Transmigration: From Farmer To Empress
Chapter 950 - 952: Meeting the Parents-in-law (7)

Chapter 950: Chapter 952: Meeting the Parents-in-law (7)

"Daughter-in-law? Where did this daughter-in-law come from?"

Empress Mo didn’t bother with sentimentality and immediately picked up on the sensitive word in her son’s statement.

Nangong Yi said, "Has Imperial Mother forgotten? Before I went to war, Imperial Father promised me that if I returned victorious, I could marry Caiwei as my wife. Now that I have returned victorious,"

"Didn’t Mu Caiwei die? Wasn’t she killed by a tiger...."

Empress Mo had barely spoken when she suddenly stopped herself, her words inadvertently confessing the scheme she had plotted before concerning Mu Caiwei marrying the Prince of Liaodan.

Nangong Yi perhaps remembered what his Imperial Mother had previously done to his little girl and his expression immediately turned much colder. He said indifferently, "She didn’t die, she was saved from the tiger’s mouth, and she has been well and with me the whole time."

"She actually didn’t die?"

Empress Mo found it unbelievable.

Nangong Yi said, "Perhaps heaven couldn’t bear to see me, Nangong Yi, lead a lonely life, so it allowed her to survive. Imperial Mother, it’s good that she’s still alive, otherwise, I wouldn’t be here to have this heart-to-heart talk with you!"

Upon hearing this, Empress Mo’s heart trembled violently.

She interpreted her son’s words to mean that if Mu Caiwei had died, Nangong Yi would undoubtedly hold a grudge against her, and he would no longer treat her with filial piety!

In fact, what Nangong Yi meant was that if Caiwei had died, there would’ve been no one to solve the army’s urgent need for provisions, a mutiny would have erupted long ago, and he would not have had a chance to come back and have this heart-to-heart talk with her.

Empress Mo’s heart thudded uncontrollably, suddenly struck by fear. If Caiwei hadn’t been carried off by a tiger that day, or hadn’t been rescued from the tiger’s mouth, would her son have been born in vain? Would he hold a lifelong grudge against her, never acknowledging her as his mother again? Although her son appeared mild-mannered, he was in fact the one with the coldest heart, and once he harbored resentment, he would likely never forget it in this lifetime!

Fortunately, Mu Caiwei was lucky and was saved by someone. Now, there was still time to make amends. Now that the Prince was no longer competent, Nangong Yi was undoubtedly the heir to the imperial throne. He no longer needed to secure his position through marriage alliances, so it didn’t matter whom he married, as long as he liked her.

With these thoughts, Empress Mo dabbed her still moist eyes with a handkerchief and said, "Since even being carried off by a tiger didn’t harm her, it shows she must be very fortunate. One of these days, bring her in to talk with me, just when I’m feeling bored!"

Upon hearing this, joy showed plainly on Nangong Yi’s face, he stood up and bowed to Empress Mo, saying, "Thank you for your blessing, Imperial Mother. My intention is to ask Imperial Mother to write a letter, and have Maternal Grandmother and my eldest maternal aunt visit the Mu Family to propose marriage, and settle this matter as soon as possible!"

Empress Mo’s smile stiffened: "Propose marriage?"

In her mind, Mu Caiwei marrying her son as a Side Consort was already her reaching above her station, and to marry her as a Main Consort would be the blessings of her eight past lives. The Mu Family should be burning incense and praying to Buddha, not expecting them to propose marriage?

Nangong Yi said firmly, "Of course we must propose marriage."

"What about your imperial father then?" Empress Mo reminded.

Nangong Yi dismissed it lightly and said, "Imperial Mother, rest assured, I will speak to Father myself. All you need to do is write a letter to Grandmother. As for the bridal price, your son will arrange it himself. There’s no need for you to worry; just wait peacefully to become a mother-in-law!"

He even had to offer a bridal price!

Empress Mo covered the area over her heart, carefully scrutinizing her son. Indeed, he was her son, but where had the cold aloofness and proud majesty that once defined him gone? Now, no matter how she looked at him, he seemed like a poor lad desperate for a wife, acting as though his parents were demanding a daughter-in-law!

Shocked as she was, Empress Mo still abided by her son’s request. She dispatched a letter to her mother, Duke Li Guo’s wife, Lady Liu, entrusting her to propose marriage on behalf of her son to the Mu Family.

After receiving the letter, Nangong Yi chatted idly with his Imperial Mother for a while and mentioned Zhao Yang.

Empress Mo said, "Zhao Yang is not getting any younger. Now that she’s back, I plan to find her a decent family so she can settle down and lead a stable life without causing any trouble!"

Nangong Yi replied, "Imperial Mother is really thorough in her considerations. I feel the same way, but where can we find a family with good morals that won’t disdain Zhao Yang for her past?"

Princess Zhao Yang had been dishonored by Saknu, a fact that had been cunningly spread by Jin Guifei. Almost everyone in the Great Jin Nation knew. A woman losing her chastity before marriage was a grave matter. In ordinary people’s families, this would merit drowning in a pig cage; hence, neither the privileged nor the commoners wanted to marry someone who had besmirched their family’s reputation. Therefore, it was hard to find a noble willing to marry Zhao Yang within the Great Jin Nation.

Empress Mo said, "I’ve thought it over. Taking Zhao Yang into their home, she is bound to be despised. Why not keep the relations close and have her marry your Uncle’s son, Zi Qi!"

"No way!"

Nangong Yi flatly refused. He remembered that, during his last visit to Duke Li Guo’s Mansion, Zi Qi had developed affectionate ties with the younger sister of another young woman, and the two had already pledged themselves to each other for life. Now, what was the meaning of Zhao Yang inserting herself into the situation?

Puzzled, Empress Mo asked, "Why not? In terms of family background and appearance, there is no one more suitable for Zhao Yang than Zi Qi. Moreover, Zi Qi is not constrained by societal norms or petty rules. I am certain he would not see Zhao Yang in a lesser light because of her sullied chastity. Also, Zi Qi is not like other noble heirs, constantly taking concubines, visiting prostitutes, indulging in actors, or frequenting brothels; this boy maintains his integrity and hasn’t even had a maid-servant till now. He truly is the best candidate."

"Imperial Mother, please do not mess up the match-making. Zi Qi already has someone he holds dear and will not marry Zhao Yang," Nangong Yi explained.

He did not disclose Fei’er’s identity to avoid complications.

Yet, Empress Mo was not discouraged and said, "What does having someone he holds dear matter? At worst, let that dear person also marry him. Two wives for one husband, he surely wouldn’t mind it!"

Nangong Yi responded, "Imperial Mother, this is a serious matter, relating to my sister’s entire life. Do you think Zhao Yang will be happy if you force her to marry a man who already has someone he loves?"

After some thought, Empress Mo said, "Actually, Imperial Mother has never told you, but Zi Qi’s feelings for Zhao Yang were not merely brotherly. It was just that the boy is cold by nature and not skilled in coaxing girls, which is why Zhao Yang didn’t take to him. Marrying Zhao Yang to him now, he definitely won’t be cold toward Zhao Yang. Besides, your maternal grandmother, your uncles, and your aunts are there. Imperial Mother believes that entering Duke Li Guo’s Mansion will be much better for Zhao Yang than marrying into any other family!"