Free Web NovelChapter 1500: Mingzhu Extra 2
Old Grand Master Niu nodded and said, "Hmm, much better. Yanghui, I heard from the people below that the second son of the An Family was designated as the top scholar by the Emperor; is this true?"
Niu Yanghui nodded and said, "It’s true, father."
Old Grand Master Niu was silent for a long time, finally saying, "Who would have thought the An Family would have such fortune?" To pass the imperial examinations at the county, provincial, and national levels is a height every scholar dreams of reaching. For the An Family to produce someone like Brother Feifei is surely due to great virtue accumulated by the ancestors.
The reason why Old Grand Master Niu didn’t want Ying Rui to marry Kexin in those days was not that he disliked Kexin, but that he did not want to form a marriage alliance with the An Family because An Zhichen was a military general. The Niu Family was a family of scholars, and marrying into a noble family was not only unhelpful but would be a hindrance. Luo Mingzhu was a marriage granted by the Emperor, which he could not oppose, but he absolutely could not let his grandson marry a daughter of a noble family.
Niu Yanghui knew why Old Grand Master Niu had privately decided on Miss Peng from the Peng Family back then: "Indeed, who could have imagined An Fei would pass the imperial examinations at all levels?" In fact, Niu Yanghui was also not very willing for his eldest son to marry Kexin, for the same reasons as Old Grand Master Niu. But he couldn’t go against Mingzhu, so he thought to let it be, and discuss it when the children grew up.
Old Grand Master Niu summoned Niu Yanghui not to show he regretted it. Actually, Old Grand Master Niu did not regret; who could have foreseen An Fei successfully passing all three levels of examinations back then: "Your wife has a close relationship with Madam Lian, and if Ying Rui’s generation cannot form a marriage alliance, then the next generation still can." Old Grand Master Niu’s idea was that Ying Rui’s children could marry An Fei’s children.
Niu Yanghui shook his head and said, "That won’t work." Mingzhu longed for a marriage alliance with Yueyao, but apart from Kexin, both families had only boys, naturally making it impossible to form a marriage alliance. There’s no hope for this generation of sons, but the chances are still high for the grandchildren, yet Mingzhu’s proposal was rejected by Yueyao. Yueyao’s reason for refusal was simple; she said arranging her children’s marriages was sufficient, and the marriages of grandchildren should be decided by their parents; she would not intervene.
Old Grand Master Niu listened to this and was silent for a long time, finally saying, "Well, if that’s the case, let it go. Let Ying Rui interact more with An Fei in the future and build a good relationship." Fortunately, his daughter-in-law had sister-like relations with Madam Lian, so forming a good relationship between Ying Rui and An Fei shouldn’t be a problem. The rest depends on Ying Rui himself.
Niu Yanghui nodded and said, "Don’t worry, father, I’ll remind Ruirui." Niu Yanghui knew that previously, Ying Rui had a very good relationship with An Fei and his brothers, but it was later that Old Grand Master Niu decided not to let Ying Rui and the An brothers interact, and only then did the relationship grow estranged. With Mingzhu’s relationship with Yueyao and the bonds from childhood, Ying Rui should find it easy to form a good relationship with An Fei.
When going to bed, Niu Yanghui talked about this to Mingzhu.
Mingzhu was silent for a while, and then said, "It’s not that easy."
Niu Yanghui furrowed his eyebrows slightly and asked, "What’s wrong?" He thought this matter was straightforward, why wouldn’t it be easy?
Mingzhu’s eyes showed exhaustion: "Back in the day, Ah Rui truly had a good relationship with Brother Shengsheng and the brothers, but ever since the Old Master didn’t allow Ah Rui to associate much with the An Family, the children of the two families had grown distant. Even when I returned to the capital, there wasn’t much interaction, mostly just surface courtesy."
Old Grand Master Niu hadn’t allowed Brother Ruirui to have much association with the An Family and specifically directed him to keep a distance from Brother Shengsheng and his siblings. Brother Shengsheng and his brothers weren’t fools; in fact, all three kids were quite perceptive and quickly noticed Ying Rui’s distant attitude towards them. Brother Shengsheng and his brothers were also very proud people; since Ying Rui wanted to keep his distance, they naturally wouldn’t lower themselves to cling to him. Of course, Ying Rui didn’t have anything compelling enough for them to cling to.
When Mingzhu returned, she noticed this situation but it was already a foregone conclusion by then; it couldn’t be changed. Mingzhu initially wanted Brother Yaoyao and his two brothers to get along well with An Sheng’s group, but as it turned out, Brother Yaoyao and Brother Shengsheng couldn’t get along.
Mingzhu said, "Let things take their course!" Mingzhu hoped her son could maintain a good relationship with Brother Feifei, but she understood clearly that such matters could not be forced. Even though Mingzhu had a good relationship with Yueyao, Yueyao did not interfere with Brother Shengsheng’s affairs. As for An Zhichen, due to Old Grand Master Niu’s actions, An Zhichen also disliked the Niu Family.
Niu Yanghui gave a wry smile.
Seeing Niu Yanghui’s expression, Mingzhu knew he felt annoyed inside and smiled as she said, "Actually, the Min Family should be the one most regretful, not us."
Niu Yanghui felt a lot better: "Indeed, the Min Family probably regrets until their guts turned green." If the Min Family hadn’t refused the marriage proposal back then, this son-in-law who accomplished all three levels of examinations would be very secure.
