Chapter 326: Chapter 326: Being Bored Doesn’t Justify Teaching Someone to Kidnap a Bride
In the palace banquet, the officials dine in boredom and glory; watching dances is equally tedious, what could be more interesting than watching rival factions tear into each other?
Which of the officials present doesn’t have their own calculations? The moment Prime Minister Fan responded, they knew there were no good intentions, it was targeted at someone for sure.
And who among those present is most at odds with Prime Minister Fan, apart from Prime Minister Song?
They would bet a cucumber that this pit was definitely dug for Prime Minister Song by Prime Minister Fan.
The officials no longer watched the dance, their eyes fixed on the banquet table ahead.
Emperor Chu was also a bit surprised that Prime Minister Fan interrupted, raising his brows, he asked, "Prime Minister Fan, to whom are you referring?"
Prime Minister Fan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, isn’t the younger brother of the Song Family yet to be married? That young man has a handsome appearance, suave and elegant, resembling Pan An, perfectly meeting Prince Dingbei’s criteria for a handsome young man."
Officials: See, as expected it was targeted at Prime Minister Song. These rival Left and Right Ministers, it’s strange if they don’t find trouble for each other!
Vice Minister of Rites Shen Qing looked sorrowfully at Prime Minister Fan, silently filling a cup of bitter wine, that handsome young man who resembles Pan An, was supposed to be his niece’s husband!
Alas, best not to think about it, as it would require drowning in ten cups of bitter wine.
Emperor Chu’s eyes flickered, did Prime Minister Fan know his intention or was he deliberately giving Prime Minister Song trouble? If it was the latter so be it, but if it was the former...
"What does Prime Minister Song think?"
Song Zhiyuan put down his wine cup, stood up, and said, "Your Majesty, my younger brother at home is uneducated and incompetent, indulging in all sorts of idle pastimes, unable to lift a hand or shoulder a burden, how can he be a match for Commandery Princess Dongyang?"
Prime Minister Fan: "Prime Minister Song, your words are incorrect, although Fourth Young Master Song may not have scholarly or martial achievements, he is not without any merit, he does have a fine handsome face after all."
Song Zhiyuan: "Prime Minister Fan seems to know my younger brother very well indeed, could it be you’re thinking of giving one of your granddaughters to my younger brother? How can this be, looks cannot fill one’s belly. So, which young lady would you be offering?"
The crowd snickered.
Prime Minister Fan glared, thinking, nonsense, your little wastrel dares to marry my granddaughter?
"Prime Minister Song, you’re so young, is your hearing not good? I clearly said Commandery Princess Dongyang." Prime Minister Fan sneered and glanced at him, then looked towards Prince Dingbei, "Prince Dingbei, you have met Prime Minister Song’s younger brother, haven’t you? I heard when you returned to the capital, he accompanied the Commandery Princess to welcome you!"
A sharp light quickly flashed in Song Zhiyuan’s eyes.
Prince Dingbei frowned, somewhat displeased, and said, "Prime Minister Fan, what do you mean, doesn’t that Song boy have a marriage proposal? Are you suggesting that our family’s Pan’er should steal the bride? Hey, even though I’m a crude man from the mountains, I know that a man engaged to another cannot be touched. Even if our Pan’er isn’t perfect, she wouldn’t go snatching someone else’s groom-to-be, right? Or does Prime Minister Fan think my daughter has fallen so low she must resort to that?"
What happened to the agreement that if things didn’t work out, she’d go and snatch the bridegroom? Was that all nonsense?
Prime Minister Fan: "..."
No, wasn’t he trying to matchmake, how did he end up offending Prince Dingbei instead?
Song Zhiyuan spoke at this moment: "Prince Dingbei, don’t be angry, Prime Minister Fan was born to worry, we all know, he’s just looking for something to fret about when idle."
Prince Dingbei snorted coldly, "Even if he’s bored to death, he shouldn’t teach people to snatch brides, does that make sense?"
"You’re right!"
The cooperative act made it unbelievable they weren’t in it together.
Prime Minister Fan’s face darkened, but he managed a forced smile: "Prince Dingbei, you misunderstood, if I say Prime Minister Song’s younger brother is suitable, it’s not without evidence. If you don’t believe me, ask Prime Minister Song, is his younger brother engaged or not?"