Chapter 251: The Marriage Is Granted

Not sure if it was an illusion, but Zhao Lan found that the teacher's attitude towards him was not as good as before. Was it because he didn't do well enough?

Seeing that he was still standing there motionless, Su Yanli became a little impatient: "Anything else?" He meant why haven't you gone back yet.

Zhao Lan: …

I used to always stay for dinner, but now...

Oh my god, Su Ruojin quickly sent him out before she could laugh out loud.

Zhao Lan felt very aggrieved that he didn't even leave any food for her, "A Jin..."

Su Ruojin finally suppressed her smile and reminded him, "You stole someone's daughter and you still expect them to treat you well and give you a free meal. You're just wishful thinking."

After hearing this, Zhao Lan suddenly realized, yes, from now on A Jin is his wife, and she will cook whatever she wants to eat.

In an instant, someone became proud and thought, "Okay, then let's be considerate of the teacher's feelings and don't want to eat for free anymore," so he left in a happy mood.

In ancient times, the process of getting married, from matchmaking to marriage, proposal, engagement, and preparation of the "three books and six ceremonies" was quite cumbersome.

On the ninth day of the first lunar month, the Prince of Jin's Mansion invited a formal matchmaker to come. Of course, it couldn't be just a dry matchmaker. The Prince of Jin's Mansion not only invited the Crown Prince's Consort to come, but also invited a respected old lady.

On the Su family's side, although Cheng Yingzhen looked like the mistress of the household, she had no experience in such major events, so Su Yanli invited Madam Fan to come and help preside over the event.

The Su family had a simple population and lived a happy life, but they were really short of manpower for big events. Zhao Lan also privately sent capable maids and women over, so on the ninth day of the first lunar month, the Su family held a grand celebration.

Su Ruojin, who is always in charge, was sitting in her boudoir today, dressed up beautifully like a rich lady. In the past, she could ask Yang Si Niang to come and keep her company, but now, she could only ask Su Xiaomei to come and entertain her.

She only showed up in front of everyone when the matchmaker went through the formalities, and Old Madam Wei put a hairpin in her head to show her consent. In fact, Zhao Lan and Su Ruojin had already fallen in love with each other, but since the matchmaker was here, they just went through the motions.

When Zhao Lan saw the hairpin symbolizing consent being inserted into the head of his beloved young lady, the smile on his face never faded. The Crown Prince's wife was secretly surprised by this. This brother-in-law of his was the apple of his mother-in-law's eye and she doted on him to no end. Usually in the mansion, he always had a cold look as if no one owed him anything. In her impression, she had never seen him smile.

She had heard about the young lady of the Su family a long time ago. Her mother-in-law had always been reluctant, but her brother-in-law insisted on marrying her, so she had no choice but to agree.

It turned out that what I like is different. Look, he is gentle and polite, smiling all the time. He is no longer the cold and serious brother-in-law.

He shook his head secretly. Just yesterday, the old lady of the General's Mansion was still unwilling to give up and wanted to marry her granddaughter to her younger brother-in-law. The conditions and dowry she offered were so generous that they couldn't be more generous. Unfortunately, her younger brother-in-law was not moved and set his sights on the eldest daughter of his teacher.

The young lady was wearing a light pink brocade jacket with snow-white fox fur sewn on the corners, and a horse-faced skirt. Although her figure had not yet fully developed, she looked very dignified and graceful standing in the hall, with a sweet smile and a gentleness in her intelligence.

Bright eyes, black hair, and red lips.

The moment her eyes met her brother-in-law's, she looked so charming and pretty when she lowered her head.

This is what mutual love is!

The concubines are filled with emotion in their lives, and every young lady in the boudoir must have had such an infinite yearning!

After the matchmaking, Su Yanli was about to take up the post, but Zhao Lan stopped him and said, "Teacher, while you are in Beijing, I will propose marriage as well."

There is an old saying: "Marriage is decided by parents and arranged by matchmaker."

After the matchmaker is agreed upon, the next step is of course to propose marriage. Both parties exchange the birth dates of their children and find a master to test whether they are suitable and compatible. Generally, there is no problem.

Su Yanli: ...If I don’t take up the post, will the emperor blame me?

Zhao Lan seemed to have heard his thoughts. He smiled and cupped his hands, "Teacher, don't worry. My father has already consulted the emperor, and he agrees."

Well, it’s easy to be an official if you have someone in the court.

No, no, there are people in the court who like to marry off their daughters.

Hey, that’s not right. What are you thinking about? Su Yanli thought to himself, since you don’t have to worry about anything, just marry your daughter off happily.

When a wealthy and powerful family proposes marriage, the gifts they bring are extremely numerous.

From cakes and pastries to pearls and jade clothes, it was really dazzling. Su Ruojin slapped her chest with joy. No wonder everyone wanted to marry into a wealthy family. Look at these gifts. This was not even the formal betrothal gift. How much would it take to get engaged?

I dare not think about it, I really dare not think about it.

Su Ruojin, a girl waiting to be married who had completely free time, sat on the edge of the bed. She was in a silly mood, but for some reason she began to fear marriage.

