Chapter 499: A Formal Marriage Proposal

The twenty‑fifth year of Hongwu, April twenty‑third.

East of Jinling City, the Gu family's old residence.

Before dawn, Gu Mingyuan was already up.

He stood in the courtyard for a long while, staring blankly at the old locust tree.

The tree had been planted by his great‑grandfather, over two hundred years old, its branches dense and its canopy covering half the yard.

Every summer the family dined beneath it; when his father was alive he often said, as long as this tree stands, the Gu family's roots endure.

Today, he will take his son to Wu Wang Fu to propose marriage.

He is not going to any merchant house in Jinling City for business, nor to an official's residence to present gifts; he is heading to Yingtian Prefecture, to Wu Wang Fu, to see Prince.

The biggest deal he ever made in his life was teaming with several major merchants of Huizhou to load a few ships of silk and tea, ship them overseas, and fetch a good price.

That trip earned him over a hundred thousand taels of silver; he was so elated he couldn't sleep for three days, feeling he had become a notable figure.

In hindsight, it was truly a case of sitting in a well and gazing at the sky.

"Father…"

Gu Xian stepped out of the house, wearing a brand‑new stone‑blue straight robe, a plain belt at his waist, his hair meticulously combed.

He held a red‑wood case in his hands, which contained the marriage contract and the list of betrothal gifts.

"Has Old Master Chen arrived?" Gu Mingyuan asked.

"He's here, waiting at the door."

Gu Mingyuan inhaled deeply, adjusted his hat and attire, and strode out.

Old Master Chen stood at the doorway, dressed in a half‑worn blue shirt, his hair neatly combed.

At over seventy, his back was still straight, exuding the demeanor of a scholar.

He had been the head of the Jinling Academy, a former Hanlin editor, and after resigning devoted himself to teaching.

All officials in Jinling City, big and small, addressed him respectfully as "Old Chen," and even the Yingtian Prefect, on his birthday, received an invitation on his behalf.

"Let's go!"

Old Master Chen glanced at Gu Mingyuan and nodded.

A carriage waited at the entrance.

Gu Mingyuan and Gu Xian shared one carriage, while Old Master Chen rode alone in the larger carriage at the back.

The driver cracked the whip, and the hooves clattered as they headed toward Yingtian Prefecture.

From Jinling to Yingtian Prefecture, the official road was under a hundred li; a fast carriage could cover it in a little over an hour.

Gu Xian sat inside, clutching the red‑wood case, his knuckles turning white.

He had changed into fresh clothes today, re‑combed his hair, and dabbed a bit of osmanthus oil on his face—a stubborn application by his mother, who said it would make him look spirited.

"Don't be nervous..."

Gu Mingyuan glanced at his son.

"Father, I'm not nervous."

"Keep your hand steady."

Gu Xian lowered his head to look at his hand; it was indeed trembling.

He set the case on his lap, pressing it with both hands; the shaking stopped, but his heart raced faster.

Gu Mingyuan let out a sigh.

He himself was nervous, even more than the first time he went alone to Huizhou for business.

Back then a failed deal would have cost only a few silver taels; today a mistake could cost far more than silver.

The carriage entered Yingtian Prefecture city, and the streets grew busier with pedestrians.

Gu Xian looked out through the window; shops lined both sides of the street, their signs fluttering in the wind.

Pedestrians brushed shoulders: peddlers with shoulder‑carts, women leading children, and youths riding bicycles.

A row of utility poles streamed past the window, the porcelain jars atop them glinting with white glaze in the sun.

The carriage halted before the gate of Wu Wang Fu.

Gu Xian stepped out, looked up at the plaque.

The three bold characters of Wu Wang Fu were rendered with vigorous strokes, shimmering with a dark‑gold hue in the sunlight.

The two massive drum‑hammers at the entrance were absent today; their whereabouts were unknown.

"Commoner Gu Mingyuan, accompanied by my son Gu Xian, seeks audience with Prince," Gu Mingyuan's voice remained steady.

The Imperial Troops at the gate went inside to report, and a moment later emerged, leading them inward.

