Grandma He persuaded a few more times, and finally made Mother Li understand the stakes and change her mind.
"Since the document has been torn up, I think we should forget about the son-in-law thing..."
Cheng Liqing gave a half-smile. "Have the two grandmas thought it through? You really don't need me to be your son-in-law anymore?"
Grandma He quickly said, "No need, no need!"
"What about my marriage with Wanming..."
Mother Li's face turned ashen. After a long while, she snorted, "I can't interfere in your young people's affairs anymore!"
"Thank you, Grandma." Cheng Liqing picked up a cup of tea, pulled Li Wanming, and respectfully presented it in front of Mother Li. "Then please have this cup of tea from your son-in-law."
Mother Li looked at him, then her gaze swept across the Li clan members and the Ministry of Revenue clerks standing in the yard.
Today, in front of so many people, if she drank this cup of tea, it would mean she recognized Cheng Liqing as her grandson-in-law. It would be hard to go back on her word later.
But if she didn't drink it, in front of so many people... wouldn't it be like slapping herself in the face in public?
Mother Li reluctantly picked up the cup of tea, took a sip, and then angrily put it back on the tray.
"Thank you, Grandma, for your blessing."
It was only now that Third Master Li saw something fishy. He pulled Li Rusong and asked, "What does this mean? Does your mother look down on this grandson-in-law and want to break up the young lovers?"
Li Rusong wiped the sweat off his forehead. "No, how could that be..."
Third Master Li wouldn't let go. "Tell me the truth. Did your mother force him to be the son-in-law because she disliked his poverty?"
Li Rusong didn't inform the Li clan relatives about Li Wanming's wedding. Third Master Li was already a bit unhappy. Now, when he heard there was also a matter of snobbery, he was even more dissatisfied. He pulled Li Rusong and patiently educated him.
"Little Pine Nut, although you're a general now, our Li family has been farmers for generations. We can't do the snobbish things!"
Li Rusong had no choice but to nod repeatedly. "It won't happen. Please rest assured, Uncle."
He then turned to greet the relatives. "Uncles and brothers, since you're here, let's have a drink together! Let's have a good get-together!"
They came to witness the son-in-law ceremony, but in the end, the Li family didn't do anything. It was like they were being played with.
Li Rusong was too embarrassed. He could only claim that Li Wanming got married yesterday and he didn't have time to hold a banquet. It was just right to make it up today.
Cheng Liqing readily agreed. He very cooperatively changed into a new set of clothes, tied a big red ribbon around his waist, and pulled Li Wanming to toast the guests.
The more Li Wanming thought about it, the more something seemed wrong.
Once this banquet was held, everyone would know she was married.
How could she get divorced ten days later?
She couldn't hold another grand banquet later and tell everyone that she was just joking when she got married and they shouldn't take it seriously...
What would happen to Li Rusong's career in the officialdom then?
I'm afraid the imperial censor would impeach him for poor family management at least!
She grabbed Cheng Liqing. "Do you really want to toast?"
Cheng Liqing replied, "What else? Father-in-law has already prepared the banquet... It wouldn't be very appropriate if we don't go, would it?"
His originally pale face turned rosy like a peach blossom after being steamed by the alcohol. His eyes were full of drunkenness, looking even more elegant.
—There was not the slightest sign of being forced.
Li Wanming squinted at him. "It's okay. I can knock you out and then say the groom is unwell."
"It wouldn't be good for the groom to be absent at the wedding banquet."
Cheng Liqing picked up another red ribbon, tied it around Li Wanming's waist, and tied the two ribbons together. "All you want is to be free. How is it not free to marry me?"
Li Wanming was stunned. "You... know what I want to do?"
"I only know that what my wife wants to do is what I want to do. It's always better for two people to be together than one, isn't it?"
He smiled again. His gentle eyes seemed to hold the light of amber, and the fragrance of the wine was intoxicating.
"You want a married status to reject the Prince Ning's Mansion. Then you shouldn't hide it. The bigger this marriage is made, the better."
He looked at the guests in the yard, toasting and chatting. "Since you don't care about your reputation, I, Chen Mou, will surely do my best to help."
Li Wanming stared blankly. "Why... do you want to help me?"
