Chapter 174 There's no such thing as a coincidence.

Xiao Churen turned and left.

He was originally unwilling to marry the daughter of the Imperial Academy Chancellor as his principal wife, and this was just the right opportunity.

Although my mother told me to handle this marriage well, I really don't like Zheng Qinxue. If my father doesn't agree later, I'll reluctantly demote her to a concubine!

Seeing Xiao Churen's attitude, Su Wanshi was overjoyed. As long as Zheng Qinxue could not become the main wife, then she would have a chance!

When Zheng Qinxue saw Xiao Churen going to the palace to complain, her body, which had just stood up, swayed precariously, and her face turned pale with fright.

Feeling guilty and distressed, Song Donghao quickly said, "I am responsible for this matter. If Miss Zheng is willing, I will go to the palace now to ask my father to see the Emperor and tell him that I request to marry Miss Zheng. I wonder if Miss Zheng would be willing?"

Many people were stunned by these words, especially Zheng Qinxue.

"Young Master Song, you..."

Zheng Qinxue didn't know what to say.

Su Liluo glanced at the two and found that they were a perfect match, both handsome and beautiful. This Song Donghao was frank and upright, far superior to Xiao Churen.

So Su Liluo continued, "Miss Zheng, actually, Young Master Song is a person of high moral character. It's just that his status and position are not as noble as the King of Chu. If you don't dislike him too much, you can actually consider it."

After all, once the King of Chu rejects her engagement, she can then let some even worse men choose her.

In this era, the requirements for women are always higher than those for men. If a woman is jilted and her reputation is damaged, she can only look for someone of lower status when she gets engaged again.

Given Zheng Qinxue's status, if she doesn't choose Song Donghao today, she will only be able to choose someone with a worse background and status than him in the future.

Zheng Qinxue lowered her head and hesitated. It wasn't that she disliked Song Donghao; on the contrary, she had a decent impression of him before.

This wasn't their first meeting; they had met at several poetry gatherings before, but weren't familiar with each other.

Faced with Song Donghao's confession, she was actually somewhat surprised and at a loss for words.

However, after hesitating for a while, she realized that she didn't want to marry the King of Chu and drag her father into the struggle for the throne.

Her father had once discussed with her the King of Chu's thoughts; if she married the King of Chu, their Zheng family would likely be plunged into turmoil.

Song Donghao is the son of the Grand Tutor, who is of noble character and learned, so the Song family must be a good family.

Therefore, Zheng Qinxue nodded shyly, "Yes, I will listen to the Crown Princess. As long as Young Master Song doesn't mind, I have no objection."

Are you serious? You really want to marry me?

Song Donghao's eyes suddenly lit up with joy, which made Su Liluo frown.

Why did she feel that Song Donghao was as happy as if he had successfully confessed his feelings to the girl he liked?

"Um."

Zheng Qinxue nodded again.

"Alright, then I'll go to the palace right now and ask the Emperor to grant us a marriage!"

Song Donghao nodded happily, and then ran off quickly.

The remaining women looked at each other in bewilderment, wondering how things had turned out this way.

Although Zheng Qinxue was humiliated by being rejected by the Prince of Chu, it seems that she is not so miserable after all, as the young master of the Grand Tutor's mansion wants to marry her!

Song Donghao was handsome and talented, with clear features, and he was also quite famous in aristocratic circles. Now, many women no longer looked at Zheng Qinxue with disdain and pity.

Su Wanshi breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward to Zheng Qinxue, saying, "Congratulations, Miss Zheng! This young master Song seems to like you quite a bit. Now you don't have to worry about your reputation being ruined and you being unable to get married!"

Her words, seemingly congratulatory, were actually sarcastic and mocking.

Zheng Qinxue felt very uncomfortable listening to this. At this moment, her mind slowly cleared up, and she remembered that she had just fallen into the water.

She said, "I remember someone deliberately pushed me into the water just now. I don't know who wanted to harm me."

"!!!"

“Miss Zheng, you…you must have misunderstood. Just now, the girl behind you twisted her ankle and accidentally bumped into the person in front of her, which caused her to fall into the water.”

Su Wanshi clenched her fists nervously.

She never expected that Zheng Qinxue would turn around and hold these things against her.

"Who fell, and who did they bump into? Who was standing behind Miss Zheng just now?"

At this moment, Su Liluo's expression turned cold, and she asked a question.

She knew that Su Wanshi was behind this today. Su Wanshi had already handed her the evidence, and if she didn't take this opportunity to expose her, she would be wasting such a good chance.

Last time, Jiang Qinshu shouldered everything alone, but this time she won't be so lucky.

Su Liluo swept her gaze across the group of women one by one. When she looked at Su Wanshi, she noticed two women next to her who looked uneasy, but neither of them stepped forward to speak.

"You two, weren't you the ones who fell and the ones who bumped into people?"

Su Liluo pointed directly at the two girls.

Their bodies went limp instantly, and they knelt down to explain, "Your Highness, please forgive us! I... I just tripped and fell because I wasn't looking where I was going. I didn't mean to. Please forgive me, Your Highness!"

"I didn't know I would knock Miss Zheng into the water. I'm so sorry, Miss Zheng. I'm willing to apologize to her!"

The two women were very apologetic, making it seem as if they really hadn't done it on purpose.

But Su Liluo knew that there was no such thing as a coincidence in such a thing.

They must have received benefits or promises from Su Wanshi.

Then she asked, "What are your names? Whose daughters are you? Are you engaged?"

The woman, dressed in a light blue brocade long dress, shrank back and slowly spoke: "This humble woman is Li Lianru, the daughter of Xuandelang, and is... not yet betrothed."

Another woman, dressed in a pomegranate-red dress, trembled as she said, "This humble woman is... Zhang Lanlin, the daughter of the Assistant Commissioner of the Pacification Commission, and is not yet... married."

"Oh~"

Su Lilu sighed meaningfully.

Both of them are daughters of minor officials of the seventh rank, no wonder they followed Su Wanshi.

Since they are not yet married, I'm afraid Su Wanshi has made some promises to the two of them.

Su Lilu chuckled and said, "Whether you did it intentionally or unintentionally, you still bumped into someone. As the daughter of an official, have you not learned any manners?"

Even walking down the street can cause trouble. If your reputations spread, you'll probably have a hard time finding husbands in the future. So, in my great mercy, I'll arrange two marriages for you."

What?

Is he going to be betrothed?

Li Lianru and Zhang Lanlin couldn't help but feel nervous, looking at Su Liluo with fear, wondering who the Crown Princess was going to assign them to.

Su Lilu smiled and said, "My household has two stewards, one is three or four years old and has never married, and the other is a widow, sixteen years old. They work diligently for the Crown Prince's residence, and I have always wanted to find them a good wife."

I see that these two young ladies lack proper manners; they may not be able to marry into prominent families in the future. Perhaps we should bestow their marriages upon them!