Zhang Dun's face turned pale, he was angry and humiliated, but he did not dare to turn his face, so he could only ask quietly: "What does the Duke of Yue mean...?"
Fang Jun put down the tea cup in his hand, sighed softly, and said with a gentle expression: "This kind of behavior of a certain person is indeed a bit excessive, but his original intention is good. A young son and a daughter fell in love at first sight, but because of this
As parents, we have to be separated for the rest of our lives, how can we bear it? I have heard before that although the daughter of your family is a concubine, Zhang Shaoqing and his wife regard them as the apple of their eyes and dote on them. In this case
, you should also be able to understand a certain person’s intention to accomplish good things.”
Zhang Dun pursed his lips and was speechless.
But you are madly complaining in your heart, your kind intention is to force another girl to be your brother's concubine?
Although it is not unacceptable in terms of status... But where does this put my Zhang Dun's face? Just think about the scene in the future when his colleagues and classmates ridiculed him for sending his daughter to Fang's family to be a concubine for the sake of fame and fortune. He
I felt as if my heart was being pressed down by a huge stone, and I couldn't breathe.
Don't wait for such a bully...
But the problem is that Fang Jun bypassed him as the father and contacted the Zhang family directly. With the virtues of the elders in the family, they must agree to the benefits offered by Fang Jun. No matter how much he objects, he will
It’s basically a done deal and cannot be changed.
It's so frustrating...
Zhang Dun had a sullen face and kept silent to show his attitude of "non-violence and non-cooperation".
Well, "non-violence and non-cooperation", "if there is violence, you have to cooperate", I can't blame myself for having no spine...
Fang Jun looked at Taichang Shaoqing with a smile and said warmly: "Zhang Shaoqing doesn't have to feel aggrieved for his daughter. Our Fang family has never had a family tradition that makes concubines suffer, whether it is the eldest brother's concubine or a certain concubine.
Except for the fact that her status is not the same as that of the head wife, the rest of the concubine is exactly the same. When my concubine comes in, everyone in the Fang family will treat her as their own daughter and love her, so you can rest assured."
Zhang Dun nodded hard.
He had to admit this. The Fang family had a reputation for being good at handling household affairs. The concubines in the family were definitely different from those in other families who were of low status and were like slaves. The eldest daughter-in-law, Mrs. Du, was gentle and virtuous. She was soft-tempered and never cared about things.
Although the second daughter-in-law, Princess Gao Yang, is a bit unruly and domineering outside, she is also very responsible at home. The Fang family's huge business, which is as rich as the country, is all managed by her concubine Wu Meiniang. Even Fang Xuanling sometimes consults
Wu Meiniang’s opinion...
As far as concubines are concerned, the Fang family has done much better than many aristocratic families known as heirlooms of poetry and etiquette.
Xiao Yu saw Zhang Dun at the side and was dejected by Fang Jun's tactics of loosening, tightening and beating, and asked: "Then the marriage is settled. Let's sit down together some other day to discuss the etiquette."
How about all the wedding matters?"
Zhang Dun thought for a while, shook his head and said, "It's better to wait until the elders in the family get a letter. After all, the elders have to make the final decision on this matter."
He still felt aggrieved. Although there was little hope of rejection at home, he had to rescue him...
Fang Jun stood up and said: "Forget it, Zhang Shaoqing will wait for a few days and wait for a letter from the clan before making a decision. Oh, by the way, the day after tomorrow is the day when my younger brother will get married. I hope Zhang Shaoqing will take the time to come and have a glass of wine."
Zhang Dun twitched the corner of his mouth and said in a muffled voice: "This is an honor for me, and I will definitely come as scheduled."
Mother!
Not only did the girl hook up with him, but she also created a friendly relationship for nothing. She had to give out an expensive gift. The most uncomfortable thing was to wish her future uncle a happy wedding and a happy marriage...
…
After seeing off the two dukes, Cui hurriedly ran out of the back hall. She hid behind the door and listened for a long time. At this moment, she couldn't help complaining: "The dukes of Song and Yue came hand in hand to propose marriage. Lang
Jun, why do you respond with such an attitude? You are deliberately trying to make Xiuer's life difficult in the future!"
She is from the Bolingcui family. She has been studying since she was a child and is well-informed. She is not one of those stupid village women. It was already clear from behind that Fang Jun came to the door in person, so this marriage cannot be refused, let alone
Are people still willing to give up their profits to bribe the elders of the clan?
Since the marriage cannot be refused, he still has to put on a bad face, which is obviously because he cares about his own dignity and face, but does not care about his daughter's future life at all.
Mrs. Cui quickly regarded Xiu'er as her own. Although she felt a little aggrieved by being the concubine of Sanlang of the Fang family, she was even more worried about whether her future life would be happy.