"Husband and wife are one body. We should share the joys and sorrows and honor and disgrace together. There's no why."
After saying that, Cheng Liqing had already picked up the wine cup and went to toast.
Mother Li and Grandma He were sitting at the main table. Both of them looked as if they had swallowed bitter herbs, with a look of helplessness on their faces.
They originally wanted to use the pretext of the son-in-law thing to force Cheng Liqing to cancel the marriage. Who would have thought that in the end, they would make a mess of things and make this marriage known to everyone.
Now it was good. Li Wanming had completely become a married woman. There was definitely no hope from the Prince Ning's Mansion...
Mother Li was anxious, angry, ashamed, and full of grievances.
She couldn't understand. She had worked hard to plan and wanted her granddaughters to marry into high-ranking families and live a life of ease. Why didn't they appreciate it?
So what if the mother-in-law set rules? So what if the husband took concubines?
Which mother-in-law didn't torture her daughter-in-law? Which man didn't have concubines?
Couldn't they just endure it...
You couldn't expect every man to be like Li Rusong, who became a softie when he saw his wife!
Humph, saying that he only loved Jinqiu in this life and would never take concubines... Bah! He was clearly just a coward who was afraid of his wife!
Just thinking about this made Mother Li grind her teeth in hatred.
The son she had raised with great difficulty followed that woman around every day and didn't pay any attention to her at all!
Grandma He was sitting beside her, looking listless and not daring to make a sound.
The people attending the wedding banquet today were all Li Rusong's colleagues and the elders of the Li family. She had no place to speak. Moreover, this whole thing was her doing, so she felt even more guilty.
She was afraid that the old master would suddenly remember and ask, "Who came up with the idea of forcing the son-in-law to marry in?"
Forcing someone to be a son-in-law and ruining someone's future was immoral.
If this matter was really investigated, she was afraid she would be in big trouble.
Fortunately, the old master was enjoying his drink. His face was flushed, and he didn't have time to care about her.
Cheng Liqing pulled Li Wanming over. "Grandpa, my wife and I would like to toast you."
"Good, good..." Third Master Li picked up his wine cup and drank it in one gulp. "You're really a talented man and a beautiful woman, a perfect match! Third girl, where did you find such a handsome son-in-law? You're really lucky!"
Li Wanming replied, "I caught him under the imperial list."
Caught him under the imperial list?
Could you really catch such a good man under the imperial list?
All the great-aunts at the table were a bit skeptical. "You... caught him yourself?"
"Yes." Li Wanming answered generously.
She had figured it out.
Cheng Liqing was right. Since she wanted a married status, she should make this marriage a big deal.
It would be best to make it a big scandal in the whole city and let everyone know. Let the Prince Ning's Mansion and the nobles in the imperial city know that she was already married and stop thinking about her!
An aunt stared at her with her mouth open for a long time. "Can you really catch such a good-looking husband under the imperial list? I thought they were all pedantic scholars..."
Someone beside her immediately said, "How could they be scholars? Those who can take the imperial examination in the capital must be at least provincial graduates!"
She grabbed Li Wanming and asked anxiously, "Does your husband have any brothers in his family? Oh, you don't know. I'm so worried about your cousin's marriage... The man is not good-looking, and she doesn't like him at all!"
Li Wanming said embarrassedly, "I... don't know either."
All the great-aunts at the table were anxious. "How can you not know? You're already married. How can you not know about your husband's family situation?"
Li Wanming scratched her head. "I just... knocked him out under the imperial list and carried him away. I only know that he's from Langya and his family is poor. I don't know anything else."
Hearing this, the great-aunts stared at each other in disbelief.
"Has the procedure of catching a husband under the imperial list been simplified to this extent?"
"Are we out of touch with the times?"
...
The aunt who had spoken earlier seemed to be deep in thought. "I understand. The reason we can't find good sons-in-law is that the procedure is wrong! From now on, we should also prepare sticks and ropes. When we see someone we like, we'll just knock him out and take him away!"
"Yes, yes, yes! After the palace examination in a few days, won't the successful candidates parade through the streets on horseback? That's when we'll go and knock them out. We'll definitely get a satisfactory one back!"
All the women at the table were full of determination, determined to tie back a good-looking son-in-law!