I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 143 Who Will Marry Miss Meng?
As soon as dawn broke, tens of thousands of soldiers, dressed in their finest attire, gathered at the drill ground, their deafening drill sounds audible from half a mile away.

Tang Zhao got up early for once to learn from the drills at the training ground, but soon discovered that the only training exercise was weighted morning running.

Tang Zhao was not in a good mood and didn't even eat breakfast before pulling his horse to leave.

Gu Ci stopped them, saying, "No rush, Father will come back with us." Seeing Tang Zhao's surprised expression, he added, "Mother, Consort Han, and my sister-in-law have come to Wuwei."

"This lineup is impressive," Tang Zhao blinked and asked bluntly, "What did Father do wrong?"

Gu Ci looked at him with a complicated expression. “Old Madam Meng sent a letter about Miss Meng’s marriage. She said that if Miss Meng does not enter the Prince Xuan’s residence, she will be sent to the Crown Prince’s residence.”

"so?"

"Father wants my second brother to marry Miss Meng."

Tang Zhao thought Prince Xuan's idea was terrible. "Is Consort Han capable?"

Gu Ci shook his head.

This is going to be interesting. Tang Zhao wasn't in a hurry to leave. He leisurely went to check on the military farmland. Seeing that the crops were growing well, he casually picked a soybean. The soybean was round and big. He said happily, "This year is going to be a bumper year."

"Yes!" the soldiers responsible for guarding the military fields echoed.

The two chatted about the magnificent autumn harvest, finding themselves increasingly congenial. Gu Ci personally sought them out, and Tang Zhao reluctantly left.
In front of the military camp gate, hundreds of soldiers stood in neat rows, one on each horse. King Xuan stood before them, his majesty radiating a faint sense of bitterness.

After Tang Zhao arrived, the group marched at full speed and soon reached Wuwei City.

Upon seeing the Northwest Black Tiger battle flag in the distance, the soldiers guarding the city immediately evacuated the people near the city gate and opened the city gate wide.

The iron cavalry roared past, heading straight for the Protector General's Mansion. Tang Zhao did not enter the mansion. After handing over all the horses to Wu Yi'er and Wu Bing'san for arrangement, he went directly with Prince Xuan to the Prince Xuan's villa in the east of the city.

When Princess Xuan heard that Prince Xuan had returned, she put down her chopsticks and bowl, took a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, and then got up to go out to greet him. At the second gate, she bumped into Consort Han and her son, as well as Consort Qin and her daughter, who had also rushed over after hearing the news.

Very good, saves the trouble of sending someone to call him. Princess Xuan stepped past the crowd and bowed to Prince Xuan as he approached. The people behind her followed suit and bowed as well.

King Xuan quickly helped his wife up. "No need for formalities," he said. He glanced around and, seeing that everyone was there, said, "Let's go to the front hall."

Princess Xuan glanced over casually, and Tang Zhao understood immediately. "Father and Mother, I have traveled a long way and am very dirty. Please allow me to go and change my clothes."

King Xuan and Queen Xuan said in unison, "Go!"

"The manor has made new clothes this summer, and Zhaozhao's share will be brought tomorrow," Princess Xuan instructed Granny Meng. "Granny, take Zhaozhao there."

Tang Zhao followed Granny Meng to Madam Ming's courtyard. Madam Ming was overjoyed. After Tang Zhao had bathed and changed, she whispered to her as they went to the front hall.

"Have you heard about the matter concerning Miss Meng?"

"All we know is that Madam Meng forced the men of the Xuan Prince's Mansion to marry Miss Meng; we know nothing else."

“This is the most important thing,” Madam Ming sighed, holding her belly. The Meng family and the Xuan Prince’s Mansion have been closely connected for so many years. Although there have been more frictions in recent years, they are still of one mind. The Northwest can be as solid as a rock without this relationship. Therefore, Meng Shu’er must not enter the Crown Prince’s Mansion.

"Marrying Miss Meng is imperative, but we don't know who it will be," these unfortunate words circled in Ming's mouth before she swallowed them back down. "Does Father have someone in mind?" Tang Zhao asked, for only Prince Xuan could make the decision regarding matters of great importance to the stability of the Northwest.

