Chapter 41: She Sent a Gift [Thank You All for Your Support! Grateful! Deeply Grateful!]

Sheng Hong sent a letter to his ancestral home in Youyang when he departed from Bianjing.

He asked Sheng Wei to purchase a residence in Yangzhou.

He recently visited the patriarch of the Bai family, father of Lady Hou’s eldest daughter.

Though Sheng Hong held a modest official rank, he was the future administrator of Yangzhou.

The Bai family, though connected by marriage to the Hou Mansion, originated from merchant stock.

The Bai patriarch was fond of literature and elegance; the banquet ended with mutual delight.

He also learned, through Bai Wanshu’s introduction, the general prices and locations of Yangzhou homes.

Sheng Hong left the Bai residence slightly intoxicated; in these coming days, he would prepare to depart Bianjing.

Return to Fujian Road.

After settling affairs at the Quanzhou Assistant Prefect’s office, he would set out for Yangzhou to assume his post.

On this day, the Yongyi Marquis Mansion of the Xu family received a guest.

Lady Xie was the wife of the second illegitimate son of the Zhongjing Marquis of the Zheng family; her ancestors had been viscounts in Bianjing.

Under the protection of the Zhongjing Marquis, her elder brother held the post of Regional Military Commissioner in the southern region.

This elder brother had three daughters; the eldest was betrothed to a general from Hejian Prefecture.

The second daughter was fourteen this year, the proper age for marriage negotiations.

Today’s visit was to inspect Xu Dalang Xu Zai Duan; originally, this match had been suggested by Lady Wu.

Unfortunately, Lady Wu’s recent child had died in infancy, making it improper for her to appear in person, so she sent Lady Xie instead.

Xu Zai Duan had been meticulously dressed by his mother’s maidservants and appeared quite distinguished.

The sisters Xu Pingmei and Xu Anmei also came out to meet the female guest.

Lady Xie observed Xu Zai Duan: his features were proper, his gaze steady and unflinching, and he was said to be studying.

After further inquiry, she learned he had no concubine yet; this greatly pleased Lady Xie.

Sun Shi, watching Lady Xie’s expression, knew this match was likely to succeed.

She glanced at Xu Minghua beside her, her eyes brimming with pride.

After discussing Xu Zai Duan, Lady Xie smiled and said:

“I’ve heard your Xu family has two other outstanding young masters, Lady. Once we become in-laws, may I see them today?”

“Of course. Xiao Dan, go call Zhang Ge and Jing Ge.”

Xu Zaijing had just finished his daily cultivation, and was gazing fondly at Deng Bo tending cotton, his mind drifting to quilts, plush toys, pillows, and compressed cotton that could be used as…

Deng Bo, watching Xu Zaijing, sighed deeply for his former master’s son—he had found an heir, somehow…

Hearing his mother’s summons, Xu Zaijing tidied himself and arrived at the reception hall.

“Xu family Zai Zhang / Zai Jing, greetings, Lady.”

“Good child.”

Lady Xie extended her hand toward her maidservant.

The maidservant handed over two embroidered pouches.

Sun Shi rose instantly.

Xu Minghua beside her hurriedly said:

“Lady, this cannot be.”

It was unheard of for a bride’s family to bring gifts to the groom’s home during a match inspection.

“Marquis, once we become in-laws, I’m merely giving small tokens to the younger generation in advance.”

Hearing this, Xu Pingmei and her sister laughed and teased their elder brother.

Earlier, when they met the female guest, they too had received gifts—but those were exchanges among women.

With words thus spoken, Sun Shi smiled and said: “Accept them.”

“Thank you, Lady Xie.”

Lady Wu had already informed Sun Shi of the Xie family’s daughter’s circumstances; all that remained was to visit the Xie home, and the match would be sealed.

Xu Minghua and his wife escorted Lady Xie out the gate, remarking with deep emotion:

“How fast—our Duan is about to marry.”

“Everyone in Bianjing knows our family has declined; good families’ daughters are beyond our reach.”

“We’ll still need dowries for our two daughters; the income from our estates in Daizhou and the capital, plus our shops in the capital, will always leave us tight.”

“Thankfully, we have a good son.”

Sun Shi shook her head; her hairpin tinkled.

“Jing Ge also loves his elder siblings—he gave away all the pearls he received, the East Sea and South Sea ones.”

“Lady Bai’s younger sister recently invited us to the Marquis Mansion for amusement and gave us even more gifts, even helped us invest in a share of a salt estate.”