"Ayi, I don't want to get married."

Su Xiaomei pouted and said, "If I wasn't so young, I would marry Brother Jin for you."

"Hey, you want a beating, right?" After saying that, Su Ruojin raised his hand as if to fight.

Su Xiaomei bared her teeth and smiled as she dodged to the side. "Sister, let me tell you, there are so many young ladies in the capital who want to marry Brother Jin. Don't take advantage of them."

"Su Ruyi, how old are you? Besides, someone has snatched your sister away, and you are still speaking for him?"

Su Xiaomei still smiled: "I am telling the truth! Who made Brother Jin look like a fairy?"

A fairy? Su Ruojin rolled her eyes. She was either a fairy or not. At most, it was hard to tell whether she was a man or a woman. However, she just thought about it but didn't say it out loud. She was afraid that her younger sister would speak out without restraint and make Zhao Lan angry.

Su Xiaomei ran out to play, and soon came back, shouting, "Sister...Sister, we have already discussed that you and Brother Jin will get engaged next year, but Dad said the wedding date is 18, and Brother Jin disagrees, saying it's too late and he can't wait."

Su Ruojin, who was about to speak, said: …

What can't wait.

In the front yard, the person accompanying Zhao Lan this time was the prince of Jin Palace - Zhao Xuan, who discussed his brother's wedding date with Su Yanli. Originally, Jin Palace meant to get engaged at the age of fourteen and get married at the age of fifteen.

The Su family had no objection to the engagement date, but the marriage age had to be 18 years old, which meant his brother would be 24 years old, already a man.

Zhao Lan didn't want to wait that long, but his future father-in-law refused to give in.

I didn't expect that the marriage proposal would get stuck at this stage.

Zhao Xuan glanced at his younger brother, meaning, you have to deal with your father-in-law yourself.

Zhao Lan: …

He couldn't seem to figure it out! What should he do...what should he do? Suddenly, his eyes lit up. Got it!

Zhao Lan used the excuse of going to change clothes and went straight to find Su Ruojin.

At the gate, the newly hired little maid was so surprised when she saw the young man who looked like a fairy that she forgot to stop him.

Zhao Lan arrived at the door of Su Ruojin's inner room without any obstruction, but was stopped by Mao Ya, "Young Prince, this is not proper."

It was just a one-time meeting, so it was not polite. Zhao Lan glanced at this stubborn girl and knocked on the door. "Ajin, I have something to tell you."

Inside the room, Su Xiaomei covered her mouth and laughed, whispering, "I'll definitely make you agree to get married soon."

Su Ruojin guessed so, but she was accommodating the living customs of the ancients by turning eighteen. She couldn't get married at the age of fifteen or sixteen!

She glared at her little sister and said, "You go to mom first." She had to talk to Zhao Lan about how early marriage and early childbearing were bad for one's health.

Su Ruojin opened the door, "Brother Jin, please come in——"

Mao Ya moved aside.

Shuangrui looked at the girl proudly, as if to say, "Why don't you stop me? Your master is thinking of my master. He will let me in as soon as he knocks. You are such a stubborn girl."

Su Ruojin didn't know about these two people's intentions. She invited Zhao Lan in and asked, "Brother Jin, is there anything?"

The young lady asked directly, and Zhao Lan didn't beat around the bush. He went forward and hugged her, "Ajin, ask the teacher to agree to marry me as soon as possible."

Su Ruojin raised her head and chuckled, "To tell you the truth, I was the one who asked dad to say that I would get married at the age of 18."

"Why?" Zhao Lan was so anxious. Who could understand the feeling of being unable to touch something every day? How could the young lady be so cruel?

Su Ruojin said seriously, "Of course it's to grow old together with you Baitou."

Zhao Lan: ...Two years earlier or later, what does it have to do with Bai Tou Xie Lao?

Seeing the young man's frown that could kill a fly, Su Ruojin said earnestly, "If you get married early, you will have children early, but girls' bodies are not fully developed, and they simply can't bear the pain of having a son or a daughter. If you're not careful, they may have a difficult delivery..."

Before she could finish her words, Zhao Lan covered her mouth and said, "Then don't have any children yet, and you can get married first!"

How did people avoid it in ancient times? What kind of soup would that be? How much harm would that do to the body?

Su Ruojin's eyes were as resentful as they could be, and her voice was as coquettish as she could be, "Brother Jin... Brother Jin..." She pouted her little lips, looking pitiful.

Zhao Lan's heart was melted by the young lady, "Okay, okay, if you say eighteen, then it's eighteen..." He has been thinking about it for so many years, so two years won't make a difference.

"Wow, Brother Jin, you are so nice." Su Ruojin stood on tiptoes and kissed him.

The young lady took the initiative to kiss him. Could Zhao Lan really be Liu Xiahui? He immediately lowered his head and kissed her.

We can’t get married early, but at least we can hold hands and kiss each other!

Outside the door, Shuangrui looked up at the sky. Birds were chirping and he didn't know how many of them flew by. His master was still flirting with the young lady. Today was the day to propose marriage, but he forgot such a big thing?

