Chapter 302 Selling a Girl for Glory
Chapter 302 Selling a Girl for Glory
Since the third senior sister was not in the capital, Xie Lan could only return home absent-mindedly.
On the way back to Tinglan Pavilion, he happened to meet the servant who served Xie Changting.
"My dear, the master has ordered you to go to the study to see him as soon as you return."
Xie Lan was worried about Xiao Jin's injury and was already unhappy. She didn't want to pay attention to the servant's words, but he followed her all the way and kept giving her advice, which made her more and more annoyed.
Since she's determined to cause trouble, then I'll just give her a chance to vent her anger.
Xie Lan suppressed her anger and followed the servant to the study in the front yard. Seeing the guards standing outside the study, she paused, frowned, and asked the servant who passed the message, "Is my father meeting a guest?"
The servant glanced at her guiltily, swallowed his saliva, nodded and replied: "Yes, the master is receiving the distinguished guests..."
"Since my father has a distinguished guest, I will go back first."
Xie Lan turned around and was about to leave with an impatient look on her face. Seeing this, the servant was about to stop her, but at this moment, Xie Changting's voice came from the study: "Girl Lan, come in."
Xie Lan paused. What urgent matter did Xie Changting have that made him have to meet her in front of the guests?
Hearing Xie Changting's urging voice, Xie Lan turned around and went into the study.
Xie Lan's eyes narrowed as he glanced at the man sitting at the top. Judging from the clothing this man was wearing, could he be a prince?
Just as the thought flashed through her mind, she saw Xie Changting smiling at her kindly and dotingly, "Lan girl, why are you standing there like an idiot? This is the Third Prince, why don't you step forward and greet him."
I didn't expect that he really was a prince. It seemed that her father was deliberately trying to curry favor with the powerful in order to pursue a career in office.
Xie Lan retracted his gaze and stepped forward to greet him, "Greetings, Third Prince."
"Thank you, Miss. No need to be so polite."
The Third Prince had a friendly smile on his face and a very easygoing attitude. He nodded slightly to her and turned to praise Xie Changting, saying, "Master Xie is so lucky that your daughter is so kind and elegant, dignified and generous. She is truly a role model for women."
Xie Lan lowered his eyes and said nothing, but he sneered in his heart.
The Third Prince was really hypocritical. Her courtesy just now was not at all considerate. It was really hard for him to give her such insincere praise.
When Xie Changting heard the Third Prince's praise, he knew that he was extremely satisfied with Xie Lan. "Your Highness is too kind. This girl grew up in a Taoist temple and didn't learn the rules well. It's only Your Highness who is generous and didn't make a fuss about it."
Not sure if Xie Changting was worried that Xie Lan would talk nonsense, he turned his head and said to her, "Okay, go back and have a rest. After a while, ask your mother to find a nanny for you to learn the rules and etiquette."
Xie Lan frowned slightly. As soon as she returned home, Xie Changting hurriedly asked the servant to call her over. He sent her away without saying anything?
Although he was puzzled, Xie Lan did not say much, but left the study room respectfully. After he left the sight of the guards, he immediately took out an invisibility talisman, returned to the study room, and quickly walked around to the back window.
As soon as Xie Lan stood still, he heard the Third Prince slowly ask, "Master Xie, your eldest daughter is so beautiful, are you really willing to give her to me? You should know that I have already married a principal wife and four concubines. If I marry your daughter, she can only be my concubine."
"I understand. It is a great blessing for that girl to be His Highness's concubine." Xie Changting naturally felt regretful that he could not let Xie Lan become the Third Prince's principal wife.
However, thinking about the failed rebellion of the second prince, who was sentenced to exile by the emperor, and the collusion between the fourth prince and the Marquis of Yongchang for corruption, intending to get his hands on the throne, and being rejected by the emperor and imprisoned in the fourth prince's mansion. Now among the adult princes, only the third prince is expected to ascend the throne, and Xie Changting's heart is burning. Even if Xie Lan can only be a concubine, so what? When the third prince ascends the throne, that damn girl will become a concubine. Even if he cannot be crowned a king or a prime minister, as long as he can be granted the title of duke, marquis, or earl, it will be a hundred times better than his current status.
The Third Prince was very pleased with Xie Changting's words. "Your daughter will soon be 15 years old. I will ask the Imperial Observatory to pick an auspicious day as soon as possible to get this done. There is a vacancy for the head of the Ministry of Personnel for the Examination Department. When your daughter enters the palace, I will have you transferred to the Ministry of Personnel."
Xie Changting was a little disappointed that the director of the Ministry of Personnel's Examination and Reward Department was only of the fifth rank, but he changed his mind and felt relieved. Although the rank of the director of the Examination and Reward Department was not high, he was in charge of the promotion and assessment of officials at all levels. If he really did this, the local prefects and governors would have to be respectful in front of him.
The head of the Ministry of Personnel's Examination and Reward Department not only has great power, but is also a lucrative position. If those officials want to get a satisfactory assessment, they must actively make arrangements, and there are many things they can do.
As long as he could get close to the Third Prince and gain a foothold in the Ministry of Personnel, it would not be difficult for him to make further progress and rise to prominence in the future.
Xie Lan listened silently to the conversation in the study, with a sneer on his lips. Xie Changting was really a "good father". For his own future, he was willing to sell his daughter for fame.
Xie Lan did not go and make trouble with Xie Changting, but turned around and left the study.
Xiao's injury could not be delayed, so she had to write to her third sister as soon as possible to ask whether the smallpox at the border was under control. If her third sister could not return to Beijing, she could only ask her to help make some medicine or prescribe a prescription.
Xie Lan had just finished writing the letter when Tiechui came in through the curtain.
"Girl, the master is here and is waiting for you in the side hall."
Without even raising his head, Xie Lan sealed the envelope with wax and handed it to Tiechui, asking her to arrange for someone to deliver it to the border as quickly as possible before going to the side hall.
"I wonder what my father wants to see me about?"
Xie Changting didn't like her in the first place, and he was even more dissatisfied when he saw her sitting down without any greeting.
"Your coming-of-age ceremony is coming soon. I'll ask your mother to find a nanny for you. You'll start learning the rules from tomorrow. Your father has chosen a marriage for you. After the coming-of-age ceremony and the engagement, you'll stay in the mansion to prepare for your marriage, and you don't have to go to the academy."
"Being engaged after the coming-of-age ceremony? Father, have you already picked someone for me? Whose family is he from?"
Seeing that she mentioned marriage so bluntly and without any of the reserve that a girl should have, Xie Changting subconsciously wanted to scold her, but when the words came to his lips, he swallowed them back.
"It's the Third Prince."
Xie Lan sneered, "Third Prince? Don't tell me I'm not planning to get married. Even if I were to get married, I wouldn't be willing to be someone's concubine."
"Although I am a concubine, the Third Prince is of noble status. As long as you give birth to a child for him, you will surely enjoy endless wealth and glory in the future. This is already the best marriage, what else are you dissatisfied with?
"I'm not satisfied with anything! Since my father thinks this is a good match, he can just let Xie Ying marry him."
Xie Changting thought so, but it was a pity that the affair between Xie Ying and Liang Yuanluo had caused a lot of controversy, so how could the Third Prince still be interested in her?
"Your second sister is not suitable. Marriage is a matter of parents' orders and matchmakers' words. You can't do whatever you want. You have to get married whether you want to or not." Since it was related to his future, Xie Changting would not tolerate Xie Lan's objection and left with a sullen face.
Xie Lan stared at his back with a serious look. Xie Changting wanted to sell his daughter for fame and fortune, but he was dreaming!