Chapter 603: Choosing a Son-in-Law, the Man of Culture

Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

Jia Mu had changed into a new outfit today, adding to the festive atmosphere, graceful and kind, full of smiles.

Sitting in the center of the hall were five or six noble wives of various families, in silk and embroidery, with heads full of pearls and jade, and the fragrance was intoxicating.

Among the wives who came, the one from Jia Mu's maiden family was the wife of Marquis Zhongjing, and there were also the wife of Marquis Jingyang, the wife of Marquis Cheng Yang, the wife of Count Zhongcheng, and the wife of the eldest branch of the Duke of Zhiguo, Liu.

Also coming along were four young ladies from boudoirs of various families, all in their flower-like years of fourteen or fifteen, with elegant clothing and ornaments, and a demeanor of ten thousand ways, with the style of a great family's young lady, which made Lady Wang stare without blinking.

Jia Mu also called granddaughters like Yingchun, Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, and Shi Xiangyun to come over to accompany the guests, making Rongqing Hall appear even more brilliant and lively.

The wife of Marquis Zhongjing was also a shrewd person. Originally, when Jia Cong sent an invitation for his birthday banquet, she thought it was just a normal etiquette exchange between the two families.

The one attending the banquet today was her eldest son, and she was also invited by Jia Mu to talk. Plus, Shi Xiangyun was now being raised in the Jia family, so she naturally took the opportunity to come and visit.

But just after entering Rongqing Hall and seeing that apart from a few noble wives, there were also several young ladies of boudoir age, she felt that something was wrong.

Li felt strange in her heart. Today was Cong Ge'er's coming-of-age birthday banquet, and her aunt invited a bunch of young girls of the same age as him. What was this about?

But Li would not feel that Jia Mu was taking advantage of Jia Cong's birthday to take the opportunity to be a big matchmaker for him.

Others might not know the basis of this, but they, the Shi family, knew it clearly in their hearts.

Li knew her aunt had long made up her mind to marry her grand-niece Xiangyun to Jia Cong, thereby letting the Jia and Shi families marry.

Originally, because Jia Cong was granted a marriage by the palace, this marriage almost fell through. She did not expect Jia Cong's father to suddenly die, and this matter came back around again.

Why did her uncle in the family agree to let Xiangyun stay in the Divine Capital when he went to Jin Ling to take up his post? Xiangyun wanted to keep the Jia sisters company, and the elders of both the Jia and Shi families agreed with one voice. It was nothing more than opening a door of convenience.

Therefore, Li was certain that this pomp today was definitely not her aunt tearing down her own stage.

Li looked at her niece Xiangyun again and saw her full of smiles, her pair of bright eyes staring at the four young ladies, her expression somewhat funny and mischievous.

She knew her niece's temperament. Although the little girl had not fully opened her mind and was still somewhat ignorant, she was not a fool.

If she knew her aunt had set up such a big game specially to be a matchmaker and choose a wife for Cong Ge'er, could she still be happy like this……

Moreover, Li saw that the Jia family's Second Lady was actually also in Rongqing Hall, socializing with the visiting female guests with her aunt.

On the contrary, Cong Ge'er's own mother was like a decoration, with nothing to say. These two had swapped places.

For Cong Ge'er's birthday to entertain guests, why was a side-door aunt so enthusiastic?

Li was also a clever person. Seeing Lady Wang's gaze constantly turning on the young ladies of several families, vaguely looking like she was looking at a daughter-in-law, she found it funny.

These boudoir daughters were dressed up beautifully today, coming to visit with their mothers. Who they wanted to show themselves to was hard to say, at least it would not be this Jia family's Second Lady.

Li was suddenly full of curiosity and fun about today's events, feeling that there should be a good show to watch……

……

After a round of greetings from the group of noble wives, Jia Mu also looked at the young ladies of each family carefully and praised them with many good words.

She also had Yuanyang take gold and jade rings, wrist fragrance bead strings, and other things to distribute to the four noble boudoir young ladies as gifts for the first meeting. The scene was quite harmonious.

Jia Mu smiled and said to Yingchun, "You young ladies have your own private words to say. What fun is there in accompanying us old ones?

