The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 784 Proposing Marriage to the Princess on Behalf of Old Deng

Su Chengji lay in bed, wishing he could kill Su Chengmin.

"Grandma, you have to do this for me," Su Chengji pleaded with the old lady.

Seeing how heartbroken Grandma Su was, Su Chengji realized that his grandmother truly cared for him.

Grandma Su wiped away her tears and looked at Su Chengji, saying, "You're already crippled. Your eldest brother is still waiting to carry on the Su family line. Don't even think about getting anything back from him. Once you're better, I'll arrange a wife for you, and we'll adopt a nephew from your eldest brother to carry on the family line. Don't even think about anything else."

Grandma Su thought that since her eldest grandson had ruined her youngest grandson, no amount of punishment could bring back the youngest grandson's essence. She might as well persuade her youngest grandson to accept reality.

Anyway, he couldn't beat Su Chengmin in a fight. If he angered Su Chengmin again, Su Chengmin might take his life, which would be even more disastrous.

Su Chengji was so angry at his grandmother's words that he stuck his neck out.

Grandma Su, seeing that her grandson was both timid and argumentative, ran out of patience and turned to leave.

This little grandson has been completely abandoned.

We can't necessarily count on our eldest grandson either.

Su Shihang's concubines were like hens that couldn't lay eggs; the entire household only had two grandsons, Su Chengji and Su Chengmin, so the Su family was still small in number.

Anyway, since the eyesore, Madam Lu, has been sent back to her hometown, Old Madam Su needs to hurry up and find Su Shihang a young second wife and take in a few more fertile concubines so that the Su family can have a few more sons.

The first snowfall in Shengjing was heavy.

The weather is cold.

The Crown Prince sent someone to deliver the finest silver-thread charcoal to Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong sat by the charcoal fire, chatting and going over accounts with Madam Hong.

Lu Zhaozhao and Man'er were drawing a picture of nine plum blossoms, occasionally interjecting with a word or two, while Gu Jingzhe sat to the side reading a book.

Tong Huaqiong admires her youngest son immensely; he managed to concentrate on reading even in such an environment.

Gu Jingzhe had asked for leave from the Imperial Academy three days ago and was studying at home.

Because Princess Mingyue came out of Longhua Temple.

Princess Mingyue was truly unyielding in her wicked intentions. The first thing she did after leaving Longhua Temple was to go to the gate of the Imperial Academy to see Gu Jingzhe, scaring him half to death.

To avoid Zhao Xiyue, Gu Jingzhe planned to stay home and study until the spring imperial examination.

Tong Huaqiong felt that she could only hide for a while, not forever. If Zhao Xiyue's problem wasn't solved, it would always be a big trouble.

If she were to turn her love into hatred and harm Lu Zhaozhao or ruin Gu Jingzhe's chances in the imperial examinations, it would be too late.

After much thought, Tong Huaqiong went to discuss the matter with Old Madam Min.

Grandma Min patted her chest, indicating that she would take care of the matter.

Tong Huaqiong trusted Grandma Min to handle things. Since she said she would take care of it, Tong Huaqiong let Grandma Min solve the problem.

Tong Huaqiong was talking to Madam Hong about the development of the weaving workshop when Liu Yue'e came in from outside, bringing with her a chill.

Liu Yue'e stamped her foot, cursed the weather, and put her hand over the brazier.

"Why are you back so early?" Tong Huaqiong asked Liu Yue'e.

Liu Yue'e quickly made friends with some wives of prominent families in the capital. These wives liked Liu Yue'e's humor and straightforwardness, and would send her invitations when they had banquets at home.

And you know what? Liu Yue'e has become a hot commodity at banquets.

Even the heavy snow couldn't stop her from leaving early for the banquet. To Tong Huaqiong's surprise, Liu Yue'e returned in just half a day.

This isn't like Liu Yue'e's style.

Liu Yue'e rubbed her hands together, her gaze sweeping over Lu Zhaozhao and Gu Jingzhe, and said with a smile, "Mother, Aunt Hong, I have something funny to tell you. Su Chengmin's grandmother, Old Madam Su, went to the Prince Yu's Mansion to propose marriage." At the mention of the Prince Yu's Mansion, Lu Zhaozhao perked up her ears and asked, "Proposed marriage to whom?"

