Encounter with Pighead Squad Leader

Hua Shan rubbed his ears and glanced at his grandson, but didn't scold him. Firstly, these days, people valued grandchildren over children, so he was always more tolerant of them. Secondly, his heart had already begun to open up. His granddaughter would be chosen next year, and if all went well, they could get engaged next year. However, Qingde was older than Shujia and still unmarried, so he really needed to settle things down.

The younger generation was very surprised, especially Guanyinbao. The child hadn't seen his mother for a long time and missed her so much that he howled while reciting the name. Fortunately, Huashan didn't pursue the matter.

Wen Du covered her mouth with a handkerchief to hide the expression on her face. It was certainly not a bad thing for her mother-in-law to come back, but... as the saying goes, there can be no two suns in the sky, and no two masters for the people. Er, that was wrong. There can only be one boss in a family. Now that her mother-in-law is here, she, as a daughter-in-law, feels a little embarrassed.

Hua Shan had already said, "See if the letter says when to leave." Guan Yinbao stuck out his tongue and glanced down hastily, "Huh? Mother is already on the way. Well, the letter said that she was leaving when it was sent." He calculated the date and said, "She should be here in a few days!"

Wen Du calmed down and said, "Then we need to clean up the house first. Although there have been people looking after it, it hasn't been lived in for a long time." Hua Shan stretched out his hand to Guan Yin Bao and said, "Where's the letter? Show it to me." Guan Yin Bao handed it to Hua Shan, who took a closer look and said, "Clean up the storeroom as well. Second brother, come with me."

Shujia suddenly understood that the warehouse must be cleaned up. Although her father was not a corrupt official and had been in Fuzhou for some time, how could he not have any savings?

They then went their separate ways. Wendu went to clear out the storeroom and asked Shujia to supervise the cleaning of the main house where Xiluo lived.

The next morning, after breakfast, Shujia led her people to Xiluo Te's main room and instructed the maid who stayed behind: "First, take apart the bedding, wash it, and dry it in the sun. Open the windows in the room to let some fresh air in. Go to the storeroom to arrange the furnishings in the room, and I will go and select them myself... Also, clean the rooms of the concubines and maids and prepare them..."

The servants were busy, setting up bamboo poles to dry quilts and clothes, and carefully dusting off hand warmers. Things were brought in from the storeroom, all valuable items that had been placed in the house before Xiluo Te left for the south. One by one, they were ordered back to their original positions.

The concubines' rooms were also roughly cleaned. This was relatively simple. Shujia dusted it once to see if there was anything wrong and left it alone. Although she didn't have to do it herself, she still felt a little tired. When she returned to her room to rest, Shujia was still puzzled - why did she come back so late?

Soon, Qingde came over to explain her confusion. With a smile on his face, Qingde said, "Thank you for your hard work, sister." Then he rubbed his hands and got down to business. Fang Caishan came to talk to him, and the main topic was: "You are lucky, kid, you have been promoted, and your family will find you a good wife. Don't cause any trouble recently. Wait for your mother to come back and arrange a marriage for you."

Qingde burst into tears after hearing this. "It's finally my turn to get a wife." So, he came to his sister to sound out the rumors. Shujia was surprised and said, "How should I know? I only knew a few before, but now, something happened at home and eight out of ten are already married."

Qingde's face fell and he was very disappointed, but then he cheered up: "It's a deal, when mother comes back, you have to tell me first if you have any news." Shujia nodded: "Of course." Nonsense, if the second sister-in-law herself didn't like it and mother was determined, of course she would instigate Qingde to revolt.

Qingde was relieved and went back happily. Shujia felt that his steps were floating.

A few days later, it was the day Xiluo arrived home, and Fu Dali had taken leave to go pick her up. When he returned, he looked rather strange. Shujia saw a mixture of surprise and shock in Fu Dali's expression, and a bit of confusion. When Xiluo and her group arrived, Shujia's own expression became strange too—they were accompanied by a wet nurse, holding a baby in her arms.

