readytorunbook Chapter 774 Beggar
Chapter 774 Beggar
Chapter 774 Beggar
The Prince's Palace was painted red and decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers.
Today is the wedding day of Tu Zhu Wang and Wang Wenzhou. Wang Wenzhou's father-in-law and other relatives have all come to offer their congratulations. What? You ask why it's plural? Well, you can't blame Wang Wenzhou for that. These shameless old men, in order to secure their relationship with Wang Wenzhou, have all married their daughters and granddaughters to him.
Wang Wenzhou didn't take too many concubines this time, only about twenty girls in total, and he himself hadn't counted them. Getting married should have been a happy occasion, but Wang Wenzhou was very sad. His mind was filled with images of his deceased babies, especially Ru Ru and Lan Lan.
"The auspicious time has arrived! The bride and groom shall pledge their vows to heaven and earth!" the matchmaker announced loudly.
Wang Wenzhou, dressed in a bright red groom's robe, walked slowly with one arm around Dayuer and the other around Gao Guiying, occasionally taking a sip of wine from the baby's mouth.
Behind Wang Wenzhou followed a group of brides, led by Wen Liandie.
Zheng Sanjun and the other fathers-in-law of Wang Wenzhou were extremely embarrassed. "Mad Dog Wang Wenzhou has gone too far! We agreed to him marrying so many girls at once, but he should at least give us some face! On his wedding day, he's embracing other wives and concubines—is that even right?"
Although Lao Zheng and the others were reluctant, no one wanted to offend Wang Wenzhou, fearing that he would refuse to marry their daughter. So what if they lost face? There were quite a few people involved, and it wasn't just them who would be embarrassed.
"Bowing to Heaven and Earth!" the matchmaker shouted.
"Sigh..." Wang Wenzhou sighed, and pinched Da Yu'er with his hand inside her clothes. Da Yu'er quickly drank some wine and fed it to Wang Wenzhou.
Wang Wenzhou smiled bitterly. Why was all the wine he drank bitter? Getting married should be a happy occasion! Ru Ru, Lan Lan, Xiao Lanlan... my babies, my babies, I miss you all!
"Two thanks to the high hall!"
……
Royal study room.
Zhu Youjian was reviewing memorials when a woman stood beside him serving him. The woman was none other than Song Yiping, the girl he had met by chance when he went to Hanshan.
Song Yiping is now Consort Song, and also Zhu Youjian's most favored imperial concubine.
Zhu Youjian actually escaped back to the capital from Hanshan, and it was Song Yiping who helped him escape. Of course, Song Yiping initially genuinely believed that Zhu Youjian had only violated the Hanshan security regulations and was unaware of Zhu Youjian's true identity.
Along the way, the man and woman relied on each other and gradually developed feelings for each other. After returning to the capital, Zhu Youjian revealed his identity, and Song Yiping became an imperial concubine.
Actually, at first, Zhu Youjian did not want to marry Song Yiping. How to put it, Song Yiping's personality was too boyish. The imperial concubines in Zhu Youjian's palace, even if they were not daughters of officials, all came from good families.
Zhu Youjian didn't like Song Yiping, a tomboy, at all. However, one thing aroused Zhu Youjian's fighting spirit: Song Yiping had always secretly loved Wang Wenzhou and kept mentioning Wang Wenzhou and Lord Wang along the way.
Zhu Youjian was a man too, and Wang Wenzhou had cheated on him more than once; Zhu Youjian simply couldn't tolerate it anymore. One dark and stormy night, he drank with Song Yiping, got her drunk, and then slept with her.
Song Yiping was initially very unwilling, but when she thought about how her grandmother wanted her to accompany Mr. Zhu back to Beijing, she realized that her grandmother actually wanted her to marry Mr. Zhu, so she had no choice but to swallow this bitter pill.
