[Red Mansions] The Road to Empress Dowager

It would take a few days for Tan Qian to propose a marriage gift, so let's not mention it for now.

But she said that this morning, Daiyu cleaned up her yard early, prepared a lot of food and play, and found some isolated books and paintings from the warehouse, because Shi Hui was coming to stay for a while.

Zi, Xue, Qing, and Jin were so busy that when they arrived at Shenshi, they heard the report from the lady guarding the courtyard, saying that Miss Shi had arrived, and Daiyu happily went to the Chuihua Gate.

Seeing that Shi Hui had already got off the soft sedan chair, accompanied by four maids, she came briskly over.

The two sisters were overjoyed, and Shi Hui complained about her recent busyness for a while, and her eyes were blurred when she accompanied her mother to the flower viewing feast.

The Shizhang family took almost half of the daughters of officials and eunuchs of the seventh rank and above in the capital, just to give Shi Ruixiang his wife.

Shi Hui chatted for a while, then sighed: "Second sister is still quiet here."

Daiyu only smiled slightly, but suddenly asked: "How are you preparing for the Jiji ceremony? Has the dress been embroidered yet?"

Shi Hui smiled and said: "Isn't it just to discuss with the second sister! I brought all the materials that the imperial concubine and empress rewarded me, and I wanted to embroider what kind of embroidery is good. But I also want the embroiderer from the second sister's shop to come and see for details .”

Originally this kind of dress could be embroidered by others, but Shi Hui still likes to discuss it with Daiyu, because the three girls had their own ideas when discussing clothing patterns, this is the interest of the daughter's family.

Just as they entered Daiyu's room, Zijuan commanded the rough envoy to move in Shi Hui's salutes one by one.

When Daiyu's courtyard was busy, Qingluan, Daiyu's four major servant girls, hurried into the house.

"Miss, something serious happened!"

Daiyu frowned slightly, and said, "What are you doing in such a panic? When Madam Xu sees you, it's time to talk about you again."

Qingluan said: "Oh, my good lady, I was going to find my wife to get some things at the order of the lady. I just heard that someone came to report that someone came to the mansion to propose a marriage!"

Daiyu blushed and said, "You hoof, who told you to talk such nonsense here?!"

Shi Hui was even more taken aback, the second sister was going to be her second sister-in-law, her mother had been thinking about it for a long time, and all she wanted was to get the elder brother's marriage done as soon as possible, so she would do the second brother's right away.The second brother's age is closer to the second sister's, but it's not that Shi Zhang feels that Daiyu can't be the eldest daughter-in-law.

Shi Huiyin said: "Do you know which one it belongs to?"

Qingluan said: "I vaguely heard that it is the Marquis Mansion."

Shi Hui was impatient, and couldn't help yelling: "Why is the Hou family coming to rob the second sister from my house, this is too shameless!"

Although Daiyu knew that the Lin and Shi families had that intention in mind, when Shi Hui said this impatiently, Daiyu was ashamed and annoyed, and said, "Third sister is also here to talk nonsense."

Said, Daiyu walked away, but Daiyu was also a little annoyed, she didn't really want to marry any Hou family, she also felt that it would be best to marry into the Shi family.The Honorable Houmen reminded her of the Rongguo Mansion in the past, and now Daiyu has a wide social circle, and she also knows a few of the princely families in Beijing.There are a lot of people in the Hou family, and there are many Gaoliang children, she doesn't like it at all.

……

However, it was said that Mrs. Sun had received the three most famous matchmakers in Kyoto sent by the Dingzhonghou's mansion, and accepted the invitation from Dingzhonghou and his wife, and would come to visit in person tomorrow.

In the evening, Lin Ruhai knew about this when he came home from the yamen, and he was secretly shocked that the Xiao family moved so fast!He was still thinking that it was the best way for him not to express his opinion when facing Xiao Jingyun, but he didn't expect that kid to be really thick-skinned.

Mrs. Sun said: "Actually, Prince Dingzhong Hou has both talent and appearance. He not only inherited the title, but also came from Tanhualang. It would be the best..."