Wen Du stepped forward and said, "Mother, you've had a long journey. I've already cleaned up the room for you. The water is also boiling. Please change your clothes first. Mafa has something to do this morning and hasn't returned yet."

Xiluo Te said, "You have all worked hard." Then she walked back to her room.

Once inside, the accompanying maid fetched water and helped wash her face and change clothes. Shujia carefully examined Xiluo. She saw a few strands of gray hair on her temples. She had had some before, but her attire had always concealed them. But now, they were completely invisible. Xiluo's clothes were heavily Han-styled, and her hairstyle wasn't a bun. She had lost a lot of weight.

After Xiluo Te had packed up, she saw her daughter and daughter-in-law standing by waiting. She smiled and said, "What's wrong? You don't recognize them?"

Shujia felt a little sad. In the past year and a half, Xiluo Te had become much more haggard. She hid it by personally holding the teacup, lowering her head and saying, "Mother, why did you think of coming back at this time? What will happen to my father over there alone?"

"Let's not talk about that," Xiluo said to Wendu, "You have worked hard over the past year."

Wen Du was shocked: "Mother, you said that. I am ashamed. It's all my duty."

Xiluo said, "I know what's going on. Shaoyao, give that package to the grandmother." Shaoyao brought over a pile of things: silk and satin, with a few boxes piled on top. Xiluo said, "Fujian isn't as good as Hangzhou. The materials aren't as good, but fortunately there are some novel Western things to see."

Wendu's heart raced. On the one hand, she worried about her mother-in-law's return, and on the other, she was curious about what she had gifted her. Unfortunately, there was no custom to open and inspect the gift in person, so she simply bowed, "Thank you, mother, for the gift," and asked Rong'er to take it. Xiluotai said, "I wasn't in Beijing when you gave birth last year, and I wasn't there to see you. It seems you're doing well. Go pay your respects to the old man later, and bring your son over so I can see him." Wendu smiled and agreed.

Xiluo Te raised her voice and asked, "Are Fuda Li and Qingde outside?" Fuda answered, and Xiluo Te said, "Come in." Wendu Shi stepped aside, and the three brothers came in, kowtowing to their mother. They got up, and after the maids had collected the prayer mats, Guanyin Bao rushed over and said, "Mother, you called the eldest brother and the second brother, but not me."

Xiluote was about to give her a lecture, but when he interrupted her, she smiled and said, "You've grown taller. I can't forget you. Mother wants to talk to you alone later." Guanyinbao was happy then. He looked up and down at Xiluote, and then glanced at the wet nurse beside him. He was really curious about what the baby was holding.

Xiluo Te suppressed her smile and said, "Come and recognize her! This is your little sister. She was born last December, and she hasn't been named yet." Shujia couldn't believe how Xiluo Te looked like a woman in labor. Sure enough, Xiluo Te added, "This is Ah Fu... the one your new concubine gave birth to."

Shujia glanced at the people around Xiluotai and found that Ah Fu and Aunt Wang had not returned, presumably to stay to serve Shi Wenbing. Xiluotai said to Aunt Zhang, "I heard that the eldest girl gave birth? It's a blessing for you." Aunt Zhang looked happy, but still replied, "It's the blessing of the master and the mistress."

Xiluo Te said to Fu Dali, "My master and I were very happy to hear about you brothers. Your father wrote all his instructions in the letter, so I don't need to say more. There is only one thing I want to tell you in person. Your father has decided on the names of the two children." After saying that, she took out a piece of paper, and Shujia went up to take it and handed it to Fu Dali.

Fu Dali unfolded the letter and saw the names Mingxi and Ruixi written on it. He put it away carefully.