As they spent more time together, Zhu Youjian would occasionally show off his erudition. And it must be said, Zhu Youjian was, after all, an emperor, and he did possess some talent. Gradually, Song Yiping truly fell in love with him.
At this moment, Wang Chengen entered the room and said softly, "Your Majesty, Cao Huachun, Eunuch Cao, Luo Yangxing, and Lord Luo request an audience."
Zhu Youjian looked up and asked, "Have they returned to the capital?"
"Yes!" Wang Chengen nodded and said, "Your Majesty, they just returned to the capital today."
After being captured by Mu Yiyun, the two men stubbornly refused to reveal Zhu Youjian's whereabouts in Hanshan. Once Zhu Youjian returned to the capital, he had Wang Wenzhou write a letter and send it back to Hanshan, at which point the two men were released.
Zhu Youjian thought for a moment and then said, "They have both worked hard, so I will not see them. Let them rest well for a few days."
"This old servant, along with Eunuch Cao and Lord Luo, thanks Your Majesty for your grace!" Wang Chengen said hastily.
Song Yiping handed Zhu Youjian a cup of tea.
Zhu Youjian took a sip of tea, looked at Song Yiping, and asked, "Wang Chengen, how did Wang Wenzhou's wedding go today?"
Wang Chengen smiled slightly and quickly replied in unison, "Your Majesty, Wang Wenzhou is completely drunk, and his twenty-four newly married concubines are fighting amongst themselves."
"Pfft..." Zhu Youjian spat out a mouthful of tea and asked, "What's going on?"
Wang Chengen quickly explained, "This old servant thinks that they are all daughters of officials, and they are not happy to be concubines. The groom, Wang Wenzhou, was drunk, and the brides, in order to bring good luck, all wanted to consummate their marriage with him that day. So, a conflict arose."
"Haha!" Zhu Youjian laughed, glanced at Song Yiping, and said meaningfully, "That lecherous Boxin, no wonder his daughter can't be happy!"
Song Yiping rolled her eyes at Zhu Youjian, inwardly smiling bitterly. "Your Majesty, please stop. What's the point of constantly badmouthing Lord Wang in front of me? He's already yours, his heart is with you. Why do you always distrust him?"
In fact, Zhu Youjian didn't know why he was like this. He just felt happy to speak ill of Wang Wenzhou in front of Song Yiping.
"Your Majesty, you are busy. It's almost time. I should go and learn how to make porridge from Eunuch Li!" Song Yiping said.
"Go ahead!" Zhu Youjian smiled slightly at Song Yiping, feeling quite pleased with himself.
Song Yiping performed a curtsy and turned to leave.
As Zhu Youjian watched Song Yiping's retreating figure, he thought to himself, "Heaven has been kind to me, bestowing upon me such a wonderful fairy."
Zhu Youjian was only 28 years old this year, but he already had white hair and looked like a man in his forties or fifties. Moreover, Zhu Youjian also felt that he was old. But ever since he favored Song Yiping, he felt as if he had returned to the age of 16, the year he ascended the throne.
As soon as Song Yiping left, Zhu Youjian asked, "How are the preparations going?"
Wang Chengen replied, "Your Majesty, everything is ready, and we are just waiting for Wang Wenzhou to return to Hanshan."
Zhu Youjian nodded with satisfaction, muttering to himself, "A man's anger is for the sake of a beautiful woman. Bo Xin's poem is truly well written! I really want to see his expression when he learns that Liu Rushi is in Shengjing."
"By the way!" Zhu Youjian asked, "How's the investigation I asked you to do?"
Wang Chengen quickly took out a memorial and handed it to Zhu Youjian, saying, "Your Majesty, this old servant has conducted a detailed investigation. Because beggars are so mobile, the actual number of homeless people in the capital is definitely more than the number mentioned above."
Zhu Youjian said coldly, "There are more eunuchs than officials, more women than men, more prostitutes than respectable women, and more beggars than merchants. This is my capital! My heart aches!"