Chapter 231 Humiliation

The Duke of Ying's Mansion.

Before Zhang Maoren came back, he had already sent someone to pass on the news.

When Zhang Lun learned that the wedding was scheduled for three days later, he was not happy at all, but was furious.

Because according to the provisions of "The Marriage of Scholars", the wedding usually has six steps, namely, Nacai, Wenming, Naji, Nazheng, Qingqi and Qinying. This is the wedding tradition known as the "Six Rites", and it is also a norm that the rich and powerful must strictly abide by.

Of course, the situation in different dynasties is different, and the customs have also changed slightly, but basically they still roughly follow this process and concept.

However, it is only roughly followed, because if you really follow the steps of "The Marriage of Scholars" to the specific direction of each action, it is too unrealistic.

But no matter what, you have to have the most basic etiquette such as matchmaking, betrothal, and daughter-in-law marrying, right?

But what about this damned Zhongshan Hou?

He is simply a barbarian who knows no etiquette and has no education at all!

Without going through the most basic procedures of proposing marriage and giving betrothal gifts, this barbarian actually directly set the wedding date three days later!

What is this?

Ah?

The Duke of Yingzhou is the first noble of the Ming Dynasty!

You are clearly humiliating the Duke of Yingzhou!

The original words that Zhang Mao sent back were to immediately let the entire Duke of Yingzhou start preparations, and prepare wedding invitations and red lanterns immediately.

However, Zhang Lun was furious after reading it, and then decisively found the "person involved" Zhang Jingshu!

This kind and loving father could not escape the temptation of the silver.

He also wanted to take this opportunity to persuade his precious daughter again.

"Shu'er, what does this mean?"

"Father has said it long ago, that the Marquis of Zhongshan is a barbarian who does not know etiquette. He did not even go through the basic procedures of proposing marriage and three letters and six betrothal gifts, and he directly set your wedding date three days later. This clearly shows that he does not care about you!"

The voice came before the person arrived.

Zhang Jingshu was stunned when she heard this, and her face gradually turned pale.

But before she could answer, a gorgeous woman dressed up beside her laughed.

"Hehe... sister, it seems that your choice is not good either!"

"You gave up being the wife of Marquis Wu'an and insisted on marrying a barbarian. Now, isn't it? You are humiliated by this barbarian!"

This woman is Zhang Lun's legitimate daughter. She married Zhu Hui's son Zhu Qi as his wife. If nothing unexpected happens, this woman will become the wife of the Duke of Baoguo. Let's call her Zhu Zhang for the time being.

Zhu Zhang's words seemed to be defending her sister, but in fact they were full of humiliation.

That's right, it was humiliation!

In this era, a woman's reputation is the most important!

Without a marriage proposal, three letters and six engagements, there would be no eight-man sedan chair and phoenix crown and bridal robe!

Zhang Jingshu never thought that the result of her shaving her head to show her determination would be so tragic and ridiculous!

The overbearing Marquis Zhongshan was still as overbearing as ever, and directly forced the marriage of the two to be scheduled three days later!

It was as if marrying a concubine's daughter of the Duke of Yingguo did not require him to spend any more time!

Zhang Jingshu's face was as pale as paper, and her silver teeth bit her red lips tightly.

She was born with extraordinary intelligence and natural beauty, so she suffered from the jealousy of Zhu Zhangshi, and was often beaten and scolded. Unfortunately, because she was a concubine's daughter, she met a dandy father Zhang Lun who didn't care about anything, so she had to endure it silently, hoping to get married as soon as possible and escape from this cave cage.

But Zhang Jingshu could never have imagined that her life would be so miserable, and even the husband she was going to spend her life with would be such a bastard.

It is conceivable that if she really married him three days later, what a miserable end she would have!

Zhu Zhang had a bun with a phoenix hairpin on her head, a lock of hair curled around her cheeks, a gold and jade necklace on her neck, a sable cape with a double-breasted skirt, and rings and pendants on her waist, which made her look noble and elegant, but her oval face was full of meanness and satisfaction.

Meanness, because of jealousy!

This lowly concubine in front of her, obviously just a concubine, is more beautiful than her, a legitimate daughter, why?

How can a maid's child be compared with her, a real legitimate daughter, why must she be better than herself in appearance?

So Zhu Zhang hated this concubine's sister in front of her very much, and she wanted to scratch her pitiful face with a hairpin!

Satisfaction, because she was happy!

