Chapter 116 A Clever Plan and Getting Engaged to the Slag Man [2]
Duke Yongnan’s tears flowed down. “He was already ill. If his wish isn’t fulfilled, I’m afraid…… Old General, please pity me. I only have this one Di son. What am I going to do if something happens to him?”
Old General Mu looked meaningfully at his guards. The guards rushed to the front of Duke Yongnan like lightning. They picked up the Duke Yongnan who didn’t know martial arts and carried him like a small chicken to sit him down on a chair.
At this point, Old General Mu was very shocked at his granddaughter’s ability.
That was because his granddaughter told him this morning, “Grandfather, Duke Yongnan might come here to propose marriage for his son today. Tell him this……”
His granddaughter whispered in his ears. Old General Mu was shocked and he wanted to refuse. But once he saw Zi You’s clever and confident expression, he nodded and unconsciously believed her.
At that time, he felt that his granddaughter was just like Dier. Regardless of temperament and charm, Zi You had the wisdom, calmness, and confidence just like when Dier was in Nanjiang and facing all sorts of difficulties.
His granddaughter’s prediction was accurate. Duke Yongnan really came on behalf of his son.
Thinking of what his granddaughter said, Old General Mu’s face sunk and he feigned sympathy as he said, “Don’t worry, Duke. Say it slowly. What is going on? How did Shizi’s illness worsen to this state in such a short period of time?”
Duke Yongnan wiped off his tears and nodded. “I don’t know where the problem is with my son’s leg or what’s going on. Many imperial doctors said that it is poisonous gangrene, but no matter how they treat it, it doesn’t get better. My son is suffering from pain and high fever. In addition to missing Old General’s granddaughter, he woke up this morning in a mad state…… Old General, I know that with Xiang’er [Zhao HongXiang] in this current condition, I should not be here begging for an engagement. But my son is facing life and death! I can only thicken my face to come beg you! Call me a b*stard or selfish; I have no complaints. I just want to beg you to let You’er visit Xiang’er and tell him that You’er and he are engaged. That way my son can rest and recuperate. Rest a.s.sured that we won’t tell this matter to anyone. To be honest, with my son’s current condition, he is not worthy of your granddaughter.”
Huh! Old General Mu was immediately black belly. He thought, ‘Your son is not worthy of my granddaughter in the first place. Once he looks at females, he turns l.u.s.tful. If it’s not to block those three lecherous wolves from the imperial family, I wouldn’t agree to You’er’s plan.’
Old General Mu was not someone who knew how to act. Once he thought of Zhao HongXiang’s lecherousness, his face immediately sunk. He said in displeasure, “Duke Yongnan, to be honest, even if your son isn’t sick, I still don’t want to engage You’er to him. I hate l.u.s.tful people the most. Did you know that? But your son actually is like that. Such a young age and he doesn’t know propriety.”
“Old General misunderstood.” Duke Yongnan face turned red. He rushed to explain, “We asked Xiang’er about last time’s matters. He said that he was feverish and dazed. He didn’t know what was going on, but that girl pounced on him. This matter was probably that Yu Lanxuan’s ploy.”
“That’s an excuse!” Old General Mu angrily slammed the table. “Even if it was a ploy by that shameless little yatou, if your son stood firm, how could the ploy succeed?”
“Yes, yes.” Duke Yongnan was here to beg him, so he could only feign ignorance. “Old General, I know that my son is not worthy of your granddaughter. I don’t dare to ask that you really marry her to my son. I just need your help and pretend.”
“Bullsh*t!” Old General’s Mu anger was like a fire. He immediately slapped the table and angrily said to Duke Yongnan, “How can a big issue like marriage be made into a trifling matter? You’re just thinking of your son’s life and death. But have you thought for my You’er? Once people find out, her reputation is ruined. She won’t be able to marry anyone her whole life.”
“No, no!” Duke Yongnan waved his hand. “I guarantee with my life that no one will find out about this. In the future, if Xiang’er’s leg gets better and you think that it’s okay and agrees for You’er to get married; our fu will definitely deliver 128 betrothal presents.”
Old General Mu was angry again. “You think I want your money? Am I someone who will betray my granddaughter for money? Although I am a poor and honest official, I don’t need your silvers!”
Duke Yongnan was so anxious that his forehead was filled with sweat. He had the feeling of a scholar encountering a soldier. He was helpless that he couldn’t clarify himself.
But he had to explain. He was here to beg him.
Duke Yongnan quickly wiped the sweat off his forehead. He carefully explained, “You misunderstood, Old General. Don’t you know what kind of person I am? Moreover, I know what kind of person Old General is. It’s because I understand you that I am willing to have You’er as a daughter-in-law. That’s because I trust in your moral character. The children you taught wouldn’t be bad! If it’s not because of Xiang’er’s leg, I would sincerely want to marry You’er as our Duke Yongnan fu’s Shizi furen. But Xiang’er is like this right now, so I’m afraid it will affect You’er. I had no choice but to come up with this idea.”
Old General Mu finally relaxed a little bit after hearing these words.
