Mrs. Ning’s body turned stiff!
"What does the General an by this?!"
"I am simply laying bare my sincere feelings before you, madam. If you think that soone like is worthy of entrusting Miss Fu to, then please accept my request. If you deem unworthy, then I shall wait until you find so."
Mrs. Ning tightly clenched her ten fingers, as if a storm was raging within her chest, causing her breath to be uneven.
After a while, she looked at the box and asked, "Was it she who inford you of this suspicion?"
"No one inford . When you harbor soone in your heart, even among a crowd of thousands, you will always spot her with one glance. I rely thought, madam, that since you love Miss Fu deeply, you might have similar feelings."
Mrs. Ning’s eyes reddened, and she sat down on a chair.
Sitting dazed for a mont, she took a deep breath and wiped her eyes, saying, "Sit, let’s talk."
Pei Zhan then took the seat below her.
Mrs. Ning asked, "How did you co to make such a bold assumption?"
Pei Zhan bowed his head: "I must be honest, Li Jiang and Li Huai are my n."
"..."
"Madam, you were also one of the witnesses to that bloodshed in Baiyu Lane. Miss Fu asked you about the details of the incident and frequently associated with and the Liang family’s Great General. Despite this, you never suspected or prevented anything, even often sending close confidants to cover things up.
"The contrasts in Miss Fu’s behavior these past few months, and the interactions between madam and Miss Fu, have given a clear understanding through Li Jiang and Li Huai.
"What else could it be if not that you’re perceptive and insightful, madam?
"Ultimately, the ones who notice such nuances are those closest by."
Tears finally fell from Mrs. Ning’s eyes.
Pei Zhan gazed at the ground, speaking softly again: "Madam, your compassion is rare in this world. I did not ask you to co here to force you, but rather to seek your trust in and grant a qualification, so that because of her, I might beco family with you and Jia Ge’er sooner.
"If madam could help fulfill this for ..."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Ning took a breath: "The General possesses remarkable insight, making one truly impressed."
Pei Zhan stood and bowed: "My given na is Ming Zhi; madam may just call by my na."
Mrs. Ning pondered quietly for a mont: "Since we’ve co to this point, I have no reason not to agree.
"However, Zhen Er was born to after ten months of painstaking pregnancy, and I endured disgrace to raise her. No matter how her disposition changes, she is my daughter.
"Now that the General sincerely intends to marry her, as a mother, there are still a few things I must entrust to the General."
"Please, madam, speak!"
"Firstly, Zhen Er is physically weak, so please do not force her regarding childbirth. Secondly..." Mrs. Ning took a slow breath, her voice lowering: "Other than this, as long as she remains safe and happy all her life, and the General remains unwavering, never causing her harm, I will be satisfied."
...
Liang Chen waited a long ti in the main hall. Finally, when he saw Pei Zhan and Mrs. Ning erge, he quickly stood up.
"Madam, did Ming Zhi speak inappropriately to you?"
Mrs. Ning smiled: "General Lao, thank you for your concern. General Pei, considering Ming Zhi’s sincere intentions, I have no objections to the request for marriage within about a month.
"My little daughter has been pampered by since childhood and may not understand proper manners. If there is any discourtesy, I hope General Pei and the General’s wife will be forgiving."
Pei Yu and Mrs. Pei had been sitting with their hearts on edge for half the day, repeatedly wondering how soone could willingly marry off their treasured daughter to a boy many years older than their eldest daughter?
They expected so difficult conditions to be posed!
Who would have thought that that rascal actually managed to pull it off?!
Not only did he have his parents well under control, but now even his mother-in-law couldn’t escape his palm, and he exhibited such capability!
Overwheld with joy, the couple both stood and bowed to Mrs. Ning: "Dear in-law mother! You have truly helped us out!
"— Soone, quickly go to Wanbin Building, the young madam’s place, and prepare a banquet! The Pei family has a happy occasion to celebrate, and today, I, Lao Pei, must host it!"
As another side of the bride’s family, the Liang couple watched the joyous affair unfolding before them, finding it hard to believe: "It’s really settled?!"
...
The proposal by the Pei family was successfully accomplished, and with the al concluded, the rest of the arrangents would follow without issue.
From that day, Pei Yu and his wife imdiately mobilized the aunts and relatives to the house to start preparing for the grand wedding celebration, and the stewards, following Pei Zhan’s instructions, frequently visited the Ning family to inquire about the arrangents. The palace, having heard the news, also frequently sent envoys to inquire.
For the Ning family, crafting a dowry and furnishings within a month was the only challenge, but with Mrs. Ning’s lavish expenditure of thousands of gold, nothing could not be accomplished.
Moreover, prior arrangents for the engagent with the Du family had already been made, requiring only so additions now.
Fu Zhen was sowhat overwheld by their display.
Even the Liang family, leveraging the "bride’s family’s matchmaker" title, now frequently ca over, insisting on nurous conditions on what Pei Zhan should or shouldn’t do, refusing to let him off easily.
Even Cheng Chili, who was initially full of resentnt, ran back and forth between the Ning and Pei families every day, turning into an errand runner.
Fu Zhen felt such grandiosity was unnecessary.
She assud they could just go through the motions!
The status of the Ning family was well recognized, and even if it were simpler, outsiders would say nothing.
She proposed to Mrs. Ning to simplify the arrangents, including the dowry.
Mrs. Ning laughed and said: "How can such a major life event be treated lightly? The Pei family has power, and our family has wealth, so the dowry must be ample to ensure no one looks down upon us.
"Moreover, with our family’s wealth known far and wide, if we seem stingy, won’t our business partners speculate? They might think we’re just an empty shell! It’s really unhelpful."
Fu Zhen couldn’t refuse.
Thus, Fu Zhen, who had been the least busy, beca the most idle of all.
Aside from occasionally adding a few stitches to her almost-completed wedding dress, she was caught by Mrs. Ning to study household managent and finances with Xie Yu.
Fu Zhen knew this skill was valuable. With Mrs. Ning giving her such a dowry, she couldn’t let it go to waste, so she earnestly learned.
As Xie Yu spent a few days studying alongside her, she gradually opened up.
This day, the two, under Mrs. Ning’s orders, were looking at accounts under the sun. Seeing Fu Zhen’s eyes gloss over at the ledger, Xie Yu remarked, "Feeling sleepy?"
Fu Zhen murmured affirmatively, hugging her arms and closing her eyes, resting on the chair back.
Xie Yu leaned close to her ear: "Want to go out and play?"
The young lady’s breath was fragrant and soft. Fu Zhen lifted an eyelid: "Where to?"
Xie Yu motioned with a finger to lower her voice: "The Crown Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony is soon; there’s a rehearsal outside Donghua Gate today."
Fu Zhen said: "What’s so interesting about a rehearsal?"
Xie Yu lowered her voice further: "There are many young generals, and many officials attending the ceremony, said to be very handso."
A slight pink flush appeared on her face.
Fu Zhen laughed. "Who told you that?"
"I overheard when my father was talking with his aides this morning."
Fu Zhen laughed again. She sat up: "Let’s go."
Who doesn’t love watching a handso young man?
Accompanying her for so fun couldn’t hurt.
(Tomorrow should be double monthly ticket day)
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