Traveling through Tianlong: Starting from the Zhenlong chess game

Chapter 113 Expensive Betrothal Gift

Although Zhao Ji and A'Zhu have not known each other for a long time, they can talk to each other very well.

Therefore, Zhao Ji also compares herself with others.

Because the princess did not agree, although Zhao Ji gave birth to a son to Prince Dongping, he never received a serious status.

It was not until the death of Prince Dongping that this was considered his "dying wish" and the princess agreed to let Zhao Ji become a concubine.

In fact, it's not to blame the princess for deliberately making things difficult. At the time, Prince Dongping had three wives and concubines. The princess was from the Chai family, and the other two concubines were also from serious official ladies.

And the princess is not the kind of unreasonable person. Although Prince Dongping has three wives and concubines, he has raised more than a dozen singers and dancers, including Zhao Mu's mother.

Just because Zhao Ji was born in a wealthy family, the princess felt that it was insulting to the family tradition to list her as a concubine. As long as Zhao Ji comes from a good family, even if her parents are farmers, the princess will not be so difficult.

The situation in Zhao Mu was similar. Zhao Ji had inquired about the temperament of the fourth lady of the Zhongxiao Palace, and found that she was even worse than the princess. If A'Zhu is allowed to come in and be a maid, it would be a bit of a treat for her.

He had no choice back then, but A'Zhu could choose his own life.

Therefore, after comparing their feelings, Zhao Ji planned to persuade A'Zhu to retreat.

But if she said this herself, it would appear that her "mother-in-law" looked down on her. So Zhao Ji wanted her son to tell A'Zhu Chen the pros and cons in person.

Zhao Mu was not in a hurry to refuse, he planned to ask again. After all, the Huyan family was the founding fathers of the Song Dynasty, and like the Yang family, they were quite prestigious in the military. He is indeed a powerful figure in the court, at least much stronger than the Chai family's mascot. If you can marry the Huyan family, your "location plan" will be easier in the future.

Zhao Mu asked: "If Her Royal Highness the Princess comes forward, this marriage is 80% feasible. But I still want to hear my mother's plan."

Zhao Ji said: "According to my mother's opinion, I naturally agree to this marriage. This can be said to be a God-given opportunity for us. Although my mother has never seen this fourth Miss Huyan, she doesn't know whether she is ugly or handsome. But these are not important. What we want is the in-law relationship with Prince Zhongxiao. And my son doesn’t have to worry about the hard life after marriage. Over the years, my mother has helped you train Qiu Shuang and Dong Xue. Both of them have good looks and talents. They're not bad at all, they can be called 'the best in both sex and art', it's enough to have them by your side."

Zhao Ji then sighed and said, "Although I have climbed onto the high branches of Prince Zhongxiao's palace, this time I have drained my mother-in-law of everything."

Zhao Mu smiled when he heard this and said, "Oh? Mother, how can you say this?"

Zhao Ji replied: "This time we have a higher ranking. Naturally, we can't treat others badly when we offer someone lower."

Zhao Mu nodded and said, "That's natural. It's just that I'm very curious about how many betrothal gifts my mother has prepared."

Zhao Ji said: "This time, we have put the coffins of both our mother and son. There was news from the capital before, although Prince Zhongxiao promised to betroth the fourth lady to you. But the betrothal gift requires ten thousand taels of gold. Fifty thousand taels of silver, three thousand bolts of silk, and one hundred pearls. I calculated for my mother that these things add up to almost 250,000 taels of silver."

"Fortunately, the prince treated us and my mother well during his lifetime, and before leaving the capital, the princess gave us settlement expenses. We can still afford this betrothal gift. Later, I will buy you a mansion in the capital for my mother. Including the decoration, the money is a little short, but after selling off the treasures that the prince gave to my mother, there should be some balance left."

Zhao Mu was stunned when he heard his mother's words. Although he knew that this marriage was hard-won and might cost him a high price, the price was a bit too high.

Although Zhao Mu could afford the money, even he felt a little "distressed". However, Zhao Mu was not angry. For him, there was not much difference between political marriage and business. His marriage to Prince Zhongxiao gave him a stepping stone into his official career. And these betrothal gifts are used to buy this stepping stone.

However, in Zhao Mu's opinion, the other party's asking price was somewhat high.

Seeing the hesitation in Zhao Mu's eyes, Zhao Ji didn't know what her son was planning.

She didn't know why her son's temperament suddenly changed. She remembered that Zhao Mu was a gentle and quiet person when he was a child, and he was very innocent. But Zhao Ji didn't know why, and Zhao Mu became a philistine and scheming after that. Sometimes even I, as a mother, don’t know what my son is thinking.

Zhao Mu said helplessly: "That's it for now."

After hearing Zhao Mu's answer, Zhao Ji asked, "What? Doesn't my son want this marriage?"

Zhao Mu came back to his senses and said: "Oh! That's not true, but I have other plans. This fourth lady of the Zhongxiao family may be a stepping stone for me to enter the official career and get other things. Although King Zhongxiao's asking price It's too much. But don't refuse it yet." Zhao Mu then said, "Oh! By the way! Mother doesn't have to worry about the betrothal gift. The child has made many friends in the world, and they have ways to get some money. If If someone urges me, all I have to do is reply that my child is preparing the betrothal gift, and will be betrothed as soon as the betrothal gift is completed."

Although Zhao Ji heard some bad intentions from her son's words, she nodded. After all, when my son grows up, as a mother, I take too much control, which is counterproductive. Besides, women should obey the three virtues and four virtues: obey their father at home, obey their husband when they get married, and obey their sons after their husband dies. Although Zhao Ji is not very old, she has already jumped to the last step.

However, Zhao Ji still warned: "I don't know what my son wants to do, but I still want to remind my son to be careful in everything. Don't be reckless, and always remember your identity."

Zhao Mu chuckled and said, "Don't worry, mother, you know my child's temperament. My child has never been a person who likes to cause trouble for himself."

After the mother and son chatted for a while, Zhao Mu got up and left.

Zhao Mu is not a temperamental person. He always weighs interests first before acting according to his own temper. He won't get angry over the smallest things.

Although King Zhongxiao's request was excessive, it was an opportunity for Zhao Mu.

However, Zhao Mu does not only have this "opportunity" with Princess Zhongxiao, because he also has another "fiancée", and that is Mu Wanqing, Princess Zhennan.

On that day, Emperor Baoding, Duan Zhengchun, and Dao Baifeng all intended to betroth Mu Wanqing to Zhao Mu. Use her to marry Da Song.

He could use this matter to "negotiate" with Mu Wanqing and Duan Zhengchun and give them an ultimatum.

If Mu Wanqing does not marry him as Princess Dali, then Zhao Mu will marry Prince Zhongxiao.

However, in Zhao Mu's opinion, Mu Wanqing is more valuable than King Zhongxiao, because now Duan Zhengchun has been appointed as the "Emperor's Crown Prince" by Emperor Baoding. Duan Zhengchun is equivalent to the "Prince" of Dali Kingdom. Emperor Baoding will worship him in the future. In terms of position, then Duan Zhengchun would be the emperor of Dali, and Mu Wanqing's status would naturally increase with the improvement of his father's status.

By then, Mu Wanqing would be a serious princess of Dali, and she could not be compared to the daughter of a minister of King Zhongxiao.

(End of this chapter)