Marry a Duke

Chapter 143: 1 Civil and 1 Military

Fu Ran asked for advice from Nanny Li and prepared to entertain the upcoming guests.

The people to be entertained today are not only the guests coming to the Duke's Mansion, but also the person who is very likely to become Mingyue's future husband. This concerns Mingyue's happiness in the second half of her life, so naturally we have to be extremely cautious.

Fu Ran had asked Nanny Li about who would lead guests in, where they would be taken, and who would be serving them.

What kind of tea and snacks to serve, how to arrange lunch, and how to deal with emergencies.

Although each and every one of them is a small matter, they all need to be taken care of in advance.

This is to avoid sudden incidents and inability to respond in time, which would expose the shortcomings of the Duke's Mansion.

With the advice of Nanny Li, Fu Ran made all the necessary arrangements and even sent some things to Mingyue's room. Mingyue came from Prince Shou's Mansion yesterday with several boxes.

All the necessary things have been prepared, and what Fu Ran sent over was just a token of appreciation from the Duke's Mansion.

When she was working in the *** Palace, she had seen how the housekeeper managed things, and some things did not need to be taught by herself one by one.

Some things can really be learned at a glance.

At the agreed time, the Ding family and the Mu family were one hour apart.

The invitation was written by Wei Xuan himself and sent out. General Mu arrived first. Mu Yan followed his father to the battlefield at the age of thirteen and trained on the battlefield for five years. Now at the age of eighteen, he has won the position of a sixth-rank general for himself.

He is still young and has unlimited possibilities in the future, but he is young and hot-blooded, with a flamboyant but not domineering personality.

Mu Yan and Mingyue were naturally acquainted with each other. Mingyue was a few years younger than him. She was the jewel in the crown of Prince Shou's mansion. Later, Prince Shou died on the battlefield, and Mingyue became a little princess who lost her father. Mu Yan still felt a little sorry for Mingyue.

When they met Mingyue, they treated her with great courtesy and loved her like their own little sister.

Fu Ran arranged the meeting place for General Mu in the Baihua Pavilion in the back garden. There was wine and drinks prepared in the pavilion, and there was no one to disturb them.

Mingyue had already been waiting in the Baihua Pavilion.

After Mu Yan went there, Mingyue sent the others away as she wanted to discuss things with Mu Yan alone.

Fu Ran arranged the meeting place for Young Master Ding in the flower hall. This way, even if Young Master Ding arrived early, he would not run into General Mu meeting the princess and face an awkward situation for all three of them.

She was not timid when arranging these things. Although she was not very skilled, it was obvious that after doing it a few more times, she would be able to do it with ease.

Nanny Li immediately reported Fu Ran's performance to Old Madam Wei.

"I didn't expect that she is still useful. Although she is only a second-class maid in the *** mansion, she has some talent." Old Madam Wei was satisfied with this.

"Mother, those are just tricks of the maids. They are not worthy of being praised in public. Today, we just arranged for two people to meet Mingyue. It's not a big occasion. They are all trivial matters. It's not worthy of your mother to praise her." Wei Lin felt that these were all trivial matters.

Why did my mother praise Fu Ran?

"If Yuan Xin were to come, the arrangements would probably be more appropriate." Wei Lin made no secret of the fact that she liked Yuan Xin more and she still had all kinds of hostility towards Fu Ran.

Madam Wei glanced at her daughter and saw Yuan Xin was there too.

She didn't want to say anything more in front of Yuan Xin.

"It's fine if you say this in front of mother, but if your second brother knew about it, I'm afraid he would have to suffer a big punishment." Madam Wei shook her head, "Your second brother specifically asked your second sister-in-law to take care of today's affairs, and she did a good job. With your status, it's not appropriate to blame her."

Madam Wei's tone became a little heavier.

If Wei Lin continues to be so reckless and outspoken, Wei Xuan will probably forbid her from going back to her parents' home.

Wei Lin felt dissatisfied when she heard this. How come even her mother was on Fu Ran's side now? What was so good about Fu Ran?

"Mother, our Duke's Mansion is so big, we will have to host banquets and entertain guests in the future. If we don't do it well, people in the whole capital will laugh at our Duke's Mansion for being petty. Mother, you have been the head of the family for your whole life, and you have managed the Duke's Mansion well inside and out. How can you tolerate someone else's arbitrary arrangements at home?"

Wei Lin felt that she was acting from a mother's perspective.

Why doesn’t my mother understand?

"Linlin, the old lady must be clear about it. Don't be angry about it. Anything can be discussed as a family. Although this is the first time Fu Ran has taken care of the affairs of the mansion, she has done a good job. We have to take things slow in everything." Yuan Xin advised Wei Lin.

I don't want to make a bad impression in front of Madam Wei.

After all, Wei Lin was a daughter who married out. No matter how good you were to her, there wasn't much you could do to help her. The one who could really keep her in the Wei family was Old Madam Wei and Wei Xuan.

She needed their approval so that she could marry into the Wei family smoothly.

Fu Ran was never a threat to her.

Wei Lin stared at Yuan Xin with wide eyes.

"I'm saying something good for you."

"I know." Yuan Xin said softly, "How could I not feel your kindness? But I really don't want Linlin to have trouble with the old lady and Brother Wei because of me."

She said apologetically.

Seeing this, Wei Lin didn't know what to say to her.

Soon, a servant came to announce that the young master of the Ding family had also arrived.

People have arrived at the flower hall.

Fu Ran went to greet him in person and had people prepare tea and snacks for him to rest for a while.

Over at the Baihua Pavilion, Mingyue had finished her talk with General Mu. After she left the Baihua Pavilion, Fu Ran invited General Mu to the study in the outer courtyard, where Wei Xuan was waiting for him.

After Mingyue talked with the young master of the Ding family, they stayed at the Duke's Mansion for lunch together.

The dishes for lunch were all arranged by Fu Ran in advance.

Wei Xuan had already talked to the two of them in private.

Ding Menglin and Mu Yan didn't show anything on the surface, they just looked at Mingyue from time to time, and they always had a feeling of wanting to say something but stopping themselves.

Fortunately, with Madam Wei presiding over the event, it didn't become a dull occasion.

After lunch, Ding Menglin and Mu Yan said goodbye and left.

Wei Xuan told Mingyue that they were both interested, but as marriage was an important matter, they could not make the decision unilaterally and they would have to go back and ask their families for permission before making a final decision.

He had already given the two of them an exact time.

Tomorrow is the deadline and an accurate answer must be given.

"What about Mingyue? Which man do you like better? Now both of you are willing. Good news will surely come tomorrow. Then it will be up to Princess Mingyue to choose one to get engaged. Princess, please think about it and decide which one you want." Fu Ran asked.

In her opinion, Ding Menglin and Mu Yan are both good young men. Ding Menglin is 19 years old and Mu Yan is 18 years old. They are not too old and are just the right age to get married.

Even if he hadn't met Princess Mingyue, he would still choose his future wife.

Ding Menglin was handsome and thin, a graceful young man.

Mu Yan is a military general, so he is taller and more powerful, and has a stronger aura.

Both of them have their own advantages. As for personality, Ding Menglin is gentle and Mu Yan is generous. It depends on Mingyue how to choose.