Aspirations

Chapter 104

"Okay, okay, don't talk about it, we'll discuss this matter later." King Jing waved his hand, not wanting to get entangled in things that haven't happened yet, and returned to the business, "Since Xia Xiang and Lu Zhiyue are with you Jin Jia and Ye Muping are good friends, so I troubled Mrs. Lian and Mr. Li to facilitate this matter. In addition, the king intends to invite Mr. Li to become an official again, and is going to write a letter to the emperor to elect Mr. Li as the censor. Mr. Li has already agreed. I don’t know everyone. Any other ideas?"

Cao Yongguo stood up: "Cao, I would like to thank His Royal Highness King Jing for his promotion, and let Cao be appointed as the servant of the Ministry of Rites from Shaoqing of Honglu Temple. Cao and Song Shilang are both servants, and they are weak in the court. The last time the court talked about the new law, it was full of praise. Cao and Song Shilang were humble, and even if they objected, they would be ignored. If Mr. Li can serve as the censor and echo with me, it will be better Momentum."

Song Chaodu also got up and said: "Song also agrees with His Royal Highness King Jing's proposal. If Mr. Li is the censor, it will help our momentum. A few days ago, the third prince wanted to get rid of Mr. Li. Now the situation is very different from before. Mr. Li walked to the front of the stage and stood under the eyes of the third prince, it would be difficult for the third prince to secretly kill him."

"Cui has no objection." Cui He nodded cautiously and restrainedly and said, "His Royal Highness King Jing is far-sighted, and I will cooperate with him."

"That being the case, the king's memorial will be handed over." King Jing nodded, and looked at Li Dingshan, "In addition to asking Mr. to go to the stage to serve as the censor, how can I get along with the court and Xingwang and Hou?" What's your opinion, sir?"

Li Dingshan stood up, stood with his hands behind his back, and thought for a moment: "Your Highness King Jing, I heard that there is a new censor named Teng Zhengyuan in the court. Although he has not explicitly objected, it is believed that he did not see it with his own eyes. Teng Zhengyuan and Xia Xiang were Jinshi in the same year, and they also have friendship, which may be of use to me. In addition, Shen Bao, Zhang Hou, and Wu Yongwang also made contact with him. Xia Xiang was a Jinshi in the same year, and he also had contacts with Xia Xiang. Shen Bao and Wu Yongwang are now editors of the Imperial Academy. They are the number one scholar and the second place in the list. Zhang Hou is now the magistrate of Rehe County. Although he is talented, But he is quite conceited, he once stayed at Quanyou Inn with Xia Xiang and Shen Bao, but when Xia Xiang failed the ranking, Shen Bao gave his best help, but Zhang Hou was indifferent."

"In this way, Teng Zhengyuan, Shen Bao, and Wu Yongwang are available people, and Zhang Hou will leave it alone for the time being." King Jing nodded, appreciating Li Dingshan's clear thinking. Among them, Cao Yongguo was more mature and cautious than aggressive, Song Chaodu was well-planned, advanced and retreated, but not aggressive enough. As for Cui He, he was too cautious and could only defend the city and not attack. Only Li Dingshan was able to advance, attack, retreat, and defend, and had the ability to look at the overall situation, which can be used to great advantage. .

"It's not necessarily true. Although Zhang Hou is quite conceited, he is not a follower of power. If the time is right, he might join our camp." Li Dingshan thought for a while, and he had an idea in his mind, "The above people, all I have some friendship with Xia Xiang, this matter has to fall on Xia Xiang."

"Ah, do you still want Xia Xianzun to come forward? He is already busy enough and tired. He encountered a big case when he first arrived in Zhending. In Zhending, Cui Xiang, Xu Heguang and other horns attacked him. He can protect himself. Not bad." When Lian Ruohan heard that Xia Xiang was going to take on the matter again, she hurriedly complained for Xia Xiang, "Xia Xianzun's energy is limited after all, Mr. Li should cherish him and don't let him work too hard."