You take these sisters of old acquaintances to stroll in the garden. Do not neglect them. When it is time for the banquet, I will have the maids go and invite you."

After Yingchun, Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, and others brought the young ladies out of Rongqing Hall.

Jia Mu said a few more idle words and smiled at the wife of Marquis Cheng Yang, "I see your Third Young Lady is quite good. Has she been promised to anyone?"

The reason Jia Mu asked this was because among the four boudoir young ladies who came today, the Third Young Lady of the Marquis of Cheng Yang's family had the most outstanding appearance and character.

Plus, among these families who brought boudoir young ladies to visit, the relationship between the Marquis of Cheng Yang's Mansion and the Rongguo Prefecture was the closest.

The descendants of the Jia family's generation had once had in-law relations with the Marquis of Cheng Yang's Mansion, but the elders of that year had long passed away, but the friendship between the two families remained there, which could be considered proper old relatives.

The wife of Marquis Cheng Yang was also a shrewd person. Seeing the expression on Jia Mu's face when she asked, she was certain her guess was correct, and her mood became increasingly comfortable.

She smiled and said, "My Third Young Lady will only be fifteen after October this year. She is still young, so why be in such a hurry?

I have raised several children, and she is the one I treasure the most. Unless there is an excellent marriage, I would rather raise her for a few more years. I really cannot bear to part with her."

Hearing this, Jia Mu thought of her youngest daughter and said, "I understand this. The youngest daughter is always more favored.

You also do not be reluctant. As the saying goes, when a marriage comes, it comes. If it is an excellent one, that is also a great joyous event."

Hearing Jia Mu's words, the wife of Marquis Cheng Yang thought it was exactly what she wanted. As for Jia Cong currently being in mourning, it did not matter. In two years, her Third Young Lady would only be sixteen……

Xu smiled and said, "Then I will accept the Old Lady's auspicious words. I also hope this girl will have a good destination.

Speaking of which, this daughter of mine also has things that give me a headache. It is fine for a girl to learn needlework and embroidery, but she happens to like literature and ink.

Our master hired a knowledgeable teacher a few years ago, wanting the boys in the family to read more books. The Third Young Lady was just tagging along to make up the numbers.

But I did not expect that none of those boys were materials for reading, while the Third Young Lady had great spirituality in this regard, reading a belly full of poetry and articles.

Usually, when relatives and sisters of the same generation come to the house, as long as they know some literature, they will gather together to compose couplets and rhyme poetry. She does not look like a girl at all.

There is one more thing, the Old Lady might not know. Your Cong Ge'er is a great talent. Our Third Young Lady appreciates the poetry he wrote the most, and she can recite every single one.

She also heard that Cong Ge'er's calligraphy is extremely good, and even the Retired Emperor praised it. She also heard that there are a few authentic works of Cong Ge'er in the Xiao family bookstore on Wenhan Street, so she spent effort wanting to buy them to appreciate.

But she emptied her own private silver, and the shopkeeper refused to sell them no matter what. That girl was so angry that she shed tears for me. It is also quite funny……"

……

The wife of Marquis Cheng Yang had excellent eloquence. Her words were enthusiastic and smooth, quite endless.

Lady Wang at the side heard this, and her face gradually became somewhat ugly. Originally full of ambition and hope in her heart, it was as if she had been struck by lightning, instantly shattered into pieces.

Jia Mu was an old adult in the inner courtyard and had seen many scenes in her life, so she naturally had more composure than her daughter-in-law. But hearing the wife of Marquis Cheng Yang's praise, a trace of embarrassment also appeared on her face.

The Old Lady only felt that the scene before her had completely gone off track. What she had in mind was Baoyu, but Xu praised Jia Cong indirectly, almost saying that her daughter and Jia Cong were a match made in heaven.

Jia Mu's face stiffened, and she forced a smile and said, "What are you saying, Marquis Wife? It is just a piece of calligraphy. How can you let your Third Young Lady go and buy it?

When I turn back, I will talk to Cong Ge'er and have him write one to give to his cousin. It is not a big deal."

The wife of Marquis Cheng Yang was full of smiles and said, "That would be great. Cong Ge'er's talent is now widely known, and his calligraphy is very precious.

