Xiang Wei smiled and continued: "Your grandfather was once a second-rank official, so he must have left behind so connections. That’s how your uncle got a fourth-rank official post at the age of thirty-sothing, thanks entirely to ancestral blessings. As for his current position, that’s entirely due to luck. When he was promoted from fourth rank to subordinate third rank, it was thanks to his son; from subordinate third rank to third rank, it was thanks to you. Honestly, the father and son have had quite the luck." After finishing, Xiang Wei looked at Yueyao with an enigmatic smile.
Yueyao felt a shiver down her spine under this gaze.
Xiang Wei chuckled and said, "Actually, I think, rather than saying that the father and son are lucky, it’s more accurate to say they’ve been blessed by you, my lady. Don’t you think so?"
Yueyao bristled, "What does my uncle and cousin’s luck have to do with ?" Of course, in truth, it really did have sothing to do with her, but she would never admit it, not even under threat of death.
Xiang Wei chuckled again and said, "Why are you getting so worked up? Let’s say even if the father and son’s luck is due to you, that’s still their blessing. My lady, being able to bring blessings to others makes one a Lucky Star, you know? Many people can’t even dream of it!" While she couldn’t say for sure about the Lucky Star, Xiang Wei truly felt that Yueyao was soone who could bring good fortune to others. Not to ntion the Ma Chengteng father and son, even the Lady of Marquis Jingning, Madam Ping, and Mingzhu had all benefited greatly from Yueyao’s help.
Yueyao pretended not to hear. What Lucky Star? Being a Lucky Star isn’t necessarily a good thing. It’s better to be an ordinary person.
At this mont, Ruo Xiao ca in and said, "My lady, the Second Madam is coming."
Yueyao didn’t even bother to find an excuse this ti and said directly, "My uncle said there was an urgent matter, so he needed to return imdiately, and that’s why I hurried back early this morning."
Madam Tang was sowhat surprised, wondering what urgent matter could possibly arise in such a peaceful household. However, since it was her father-in-law who had asked Yueyao to return, Madam Tang had nothing more to ask.
Upon Xiang Wei’s hint, Ruo Xiao quietly reminded, "My lady, your clothes have caught a chill, you should change them first!" Traveling all the way here brought a lot of dust and cold air!
Madam Tang’s current attitude towards Yueyao was not to skimp on her food, clothing, or use, but she wouldn’t interfere with other matters, only watch from the sidelines: "Well then, you go ahead with your business, I’ll head back first."
Yueyao didn’t persuade her to stay. She saw Madam Tang out of the garden and then turned around to change her clothes.
By evening, Ma Chengteng returned from his duties and went straight to the Begonia Garden. No matter what, he was determined to get Yueyao to agree. Even if she refused, he would have to make her agree.
For the first ti, Yueyao showed a displeased face to Ma Chengteng: "Uncle, no matter what the reason for making co back, you shouldn’t have lied about being sick. Do you realize I was scared to death at that ti?"
Ma Chengteng awkwardly replied; he only thought that Yueyao would return upon hearing of his illness, never imagining she would be worried and scared: "Yueyao, I called you back this ti for your marriage."
Yueyao did not respond.
Ma Chengteng braced himself and continued, "Yueyao, it’s An Zhichen, the Military Commissioner of the Imperial Guards, who proposed marriage. Lord An is the Third Young Master of Marquis Weiyuan’s household, although he’s been adopted out now. Yueyao, I think An Zhichen is quite good—he doesn’t have parents, and he has a very bright future."
Yueyao coldly replied, "For sothing like this, Uncle could have let Ma Yuan tell , I would have returned to the Capital City, was there a need to deceive ?"
Ma Chengteng felt guilty, but now was not the ti to discuss this: "I was just afraid you wouldn’t co back. Yueyao, An Zhichen personally proposed marriage last ti, but we didn’t agree because Marquis Weiyuan’s household was in chaos. Now things are different. Yueyao, such a good match is like a rare opportunity, it can’t be refused again."
Yueyao reluctantly said, "Uncle, let think about it."
Ma Chengteng did not have ti for Yueyao to think; the matchmaker might co in these couple of days: "Yueyao, An Zhichen asked the Minister of Works to propose to , and I’ve already agreed."
