allendalepharm Chapter 882: Matchmaking for the 3rd Time
Chapter 882: Matchmaking for the 3rd Time
Qin Yandong glanced at the two of them. What was going on? How come he didn't know that Prince Yuanming had such a hobby?
"Brother!" Du Junguang shouted.
At this time, Prince Yuanming came back to his senses. He said doubtfully, "I think the Imperial Envoy looks familiar. I seem to have seen him somewhere."
Jiang Youzhen was shocked. She had put on so much makeup that night that she looked like a completely different person. How could this man recognize her?
"There are many people in this world with similar eyebrows and eyes. Perhaps you have seen someone similar to me, Your Highness?" Jiang Youzhen looked calm. After all, there are differences between men and women. I don't believe you can think of the dancer that night.
"Brother, why don't you look at who is next to you?" Du Junguang was speechless. Why do people automatically ignore other people around them when they see Jiang Youzhen?
At this time, Prince Yuan Ming turned his gaze to Qin Yandong standing beside him, and he was immediately surprised when he saw him.
"It turns out to be you, kid. We haven't seen each other for many years. I didn't expect to meet you at the border." Prince Yuan Ming couldn't help but feel a little emotional when he saw the kid from the Qin family.
He recalled that they often played together in the capital when he was only fourteen or fifteen years old. The time of youth is always carefree, but in the blink of an eye, time passed quickly, and he had been guarding the border for ten years.
"Yes! The prince hasn't returned to the capital for many years." Qin Yandong remembered that he had some friendship with Prince Yuanming in his childhood. They often played together at that time and lived a happy life.
"After years of separation, we finally meet an old friend! This general has ordered a table to be set up at noon, and we must get drunk today. I remember that you were known for being able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, and your alcohol tolerance was amazing!"
"Hahaha! I was young back then, but I can't do that now! I get drunk after drinking half a pound." Qin Yandong laughed.
"How can your drinking capacity be declining? It should be improving. Don't make excuses. We must get drunk today. When you meet a good friend, a thousand cups are not enough. This general hasn't seen his old friends in the capital for a long time. Don't refuse later."
Prince Yuanming seemed to be in a good mood. Apart from a few words with Jiang Youzhen at the beginning, he kept talking with Qin Yandong and the others. It seemed that he had endless words to say and endless memories to recall.
At this time, the three of them had already sat down. Jiang Youzhen sat aside and didn't say anything, just smiled and listened to their conversation.
However, after chatting for a while, Prince Yuan Ming took the initiative to mention the purpose of Jiang Youzhen and others coming to the capital.
"The Imperial Envoy and Jianzhi came to the border this time to investigate the disappearance of General Dingyuan, right?"
Jianzhi was Qin Yandong's courtesy name. Since the two were familiar with each other, they addressed each other by their courtesy names.
"That's right! General Dingyuan is the pillar of the frontier. He disappeared without a trace this time and his life or death is unknown. The emperor is particularly angry.
Therefore, after receiving the memorial from the prince, I was immediately ordered to go to the border to investigate the general's disappearance and find his whereabouts. "Jiang Youzhen put down the tea bowl with a very solemn expression.
Prince Yuanming sighed, "In fact, this general also met with the general a month ago to discuss the recent attempts by the Northern Ming Dynasty's High Priest family to open up trade with our Dayun Dynasty.
At that time, the general strongly opposed it. The high priest was ambitious and wanted to occupy the territory of our Great Yun. He wanted to use this as an excuse to place secret guards at the border, the whole country, and even in the capital, in order to infiltrate the court step by step and erode the territory. Naturally, the general refused. "
"Oh? Then why didn't the court know about this? What do you think, Your Highness?"
"The emperor has already issued an order not to open trade, so this general did not report it to the court. In addition, my opinion on this matter...is the same as that of the general."
Prince Yuanming glanced at Jiang Youzhen, and then said: "The Northern Ming Kingdom has always been eyeing us covetously. In addition, its strength has gradually grown in recent years, and it has invaded many nomadic tribes. Its power should not be underestimated. In addition, other small countries and tribes have also formed alliances and are ready to make a move. We must not open trade in the next few years."
A hint of disdain flashed across Jiang Youzhen's slightly lowered eyes. It was unknown whether the reason for not being able to do so was for the court or for the sake of doing a unique business.
"Your Highness is right! The border is now full of crises, and it is impossible to open a trade. However, this will provide benefits to many desperate smugglers." Jiang Youzhen looked as if he hated evil.
"Oh! Isn't it? But there has always been a desire for profit, so people will take risks. Although the court has strictly prohibited it, it still cannot completely stop it."
Prince Yuan Ming frowned, looking concerned about the country and the people.
"The border is strictly controlled. Those people would rather climb steep cliffs to do business outside the border. Why do they have to do so many fresh corpses under the cliffs every day?" When Prince Yuan Ming said this, he couldn't help but sigh heavily.
"It's because the border areas are too cold and harsh. If the people have enough food and clothing, who would take the risk?" Li Dongsheng also sighed.
"If we don't open up trade, only the poor will benefit." Du Junguang shook his head. There is no solution to this problem!
Suddenly, his eyes rolled, "The border is bitterly cold, so let Jiangnan provide supplies! Every year Jiangnan allocates a portion of its financial resources to the border, isn't that enough? Why not just move away from the border and go to a richer place, that would also work!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he noticed that the side hall was completely silent. When he looked up, he saw three people looking at him as if he were a fool.
Prince Yuan Ming: "Second brother, drink some tea! Drink more, this is your favorite oolong tea."
"Brother, when did I start to like drinking Oolong? I like drinking Longjing!" Du Junguang was very dissatisfied. His elder brother didn't care about him at all.
"Ahem! Actually, what Lord Du said makes sense, but it is not something we can decide. Let's talk about General Dingyuan again! Prince, before the general disappeared, apart from the high priest discussing the opening of the trade, did anything else happen?" Jiang Youzhen changed the subject.
Prince Yuan Ming immediately recalled carefully, "Does marrying off my daughter count? The day after tomorrow is the wedding day! The two families will become a perfect match, and outsiders will think that they are well-matched! But as far as I know, the general did not agree to this marriage before!"
"Oh? What do you mean? The Left Councillor Liu is also from an aristocratic family, and he holds great power. The two families are a perfect match! Why doesn't the general agree?"
In fact, Jiang Youzhen wanted to say that General Dingyuan came from a poor family. Although he commanded a large number of troops, his background was indeed not prominent. In the eyes of the aristocratic families in the capital, this marriage was considered too high for the daughter of General Dingyuan.
"Alas! Lord Liu's family style... ahem! The general doesn't like it very much, saying it's a bit ostentatious. Lord Liu asked someone to propose marriage twice, but the general refused both times. But for some reason, three months ago, when the Liu family sent a matchmaker to propose marriage for the third time, the general agreed, saying that the Liu family was sincere after all."
"That's really sincere!" Jiang Youzhen was very surprised.