If my girl gets his ink treasure, she will surely be very happy. I will have someone send word now, and I must have our Xing Ge'er toast the Count of Weiyuan a few more times."

Once Xu said this, the other wives seemed not to be outdone and also said some words about their own girls liking literature and ink, but it was not easy to repeat others' words too much, so they also said they wanted ink treasures.

The wife of Marquis Zhongjing witnessed the strange scene in the hall and saw the faint embarrassment on her aunt's face, and the Jia family's Second Lady's face seemed to be turning as black as the bottom of a pot. She was already holding her stomach in pain.

She only felt that coming to the Jia family today was truly not wrong, as she actually saw such a funny thing. Xiangyun, that little ghost, must have known the basis long ago. No wonder she had a mischievous look just now.

……

The group of noble wives chatted for a few more words. The wife of Marquis Cheng Yang was proud that her daughter had an outstanding appearance, thinking that the Old Lady of Jia must be able to take a fancy to her, but in front of everyone, it was not easy to say it directly.

However, she was not in a hurry in her heart. Such a big marriage matter was a slow grind at the beginning, so there was no need to be too anxious.

When the old woman outside reminded them that the banquet was about to open, Jia Mu took the noble wives and young ladies to take their seats. Xu wanted to change clothes, and the wife of Marquis Jingyang also happened to go together.

Not long after the two finished and came out, the maid who had been sent by Xu to send word suddenly came over in a hurry, and the expression on her face was still somewhat strange.

That maid was slightly stunned when she saw the wife of Marquis Jingyang was also present.

Just now, when she went to the outer courtyard to send word, she happened to meet the eldest young master's young servant, who hurriedly asked her to bring word back to the inner courtyard……

The maid knew the matter was strange, so she did not dare to delay. Although it was somewhat rude, she still leaned into her mistress's ear and told her the news she had received in detail.

The wife of Marquis Cheng Yang learned the basis, her expression changed slightly, and a little unhappiness surged in her heart.

However, she was a guest, so she did not show it on her face, and she was glad in her heart that she did not fall into the pit. She would just turn it back when the time came.

The wife of Marquis Jingyang at the side felt strange and could not help but ask, "Did something happen?"

Xu smiled and said, "How could anything happen? Speaking of which, Cong Ge'er is good at everything, but he has been unlucky this year.

Originally, after today's coming-of-age banquet, he could get married and establish himself, but he happened to run into his father's death, so he would have to wait two or three years before he could marry.

However, Baoyu of the Jia family's Second Branch does not have this taboo. I have also watched Baoyu grow up since he was a child. He is the same age as Cong Ge'er and is also a person of first-class appearance and character. You don't say, your Second Young Lady is outstanding. I look at them, and they are quite a match……"

The wife of Marquis Jingyang had also been a Marquis wife for half her life and had seen all kinds of scenes, so she was not a confused person.

She thought of the maid coming over to whisper in her ear just now, and Xu's face changed, and then she said such a strange thing. Just by thinking about it slightly, how could she not guess what the matter was?

She could not help but slander in her heart, this matter had been going on for a long time, so it turned out that the Old Lady of Jia was playing an empty city strategy……

What kind of cool words is this Marquis of Cheng Yang's wife saying? Your mansion knows it clearly, and my Marquis of Jingyang's Mansion is not confused either.

My Second Young Lady is a golden and jade-precious virgin. Why go and provoke goods like Baoyu? Could it be that the Marquis of Jingyang's Mansion has lived a good life enough and actually wants to slap the face of the Saint in the palace……

……

In the large flower hall behind Rongqing Hall, the female banquet officially opened.

After the banquet had been going on for a while, Jia Cong was socializing with male guests of the same generation in the outer courtyard. Because today was his make-up coming-of-age birthday ceremony, he received Jia Mu's message and returned to the inner courtyard to pay respects to the elders of each family.

Baoyu naturally followed him. He had been sitting stiffly at the male banquet just now, and very few descendants of old families talked to him. He was also too lazy to socialize with others, truly sitting on pins and needles.

!

Now knowing that he was going to return to the inner courtyard to socialize at the female banquet, he truly let out a long sigh of relief.

