Chapter 883: Chapter 3: Martial Champion (Part 2)

Wei Qiniang bowed to Wei Family, "Thank you, Empress, for making the decision."

"You child, I am still your aunt, of course, I will make the decision for you." Wei Family said with a smile.

"Yes, thank you, Aunt." Wei Qi smiled and expressed her gratitude again.

...

Wei Qiniang’s engagement with the young master of Ningyuan Marquis Mansion was secretly finalized.

Wei Family often invited people from both families to the palace for banquets. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Second Madam Wei and Marchioness Ningyuan, tacitly, also brought their children into the palace.

Li Yuwen and Li Yu En were also very considerate, frequently inviting these two to gatherings at home.

Through frequent interaction, although little was said between them, they were satisfied with each other.

Mrs. Pei and the Empress personally facilitated the match: one was the young master of the Marquis Mansion, currently holding an official position, the other the Empress’s beloved niece and a good cousin of the Princesses.

Both were young and talented, and the elders from both families had no objections. That October, the engagement was set.

The wedding was scheduled for March of the following year, a time of spring blossoms.

.

Wei Family was quite pleased with the choice of husband for her niece.

When chatting with several female relatives of the Li Family, Wei Family would occasionally bring up the young master of Ningyuan Marquis Mansion, proudly boasting about her niece’s good judgment.

Many echoed her sentiments.

Someone remembered Mu Yuanxiu and deliberately said, "I heard that the Third Prince Consort is now quite friendly with the young master from Ningyuan Marquis Mansion. The Third Prince Consort, being General Wude and a talented youth, one who can engage in pleasant conversation with him must surely have commendable character?"

If Mu Yuanxiu were the son of a wealthy family, Wei Family would not have thought much about such remarks.

But Mu Yuanxiu was merely a village boy.

An orphan yet.

In recent days, the various branches of the Li Family have been discussing Mu Yuanxiu’s background.

Outwardly, Wei Family said nothing, but inside she was extremely displeased.

She knew that these uncles and aunts of the past were at a loss for excuses to talk about her and would take Mu Yuanxiu instead.

Having chased away Chai Eying, who dared not live in the capital, was Mu Yuanxiu now the target?

Was the implication here that Mu Yuanxiu was trying to curry favor with the young master of Ningyuan Marquis Mansion?

Wei Family’s protective instincts immediately surged.

"Princess Xiangyang, I heard that your family’s young son-in-law had a dispute with the eldest son of Prime Minister Pei’s family a few days ago, and it was the Third Prince Consort who resolved it, is it true?"

Indeed, while you criticize her son-in-law Mu Yuanxiu’s lowly background and implicitly ridicule your daughter’s poor judgment in marrying a villager, you also mock Mu Yuanxiu for trying to curry favor with the powerful. But when your own son-in-law was taken to Jingzhao Mansion for litigation and had to pay silver, it was her family’s humble Third Prince Consort who resolved the matter.

Your son-in-law indeed has a high birth, being the eldest legitimate son of Marquis Yonghe Mansion, but why does he need a village youth to help?

Wei Family raised an eyebrow, leisurely gazing at Princess Xiangyang.

Prince Xiangyang and Li Boxuan were peers, but he was the eldest. After Li Can died, the Empress Dowager temporarily considered letting Prince Xiangyang take the throne, but Prince Xiangyang had no sons, only daughters, and there was no precedent for women inheriting the throne, so this responsibility fell on the Lu Ling Royal Mansion.

Princess Xiangyang always remembered this matter.

From time to time, she made sarcastic remarks, implying the throne was rejected by her family’s Prince Xiangyang.

But Wei Family did not accept her stance, a few words from Wei Family promptly silenced Princess Xiangyang.

Princess Xiangyang opened her mouth, her wrinkled old face embarrassed, unable to utter a single word.

Others scrambled to smooth things over, and only then did the matter pass.

Wei Family, as the nation’s mother, to those who do not respect her, nearly always let things go, not probing too deeply, laughing them off.

But Mu Yuanxiu’s matter, indeed she took it to heart.

It wasn’t that she looked down on Mu Yuanxiu, it was simply that the people of the capital preferred to see things from a peculiar perspective, at times uttering sour words about others.

She worried that if these words spread too much, they might upset Mu Yuanxiu, causing him to blame Li Yuzhu and affecting their marital harmony.

For Mu Yuanxiu’s well-being, Wei Family, along with Li Boxuan, secretly arranged for Mu Yuanxiu to manage tasks that could showcase his ability.

.

At the end of the year, Li Yuzhu’s children were born.

A son and a daughter.

Wei Family was delighted, personally visiting their home to see her.

To prevent Mu Yuanxiu from being discriminated against, Wei Family and Li Boxuan personally organized the full month and hundred-day banquets for the children.

The first birthday celebration was held in the palace.

But no matter how hard the couple worked, rumors still quietly spread in the capital, claiming that the Emperor and Empress did these things only to placate the Third Princess.