dognovel Chapter 521 Becoming a Concubine?
Chapter 521 Becoming a Concubine?
Wang was taken aback for a moment, then smiled: "I knew that girl was a good girl."
“When she came to our house last time, I thought she had bright eyes and a straightforward personality. However, her status is still different from An’er's…”
Just then, Cui Zhihao came in carrying the medicine. Upon hearing his mother's words, his expression changed instantly.
He handed the medicine bowl to his mother and whispered, "Mother, Wanwan is the love of my life. I have already sworn that I will marry no one but her!"
"My beloved?" Madam Cui took the medicine bowl, drank a sip, and put the bowl down.
“An’er, what kind of family do we come from? Your father and you are from the Cui family of Qinghe, and your mother is from the Wang family of Taiyuan.”
“How could a prestigious family like ours possibly allow a woman with no background to be our principal wife and matriarch?”
She pointed at Cui Zhihao's forehead with a hint of exasperation, "An'er, the daughter of the Lu family in Fanyang that your father and mother introduced to you is a perfect match for the Cui family of Qinghe. If you really like that Miss Shi, you can take her into your household after you marry Miss Lu."
Wang couldn't bear to be estranged from her son, so she had no choice but to offer her a way out: becoming her son's concubine wasn't out of the question.
Choi Ji-ho immediately knelt down obediently, speaking sincerely.
“Father, Mother, I know Miss Shi’s character. She will not become a concubine, and I would never mistreat her like that.”
Upon hearing this, Wang was so angry that her hand trembled as she pointed at him. "This unfilial son has truly gone against the heavens! Since ancient times, marriage has always been arranged by parents and matchmakers."
How could they exchange gifts in private like this? This girl must not be from a respectable family. She is so shameless and has no manners.
She looked down on Shi Wanxia from the bottom of her heart. She did not act with the gentle grace of a well-bred lady. In her mind, her daughter-in-law, even if illiterate, should still be polite, gentle and skillful.
Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, Cui Yi quickly tried to persuade Cui Zhihao.
“An’er, your mother is right. Even if you were to become a prime minister back then, you would still be just a commoner, a world apart from the Cui family of Qinghe.”
“An’er, here’s what we’ll do: after you marry Miss Lu, you can first take Miss Shi as your concubine, and then after Miss Lu gives birth to a son or daughter, you can elevate Miss Shi to the status of a secondary wife.”
"Do you think this is a good idea from your father?"
Choi Ji-ho stood up with a sullen face. He knew his parents loved him, but they looked down on Shi-gyu, which he could not accept.
"Father, Mother, I do not agree to my marriage with Miss Lu, and I will never allow my beloved to become a concubine."
"Since you have nothing else to do, then your son will take his leave now!"
After saying that, he turned to leave, but Wang and Cui Yi quickly called him back.
"How dare you! Since ancient times, marriage has always been arranged by parents and matchmakers. Do you really intend to have an affair without a matchmaker?!"
Suppressing his anger, Cui Zhihao said, "Father, Mother, you don't need to say anything more. In this life, all I want is to stay with Miss Shi forever. Even if I have to marry into her family, I will still be with her!"
Having said that, he ignored them and stormed out of the room after his parents' angry shouts.
Just then, a maid rushed in and said to Cui Zhihao, "Young Master, there's someone outside claiming to be a servant of the Crown Prince's residence. He says he has important business with you and that Miss Shi went to the dilapidated temple in the north of the city. He wants you to go there quickly, as there might be danger!"
"what?"
Choi Ji-ho was suddenly startled, and his heart panicked—why did Wanwan go to the dilapidated temple alone? There must be someone from "Shadow" there!
He didn't bother to explain to his parents and ran straight to the door.
As soon as I stepped out of the mansion gate, I saw the servant standing at the entrance with two horses.
"Young Master Cui, mount your horse quickly!"
The attendant handed the reins to Cui Zhihao, saying, "His Highness has already sent men to the north of the city, instructing you to wait for the main force to arrive before taking any action. Do not act rashly!"
"I see!"
Cui Zhihao mounted his horse, spurred it on, and galloped off towards the north of the city.
The wind whistled in his ears, and he had only one thought in his mind—Wanwan, you must be alright!
Meanwhile, in the dilapidated temple in the north of the city, Shi Wanxia was hiding behind a large tree, watching the commotion inside.
Sure enough, there were more than a dozen men in black inside the temple. They were holding knives and surrounding a person wearing a black cloak, talking about something.
The person in the black cloak had his back to her, so she couldn't see his face, but judging from his figure, it should be "Shadow".
Shi Wanxia held her breath and slowly took out a signal flare from her pocket, preparing to fire it once the men in black had dispersed somewhat, to notify the people from the Crown Prince's residence to come over.
But just then, the person in the black cloak suddenly turned around and looked in her direction!
Shi Wanxia's heart tightened, and she quickly lowered her head, hiding behind a tree, not daring to make a sound.
She could feel a cold gaze fall on her, making her feel cold all over.
The man in the black cloak sneered and said to the man in black beside him, "Since you're here, come out. Stop hiding like a coward."
Shi Wanxia knew she had been discovered. She gripped the short dagger in her hand, took a deep breath, and slowly walked out from behind the tree.
She looked at the person in the black cloak, forcing herself to remain calm: "You're 'Shadow'?"
The person in the black cloak did not answer, but instead slowly removed the hood of their cloak.
When she saw that face clearly, Shi Wanxia's pupils suddenly contracted, and she murmured, "How could it be you..."
At that moment, Choi Ji-ho was riding his horse toward the dilapidated temple.
He saw movement in the dilapidated temple from afar, and his heart panicked even more. He spurred his horse on, wishing he could fly to the temple immediately.
Little did he know that what awaited him was a truth he could hardly believe.
The wind blowing through the dilapidated temple carried dust, causing the light veils of the late summer veils to rustle.
Her grip on the dagger tightened, her knuckles turning white—the person who had removed his cloak and hood before her was none other than Zhou Wenbin, the Junior Secretary she had met at the Dali Temple just a few days ago!
This official, who was usually always carrying books and speaking with gentle manners, now had no trace of his former refinement on his face, and his eyes were as cold as poisoned ice.
A mocking smile played on his lips: "Miss Shi has a good eye, but isn't it a bit too late to recognize her now?"
"How could it be you?"
Shi Wanxia's voice trembled slightly, not from fear, but from shock.
She recalled that when she discussed the case with Zhou Wenbin, he had "kindly" reminded her to be careful of the remnants of Rongyang King's faction. It turned out that he had been a venomous snake lurking in the shadows all along!
Zhou Wenbin took two steps forward, his black cloak sweeping across the withered grass on the ground with a rustling sound.
The dozen or so men in black behind him also surrounded him, their knives gleaming coldly in the morning light, completely blocking Shi Wanxia's escape route.
"Why can't it be me?"
Zhou Wenbin scoffed, his tone full of resentment, "If the late emperor hadn't been biased and given the throne to Shen Yuxi, my father would have been prime minister long ago, and I wouldn't be just a minor junior prime minister!"
“His Highness Prince Rongyang is good at recognizing and using people. He promised me that as long as things go well, he would appoint me as prime minister—what’s wrong with that?”