Chapter 16 Propose A Marriage

Changning was surprised. If it were true, the imperial household couldn’t destroy Gu Qiang’s arranged marriage even if they had an eye on her.

Changning glanced at Song Yu. She was standing behind Jiang Min and pretended to be shy, though male visitors couldn’t enter to salute and all stayed outside. Together with Jiang Min’s arrogant manner, it made Changning think such a family couldn’t have a great son. She shook her head and looked at Gu Qiang with sympathy.

“Well, if so, I won’t disturb you. Gu Qiang, go ahead.”

The princess’s remark meant the imperial household was going to remove Gu Qiang from the candidate list.

Others didn’t know, while Ye was clear about that, so she saluted with a bigger smile immediately,

“Then please allow me to take my daughter…”

“Madam, what are you talking about?”

Suddenly, Gu Qiang broke her silence with a cold smile. She stared straight at Ye and kept still. It seemed that she didn’t intend to move at all.

“What?”

Ye frowned but still said with a kind smile, “Qiang, you don’t need to be embarrassed. You’re old enough. Don’t worry. Your aunt and I will give you a satisfying wedding.”

“Why will I be embarrassed?”

Gu Qiang asked in surprise. She looked up and down at Ye and Jiang Min as if she had never seen them before and asked in astonishment, “Is the marriage you and aunt talk about related to me?”

It’s the first time for Jiang Min to see a person feign ignorance so obviously. She snorted coldly, “Well, didn’t you hear just now? Do you need me to repeat that?”

Song Yu, Jiang Min’s daughter, spoke softly, “Sister Qiang, we’ll be of the same family.”

Few people dared to interrupt elders so directly. Changning felt strange. She glanced at Gu Qiang. The latter rose and saluted decently to her, “I fell into water the other day. Since I came around, I have become unclear about something. Princess, may I consult you?”

Changning nodded, “Sure.”

An impenetrable smile appeared at her lips but disappeared soon. When looking up again, she raised her voice slightly. What they did on the high place could be seen by the noble maidens and madams below, and now they could hear Gu Qiang’s voice more clearly.

“I’m weak and not gifted. But I know marriage is up to parents and also requires a matchmaker’s arrangement. My father has gone to pray for good fortune with His Majesty, and my biological mother died early. I’ve never heard that a matchmaker came to my house. But since Madam Song is a congenial friend of my stepmother, I think she wants to propose a marriage for my sister.”

“Qiang!”

Ye’s smile froze. Seeing some madams stop their feet below and look at here with a thoughtful expression, she felt alarmed instantly. She withdrew her kind face and snapped loudly, “How dare you make fun of your sister’s fame?”

Finding the situation unfavorable, Jiang Min intervened, “Right. Zhihua is so young. How can you talk about her future marriage in public? It’ll embarrass her.”

However, when they were just done, Gu Qiang lowered her head in an understanding way and looked dejected. She asked pitifully, “My sister’s fame is important…I’m just two years older than her. Can you arrange my marriage without talking with my father in advance?”

She didn’t lower her voice at all. The madams looking for future daughters-in-law below exchanged their quick glances and saw disdain from the eyes of one another.

Well, Miss Gu was the justifiable eldest daughter of Gu Family and was born of the late mistress. She was only fourteen years old. Was her stepmother so anxious to get her married?

It was said that the madam of Prime Minister Mansion was kind. However, seeing Miss Gu close to tears with sadness, they couldn’t help sighing in the heart.

There was a chill in the spring air, but Ye’s forehead was covered with cold sweat. She had never thought Gu Qiang would talk about her own marriage in public without shyness.

They all had a noble background. It was clear how the madams below thought of her after hearing that. But Ye had to force a smile and defended herself, “…You misunderstand. The man you will marry is your aunt’s son, and it’s widely known that your aunt dotes on you…”