As long as she thought that this bitch was about to marry the barbarian who shaved his head and beard, and then lived a life worse than death, Zhu Zhang felt that her heart was sweeter than eating candied fruit!

"My dear sister!"

"It's not too late for you to regret now. Maybe if I go to Wu'an Marquis's mansion and lie down, I can make Wu'an Marquis change his mind. I believe they will give me this little face."

As soon as the voice fell, another round of mischievous laughter sounded.

Zhu Zhang just liked to humiliate Zhang Jingshu like this. She couldn't wait to see this pretentious good sister kneel down at her feet the next moment and beg her to help her escape from the clutches of Zhongshan Marquis!

Zhang Lun was not surprised by this kind of thing where the legitimate daughter bullied the illegitimate daughter, and he didn't bother to take a second look.

Instead, he took this opportunity to suggest: "Don't be afraid, Shu'er, my father is here. If you really don't want to get married, my father will go to Wu'an Marquis himself. That guy Zheng Hong is my father's good brother. He I will definitely not refuse..."

Before Zhang Lun finished speaking, Mrs. Zhu Zhang immediately turned her back.

She was just talking, hoping to coax Zhang Jingshu to kneel on the ground and plead for her. How could you, a father, take it seriously?

She didn't want to see such a good show ruined by her father Zhang Lun!

Mrs. Zhu Zhang just wanted to see this disgusting sister fall into the abyss and never be able to stand up again!

"Father, please don't talk nonsense!"

"Sister, you have already sharpened your willpower before. You are so determined. If you go to find Marquis Wu'an now, wouldn't you be humiliating yourself?"

Hearing this, Zhang Lun was in trouble for a while.

If he had simply refused before, then he could still be shameless and give it a try.

But this girl had unreasonable ambitions last time, and Zhang Lun was impatient with Wu'an Marquis Zheng Hong, so he told her directly when they were drinking last time. As a result, the two parties ended up having a bad fight.

Now if we really let him come to our door, it would be a bit embarrassing indeed!

"Shu'er, what do you think? As a father, you would never..."

Before Zhang Lun had finished playing the role of "loving father", Zhang Jingshu suddenly raised her head and looked at the two relatives in front of her calmly.

"I'll marry you!"

"Hey, that's right. As long as you don't want to get married...what did you say?!"

Zhang Lun had spoken proudly before, but before he could finish his words, he froze on the spot, looking at his concubine with astonishment on his face!

"What did you say?"

"I said I will marry!" Zhang Jingshu looked directly at her biological father calmly, "This is your grandfather's order. Shu'er believes in your grandfather. No matter how ignorant the Zhongshan Marquis is of etiquette and how overbearing he is, now that the wedding date has been decided, then Shu'er is Tang's wife!"

"Father, please pay attention to your dignity and stop talking about Marquis Wu'an. It's about Shu'er's chastity!"

The previous sentence directly expressed Zhang Jingshu's attitude, or it was a bitter mockery of Zhang Lun.

This is the opinion of Zhang Mao, the leader of the British government. No matter how dissatisfied you Zhang Lun is, what can you do?

At least before you, Zhang Lun, took over the British Dukedom, you were a good-for-nothing dandy who didn’t even dare to disobey Zhang Mao’s orders!

The latter sentence reminds Zhang Lun that you are shameless, and I, Zhang Jingshu, am still shameless!

Zhang Lun was a man who had no other skills but his ability to eat, drink, have fun, chat and brag.

Therefore, it was difficult for him not to hear the underlying meaning of what he, a concubine, was saying. Then his face became livid and he stared at Zhang Jingshu with an angry look on his face.

"OK!"

"It's really good!"

"You are a pickpocket, and now you feel that you have climbed onto the high branch of the Marquis of Zhongshan. Do you dare to mock your biological father?"

Zhang Jingshu's face was still very calm, without any fluctuations.

"Father, you are joking. How dare Shuer'an be disrespectful to you?"

"After all, Shu'er's mother died in the hands of your father!"

As soon as these words came out, the whole place was silent.

All the maids and servants fell to their knees, too frightened to even speak out.

But Mrs. Zhu Zhang hurriedly covered her mouth because she was almost going crazy laughing.

I really didn’t expect that!

If I go back to my hometown today, I can still see this great drama of the breakup between father and daughter!

But in this way, Zhang Jingshu, a bitch, is equivalent to cutting off her own future. Even if she is humiliated to death in the Zhongshan Marquis Mansion, no one will seek justice for her!