They entered the main gate, passed the screen wall, and walked along the bluestone passage.

Gu Mingyuan kept his gaze straight, yet his peripheral vision couldn't help glancing to either side.

The ginkgo tree stood tall and straight, clearly aged.

In the main courtyard, Zhu Rong was seated on a stone stool beneath the locust tree, sipping tea.

He wore a dark‑colored everyday robe, a jade belt at his waist, his hair meticulously combed.

He had thick eyebrows, large eyes, a square face, a full forehead, and eyes as calm as water.

The two massive drum‑hammers leaned against the base of the locust tree, their black‑gold sheen rippling in the sun, the dark‑red stains on them glaringly conspicuous.

Gu Mingyuan's steps faltered briefly, then quickly steadied as he hurried forward, knelt, and paid his respects.

"Commoner Gu Mingyuan, may I have an audience with Prince?"

Gu Xian knelt behind his father, holding the red‑wood case, his head bowed to the ground, forehead against the blue bricks.

"Rise!" Zhu Rong's voice was neither hurried nor slow.

The father and son rose and stood with their hands at their sides.

Old Mr. Chen walked up from behind, clasped his hands in a bow, neither servile nor overbearing.

He had served as an official in the court and had witnessed many grand scenes; although the King of the Realm's presence was indeed imposing, it was not enough to make him lose composure.

Zhu Yong rose to his feet, returned the bow, and invited Old Mr. Chen to sit.

Old Mr. Chen was not shy; he sat on the stone stool, took the tea handed over by the Imperial Troops, and sipped it slowly.

"Gu Mingyuan…" Zhu Yong began.

"I am here," Gu Mingyuan said, instantly straightening his back.

"How is your family's business doing?"

"Reply, Prince, my family trades in silk and tea, we have opened a few shops; though we are not exceedingly wealthy or noble, we have more than enough to eat and clothe ourselves," Gu Mingyuan said honestly, daring neither to exaggerate nor to sound too shabby.

"Your son Gu Xian, I have met him, he is fine; have you brought the betrothal gift list?" Zhu Yong glanced at Gu Xian, then looked toward Gu Mingyuan.

"It's brought, it's brought…" Gu Mingyuan hurriedly took the red wooden box from his son's hand and handed it up with both hands.

Wang Gui walked over, took the box, opened it, and passed the betrothal gift list to Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong gave it a quick glance and nodded.

The betrothal gifts were not lavish, but they were not meager either.

HuangJin hundred taels, silver thousand taels, twenty bolts of silk and brocade in various colors, ten boxes of tea, and a pair of jade ruyi—old heirlooms passed down through several generations of the Gu family.

"I have received the betrothal gifts, where is the marriage contract?"

Gu Mingyuan quickly took the marriage contract out of the box and handed it up with both hands.

Zhu Yong took it, unfolded it to glance, and handed it to Wang Gui for safekeeping.

"Gu Mingyuan, you have raised a fine son."

Gu Mingyuan's eyes suddenly reddened, his voice trembling a bit as he said, "Prince, you flatter me; I dare not accept such praise."

Zhu Yong stood up and walked to Gu Xian's side.

Gu Xian lowered his head, his expression unreadable, but his back was straight, neither dodging nor trembling.

"Gu Xian." Zhu Yong spoke.

"I am here."

"Huan Huan is my daughter; she has never suffered injustice since childhood. If you marry her, you must treat her well; should she suffer any grievance, I will not consent, nor will her uncle, nor will her imperial grandfather and imperial grandmother."

Gu Xian lifted his head, looked into Zhu Yong's eyes, and said word for word, "Prince, rest assured, though I have no great ability, I will never let the Princess suffer injustice. I will treat her well, and I will treat her well for the rest of my life."

Zhu Yong stared at his eyes, was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Old Mr. Chen set down his teacup, stood, and bowed, saying, "Prince, I, this old man, will now settle the marriage for these two children."

"Thank you, Old Chen," Zhu Yong returned the salute.

The betrothal matter has been settled.