bookrebus Chapter 726: The Romantic Wanderer
Chapter 726: The Romantic Wanderer
Yuwen Huan wore a purple gold crown with a white jade border and sparkling pearls on it. He also wore a purple gown made of high-quality fabric and exquisite embroidery. He also had a valuable jade pendant hanging around his waist. He looked very noble.
Although his facial features were not extremely handsome, they were handsome. However, if you looked closely, you would find that his face was pale and there was a hint of dark circles under his eyes, making him look like his body was hollowed out by alcohol and sex.
Feeling Zhong Yixiu's gaze, Yuwen Huan smiled at her. He could barely be described as handsome and elegant, but there was a hint of contempt in his smile.
Zhong Yixiu frowned and looked away unhappily.
When the Marquis of Mingchang and his son came closer, Zhong Xingyun had already stood up.
"I've met the Marquis."
"You don't have to be polite, Minister Zhong. In a few months, you and I will be relatives."
Yuwen Jing smiled gently, and after he finished speaking, he glanced at Zhong Yixiu and spoke with satisfaction.
"I've heard that your daughter is well-educated, well-mannered, and intelligent. Today I see that she is indeed so."
In response to this polite remark, Zhong Yixue, who had also stood up, bowed and said, "My Lord, you are too kind to me. I am ashamed to accept it."
"Father, you forgot to mention one thing. I think Sister Yixue is not only well-educated, but also beautiful and intelligent. She is also very good-looking. She is indeed a beauty." Yuwen Huan glanced up and down and his eyes fell directly on Zhong Yixue's face.
This tone was even more frivolous than the smile just now. Although she had heard about the other party's behavior before, Zhong Yixiu couldn't help but frown when she felt this gaze.
Yuwen Jing turned his head and glanced at his son, "Don't be rude."
"My son, how could I be rude? I was just praising Sister Yixue." Yuwen Huan still smiled in a nonchalant manner, "Don't worry, Sister Yixue, when you get married, I will treat you well and will never let you suffer any grievances."
Zhong Yixue frowned, "Thank you for your compliment, Your Highness. However, you and I are not married yet, and this is at a palace banquet. Please call me Miss Zhong, Your Highness."
"Yixue!" Zhong Xingyun looked at Zhong Yixue unhappily.
The latter remained unmoved, just frowned slightly and stood there in silence.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Marquis Mingchang smiled and said, "Don't be offended, Miss Zhong. My son is usually a bit outspoken, but he doesn't mean any harm."
"How can I be surprised? The Marquis is really serious!" Zhong Xingyun said quickly, "I am very happy to hear the prince say this. It is a blessing for Yixue to marry into the Marquis' Mansion and have the prince as her husband."
"It is my son's blessing to marry your daughter." Marquis Mingchang also spoke with a smile.
Listening to these hypocritical words of boasting to each other, Zhong Yixiu's eyes froze and her hands clenched tightly in her sleeves.
Pei Zhaozhi, who was standing by, noticed Zhong Yixiu's look, then looked at Yuwen Huan's playful face, staring at Zhong Yixiu without any hesitation, and frowned slightly.
After hesitating for a moment, he stood up and said to Marquis Mingchang: "My Lord."
"Lord Pei." Marquis Mingchang nodded and greeted him.
"I heard that the Marquis' birthday is in half a month. I would like to congratulate him first." Pei Zhaozhi changed the subject.
"Thank you, Lord Pei. I hope you will come to my house for a drink when the time comes."
"Sure." Pei Zhaozhi nodded, and then said, "My Lord, it's almost time. I guess the emperor should be here soon. Why don't you and the prince take a seat first?"
"Okay, I'll go over first." Marquis Mingchang looked at Zhong Xingyun, "Master Zhong, we'll talk after the banquet is over."
"Okay, please come in, My Lord." Zhong Xingyun said quickly.
Marquis Mingchang's seat was closer to the front. After watching the father and son walk by, Zhong Xingyun turned to look at Zhong Yixiu with some dissatisfaction in his tone.
"Why haven't you been so silent on weekdays? You didn't say a few more words just now. It was really rude."
"What does father want his daughter to say?" Zhong Yixue asked sarcastically, "Didn't you see just now that Yuwen Huan's words were disrespectful and he didn't care about his daughter at all?"
"He is the eldest son of a marquisate after all. Even if he is a little rude, why do you have to hold on to it? Besides, he has just said that he will treat you well after you get married. With such a family background, what else can you be dissatisfied with?" Zhong Xingyun looked at Zhong Yixiu with great dissatisfaction.
Although he is the Minister of Rites, he does not have a deep foundation in the court. It would be great for the Zhong family if they could become relatives with the Mingchang Marquisate.
He has emphasized this point to Yixue many times, but she is still so confused. Just now, she even gave Yuwen Huan the cold shoulder in front of Marquis Mingchang.
If the engagement is ruined, where else can I find such a good husband's family?
Pei Zhaozhi had already sat down again. After hearing this, he couldn't help but shake his head.
"Minister Zhong really has double standards."
"What does Lord Pei want to say again?" Zhong Xingyun turned his eyes towards Pei Zhaozhi unhappily.
"Nothing, I just want to remind Master Pei that if everything is judged only by status, then why did you accuse Prime Minister Shen of being rude just now?"
"I..." Zhong Xingyun's eyes were blazing with anger. "Minister Pei, didn't I admit that I made a mistake just now? Why are you still harping on it? Besides, this is my Zhong family's family affair. Aren't you meddling too much?"
As he spoke, Zhong Xingyun snorted again and looked at Pei Zhaozhi sarcastically.
"Speaking of which, Master Pei is not young anymore, but he has yet to marry. Could it be that he is jealous when he sees others discussing marriage?"
"This kind of marriage full of transactions and calculations, even if it is offered to me, I don't want it." Pei Zhaozhi paused, glanced at Zhong Yixiu, and continued, "Master Zhong, after all, she is your biological daughter. You still have to consider her happiness and wishes. Don't just focus on power and wealth, and end up ruining your daughter's life."
He had also heard about Yuwen Huan's reputation in the imperial city, that he was a playboy who relied on his family background to seek pleasure all day long.
Although there was no major scandal, they didn't seem like a good match.
When Pei Zhaozhi stood up and interrupted the pleasantries between Mingchang Hou and Zhong Xingyun, Zhong Yixue was already a little surprised. Now that she heard the other party speak for her, she couldn't help but look at Pei Zhaozhi a few more times, and her mood became more complicated.
Even outsiders might think so, but her own father never considered her happiness.
"Pei Zhaozhi!" Zhong Xingyun was so angry that he almost jumped up and down, but he couldn't help feeling guilty.
He knew that Yuwen Huan had a mediocre reputation, but with such a good marriage opportunity in front of him, could he reject it just because of his reputation?
"You are meddling in other people's business, making assumptions, and using slanderous words. Aren't you really afraid that I will report you to the Emperor?"