Xiluotai talked for a long time, then stopped to drink tea to moisten her throat. Then she said, "The elder couple can go back first. Guanyinbao will stay and talk to me." Fudali and Wendu said goodbye and left. Guanyinbao was already clung to Xiluotai, calling him "mother's mother" and "mother's mother's mother" all the time. Xiluotai patted him on the back and said, "Looks strong now. Have you been naughty? How's your study going?"

Guanyinbao said, "My teacher said I'm a good student. Mafa said she'll send me to the government school in two days." Xiluotai said, "If you really study well, there will be a reward." Guanyinbao's eyes lit up, "Thank you, mother." Xiluotai poked him on the forehead and said to Qingde and Shujia, "Look at his mouth. I feel embarrassed not to reward him. Bring it up."

In addition to the four treasures of the study, the toys given to Guanyinbao actually included a music box and a model of a Western ship. Guanyinbao was very happy: "Thank you, mother, for the gift." The sound was clear and crisp, and it made people smile.

Shujia said, "I originally cleaned the room for the concubines. Now that they're not here, it's just the right time to free up the room for my little sister. I'll ask the needlework lady to make some clothes and shoes later." Xiluotai said, "There's no rush. I brought some things with me. You can just take your time. Take the third girl and put her there." She patted Guanyinbao and said, "I know you can't sit still. Go and play."

Guanyinbao ran off happily. Xiluo looked at Qingde with a smile, which made him feel embarrassed. "Well, I'm going to see if Mafa is back." Before leaving, she winked at Shujia. Shujia smiled secretly and nodded.

After the area was cleared, Xiluo patted the couch and said, "Come and sit down, let's have a good talk." Shujia was still worried that she was tired, and Xiluo said, "It's okay." Although she said that, she still leaned on a cushion and talked to Shujia in a sideways manner. She was very pleased to see that her daughter had grown into a graceful young lady, and seemed to be an inch taller than before.

First, she asked if Shujia had fallen behind in her needlework and other studies, and then she inquired about household affairs over the past year and a half. Shujia answered truthfully, and Xiluo said, "Let me take a look at your studies. Your sister-in-law is quite capable, but unfortunately she is still young and lacks prudentness." Shujia remained silent.

Xiluo Te smiled and said, "Never mind. I have to go to the palace tomorrow to pay my respects. I'll send someone to pick up your elder sister later. I still have relatives to see. If I have anything else to do, I have to wait until these things are settled before I can talk about it."

As he was speaking, Qingde came over: "Mother, Mafa is back."

After greeting Hua Shan and not saying anything serious, Xiluo gave Hua Shan a letter from Shi Wenbing before returning from her mission.

After a busy morning, everyone went back to their rooms. We can talk about it after lunch if there is anything else.

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The next day, Xiluo Te entered the palace to pay her respects, but when she returned, her expression was somewhat unusual. The information revealed by the Empress Dowager's words made her both happy and worried. The questions she asked made her consider the possibility that the girl's date of birth, interests, and hobbies... The more she listened, the more it sounded like a blind date. Suspicious, she didn't dare to ask. She just watched the Empress Dowager's smile, which seemed to be a hint.

This hint soon became an unspoken statement. On the day Xiluo Te returned from the palace and took Shuxian back to see her grandson while letting Shuxian see her sister, Hua Shan returned in high spirits—he was awarded the double-eyed peacock feather.

By the time Xilute visited her relatives, including her mother's family and her uncle's, everyone spoke of her good fortune with envy. It was obvious that her son was promising and her father-in-law had gained respectability.

It's no secret that Hua Shan hasn't done anything truly remarkable since the Three Feudatories Rebellion. If there were any merit awards, he had none, as the Three Feudatories hadn't punished him yet. If there were any merit awards, he certainly had a knack for offending people with his tongue, but that wasn't much to be rewarded for. This led some to speculate: why did their family enjoy such favorable treatment?

The wisdom of the people is boundless. Someone had already connected cause and effect and discovered the truth: no need to ask, the Shi family's daughter will definitely be the Crown Princess this time. If Fu Dali and Qingde were rewarded for their meritorious service as escorts, then Hua Shan's reward can only mean one thing: it was an extension of favor.

