Chapter 926: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 926: Envy, Jealousy, and Hatred Turned Bad (3)
Just this effort alone shows how much the master values his future wife.
"To meet the lady is truly our master's good fortune," Xiao Shiyi said sincerely.
"Mm." Xiao Jiu nodded in agreement, unusually not disagreeing with his brother. In his heart, he silently wished the best for the master and his future wife.
...
The news of Xiao Ruiyuan being granted a marriage quickly spread like wildfire among the upper echelons of the capital.
As one of the most promising young men, many families with eligible daughters regarded Xiao Ruiyuan as the best match for a son-in-law. Even though rumors about him being a "cut sleeve" circulated, it did not deter these families from considering him. However, the threshold to the Wei Yuan Marquis' residence had changed several times, and they refused to respond. To everyone’s surprise, Xiao Ruiyuan was granted a marriage edict, and his bride-to-be was none other than the newly elevated County Princess.
On the surface, the match seemed perfect. One was a princess with a status rivaling that of a noble lady, while the other was a renowned general with great military achievements. The two were not only well-matched in status but also exceptionally handsome. Just by appearance, they seemed like a harmonious pair.
However, the Wei Yuan Marquis’ residence was one of the most powerful families in the capital, whereas the Mo family, despite producing a scholar in the past three generations, could hardly compare. Even with the highest honors, they barely managed to enter the ranks of the scholarly families. In comparison to the Wei Yuan Marquis’ family, they were far from adequate.
Many families eyeing General Xiao as a son-in-law were disgruntled, believing that County Princess was simply not worthy of such an outstanding man. They whispered behind closed doors, suggesting that the princess had used tricks to secure the marriage. After all, at the previous banquet, the Emperor had mentioned finding a noble and virtuous wife for General Xiao. How could he go back on his word and grant him this marriage to such a woman?
Rumors spread quickly, many of them aimed at Mo Yan. Some even felt sorry for Xiao Ruiyuan, pitying him for being forced into such a union by the imperial edict.
However, Mo Yan, far away in Liuyang Village, was unaffected by these rumors circulating in the capital.
Unfortunately, Mo Qingze, who had yet to receive any letters from his daughter, had a much harder time. His colleagues looked at him with a mixture of envy, jealousy, and resentment, making his back feel cold. He had no idea what was going on, why the attitude of his colleagues had changed so drastically over the course of a single lunch.
Seeing Mo Qingze’s confused expression, the others realized that he had gone to the Crown Prince’s residence earlier in the day to give a lecture and likely hadn't heard about the new, highly coveted son-in-law.
A colleague approached Mo Qingze’s desk with a half-smile, bowing sarcastically. "Congratulations, Lord Mo. It seems like you’re about to soar to great heights. Don’t forget about us humble colleagues!"
In the Hanlin Academy, there were around twenty lecturers, and even more senior scholars. However, not every lecturer had the opportunity to rise above the ranks. Mo Qingze, having topped the imperial examination, became a lecturer to the Crown Prince, one step away from a future full of glory, as long as nothing went wrong.
Now, with a son-in-law who was not only favored by the Emperor but also from a noble family, it seemed like even without lifting a finger, he would be able to rise to greater heights. This was something no one in the Hanlin Academy could deny.
Hearing the sarcastic remarks from his colleagues, Mo Qingze frowned. Just as he was about to say something, he heard a flurry of flapping. Turning around, he saw a bird perched on the window, its bright little eyes looking directly at him.
Seeing how cute the bird was, Mo Qingze smiled gently. He took out some millet from the drawer and scattered it on the windowsill. Then, using the cover of his back, he carefully retrieved a letter from the bird’s leg and read it quickly. Finally, he understood why his colleagues were looking at him the way they were...
(End of Chapter)
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