By the time Mingde returned home, it was already the wee hours of the morning.
The palace had already sent someone to explain the reason why the emperor had summoned him. The only explanation was that the palace had provided evidence that he had an affair with an imperial concubine. However, after the emperor's interrogation, it was confirmed that it was slander. Thus, he was given good wine to calm his nerves.
Shangguan Shilang didn't sleep the entire night. His old face was red as he paced back and forth in his room. When he saw Mingde enter, he immediately scolded, "Evil creature!
Who did you provoke to invite people to frame you? "
Ming De stood in the middle of the hall and remained silent.
"Disappointing thing, you only know how to idle around. You don't know how to do a single proper thing!
How could my Shangguan family raise someone like you for nothing?
If you cause any trouble, it doesn't matter if you kill yourself, but don't drag down the hundreds of people in my family! "
Shangguan Shilang was unable to calm his anger. When he was about to scold again, he heard a servant whisper from outside the door, "Master, Prime Minister Xia has come to visit. He is waiting in the hall."
Shangguan Shilang exclaimed in surprise. He quickly stepped forward and his smiling face immediately changed. He repeatedly said, "Why has the honored guest come?
Quickly invite him in, quickly invite him in! "
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Mingde saw that Shangguan Shilang couldn't remember him for a while, so he yawned and turned back to catch up on sleep.
The winter morning was very cold outside. The frost hadn't dissipated yet. Not far from the courtyard, faint laughter could be heard.
He heard a flattering voice say, "Master's arm strength is amazing at such a young age. In the future, you will definitely be able to shoot a willow leaf from a hundred paces away. Truly, heroes come from youths since ancient times!"
It turned out that it was the eldest son of the Shangguan family, Shangguan Quan, who was practicing archery. He nocked an arrow, and with the sound of the wind whistling, he hit the bullseye in an instant. The servants on the side all cheered.
Shangguan Shilang's wife, Zhang shi, smiled and pulled the hand of a young lady beside her. She said, "Young Lady Xia, you see, my son only cared about himself practicing archery, but left you to the side. Should I hit you?"
The young lady beside her was the second young lady of the Xia family, Xia Rubing. She had just come with her father, Prime Minister Xia, to visit.
Everyone knew that Prime Minister Xia had come to propose marriage. None of the young masters of the Shangguan family had married, so the marriage proposal was naturally for the eldest son.
Xia Zheng had been the Prime Minister for more than ten years and was a popular figure in the imperial court. His eldest daughter had married into the palace and was very favored. The Xia family in Chang 'an could be considered one of the top aristocratic families.
Madam Zhang felt proud that her son could marry into such a family.
Mr. Xia Rubing's face was already red. He flung his hand and said, "What are you talking about, Mrs. Shangguan?
I'm here to play with your young miss, not to lower myself to your young master's level. "
Shangguan Quan boasted as he shot ten arrows in a row. Nine of them hit the target.
Mingde stood behind the bushes and watched him standing proudly in the crowd. He couldn't help but smile and turn around to leave.
At this moment, Madam Zhang's personal maidservant, Ling Dang 'er, saw him. Ling Dang' er did not expect the young master of the side room to be here. She hurriedly bowed and said, "Young Master Mingde!"
Madam Zhang raised her eyes and saw Shangguan Mingde's figure flash by. Her face couldn't help but darken. She shouted, "Who's there?"
Mingde had no choice but to walk into the field from the bushes. He bowed to Madam Zhang from afar and said, "How is Madam?"
Madam Zhang saw him early in the morning, wearing a simple robe and looking in a hurry. She felt disgusted and asked the people around her, "Who dressed the young master like this?
He's a master in the end. We can't let people say that our family mistreats him!
Who are the people following him?
Drag them out and beat them! "
Mingde said, "It's not their business. Father was looking for me early in the morning, so I hurried over."
Madam Zhang felt even more disgusted. She sneered and said, "Don't say it. I know you're tired of your father teaching you.
Who else is as honorable as you?
Your older brother is reading books and practicing archery early in the morning, but you're carefree. I don't know what you're doing every day! "
Mingde remained silent.