Lin Ruhai frowned and said, "Our family doesn't want this. Yu'er really married into Xiao's family, so how can everyone think of us and Yu'er? Besides, the Shi family knows everything about prosperity, and the wife of the Shi family loves Yu'er very much." Just like my own daughter, Mingjie is a gentleman at a young age, and behaves calmly. I also like it very much. Although the Xiao family has a title, but it has been out of court for two or thirty years, I don't know the details. , but looking at such a shameless person, it is a bit frivolous."

If Xiao Jingyun knew that Lin Ruhai evaluated him like this, he would definitely vomit a liter of blood: If you dare to love me, it would be frivolous to propose, but if I don't ask, you won't marry your daughter to me!Shi Cong is sitting on the sidelines, you are willing to marry your daughter to him, of course he is dignified and calm!If I were him, I would be dignified and calm, how could I learn from my father's thick skin? !How can you have such a double standard!

In the early morning of the next day, Lin Ruhai applied for leave at the yamen, and the Marquis of Dingzhong personally issued a call letter, so he naturally wanted to receive him. Although this man is not in the capital all year round, his hereditary status as a first-class marquis is enough for him to have The etiquette is in place.

Unexpectedly, Ding Zhonghou said that the family who came to visit came with several carts of rich gifts, which made Lin Ruhai and his wife who greeted him at the second gate stunned.

Xiao Hou and his wife, Xiao Hou looked only in their thirties, with a white face and no beard, and looked more beautiful than a woman, but Mrs. Xiao Hou had picturesque features, with a heroic look that ordinary women did not have.There is also Xiao Jingyun in the brocade robe and golden crown today, with a smile that makes people feel like a spring breeze, and his appearance is even more beautiful, talented and handsome.

At that moment, the male guests greeted Lin Ruhai, and the female guests were received by Mrs. Sun, and the two groups separated.

Lin Ruhai greeted Xiao Hou and Xiao Jingyun into the main hall of the scholar's mansion. Xiao Hou and his son looked around curiously, secretly admiring the elegant and low-key style of the mansion.

After all the guests and hosts sat down normally, the maids brought refreshments in an orderly manner.

After Lin Ruhai greeted Xiao Hou and his son for a sip of tea, Xiao Hou said first, "Yesterday, this Marquis invited three of the most famous matchmakers in Kyoto to come to propose marriage. From now on, we will be one family. But Xueshi Lin doesn't know much about it." My son, my son has studied and practiced martial arts since he was a child, and he is passable, and Ling Qianjin is just a match made in heaven."

Lin Ruhai was dumbfounded, looking at Xiao Hou's rare fair and beautiful face, he was annoyed but couldn't express it.

How could anyone speak like that?Yesterday they just asked someone to propose a marriage. The Lin family only said they were considering it, but they didn't agree!The Lin family's consideration was of course trying to find a way to decline, and both families would be able to step down.This is the way of life in the upper class and officials!

However, Xiao Hou smiled at Lin Ruhai, then turned a little stern and said to Xiao Jingyun, "Yun'er, why are you so rude? You still don't pay respects to your father-in-law!"

Xiao Jingyun hurriedly got up from his seat, and was about to bow down to Lin Ruhai. Lin Ruhai wanted to spit out a mouthful of old blood. He had the feeling that a scholar met a soldier.

The people in the officialdom that Lin Ruhai met were either polite, even if they were more forthright, they were reasonable.

Lin Ruhai hurriedly got up to support Xiao Jingyun, and said, "This son's big gift, Lin can't bear it. The marriage of women here is not a trifling matter, and needs to be discussed in the long run."

Xiao Hou smiled like Mu Chunfeng, and said: "Brother Lin is still thoughtful. This really needs to be discussed in the long run. The date of the engagement and marriage must be fixed. If you have any special requirements for the betrothal gift, you can also tell me directly. Order The daughter has already reached the age of ji, and my son has also been named on the gold list, it's the right time, let's choose a good day within two months to do it."

Lin Ruhai's eyelids twitched, and at this moment he was forced to the cliff, so he had no choice but to say, "Thank you, Lord Hou, for your love, but my little girl is only as tall as a willow tree, so I'm afraid it will be difficult to climb high."