Historically, it was customary for all royal families to extend favors to their ancestors, bestowing titles or honorary positions, and granting them certain courtesies to make them appear worthy of the royal family. The Crown Princess was the future Empress, so such grace could not be granted immediately, so she was demoted to a lower rank. Other families, such as the First Consort's, did not enjoy such privileges. Therefore, Pengchun's daughter, originally a rival for the Shi family, was clearly eliminated from the list of Crown Princess candidates—Pengchun had been demoted due to the Battle of Ulan Butong.

Hua Shan had been muttering to himself, but since he had obtained the Double-Eyed Peacock Feather, he felt relieved. He had originally thought it would be great for his granddaughter to be the prince's wife, but he hadn't expected such good fortune. His pride had subsided somewhat, and he simply sent a message to his daughter-in-law, asking her to take good care of him and make sure nothing happened.

What else did Xiluo Te not understand? Her requirements for her daughter became increasingly stringent. Meanwhile, the entire family was secretly taking stock of Shujia's dowry. They had been preparing it since their time in Hangzhou, and it had become quite substantial over the years. But marrying the crown prince was another matter; it had to be worthy of such status. They had just brought back a bunch of things, so they could start preparing the dowry.

She had two main priorities when she returned: first, Qingde's marriage, and second, Shujia's selection. If all went well next year, after the selection, her marriage would be arranged. Xiluotai was uneasy about leaving such a matter to her daughter-in-law. Upon hearing the news, she secretly congratulated herself—it was a blessing she had come back, otherwise it would be too late to deal with it when the time came.

Shujia didn't realize that Xiluotai had tightened her grip on her. Her aunts had always been strict with her, and her behavior was perfectly acceptable, so no restrictions could be placed on her. Girls these days usually stayed within the inner chambers, rarely going out, so it was normal that Xiluotai had stopped taking her out.

She realized something was amiss; it was the maid who had let the cat out of the bag. One day, the maid was sweeping the floor, and Shujia happened to be heading back to her room when her broom accidentally kicked up a little dust that landed on her feet. The maid, turning around, was so startled that she actually fell flat on her face.

The old woman was originally a low-ranking servant in the family, and she rarely saw her master. She was frightened and apologized repeatedly. Shujia was puzzled: "Am I scary?" She looked around and asked Hongxiu, "When did I... punish anyone casually?"

Hongxiu stepped forward and said to the old woman, "Get up quickly! How can you look like this?" The old woman was chanting Buddhist scriptures. Shujia felt strange. Although the servants of the Shi family were slaves, they wouldn't be like this, right? She asked the old woman softly, "Whose family are you from? Why were you so scared just now? Did someone bully you?" This was the only reason she could think of.

The old woman stuttered and talked for a long time before Shujia could understand her. She said that she would have accepted a few beatings and a monthly fine for soiling the girl's clothes, but Shujia would be the most honorable woman in the future, and she was afraid that the punishment would not be so simple.

Shujia took a breath and said, "Where did this news come from? How come I don't know? Now that you know everything, it must have spread throughout the family." Her tone became more and more severe, and her speech became faster. Finally, she asked Hongxiu directly.

Aunt Zhou frowned upon hearing this. Shujia had handled the situation well at first, but why had she lost her temper in the end? She was going to go back to her room and remind her that showing her emotions like this wasn't a good idea.

Hongxiu had known Shujia for some years and knew that she was unhappy. She whispered, "Miss, go back to your room and talk." Shujia let out a long sigh and said, "Let's go."

Back in the room, Shujia couldn't help herself. After sitting down, she began to ask Hongxiu, "How come I didn't know?" As she spoke, she was so panicked that her lips were trembling. Hongxiu was startled and looked at the aunts for help. The aunts were about to remind Shujia to pay attention to her manners, but now they also realized that something was wrong. This was clearly not happiness, but fear!