Madam Zhang pulled Miss Xia's hand and pointed at him, saying, "This is my family's honored guest. Don't you have any etiquette when you see him?
Who taught you to be so unpresentable! "
Mingde bowed to Xia Rubing and said, "Yes, yes, Miss Xia."
Xia Rubing's face was green and red. She hurriedly turned her face away.
Although everyone said that her father wanted to betroth her to the eldest son of the Shangguan family, only she knew that her father wanted to betroth her to the son of a concubine, Shangguan Mingde, who had mediocre aptitude.
She cried and asked her father why, but her father only said that she was a woman who didn't understand anything.
Xia Zheng had the same authority in the court as in the family. No one could refute his words.
Her mother couldn't bear to see her younger daughter marry poorly, so she advised her father, "No matter what, my daughter is still the daughter of the first wife. Even if she marries into a poor family, she should find a proper wife to give birth to her child.
The son of a concubine of the Shangguan family, other than having a decent face, has never made any contributions or established a career. If she marries into a rich family, will she be teaching our daughter to live by her parents-in-law's wishes? "
Xia Zheng angrily said, "What do you know!
You only see whether he's a concubine's son or not. Do you know that Shangguan Mingde was appointed as a secret guard by the emperor at the age of fifteen? If he becomes a secret guard, he'll at least be a redcoat.
Secret guards have no achievements and no career, but once they enter the army, their future is limitless!
He's young, has high martial arts, and has always been favored by the emperor. In time, he'll be a great talent! "
These were all things that Xia Zheng said to his wife. Xia Rubing didn't know.
Besides, even if she knew, she couldn't understand what it meant to be a secret guard.
Enduring ten years of hardship in the imperial court might not be comparable to risking one year of life and death as a secret guard.
Many elite children died silently in this position. Those who survived were now kings at the borders or wielding great power in the army.
Shangguan Mingde entered the palace at the age of fifteen as a secret guard. Although he was young, in terms of experience, it was about time for him to become a secret guard.
Once he became a secret guard, based on the emperor's favor, he would at least be a redcoat or a deputy commander. At that time, there would be many families in the capital who wanted to marry their daughters to him.
With Xia Rubing's appearance, he might not even be ranked.
Xia Rubing only thought that her father was muddle-headed, so she didn't look at Shangguan Mingde. She only looked at Shangguan Quan's handsome appearance.
Seeing that Madam Zhang called Mingde to greet her, she casually retreated behind Madam Zhang.
Madam Zhang looked at Mingde's indifferent appearance and sneered, "I know you are impatient with me teaching you. Looking at you like this, you must be holding a grudge, right?
Let me tell you, study hard early and take the county level exam. There are many things you can do!
Ignorant thing, go! "
Ming De silently yawned, then turned around and walked back to his own small courtyard.
Halfway there, he saw Shangguan Shilang's manservant hurriedly run over from afar. He grabbed him and said, "Young Master!
Master is looking for you! "
"What's the matter?"
"I don't know. Master is very angry!
Brother, quickly come with us! "
Shangguan Shilang was still sulking, but he didn't dare to show it in front of his superior. He only sat in the hall and drank tea.
Prime Minister Xia didn't argue with him. When he saw Mingde come in, he smiled and asked, "How is Nephew?"
When Mingde saw this, he knew that Prime Minister Xia had told him about the marriage proposal.
Xia Zheng held an important position and was deeply trusted by Qianwandi. He was one of the few people in the court who knew about the secret guards.
However, Xia Zheng didn't know that Shangguan Mingde was actually very depressed in his own home.
Mingde sighed in his heart and cupped his hands, saying, "Thanks to Daren.
It's just that Second Miss Xia's matter is really out of my league. "
Shangguan Shilang was delighted.
He called Mingde over to hint to him to give up the marriage with the Xia family and give this opportunity to his eldest son.
He originally thought that Mingde would want to take this opportunity to stand out and that it would be very difficult to persuade him to give up. However, he didn't expect that Shangguan Mingde would be so tactful and take the initiative to express his attitude, saving him a lot of effort.
