As expected, Sheng Hong and Mrs. Sheng went to Qi Duke's Mansion the next day, but they were not there to discuss the marriage between Qi Heng and Sheng Minglan.
In any case, there is no reason for the girl's parents to come to propose marriage.
Sheng Hong's excuse was to visit the "seriously ill" Qi Heng, while Mrs. Sheng was chatting with Mrs. Qi Guogong and insinuating her attitude towards Sheng Minglan.
They are all foxes of thousands of years, how could Duke Qi and his wife not know the purpose of Mrs. Sheng's visit.
Today's Sheng Mansion is also different from what it used to be. Sheng Hong's own position is no longer low. Sheng Changbai is on duty at the Hanlin Academy and can see official Zhao Shu every day.
Not to mention Wang Gang, he was a new member of the imperial court, with both civil and military skills.
Although the Duke of Qi has a high title, he has actually declined a long time ago, otherwise he would not have allowed his son to take the exam and become an official.
The Duke of Qi and his wife did not want to offend the Sheng family, nor did they want their son to marry a concubine, even if it was to fill a house.
Mrs. Qi Guogong thought of a damaging move and asked Qi Heng and Sheng Minglan to sworn brother and sister.
After hearing this, Mrs. Sheng's face didn't look good at that time. She couldn't stay in Sheng Hongcheng Mansion no matter how deep it was, so she hurriedly ended her trip to Qi Guogong's Mansion.
After returning home, Sheng Hong told Sheng Minglan and Wang Gang about the attitude of Qi Guogong and his wife.
"Grandma, don't worry about Minglan anymore. Since Qi Guogong doesn't want it, forget it! I will marry He Hongwen." Sheng Minglan gave up completely and no longer expected anything to blossom with Qi Heng.
"Sixth sister, don't worry, things are not hopeless yet. The Duke and Mrs. Qi didn't explicitly reject us today, which means there is still a chance." Wang Gang said calmly:
"I think whether this thing can work or not depends on Qi Heng's attitude. As long as he insists on marrying you, I have a way to make you get married eventually." Wang Gang said.
Mrs. Sheng frowned and said, "Sanlang, please don't mess around."
Wang Gang shook his head and said: "Grandma, don't worry, my grandson is sensible."
Originally Wang Gang was ready to take action, but what he didn't expect was that Qi Heng came to the door the next day, but it was not to propose marriage to Sheng Minglan, but to break off the relationship.
"Minglan, I'm sorry, I really can't marry you. I failed you." Qi Heng said to Sheng Minglan with a guilty look on his face.
Sheng Minglan was stunned as if struck by lightning.
Wang Gang said coldly: "Qi Heng, this is the second time you have come to pester my sister. Since you don't want to marry her, why are you teasing her again? Do you really think that my Sheng family is easy to bully?"
Qi Heng said painfully: "It's not that I don't want to marry Minglan, it's that my mother forced her to marry her. Yesterday, she hit a brick wall."
Sheng Minglan was shocked. She didn't expect that Mrs. Qi Guogong would use such means to prevent Qi Heng from marrying her.
"Go away! I don't want to see you again." Sheng Minglan was deeply saddened and had no attachment to Qi Heng.
Qi Heng finally left the Sheng family in pain.
"Sixth sister, Qi Heng is so stupid and filial, you won't have a good life if you marry him." Wang Gang sighed.
"I know, he and I have never been destined." Sheng Minglan said sadly.
Sheng Minglan returned to normal after two days of being sad at home, and decided to marry He Hongwen.
Mrs. Sheng felt sorry for her granddaughter and wanted to prepare more dowry for her when she got married.
But something happened again in the He family, and Mrs. He refused the marriage.
Mrs. Sheng thought that the He family knew about Sheng Minglan and Qi Heng, so she explained to Mrs. He for a long time.
As a result, Mrs. He said that she did not agree to the marriage, not because of Qi Heng, but because someone was putting pressure on the He family, but she refused to say who was putting the pressure.
After Wang Gang learned about it, he thought it was Gu Tingye who had used the same tactics as in the original work, so he immediately went to Ningyuan Hou Mansion to settle the score with Gu Tingye.
But unexpectedly, Gu Tingye said it was not him and he had no intention of marrying Sheng Minglan.
After Gu Tingye and Yu Yanran got married, the couple had a very good relationship and did not want to have a concubine at all.
Wang Gang was right at first glance. Because of his existence, Gu Tingye and Sheng Minglan had no feelings at all.
"Could it be the Queen Mother?" Wang Gang asked puzzledly.
He still couldn't figure out why she would target him when he had no enmity with the Queen Mother.
Later, Gu Tingye came to him mysteriously and said that Prince Ying was looking for him to have dinner.
King Ying is the eldest son of the official family and the best heir to the throne. Although he has not been established as the prince, everyone in the civil and military circles of the dynasty knows that the position of prince must belong to King Ying.
Wang Gang had an acquaintance with King Ying when he was in Gyeongju. The two were considered acquaintances and it was nothing to have a meal.
