A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 1295 - 1293: Marriage Fate

Ni Manxue gave him a sidelong glance, then spoke plainly."It’s obvious that the Tang Family has taken a fancy to our Jingfeng!"

"They want to forge a marriage alliance with our Xia Family!"

Xia Tingfeng felt totally conflicted.

"Firstly, if the Tang Family truly doesn’t relent, we absolutely cannot force a marriage!"

"Secondly, I think we should still ask for the Empress’s opinion on this matter!"

Ni Manxue nodded in agreement.

As she looked at Xia Jingfeng about to speak, Xia Jingfeng suddenly said.

"Brother and sister-in-law, rest assured, I have already sent someone to deliver a message to the Capital City!"

"I expect news should arrive within a few days!"

Only then did Ni Manxue breathe a sigh of relief.

"That would be best!"

After all, the Xia Family is the Crown Prince’s maternal family, so every word and action must be extremely cautious.

There are countless people in the court openly and covertly waiting to seize any slip-up from the Xia Family.

They absolutely cannot hand others a weapon to use against them.

Xia Tingfeng nodded, and for the time being, the matter was set aside.

...

Over in the Capital City.

Xia Ruqing received an expedited letter from Jiangnan, delivered as usual by Zhaochen Palace’s Little Zhuzi.

As she instructed Zi Yue to see Little Zhuzi off properly, she turned into the inner chamber and began to read the letter.

This time, the letter paper was thicker than last time.

Xia Ruqing instinctively felt there was something urgent, so she eagerly tore it open to read.

Page by page, as she read, her expression grew increasingly grave.

It was unclear how much time passed before she tossed the letter onto the table with a complex expression, falling into a stupor.

"Empress? What’s the matter? Has something happened?"

Xia Ruqing suddenly snapped out of her daze, glanced at her, and suddenly spoke.

"The girl Jingfeng is going to marry... there’s a problem!"

"What?"

Zi Yue was extremely surprised.

"What problem?"

Xia Ruqing’s face showed a trace of a wry smile, and she said.

"Her background isn’t great!"

Seeing the Empress’s expression, Zi Yue almost instantly guessed what she meant.

The master said ’not great’, not ’not noble’.

Even if born as a commoner, as long as they are respectable citizens, they cannot be labeled as ’not great’, merely ’not noble’.

As for those deemed ’not great’... they would be from lower classes.

Songstresses and actresses, singing and performing for a living, they belong to the ’not great’ category.

"Could it be... the second young master wants to marry one..." Zi Yue dared not ask further.

This was a serious matter, and as a servant, she dared not speak rashly.

Xia Ruqing let out a bitter smile and shook her head.

"That isn’t the case!"

"But the girl’s mother..."

Zi Yue secretly breathed a sigh of relief; it’s better that it’s not! As for the mother...

"Empress, I assume the girl’s mother has an unfavorable background!"

"But if she has been redeemed and married into a respectable family, then the young lady born from her is truly legitimate!"

"She cannot be considered as not having a good background!"

"Even if a concubine-born young lady, she is still a young lady, isn’t she?"

Xia Ruqing thought about it and indeed, that made sense.

In ancient times, the focus was mainly on the family background of these women.

Concubine-born girls could not acknowledge a concubine as their mother but must call the legal wife ’Mother’; the concubine’s status was half servant and half head of the household, not fully counted.

She relaxed a bit and smiled.

"I initially knew the Fourth Miss Tang came from a scholarly family, never imagining there would be such inside stories!"

She smiled and folded the letter paper.

"Jingfeng is willing to keep these things secret for her – it seems he truly likes her!"

Having said this, she made up her mind on the spot.

"Since Jingfeng truly likes her, then it’s no problem!"

"Although the Tang Family has been merchants for generations, this generation is also considered a scholarly family background!"

"Such a pedigree cannot be considered bad!"

As long as they are mutually affectionate, what’s there to obstruct?!

With that, she promptly wrote another letter, entrusting Little Zhuzi to deliver it.

That night, when Zhao Junyao came over, the two discussed the matter.

Xia Ruqing described the situation and then smilingly asked.

"Emperor, what do you think?"

In truth, Zhao Junyao hardly cared about such trivial matters.

He held a book in his hand, not bothering to lift his eyes, and spoke lightly.

"If she’s a woman he likes, why not marry her?"

From his perspective, Xia Jingfeng doesn’t need a political marriage alliance.

Since there’s someone he desires, the natural course is to marry his beloved.

If not, what’s the point? Better not to marry at all!

"The Emperor is wise, and I agree wholeheartedly!" she responded merrily.

Zhao Junyao looked at her helplessly and then resumed his reading.

...

Xia Ruqing’s letter arrived in Jiangnan within ten days.

On the evening of the tenth day, the letter promptly appeared in Xia Jingfeng’s hands.

The following morning.

Xia Jingfeng visited his brother and sister-in-law.

With excitement, he handed the envelope to Xia Tingfeng, his fingers trembling with emotion.

"What? The Empress’s intention is..."

"My sister agreed!" Xia Jingfeng struggled to conceal his excitement.

Xia Tingfeng quickly skimmed the letter and also smiled.

"Since the Empress has agreed, what are we waiting for?"

Ni Manxue, however, seemed a bit troubled.

"But... the Tang Family..."

Xia Jingfeng eagerly replied.

"No need to visit them yet, sister-in-law, I will handle it!"

"You both just stay here, relax, and once the timing is right, I will come to invite you both!"

With that, he bowed deeply, lifted his robe, and strode out.

Xia Tingfeng attempted to stop him but was held back by Ni Manxue tugging on his sleeve.

"Let him go!"

"Since Jingfeng has spoken so confidently, he must already have a plan in mind, so there’s no need for us to intervene!"

"Let the young couple handle their affairs themselves!"

Xia Tingfeng awkwardly stroked his chin.

"Well... alright then!"

He had been poised to assist his brother but realized his brother didn’t need anything at all.

How come he felt a bit disappointed?!

Ni Manxue cast him a sideways glance.

"What’s there to be disappointed about!"

"Haven’t you been quite carefree lately? Those military officials almost yearn to seek you out every day — it’s not like you’ve been idle!"

With those words, she lifted her hem and, along with Dong’er, returned to the backyard.

Xia Tingfeng touched his nose once more.

"Alright, I might as well find some newly acquainted friends to have a drink with!" After saying this, he too departed briskly with his servant boy.

...

Life settled back down.

Every day, Xia Tingfeng either practiced martial arts behind closed doors or went out to meet friends, busily passing the time with enjoyment.

Meanwhile, Ni Manxue was engrossed in gathering the latest gossip.

Partly about the Tang Family, also discreetly seeking suitable bachelors for matchmaking.

She intended to find a match for Dong’er!

Dong’er, being her personal maid, couldn’t be unaware of these efforts.

Yet internally, she was conflicted.

On one hand, obtaining free citizen status was tempting; on the other, she couldn’t bear to part with her mistress.

Torn between these desires, she chose to keep her thoughts to herself.

Day after day, time wore on.

Half a month later, Ni Manxue mysteriously pulled Dong’er aside, smiled, and said.

"I’ve found a candidate!"

Dong’er instantly blushed a deep red.

"Mistress, do you really..."

Ni Manxue promptly interrupted her.

"Have I ever spoken falsely?"