Shangguan Shilang took the opportunity to turn to Prime Minister Xia, "Daren, you see, this official's son is still young and incompetent. He really isn't worthy of your daughter.
However, this official's eldest son is already at the age of marriage … "
The meaning of his words was obvious, but Xia Zheng ignored him and looked straight at Mingde, saying tactfully, "Young Master Mingde, although my daughter is clumsy, she is proficient in needlework and embroidery.
The fortune-teller said that she was born with a noble appearance. This old man thinks that young master is a good match for her.
What does young master think? "
Who knew that Shangguan Mingde would shake his head and say, "Daren, you flatter me.
I really am not worthy of your family's precious daughter.
Please go back. "
Xia Zheng had never been so humiliated by such a young child. He immediately choked on his anger.
Shangguan Shilang hurriedly scolded, "Evil creature!
How can you speak like that?
I've never given birth to an evil creature like you who has no regard for the law! "
Xia Zheng hurriedly stopped him, "Assistant Minister, you don't need to be angry. I think your son is too young and inexperienced. He's just shy.
It won't be too late for me to bring my daughter to visit after your son has thought about it for a few days. "
Shangguan Shilang personally saw the honored guest out. When they reached the carriage at the gate, Xia Zheng saw that there was no one from the Shangguan family around. He suddenly turned around and waved to Shangguan Mingde.
Mingde obediently walked over, "Daren, what's the matter?"
Xia Zheng pulled him and was about to kneel.
Mingde made a gesture of supporting him, "Daren, what are you doing?"
Xia Zheng said, "This old man heard about what happened last night.
Zhaoyi's experience in the palace is still shallow. I don't know why she offended the Imperial Consort and even implicated you, Young Master Mingde. This old man is ashamed! "
The curtain of the carriage was lifted. Xia Rubing saw that his father was about to kneel to Shangguan Mingde and was immediately shocked.
Mingde looked at Prime Minister Xia. After a while, he said faintly, "Daren, what are you talking about? I don't understand."
He turned around to leave, but Xia Zheng pulled him back, "Young Master Mingde!
This old man can throw away his old face. Don't tell me I can't exchange a word from you? "
Mingde tilted his head and looked at him. After a long time, he sighed softly and said softly, "I'm just a shadow guard. How can I intervene in the internal affairs?
The Imperial Consort wants to kill Xia Zhaoyi out of jealousy. I can't do anything about it. … If Daren cares about your daughter, please prepare a good coffin within seven days. "
Xia Zheng seemed to be struck by lightning. His face was ashen and he froze on the spot.
Mingde turned around and walked two steps. Suddenly, he heard someone kneel behind him. He turned around and saw Prime Minister Xia pulling his second daughter. The father and daughter were both kneeling on the ground.
"Young Master, please save my daughter's life!"
"I'm just a foreign minister. How can I save your daughter!"
Xia Zheng walked forward on his knees and sobbed, "If Zhaoyi loses power, my Xia family won't be able to protect itself!
Young Master, as a shadow guard, you can go in and out of the palace. Since you can report these secrets to me, you must know how to save her! "
Mingde had no choice. He wanted to pull up the father and daughter. Who knew that he could pull up Xia Rubing, but he couldn't pull up Prime Minister Xia.
The old man who already knew his destiny was kneeling on the ground. It made one's heart ache.
Mingde threw his hands down and sighed, "Prime Minister, how can you be so unreasonable?
If the elder sister becomes someone's concubine, how can the younger sister become someone's son's wife?
If Xia Zhaoyi doesn't die, how can the Empress let her sister be the Crown Prince's wife! "
Xia Rubing was dumbfounded on the spot, confused.
Not only her, but even Xia Zheng was completely stunned.
When he came back to his senses, he bowed straight down, "Everything is in Young Master's hands!"
Mingde pulled Prime Minister Xia up. Seeing that there was no one around, he whispered, "I don't need your thanks.
In the future, when Miss marries and becomes the Crown Prince's wife, Daren just needs to remember the Empress and the Crown Prince's kindness … "