked at Qing Hui.
The concubine of the royal palace has to be on the royal jade plate. It is not just a random decision, it must be approved by the clan.
The person who can make the decision on the scene, besides Prince Chen himself, is Qing Hui, the noble concubine. Now that there is no queen in the harem, Qing Hui's words are equivalent to Yi's decree.
If she opens her mouth, the matter will be completely settled.
Qing Hua was excited to see the excitement, and waved his little hand: "That's right."
Then he watched the excitement and said without taking it too seriously: "But this is a bit unfair. If this Miss Xu can only be a concubine, what about Miss Qi? Should she also be a concubine? How did I hear about this?
, Prince Chen has already married a wife? Oh, it’s all my fault that my father’s palace lacks these messy names. I don’t understand. What do the eldest princess and the old lady think?”
As soon as she spoke like this, Princess Xiangyang and Mrs. Dou immediately understood what she meant.
Yes, if Xu Manjin can only be a side concubine, why should Qi Mingyue be the main concubine? Is the engagement between Qi Mingyue and Lian Jinchen a marriage contract, or was it the eldest princess of Xiangyang who pulled the strings between Qi Wan and Lian Jinchen?
, the arranged marriage was said to be with Qi Mingyue, but in the past three years, even Jinchen had not officially proposed the marriage.
Therefore, this engagement is only a verbal agreement.
But even though they are elders, neither of them can really be Lian Jinchen's boss.
So both of them looked at Lian Jinchen, and Mrs. Dou, the grandmother, asked, "What does King Chen think?"
Lian Jinchen looked at Qing Hui with a joking look on his face, and the thorn in his heart seemed to be getting deeper and deeper. He replied, "I do have a concubine. Although she passed away, I have no intention of marrying a step-concubine."
.”
"If Miss Qi is willing, I will keep my promise and welcome her as a concubine."
"If you don't want to, I...congratulate Miss Qi on finding a good match."