The marriage between Zhao Lan and Su Ruojin was officially settled. They got engaged at the age of fourteen and got married at the age of eighteen.

Four years, what a long time. Zhao Lan felt that his hair had turned white from waiting.

Princess Jin said angrily, "Lan'er, by then, you will be twenty-four years old, all..."

He looked at his mother dimly, "Growing into an old man?"

Princess Jin was so angry that she waved her hands, "That's not what I meant. It's just that...other people's children can climb trees to catch birds and go to rivers to catch fish, but you haven't even gotten married yet."

Zhao Lan: ... He doesn’t want to either! But what can he do? He loves his little lady! It just seems to be quite exhausting for him.

Su Yanli stayed in Beijing until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, preparing to return to Weizhou County on the same day. However, just as he was about to set off in the morning, an imperial edict was delivered to him.

An imperial edict! Su Yanli had never received one in his life, so he immediately knelt with his entire family to receive the imperial edict.

At first, everyone thought it was the Jin Palace that requested the marriage decree. As it turned out, it was a marriage decree, but it was not from Su Ruojin, but from his younger brother Su Yanzu.

Everyone listened in shock and accepted the imperial edict.

The eunuch in the palace smiled and congratulated, "Master Su, after Master Su becomes a consort, he will be appointed as Shaoqing (fourth rank) in the Honglu Temple."

The Su family looked at each other.

The story between my uncle and Shangguan Yu was known not only to the Su family but also to Princess Yuehua herself, who actually asked Emperor Chengyou to grant them a marriage.

Su Yanli and his daughter looked at each other. They were really shocked that Su Yanzu hadn't even passed the imperial examination and was just a candidate, but he had suddenly become a fourth-rank official in the court.

After my father-in-law left, Su Yanzu arrived not long after.

Su Yanli asked directly, "Shaobai, how come the imperial edict was sent to my house?"

Su Yanzu bowed his hands and apologized, "I just found out about this too. I'm sorry, brother. The emperor treats us as one. You are the elder brother and the head of the family, so the imperial edict was sent here."

Su Yanli sighed, "What should we do now?"

"Except for you accepting the imperial edict as the head of the Su family, the rest of the matters...will be handled by His Highness."

Su Ruojin frowned: "Uncle, you..."

Su Yanzu knew what his niece was going to say. "These past few days, I have been here to attend your marriage proposal. Her Highness the Princess must have been moved, so..."

"You mean you didn't know the princess had asked for a marriage?"

"Yeah." Su Yanzu sighed deeply, "But I'm not a good person either."

Su Ruojin understood the meaning of these words. The princess dared to ask for a marriage. Although the two did not say it explicitly, his half-hearted attitude made the princess the final pusher.

"Then the Junior Minister of the Honglu Temple..."

"This..." Su Yanzu said, "Years ago, the emperor was fighting in the north, and I took over the grain and grass matter. I was commended by the emperor, so he directly let me take the position of Shaoqing of the Honglu Temple as a son-in-law, bypassing the Jinshi."

As expected, it is still a privilege.

However, my uncle is indeed capable, and it is really a lack of talent for him to be only appointed as the princess's chief historian.

Su Yanli was unable to leave on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. In the evening, Princess Yuehua hosted a dinner party, and in his capacity as Su Yanzu's brother, he discussed the details of the princess' wedding with the people from the Ministry of Rites.

It is called a discussion, but in fact it is just to inform the marriage process and the aspects that need cooperation out of respect and courtesy.

My uncle's wedding is in March, which is the beautiful spring time.

After returning to Weizhou County, Su Ruojin found Shangguan Yu and told him that his uncle was going to marry the princess.

He was not as sad as Su Ruojin had imagined. Perhaps it was the passage of time that caused the affection between them to slowly fade away.

"You..." After a long time, Su Ruojin still asked him what his plans were.

Shangguan Yu smiled and said, "Opening a school and teaching the Dao is the direction of my future life!"

"Will you start a family?"

He thought for a long time before replying, "Maybe."

Phew!

Su Ruojin took a deep breath and pretended to be relaxed, "I will fully support you."

Shangguan Yu stood up and bowed, "Thank you, Second Madam."

"Then I'll go back first."

Shangguan Yu sent her off.

The two walked onto the street, where people were coming and going, bustling about. They only chatted for a few sentences, but it felt like several years had passed. It was a really strange feeling.

Suddenly, a group of well-dressed people appeared towards us. They dismounted their horses and marched in such an arrogant manner that passers-by were frightened and screamed, and ran to the side to avoid them.

Mao Ya stepped forward, stood in front of Su Ruojin, and looked at the person who came vigilantly.

The one who came forward was dressed in a tight suit, looked heroic and neat, with a pair of cold eyes, looking straight at Su Ruojin, "Are you Magistrate Su's eldest daughter - Su Ruojin?"

Ever since I've been able to rely on Zhao Lan, I haven't encountered such an arrogant person for a long time.

Mao Ya took a step forward, "Who are you?"