Chapter 96 - Wanted to Fight for It
Chapter 96 Wanted to Fight for It
“So what should we do?” Su Lun tried to be calm, but his pale face betrayed him.
“I wonder who this person is.”
“It’s my eldest daughter.”
The old Taoist priest nodded. “I see. But she is heavy with evil spirits. If you don’t eradicate her, your family will suffer endless trouble.”
However, he couldn’t eradicate Su Muge now even if he wanted to. She had to treat the Emperor after all!
“My Lord, I wonder if there is any way to suppress the evil spirits in my little daughter.”
“It will be okay if you can find someone who can suppress her birth horoscope.”
“Someone who can suppress her birth horoscope… Please make it clear, Master.”
The old Taoist priest touched his white beard and asked to bring him a writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Then he wrote down three birth horoscopes.
“Lord Su, you can choose one of these three birth horoscopes. If it is a woman, let her be a sister with Miss Su. If it is a man, let him marry Miss Su.”
Su Lun took over the paper gratefully. “Thank you, Master.”
Su Lun secretly gave An a look, and An knowingly asked Li Mama to take out a box.
“Thank you so much, Master. Please accept this little gift.”
Li Mama opened the box, which was filled with glittering silver.
The old Taoist priest shook his head seriously. “Lord Su, that’s very kind of you. If you want to thank me, just invite me to a vegetarian meal.”
The old Taoist priest didn’t intend to accept the money, which convinced Su Lun of his identity.
“No problem of course. Please come with me, Master.”
The old Taoist priest nodded and walked out of the hall.
Su Mansion was not large, so everyone could know what was happening in the mansion.
Xinlan carried Osmanthus cake into Su Muge’s room.
Su Muge was dozing, leaning on the couch.
“Miss, there is a guest in the mansion today.”
Su Muge didn’t open her eyes but asked gently. “What guest?”
“It’s a white-bearded Taoist priest.”
“Taoist priest?” Su Muge opened her eyes and sat up.
“Yes, Miss, I heard My Lord is very polite to him. But My Lord doesn’t believe in Taoism, how could he invite a Taoist priest to home?”
Inviting a Taoist priest to home? Exorcism promptly came into Su Muge’s mind.
Thinking so, she opened her eyes and sat up.
What was An scheming?
“Go to investigate why My Lord invites the Taoist priest to home.”
Xinlan looked at Su Muge solemnly with a sense of mission.
“Yes, I’ll go right away.”
After sending away the old Taoist priest, Su Lun sent his men to find people with the three birth horoscopes.
“My Lord, I found it.”
The housekeeper hurried into the study room while gasping.
Su Lun put down his pen. “Tell me.”
“My Lord, one is Rong Jing, the eldest son born of a concubine of the Rong family in Suzhou prefecture, one is Ma Yong, the youngest master of the Ma family in the capital, and the other is Meng Xiuze, the truth-born son of the second Lord Meng.”
Hearing this, Su Lun pondered.
The Rong family in Suzhou prefecture was one of the best noble families in Suzhou, but the status of the eldest son born of a concubine was awkward. In the future, he could only get at most one part of his family property. If Rong Jing had no skill, Su Muge would have a ruined life after marrying him.
“Which family is the Ma family in the capital?”
“The truth-born son of the Clerk Ma of Ministry of Personnel.”
Su Lun thought of the chunky Clerk Ma and his eldest son who was a useless man absorbed in beer and skittles.
Meng Huixin, the second Lord Meng and the younger brother of Meng Changde, if he remembered correctly, his truth-born son was a crippled man.
The Rong family was too far away and the Ma family was useless to him, so he could only consider the Meng family.
“Has the second Master Meng’s marriage been arranged?”
“Uh, it seems not yet. Because of the second Master Meng’s legs … the Meng family has never arranged his marriage.”
For a family like the Meng family, the daughter-in-law couldn’t have a low status. But, women with a higher status looked down upon the disability of the second Master Meng. As a result, his marriage had been postponed until now.
“Go to ask the Madam to come and see me.”
“Yes.”
An arrived at Su Lun’s study room in a quarter.
“What can I do for you, Master?”
“Have you found a proper family for Muge?”
An glanced at Su Lun weakly, with a hint of guilt in her eyes. “Sorry to disappoint you, My Lord. I’ve been quite uncomfortable these days, so I haven’t seen any suitable men.”
Su Lun didn’t feel angry but gave her a compassionate look. “You’ve had a hard time these days. I’ve found a proper man today. You can find an opportunity to ask his family if they have the intention to marry Muge.”
“I wonder who you’ve found.”
“Meng Xiuze, the second master of Meng Mansion.”
…
Early the next morning, An paid a visit to Meng Mansion.
When Su Muge walked through the small garden, she happened to meet An who was about to go out. Both of them were going to the corridor in the front.