“Father favors my second brother. My second brother has no wife. Although Miss Meng is a second wife, she is also the principal wife and mistress of the house.”

No matter how bad Meng Shu'er's character is, she is still the eldest daughter of the Meng family's main branch and the niece of the Princess Consort of Xuan. She absolutely cannot become a concubine for a son born out of wedlock.

"When the news reached the Prince's residence, Consort Han went mad on the spot," Madam Ming said in a low voice. "Ignoring her mother's objections, she led her entourage to Wuwei and even tried to force her way into the military camp."

As a result, he didn't even get to see King Xuan before being knocked unconscious and sent back to his residence.

"After Consort Han woke up, she threw a tantrum and tried to kill herself, causing chaos throughout the entire villa. She even sent someone to secretly deliver a letter to the capital to ask the Empress Dowager to intervene. Fortunately, my mother was vigilant and sent someone to intercept the letter."

Tang Zhao thought that Ming Shi's choice of words was very accurate; this Consort Han had truly gone mad! Was this something that could be said to Luoyang?
"My father was exhausted from all the commotion, so he said he would wait until everyone was gathered before discussing it together," Ming sighed. "I wonder who will end up with it."

Ming was also afraid. Meng Shu'er couldn't be a concubine for the illegitimate son, but she could be a concubine for the heir apparent! In terms of social status, the two were cousins, even closer.

Most importantly, her current pregnancy prevents her from serving the Crown Prince, providing him with the perfect excuse to take a concubine, a point that Consort Han has been clinging to.

Thinking about how Consort Han had been pressuring her these past few days, Madam Ming's brows furrowed involuntarily, and she lost her interest in speaking.

Tang Zhao wanted to offer some words of comfort, but after turning a corner, she arrived at the front hall. A maid outside the door had already lifted the curtain, so Tang Zhao stopped talking.

The two bowed and sat down. Seeing that everyone was present, King Xuan said directly, "Tell me, who will marry Miss Meng?"

Consort Han hurriedly said, "Of course it's the young master! The young master's wife has been pregnant and hasn't even been able to arrange a private room for him, which has already made people doubt her character. The young master taking Miss Meng as a concubine is a perfect way to kill two birds with one stone!"

Ming's hand clenched a handkerchief in her sleeve, and the disheveled and red-rimmed Consort Han looked particularly repulsive to her.

Princess Xuan said truthfully, "It is the Crown Prince who does not want to take concubines or have maids; it has nothing to do with the Crown Prince's wife."

Consort Han pressed on, “The Crown Prince’s wife is from a prominent family and should know that it is the duty of a principal wife to allow her husband to take a concubine.”

That's true. Ming had been taught this by her mother since she was a child. But what woman would want to share her husband with another woman?
The more Ming thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt, and her eyes welled up with tears.

Princess Xuan said coldly, "Gu An has been observing three years of mourning for his deceased wife. It is the perfect time to meet him. I think Gu An is more suitable."

Gu An lowered his head and remained silent, but Consort Han immediately retorted.

Consort Qin, who had remained silent since taking her seat, glanced at Tang Zhao, who was quietly comforting Madam Ming, and said softly, "I have heard that Miss Meng admires the Fifth Young Master. I privately believe that rather than letting Miss Meng marry the Heir Apparent as a concubine, it would be better for her to marry the Fifth Young Master, so as to fulfill Miss Meng's wish."

Gu Ci acted as if he hadn't heard a thing, not even sparing Qin Shufei a glance.

Tang Zhao, who was comforting Ming Shi: ?
Why am I involved?
Tang Zhao turned his head and looked at the woman sitting at the end of the table. Although Consort Qin, who was in her thirties, was no longer as young as rumored, she still had a charming appearance. The fine lines at the corners of her eyes did not make her look old, but rather added to her charm.

This is exactly the kind of older sister style that young boys love.

Seeing that everyone was looking at her, Consort Qin spoke in an even softer tone, "I just saw the Princess comforting the Crown Prince's wife, which shows that the two sisters-in-law have a very close relationship. She must be willing to help the Crown Prince's wife solve her problems."