He thought of the words that his granddaughter said and immediately eased his tone. “That’s more like it. I know what kind of person you are, but your son…… How about this? You’er is still young. There is still three years left before she reaches marriageable age. We can first establish an engagement between our two families. I can’t have You’er carelessly be called your daughter-in-law. But you have to write a contract for me to make it clear that You’er and your son are engaged because your son is seriously ill. This is the last resort to save your son. When your son is cured, my granddaughter will marry him if he can be wholeheartedly devoted to my granddaughter and has no concubines, tongfangs, and other women. If he cannot do this, we will dissolve the engagement. And you cannot take your betrothal gifts back. If your son is unhappy…… You cannot blame my granddaughter. After all, your son is already like this. No matter what happens to him, it has nothing to do with You’er. Thus, you will return the dowry back. Are you going to write it? If you write it, I will bring You’er to see your son. You’er is coincidentally studying medicine. She might even be able to cure your son’s leg.”
“I’ll write it!” Duke Yongnan slapped his leg and shouted. “How could I have forgotten this? Right, You’er’s mother had superb medical skills. You’er can’t be bad. Old General, bring the ink and paper over. I’ll write the contract out immediately.”
It worked? Old General Mu really did not think that it would work. After all, it was highly unlikely that a man would not have three wives and four concubines.
When You’er told him the plan, he was worried that Duke Yongnan wouldn’t agree. He didn’t think that Duke Yongnan would actually agree. It seemed like he was really anxious to save his son!
The contract was written, but still needed an impartial party to witness it. Old General Mu did not hesitate to invite Duke Anguo over.
Duke Anguo was shocked once he heard that Zi You and Zhao HongXiang were getting engaged.
But in front of Duke Yongnan, he couldn’t say anything. He only looked meaningfully at Old General Mu.
Old General Mu could only pretend to not see it. He vigorously urged, “Hurry and sign it, Duke. Once you sign it, this old man can bring You’er to treat his son’s leg. Otherwise, if something comes up, our Mu fu cannot bear the consequences.”
Duke Anguo helplessly and quite incomprehensibly signed his name as a witness.
There were two copies of the contract. Naturally, Old General Mu and Duke Yongnan each had a copy. There were three signatures on it. In addition to the two parties of Old General Mu and Duke Yongnan, it was of the witness Duke Anguo’s.
Once the contract was signed, Old General Mu sent Duke Yongnan away. “You return first. I’ll speak with Duke Anguo. Then I will bring You’er to your fu.”
Duke Yongnan left with a trace of dissatisfaction. But he thought about it and felt relieved. No matter what, him doing this for his son was a bit un-conscientious and selfish.
Duke Anguo saw that Duke Yongnan left and immediately asked Old General Mu, “His son is so seriously ill right now. I heard that even if his leg is cured, he will be lame in the future. Aren’t you harming You’er? I know that you have a good relationship with him, but you can’t ruin You’er’s life for friendship. My Xue’er and her mother [Liu Ruixue and Duke Anguo furen] have always praised such a wonderful child.”
“Sigh……” Old General Mu sighed. “You think I want to? Isn’t this because there’s no other way? Duke Yongnan ran to my fu early this morning and knelt in front of me. He cried until tears and snot were all over his face. He said that his son wouldn’t marry anyone but You’er. He’s so seriously ill, but still remembers You’er. He was afraid that he wouldn’t live long, so he begged me to promise to marry You’er to him for Chong Xi.*
[“Warding-off” wedding for an ill man in hopes that a joyous occasion would ward off imminent death.]
Duke Anguo was furious. “How can he be so selfish? For his son, he can disregard other people’s happiness?”
“Thus,” Old General Mu angrily retorted, “I was forced by him into having no other choice, but to agree to this ridiculous farce and make a contract. Also, it’s to avoid Taizi Ye, Third w.a.n.gzi, and An w.a.n.g Shizi’s entanglement with You’er. I don’t want to have any relationship with the imperial family. Even You’er said that she didn’t want to wreck her and Xue jiejie’s [Liu Ruixue] sisterhood. Two sisters serving one man? You’er said that even if she died, she wouldn’t do it.”
Duke Anguo thought about the rumors in the city and nodded. He was filled with righteous indignation as he said, “I didn’t expect that Duke Yongnan was selfish, but that he’s also a villain taking advantage of the situation. But I also did not think that You’er is so young, but has such a sense of loyalty. No wonder Xue’er and her mother praise her for being sensible.”
Old General Mu nodded, gratified. “Yes. When she was injured by the a.s.sa.s.sins last time, she was afraid that I will be distressed, so she didn’t utter a sound. She’s so sensible that she makes people distressed.”
Duke Anguo nodded in agreement. “I can tell that she’s very strong and very brave. When she was in the throne room that day and said she wanted to form a female medical team and follow you onto the battlefield, I could tell that your Mu family’s military blood runs in that child’s veins.”
“Haha…… Yes, that child is really similar to me.” Old General Mu smiled happily when he heard Duke Anguo praise Zi You.
After Duke Anguo left, Old General Mu went to find Zi You. She was already dressed, had her medicine chest ready, and was waiting for him.
Old General Mu asked in surprise, “You already know everything?”