Zhang Dun blushed, hummed for a long time, and then said with some annoyance: "That Fang Jun deceived people too much. He just asked for marriage when he asked for marriage. He actually contacted the clan in private. Didn't he never take me seriously? I didn't fall out on the spot.
Even if you give him face, do you still have to be shy and smile in apology? I, Zhang Dun, am dignified and upright, and I cannot do such shameless things!"
Mrs. Cui was very angry, but she couldn't do anything about it.
Stomping his feet, he turned around and went to the backyard to tell Zhang Xiuer about this.
When the girl heard about this, she didn't know whether she was happy that her lover finally got married, or sad that she had to be a concubine...
*****
On the carriage, Xiao Yu said with a smile: "In the past, I admired the auxiliary machine's mind for strategizing and planning for thousands of miles. Now I know that you, Erlang, are the master. The Zhang family in Jiangdong has been in charge of hairpins for generations. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Jiang was the master.
The reputation of the Zuohao family shocked the southeast and lasted forever. The Xiao family of Wu Lanling was more powerful in the Jinling area, but the Zhang family spoke louder in the aristocratic land of Jiangdong. This time I took the opportunity to marry them, and my Xiao family
With his help, from now on, the land south of the Yangtze River will be under Erlang's control, and the kind of secret conspiracy like in the past will never happen again."
Fang, Xiao, and Zhang, once these three families unite, there will no longer be anyone else's voice in Jiangnan. Whether it is local land, shop, goods, or overseas trade, they will occupy the leading position, and the rest of the family can only follow Ji.
tail.
Fang Jun talked about the car curtain and looked at the snow piled up on both sides of the street outside. He turned around and smiled and said: "Song Guogong is too praised. How could someone think of such a profound place? It's just pity for a pair of young children.
Giving the Zhang family a little benefit and bringing about this marriage can be considered a great merit."
"hehe!"
Xiao Yu smiled and said nothing.
If it were in the past, he would have believed that Fang Jun would be happy with his grudges and act based on his own preferences. But today, he represents the position of countless people and has to protect the interests of these people, especially standing behind the prince, and
How can one act rashly without careful consideration?
Once a person reaches a certain state, no matter what his previous behavior was, he will become cautious in his words and deeds and think deeply.
Because they are carrying more and more things, and a single move can affect their whole body. How can they be allowed to act recklessly?
Xiao Yu stroked his beard and smiled: "Forget it if you don't admit it, but I would like to ask one more question. Now that the matter between your San Lang and the daughter of the Zhang family is widely known, was it your handwriting?"
He could see very clearly that Zhang Dun might not be very capable and had a somewhat pedantic temperament, but he was obviously someone who had read books about sages and sages, and he was very upright. If the affair of this pair of young children hadn't been widely publicized, it would have spoiled his daughter.
With his reputation, I'm afraid even the Zhang family would have a hard time convincing him.
He left his home thousands of miles to go to Chang'an to serve as an official, and he was already a fourth-rank Shaoqing of Taichang Temple. He was qualified enough to open up a county and separate the clan to call himself a lineage.
It is difficult for such people to be hijacked by the clan anymore. What's more, although the Zhang family is deeply rooted and powerful in Jiangnan, they have been burdened by the imperial policies over the years and have been suppressed and ostracized like the Jiangnan nobles. Only few people can enter the central government and serve as officials.
Wu Ji's control over the court is extremely weak. Under such circumstances, it is basically impossible to force Zhang Dun to obey the clan's orders and violate his own conscience.
Therefore, this move can be regarded as "drawing money from the bottom of the cauldron". Zhang Dun has to consider whether his daughter's reputation will be damaged if she rejects the Fang family, and whether she can still find a suitable family...
Fang Jun put down the car curtain and looked at Xiao Yu helplessly: "In the mind of Song Guogong, is this someone who is so unscrupulous in order to achieve his goal?"
Xiao Yu looked serious, nodded and said: "Exactly!"
Fang Jun's eyes widened, looking aggrieved. The two looked at each other, and after a moment, they laughed together.
Xiao Yu asked with a smile: "There were some different voices in the house before, but I failed to deal with them in time, so I made some mistakes, which made Erlang very passive. I feel guilty and have already written a strict warning. I hope Erlang can understand. I
Being far away in Chang'an, we are beyond our control over everything at home, and it is inevitable that sometimes it is beyond the scope of control. Fortunately, those people still know the importance and make up for it in time. Erlang has a broad mind, so don't take it to heart."
Fang Jun nodded slightly.
This can be regarded as Xiao Yu's official apology for some people from the Xiao family who sided with the Wang family and plotted against him.