Seeing An, Su Muge slightly paused and glanced at her indifferently.
Even if An had put on makeup, Su Muge could see her weakness at a glance.
Was An really sick?
“I heard that Madam has been unwell recently. But you are still working so hard for the mansion. That’s very dedicated of you.”
An put on a light smile. “It’s the most important thing in your life, so I certainly have to be dedicated to it.” After finishing her words, she walked past Su Muge supported by Li Mama.
“Miss, what does Madam mean?” Yueru frowned.
Su Muge frowned slightly. Just now, An was talking about the most important thing in her life… Was it…
Su Muge’s pupils suddenly shrank, and she immediately returned to Peachblossom Courtyard.
An got into the carriage and went to the Meng Mansion in the capital.
“Madam Su, you’re here. The eldest Madam has already been waiting for you. This way, please.” The maid waiting outside invited An in.
Given An’s current status, Madam Meng didn’t need to come out to meet her personally.
An was a little displeased, but her displeasure soon disappeared at the thought of what would happen next.
Walking in the mansion of the Meng family, An became jealous. As a minister’s daughter, she could only live in a small mansion in the suburbs. The eldest Madam Meng’s parentage was no better than hers, but she was respected as the wife of the honorable Master of Hanlin Academy!
No matter how grieved and sullen An was in her heart, she was always wearing a decent smile on her face.
“Madam, wait a moment. I’ll go in and report.”
At the door of the main hall of Meng Mansion, the leading maid walked in to report.
In a while, a maid wearing a pink dress and a silver hairpin came out and invited An into the hall.
“Madam, Madam Su is here.”
An walked in and saw the pre-dynasty quarto screen patterned with peony blossom.
“Madam Su, you’re here. Please take a seat.”
An glanced at Madam Meng; she was wearing a gold-lined brocade tunic dress and two filigree butterfly hairpins.
In terms of momentum, An felt much weaker than Madam Meng.
“Sorry to disturb you, Madam Meng.”
“Don’t be. If you don’t come, I’ll invite you to come after a few days.” Madam Meng asked to bring up some hot tea.
An took a sip of the tea and chatted with Madam Meng.
“I heard that the second Madam Meng was about to return to the capital?” An asked carelessly.
Madam Meng lowered her eyes to hide her surprise; she thought An was coming for her son Meng Xiuwen.
Madam Meng kept her countenance and put down the teacup with a smile, “Yes, I heard second brother would return to report on his work.”
“Madam Meng, I’ll be straightforward. In fact, I’m here today for Muge’s marriage.”
For Su Muge?
Madam Meng was shocked again.
“Yeah, My Lord thinks Muge has already reached the age for marriage. He is very fond of the second Master Meng, so he let me ask if the second Master Meng’s marriage has been arranged.”
Madam Meng felt inexplicably strange in her heart. She had always worried that Su Mansion would aim at her son. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be her crippled nephew!
“As far as I know, my nephew’s marriage hasn’t been decided yet. After my sister-in-law return to the capital in a few days, I’ll ask her for you.”
“Thank you, Madam Meng.”
With her mission completed, An didn’t stay long and left Meng mansion in a while.
As soon as An left, Meng Xiuwen walked into the main hall with a strange look.
Madam Meng looked up to see his gloomy face and froze. “Hanyu, what’s wrong with you?”
With his lips closed tightly, Meng Xiuwen came to Madam Meng and looked straight at her.
“Today, Madam Su came to ask about second brother’s marriage for the eldest Miss Su?”
Madam Meng slightly darkened her eyes. “You’ve grown up. I’ve seen a few girls for you these days…”
“Mother.”
Meng Xiuwen interrupted her.
“I want…”
“No way!” Before he could finish his words, Madam Meng pounded the table with an angry rebuke.
Meng Xiuwen was stiffened. “Mother…”
“No more! I’ll never agree unless I am dead!”
Meng Xiuwen clenched his fists in his sleeves, turned around and ran out.
Looking at Meng Xiuwen’s leaving back, Madam Meng almost tore the embroidered handkerchief in her hand.
“Madam, don’t be mad.” The nanny Hua Mama stepped forward to hold her up.
Madam Meng shook her head. “I know exactly what he was thinking. Although she has won some fame now, her parentage will always be looked down upon. How can my son marry such a woman?”
“Madam, the eldest Master will understand you sooner or later.”
Meng Xiuwen ran all the way out of Meng Mansion. Looking at the empty street, he could only feel pain in his heart.
“The eldest Master, where are you going?” Wuming followed up with an anxious look.
Meng Xiuwen looked at Wuming with unprecedented firmness.
“Wuming, I’ve never wanted anything till now, but this time I want to fight for it.”
“The eldest Master …”
“Wuming, if I don’t fight for it, I’m afraid I’ll regret it forever!”