Cao Yongguo's eyes moved slightly, and his heart was slightly touched.His daughter fell in love with Xia Xiang, and he knew in his heart that if Xia Xiang hadn't offended the third prince, he would also want to arrest his son-in-law and snatch Xia Xiang to marry his daughter.Xia Xiang is naturally a first-class talent no matter in terms of talent, learning or appearance.It's just that there was a festival with the third prince, and he was deliberately sent to Zhending by the third prince. Obviously, the third prince wanted Xia Xiang to be trapped to death in Zhending.

After Xia Xiang took office, both his daughter and son wanted to visit Xia Xiang in Zhending, but he stopped him.Both his daughter and son were very dissatisfied, and he was also quite helpless.It's not that he doesn't want his daughter and son to associate with Xia Xiang anymore, but that in the current extraordinary period, it's better to keep a distance from Xia Xiang, firstly, to protect himself wisely, and secondly, not to cause trouble for Xia Xiang.

Seeing Lian Ruohan defending Xia Xiang so much now, he has mixed feelings in his heart. Lian Ruohan's affection for Xia Xiang may not be as strong as that of his daughter, but her kindness to Xia Xiang is very direct. If you choose one of them, it must be Lian Ruohan.

"Haha, thank you, Mrs. Lian, for your care and love for Xia Xiang. Mr. Li is Xia Xiang's husband, and he is very familiar with Xia Xiang. This matter is not tiring for him, but it can help him achieve great things." Li Dingshan was very happy. Smile, compared to Cao Shuli, he prefers Lian Ruohan's straightforward temperament and daring to love and hate, "If Xia Xiang knows that Lady Lian loves him so much, he will definitely remember her in his heart and appreciate her affection."

Cui He heard something was wrong, and his face changed: "Han'er, did you and Xia Xianzun decide to live forever?"

"Cui Gong, Mrs. Lian has a private life with Xia Xiang, but it doesn't count." Seeing the king hurriedly stepped forward, he wanted to make it clear, "The last time this king met Mrs. Lian at the Quanyou Inn, she claimed to be married to Xia Xiang." Xiang made a private decision for life. This king also asked Mrs. Cao before, and Mrs. Cao also said that she and Xia Xiang had a private decision for life. It can be seen that Xia Xiang has misbehaved, is merciful everywhere, and often molested women..."

It was he who was molesting Cao Shuli and Lian Ruohan, but it was Xia Xiang who was molesting. Seeing Wang's level of inversion of black and white is also extraordinary.

Cao Yongguo sighed in his heart, wanted to say something but felt that he had nothing to say, so he pretended not to hear, closed his eyes and rested his mind.

Lian Ruohan saw that Wang was pressing every step of the way, and said that Xia Xiang was molesting the woman, and he was annoyed in his heart, so he simply broke his heart: "Father, my daughter said that she and Xia Xianzun will have a private life. See Your Highness, Xia Xianzun She never molested the little girl, it was the little girl who fell in love with Xia Xianzun at first sight."

As soon as the words came out, even Ruohan herself was surprised, how could she be so bold?Although she also knew that what Cai just said was mostly out of anger, she also said it frankly and naturally. Could it be that her deep affection for Xia Xiang in her heart has reached the point where she must marry him?
Although the atmosphere in Daxia is open-minded, it is also a great event for a woman to take the initiative to say that she has a private life with a man. Just like Zhuo Wenjun eloped with Sima Xiangru back then, it was an insult to the family. , As a woman, why are you so ignorant of etiquette? What is wrong with Cui's family style? You let your father lose face!"

On the contrary, Lian Ruohan calmed down, brushed her beautiful hair, and looked calm and calm, all the dissatisfaction and grievance accumulated in her heart for many years burst out at this moment: "Daddy, since my daughter changed her surname to Lian, she no longer calls herself Qinghe Cui." The good times of my daughter's establishment are always there, and I didn't rely on the power of the Cui family. My daughter has already established her own family. Whether it is a private life with Xia Xiang or marrying Xia Xiang as a wife, it is her own business."

With that said, Lian Ruohan took out a letter and handed it to Cui He: "Father, my daughter has broken off the engagement with Lu Zhiyue. From then on, my daughter has nothing to do with Lu Zhiyue."

Cui He was so angry that he couldn't speak, but he still opened the letter tremblingly. Although his daughter was rebellious since childhood, she was never obedient and always opposed him, but today she made a clean break with him in front of King Jing, King Jian and everyone. The relationship made him extremely embarrassed and ashamed, and he couldn't help but become angry from embarrassment.

