SFS Chapter 825: Dalang's Wife Selection
Chapter 825: Dalang's Wife Selection
"Who did Your Highness recommend? Does Xier know her?" Jing Chunxi asked with her head tilted, her slender fingers unconsciously twirling a strand of black hair hanging on her shoulder, her brows slightly furrowed, she couldn't think of any noble ladies she knew, and she hardly knew any rich and powerful sons.
It's funny to say that the people she knows best now are the generals and soldiers in the Jing family army and the newly appointed officials of all ranks in Jiangnan, but she basically doesn't know the officials' families.
She wore her hair in a simple bun with a white magnolia hairpin in it today, which made her look even more elegant and refined. When she squinted her eyes to think about something, she looked even more cute and adorable.
"Just like before, call Xiaokang brother."
Xu Zize, who was shocked by his loss of composure, suddenly put on a serious expression, sat up straight, and clicked his slender fingers on the rosewood armrest, making a crisp sound.
He pretended to be angry, with his sword-like eyebrows slightly furrowed and his thin lips pressed into a straight line, but there was an unconcealable smile in his eyes, which made the old woman and the eldest lady sitting opposite him laugh and look at each other happily.
"Oh, stop keeping us in suspense. Who is it?" Jing Chunxi curled his lips, his almond-shaped eyes widened like a kitten with its fur standing on end.
Jing Chunxi was not afraid of his appearance, but in order to achieve his goal, he still called out reluctantly, his voice as soft as rice cakes just out of the pot, "Brother Xiaokang".
After saying this, his face turned red and he lowered his head and pretended to straighten the non-existent wrinkles on his cuffs.
The person opposite finally curled the corners of his mouth slightly, and a gentle smile appeared in his amber eyes.
He said seriously, his voice clear and melodious like the sound of jade chimes, "Feng Jiaojiao! Don't you have high praise for her? I heard that her family is also anxiously discussing a marriage, worried that there will actually be a selection this year."
"Feng Jiaojiao? She...she seems...she should be over sixteen." Jing Chunxi thought for a moment, gently tapping her chin with a slender finger. Her face, which had just smiled, then frowned again, making Zhuang, who had been observing her and waiting for her to express her opinion, feel a little nervous.
Zhuang had been holding the teacup in her hand for a long time, but she forgot to take a sip and just stared at her niece's changing expression.
"Xi'er, what's wrong? Is there something wrong?"
Finally unable to hold it in any longer, Zhuang spoke nervously, her eyes never leaving her expression, and even her voice was half a tone higher than usual.
Today she was wearing a crimson double-breasted jacket embroidered with golden chrysanthemums, which made her complexion look even more rosy, but now her face turned slightly pale due to nervousness.
"Sister Feng is a nice girl, and several of my cousins have met her. My eldest cousin should have a good impression of her." Jing Chunxi's eyes lit up as he spoke, as if he remembered something interesting.
The corners of her lips rose slightly, revealing two shallow dimples.
Recalling the time when they were choosing things in the grocery store in Jiangmen County, Dalangge's expression of gratitude towards Feng Jiaojiao seemed to have said a few words of praise to her. Then thinking of Feng Jiaojiao's pretty face, bright eyes and white teeth, and the way she cared for her younger brothers and sisters, it seemed as if it was right in front of her.
"Last year's palace banquet was the one where we went to retrieve the late emperor's will," Jing Chunxi explained clearly, worried that they wouldn't understand. "Something went wrong, and she helped Xi'er out. Otherwise, Prince Jing's mansion and I would have been in trouble."
However, after saying this, his expression softened. Jing Chunxi looked at his grandparents and sighed softly, his voice filled with emotion. "His father is a fourth-rank official. If we don't mind his low family background, he would be a good match."
As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Xu Zize, and seeing that he was looking at her with a smile, she quickly lowered her head again, but the tips of her ears turned red.
"Lord Feng has always been my father's man, and now he is even a favorite of the emperor. He has been promoted to the third rank of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. He has a bright future ahead of him." Xu Zize added slowly, his fingertips gently stroking the edge of the teacup, making a slight sound.
The sunlight filtered through the window screen, casting a soft halo on his handsome profile.