Not daring to make a decision, she quickly invited Xiluo Te over. Xiluo Te said, "Go and make a bowl of soothing soup for the young lady." Then she asked Hongxiu, "Why did the young lady become like this?" Hongxiu was also panicked and told her what had just happened in detail: "On the way back, a woman was sweeping the floor without paying attention and soiled the young lady's clothes. The young lady didn't punish her." She really didn't know why Shujia was like this.

Xiluo Te frowned and was about to ask a question, but Shujia had already grabbed her sleeve: "Mother, where did those nonsense come from?!" Xiluo Te asked curiously: "What's wrong with you, child? Are you possessed by a nightmare? Why are you talking nonsense?" After saying that, she reached out and touched her forehead to feel it.

Hongxiu suddenly realized, "So that's what it is. It's a good thing." She immediately repeated what the old woman had said. Xiluo said, "You should be punished for being so talkative. When did it become a servant's turn to gossip about the master's affairs?" Shujia suddenly looked up and said, "Mother, this can't be true, right?"

Xiluotai was startled by her eager eyes and thought she was seeing things. "Since you already know, I'm just going to tell you something. Perhaps you'll have great luck. What they said wasn't too bad after all."

Bang! A bolt from the blue! Shujia fainted, her lips trembling even more violently, her hands shaking: "How could this happen?" "Why am I so unlucky?"

Xiluo Te hugged her and patted her back: "This is a good thing, so many people have been looking forward to it..."

"I don't want to!"

Xiluo Te shuddered: "What's wrong with you?!"

The mother and daughter began to perform crosstalk. At the end, Xiluo pinched Shujia's arm and said, "Calm down! Speak slowly." She held Shujia's arms and stared at her.

Shujia was confused for a moment, then slowly calmed down: "Mother, is this true?"

"Yes! But seeing you like this, I'm really worried that you can't bear it. If you continue like this, acting crazy, it's hard to say what will happen in the future."

Shujia's eyes lit up: "Does that mean there's still room for improvement? Can I still not marry that man?"

Xiluo Te woke up as if from a dream. This girl seemed to... not want to be the future queen at all! Is she really stupid? "Are you dreaming? The rumors are already like this. If you don't stick to your own path, who would dare to marry you?! Do you want to be an old maid?"

It's no wonder that she only realized it now. Look, the prince, handsome, young, talented in both civil and military affairs, with a future so bright that it can blind a dog's eyes - a bachelor who can't be described even by diamonds. He is simply a bachelor with a blank check that can be filled out at will and guaranteed to be cashed!

Even without mentioning that he was the crown prince, just looking at him, from Shi Wenbing's constant praise, one could tell that he was a good young man. Parents who didn't marry their daughters to such a promising young man would be irresponsible to their daughters, and girls who didn't want to marry him were fools!

Her silly daughter said, "That's fine too." It was obvious that she would rather be an old maid. A single noblewoman.

Xiluo Te was furious. "I didn't mean to trade you for wealth and status. This is your own future!" As a non-time traveler, everyone would make the same judgment at this moment. She was still able to control her emotions: "Bah! Then the whole family will be ashamed to face people. How will you, a girl, live in the future? Your father and I will eventually pass away. Will you feel better living with your brother and his wife? What do you think?"

Shujia understood that being single and aristocratic didn't necessarily mean being a single aristocrat these days. She still tried to struggle: "Once I go in there, I'll never see my family again..."

"Which daughter-in-law would go back to her parents' home for no reason?!" Rejected.

"He already has two concubines."

"You said she was a concubine, not even a concubine! Who doesn't have a concubine?" He sneered and rejected her. Oh no, this girl is really determined? No, the palace has already registered her, there is no way to end this matter. "What are you afraid of?" He lowered his voice, "What's wrong with that one?"

Shujia was stunned. Yes, now it seemed that he was a perfect young man, the ideal son-in-law for every mother-in-law, the kind who shone with glittering gold. But he would lose, and his whole family would suffer. "What if he turned bad?"