What made him even more furious was that what Lian Ruohan handed over was Lu Zhiyue's personal letter.Lu Zhiyue said in the letter that Lian Ruohan didn't like her, but liked someone else.He also has another person he likes, so after discussing with Lian Ruohan, he agreed to dissolve the engagement. From then on, Lian Ruohan and him have nothing to do with each other, and they are free.

"It's the wrong way, it's the wrong way." Cui He slapped the letter heavily on the table, and angrily said to Lian Ruohan, "I absolutely don't agree with this matter."

"My daughter doesn't care whether Daddy agrees or not. As long as my daughter and Lu Zhiyue agree, my marriage contract with him will cease to exist." Although Lian Ruohan's attitude is respectful, there is a trace of unyielding determination in his respect, "Daughter Since I left home since I was a child, I am used to living alone, and I am used to making decisions on my own, so my father should just pretend he never gave birth to a daughter like me."

"Your son can't help others, Cui Gong doesn't have to be angry, it's a good thing for a lady to be self-reliant and independent." Seeing this, Li Dingshan hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over. He almost confirmed that Lian Ruohan and Xia Xiang had a private lifelong relationship. At that time, there was kindness and love in his eyes, "Although Xia Xiang was born as a commoner, he has achieved great fame. Now he is the honor of a county at a young age, and he will have a bright future in the future. Even the marriage of a lady with Xia Xiang is also a match made in heaven for a talented man and a beautiful woman." .”

"No!" Cui He protested, "Daughters of the Cui family will not marry common people."

Realizing that he was in Prince Jing's mansion, he hurriedly saluted and said, "His Royal Highness King Jing, forgive me, I was angry for a while, please forgive me for being rude."

King Jing didn't expect that there would be a big scene of father-daughter fight. After all, it was Cui He's housework. Even if he was a prince, he couldn't intervene, so he just smiled: "It's okay, it's okay. The family has something to discuss. Don't quarrel, let alone hurt your peace."

"Father, father..." Seeing the king stepping forward and tugging at King Jing's sleeve, his eyes were rolling on Lian Ruohan, he was so anxious, "Don't miss this opportunity, please propose marriage to Cui Gong, and make sure to mention it!" That's it."

"You must focus on the overall situation. You can only marry a Mongolian princess as your wife. Even if the lady is willing to marry you, she can only be a side concubine." King Jing has always loved Jian Wang very much. Getting impatient, he patted Wang on the shoulder, "Besides, Lian Niangzi already has someone she likes, so stop thinking about it."

"Even if it's a private appointment for life, I'm not afraid, as long as I haven't married, even my wife can marry someone else." Seeing that Wang is determined to marry Lian Ruohan, he really likes Lian Ruohan, and it is also caused by his competitive heart. You have to snatch the lady who originally belonged to Xia Xiang to make people feel a sense of accomplishment.

It is said that he is a dignified prince with a noble status, Xia Xiangyuan cannot compare with him, but he does not regard Xia Xiang as an opponent, he really has the suspicion of degrading his status.But seeing that Wang is not a delicate person, he will not think too much about him competing with Xia Xiang for Lian Ruohan. In fact, he is exalting Xia Xiang, and he just wants to embrace the beauty.

Cui He is a person who abides by principles in everything. Since Ruohan and Lu Zhiyue are married, even if Lu Zhiyue looks crooked, he will not regret it.One word is the way of a gentleman, but she never expected that her daughter would be so rebellious that she would regret her marriage in public.And with Lu Zhiyue's handwritten letter as proof, he was so angry that he couldn't hold it back for a while, anyway, it's a hundred times better for a daughter to marry the king than to marry Xia Xiang, so he said immediately: "His Royal Highness Jing, thanks to His Royal Highness Wang's kindness and thought." Marry the little girl as a concubine, Cui... agrees!"

The words came out immediately, and everyone was shocked!

Li Dingshan's eyes twitched, and he and Song Chaodu looked at each other, both of them had helplessness and wry smiles in their eyes.Such a father and daughter are really rare.It's just that Lian Ruohan is suffering, the two of them are very clear that Lian Ruohan and Jian Wang are not in the same way, and it is not a good relationship for the two to be married.