Because this bitch has no family left!

Zhang Lun looked at the concubine in front of him in astonishment. After all, he still wanted to maintain his father's face in front of everyone, so he suppressed the anger in his heart, put on the posture of a strict father, and sternly scolded: "Why? Father, I don’t know what rumors you have heard, but it would be disrespectful for you to talk to my father like this. Where did you learn your female virtues? It seems that your father still lacks discipline..."

"Ha!" Zhang Jingshu finally broke out, "When did you discipline Shu'er?"

"You, a father, spend your whole day fighting, sleeping in brothels, and playing with women. How often do you spend time in this home? How often do you discipline your children?"

"Zhang Jingshu!" Zhang Lun was almost going crazy.

In front of so many servants, the concubine publicly contradicted him, the prince of the country. If word spread, Zhang Lun would probably become the laughing stock of the capital!

"My father kindly helped you mediate your marriage so that you could have a better future, but in the end you..."

"Do you have good intentions?" Zhang Jingshu gritted her teeth and yelled angrily: "You clearly took the money from Marquis Wu An and wanted to sell your daughter as a commodity! How could there be such a ruthless and vicious person in the world like you? Father!"

As soon as the words fell, there was a crisp "pop" sound. Zhang Lun finally couldn't help but take action and slapped him hard.

It is only right for me to discipline my daughter!

Even if this concubine is beaten to death today, no one can say no!

Zhang Jingshu covered her red and swollen face and stared at Zhang Lun with hatred.

However, Mrs. Zhu Zhang pretended to exclaim at this moment, stepped forward and said with concern: "Good sister, let me see!"

"Father, how could you be so cruel?"

"My sister is going to get married in three days. Are you going to let her go out and meet people like this?"

At the end of the conversation, Zhu Zhang almost couldn't help laughing.

In fact, she didn't know why she hated this concubine so much.

Maybe, it's because she is more beautiful than herself?

Maybe, it's because she always looks disgusting and calm when encountering things?

But no matter what, disgust is disgust!

Zhu Zhang wished that this damn concubine would marry that wild man who shaved his head and beard, and then suffer humiliation and torture!

Zhang Lun angrily scolded: "You evil creature is really the same as your mother, both of you are cheap bones that can't be on the stage..."

"What qualifications do you have to mention my mother?!" Zhang Jingshu fought back unwillingly.

Seeing this, Zhang Lun raised his hand again.

However, at this moment, the housekeeper hurried over.

"My Lord, someone came from the palace and said there was an imperial decree!"

Someone came from the palace and there was an imperial decree!

Hearing this, Zhang Lun's eyes lit up immediately.

As a noble family of the Jingnan Campaign, the Duke of Ying's Mansion was highly valued and trusted by the royal family, so it was common for the palace to issue an imperial decree.

However, this was before the Zhengtong Dynasty.

Ever since the Battle of Tumu, when the Duke of Ying, Zhang Fu, died on the battlefield, the Duke of Ying's lineage had some inexplicable estrangement with the royal family. Since then, all the Dukes of Ying had lost the opportunity to lead troops to fight.

Zhang Mao had only done some superficial work in supervising history books in his life, and gradually drifted away from the royal family.

In other words, it had been a long time since the palace had issued an imperial decree!

Zhang Lun did not dare to neglect it and immediately ordered: "Open the middle gate and prepare the incense table!"

The Duke of Ying's Mansion was an old noble family, so the process of receiving an imperial decree was still very familiar to them.

But before Zhang Lun left, he shouted at the servants: "Lock this evil creature in the room and forbid her to go out. Three days later, she will marry the Zhongshan Marquis!"

Since you insist on choosing a path of no return and marrying that barbarian who shaves his head and beard, don't blame me as your father!

Zhang Jingshu looked at her father's back coldly, just feeling sad, or even ridiculous.

Being born in such a wealthy family, and being a concubine's daughter, is an extremely sad thing in itself.

She was born to be a tool for marriage between wealthy families, but she has always had bad luck. This time she met a domineering and arrogant Zhongshan Marquis!

Zhang Lun hurried to the scene with Zhu Zhang and everyone in the mansion, then knelt in front of the incense table, looking at the messenger from the palace with hope on his face.

This time, the people who came were two "big shots".

One was Chen Kuan, the eunuch in charge of the seal of the Silijian, who was responsible for reading the edict on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor.

