Who would have thought that Ling Qingwan had already returned to the Marquis' Mansion for many days, and the two of them had only exchanged a few words.
Whenever Song Zhiqing thought of this, he felt empty inside.
"Is it for the second lady of the Marquis' Mansion, Ling Qingwan?" The emperor stared at Song Zhiqing with interest.
How could the emperor not know what his son was like? Although Song Zhiqing was very popular in the city and was favored by many girls, he had never fallen in love with anyone.
Compared with Tan Hongbo, who also has been surrounded by flowers, Song Zhiqing has not been touched by a single leaf over the years.
So the Emperor knew all about it?!
Song Zhiqing was shocked. He looked up suddenly, his eyes full of disbelief.
"On the day Ling Qingwan was trapped in Jinrong Mountain, you mobilized 30,000 soldiers from the palace and rushed to Jinrong Mountain without stopping." The emperor chuckled and raised three fingers, shaking them in front of Song Zhiqing. "30,000, for a woman?"
The emperor didn't know whether to praise Song Zhiqing for his infatuation or say that he was confused.
"Father, please forgive me." Song Zhiqing immediately stood up and bowed to the emperor to apologize. "The situation was critical that day, and human lives were at stake. I couldn't care less about anything else."
"Is it a matter of human life, or is it only Ling Qingwan's life that is more important?" The emperor seemed to be indifferent, but every word he said was forcing Song Zhiqing to admit it.
Song Zhiqing lowered his head even more heavily.
"Sit down. Don't let the servants hear me. I am punishing you for a girl." The emperor glanced at Song Zhiqing helplessly. After all, he didn't want to argue with Song Zhiqing any more.
If he was really angry, he should have punished Song Zhiqing after that night. If he hadn't mentioned this matter today, the emperor wouldn't have taken it to heart.
Song Zhiqing had a serious look on his face and sat upright on the stone bench.
"This matter is a bit tricky." The emperor thought for a moment and said something meaningful.
Song Zhiqing suddenly became very nervous and stared at the emperor, wishing he could see through him.
"The last time Mr. Ling came to the palace and stayed for a few days, I discussed with him at that time. He was planning to match you up with the eldest daughter of the Marquis's Mansion." The emperor told Song Zhiqing.
After hearing this, Song Zhiqing's face turned dark.
In his previous life, Ling Chuchu had messed up his relationship with Ling Qingwan. In this life, Song Zhiqing vowed not to have any contact with Ling Chuchu.
Unfortunately, God was not kind to people's wishes and Mr. Ling suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"Mr. Ling has resigned for many years, why does the emperor still respect him so much and ask for his opinion on everything in the court?" Song Zhiqing didn't understand. Even his marriage had to be arranged by Mr. Ling. How could Song Zhiqing swallow this
"Don't underestimate Mr. Ling." The emperor said slowly and earnestly. "He is a veteran of three dynasties and helped Dai Viet become the leader of the four kingdoms. In the eyes of the ministers, Mr. Ling is more prestigious than me."
It was for this reason that Emperor Xuancheng would always discuss important state affairs with Grandpa Ling before making any decision.
Song Zhiqing frowned even more.
"Since Ling Qingwan and Ling Chuchu are both heirs of the Marquis' Mansion, what does it matter who I marry?"
Would it be necessary for him to be associated with Ling Chuchu for generations to come? Song Zhiqing was unwilling in his heart.
"There is an order of seniority. Ling Chuchu is the eldest daughter. Since she is entering the prince's mansion, how can the order be disrupted and the people behind her be ranked above the eldest sister?" The emperor laughed and shook his head, lamenting how Song Zhiqing could be so confused for a girl that he didn't even understand such a simple rule.
"But Ling Chuchu is clearly the daughter of a concubine. If Ling Qingwan hadn't been kidnapped when she was young, the eldest lady of the Marquis's Mansion would have had no daughter in her room, so she would have brought her up. Ling Chuchu simply can't be the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's Mansion." Song Zhiqing was extremely unwilling and said he didn't want to marry Ling Chuchu at all.
He was reborn just to be good to Ling Qingwan.
"That is the family affair of the Marquis' Mansion. Even I have no right to interfere." The emperor became more and more impatient and tried to reason with Song Zhiqing while suppressing his annoyance.
Song Zhiqing was speechless.
"It's rare for your seventh uncle to return to the capital, so you should go to the palace to visit him when you have time." After saying that, the emperor stood up. While Song Zhiqing was stunned, he turned around and left the hall.
A strange thing happened in the Marquis' Mansion. Song Zhiqing and Wei Xun sent Ling Qingwan a series of supplements. It can be said that they were for Ling Qingwan's health care, and the supplements were indeed sent a little late.
He didn't send her off when Ling Qingwan was bedridden a few days ago, but he sent her off now that she can jump around.
Of course, what shocked the people in the Marquis' Mansion was not this, but the person who sent the tonic. One was Song Zhiqing, and the other was Wei Xun, both of whom were famous ice lumps in Dongjing City, and they had never bowed to any woman.
Ling Qingwan was better, she caught two at once. Thanks to the two of them, people in the mansion were talking about it. Some envied Ling Qingwan for getting a rich husband, while others slandered her for being fickle and two-timing.
Ling Qingwan was the most leisurely. She collected both and distributed all the supplements to the servants in the yard.
In the study, it was quiet except for the rustling sound of pens rubbing against paper.
Ling Qingwan slowly walked around the screen and came to the center, facing Ling Feng.
"Is Wanwan feeling better?" Ling Feng stopped what he was doing and looked at Ling Qingwan with a kind look in his eyes.
"Much better." Ling Qingwan said softly.
The relationship between her and Ling Feng was as thin as water, and Ling Qingwan was even unwilling to say any polite words.
Ling Feng asked Ling Qingwan to sit down, and told the servants to prepare tea. He then left the room, leaving only him and Ling Qingwan.
"I think you should also know that the matter between you, the Crown Prince, and the Seventh Prince is being spread in Tianfu." Ling Feng went straight to the point and did not play around with Ling Qingwan.
"They just have too much free time." Ling Qingwan didn't care.
"I don't have much experience with the Seventh Prince, but I know the Crown Prince. I know that you and the Seventh Prince had met on the way back to the capital. If you like him, just tell your father. Your father will ask the Emperor to grant you two a marriage."
Ling Feng's words were too obvious. He thought Ling Qingwan couldn't hear him, so he secretly tricked Ling Qingwan into choosing to marry Song Zhiqing.
No, it's just a gift of tonic, how come it has become a matter of choosing a son-in-law? Ling Qingwan stroked her forehead. She might as well marry Wei Xun than Song Zhiqing.
Although she and Wei Xun had nothing to do in her previous life, the two had basically never spoken to each other. And Ling Qingwan remembered that Wei Xun died two years later...
He must have died of poisoning, Ling Qingwan thought. She had only met Wei Xun a few times, and she knew that Wei Xun had two kinds of poison.
"Father, let's not talk about the countless people who have sent me supplements and visited me since I got sick. The threshold of Iris Pavilion has been trampled. Apart from the special status of the Seventh Prince and the Crown Prince, I really can't tell what their intentions are. Even if they are interested in marrying into the Marquis' Mansion, it is not my turn to choose."
"Don't I have an older sister above me?" Ling Qingwan took the opportunity to push Ling Chuchu out.
Ling Chuchu and Song Zhiqing are a perfect match, with both being talented and beautiful.