Chapter 474: Speaking with eyes open [Thanks! Thanks again! 41k words owed]

The first quarter of the Chen hour (8:00 AM)

West of Bianjing City

Wansheng Gate Main Street

Xiaoya Lane

"Di-di-da~"

"Dong-dong-qiang~"

The cheerful suona and gongs and drums sounded,

Leading a line of carriages and horses toward the outside of the lane,

At the head were two young men riding spirited horses with flowers pinned to them.

At the entrance of the Ni family's gate, decorated with red,

Seeing Zhu Qinghu and Seeing Ni Qiqiu, the couple, withdrew their gazes and walked into the courtyard with the crowd.

Representing her mother-in-law, Xie Shi, dressed in festive and bright clothes, stood beside Seeing Ni Qiqiu. After laughing and saying a few words with the Sun family aunt who came to help on the side, she tilted her head and said: "Sister-in-law, Mother-in-law and I always thought we were going to set off from the Zhu family."

Xu Zaijing's maternal grandfather, the Sun family, was on West Water Gate Main Street. Seeing Ni Qiqiu often taught the Sun family children to read. Xu Zaijing's aunts, when they felt uncomfortable, Seeing Ni Qiqiu would not care about her status as a Viscount's Da Niangzi and would often help them with massage, so the relationship was quite good.

Seeing Ni Qiqiu smiled: "At first we thought so too, but we couldn't resist the Sheng family's warm hospitality, and Xiaodie also had this intention, so it was set at the Sheng family."

Also in new clothes, with a married woman's hairstyle, Cheng Daniangzi of the Zhu family of the Earl of Chengping smiled and said: "Marrying a maid from the main gate of the home, speaking of it, is also a beautiful story. No matter who it is, they have to say a word about being kind to servants."

Xie Shi nodded in agreement: "That's true!"

Xu Zaijing's Eighth Wei Wei Yima smiled: "This Da Niangzi of the Earl's family is just different. The same meaning, but it sounds good when it comes out of her mouth!"

Xu Zaijing's Second Wei Wei Yima said: "You don't know how to praise people, so say less!"

As soon as these words came out, the women around laughed one after another.

Cheng Daniangzi pursed her lips somewhat embarrassedly, smiled, and exchanged glances with Seeing Ni Qiqiu.

This Zhu family Cheng Daniangzi was Chai Zhengzheng's cousin, Cheng Qiniang. Her husband was the eldest son of the Earl of Chengping, the Zhu family, and worked in the Ministry of Works.

Before, the Cheng family had helped the Ni family a lot, letting the Ni siblings suffer less bullying.

And later, the Cheng family could marry into the Zhu family because of the kinship between the Ni, Zhu, Xu, and Lu (Lian State Duke's residence) families.

Before, Seeing Ni Qiqiu had the intention of letting her brother marry into the Cheng family. Although the good thing didn't happen, it didn't affect the coming and going between the two families.

As they were talking,

The crowd entered the courtyard,

Today, the Ni family's residence had undergone repairs and changed a lot, far from the dilapidated appearance when Seeing Ni Qiqiu got married.

"Sister, which artisan did you invite to repair the courtyard? The craftsmanship looks really good!"

Jin Daniangzi looked around the courtyard and asked.

Seeing Ni Qiqiu smiled, looked at Cheng Qiniang, who was also curious, and said: "I wanted to invite the Li family's artisan team, but they were too busy, so I used another team recommended by the Li family. The little master who led the team even has relatives in the Marquis of Hou Fu Chang's family!"

"Oh~"

Jin Daniangzi nodded.

The other Da Niangzi around didn't speak, but there was quite a bit of playful expression in their eye contact.

There was no other reason; the Rong family, the Marquis of Hou Fu Chang, were originally mud-and-tile workers by ancestry.

The Da Niangzi of the high-ranking and powerful households in Bianjing often used this to squeeze the arrogant and domineering Rong family, and the interesting anecdotes naturally spread among the commoners.

