The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 668 - 630: Waiting for You to Serve Tea and Call Me Uncle (Part 1)
Upon hearing this, Song Yuanbao was taken aback, "So early?"
After the New Year, Zhao Xi was only sixteen. Princes generally waited until eighteen to get married, not to mention Zhao Xi was the Crown Prince, who should set an example.
Song Wei nodded, "It’s just a betrothal for now, the grand wedding will wait until he’s eighteen."
Song Yuanbao clicked his tongue twice, one main wife, two concubines, and four lower-ranking concubines, that makes seven. In the future, who knows, he might have three thousand beauties, with the most beautiful women under the heavens sent to his side. Zhao Xi sure is blessed with an endless abundance of romances!
For some reason, Song Yuanbao suddenly thought of his family’s Ye Baobao, becoming anxious. He looked at Song Wei, "Father, do you know who the candidates are?"
Song Wei shook his head, "The main wife is appointed by the Emperor, the concubines are selected by the Empress from the flower register, it hasn’t been announced to the public yet."
Wen Wan saw through Song Yuanbao’s worries, glanced to the side, and smiled, "It seems the Cloud General Mansion is also on the invitation list today."
Hearing this, Song Yuanbao became even more anxious and followed Wen Wan’s gaze, seeing Cloud General Ye Hongjiang approaching with his son Ye Rong and daughter Ye Ling. Before long, they reached their side.
Song Wei quickly made a salute, "General Ye."
Ye Hongjiang returned the salute with cupped hands, then laughed heartily a few times, fixing his gaze on Song Yuanbao, "You boy, haven’t seen you for a while, and you’ve grown taller."
As he spoke, he familiarly reached out to pat Song Yuanbao’s shoulder.
Song Yuanbao: "..."
His future father-in-law is indeed someone who practices martial arts, with such strong force, one slap almost pressed him down.
Goodness, if this happens every time they meet, he might not survive long.
It’s not easy being a son-in-law of the Ye family!
Song Yuanbao gritted his teeth and stood his ground. After steadying himself, he called, "Uncle Ye."
The last time they met was at Emperor Guangxi’s Longevity Festival.
At that time, Ye Hongjiang sat next to Song Yuanbao, but Song Yuanbao didn’t know him yet—that came from hearing Zhao Xi speak.
Ye Hongjiang withdrew his hand, not afraid of offending Song Wei, and said directly, "I heard from Ah Rong that after the Emperor’s Longevity Festival, you fell ill, quite seriously apparently. You need to toughen up that little body, practice some more."
Ye Rong raised an eyebrow, "If you want to train, feel free to come to our training grounds, I’ll give you a good lesson."
Song Yuanbao twitched the corner of his mouth.
Ye Rong clearly wants to find an opportunity to fix him; he’s not going!
"Third Young Master Ye is very kind." Song Yuanbao smiled and politely declined, "This year there’s an imperial examination, I need to focus on studying and preparing for it, no time for martial arts."
As he spoke, he wanted to see Ye Ling’s reaction, but Ye Rong intentionally blocked his view.
Song Yuanbao rolled his eyes in secret, if you won’t let me see, I won’t. Sooner or later, when I marry her, I can look whenever and however I want, humph!
Wen Wan watched these two boys competing in secret, and couldn’t help but laugh, "The hour’s not early, let’s go in."
Ye Hongjiang nodded, "Commandery Princess, please. Mr. Song, please."
Song Wei also said, "General Ye, please."
Thus, the group began entering the Imperial City.
When Song Yuanbao was ill last time, Ye Ling had already met Wen Wan, so she did not feel unfamiliar, and proactively walked to Wen Wan’s side to speak with her.
Wen Wan tilted her head, seeing the young lady wearing a water-red brocade jacket with floral patterns, a cape of silver-red brocade with fur around her shoulders. Probably feeling cold, she kept her hood on, her beautiful and sweet colors enhancing her delicate features, making her appear all the more lovely.
Wen Wan was slightly dazed, no wonder Yuanbao always said Ye Ling was a good child, she did look quite obedient.
It was somewhat unexpected for Wen Wan that Song Yuanbao liked this type of girl.
She was so caught up in her thoughts that she remained silent, and Ye Ling gently asked, "The last time I visited the Song Mansion, I heard your eldest daughter is getting married in spring, is that true?"
"That’s right." Wen Wan smiled, "Yuanbao is older, so he should have been married first, then Jiaojiao, but Yuanbao is waiting for the imperial examination, and Jiaojiao can’t wait, so she has to get married first."
Speaking of Song Yuanbao’s marriage, Ye Ling exclaimed, "Has Young Master Yuanbao’s marriage been arranged?"
She knew there were many noblewomen in the capital who wanted to marry Song Yuanbao, and had heard that ever since he became the top scorer, the doorstep had almost been trampled by matchmakers.
She also knew it was wrong to have his portrait in her room, unless he married her in the future, revealing it could be quite scandalous.