When the two entered the large flower hall for the female banquet, the female guests present saw Jia Cong's handsome appearance and wise and heroic spirit, like a jade tree and orchid. Several noble wives were full of smiles.

Those four boudoir young ladies saw Jia Cong's outstanding demeanor, and their eyes were even more burning, their pretty faces blushing, not daring to look more, yet unable to bear not looking……

They had long heard of Jia Cong's reputation daily, but the daughters of merit families never stepped out of the gate and never had the opportunity to see him. Today, seeing him, he was indeed as outstanding as the legends.

Baoyu followed beside Jia Cong. After entering the large flower hall, he discovered that there were four extra young ladies with elegant clothing and beautiful appearances at the female banquet, and he could not help but be in a great mood.

He sighed in his heart that this place where daughters were like water was where he should stay. Unlike the male banquet outside, which had a stench of whiskers, it was truly suffocating.

What made him even more happy was that just as he entered the large flower hall, the eyes of the four outside young ladies all looked at him in unison……

This made Baoyu happy in his heart. After all, he was born with some handsome style and did not disgrace the eyes of the daughters.

He could not help but feel some sighing and pride in his heart, and he could not help but straighten his waist a bit……

Baoyu took another look at Jia Cong. This person did not even look at the four young ladies properly, truly being rude to the beauties and extremely impolite, only caring about paying respects to several noble wives.

Baoyu sighed in his heart. Jia Cong is still Jia Cong. Everything he does is that set of official career and economic style. It truly wastes such a figure of his……

……

At the female banquet, Yingchun saw the noble wives looking at her brother's style and demeanor with envy and praise, and could not help but purse her lips, her eyes full of pride.

Daiyu saw Jia Cong enter the hall, and a smile could not help but appear on her face.

She saw Baoyu enter the large flower hall and stare at their table without blinking, his movements frivolous and his eyes shining, and could not help but frown, slightly turning her body away.

Shi Xiangyun saw that as soon as her Third Brother entered the flower hall, the four young ladies at the same table all looked at him in unison, their little faces red.

Her Third Brother was acting as if it were a serious matter, looking straight ahead, paying respects to the elders like an old scholar, as if he didn't even look at this side, while the Second Brother was looking at the young ladies without blinking.

This strange and fun situation made her very happy in her heart. The mouthful of wine she had just drunk could not help but be sprayed out, and she hurriedly took a handkerchief to cover it up.

Jia Cong paid his respects and left cleanly. Baoyu wanted to stay very much in his heart, but since Jia Cong had left, it seemed improper for him to stay alone.

He had to leave the flower hall in low spirits, still looking back frequently, with a look of reluctance.

……

The wife of Marquis Cheng Yang saw Jia Cong leave the flower hall and smiled, "Old Lady, I heard that the spring metropolitan examination just ended this year. Cong Ge'er is the Jieyuan of Yongzhou. I think he will surely be on the list this time.

The Old Lady is about to have great joy again."

Jia Mu smiled slightly, "Cong Ge'er has been studying diligently since he was a child. Whenever he takes an examination, I have never seen him fail.

His ability in reading is highly valued by my Zheng'er. He is not a bit worse to this nephew than to his own son Baoyu.

Cong Ge'er is also strange, actually respecting Zheng'er more than his own father, so although Cong Ge'er and Baoyu are cousins, they are exceptionally close compared to other descendants in the family."

The wife of Marquis Jingyang smiled slightly and casually echoed, "This matter has been heard outside. Although Cong Ge'er comes from the eldest branch, he grew up in the second branch since he was a child, so it is natural that they are closer."

Although Zhang said so, it was just to deal with Jia Mu.

Just now, she and Xu had already sensed Jia Mu's empty city strategy. Now, even if Jia Mu dug a hole, she would not be able to fool them.

Whether the other wives present would fall into the pit was none of their business.

……

However, when Jia Mu said these words, Yingchun, Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, and others at the neighboring table all felt strange in their hearts. How could the Old Lady tell a lie with her eyes open?

Why have they never felt that Jia Cong and Baoyu were so close?