Prince Yu's eldest son was already married, and Princess Mingyue was not engaged, but she didn't think that Old Madam Su had any ability to find a good match for Princess Mingyue.

Liu Yue'e covered her mouth and laughed, "Of course, it's to propose marriage to Princess Mingyue."

"Whom are you proposing marriage for on behalf of Zhao Xiyue?"

Tong Huaqiong and the others looked at each other in bewilderment.

When Old Madam Su proposed marriage to Princess Mingyue, could it be that she was proposing marriage on behalf of Su Chengji? She really dares to think that way.

"Just tell me already, don't keep me in suspense," Tong Huaqiong said.

Liu Yue'e drank a cup of hot tea. In order to rush home and tell her mother-in-law about this gossip, she didn't even listen to the opera at the banquet and hurriedly said goodbye.

Liu Yue'e said, "Old Madam Su proposed marriage to Princess Mingyue on behalf of her son, Lord Su Shihang."

This news was so explosive that not only were Tong Huaqiong, Hong Shi, and Lu Zhaozhao shocked, but even Gu Jingzhe found it unbelievable.

Who is Princess Mingyue?
She was a royal descendant on the imperial register, while Su Shihang was merely a second-rank official in the court, and an old lady who had two wives and whose two sons were about to get married. Old Mrs. Su was truly brave.

Madam Hong asked, "Didn't the Prince Yu's Mansion throw Old Madam Su out?"

Liu Yue'e said, "Of course we'll fight them! Would you fight them if you were in their shoes? Even if Su Shihang is a cucumber painted green, he's still not worthy of a princess in her prime."

After her initial shock, Tong Huaqiong quickly calmed down.

This is indeed something that Old Mrs. Su would do.

There must have been something Mrs. Min involved in this.

Tong Huaqiong guessed correctly. In order to help Tong Huaqiong get rid of Zhao Xiyue, the bombshell, Grandma Min thought about it all night and came up with a good plan.

Old Madam Min visited the Su residence, and no one knows what she said to Old Madam Su, but Old Madam Su actually went to the Yu Prince's residence to propose marriage to Old Deng's son.

When the Prince Yu's family learned the purpose of Old Madam Su's visit, they thought they had misheard. They confirmed several times that Old Madam Su was not suffering from dementia, but was lucidly proposing marriage to their son.

The Prince Yu's mansion was so angry that they wanted to kill Old Madam Su.

How dare she propose marriage between her son and the princess? Is Old Madam Su crazy, or is she just insane?

If it weren't for the fact that Old Madam Su was a titled lady, Princess Yu would have dragged her into the palace to file a complaint with the emperor.

After being expelled from the Prince Yu's mansion, Old Madam Su was very dissatisfied.

That's why we say Old Mrs. Min understands her mother-in-law so well.

In the eyes of Old Mrs. Su, Su Shihang was the hope of the entire Su family village. He passed the imperial examination with flying colors and became a second-rank official in the imperial court. She always felt that her son was worthy of not only a princess but also a noblewoman.

She felt that both Lu Shi and Min Baozhen had wronged her son.

After being teased by Old Madam Min, Old Madam Su really felt that Princess Mingyue was a good match for her son.

"Don't think that just because your daughter is a princess she won't have trouble getting married. Her reputation is already ruined. All the young masters from noble families in the capital who are chosen by the emperor to marry Zhao Xiyue are so scared that they get engaged overnight. If Zhao Xiyue can't get married, she'll become an old maid sooner or later. Do you think I care about Zhao Xiyue? If she weren't a princess, she wouldn't be a good match for my son at all, given her looks and character."

After leaving the Prince Yu's residence, Old Madam Su was seething with anger and cursed the Princess Yu for being ungrateful.

It's better for Zhao Xiyue to marry Su Shihang than to remain unmarried.

Her son is now a second-rank official and will sooner or later become a prime minister. At that time, Zhao Xiyue will have the dual status of a princess and the wife of the prime minister. Isn't that better than marrying into an empty shell of a noble family?
When Prince Yu learned that Old Madam Su had come to ask for a princess on behalf of her son, he was so angry that he almost fainted.

They were convinced that all of this was Su Shihang's idea.

"That old scoundrel who climbed the social ladder by relying on women dares to covet my daughter. Does he think I'm easy to bully?"

Prince Yu entered the palace cursing and complaining to the emperor.