"What's going on? You dragged me back in such a hurry!"
Outside the main gate, Li Rusong shook off the sweating butler who had been tugging at him and urging him forward.
"I just got to the border defense camp, and you called me back again. Jinqiu is still waiting for me to train the troops with her! Hurry up and tell me what's going on. If you don't, I'm not going any further!"
The butler said anxiously, "General, please come back quickly and have a look. Uncle of the Li family and Lord Li the Third have already arrived!"
"What are they doing here?" Li Rusong was stunned.
His father had passed away early. His mother had only given birth to him and his younger sister. His younger sister had married into a family in a distant place ten years ago. So there were few people in this branch of the Li family, and only some clan brothers living in the suburbs of the capital remained.
However, they were all farmers, busy on weekdays, and didn't interact much.
The Lord Li the Third mentioned by the butler was the most respected elder in the Li family clan.
He had passed the provincial imperial examination in his early years and often regarded himself as a scholar. Whenever there was something important in the Li family, they would like to invite him to mediate. He was like the patriarch of the family.
But it wasn't a festival or any special occasion. What on earth was he doing here?
Could it be about Wanming's marriage?
It shouldn't be. Catching a son - in - law right after the imperial examination wasn't a big deal. It wasn't worth disturbing the old gentleman, was it?
Li Rusong was completely confused.
The butler wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "The old lady wants to have Young Master Cheng marry into our family! She also said that there should be the clan elders present for such a marriage, so she invited Lord Li the Third... Hurry up, sir. The clerk from the Ministry of Revenue is also waiting for you with the deed!"
"What?"
Li Rusong's face changed again. "Even involved the Ministry of Revenue? This is just nonsense!"
Li's mother didn't know the real situation of Li Wanming's marriage, but he did.
Although Yuan Jinqiu and Li Wanming hadn't told him the specific plan, he knew very well that this marriage was just a guise and they would get divorced in a few days!
But now, it had alarmed Lord Li the Third and the clerk from the Ministry of Revenue.
Once the marriage - in - to - the - bride's - family document was signed, the son - in - law would be a done deal!
It was just his daughter's prank. How could they let someone marry into their family?
Wasn't this ruining the young man's future?
Li Rusong strode into the courtyard.
There, three desks had been set up in the middle of the yard. Lord Li the Third was sitting on one side, and the clerk from the Ministry of Revenue on the other.
On the middle desk, there was an incense burner for offering sacrifices to ancestors and a contract document.
Lord Li the Third was already eighty years old. His hair was gray, and he walked shakily, needing someone to support him.
Seeing Li Rusong come in, he greeted him with a toothless mouth, "Little Songzi, is it you who want to have a son - in - law marry into your family?"
He was old and had long since stopped caring about clan affairs. But when he heard that Li Rusong was looking for a son - in - law, he still came.
Li Rusong was different from others. He was a fourth - rank general, the highest - ranking official in the Li family for generations!
Moreover, he had no sons.
If his daughter were to marry a man into the family, that man would carry on the Li family line and protect the whole clan in the future!
Such a big thing, how could he not come and have a look?
He Shi didn't expect that her few words would cause such a stir. She felt a bit scared.
She pinched her trembling hands and asked, "Sister, what should we do?"
Li's mother's heart was also pounding.
That Lord Li the Third was two generations higher than her in seniority.
She thought that when Chuntao went to invite someone, at most, she would invite a cousin uncle. She never expected to invite such a big shot.
"It's okay. I don't believe he'll really marry into our family."
Li's mother pretended to be calm. She patted her sister's hand and gave Cheng Liqing a fierce glare.
Over there, Li Rusong had already stepped forward. "Lord Li the Third, why did you come all the way here? Even if there's something, it should be me going to visit you. How could I let you come in person!"
Lord Li the Third squinted his eyes and said slowly,
"Little Songzi, I've seen your prospective son - in - law. He's really good - looking, well - educated, and a successful candidate in the provincial imperial examination! Although he's from another place and his family is a bit poor, it doesn't matter. Weren't our ancestors of the Li family also farmers?"