Li Dingshan thought more about it. In his opinion, Xia Xiang and Lian Ruohan were more suitable, and the combination of the two complemented each other.Although Cao Shuli is gentle and gracious, Xia Xiang is weak in the officialdom, and urgently needs help and brains. Even Ruohan's good fortune often comes from her huge financial resources. Her intelligence and resourcefulness can also help Xia Xiang in her official career. More handy.

It's just that Lian Ruohan's marriage is a family matter, he is an outsider, so he can't say anything more, so he just sits aside and anxiously watches the development of the situation.

Cao Yongguo remained calm, but he was secretly happy. Lian Ruohan married and saw the king as a concubine, and his daughter lost a most powerful competitor. I believe that Xia Xiang, who has no choice, will marry his daughter without hesitation. As a wife, if that is the case, will he no longer worry about the power of the third prince and let his daughter marry Xia Xiang?

Who would have thought that the matter of Lian Ruohan's marriage would stir up everyone's minds. Everyone here has different thoughts and plans.No wonder everyone is like this. Marriage has always been a major event. All major families and high-ranking officials and dignitaries attach great importance to in-laws.Even between countries, peace is sometimes maintained through friendship.It would be fine if Ruohan was an ordinary woman, not to mention her incomparable wealth, but her illustrious background and intelligence far beyond ordinary people would make countless people flock to her, not to mention her astonishing beauty.

As soon as Cui He's words came out, King Jing remained silent. Seeing that Wang was overjoyed, he applauded and applauded: "Okay, great, this king has met his father-in-law."

While speaking, when he saw the king, he would salute Cui He.

"Don't be anxious to see His Royal Highness, I don't agree." Lian Ruohan's face was indifferent, but she smiled slightly. She tried her best to conceal the excitement and uneasiness in her heart. Using power to suppress others, she has only one last fight, "Daddy, my daughter is no longer a member of the Cui family. My daughter doesn't have to obey what my father says. Besides, my daughter and Xia Xianzun not only have a private life, but also have skin. My daughter will not marry unless he is my daughter. The little girl is grateful to see His Royal Highness fall in love with each other, but it is a pity that you and I are not destined to marry each other in this life."

Lian Ruohan sighed in her heart, forced by the situation, she entrusted her life's happiness on Xia Xiang, if Xia Xiang refused to marry her, she was entrusted to no one, and she was afraid that she would die alone.

Cui He's complexion changed drastically!

"What what?" Seeing that Wang was furious, "Xia Xiang is so shameless, this king wants to write a letter to the emperor to impeach him for a crime of adultery! This king is so mad, this king wants to kill him."

Seeing Wang pulling out a sword from the table next to him, he was about to rush out the door.

"Stop!" King Jing is who he is, he has long seen that Lian Ruohan is still a virgin and pure, he must be a clean person, how could he have a skin-to-skin date with Xia Xiang before they got married?Such a strange woman dared to humiliate herself in public, which shows how stubborn and unyielding her character is, and it also shows that Lian Ruohan would rather die than marry to see the king.

That being the case, why make it difficult for others?Besides, he and Cui He still have bigger things to plan, how can they lose the big because of the marriage of their children?Xian'er has been determined by the emperor as the best candidate for marriage, if he insists on marrying Lian Ruohan, the emperor will be greatly displeased.Since the two sides are not in harmony, why bother?He waved his hand, and said in an unquestionable tone: "My son, even the lady and Xia Xiang agree in love, so you should stop robbing others of their beauty. Step back!"

"Father!" Seeing that the king refused to admit defeat, "My son is a majestic one-word king..."

"Enough, step back!" King Jing waved his hand impatiently, "If you dare to talk too much, you will be fined for a month."

"Yes." Seeing that although the king is a one-word king, he still obeys his father's words, so he gave Lian Ruohan a bitter look, turned and left.

"Today's incident made everyone laugh." Cui He had never suffered such a shame and humiliation in front of others, his face was ashen, and he could hardly restrain himself. There is no longer the love of father and daughter, nor the righteousness of the family, please witness. His Royal Highness King Jing, Cui will bid farewell."

Cui He Wuyan stayed any longer, took his leave and left.

(End of this chapter)