Chapter 247 Asking for Permission
As the conversation came to an end, the sky gradually brightened.
Zhuang Rui came back from outside and smiled slightly.
"I'm afraid the emperor will be suspicious, so it's not appropriate for you and I to ride together. I'll ask the servants to hire another carriage, and ask cousin and Shuang'er to go first."
E'lan was respectful and obedient.
"I will drive the carriage for the princess."
Without waiting for Ning Yunxi's response, Zhuang Rui rejected it outright.
"How can you drive if you haven't slept all night? You can ride with your cousin, don't tire yourself out."
Olan nodded.
"The slaves dare not."
Ning Yunxi smiled generously and advised in a soothing tone.
"It doesn't matter."
"You forgot that when you go back, you will be Miss Teng."
E'lan looked uneasy.
"I don't know whether the master and the mistress agree or not."
Ning Yunxi continued to comfort her.
"Don't worry, they will definitely agree."
"If something unexpected happens, we still have Uncle Shao."
When Zhuang Rui heard something was wrong, he quickly reminded him.
"Didn't we agree that she wouldn't be Uncle Shao's daughter?"
Ning Yunxi smiled playfully.
"Just kidding."
Zhuang Rui was full of worries.
"It's just for fun, but you must not put it into practice, cousin."
Ning Yunxi responded seriously.
"You emphasized it several times, and I remembered it."
Zhuang Rui's worries were gone and he felt relieved.
"After returning home, I will report this matter to my father and mother. After my official status is settled and everything is complete, I will go to the palace to ask for an audience with the emperor and ask for his approval of the marriage."
Ning Yunxi immediately stood up, thinking that E Lan was weak, and gave her a hand.
"Well, okay, let's get going without further ado."
E Lan lowered her eyes in fear, followed Ning Yunxi, walked out of the hut and got on the carriage.
When Ning Yunxi arrived at Prince Dijin's mansion, he met Yan Yu and did not mention Zhuang Rui. He only said that he wanted to give E'lan a status of a minister, and Yan Yu agreed.
Ning Yunxi still gave a reason. E'lan was a slave and stayed in Teng Mansion. She was targeted and suffered all kinds of grievances. She was really pitiful.
Yan Yu ordered Gao Jing to go to Teng Mansion to ask Teng Yuru and his wife about their wishes. Unsurprisingly, they both agreed.
Ning Yunxi accompanied E'lan to the governor's platform to register her name, Teng E'lan.
Upon hearing the good news, Teng Yuru and Wei Chushuang took two hours' leave and ordered the servants to gather at the main gate of the Teng Mansion to welcome the girl back home.
Not long after, Ning Yunxi's carriage stopped in front of the Teng Mansion.
Wei Chushuang was overjoyed and waved to the servants.
"Quick, go meet them."
Ning Yunxi got off the carriage first.
Everyone saluted.
"Princess Yuexi is here to receive your blessings."
Teng Elan then got off the carriage, took a few quick steps, and helped Teng Yuru and his wife up with both hands. Then, she smiled happily and bowed to them.
"Children worship their father and mother!"
Teng Yuru was beaming with joy.
"Get up quickly."
Wei Chushuang smiled with tears in her eyes and personally helped her daughter up.
"Lan'er, please stand up."
The servants bowed again.
"Your servants, I pay my respects to you, young lady."
She suddenly became a girl. Teng Elan was still a little uncomfortable. She felt uneasy when she saw the servants bowing. She subconsciously wanted to kneel down. Ning Yunxi reminded her in time: "Miss Teng, please stand up."
Teng Elan lowered her eyebrows a little, still finding it hard to adapt.
"Yes, stand up."
The servants bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, girl."
Wei Chushuang took a token and a key and handed them to her daughter in public.
"My father is busy supervising the guard station and has no time to take care of the affairs of the mansion. From today on, you will be the head of the household. Lan'er, please don't refuse."
Having said this, he turned to his servants and made a solemn announcement.
"Lan'er is new to the household, so she is bound to be unfamiliar with it. You all must behave yourself and not cause trouble. Remember that?"
The servants responded in unison.
"Yes."
Zhuang Rui originally wanted to follow last year's plan and get Teng E-lan to cooperate, pretend to save him, put on a few dramas, and become famous.
After hearing the plan, Ning Yunxi decisively refused. Teng Elan was weak and if she moved too much, she might be in danger of losing her life.