If he was engaged, she would need to return the drawing quickly.
"Soon." Wen Wan nodded, "They’ll start inviting matchmakers to go through the process after Jiaojiao’s marriage."
For some reason, hearing this made Ye Ling feel a bit sad, "She, whose family’s young lady is she?"
"Well... let’s keep it a secret for now." Wen Wan’s smile deepened, "Right now, it’s just Yuanbao’s one-sided wish. Whether the girl agrees or not is still uncertain. If I say it in advance, and the marriage doesn’t happen, it could ruin the girl’s reputation."
Ye Ling sniffed and nodded, her voice muffled.
Wen Wan looked at her, her eyes flickering slightly, "After the New Year, Miss Ye will also be fifteen, right? Has your family arranged a marriage for you?"
Ye Ling thought about her father and brothers walking ahead, shaking her head. Her father had a somewhat carefree personality and hadn’t really expressed opinions on her marriage. Unfortunately, her third brother had high standards and was dissatisfied with one and another, always feeling she could marry someone better.
Actually, she herself didn’t know what kind of husband she wanted.
Wen Wan said, "There are few women in your house, so if you have time in the future, come to our house often to chat and play."
"Alright." Ye Ling answered distractedly, occasionally glancing at Song Yuanbao walking ahead.
The young man wore a moon-white brocade robe, embroidered with intricate patterns on his blue silk. His ink-black hair draped over his shoulders, held in place by a jade crown atop his head. Though only sixteen, he was already tall and walked with the carefree, impetuous grace of youth, entirely different from the slow and steady Song Wei beside him.
Feeling someone watching him from behind, Song Yuanbao seemed aware and turned around.
Ye Ling had already withdrawn her gaze, lowered her head, and was talking to Wen Wan.
That little gesture made Song Yuanbao smile with curved lips.
Beside him, Ye Rong noticed, gave him a sidelong glance, "What are you looking at? No matter how much you look, it’s not yours."
"How do you know it’s not mine?" Song Yuanbao raised his eyebrows, full of confidence.
"Alright then!" Ye Rong said, "If you want to marry my sister, you at least have to get through three of my moves first."
Three moves?
What kind of joke is this? Ye Rong and Aunt Jia studied under the same master!
In terms of martial arts, Song Yuanbao was just a bit of a novice. Facing someone like Ye Rong, who had trained and honed his skills in the military camp, he wouldn’t last a single move, let alone three.
Clearing his throat, Song Yuanbao asked, "Is your family planning a martial arts contest for marriage?"
"What martial arts contest?" Ye Rong frowned, "This is my test for you."
Song Yuanbao said "Oh," "And what happens if I pass your three moves?"
"If you pass three moves, it means you’ve passed the test."
"I think there must be something wrong with the mind of someone who comes up with a test like this." Song Yuanbao looked at Ye Rong with disdain, "You, as the brother-in-law, why do you want to beat me up just so I can marry properly? Do you think beating me up will make me treat your sister well?"
Ye Rong immediately got angry, "Dare to bully Ah Yao, I’ll kill you!"
"You see." Song Yuanbao smiled slightly, "Isn’t this exactly it? Your family wants someone who can love and cherish your sister well, not someone to act as a human punching bag for you. Passing your three moves is not the point; it’s about how you regard your sister, right?"
Ye Rong was a straightforward person, unable to play along with scholars’ word games. He was entangled in Song Yuanbao’s words in no time, his face flushed, "Get lost, who made you a brother-in-law? I’m in the same generation as your aunt."
Song Yuanbao rolled his eyes, "That’s a matter between you and Aunt Jia, not something we’ve acknowledged."
"Who needs your acknowledgment, get out of here!"
Song Yuanbao looked at him with surprise, "Young man, your temper is quite vigorous!"
Especially when Aunt Jia was mentioned, Ye Rong’s reaction was clearly unusual.
Could it be that the two of them were having a conflict?
Song Yuanbao was still lost in his wild thoughts; by the time he came to, Ye Rong had already walked far away.
——
The grand banquet was held in the Imperial Garden.
According to custom, the officials should first go to Qianqing Palace to pay respects to Emperor Guangxi, while the noblewomen should go to Kunning Palace to meet the Empress.
Song Yuanbao had his own plan. After Song Wei went to Qianqing Palace and Wen Wan took Jinbao to Kunning Palace, he quickly slipped away and headed directly to the Eastern Palace.
Eunuch Sanbao saw him and was moved to tears, "Young Master Yuanbao, you’ve finally entered the palace."
Song Yuanbao casually pinched his fair, clean face, "What, you missed me?"
Eunuch Sanbao said, "Not really."
"... If you didn’t miss me, why are you so excited?"
"Excited for His Highness." Eunuch Sanbao sniffed in the cold, "His Highness hasn’t seen you for a long time."
Song Yuanbao was feeling touched when Eunuch Sanbao suddenly said, "Hurry inside, His Highness is waiting for you to serve tea and call him uncle."
