Chapter 337 Polo Club Encounter

While Xiaodie was still in a daze, Lin Hao came to the living room and met the British prince who had just returned from the border.

So Lin Hao and Zhang Guifen bowed respectfully together and said:

"Father is fine! Mother is fine!"

"Okay, okay!" Britain said openly.

When the Duke of England saw the handsome Lin Hao, a smile appeared on his face unconsciously. His own talented child did not disappoint him.

The only thing is that Lin Hao's marriage has not been settled, which makes the Duke of England anxious.

Previously, because Prince Yong and Prince Yan were competing for the position of crown prince, and their family was the most powerful force in the army, they had already become an independent force and stayed out of the matter.

Therefore, no matter whether it is Prince Yong or Prince Yan, no matter who becomes the final winner, they have to stabilize the situation through their Zhang family. Their Zhang family can be said to be sitting on the Diaoyutai and aloof from the world.

But it is also because of this that Lin Hao’s current situation is exactly the same as what he experienced back then. When Renzong came to power, he could not marry at will, and was forced to marry until he was in his thirties.

But now it’s different. With the birth of the prince, the two kings’ forces were expelled from the court, and the tight circle around their family has finally loosened.

However, it is better to avoid marrying into a family with long history of nobility, otherwise if the Zhang family expands its power again, their family will be doomed!

"Hao'er, do you have someone in mind?"

Lin Hao was a little surprised when he heard this: "Why does mother ask this?"

Mrs. Zhang said with a smile on her face:

"When you mentioned that you wanted to hold a polo club the day before yesterday, I had some guesses in my mind!"

"Ah! Is it so obvious?" Lin Hao said in surprise.

"Haha!" The Duke of England said cheerfully, "Tell us which girl you like, and we'll give you some advice!"

Zhang Guifen, who was standing by, also looked at Lin Hao with wide eyes upon hearing this, and asked curiously:

"I didn't expect my brother already has someone he loves. Who is it? And why is he hiding it so tightly?"

Lin Hao shook his head and said, "The time is not yet ripe. The main reason is that their family background is far inferior to ours, and they may be criticized!"

"Besides, I am still a little young, so I'll tell you in detail after some time!
The Duke of England and his wife looked at each other, and finally the Duke of England smiled and said:

"Hao'er, don't worry. With the power of our Duke of Ying, we no longer need marriage to consolidate our position and maintain the power of our family."

"My father is currently leading an army outside. If our family were to marry into a family of high-ranking officials or officials of past dynasties, I'm afraid it would arouse unwarranted suspicion."

Mrs. Zhang also smiled and said:

"Yes, as the saying goes, everything will turn to its limit and then decline. We were worried before that your target was those officials with long histories!"

"Since the other party's family background is not high, we can rest assured. As long as the other party is a virtuous person, we have no objection!"

"Brother! I want to go to the polo club too!" Zhang Guifen said excitedly.

Lin Hao said with a smile:
"When I asked you if you wanted to go before, didn't you say you didn't want to go?"

Zhang Guifen said with great interest:

"I want to go and see which peerless beauty is my future sister-in-law!"

"I'm afraid you want to go and see your sweetheart!" Lin Hao raised his eyebrows and said teasingly.

"No way!" Zhang Guifen said coquettishly, and then pulled Lin Hao out, fearing that her parents would hear them.

The couple, who were listening to the two siblings' words, looked at each other tacitly and instantly understood each other's meaning: Well, something is happening!
However, the Duke and Duchess of England did not speak, but waited quietly for the two children to leave. At this time, Lady England said:
"Master, guess whose girl Hao'er has his eyes on!"

The Duke of England stood up and stretched his body, then said:

"She is the one who goes to the Sheng family the most frequently on weekdays. The Sheng family just happens to have three daughters, and their family background is indeed not high!"

Seeing that his wife was not surprised at all, the Duke of England smiled and asked:
"I wonder which girl from the Sheng family does Madam think it is?"

"Sheng Minglan!"

"Why is my lady so sure?" The Duke of England was curious now, his own lady actually knew that!

The British Duchess said with a smile:

"The files in our attic were not hidden from me. Knowing that Hao'er has a lover, I naturally have to take a look!"

"In the files of the three girls of the Sheng family, Sheng Molan's name is followed by (×), Sheng Rulan's name is followed by (乄), and Sheng Minglan's name is followed by (√)!"

"Ahahaha! Madam is really wise!" The Duke of England laughed and said:

"But Madam, do you know that with our Hao'er's intelligence, would he go to the trouble of marking those √ and ×?"