The other one was Qiu Chan, the head of Kunning Palace, and the Shanggong Bureau, the undisputed number one female official, and the absolute confidant of the Queen.

Zhang Lun was the prince of the Duke after all, so he knew Chen Kuan.

This meant that today's event must be a great thing!

Why did Chen Kuan, the first minister of the inner court, come here in person!

There are really not many people or things that are worthy of Chen Kuan's appearance!

He couldn't help but patiently ask: "Daguan, what are you doing here this time?"

Chen Kuan had a slight smile on his face, but after looking around, he didn't see the main person, so he immediately restrained his smile.

"Prince Lun, the decree is for your lady!"

Miss?

Hearing this, Zhu Zhang's expression suddenly lifted, and she was so excited that her whole body was hot.

If it was a decree for her, then there was only one possibility left - an imperial edict!

It was definitely an imperial edict!

Since the Song Dynasty, all civil and military officials have used imperial edicts to change their positions, posthumously confer titles on ministers, demote their criminals, and confer titles on their grandfathers and wives.

In the Ming Dynasty, officials above the fifth rank had the opportunity to receive the emperor's order of conferment if they had outstanding achievements, which was called the imperial edict, while officials below the sixth rank received what was called the imperial edict.

Women who received imperial edicts were called "Ladies of Imperial Edicts", and there was a strict hierarchy. The wife of a high-ranking official of the first and second ranks was called "Lady", and the legitimate mother was called "Lady Tai"; the third rank was Shu Ren, the fourth rank was Gong Ren, the fifth rank was Yi Ren, the sixth rank was An Ren, and the seventh rank and below were Ru Ren.

Imperial edict ladies could go to the harem on major festivals and attend banquets hosted by the queen. In other words, this was a supreme honor that all women in the world longed for!

Even Zhang Lun subconsciously looked at his daughter, and secretly sighed that his son-in-law Zhu Qi was true love. He found a way to get an imperial edict for his daughter so quickly?

Chen Kuan looked at Zhang Lun and Zhu Zhang, who were staring at him eagerly, and could not help but shook his head speechlessly.

"We are talking about the young lady of your mansion, not the woman!"

"Prince Lun, please invite the real owner out immediately, don't waste time!"

As soon as these words came out, Zhang Lun and Zhu Zhang were stunned and looked at each other blankly.

Fortunately, Chen Kuan's reminder worked, and Zhang Lun said in a hoarse voice: "Go and invite the second young lady... over!"

Young lady, not a woman!

Then how many young ladies can there be in the Duke of Ying's mansion?

The second young lady, Zhang Jingshu!

Zhu Zhang was stunned in a trance.

She even wanted to ask the eunuch if he had made a mistake.

But as Zhang Jingshu hurried to the scene, Chen Kuan read out the decree in public, and everyone realized that he was indeed not wrong. This imperial decree was addressed to Zhang Jingshu by name.

This is a wedding decree, and the wedding date is just three days away.

What an honor it is to be married by the emperor!

And at the end of the imperial edict, there was indeed a decree, but it was for Zhang Jingshu.

In view of the outstanding contributions made by Marquis Zhongshan to the Ming Dynasty, His Majesty the Emperor canonized Zhang Jingshu as the First Grade Imperial Lady!

And it's not over yet, because there is a big shot in the palace waiting for him.

Qiu Chan, the head of Kunning Palace, read out the Queen's decree with a smile. In addition to dropping a large number of enviable rewards, she immediately summoned Zhang Jingshu into the palace.

It seemed that the Empress was full of interest in the British concubine whom the Marquis of Zhongshan personally asked for marriage.

After the decree was read out, Zhang Jingshu accepted the decree and thanked him.

But just when she was about to get up and leave, Zhang Jingshu made an unexpected move when her eyes touched the rewards given by the queen.

"Shang Gong Qiu Chan, please send these rewards to the Zhongshan Marquis Mansion, which will be my wife's... home from now on!"

Qiu Chan was stunned when she heard this. When she noticed Zhang Jingshu's red and swollen cheeks and Zhang Lun's mournful appearance, she made a rough guess in her mind.

"Okay, it's just a small matter."

"Now follow me into the palace!"

Zhang Jingshu strode away, leaving everyone in the Zhang family deeply shocked.

Zhang Lun looked at his daughter's leaving figure and collapsed on the ground.

The emperor granted marriage, and the queen summoned her!

Either way, it indicates that Zhang Jingshu is taken seriously!

"damn it!"

"What...did I do before?"