Shipin Dalizheng

Chapter 354 Engagement

Xiao Jinyue returned to the courtyard where her mother was recuperating. Madam Xiao was awake, staring blankly at the beams of the house. Her sunken eye sockets looked even worse.

She rushed over and cried, "Mother, I've chosen one myself. Please take a look at it. We really can't be picky. If you still don't like this one, I'll become a nun and won't cause any trouble for Earl Jian'an."

Madam Xiao's throat moved a few times. She was also reflecting that although the young men selected by the Earl of Jian'an were not the best in the capital, they were the best her daughter could choose at the moment. What was she dissatisfied with?

When she first learned that she could choose for her daughter herself, she told herself that it would be fine if it was almost there. But after looking at so many, she still felt that they were all missing the most crucial point, but she couldn't tell what it was.

"Yueyue, who have you chosen? Let mother see."

Madam Xiao asked, forcing herself to cheer up.

Xiao Jinyue forced a smile and replied, "It was Brother Rong Wanli, the trusted guard of Earl Jian'an. Mother, he was the one who brought you back. What do you think of him? Even if I agree, I don't know if he agrees."

Madam Xiao was shocked. She finally understood the difference between the people in front of her. It wasn't age or rank, but their closeness to the Earl of Jian'an. Xiao Poyun was able to live in the Earl of Jian'an's mansion, so he must be someone the Earl of Jian'an trusted. But from her observation over the past few days, Xiao Poyun's relationship with the Earl of Jian'an was not as close as Rong Wanli's.

Yes, yes, that young man is good. He is a seventh-rank military officer and is of the same age and appearance as Jinyue. He has not wronged her daughter in any way.

After panting for a while, he asked Xiao Jinyue to ask Nanny Xi to come over.

Nanny Xi knew that Madam Xiao was seriously ill and was afraid that she would not survive. She thought she had some last words to say, so she went to listen. After hearing Madam Xiao's thoughts, she was also stunned.

"I don't have the power to decide your marriages. This matter still needs to be decided by Master Bo and Master Wanli. I'm just going to open my mouth and decide whether it will be successful or not. Madam, please don't blame me."

Madam Xiao struggled to get up and bow to Nanny Xi, nearly falling off the bed. "Nanny, I can't seem to make it. The one I can't let go of the most is Jinyue. Please, Nanny, say a few kind words to her. My Jinyue is smart, intelligent, well-educated, and has excellent character. If it weren't for her useless father... well, please, for the sake of a mother, say a few kind words to her."

Nanny Xi was speechless. Indeed, if Lord Xiao had not fallen, Miss Xiao, as the daughter of a third-rank minister, would have been sought after by many noble sons from wealthy families. Rong Wanli, who was born as a guard, might not be worthy of her.

Xiao Jinyue was crying beside her. She was the one who had the idea first, but her mother, for the sake of her daughter's reputation, pretended that she had taken a fancy to Rong Wanli and asked Nanny Xi to mediate. They were arranged to marry passively, and this way she could directly choose from among the candidates. It was amazing, she had more freedom than at home.

After thinking it over, Nanny Xi felt that Xiao Jinyue was better in terms of personal qualities, so she went to report it.

The matchmaker was discussing the process of a group wedding with Rong Tang. "If we keep it simple, with the marriage certificate already in place, everyone can just come and pick up their brides. If we want something lively, we can set up a few tables for the banquet, have witnesses for both the groom and the bride, and then, as the matchmaker, I can call a few more colleagues and, if we work hard, we can finish it in a day."

Rong Tang naturally didn't mind hosting a few more tables for the banquet, and he wouldn't invite outsiders. He would find a few married men from the new army to accompany the guests, Wei Wu and Rong Xian to be witnesses for the bride and groom, and a few fully-married people from the village, and that would be about it.

As they were talking, Nanny Xi came in and whispered something in Rong Tang's ear. Rong Tang was surprised, "She has a crush on Wanli?"

Nanny Xi nodded, "Although it was Madam Xiao who proposed it, seeing how Miss Xiao looked, I am quite willing to do it.

Rong Wanli's face suddenly turned red. They were just making fun of each other, and now they were making fun of him.