The British lady was stunned when she heard this, and then she said as if she had just woken up from a dream:
"Hao'er drew this for us to see. He was testing our attitude!"

Then the Duchess of England shook her head and laughed:

"Everyone in our family has eight hundred thoughts on their mind, and no one is worry-free!"

"However, if we talk about the one who keeps secrets the best, it's our precious daughter. I wonder who she has her eyes on?"

"Just pay attention when the polo match starts!" The Duke of England said calmly. He didn't know which kid had kidnapped his precious daughter.

At this time, all the families who received the invitation from the Duchess of England also reacted and realized that she was preparing to choose a wife for her son!
Afterwards, there was an undercurrent in the city of Bianjing. After all, the Zhang family, Duke of Yingguo, was not an ordinary duke's family. They held real power.

You know, the Duke of Yingguo’s Mansion is the number one force in the military, and Lin Hao once served as the commander of the imperial palace guards, and now he is still in charge of the Imperial City Bureau, which shows His Majesty’s trust in him!
More importantly, Lin Hao was also granted the title of Duke of Rong based on his own merits, which means that the future descendants of the Zhang family will have two duke titles that they can inherit!

Not to mention marrying Lin Hao and becoming his wife, even if she became a concubine, it would be worth it!

Three days later, Sheng family!

Minglan was half asleep and half awake, and she felt like she was back in the Sheng family in Yangzhou, and saw her sister Xiaodie being framed and driven away!

Her mother, with a big belly, was eating supplements in big mouthfuls, looking at her with a worried look on her face.

At this time, Lin Hao suddenly appeared, hugged her tightly in his arms, and said to her mother Wei Xiaoniang: "Go back quickly! I will take good care of Minglan, don't worry about her!"

As Lin Hao finished speaking, Wei Xiaoniang smiled and said, "Minglan, take good care of yourself!"

Then he said to Lin Hao: "Thank you very much, don't let Minglan down!"

After saying that, Wei Xiaoniang slowly disappeared with a smile, and then the screen disappeared, while Minglan cried and shouted Wei Xiaoniang's name!

Then the scene changed and they came to a polo field. She saw many people, some playing polo and some girls playing hammer shot, but she couldn't see their faces clearly!
After finally seeing it clearly, she found that it was the face of Young Master Qi, and she found that he was holding a piece of red-hot charcoal and was going to give it to her. She was so scared that she ran away.

At this time, Lin Hao spurred his horse again and pulled her into his arms. She also hugged Lin Hao skillfully, and then the two looked into each other's eyes!
"Huh~!" Minglan suddenly opened her eyes and recalled the dream just now!
In the past few years, the Duke of Rong not only lingered in her dreams to protect her, but also always protected her intentionally or unintentionally when she was in school.

And in the scene where they were riding a horse together just now, when the two of them looked at each other, they always felt that Lin Hao's gaze was full of deep meaning!

Also, the scene in Yangzhou that year reappeared. This was the first time she saw her mother in her dream in so many years. It seemed that she had not worshipped her mother for a long time. He decided to go to Yuqing Temple to burn incense for her mother tomorrow!

It was already dawn, and Xiaotao and Danju seemed to be busy too. They thought about the writing brush that Young Master Qi gave them yesterday, which was then given to their two sisters. Then at night they dreamed of a red-hot charcoal fire given to them.

"What an image!" Minglan said with admiration. The writing brush that Young Master Qi gave her was just a piece of red-hot charcoal.

Then she picked up the music box on the bedside table, turned the spring a few times, and then a pleasant music came out. She had asked Lin Hao about the name before, and it was: Castle in the Sky!

With the soothing music, Minglan's mood finally calmed down!
But the thought that the person who protected her, Lin Hao, was the high and mighty Duke made her feel extremely regretful.

The difference in their status meant that it was difficult for them to be together, unless she became a concubine. But she was afraid that even a concubine would be looked down upon by others!
······
When Madam Wang of the Sheng family, accompanied by Changbai, Changfeng, and three maids of the Sheng family, arrived at the newly opened polo field beside the Jinlin Pond!
I saw Lin Hao, the center of everyone’s attention, and there were many people surrounding him!
Seeing the people from the Sheng family coming, Lin Hao and his mother walked over and asked them to sit down!
After everyone sat down, Lin Hao went to receive Chang Feng and Chang Bai, while his mother received Madam Wang and the three maids!

When Lin Hao saw Chang Bai, he looked at Zhang Xiufen intentionally or unintentionally, and joked:

"Changbai, when I invited you here before, you said you were focused on preparing for the imperial examination. How come you have time to come here and have fun?"

