Chapter 70 – Fearless (Part 2)
Liu Zhi listened quietly, his expression quite placid, seemingly mentally prepared for the current situation.
“All of that sounds good, but what’s next?”
“According to my speculation, it’s probably just a bunch of theatrics. For example, having Master Liaochen help me with my fortune telling, declaring I can’t marry in the coming years, or I’ll face bloodshed, or perhaps saying I’m fated to be unlucky in marriage. I could use that as an excuse, claiming it would not delay Jingxian, and proactively suggest the Wei family back out of the engagement to save face for both sides?”
Jiang Pengji employed her limited ancient knowledge to determine that this was indeed a rather prudent method.
In ancient times, men could marry later, but according to Dongqing’s laws, if a woman reached eighteen and remained unmarried, her family had to pay double the taxes! The Wei family certainly couldn’t afford such a tax, but the shame of it would be too much to bear.
Liu Lanting could afford it, but Wei Jingxian could not.
Master Liaochen had genuine skills, and his reputation in Hejian County’s aristocratic circle was quite high; a monk wouldn’t tell lies. What he said would surely be believed by those superstitious and ignorant folks of the ancient times, as they worshipped spirits and gods.
Liu Zhi listened earnestly, looking somewhat helpless. “That’s pretty much the case; the overall details aren’t that different. But you must know, as your father, I won’t be suspicious of you. However, if someone learns of your abilities, and sets a trap, what if they turn the tables on you?”
This daughter was even smarter and more confident than he had imagined, and excessively confident people often ended up suffering significant losses.
Jiang Pengji’s eyes shone bright, as if two lively flames burned within.
“A one-sided suppression is too boring; a back-and-forth clash gets the blood pumping…”
Liu Zhi was at a loss for words, seemingly surprised that Jiang Pengji would give him such an answer, although it was also a reasonable one.
“What if you really incur a major loss one day?”
Jiang Pengji smiled, “Then that would indeed be something to look forward to; it will surely be a memory to savor for a lifetime.”
Liu Zhi forced a smile. “I used to wonder why Master Liaochen predicted that you would definitely rise to the highest position. After all, most women are weak, gentle as water, as if it’s in their nature. But now that I think of it, it might not be impossible…”
This daughter of his was practically more manly than the men, entirely different from the entire family.
Jiang Pengji said, “It’s better to spread the word about Master Liaochen’s divination sooner than later; I’m afraid others might maliciously harm Jingxian because of it.”
Liu Zhi raised his eyelids, his eyes filled with an indescribable conflict.
If he weren’t certain the lost child from years ago was the legitimate second son, he would almost doubt that the person before him was his son.
“You do have a soft spot for the delicate.”
She openly admitted, “Having a soft spot for the delicate is a virtue, and Jingxian deserves to be well treated.”
In the absence of conflict, her tolerance for women, especially beautiful and outstanding ones, was exceptionally high.
Liu Zhi: “…”
What a shame if she weren’t a daughter.
“If that’s your idea, prepare to be disappointed.” Liu Zhi said coldly, “The Wei family has other plans, and moreover, for women marrying, family background and the husband’s looks and talents are the top standards. As long as they don’t end up in a lower status and shame their family, who cares how life goes after marriage?”
There were too many noble girls who ended up with husbands they respected like ice, with lovely blossoms gradually wilting in the rear courtyard’s grind.
Precisely because he understood this, Liu Zhi dared to entertain such audacious thoughts at his late wife’s request, letting his legitimate daughter masquerade as his legitimate son.
Even after all these years, he couldn’t forget the sight of his wife cradling their drowned child, sitting listlessly by the courtyard pond, her expression woefully desolate, as if her soul had departed, indifferent to the world yet filled with deep hatred.
How could one not hate!
Jiang Pengji furrowed her brows and asked softly, “Which family does the Wei family have their eyes on?”
Liu Zhi retorted, “At today’s Elegant Gathering, why not let Lanting take a guess?”
Let her guess?
Her guesses were all based on certain information; if she had to guess with only this little information, the chance of misjudging was quite high. However, since Liu Zhi locked in the scope to today’s gathering… in an instant, all the Young Masters flashed in her mind one by one.
“Is it Wu Ma Jun?”
After a moment, Jiang Pengji’s brow nearly twisted in knots as she declared confidently, “But he is not a good choice.”
Compared to Wu Ma Jun, it’d be better to choose Feng Jin; at least the latter is a genuine genius youth, and aside from anything else, he certainly would treat his wife with the respect and understanding she deserves, even if they couldn’t be in love after marriage.
A man like that would at least not hypocritically pretend not to see his other wives making life hard for the legitimate one.
However, Wu Ma Jun was different; one could describe him as having high aspirations but a thin fate. Would they really put Wei Jingxian with him?
Ha!
Liu Zhi paused, “Wu Ma Jun is the fourth son of the Emperor; although he is not favored in the palace, he is still a prince.”
Jiang Pengji lazily lifted her eyelids upon hearing this.
With disdain, she replied, “Going back two or three generations, isn’t he just someone raised by the former emperor’s horses and living in the stables?”
It wasn’t that she had a grudge against royalty; rather, having accessed Liu Lanting’s memories, she realized that in this era where aristocracy is dominant, people value bloodlines and backgrounds even more. The Wu Ma royalty may sit on the throne, but their shallow foundation has always been looked down upon by the aristocracy.
Without discussing anything else, just looking at the current situation in the imperial harem reveals a few clues.
The Crown Prince, that’s the eldest prince, is the son of the main wife. This empress wasn’t of noble birth, merely the legitimate second daughter of a newly ascended small aristocracy; at the time, the Emperor was still King Wuma of Hejian, and this marriage was considered quite a match in everyone’s eyes!
The second prince’s mother came from a merchant family; her parents sent her to the palace as a concubine to appease King Wuma.
She, too, made an effort, using her pregnancy and gentle demeanor to slowly win King Wuma’s heart, and before his interest faded, she desperately got pregnant, and fortunately gave birth to the later second prince.
With maternal power elevating her status, she successfully overturned her fate, becoming one of the three noble consorts when the King ascended the throne.
The third prince may not be the Crown Prince, but he boasts the highest birthright among all the princes, thanks to the status his mother gave him, being from the prestigious Feng family.
The Feng family is a top aristocracy in Dongqing, with a lineage nearly a thousand years old, still standing strong and producing talents.
Interestingly, although the third prince’s mother came from the Feng family, she wasn’t from the main line but rather a side branch.
Barely a side branch daughter, the current Emperor went to great lengths to bring her into the palace, even offering her a half-consort position. He wanted to reserve a principal position for the main Feng family daughter, but that lady looked down upon the incorrectly rooted imperial family, only maintaining a facade of respect.
No matter how angry the Wu Ma royal family may be, they still have to placate the Feng family to avoid any dissatisfaction.
These aristocratic families have taken root deep in the Central Plains, and no one knows how much power their millennia-old heritage can unleash.
As for the fourth prince, his background is rather peculiar, and not much news has leaked out; it is vaguely said he comes from the Langya Wang family.
However, no one believes this and instead treats it as a joke.
The second prince has the lowest status, so the Emperor views him as the sacrificial pawn for an alliance with the Northern Border kingdom.
The situation of the fourth prince is quite special, but an unfavored and feared prince wanting to marry a legitimate daughter of the Wei family?