Xiao Jingyun is also a proud person, how could he bear Lin Ruhai's disdain for him before.But marrying a wife is different from other matters of fighting for leisure. What his father taught him is to have a thick skin and not to pretend to be arrogant.

Xiao Hou asked: "How can you climb high? You are a first-rank university scholar, and I am a super-rank Marquis. A high-ranking married daughter, your first-rank official's daughter marrying a high-ranking official, doesn't that mean she wants to be a super-rank? Is it just right? Is it possible that there is another super-grade duke who proposes marriage to your family? You tell me which one, I will discuss it with them and let them let me in."

Lin Ruhai's usually elegant face turned a little green, and said: "Hou Ye's family background, Lin is really hard to climb, and the best of the world, let's find another good match."

In the main hall, the air suddenly condensed, Lin Ruhai was really pissed off, he also has a literati temperament, seeing Xiao Hou's domineering and wanting to forcefully marry his family's Yu'er, how could he agree?I just feel that this Xiaohou is dissolute and has no rules. If Yu'er marries into such a family, what should I do?

Just when Lin Ruhai was getting ready to be turned against by Xiao Hou—anyway, this man is domineering and not polite, otherwise he might really promise Yu'er out.

But seeing Xiao Hou wailed, he took out his handkerchief and began to cry heartbroken.Lin Ruhai wanted to wash his face, he couldn't believe that what happened before him was real, how could Tangtang Dingzhonghou be such a person?He is also a good-looking talent!

Lin Ruhai asked, "Master Hou, why are you doing this?"

Xiao Hou said sadly: "My son has already entered high school. He has both civil and military skills. He is different from my father who is not good at civil and martial arts. My son is such a good son-in-law. Lin Xueshi still refuses to accept the marriage. It must be Because I, as a father, are disgusted by you. My son has no brothers and sisters since he was a child, and he grew up alone. I can't help him. Now that he marries a daughter-in-law, he will be troubled by me. How can I feel at ease? "

After Xiao Hou finished speaking, Howl Tao burst into tears, which made Lin Ruhai dumbfounded.

How can there be such a rare flower in the world that is hard to see in a century! !

Xiao Jingyun went to comfort his father without changing his face. He was used to it. According to his father often said triumphantly, back then he relied on being shameless enough to be able to use his words to become a martial artist surrounded by powerful enemies. Zhang can look at the face of the vulnerable situation and marry the mother of the previous generation of chivalrous women.

Now he is also surrounded by powerful enemies, making him look like his father, he can't be ashamed, so he can only work hard for his father to plan for him.

Lin Ruhai's temples throbbed faintly, but he saw that Xiao Hou was already lamenting that he caused his son to be rejected by others, that he would not be able to marry a loving wife in the future, or that the Xiao family was going to die, sorry for the ancestors and so on.

Lin Ruhai finally couldn't help but said: "Xiao Hou, please... calm down."

Xiao Hou heard him speak, stopped crying, and said: "Brother Lin agreed to this marriage?"

Lin Ruhai's eyelids twitched, and said: "Master Xiao is so good-looking, why don't you have a wife, the little girl is just like a willow, and the Marquis loves so wrongly, Lin is really terrified..."

Hearing what he said, Xiao Hou burst into tears again, and shouted: "Yun'er, my miserable Yun'er! I'm sorry for you! It's because I'm not capable, everyone looks down on me, and even I can't even ask for a house and a daughter-in-law for you!"

Lin Ruhai really wanted to throw this pair of rogue father and son out of the scholar's residence, but this was the hereditary Dingzhonghou and the eldest son who held the iron scroll of Taizong Danshu to avoid death.

Xiao Jing went to persuade him: "Father, don't cry, let's ask Xueshi Lin carefully, what he wants before he agrees."

Xiao Hou suppressed his tears, because he asked: "Brother Lin, do you think I also have to go to the Jinshi examination to be a scholar, so you can look up to me?"

Lin Ruhai cupped his fists, and said coldly: "Don't dare, it's just a matter of marriage, how can you act prematurely? The little girl and the son are really not a good match."

Xiao Hou looked at his son and said, "Why is my son not suitable for your daughter?"