The third month of spring,

Neither cold nor hot.

After the Da Niangzi took their seats in the main hall, the topic turned to the trivial matters of Bianjing.

Taking advantage of a gap in the conversation,

Cheng Qiniang asked uncertainly:

"By the way, when this Sheng official of Jiying Lane was the Assistant Prefect in Yang Zhou, was the Prefect surnamed Hong?"

The Da Niangzi in the hall looked at each other,

Xie Shi shook her head to indicate she didn't know,

It was still that Jin Daniangzi who thought for a moment and said: "It seems so!"

"I'm not afraid of you all laughing at me, but I have a cousin who is a noble concubine in the Kang family. I heard about the matter of this brother-in-law of Kang official when we were talking before. The one who served with Sheng official was Hong official."

Once this topic was opened,

The Da Niangzi in the hall chatted away, and the topic naturally shifted to the recent scandal of the Kang family.

If this happened to an ordinary family, people would discuss it, let alone a noble family like the Kang family.

"Duan Ge'er's family, how much silver did the Kang family actually have embezzled by the evil servants? Have you heard?" Xu Zaijing's Eighth Wei Wei Yima said.

Xie Shi hesitated for a moment, but looking at the very gossipy and inquisitive eyes of the Da Niangzi, she still said: "A noble family like the Kang family, how could it be less than seven or eight thousand strings!"

The Da Niangzi heard this and all nodded in approval.

"I heard that the Kang family's Qi Da and Qi Er stewards, together with the personal guards and servants under them, haven't appeared for several days..."

"Isn't it said they were sent to the villa outside the city?"

"Who knows... maybe..."

"On such a day, let's not talk about this topic." Sun family's Second Wei Wei Yima said.

"Right, right, right, let's not talk about it." The Da Niangzi responded.

After Jin Daniangzi responded, she looked at Cheng Qiniang and said: "Sister, why did you ask about the Hong family just now?"

Cheng Qiniang said: "Before, my mother-in-law and Liu Daniangzi went out of the city to visit a Daoist, saying that the Third Miss of the Hong family was engaged to the Marquis of Dongchang's residence, but in my maiden home, I heard it was the Marquis of Ningyuan's residence."

"Mainly because I heard that this Hong official is about to take up a post in the Ministry of Works... so I wanted to take this opportunity to ask."

Everyone in the hall understood, and then they all looked at Cheng Qiniang with a smile: This girl is planning for her husband; the eldest son of the Zhu family is just a small official in the Ministry of Works.

The Xu family and the Gu family were in-laws,

So everyone looked at Xie Shi when they were talking.

Xie Shi smiled: "I haven't received the wedding invitation from the Gu family yet. When I go home today, I will ask my mother-in-law, and I will notify you, sister, when there is news."

Hearing this, Cheng Qiniang hurriedly stood up and bowed in salute: "Sorry to trouble you, Da Niangzi."

Xie Shi waved her hand with a smile.

Everyone also turned to other topics.

During this period,

The Ni family sent another batch of people to the Sheng family to send the makeup gifts.

Near noon,

Jiying Lane

The Sheng family

The inside and outside of the courtyard were decorated festively,

Not as grand as when Hualan got married,

But it was also full of joy.

Shou'an Hall,

The Old Madam looked at Seeing Seeing Sheng Hong kindly and said: "Hong'er, why are you so happy today?"

Seeing Seeing Sheng Hong sat in the chair with a face full of smiles, bowed slightly, and said: "Mother, son was handling affairs in the office, and many colleagues praised me, saying that son is benevolent and treats people with generosity."

The Old Madam nodded with a smile: "Mm! This can also be considered a good reputation."

Seeing Seeing Sheng Hong nodded with great satisfaction: "Speaking of which, it was still thanks to Ming'er's mother mentioning it that son made this decision."

"Then it seems Da Niangzi and I didn't pick the wrong person."

