County Magistrate Cui cos from a prominent family, known as a gifted child since he was young, and later beca the youngest Advanced Scholar in Da Liang, making him the youngest County Magistrate.
For the past three years, County Magistrate Cui has indeed managed Ye County very well, with its annual taxes being the highest in Nanyang County, probably about seven or eight tis that of a poor county like Li County!
In Ye County, no family is in poverty, the only difference being whether they are willing to eat at at their als or not. County Magistrate Cui has always been proud of this.
Unexpectedly, today he received a heavy slap in the face.
However, this slap was well received. It brought the floating County Magistrate Cui back down to earth, prompting him to reflect and self-examine.
Mrs. Li, feeling distressed for her husband and unable to bear seeing him so dejected and self-reproachful, softly said, "When the granary is full, one knows honor and disgrace. Being able to let the people live and work in peace, and enjoy a life without worries about food and clothing is already quite remarkable. In the Fourteen Counties of Nanyang, Ye County is the most prosperous, deservedly the first."
"You are neither greedy nor corrupt, diligent in your duties, and handle everything personally."
"Even if asked for the Commandery Princess’s assessnt, you would still be a good and honest official."
County Magistrate Cui was sowhat reassured by his wife’s praise, regaining so confidence, and said energetically, "I will certainly correct any inadequacies in my previous actions. Cousin, please don’t always praise . If I act improperly, you must remind ."
Mrs. Li smiled gently, her voice tender, "But in my eyes, cousin is perfect in every way!"
County Magistrate Cui was moved when he saw his wife’s charming smile and leaned over to hold her hand, just wanting to get closer when the door was pushed open.
Their two sons, who were little debt collectors, rushed in one after the other, heading straight for their mother and pushing County Magistrate Cui aside.
With a helpless expression, County Magistrate Cui, unable to fight with his sons, had to let go.
Mrs. Li couldn’t help but laugh.
...
The Commandery Princess, true to her word, stayed in Ye County for several days.
Perhaps inspired by the case of Miss Huang, there were a number of won over the age of twenty who ca to the county governnt one after another to file complaints, asking the magistrate to take charge and allow them to get married.
It was only at this point that County Magistrate Cui realized that there were quite a few won in Ye County in the sa situation as Miss Huang. Their families coveted the silver their daughters earned and refused to let them marry, keeping them at ho.
Yang Shi judged cases for two days, after which County Magistrate Cui volunteered to take over the tangled ss. In his capacity as the magistrate, he issued a public docunt stating that won should marry by the age of twenty. If parents refused to let them marry, the won could report to the county governnt, and a portion of the family assets would be confiscated as dowries for the won.
Jiang Shaohua, upon reading the docunt, found County Magistrate Cui’s writing eloquent and quite comndable and had Chen Sheren seal it with the Prince Mansion’s stamp.
The docunts bearing the Prince Mansion’s stamp were posted throughout Ye County.
The won excitedly spread the news, though naturally there were so discordant voices. For example, a few n cynically insinuated that the Commandery Princess, being a woman, was favoring won excessively.
However, such faint voices were quickly drowned out by the surging tide.
"Commandery Princess, there’s good news."
Chen Jinyu ca to report with pleasure, "Among the trusted aides traveling with the Commandery Princess, there is one nad Sun An, who asked ng Sanbao to co to with a ssage. He wishes to marry Miss Huang."
Jiang Shaohua had a total of two hundred personal soldiers around her. All these personal soldiers were direct subordinates of the Nanyang Prince Mansion, each more skilled than the other, and often accompanied the Commandery Princess.
Jiang Shaohua was most familiar with trusted aides like Qin Hu and ng Sanbao. Sun An was older and steadier, speaking little, with not much of a presence.
A dark-skinned male face flashed in Jiang Shaohua’s mind: "How old is Sun An this year?"
Chen Jinyu smiled, "He is twenty-four, the sa age as Miss Huang. He had previously been engaged, but his bride fell ill and died before getting married. Later his mother also fell ill and passed away, and with no one to look after him, his marriage kept getting delayed year after year."
"That day during the trial, Sun An was present too. He was very sympathetic to Miss Huang’s plight and admired her sincerity and kindness. He wishes for the Commandery Princess to act as a matchmaker."
Jiang Shaohua thought for a mont and said, "Go and bring Sun An here, I want to ask him directly."
Soon, Sun An appeared before Jiang Shaohua.
Jiang Shaohua carefully examined him.
Sun An, this sturdy young man with a dark complexion, was embarrassed, his face turning red, and he was at a loss under the gaze of the young Commandery Princess.
Jiang Shaohua chuckled, "The Commandery Princess called you over to personally ask about your intentions before making a decision. There’s no need to be so nervous."
"Sun An, the Commandery Princess asks you, why do you want to marry Miss Huang? Is it out of pity and sympathy, or do you truly like her?"
Sun An cald his breathing and answered sowhat shyly, "Reporting to the Commandery Princess, I do feel so compassion for Miss Huang, but even more, I respect and love her. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have braved the embarrassnt and mustered the courage to seek the Commandery Princess’s help in this."
It is not uncommon for a man’s pity for a woman to turn into love.
Jiang Shaohua looked at Sun An and slowly said, "The Commandery Princess is pleased to see this marriage happen and will personally act as a matchmaker for you. Miss Huang is a diligent, capable, and kind woman. If you marry her, you must treat her well in the future."
"If you don’t, the Commandery Princess will personally support Miss Huang."
Sun An’s dark face brightened with joy, and he nodded repeatedly with delight.
...
anwhile, Chen Jinyu also called Miss Huang over to inform her about Sun An’s proposal.
"The Commandery Princess asked to speak with you. If you are willing, you can set the engagent in Ye County, but the wedding and festivities will have to wait until the Commandery Princess has finished inspecting all the counties and returned to the Prince Mansion to make arrangents."
Sun An’s parents have long passed away, and he is now a personal soldier of the Prince Mansion, living and eating there. Sun An’s marriage would also have to wait until he finishes this period of duty.
Moreover, such a joyous occasion like marriage shouldn’t be rushed. It’s more respectful to have an engagent period before finalizing the wedding arrangents.
Miss Huang nodded without hesitation, "I am willing to marry him."
Chen Jinyu chuckled, "Aren’t you even curious to et Sun An?"
Miss Huang softly said, "I trust Chen Sheren, and trust the Commandery Princess even more." Traditionally, a woman’s marriage is arranged by her parents. Seeing her husband for the first ti only on the wedding night.
Chen Jinyu, looking at the obedient Miss Huang and seeing the trust in her eyes, felt an inexplicable bitterness.
A woman’s fate drifting like duckweed, and Miss Huang so easily entrusting her future to another.
She was still young now. In a few years, would she be bound to a marriage, marrying a man she had never t as his wife?
Would all her joys, sorrows, clothing, honor, and disgrace for the rest of her life rely on the conscience of one man?
An indescribable and overwhelming feeling of frustration and anger surged in her heart.
Miss Huang, clearly misunderstanding, plucked up the courage to look up and said: "If Chen Sheren wants to et him, I will see him."
Chen Jinyu ca back to her senses and nodded with a smile: "Wait here for a while, I’ll bring Sun An over."
Miss Huang obediently agreed.
After the ti it took for an incense stick to burn, Chen Jinyu returned with a tall and sturdy young man following behind him.
Miss Huang glanced up quietly.
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