Chapter 121
Chapter 122: Wedding Date
Marquis of Zhen Nan no longer went to the East Main Courtyard to see Madam Bai, nor did he see the two Concubine Meis.
But he went to visit Bai Yu Lin, and even met Qiu Shi Dong.
Bai Yu Lin was smooth-tongued. He did not explain whether Luo Yin was like Qiu Shi Dong, but instead hinted that Luo Ning had dragged up past events with unclear motives.
As for what Luo Ning’s motive was, Bai Yu Lin did not say. He left it for the Marquis of Zhen Nan to guess on his own.
His skill at this was even better than Madam Bai’s.
Because the Marquis of Zhen Nan had been warned ahead of time by his daughter, it was as if he had been given a pair of clear eyes. With those eyes, when he looked at Bai Yu Lin and Madam Bai again, he was shocked to find that their stories matched.
Anything suspicious, they kept their mouths shut about and refused to explain. Instead, they shifted the target and set Luo Ning up as the one to blame.
One person talked like this, and the other talked like this too. They were very skilled. They would always first poke at the Marquis of Zhen Nan’s sore spots, then, on that basis, smear Luo Ning.
It was as if the Marquis of Zhen Nan was seeing Madam Bai and Bai Yu Lin for the first time.
Bai Ci Rong said: “Uncle, may I go back to take care of Aunt? Her health is poor, and I really cannot stop worrying about her.”
Luo Chong Ye said: “If you want to go, then go.”
To Luo Chong Ye, Bai Ci Rong was also a kind of handle. Keeping her “in his hand” was not a bad thing.
Bai Ci Rong thanked him: “Uncle, you really have a kind, gentle heart. I have disturbed you all these days in your manor, and you have all treated me very well.
I know I have many shortcomings and often make Sister A’Ning jealous. In the future I will be more careful and keep a lower profile.”
Luo Chong Ye nodded a little.
After all that had happened this time, the doubts in Luo Chong Ye’s heart were almost turning into firm belief. But he still had not figured out how to deal with the people in front of him.
He also had no evidence.
His daughter was about to become Princess Consort Yong, so Madam Bai absolutely could not die.
If Madam Bai died, Luo Ning would have to go into mourning seclusion, the wedding would be delayed, and the longer it dragged on, the more likely something would go wrong. Luo Chong Ye could not accept losing the title of “Prince Yong’s father-in-law.”
What he cared about most was power.
Besides, Luo Yin was already dead. The one who hurt him the most had been dealt with, and he could take his time handling the others.
When Luo Chong Ye returned home, he once again called Luo Ning to the outer study.
Luo Chong Ye said: “I have already sent a trusted aide to investigate the identities of Luo Yin and Bai Ci Rong. Bai Ci Rong wants to come back, and I have agreed. It is more useful to keep her under my nose.”
Luo Ning did not care.
It was fine if Bai Ci Rong came back. She was solid proof of Madam Bai’s sins, and keeping her in the Marquis Manor was useful too.
Luo Ning might have use for her.
Luo Ning casually praised him: “Father is wise. I will do whatever you arrange.”
Luo Chong Ye went out.
The two Concubine Meis saw that he had ignored them for many days, so they went to the outer study to act spoiled. Luo Chong Ye scolded them harshly and drove them back to the inner courtyard.
Luo Ning did not trust him.
She did not know if he had truly woken up or if this was just a passing change, and after a few days he would go back to his old ways.
She did not rely on anyone, including Luo Chong Ye. As long as Luo Chong Ye did not hold her back, Luo Ning would already be very pleased.
The days slowly moved forward.
After a few days, Cousin Luo Wan and the fifth young master of the Loyal Earl’s Manor had their eight-characters betrothal cards matched, and the formal talks for their marriage began. Second Uncle and Second Aunt were very happy.
On the tenth day of the seventh month, the Astronomical Bureau chose an auspicious date for Luo Ning and Prince Yong’s wedding: the twentieth day of the second month of Xiping year seven.
That was the second month of next year.
Counting it out, Luo Ning still had seven months left in her maiden home.
“After the main wedding, in the early third month, the secondary consorts will all enter the manor together.” This news also came from Xiao Huai Feng’s people.
Just as Xiao Huai Feng’s people left, Cui Zheng Lan’s people arrived.
They said the same thing.
Luo Ning thought: [That is fine. It should be in time.]
She did not have many things to do anyway.
Besides, even after getting married she could still return to her maiden home. Prince’s Manor was only a quarter of an hour away from the Marquis Manor by carriage.
Once the wedding date was set, the Ministry of Rites began sending the official betrothal gifts for Princess Consort Yong to the Luo family. All these gifts were recorded in the registers and temporarily stored in the warehouses of the Marquis of Zhen Nan’s residence.