Seeing Seeing Sheng Hong smiled awkwardly.

At the beginning, Seeing Seeing Sheng Hong wanted Lin Qinshuang to manage the household, but he couldn't resist the two Old Madams who favored Wei Wei Xiaoniang.

At this time, Fang Mama smiled at the entrance and said: "Old Madam, Master, the Ni family's second batch of makeup gifts has arrived."

Seeing Seeing Sheng Hong stood up: "Mother, son will also go out to watch the excitement."

The Old Madam nodded with a smile: "Go."

After speaking, the Old Madam tilted her head and looked at the calligraphy book Sheng Changzhen was copying on the table, nodded with great approval: "It's written much better than your sister's."

In the courtyard of Jin'an Study,

The festive atmosphere was much thicker than in the courtyard.

The maid Qiujiang tied red silk around her waist, looking at Xiaodie, who was wearing wedding clothes, with envy.

Seeing Wei Shuyi stood on the side with a smile, handed the comb in her hand to Qingcao, and said: "Qingcao, you have truly obtained the true teachings of Fang Mama. The hairstyle is combed like this, it really looks better than before."

In the room, several young maids all nodded.

Qingcao smiled and exchanged glances with Xiaodie, smiling somewhat shyly: "Wei Xiaoniang, don't praise me, my embroidery skills are far behind yours!"

Liu Mama's own daughter, Jiuer, who was thirteen or fourteen years old, held a plain head crown and turned to the little maid Caihuan: "The embroidery on Xiaodie's wedding dress is truly beautiful..."

Caihuan looked at the beautiful and well-dressed Huaxiang and Yunxiang standing opposite her, and said in a low voice absent-mindedly: "Perhaps it was embroidered by Wei Wei Xiaoniang herself."

Jiuer continued: "I don't know if we can compare with Xiaodie when we get married."

Xique, the personal maid of Rulan on the side, said in a low voice: "Then we must have a brother who died for the country, and the brother's comrade-in-arms must be a noble, and we must have saved the personal maid of the Marquis's residence's young master."

"Go, go, go, how annoying!"

Jiuer said reproachfully.

At this time,

Xiaotao ran over excitedly, looked at everyone in the room, and smiled: "The bridegroom has arrived!"

At the Sheng family's main gate,

Xu Zaijing and his brother stood there after school at noon.

Originally, Xu Zaijing and his brother didn't need to stand here for Xiaodie's wedding,

But because those accompanying Ni Tengyue to welcome the bride were his classmates from the Li family school, all of whom were children of officials.

Xu Zaijing couldn't resist the request of his cousin Seeing Zhu Qinghu,

So he had to come to catch some joy and block the door,

As a result, Gu Tingye and Qi Heng, who liked to join in the fun, also followed.

Plus Changbai and Changfeng, who were originally at the gate,

This was the Sheng family school against the Li family school.

In the courtyard,

Seeing Seeing Sheng Hong looked at the noise at the main gate and said to Dong Rong on the side: "The Li family can send these few, it seems they are very optimistic about this Ni family young master!"

"Master is right!"

Thinking of his three daughters,

Seeing Seeing Sheng Hong put his hands behind his back and said: "Let's go, let's go over and see."

Arriving at the gate,

They saw that the official children beside Ni Tengyue were completely suppressed by the momentum of Xu Zaijing's party.

Xu Zaijing's party had all passed the prefectural examination, and four of the six were legitimate sons of noble families, and they were taught by the great Confucian Zhuang Xuejiu.

It was only natural for the opposite side to be suppressed.

Fortunately, Xu Zaijing and the others knew the importance and didn't make things too difficult, which allowed everyone to enter the courtyard.

Subsequently, the crowd followed the bridegroom into the Sheng family's front hall.

Sheng family inner courtyard

Weiruixuan main hall,

Wang Ruofu sat in the chair with a smile on her face,

Seeing Wei Shuyi stood beside Wang Ruofu,

Wei Auntie stood in the hall with a face full of joy, supporting Xiaodie, who was wearing wedding clothes.

