Liu Lang shook his head and said: "Mother, just listen to these words and don't take them seriously."
The Queen Mother was surprised and said: "Why did the emperor say that? The Ai family heard from Mrs. Sui Shangshu that Marquis Zhongyong had really made up his mind this time. Didn't he also say that he would donate one million taels of silver to the court for urgent needs?"
Liu Lang couldn't help but frown, looked at the Queen Mother and said, "Mother, is that called a donation? He clearly just wants to buy it with money."
The Queen Mother said disapprovingly: "Whether it's donating or buying, at least in the eyes of the Ai family, Marquis Zhongyong has also made up his mind. Looking at the whole court, and even the entire capital, there is no one else who is willing to spend such a huge sum of money to find someone."
Real wife?"
Liu Lang said nothing and his frown deepened.
After a pause, the Queen Mother continued: "Emperor, Jimo Qiao is nineteen this year. He should have gotten married long ago at this age. Moreover, their two families are family friends and they are rightly matched in Yemen. Why can't the emperor consummate this marriage?"
Liu Lang didn't want to talk about this topic anymore, so he interrupted: "I have my own plan for this matter. Mother, let's have lunch first..."
After saying that, Liu Lang said to the eunuch on the side: "Pass the lunch."
"Wait a minute!" The Queen Mother stopped her.
The Queen Mother frowned and looked at Liu Lang, and said seriously: "Emperor, it's better to explain this matter clearly first, otherwise the Ai family will have no appetite for lunch."
Liu Lang's face suddenly darkened a little, and after a moment of silence he asked: "What does the Queen Mother mean, is that she hopes Jimo Qiao will marry Marquis Zhongyong?"
"Yes, they are childhood sweethearts, and they are a perfect match. If they become husband and wife, it can be said that they are a match made in heaven." The Queen Mother nodded.
Liu Lang asked again: "Did the Queen Mother ask the Jimo High Priest what he wanted?"
The Queen Mother was stunned and asked: "What did the Ai family ask him for? Her daughter married Marquis Zhongyong and became Marquis Zhongyong's wife in the future. Isn't this a debt to him?"
Obviously, the Queen Mother didn't care what her courtiers thought, so she had to do whatever she thought was good.
Liu Lang said patiently: "Mother, my son has actually asked the high priest of Jimo already. He is firmly opposed to this marriage, so..."
"What?" The Queen Mother looked surprised and her voice suddenly became louder.
The next moment, the Queen Mother's face changed, and she asked slightly excitedly: "Emperor, Jimoshu, why doesn't he agree? Does he think his naughty daughter is so popular? He doesn't think about it, in so many years,
Apart from Sui Zhan, which family in the entire capital can like her? If his daughter doesn't marry Sui Zhan, who else can she marry? Emperor, tell me, who else can she marry?"
Liu Lang advised: "Mother, please don't get excited. Jimo Qiao is the daughter of Jimoshu. Naturally, the couple has plans in mind for their marriage to their daughter."
"What's the plan? Why didn't the Ai family see that they had a plan?" the Queen Mother said angrily.
Liu Lang thought for a while, nodded and said, "Okay! Even if Jimo and his wife have no intention of marrying their daughter, it is a fact that Jimo Shu disagrees. I can't force him to marry his daughter to Sui Zhan."
The Queen Mother's eyes suddenly became strong and she said: "Why not? Although Jimo Shu has resigned and returned home to take care of his old age, he is still receiving the salary from the court after all. Since he has received the salary from the court, he must be honest and honest.
Listen to your words, Emperor! Besides, it’s just to let him marry his daughter, not to kill him!”
Liu Lang said: "Queen mother, you can't say that. Eighteen years ago, the Jimo family made sacrifices for the country, and now..."
The Queen Mother immediately interrupted: "...Emperor, Ai Jia knows what you want to say, but can things be the same today as they were eighteen years ago? Ai Jia is planning for his daughter's happiness in the rest of her life.
The Ai family wants her to marry in the capital, in the house of a loyal and brave prince who can be hereditary, but they don't want to marry her daughter to a poor place, so how can he be unwilling?"
Liu Lang felt that he could not convince the Queen Mother for a while, and he did not want to continue discussing the matter, so he said: "Mother, my son is a little hungry, why don't you pass the meal first."
The Queen Mother seemed not to have heard anything and stared at Liu Lang and said: "Emperor, don't you want to strengthen the defense of the northern border? Mrs. Sui Shangshu said that if the emperor can help facilitate this marriage, Sui Zhan's child is willing to add five more
One hundred thousand taels of silver!"