He himself was a scholar who had worked hard from a poor family, so he had a good impression of Cheng Liqing, who had a similar background.
Li Rusong said awkwardly, "Lord Li the Third, what are you talking about? There's no such thing as a son - in - law. It's all just a rumor!" He turned to Li's mother, giving her a meaningful look. "Mother, say something!"
But Li's mother pretended not to see and insisted, "He said himself that he wanted to marry into our family."
Li Rusong said anxiously, "The younger generation is being reckless. How can you join in the nonsense too?" He then tried to persuade Cheng Liqing. "Stop fooling around. Hurry up and apologize to Lord Li the Third..."
Cheng Liqing still smiled. "Father - in - law, don't be anxious. The matter of marrying into the family needs to be made clear first before we can proceed."
He Shi was overjoyed. "What? Are you going to back out?"
"Not really. I just want to clarify a few things."
Cheng Liqing turned to the others. "As everyone knows, Uncle Li has no sons and only three daughters."
"Today, I'm getting married to Wanming and marrying into the Li family. From now on, Wanming will be the one to carry on the Li family line and be raised as a son. All matters of the Li family in the future will be decided by her."
Lord Li the Third nodded. "We all understand what you're saying."
"After having a son - in - law marry in, Wanming will be the son of this branch of the Li family."
"Of course, all the property of the Li family in the future will go to Wanming. After Uncle Songzi and his wife pass away, it will be her who performs the mourning rituals... Wanming, you must be filial to your parents and take care of them in their old age!"
Cheng Liqing nodded. "Naturally."
Saying that, he was about to sign the marriage - in - to - the - bride's - family document.
It was only at this moment that He Shi woke up from her dream.
What?
After the marriage - in - to - the - bride's - family, Li Wanming would be the son of the Li family?
All the property in the future would go to her?
Then how could her grandson be adopted into the family?!
In her panic, He Shi's mind went blank. She immediately jumped out. "No! We can't sign the document!"
Everyone present looked at her.
Sweat immediately broke out on He Shi's forehead.
Lord Li the Third said unhappily, "Who are you? What does the Li family's matter of getting a son - in - law have to do with you?"
"I... I'm..." He Shi hesitated for a long time and couldn't say a word. She could only get close to Li's mother and whisper, "If Third Daughter really marries a man into the family, then Bingwen won't be able to be adopted in the future!"
"If Yuan Jinqiu's daughter becomes the head of the Li family, you'll have to live under the thumb of her and her daughter from now on!"
Hearing her words, Li's mother also suddenly woke up.
That's right!
Yuan Jinqiu had no interest in the power struggles in the inner courtyard and often stayed in the military camp. So in fact, she had always been the mistress in charge of the Li family.
She had only been the official's old lady for two years. She hadn't had enough of it yet. How could she hand over the power to Li Wanming?
Li's mother said, "Young Master Cheng has an official position. It won't be good for his reputation to marry into our family..."
Lord Li the Third wondered, "Didn't you know he had an official position before?"
"This..." Li's mother was at a loss for words.
Cheng Liqing had already picked up the pen. "Lord Li the Third, don't worry. I'm willing to marry into the family."
In great desperation, He Shi rushed forward in one stride, snatched the document, and tore it to pieces!
This action stunned everyone present.
The clerk from the Ministry of Revenue shouted, "Where did this old woman come from? How dare you tear up the document from the Ministry of Revenue!"
"I... I'm just worried about my grandson - in - law's future..."
Realizing what she had done, He Shi was extremely panicked. She rushed to Li's mother's ear and said anxiously,
"My dear sister, we really can't let him marry into the family! Think about it. If Third Daughter has a son - in - law and isn't a married - out daughter, won't you have to hand over the power to manage the family to her?"
Li's mother's face changed drastically. "That's out of the question!"
Yuan Jinqiu had no interest in the power struggles in the inner courtyard and often stayed in the military camp. So the mistress in charge of the Li family had actually always been her.
She had only been the official's old lady for two years. She hadn't had enough of it yet. How could she hand over the power to manage the family to Li Wanming?