"Da Niangzi, the bridegroom has arrived at the front hall." Caihuan reported at the entrance.

Wang Ruofu nodded: "Go."

Xiaodie had tears in her eyes, looked at Seeing Wei Shuyi, who had a smile on her face, lifted the hem of her wedding dress, and knelt down. Wei Auntie couldn't even pull her back.

Looking at Wang Ruofu's surprised expression and Seeing Wei Shuyi's hesitant-to-speak appearance, Xiaodie said with tears in her smile: "Da Niangzi, Wei Xiaoniang, I am leaving."

Wang Ruofu stood up and nodded: "Go! Truly a good child!"

Watching Xiaodie leave the hall,

Wang Ruofu supported Liu Mama's arm and said somewhat regretfully: "Alas, I should have given more things."

"Da Niangzi is kind-hearted."

Liu Mama echoed.

Subsequently,

Wei Auntie supported Xiaodie, who was holding a round fan, and went to the front hall.

Amidst the heat, she was carried out of the Sheng family by Ni Tengyue and got into the bridal sedan chair.

After nodding in acknowledgment toward Wei Auntie, who was watching him at the gate, Xu Zaijing looked at the departing sedan chair and tilted his head to Qingcao: "How many loads of dowry is this for Xiaodie?"

Qingcao thought for a moment and said: "Replying to Young Master, it is said to be thirty-six loads."

Xu Zaijing nodded and turned to enter the Sheng family.

When the bride arrived at Xiaoya Lane, there was naturally another round of excitement.

Because Seeing Ni Qiqiu and her brother's parents were dead,

So the next day, when Xiaodie and Ni Tengyue served tea, it was Seeing Ni Qiqiu who sat in the seat of honor on behalf of their parents.

Beside Seeing Ni Qiqiu stood the other two little ones of the Ni family.

After drinking the tea,

Seeing Ni Qiqiu looked at her brother and sister-in-law standing there and said with a smile: "In the future, the Ni family will have to rely on you two..."

After a series of entrustments,

Seeing Ni Qiqiu and Seeing Zhu Qinghu stood up and prepared to leave the Ni family.

Seeing Zhu Qinghu and Ni Tengyue walked in front talking,

Seeing Ni Qiqiu walked behind, holding Xiaodie's arm.

Xiaodie looked at Seeing Ni Qiqiu's appearance and said: "Sister, what's wrong?"

Seeing Ni Qiqiu hesitated: "Xiaodie, were all these dowries prepared for you by Wei Niangzi?"

Xiaodie smiled: "Some were prepared by Wei Xiaoniang, and others were sent by Da Niangzi, Miss Hualan, and the Marquis's residence."

Seeing Ni Qiqiu nodded: "No wonder it is so generous!"

Saying this, Seeing Ni Qiqiu took out a silver banknote from her sleeve and stuffed it into Xiaodie's hand: "This is the heart of your brother-in-law and me! In the future, the Ni family will be managed by you."

"Sister, this..."

Xiaodie looked at Ni Tengyue in front somewhat at a loss.

Seeing Ni Qiqiu looked at her little brother and sister talking beside Seeing Zhu Qinghu and said: "In the future, they will still need you to worry about them, accept it!"

Xiaodie accepted the silver banknote: "Mm!"

Watching the Zhu family carriage walk far away,

Ni Tengyue looked at Xiaodie, who was still watching, and said: "Wife, let's go back."

Ni Tengyue was a man,

Seeing Ni Qiqiu was busy with the affairs of the Zhu family,

How could the two little ones of the Ni family not be neglected?

Later, when Seeing Ni Qiqiu came to Xiaoya Lane again and saw the clothes and hairstyles of the Ni family's little brother and sister 'renewed', that was a story for later.