The matchmaker was also listening and interrupted, "This Miss Xiao is indeed quite good, with a good character and reputation. In my opinion, she's a good candidate to be the wife of a household manager."

Rong Tang never forced anyone to do something like this, so he asked Rong Wanli what he thought. Rong Wanli blushed and said, "What opinions do I have? Of course, whatever the master says is what I have to accept."

Rong Tang said, "Forget it then!"

"Oh... Your subordinate, I am willing."

That face that was red as smoke couldn't stop smiling. He was only eighteen years old, exactly the age of Mu Shaoai. Xiao Jinyue was one of the few girls he had spent a few days with. If it weren't for her mentioning it, he would not have had such an idea. But when he found out that she had fallen for him first, his youthful enthusiasm suddenly burst out, as if it was even stronger than the other person's.

The official matchmaker naturally knew about it and was relieved for Xiao Jinyue. This Miss Xiao had excellent appearance, temperament and character. It would be a pity if everyone else found someone to rely on and left her alone.

He immediately found the one signed by Xiao Jinyue from the pile of marriage certificates and filled in Rong Wanli's name. However, he was troubled by the column of Rong Wanli's parents because Rong Wanli was an orphan and had only an adoptive father but no biological parents.

The matchmaker consoled him, "It doesn't matter. There's no reason an orphan can't get married. Just write your current name and adoptive father."

Unexpectedly, Rong Wanli got serious. "Godfather said I'm also a descendant of the Rong family army. That means he knows my biological parents. I'll go and ask. Even if I don't change my name, I have to let my ancestors know that my descendants are getting married."

They went as soon as they said they would. Rong Wanli rode his horse and rushed to Fuxinzhuang, while Nanny Xi went to report the good news to Madam Xiao and her daughter.

When Mrs. Xiao learned that Rong Wanli also had a crush on Jin Yue, she was overwhelmed with emotions. Finally, she found someone her daughter could truly rely on.

"Mammy, I wonder if the uncle has said when the children should get married?"

She couldn't wait any longer, so she spoke in an urgent tone.

Nanny Xi also knew what she was thinking. She wanted to see her daughter have someone to rely on before she died, so she comforted her, "Madam, take good care of your daughter. Don't worry. The master said that the palace gates will be open tomorrow, and he will also ask for a pardon for all the young ladies, so you don't have to worry about anything. The wedding will be held soon. Otherwise, with so many young ladies living in the backyard of the master's mansion, there will be a lot of gossip."

In fact, for the sake of the reputation of these girls, Rong Tang had already transferred all the maids in the mansion to guard the side courtyard. The young ladies lived together, ate and slept together, and were not allowed to go out. The guards and servants in the outer courtyard could not enter. The courtyard where Madam Xiao lived alone was the only way to get in.

Madam Xiao's eyes were a little blurry, but her mind was clear. "Zhenyue is right. He and Earl Jian'an have only met superficially a few times, but he has seen through him clearly. He said that Earl Jian'an has a soft heart and knows how difficult it is to pity a woman. He is definitely willing to save Jinyue."

They were imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice for more than half a year, and it was thanks to the money that Earl Jian'an spent to smooth things over that the mother and daughter were able to survive with dignity. On the days of each month when women were most vulnerable and helpless, Master Xue would send them necessities.

"Yueyue, you must cherish yourself. You should know that even if you were the daughter of a third-rank official, you might not be able to find such a reliable husband."

Just like her closest nephew, upon learning of the Xiao family's misfortune, his first thought was not to take his fiancée away to absolve her guilt, but to hastily break off the engagement. Jin Yue had already used up all the merit she had accumulated over several lifetimes to meet Rong Wanli in such a situation.

After Mrs. Xiao finished speaking, she fell asleep again.

Xiao Jinyue thanked Nanny Xi with tears in her eyes. Nanny Xi patted her hands and said, "You have good eyes. Young Master Wanli is indeed the one with the most potential and a bright future. The key is that this child is kind, so listen to Madam Xiao and cherish this hard-earned fate."

Xiao Jinyue felt relieved, but at the same time she was sad about losing her mother.