Zhuang Rui gave up the idea after hearing this, thinking that it was okay, since the emperor only disliked her status as a slave. Now that her slave contract had expired and she was the legitimate daughter of the Teng clan, there was no way he could disdain her.
In the afternoon, Zhuang Rui went to the palace to ask for an audience.
Gu Mengzhen missed his nephew and immediately agreed to meet him.
Zhuang Rui, contrary to his usual behavior, performed the ceremony seriously.
Gu Mengzhen was really frightened, and was in a trance for a moment, with an expression of disbelief on his face.
"I misheard the report and thought it was Rui'er who wanted to see me. I didn't expect it was Wei'er?"
Zhuang Rui looked up and smiled at him.
"Uncle Huang heard correctly, it is my nephew."
Gu Mengzhen stood up and hurriedly helped his nephew up, his eyes full of worry.
"Your father has scolded you again, why are you doing this great honor?"
"Does your knee hurt?"
"Let me see, is there any bruise on your forehead?"
Zhuang Rui stood among the pine and cypress trees, his scarlet brocade robe showing his nobility, his long black hair casually tied up, looking a bit dashing and heroic.
"Don't worry, uncle Huang. I'm fine."
"I, your nephew, have come to the palace to ask for something, so I am performing this great ceremony. I hope that your Majesty will grant your approval."
Gu Mengzhen took his wrist, walked to the dragon throne, and sat with his nephew as usual.
"What is it? Just tell me, I will agree to anything you ask."
A sweet smile appeared on Zhuang Rui's lips.
"I heard that Lord Teng, the Minister of Yin, adopted a daughter today."
Gu Mengzhen was slightly stunned.
"is it?"
After asking, I remembered this.
"It seems that there is such a thing. He even submitted a memorial saying that he had received the emperor's approval. I was busy with state affairs and didn't have time to care about it."
"Seems to be a civilian woman?"
Having said this, he smiled with relish.
"Don't tell me yet. Let me guess. You always like to have fun with the people and yearn for freedom. I guess you have someone in your heart. Is it that girl from the Teng family?"
Zhuang Rui smiled and nodded.
"Uncle Huang is wise and enlightened."
Gu Mengzhen stared at him and smiled kindly.
"You are of marriageable age and are free to marry. If you like her, just marry her. There is no need to ask me about it."
Zhuang Rui observed the expression and changed his words instead of speaking directly.
"Marriage is free, it is the law; asking the emperor uncle is a family affection. In my humble opinion, with the emperor uncle's permission, this marriage can be considered legitimate."
Gu Mengzhen felt warm in his heart and patted his shoulders a few times to encourage him.
"Good boy, you are so sensible."
Thinking back to those days when he had no choice but to separate the couple, he still feels guilty.
"To be honest, I have been worried about your marriage for many years, but now I can finally rest assured."
"By the way, what's the child's name, where is he from, and how did you know him?"
Zhuang Rui smiled obediently and introduced in detail.
"Her name is Teng Elan, she has no known place of origin, and she had been making a living in the Ningguo Mansion."
"Three years ago, we met in the academy, and then unfortunately separated. Although we are physically separated, our hearts are always together, and we have never forgotten each other for several years."
"Early this morning, Lord Teng welcomed this legitimate daughter back to his mansion. It was such a grand ceremony that the news spread to the Zhuang Mansion. I went to take a look and to my surprise, I met an old friend again."
The more Gu Mengzhen listened, the uglier his expression became.
"is her?"
Zhuang Rui asked.
"Uncle Huang knows her?"
Gu Mengzhen put away his strange look and showed a kind smile again, which was a little more hypocritical than before.
"I don't really know him. I just saw him briefly at Duke Ning's mansion. I vaguely remember him."
Zhuang Rui smiled back, and if you didn't pay attention, he would be as disrespectful as usual.
"Then she can be considered an old friend of Uncle Huang."
After saying this, he realized that he had lost his composure, and quickly changed his expression and knelt down to pay his respects.
"In my heart, there is only Miss Teng. I will marry her in this life. I beg the emperor to grant my permission!"
A hint of murderous intent flashed across Gu Mengzhen's dragon eyes, so invisible that it was difficult to detect.
"Okay, I'm sure."
Zhuang Rui lowered his eyes and nodded, without catching any murderous intent.
Since it was about Teng E'lan, he paid careful attention and could tell from Gu Mengzhen's words that he did not really agree.
Therefore, the mind feels a little abnormal.
He didn't show it, only a happy smile on his face.
"Thank you, uncle Huang."