Yueyao looked shocked: "Uncle, you agreed?"
Ma Chengteng steeled his resolve and said, "Yueyao, you’re seventeen years old this year, and it’s ti to stop being choosy. I really think An Zhichen is quite good, so I agreed." An Zhichen beca a fourth-rank official at nineteen, only three ranks below himself; considering An Zhichen’s promising future, he wasn’t willing to miss the opportunity.
Yueyao intentionally wore a pained expression: "Uncle already agreed, why call back?" She truly hadn’t expected that her uncle would agree without consulting her. Could An Zhichen truly be a desirable prospect?
Ma Chengteng quickly said, "Yueyao, An Zhichen will certainly send a matchmaker to propose marriage in the next couple of days, and then it will be finalized." After saying this, Ma Chengteng quickly left the Begonia Garden, although he didn’t feel he’d done wrong, seeing Yueyao’s pained expression made him uneasy.
Yueyao sat in the chair, staring blankly at the green jade cup on the table.
Xiang Wei called out, "My lady, ti to return to reality." Earlier, the lady’s pained expression had even made her feel guilty; it really did fool Lord Ma.
Yueyao, after coming back to her senses, was sowhat puzzled: "Is An Zhichen so sought-after?" Her uncle’s acceptance of this marriage without her consent clearly indicated that he considered this marriage a good match.
Xiang Wei laughed, "Do you think that a nineteen-year-old fourth-rank Military Commissioner is sothing common? Didn’t you hear what the old nanny said? Every family wants to marry their daughter to him, even the Duke of Lu’s household and the Minister of War have intentions of marrying off their legitimate daughters."
Yueyao chose An Zhichen also because he was capable, and very capable: "Becoming a fourth-rank official at nineteen, doesn’t that seem too fast?"
Xiang Wei provided Yueyao with more knowledge: "The military is not like the civil service, where you have to step up by gaining seniority and credentials. In the military, as long as you have enough military rit, you can be promoted. An Zhichen frequently went out to fight at Haikou and with the support of the Second Old Grand Master of the An Family, no one dared to disregard his achievents. Therefore, he could rise so quickly."
Yueyao was more interested in how An Zhichen had been promoted two ranks in just over a year since returning. This isn’t Haikou, after all.
Xiang Wei laughed, "In the military, power is respected. An Zhichen has the capability and ans, his thoughts are deep as well. You don’t know, but he established himself in the Infantry Camp in just half a year; although he always appears cold-faced, he has good relations with his colleagues in the camp and is well-received. No one objected to his promotion. Otherwise, even if the Marquis wanted to support him, it wouldn’t have been possible." Xiang Wei didn’t tell Yueyao, but anyone who had fought in battle and seen blood would earn soldiers’ respect in the camp with military rit.
Yueyao suspiciously asked, "Why haven’t I heard you ntion this before?"
Xiang Wei tried to evade with a laugh, but failing that, had to tell the truth: "Actually, I was afraid of scaring you." Soone who liked peace and quiet certainly wouldn’t be fond of fighting and killing.
Yueyao didn’t bother arguing with Xiang Wei, her choice of An Zhichen wasn’t on a whim but a well-thought-out decision: "Send soone to deliver a ssage, I want to et with An Zhichen. After we et, we can discuss other things." So matters had to be clarified before the matchmaker ca.
Xiang Wei cautiously asked, "What do you want to et An Zhichen for?" Please don’t back out at the last mont, it’s not easy to find such a satisfactory match again.
Yueyao amusingly said, "Rest assured, since I’ve agreed, I won’t back out halfway. I just have so matters to discuss with him." As for what matters, Yueyao wasn’t going to tell Xiang Wei.
Xiang Wei eventually sent soone to deliver the ssage.
An Zhichen promptly agreed to et upon receiving the news. The atmosphere in Haikou is much more open than in the Capital City, a pre-marital eting for discussion isn’t considered overstepping.
An Zhichen’s two personal guard attendants were quite excited about their master potentially marrying the first talented lady of the Capital City. Ah Kai thought further: "Master, do you think Miss Lian wants to test your literary skills?"
Da Tong was worried about the sa.
An Zhichen smirked: "No." If Miss Lian wanted to find soone with outstanding literary talent, she wouldn’t have rejected Guan Jingshuo.
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