Xiluo Te could see that her daughter's words were sincere, and because she saw it, she wanted to chop her: "You can't persuade me?! What's the point of you?"

"Mother, please let me sort it out for a while."

Xiluo Te stood up and flicked her handkerchief. "As you wish. I'll just say one thing: stop overthinking. It's the same whether you think about it or not. If you have time to think about it, why not do it yourself? What's that called? A robot worrying about the world?"

Shujia grinned: "Mother, please tell the family to stop gossiping. If there is no definite news, they will just speculate. This kind of thing is not something we can guess. It would be bad if it gets out."

Xiluo Te said, "Do I need you to tell me? It's just that I've been too busy lately, so I let them act so recklessly. I'll do it right away." She was a little dissatisfied with her daughter-in-law and couldn't even control the servants' mouths.

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After Xiluo left, Shujia pondered. It was as if Xiluo's words had opened her up. She feared nothing more than a failed, collectively blamed outcome. So, she'd just change it! If the time traveler were a butterfly, I'd been a butterfly specimen for over a decade, even worse than a specimen. At least specimens are dead, while I'm a living butterfly pretending to be dead!

It wasn't that she was arrogant; she was simply being driven to the edge. If she married, she'd share the fate of the crown prince, who had apparently been deposed and ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment. Not marrying would mean she'd become a high-class beggar. If she messed things up, her family would be furious, even if they could tolerate it. Or they could simply treat her as a lunatic. If she truly was, she'd be sentenced to life imprisonment. What family would let a lunatic wander around?

Changing Yinreng's future is like a drowning man grasping at a lifeline. No matter how difficult it is, we must strive. We must believe that human potential is infinite. Many times, it's just that we haven't been pushed to the limit. For example, before marriage, a woman would hide at the sight of a fly. Once married, with no one to coax her, she'll be like a rat being killed and a cockroach being crushed. The person is still the same, but the situation has changed.

This path must be taken! The worst-case scenario is already known, how could things get any worse?

Okay, let’s start taking stock of the current situation and see if… we can… survive comfortably!

Since the main target is the Crown Prince, let's start with him. After taking stock, Shujia almost wavered.

Originally, her impression of Yinreng had improved a lot, and she had decided to do her best to help him keep his position. But now, after taking stock and using her meager "had known" thoughts, she couldn't help but recall her initial evaluation of the prince - to be deposed and reinstated twice, what an idiotic skill it was!

They say you're not afraid of wolf-like enemies, but you're afraid of pig-like teammates. At this moment, Shujia really wants to say, meeting pig-like teammates is good, but I met a pig-like captain! Now he looks like a good young man, but judging by the final result, this guy's political cunning has achieved the effect of a pig!

No way! Shujia thought, relying on this pig-headed captain alone is definitely not enough! Shujia chewed her fingers as she studied the plan. She had to reach a consensus with him, that is, she had to make this guy listen to her. This... was the key to the problem! How to make a crown prince who can ride a fierce horse, bend a strong bow, understand the classics, and handle government affairs... listen to you is a test of one's IQ.

The pig-headed captain had no idea his future wife was secretly criticizing and plotting against him. He was very happy at the moment, still sitting upright reading a book. However, he hadn't turned the page in two quarters of an hour, and the edges of the book were already wrinkled by his hands. Yinreng was having a hard time holding back his laughter - his eldest sister-in-law had given him another niece, who was a month old today. Yinreng really wanted to run to Yinzhi, laugh three times, and then sincerely call him "brother": "Brother, you've worked so hard for nothing again!"

Even more exciting was that Li Jia was already two months pregnant. Yinreng thought, even if it was a concubine's daughter, she would still be the crown prince's daughter, more precious than your legitimate child! If it was a son, that would be even more exciting!

The Yuqing Palace was completely silent. Yinreng was thinking, "Ha, the boss's face is so wrinkled, like he's eaten a sour orange!"

