Lu Family was discussing with Lu Yiner how to scheme against Su Chengmin at Old Mrs. Su’s birthday banquet.
Su Chengmin implored his grandmother, Mrs. Min, to arrange a marriage proposal with the matchmaker at Tong Huaqiong’s place for Gu Taohua.
Before this, Su Chengmin had already visited the Gu Family and proposed to Gu Taohua in front of Tong Huaqiong and all the Gu Family members.
What could Tong Huaqiong say?
Taohua was grown up, had her own ideas, and wanted to be with Su Chengmin, she couldn’t stop her.
Su Chengmin expressed his feelings sincerely, making everyone in the Gu Family feel that Su Chengmin was the perfect match for Gu Taohua.
Originally, Gu Dashu and Gu Jingzhe intended to test Su Chengmin, but under his eloquence, they had already started calling him brother-in-law.
Tong Huaqiong quickly settled into her role, looking at her son-in-law more fondly.
After getting Tong Huaqiong’s approval, Mrs. Min cheerfully began to arrange the marriage proposal.
If they didn’t act quickly, their grandson would be schemed against by the Su Family and Lu Family.
Mrs. Min was eager to finalize it today and marry him off tomorrow.
"As an uncle, you naturally have to help your nephew propose," Mrs. Min called the tailor to their home, and after the Mighty General finished his duties, she summoned him to get a new suit for the proposal.
The Mighty General, somewhat embarrassed, said, "I’m not even Chengmin’s father; I’m not suitable for this, right?"
Annoyed, Mrs. Min scolded the Mighty General and took a jab at Su Shihang too.
"Don’t mention that father, just pretend Su Shihang is dead. Chengmin was raised in the barracks by you since he was a child, there’s no difference between you and a father. If you don’t go, who will? Don’t think I don’t know your intentions, you’re just afraid of seeing Tong Dajiao? Let me tell you, don’t overestimate yourself. Tong Dajiao is too busy running her business and has no time for you."
Her words nearly broke the Mighty General’s heart.
To demonstrate his regard for Gu Taohua, Su Chengmin went to the suburbs of the capital to hunt a pair of wild geese.
Mrs. Min then brought out all the private savings she had accumulated over the years and the dowry list from Min Baozhen’s wedding to serve as gifts for Gu Taohua’s betrothal.
The Min Family picked an auspicious day and headed to Tong Huaqiong’s home to propose in great pomp.
Mrs. Min deliberately made the proposal grand to show those families considering Su Chengmin that he was already engaged and others should not hold any more thoughts.
Especially the Su Family.
Gu Taohua’s engagement was the first major event Tong Huaqiong organized after coming to the capital.
The entire Gu Family was filled with joy.
Lu Zhaoyang, Huang Jingshan, Old Mrs. Huang came, Lian Hengruo Aunt Tang came, the shopkeeper from their shop came...
Mrs. Hong and He Chao were helping Tong Huaqiong with various tasks.
Mr. Su was entertaining the outside guests, while Tong Pandi, Gu Baishuang, and Liu Yueer, Chen Sufen were entertaining the female guests.
Lately, Tong Huaqiong had established herself in Shengjing. As the Grand Prince’s grandmother in civil, she received invitations from various aristocratic and official families. Whenever she found an event interesting, she would attend. Initially, some families sent invitations casually, not minding if a few pairs of chopsticks were missing, but after interacting deeply, they realized Tong Huaqiong was nothing like a naive country woman or a greedy merchant as imagined.
With this admiration, Tong Huaqiong actually made a few friends.
Thus, many aristocratic and official family ladies attended Taohua’s engagement this time.
More surprisingly, the Grand Prince also appeared.
The Grand Prince was escorted personally by Eunuch Pan, the favorite of the Emperor.
Everyone understood the importance placed by the Emperor on the Grand Prince’s grandmother in civil.
The Emperor would not casually let the Grand Prince leave the palace, and yet he allowed him to congratulate his aunt’s engagement, greatly displaying the Emperor’s regard for Tong Huaqiong and her family.
Lately, people observed the Emperor’s attitude towards the Grand Prince, more favorably than the Crown Prince before, personally mentoring him, sometimes even taking him to court sessions.
Recently, after some unknown event, Prince Ning was put under house arrest, and the appeal to make the Fifth Prince a king fell silent.
After the Crown Prince’s demise, the Emperor had only Prince Ning and the Fifth Prince left as sons. The call for Prince Ning to be named the new Crown Prince had been high, but the Emperor’s sudden house arrest of Prince Ning made people speculate deeply.
In past dynasties, after the Crown Prince’s demise, it was not unprecedented to pass the throne directly to the grandson.
Thus, the signals from Prince Ning’s house arrest and the absence of a title for the Fifth Prince raised the Grand Prince’s status dramatically.
Tong Huaqiong thought the Emperor’s treatment of the Grand Prince wasn’t out of familial love but placing him in the eye of the storm, dangling him to test his two sons, whether the Grand Prince would be dealt with by them wasn’t his concern.
Tong Huaqiong knew from the script of the previous life, the Grand Prince would eventually inherit the throne.
If the Grand Prince failed, either uncle becoming Emperor would wipe him out to eliminate future threats.
Thus, the cruelty of imperial power, the Emperor could sacrifice anything to hold absolute power.
From the Crown Prince to the Grand Prince, everyone was a pawn of the Emperor.
The Grand Prince’s arrival sparked a small climax.
Everyone bowed in respect.
"Grandmother."
The Grand Prince ran into Tong Huaqiong’s arms in full view.
Tong Huaqiong treated the Grand Prince the same as before.
"I came to congratulate Aunt," said the Grand Prince.
Following the Grand Prince were boxes of engagement gifts.
Upon hearing about the Grand Prince’s arrival, Gu Taohua came out of her room but was stopped by the Grand Prince before she could bow.
"Aunt, I brought you engagement gifts. These boxes contain gold, silver, and other worldly trinkets. I wonder if you like them?" The Grand Prince pointed to the boxes behind him.
Gu Taohua’s eyes lit up and she said, "I like them, I really like them."
Who doesn’t like gold and silver.
It could only be said the Grand Prince’s gifts were perfectly to her taste.
The Grand Prince’s visit stirred the undercurrents in Shengjing, and those with no previous relations with Tong Huaqiong began sending congratulatory gifts.
Upon hearing the butler’s report, Tong Huaqiong thought, having had no relationship with these people, why did they also send gifts, and those gifts, heard to be of significant value.
Tong Huaqiong looked towards the Grand Prince, figuring these must be sent for his sake.
The Grand Prince smiled and whispered, "Grandmother, since they send gifts for my sake, collect them all, consider them my contribution to Aunt’s dowry."
Tong Huaqiong: "..."
So she didn’t have to return the gifts?
Tong Huaqiong quickly instructed the butler to handle rewards and arrangements for the gift-givers.
Gu Dashu hurriedly came to Tong Huaqiong and said, "Mother, the Duke of An’s and Duke of England’s family ladies have arrived."
Completely without connection, Tong Huaqiong couldn’t associate them in her mind, but the names were indeed extraordinary, clearly here due to the Grand Prince’s influence.
Tong Huaqiong, as the hostess, had to come forward to entertain them.
"Man Er, you take the Grand Prince inside."
After instructing, Tong Huaqiong went out to greet the guests.
Just as the guests were settled, the Min Family and Su Chengmin arrived.
Mrs. Min couldn’t stop smiling.
With today’s engagement confirmed, her grandson and Gu Taohua’s marriage was certain, making up for the regret of Tong Dajiao never becoming her daughter-in-law.