Sheng Lengshuang gave Mo Lingxi a look that said, 'You're overthinking,' then turned to have a maid pack some things, preparing to move to the academy for a few days.
"Wife, I don't think this is a good idea," Mo Lingxi stopped the maid and held Sheng Lengshuang's hand, refusing to let go. "Your father and mother, and Xiao Feng are all at home. If you move to the academy, it won't be good. I think it would be better if we just spent more time at the academy."
Sheng Lengshuang shook off his hand and said irritably, "Mo Lingxi, I see through all your thoughts. Please put them away."
Mo Lingxi chuckled, "If I didn't have these thoughts, you wouldn't be worried."
Sheng Lengshuang knew she couldn't win an argument with him, so she rolled her eyes, "If you have time to say this to me, you'd be better off dealing with the affairs of the various kingdoms. Handle them properly and quickly, and then you can rest easy."
Mo Lingxi stole a kiss, "I'll listen to my wife. I'll go and get busy. Don't worry about other matters, I'll handle everything."
Sheng Lengshuang pushed him out and slammed the door shut with a 'bang'.
Mo Lingxi shook his head helplessly and turned back to his own courtyard.
As soon as he returned to his courtyard, a dark guard landed in front of him.
"Your Highness, His Majesty requests that you and the Ministry of Rites discuss the matters related to taking a concubine. His Majesty's intention is not to be too extravagant, but to showcase the national prestige of our Eastern Jin Dynasty."
Hearing this, Mo Lingxi suddenly remembered something and asked, "What does a common family need to prepare when getting married?"
The single dark guard felt as if he had been hit by ten thousand points of damage, "...Shouldn't they prepare the 'three matches and six rites'? I'm not married, so I'm not too clear about the process. Your Highness might as well ask the Ministry of Rites. They are the clearest on these matters."
Upon hearing this, Mo Lingxi actually went to find the Minister of Rites.
The Minister of Rites' mouth twitched when he learned of his intention, "Your Highness Prince Mingrui, your marriage is different from that of ordinary people."
Mo Lingxi looked confused, "How is it different?"
The Minister of Rites coughed lightly, "Your Highness Prince Mingrui, you are a prince of the royal family and His Majesty's imperial uncle. Your marriage not only needs to follow the 'three matches and six rites' but also go through the royal procedures. There are many things to prepare."
Mo Lingxi nodded slowly, "Please help me prepare the things needed for the wedding."
The Minister of Rites, "...Your Highness Prince Mingrui, you should first send a matchmaker to propose. You shouldn't prepare the wedding items directly. Furthermore, you need to wait for the Sheng family to agree to accept the proposal before preparing the relevant items, and you still need to go through the procedures."
He really wanted to know how Prince Mingrui married Miss Sheng back then, and why he didn't even know such basic things.
He suddenly felt a little sorry for Miss Sheng.
Mo Lingxi hadn't expected it to be so troublesome and frowned, "Sheng Lengshuang and I are in love."
The Minister of Rites said with a blank face, "Your Highness Prince Mingrui, the will of parents and the words of a matchmaker are for love as well. It must follow the procedures, otherwise, it will not be proper and lawful, and it will also be bad for Miss Sheng's reputation."
Mo Lingxi understood, "Who do I usually find as a matchmaker?"
The Minister of Rites, "The more prominent the families are when they marry, the more they will find people of high prestige. If Your Highness Prince Mingrui wants to propose to the Sheng family, the matchmaker you find must at least be of equal standing to you."
Mo Lingxi understood, thanked him, and then went into the palace to ask Zi Cheng for help.
When Zi Cheng learned of his uncle's intention, he didn't know whether to be angry or amused, "Uncle, if I come forward, it will be an imperial decree, not a proposal. Have you considered that?"
Mo Lingxi, "But I can't think of anyone else."
Zi Cheng thought of all the royal relatives and found that there was indeed no suitable person, "Uncle, I cannot come forward. You need to find someone else to help with this matter."
Mo Lingxi really couldn't think of anyone to help, and he couldn't go to propose himself, so he pulled Zi Cheng to help him think.
Zi Cheng, "..." How would he know? The suitable people were of lower status, and those of similar status were not suitable.
The uncle and nephew discussed for a long time but couldn't think of a suitable candidate.
Zi Cheng rubbed his temples, "Uncle, I think it's better this way. You first prepare the things needed for the proposal and the wedding. When you find a suitable candidate, you can ask them to propose directly."
Mo Lingxi thought this was acceptable and discussed with Zi Cheng what things were needed for the proposal and wedding.
Zi Cheng was amused and exasperated. How would he know what things were needed for a proposal and wedding? These royal matters were always handled by the Ministry of Rites, and he never needed to get involved.
"Your Majesty, Princess Zhi Ya requests an audience," at this moment, a eunuch walked in.
Zi Cheng could roughly guess the purpose of Princess Zhi Ya's visit and said impatiently, "Do not see her!"
"I request to see His Majesty Wenzong!" Princess Zhi Ya's slightly high voice was heard.
Zi Cheng was somewhat displeased and walked out with Mo Lingxi.
"Princess Zhi Ya!" Zi Cheng's tone was slightly heavy.
Princess Zhi Ya shivered, she bit her lip, "Your Majesty Wenzong, why am I the lowest-ranking 'Daying'?"
Mo Lingxi bowed to Zi Cheng and left.
Zi Cheng sneered, "Princess Zhi Ya, how I arrange your ranks is my business. When did it become your turn to dictate? Do you think this is the Southern Jin Dynasty?"
Princess Zhi Ya knew very well that this was not the Southern Jin Dynasty, but she could not tolerate Wen Ya, whom she had always looked down upon, having a higher rank than her. This was clearly a blatant slap in her face.
"Your Majesty Wenzong, I think there must be some misunderstanding. You know I am very favored."
Zi Cheng looked at her with disgust, "Princess Zhi Ya, I don't want to say it a second time. This is the Eastern Jin Dynasty. If there is a next time, I will not forgive you lightly."
Princess Zhi Ya became even more unwilling. Not daring to say anything more, she记 this grievance on Princess Wen Ya. That damned slut must have bewitched His Majesty Wenzong to humiliate her. She would see how she would teach her a lesson.
And so—
Princess Zhi Ya went directly to trouble Princess Wen Ya, not only beat her up but also ordered someone to scratch her face.
This time, it was like stirring up a hornet's nest.
Zi Cheng, in a fit of rage, ordered Princess Zhi Ya to be thrown into the cold palace without any food or drink, and then ordered the imperial physicians to take good care of Princess Wen Ya.
Princess Zhi Ya, thrown into the cold palace, was completely bewildered. She didn't understand why things had turned out this way. She had only dealt with a lowly creature, why would His Majesty Wenzong treat her like this? This was too absurd.
This was not the end.
Sheng Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi discovered that Princess Zhi Ya was behind the rumors about the academy. They went to the cold palace.
Sheng Lengshuang saw the disheveled and haggard Princess Zhi Ya and couldn't muster any pity or sympathy for her. This woman had poisoned the academy for her own selfish gain, spread rumors about her everywhere, and deliberately let those people propose with a noble concubine.
"What are you here for?" Princess Zhi Ya asked resentfully, her head spinning from hunger.
Sheng Lengshuang glanced at the palace maid beside her.