"Really? That's perfect, perfect, Xi'er wants to make Jiaojiao her cousin's wife,"
Jing Chunxi suddenly clapped his hands excitedly, his eyes sparkling like stars. "Grandfather, Grandma, just agree. Sister Feng is such a nice person. In Lingnan, even though she knew we were criminals, she still took us shopping in person. She even treated me to the best food in Sihui."
Her voice grew more cheerful as she spoke, like a cheerful stream on a spring day. Thinking back to the two meat and eggs Feng Jiaojiao had shared with her, the aftertaste was still lingering. Jing Chunxi looked as if he couldn't wait to marry his cousin's wife. He held his chin with his hands, his eyes curved into crescents. "The person Brother Xiaokang introduced can't be wrong. I fully agree."
He was so happy that he actually raised his hands, which made everyone laugh.
Zhuang sat back down heavily, the brocade cushion embroidered with peony branches sinking under her weight. She shifted her hips and breathed a sigh of relief, her tense shoulders finally relaxing. "Xi'er is really scary."
After saying this, he didn't seem to worry about the two old people's disagreement. The corners of his mouth were so tight that they stretched to his ears, and even the fine lines at the corners of his eyes were stretched out.
She now has a dignified round bun, and the golden hairpins in her hair sway gently with her movements, sparkling with fine golden light in the sunlight, making her look extremely rich.
"That's fine, we agree. Your Highness, please convey our intention to Lord Feng. As long as he agrees, we will come to propose marriage." The old lady looked at the old general and saw him nod slightly. Only then did she feel relieved to say this.
The Buddhist beads in her hand had already turned a circle at some point, and the imperial green jade beads collided with each other, making a crisp sound, as if they were singing.
When the old lady saw the old general nod, she also chuckled and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes relaxed.
But the old lady frowned again after thinking about it, and the beads in her hand tightened unconsciously, "It's just that the emperor has appointed Dalang and Sanlang to continue to manage the sea transportation in Leizhou, and your third uncle has also stayed in Lingnan to take up his post. The gold rush in Shibaao and Cangwu County has not been exhausted, and I'm afraid no one can be transferred back. He just came to the capital and then returned to Lingnan. I wonder if Miss Feng will be dissatisfied?" Therefore, the third daughter-in-law Si also stayed there.
As she spoke, she glanced at Zhuang worriedly, but the latter had regained her composure and was slowly adjusting the lace on her cuffs.
Due to their contributions to maritime transport, Dalang and Sanlang were now appointed sixth- and seventh-rank ship inspectors, respectively. Shortly after Qin Yongning returned to Beijing to take up his post, he immediately traveled to Lingnan to assume the position previously held by Mr. Feng: prefect of Zhaoqing Prefecture. Sunlight filtered through the window lattices, casting dappled shadows on the ground, seemingly also telling the story of the ups and downs of this marriage.
"Xiaokang thinks Lord Feng will be very satisfied. With Sanlang back there, it wouldn't be a bad idea for Dalang to come back and get married, or for the young lady to return after she becomes pregnant. Besides, based on what Xier knows about Miss Feng's nature, she might not be unwilling to return to Lingnan for a few years."
Turning to face the old general, Xu Zize said bluntly, "If the Jing family produces another great general, that would be what Lord Feng would be wary of." Xu Zize said calmly, his slender fingers tapping lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound.
Seeing Xu Zize's confidence, Jing Chunxi felt very happy and smiled unconsciously, with dimples on his cheeks faintly visible.
She no longer wanted the Jing family to produce any more great generals, so as to save her family from worrying about their deaths on the frontier one day, and also worried that their achievements would surpass their master and make the emperor jealous.
"Your Highness is right. Then it's Miss Feng. You can tell Lord Feng that if Miss Feng is willing to marry into the Jing family, she will not suffer any grievances." The old general stroked his beard lightly and made the decision with satisfaction.
The two elders looked extremely satisfied. Zhuang couldn't help but start calculating the list of betrothal gifts, while the old lady and the old man were whispering about something.
Xu Zize looked at Jing Chunxi, who was so satisfied that he forgot to ask further questions, and shook his head lovingly.
This girl can never hide things in front of people she trusts. Her joy, anger, sorrow and happiness are all written on her face, and she is as easy to understand as an open book.
The sunlight filtered through the window screen, casting a soft halo on her delicate profile, making her look even more charming and lovely, and making him unable to stop loving her.