"Haha!" Sheng Changbai said seriously, "Can't I take a break? Studying for the imperial examinations should be done in moderation, that's the right way!"

"Okay, you have many reasons anyway!" Then Lin Hao looked in the direction of the three girls while chatting!
After the women exchanged pleasantries for a while, Lin Hao's mother said to Madam Wang:

"My son Haoer is studying at your house. I hope he is not causing any trouble to you!"

Seeing that the Duke's wife was so easy to talk to, Madam Wang said happily:

"No, no, Lord Rong is very talented. Even Master Zhuang often praises his academic achievements!"

"I'm glad I didn't cause you any trouble!" Then the Duke's wife looked at the three maids of the Sheng family and said with a smile:

"You girls, if you want to go play, go ahead!"

Rulan, who had just come of age, still had some childishness in her heart. She happily took her maid to play hammer ball. Hammer ball was a bit like golf in later generations and was more suitable for girls.

Molan, who was already 16 years old, saw Qi Heng and Liang Han, the sixth son of the Liang family, reciting poems and composing couplets together, so she stood up and went over.

She is quite familiar with this, so why not show it off quickly? Qi Heng is fine, but Liang Han is completely fascinated by him.

Minglan, who had just turned fourteen and was still childish, glanced at Lin Hao unconsciously, but Lin Hao seemed to be aware of her and looked back at her, which made Minglan lower her head shyly!

"This scene seems familiar!" Minglan thought to herself.

Then she saw her best friend Yu Yan, said something to Madam Wang and the Duke’s wife, and then ran to play with Yu Yanran!

At this time, the Duke's wife said to Madam Wang:

"You have three orchids in your family. Molan is beautiful, Rulan is innocent, and Minglan is simple-minded. They are all good children and very lovable!"

"Madam, you are too kind!"

At this time, Madam Wang was overjoyed. Could it be that the Duke's wife fell in love with her maid?

However, seeing Molan talking to Qi Heng and Liang Han made her feel uncomfortable, but she quickly realized that Molan's behavior would definitely not be accepted by the Duke's wife. After all, no one likes their daughter-in-law to be too ostentatious!
As for Minglan, there is no need to worry about her. Didn’t you hear what the Duke’s wife said about Minglan being silly?

On the other side, Minglan trotted to Yu Yanran, and then the two little sisters hugged each other!
"Minglan, how have you been lately?" Yu Yanran asked with concern.

"I'm fine!" Minglan smiled innocently and said, "What's wrong with me being able to eat and sleep?"

"Then why are you blushing?" Yu Yanran asked curiously.

Minglan's cheeks were red, like a ripe red apple.

Minglan stopped talking immediately. Could it be that she remembered the erotic dream she had last night, in which she and Lin Hao rode on the same horse?

Yu Yanran looked around hesitantly, then whispered in Minglan's ear:
"Recently, rumors have been circulating in Bianjing City about your relationship with the young master of the Duke of Qi's mansion. Are you really okay?"

How could it be okay?

She is an unmarried girl, and people spread these rumors about her. How can she live her life in the future?
The most exaggerated thing is that they even got engaged to each other. Not only did she not have any feelings for the young master, she even felt a little disgusted.

Because he didn't consider how difficult his situation was, he often put himself on the fire of his two sisters.

She has hinted at it many times, but Qi Heng still pesters her. If Lin Hao hadn't helped him out so often, her reputation might have been ruined by now!
This made Minglan doubt whether these rumors were spread by Qi Heng in order to force her to submit.

Minglan didn't want to continue this topic.

Just then, I saw a girl with a great pomp coming over from a distance. Not to mention the maids and servants around her, there was even a eunuch helping to hold an umbrella for her.

Moreover, when this girl arrived, she instantly became the focus of the whole audience, so Minglan pointed at the girl and changed the subject:
"Who is this? He actually made everyone stand up to greet him."

"That's Rong Feiyan!"

"Rong Feiyan?" Minglan felt the name sounded familiar.

I quickly remembered who it was. This was Concubine Rong's most beloved younger sister. No wonder there was such a grand ceremony. If it was her, it wouldn't be surprising.

After all, Concubine Rong gave birth to the eldest princess for Your Majesty!

The emperor has so many concubines in his harem, but none of them have given birth to children for so many years. As a result, some time ago, three concubines gave birth to children for his majesty, so their status is naturally the most honorable.

Of course, Concubine Rong is definitely not as good as Concubine Yi. After all, Concubine Yi gave birth to the only prince for His Majesty.

"She is Rong Feiyan."

(End of this chapter)