The two of them had treated each other with courtesy since childhood and had never had any disputes, but that was not closeness; it was just that they were not on the same page.

Where would the sisters of the family not know the basis of this? I am afraid that deep in their hearts, these two looked down on each other……

The wife of Marquis Cheng Yang heard Jia Mu's words and felt that today's topic was confused, as if it were not the case.

She smiled and said, "Speaking of which, it is still the Old Lady who has a good way of teaching, raising such an outstanding descendant as Cong Ge'er, who can not only ride a horse and lead troops but also be on the Golden List.

Some time ago, our master also said that our families of old relatives all relied on our ancestors fighting on the battlefield to exchange military merit for titles and wealth.

But now the Saint is wise, the Great Zhou is at peace, the Jurchens are pacified in the north, and the remnants of the Mongols and Tibetans are suppressed in the west. Families of military merit do not need to be like the older generation, riding horses on the battlefield all year round.

The young descendants in the family were originally prepared to inherit their ancestors' business, practicing martial arts since childhood, but now it seems they have no place to use their martial arts.

So, our master has hired famous scholars these years to teach the descendants in the family to read books, originally thinking that if the young men could study and become talented, doing some literary merit, they could also serve the country.

But I did not expect that none of the descendants in the family were materials for reading. Our master said that he could not count on his sons, so in the future, he would let his daughters marry a talented person with merit, so as to add some literary spirit to the family.

In the future, descendants can also be both literary and martial, serving the imperial court."

The wife of Marquis Jingyang heard this and immediately had a flash of inspiration, saying, "The Marquis of Cheng Yang's words are very reasonable. Now it is a peaceful and prosperous age, who still wants to kill and fight?

Only a young man like Cong Ge'er who has imperial examination merit has a truly bright future.

Although the daughters of our families are not that delicate, the lifelong events of young ladies cannot be sloppy. If they can choose a talented person with merit as a son-in-law, that is also a very reliable thing."

……

Once Zhang said this, the other noble wives echoed one after another. Weren't they counting on this when they brought their girls to the Jia family today……

However, the wife of Marquis Cheng Yang and the wife of Marquis Jingyang sang in harmony to show their hearts, draw a line, and hurriedly clear themselves.

To avoid rumors that their two families were talking about marriage with Baoyu. If word reached the palace, their masters would be looked down upon.

As for the other wives who were still in the dark, it was none of their business.

Lady Wang heard the words of the two Marquis wives, and a breath was stuck in her chest, unable to go up or down. She could not describe how uncomfortable she felt in her heart.

Originally, the Old Lady spent a lot of effort to set up the stage, just to find a good marriage for Baoyu, carefully selecting and inviting these wives and young ladies to be guests.

As a result, in a few words, all the good words inside and outside were turned to that kid in the East Prefecture. What exactly happened to my Baoyu……

Jia Mu heard the strange words of the two Marquis wives, and the Old Lady was a bit messy, her brain confused, and she could not understand it at all.

These families of military merit born from fighting, with coarse military blood at the root, why are they talking about imperial examinations and reading books now? It is truly a ghost!

The wife of Marquis Cheng Yang smiled and said, "However, the Old Lady's family is uniquely blessed. Cong Ge'er is the number one talent in the Great Zhou, and he and Baoyu are the closest brothers.

He will always give pointers to his own brother. Baoyu is also a clever root born with jade. As long as he gets Cong Ge'er's help, maybe he will enter the school and get merit in a year or two.

By then, the Jia family will be two heroes in one family, and the threshold of the prefecture will be trampled flat. The Old Lady's blessings will be even greater……"

Jia Mu's face was strange, but out of concern for her face, she could only smile and echo a few words.

Otherwise, the ghost stories just now, saying that Jia Cong and Baoyu were the closest brothers, would they not be exposed?

However, even if Jia Mu was biased and doted on Baoyu, she did not believe that Baoyu could enter the school and get merit in the future.

At this time, the other noble wives still did not know the situation, and the topic was led to imperial examinations and reading books by the two Marquis wives.

They talked about the rumors they heard outside, saying that the examination compound was busy copying and reviewing the test papers, and among the three thousand candidates, there were only a hundred or so Jinshi……(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 604 =====