King Ying invited Wang Gang to his residence, and Gu Tingye accompanied him. As soon as he met King Ying, he warmly welcomed Wang Gang and said many compliments.
At the banquet, King Ying kept talking about the Battle of Qingzhou and praised Wang Gang's achievements to the heavens. Wang Gang felt more and more something was wrong.
"Your Highness Prince Ying, I don't know what you want to see me for today, but it's okay to say it!" Wang Gang couldn't bear it anymore and asked.
King Ying showed an embarrassed expression, looked at Gu Tingye, and then at Wang Gang.
"I know that Mr. Shanda has a younger sister, who is both beautiful and smart, but has the appearance of a fish out of place."
Wang Gang understood now that it turned out that Prince Ying was attracted to Sheng Minglan! No wonder the He family was so afraid.
"Your Highness has seen my sixth sister?" Wang Gang asked puzzledly.
Prince Ying was a little embarrassed and said: "I was lucky enough to meet your sister once at a polo club."
Wang Gang was surprised, what is this, love at first sight?
Of course he was not that stupid, thinking that Prince Ying would fall in love with Sheng Minglan at first sight.
Marriage among members of the royal family always involves interests.
"I heard that His Highness is already married?" Wang Gang said calmly.
Prince Ying admitted generously: "Yes, I already have a concubine, but I have nothing to show for it."
Wang Gang understood what King Ying meant. He had an eldest wife and wanted to marry Minglan as his younger wife. His eldest wife couldn't have children. If Minglan married and had a son, King Ying could help her.
"I already know His Highness's thoughts, but I still need to go back and discuss this matter with my family about this important matter of marriage." Wang Gang did not refuse explicitly.
"It should, it should." King Ying nodded.
When Wang Gang returned home and told Sheng Hong and Mrs. Sheng what King Ying meant, they fell silent at that time.
Even Sheng Minglan herself didn't speak for a long time.
"Prince Ying actually wants to marry my Sheng family." Sheng Hong said to himself.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "I would say this may not be a good thing." Mrs. Sheng worriedly said: "My Minglan cannot be a concubine for others."
Sheng Hong said excitedly: "Mother, Minglan is not a concubine, the concubine of King Ying."
"It's all the same." Mrs. Sheng said angrily.
Sheng Hong said: "It's different, that's different. Prince Ying will definitely be the prince in the future. If Minglan marries and gives birth to a son, he will be the emperor's grandson!"
Wang Gang frowned and said: "The harem is like a dragon's pond and a tiger's den. It seems that you have a noble status, but in fact you will be a bird in a cage all your life."
Mrs. Sheng nodded and agreed with what Wang Gang said.
She was raised in the palace since she was a child, and she saw a lot of intrigues in the palace.
In the future, when King Ying succeeds to the throne, Minglan will be the concubine. She will be trapped in the palace for the rest of her life, with no thought of freedom. She will have to be careful about the verbal attacks and secret attacks of other concubines every day. This is really not a life for human beings.
"If you ask me, Minglan should find an honest scholar to marry. With our help, she will have a good life in the future." Mrs. Sheng was a little protective, but at the same time she couldn't bear to have Minglan be too far away from her.
Sheng Hong was a little reluctant. After all, Prince Ying's status was too special. If Minglan married him, the Sheng family would become relatives of the emperor!
"Father, you have to think clearly. If Minglan really marries Prince Ying, our Sheng family will inevitably be involved in the dispute between the emperor and the empress."
Sheng Hong was startled and realized that behind King Ying was great wealth, but it also came with risks.
Now that the fight between the Emperor and the Queen Mother is in full swing, if a small family like the Sheng family is involved, they will only become cannon fodder.
"But if you reject Prince Ying, our Sheng family will be in trouble too!" Sheng Hong said worriedly.
Mrs. Sheng was silent.
Everyone's eyes couldn't help but look at Sheng Minglan.
Sheng Minglan, who had been lowering her head, suddenly raised her head and said to Mrs. Sheng, "Grandma, I want to marry Prince Ying."
Mrs. Sheng was shocked and said: "Ming'er, don't act out of anger. The prince's palace is much more dangerous than the Duke's palace."
Sheng Minglan said firmly: "Since I can't refuse Prince Ying, it's better to agree and become the prince's concubine so that I can have a chance in the future."
Wang Gang understood Sheng Minglan's thoughts instantly. Since he couldn't marry for love, he would marry the most powerful person in the world.
Since Qi Guogong and his wife looked down on him, he would ride on them from now on, making them never have a good life.
Minglan agreed to marry Prince Ying partly out of anger, but mostly because she didn't want the Sheng family to offend Prince Ying because of herself.
Mrs. Sheng quickly understood Minglan's thoughts and couldn't help but feel sad and cried alone.
Wang Gang asked Minglan again and again and said that she really didn't want to marry and he could protect her.
But Minglan was determined to marry Quan, and Wang Gang had no choice but to let her go.
King Ying soon reported to the official Zhao Shu to ask for Minglan's hand in marriage. The official immediately granted the marriage and arranged for the Ministry of Etiquette to prepare for the wedding.