Two days before the examination results were posted,

The news of the Sheng family in Jiying Lane marrying off a maid had been circulating in the capital,

People said that someone even wanted to write this matter into a travelogue,

Thinking of this made Seeing Seeing Sheng Hong laugh from ear to ear all day long.

How that person would write it, Seeing Seeing Sheng Hong already had a draft in his heart: 'The Sheng family of Jiying Lane, Bianjing, the Master of the house, how and how...'

On the day the results were posted,

Early morning,

Xu Zaijing and his brother didn't go to the Sheng family,

But according to Zhuang Xuejiu's instructions, went directly to the South Courtyard of the Ministry of Rites.

The Great Zhou imperial examination results were posted,

Which were pasted on the large shadow wall outside the South Courtyard of the Ministry of Rites.

Although Xu Zaijing and his brother had arrived early enough,

When they arrived outside the South Courtyard of the Ministry of Rites,

Quite a few people were already gathered there.

Among the crowd were scholars who had taken the examination to see the results,

Rich merchants and squires of Bianjing dressed in decent clothes,

And some servants, idlers, and yamen runners dressed in red robes.

If a candidate passed the examination, it was like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, with a bright future.

The servants and idlers saw the ranking and sent the good news, naturally receiving a generous reward.

The scholars saw their ranking, and after passing, there were naturally squires and rich merchants on the side waiting to catch a son-in-law under the list.

It was called catching a son-in-law, but it was mostly done with profit as bait. For scholars who passed the examination, as long as they nodded and signed the marriage contract, there would be a gift of three hundred to one thousand strings of cash, not counting the dowry of the young ladies later.

The morning light was faint,

Xu Zaijing and his brother were stationed on their horses on the side,

"May I ask the young master's noble surname and given name?"

A steward dressed in decent clothes came over and asked with a bow and salute.

Zaihang asked with a smile: "Asking whom?"

The steward glanced at Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing cupped his hands and said: "I didn't participate in this imperial examination, I just came to take a look."

The steward had a look of regret in his eyes and bowed and saluted again politely: "Sorry to disturb you, Young Master."

After the person walked far away,

Zaihang smiled and said: "Little Five, this is the seventh person who has come to ask you."

Xu Zaijing shook his head helplessly and said: "Let's wait for the tea house on the side to open, and we will go up to wait for Zhuang Xuejiu."

Just after speaking for a while, the steward from just now walked back and cupped his hands: "Young Master, my master asks if you are married? If not, even if you didn't pass the examination, my family is willing to marry! My master lives in the Wang family for a long time and has a family fortune of ten thousand strings..."

Qingyun on the side said: "What family fortune of ten thousand strings, why don't you look at my young master's mount before speaking?"

The steward looked up,

At this time, the sun had just risen,

The spirited brown dragon horse Xu Zaijing was sitting on was shining with dark gold under the morning light.

The steward swallowed his saliva.

"Chii~"

The dragon horse snorted.

Fortunately, at this time someone shouted: "Passed, passed! Brother Brother Jin Yu, you passed!"

A stone stirred up a thousand waves,

The crowd looked toward the 'Brother Brother Jin Yu' mentioned by that person.

The steward in front of Xu Zaijing hurriedly bowed and saluted, and left with his servants.

Xu Zaijing, sitting high, could see several stewards dressed as decently as the one just now rushing toward that person.

Listening from afar to the voices of self-reporting identity, family assets, and gift money,

In a short while, that 'Brother Brother Jin Yu' was surrounded by someone's servants and walked out amidst the envious eyes of the crowd.

When passing by Xu Zaijing's party,

In the morning light, that person happened to see Qingyun, who was talking and laughing with Xu Zaijing.

After that 'Brother Brother Jin Yu' said a few words to the steward beside him, he brought people over, bowed and saluted toward Xu Zaijing's party: "Thank you, benefactor, for your previous help."

Xu Zaijing, Zaihang, and Qingyun looked at each other in dismay, their eyes full of the confusion of 'You did it?'.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 475 =====