“Isn’t that just giving us money?”

“I, a daughter of a minor household in Bianjing, don’t understand Lady Bai’s thinking. But now I see—it’s because your son is close to Lady Bai’s younger sister.”

“True. This boy—no one knows what kind of in-laws he’ll end up with.”

“Jing Er is still so young; you’re thinking too far ahead.”

The couple waited until Lady Xie’s carriage turned the street corner, then turned back toward the mansion.

“That Deng Bo you found—he seems quite capable.”

“I heard he’s from the Deng family of agronomy, with a proper lineage. And are those plants he tends the rare flowers and herbs Lady Bai provided?”

“Your younger son asked for them, saying he wanted to know how they grow.”

“Let it be amusement—it’s better than him wandering into Bianjing’s brothels and entertainment quarters.”

When Sheng Hong arrived in Yangzhou with his family, several months had passed since his departure.

In Yangzhou, he welcomed his sixth child.

A daughter, named Minglan; though Wei Xiaoniang had ample milk, the Sheng household still hired a wet nurse surnamed Li.

In the Yongyi Marquis Mansion courtyard, dozens of fruit-bearing crops rustled in the wind.

There were spots of blood and feathers on the ground.

These were the birds that had tried to steal Xu Zaijing’s corn—now targets of his archery practice.

When the corn ripened, Deng Bo, who had tilled fields his entire life, had nearly mastered the new crop’s habits.

Looking at the vigorous crops, Deng Bo’s face glowed with satisfaction and pride.

During this time, Yongyi Marquis Xu Minghua returned to the northwest again.

He took with him the Daizhou youths and personal guards, leaving the Xu family’s stable noticeably emptier.

The ruler of Bai Gaohebei had died; the imperial harem’s relatives and powerful ministers now vied for control, and instability loomed.

Northwest military units were on high alert.

The strange flower brought from the Gu family, which Xu Zaijing had named cotton, slowly matured.

Deng Bo collected the seeds and began planting them again in the Marquis Mansion’s “experimental field.”

When the cold wind blew from the north, Bai Gaohebei sent a letter proposing peace.

The court erupted in debate over whether to fight or make peace.

Military officers naturally favored war—strike while the enemy is weak.

Civil officials opposed it; once war began,

the war machine, a gold-swallowing beast, would impose crushing tax burdens on the state.

Xu Zaijing learned of this through Lady Wu, who came to visit the Xu family.

To secure her son’s future, Sun Shi invested her dowry into the Bai and Wu families’ businesses, relying on her two good sisters to barely assemble a fortune for her eldest, Xu Zai Duan.

She prepared for his marriage to the Xie family’s daughter.

The blooming cotton flowers were painstakingly torn into fluff by Xu Zaijing’s servants; he made two padded inner robes and sent them to Sun Shi’s natal home.

The Sun family gave birth to two boys and a girl—all called Xu Zaijing “cousin uncle.”

Upon learning Sheng Hong had a daughter, the Xu family sent gifts to Jiyin Alley.

Come winter and the New Year, they still went to the palace to pay New Year’s respects.

The imperial prince grew healthy.

This made Xu Zaijing even more beloved in the Empress’s eyes, earning him more gifts.

The wife of the Zhongjing Marquis’s second illegitimate son—who had once visited the Xu family—was now pregnant.

After recovering for half a year, Lady Wu was pregnant again.

She became even more frequent in visiting the Xu family; through her, Xu Pingmei and her sister learned much about the capital’s noble families and their children.

After the New Year, the most talked-about event in Bianjing was the sixtieth birthday of the Xiangyang Marquis.

The Xiangyang Marquis had once saved His Majesty, sustaining grave injuries; his only daughter was raised by the Empress and later granted the title of Princess Pingning.

Though the Xiangyang Marquis had tried for years, he remained without a son, and gradually lost interest, beginning to select a male relative to adopt.

For this sixtieth birthday, as a senior minister of His Majesty, the capital’s nobles prepared to attend the celebration.

It was also a prime opportunity for noble daughters and sons to be matched.

The Dongchang Marquis Qin family would attend too; though Qin Er was already an older unmarried noblewoman, her gaze had changed from before.

Thank you, esteemed readers, for your support.

We’ve successfully reached the second round of recommendations.

I am humbled.

Only gratitude.

Bow again.

Please all support generously.

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(End of Chapter)