The Marquis Manor had to look at those gifts and prepare Luo Ning’s dowry to match.
This was the simplest part, because according to the rules of the imperial clan, the Luo family only needed to change the boxes and decorations of those betrothal gifts a little and then carry them back to Prince’s Manor.
What they could give Luo Ning themselves was the extra private dowry they added.
Bai Ci Rong told Madam Bai: “Mother, Luo Ning’s wedding date has already been set. I heard it from a maidservant on Luo Chong Ye’s side.”
Madam Bai said: “She has not yet paid with her life for my son. How can she fly up to perch on a high branch?”
Bai Ci Rong comforted her: “Father’s Imperial Merchant position will be decided in a few days. I heard the Ministry of Revenue will submit the memorial the day after tomorrow.”
“That is quite fast.”
“The Imperial Merchants are chosen once every four years, always around this time. Father has planned for it for many years. So if you think about it, it is not really fast,” Bai Ci Rong said.
Madam Bai nodded: “Once this is decided, we will have another pillar to lean on!”
Then she cursed Luo Chong Ye: “He even wanted to interrogate my people! As soon as I mentioned the Marquis of Jian Ning’s residence, he lost his nerve. Useless thing.”
Bai Ci Rong thought for a moment and said: “Mother, I think Luo Chong Ye just does not want to make a big fuss. Before this, the only thing he really cared about was his daughter’s marriage.”
“Of course he does not want to make it big. If Luo Ning cannot become Princess Consort Yong, he will cry himself to death. We still have a chance. Once your father and your uncle become Imperial Merchants, I should be able to come out and manage the household again.
When I take back control, I will first get a grip on Luo Ning. As long as she is beaten down, and we still have our connection to the Marquis of Jian Ning’s residence, Luo Chong Ye will not dare to argue about anything,” Madam Bai said.
Bai Ci Rong nodded.
She could not help telling Madam Bai what Qiu Shi Dong had told her: “The Marquis of Jian Ning’s residence wants to recognize me as their adopted daughter and send me into the palace.
I heard His Majesty is tired of round-faced, cute beauties lately, and Consort Li has fallen out of favor. If I enter the palace, I should rise faster than Consort Li.”
Madam Bai felt unspeakably pleased in her heart.
Once Qiu Shi Dong became an Imperial Merchant and Bai Ci Rong became an imperial consort, and they killed Luo Ning, Luo Chong Ye would have to kneel and bow to them like a cowardly little grandson.
At that time, they would first force him to request a title of heir apparent for Luo You, then kill him.
Before Luo You came of age, he could not inherit the noble rank yet, but once he had the title of heir apparent, that matter would be settled. During that time, the Marquis Manor would be under Madam Bai’s control.
Madam Bai would take revenge for every grudge.
The resentment she had held in for more than half a year seemed to fade, and color returned to her face.
Bai Ci Rong had also been living in misery for more than half a year, and Madam Bai felt endless pity for her: “Mother will definitely make sure you live a good life.”
“The good days are right in front of us, Mother,” Bai Ci Rong said with a smile.
After Luo Ning’s wedding date was set, she entered the palace to visit the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager had also prepared extra dowry gifts for her in private. Besides gold, silver, and jewels, there were also people.
She asked: “How are you getting along with Nursemaid He and Nursemaid Yin?”
“Very well. They are very patient with me,” Luo Ning said.
The Empress Dowager said: “Then from now on, the two of them will follow you. The people by your side can stay with you to keep you company and handle small matters.”
Luo Ning thanked her.
It was true that Nanny Kong’s temperament was not really suited to being the chief steward nanny of the inner courtyard. Luo Ning planned to let her enjoy her later years and have her stay nearby in charge of the small kitchen.
Qiu Hua and Qiu Lan had been trained well. They would certainly be Luo Ning’s dowry maidservants, and would also become first-class head maids by the Princess Consort’s side.
While Luo Ning was talking, a palace lady by the Empress Dowager’s side came to report.
Luo Ning said: “Imperial Mother, I will go to the side hall to copy Buddhist sutras first.”
The Empress Dowager patted her hand and said: “No rush. The side hall is very messy right now. We will tidy it up later.”
She then looked at the palace lady and asked: “How did it go?”
The palace lady said: “His Majesty said Consort Li’s crime is not enough for death. She is demoted to a Beauty, sent to the cold palace, and all her stipends are taken away.”
The Empress Dowager nodded: “Go and keep an eye on things.”
The palace lady withdrew.
Luo Ning asked in curiosity: “Why is she suddenly being sent to the cold palace?”
“The truth is, yesterday she slipped and hit the Eldest Prince with an inkstone. The Eldest Prince had a fever last night. The Emperor was furious,” the Empress Dowager said.
Luo Ning was stunned, yet the question she asked next seemed the least important.