Liu Lang was very surprised and looked at the Queen Mother for a while without saying anything.
The Queen Mother felt that Liu Lang was moved, so she continued: "Emperor, one and a half million taels. With this money, the dilemma of military expenditure in the northern border can be said to be solved!"
Liu Lang still didn't speak, but lowered his head and pondered.
To be honest, Liu Lang was really shaken at this moment. After all, it was 1.5 million taels of silver, which was so attractive!
The Queen Mother did not bother Liu Lang to think about the problem, but said to the eunuch beside him: "Go down and pass the meal."
"Yes, Queen Mother." The eunuch's voice was a little sharp.
Not long after, the eunuch and the maid brought lunch to the table.
Until all the dishes were served, Liu Lang was still thinking carefully.
The Queen Mother said softly: "Emperor, use your chopsticks. You can think about it while eating."
Liu Lang raised his head and glanced at the Queen Mother, then raised his hand to pick up the silver chopsticks and started eating quietly.
During the next meal, Liu Lang hardly spoke. He kept thinking about what the Queen Mother said, and repeatedly considered whether to act arbitrarily and force Jimo Qiao and Sui Zhan to marry.
After a while, Liu Lang suddenly put down his silver chopsticks and began to wipe his mouth with a handkerchief.
Seeing this, the Queen Mother also put down the silver chopsticks and asked: "The emperor has been thinking about it for so long, has there been any result?"
Liu Lang said seriously: "Mother, I would like to go to Jimo Mansion in person and have a good discussion with Jimoshu..."
The Queen Mother immediately asked: "What if he still disagrees?"
"This..." Liu Lang hesitated immediately.
The Queen Mother seemed to have expected the emperor's reaction, so she immediately took over the words: "Emperor, according to the wishes of the Ai family, it would be best if Jimo Shu agrees to marry his daughter. If he still disagrees, the emperor should immediately issue an imperial edict.
Propose the marriage between Marquis Zhongyong and Jimo Qiao."
"But Queen Mother..."
Liu Langgang wanted to speak, but the Queen Mother didn't want to listen anymore. She stood up and said, "Emperor, the Ai family suddenly feels a little tired, so I won't leave the Emperor to talk."
With that said, the Queen Mother left under the service of the palace maids.
After Liu Lang saw off the Queen Mother, he came out of the palace with a depressed expression.
Not long after he came out, Liu Lang called out: "Pei Yang."
"My servant is here." Pei Yang responded quickly.
"Go prepare the car, I will go to Jimo Mansion immediately." Liu Lang ordered.
Pei Yang said respectfully: "I obey."
Half an hour later...
Liu Lang, dressed in casual clothes, arrived at Jimo Mansion.
In the main hall, Jimoshu, his wife and daughter saluted and greeted Liu Lang one by one.
When Liu Lang saw that there were only three of them, he asked, "Why didn't you see Jimo Qiao? Are you going out to play?"
Jimoshu cupped his hands and said: "Back to the emperor, my daughter went to Jiezhou a few days ago to visit an old friend for me."
"Goed to Jiezhou?" Liu Lang was stunned for a moment, and then asked: "Then...when will she come back?"
Jimoshu shook his head and said: "I have not agreed, Your Majesty, maybe three to five months, maybe a year and a half..."
Strangely enough, after hearing these words, Liu Lang felt a sense of relief in his heart, as if a big stone had fallen.
Jimo Shu saw that Liu Lang was still silent, so he asked: "Common people dare to ask, why does the emperor come here this time?"
Liu Lang came back to his senses and said with a smile: "Oh, that's the case. I heard that your family has a kind of colorful and spotted camellia, which is said to be very rare, so I came here specially to ask for one to be returned to the queen."
Jimoshu suddenly wondered, is this necessary? Is it okay to come here just for a camellia and ask an eunuch to come and get it?
But the next moment, Jimoshu understood that the emperor's original intention of coming in person was definitely not as simple as asking for camellias!
"Jimo Ai Qing, can you come with me for a walk in your garden?" Liu Lang asked.
Jimoshu immediately nodded and invited sideways: "Your Majesty, please..."
The next moment, Liu Lang happily walked out of the main hall.
Jimoshu immediately said to his wife and Yuan: "You don't have to follow me. I can go alone."
After saying that, Jimoshu quickly followed Liu Lang, leaving behind the mother and daughter who looked puzzled.