In a good mood, Yinreng's thoughts flew far and wide. Next year would be the big selection, his wedding, his wife... More than half of the powerful people in the capital knew about it, and he had seen her. She was a pretty good girl, at least more stylish than his sister-in-law who looked like she was dying of overwork. His sister-in-law had been ill since giving birth and was currently recuperating. It would take at least a year or two to recover. Haha, by the time the Crown Princess gave birth to her son, his sister-in-law wouldn't have recovered yet!

Yinreng couldn't help himself, threw down the book, and laughed heartily. The eunuchs and maids in Yuqing Palace were greatly relieved. The prince was in a good mood, and so far there was no need to worry about him taking his anger out on others.

Yinreng's hahazhuzi plucked up the courage to move closer and said, "Prince, are you in a good mood today? I haven't seen you so cheerful in several days."

Yinreng glanced at him and said, "Want to know why I'm in such a good mood?"

Haha Zhuzhu looked at him eagerly, acting pitifully. Yinreng laughed heartily: "I am happy with the things that are happy in the world, and I laugh at the people that are laughable in the world." After laughing enough, with some traces still on his face, he walked towards the back hall. Yuqing Palace: Entering the front star gate and passing the Xiangxu gate, the first is the Dunben Hall, which is the main hall. The main hall in the middle is the one with the plaque with the three characters "Yuqing Palace" hanging on it. It is Yinreng's study. The five main halls behind it are the official resting places. Yinreng stroked his chin. Although the Imperial Household Department is handling it, he still needs to dress up for the wedding. How should he dress it up?

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Because of Shujia's incident, Qingde's marriage went extremely smoothly. He was the legitimate son of an earl, had become a lieutenant commander, and had a promising sister. His regret of not being able to inherit the title was completely overshadowed. The Shi family also chose a wife for Qingde, considering that he would not be able to inherit the title in the future, and they wanted to choose a strong supporter for him.

In reality, there were very few good, unmarried women left in the Eight Banners. Even those of marriageable age were already preparing for the grand selection process. The Shi family couldn't wait for the next round of selection and had to find a wife for Qingde before it happened. But there was another special group they had to consider: the Jueluo clan.

As the saying goes, "people with the same surname cannot marry." Those with the surname Jueluo were not required to participate in the grand selection process. If their fathers were not of high rank, they would not be eligible for the Mongolian marriage. The Jueluo family had many high-quality girls—assuming you were a good match. The last woman Qingde mentioned was the daughter of Jueluo Sun Guo, who was about the same age. Her father was also a high-ranking official in the imperial court, having served in various positions, including Left Deputy Censor of the Censorate, Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and currently Right Vice Minister of the Lifanyuan.

The Shi family was very familiar with the entire process, and everything went smoothly, starting with the engagement. While sorting out the betrothal gifts, they also made a lot of jewelry for Shujia to use in the future, to avoid making a fuss and attracting attention by preparing something for their daughter.

Under the strong suppression of the Xiluo family, no gossip dared to spread within the palace about the second young lady's future in-laws. However, in the capital, new gossip was constantly circulating, such as "The Empress Dowager sent people to the Shi family to give gifts today." and "The Qianqing Palace sent people to the Shi family."

Fortunately, the Shi family had always kept a low profile. Despite Hua Shan's occasional tantrums, they were generally kind. Even Hua Shan, the Shi family's father, was now staying home under the pretext of recuperation, much less getting involved in any further trouble. The Shi family's servants kept their mouths shut: "How could we, the servants, know about our masters' affairs?" There was no room for speculation. Furthermore, once the consensus that "a young lady from the Shi family might be the future Crown Princess" became established, this little bit of gossip ceased to be gossip, losing its value in being passed around. For a time, the capital was at peace.

In this environment, in the tenth month of winter, Qingde finally got married. When the second month came, the Shi family began to recruit various craftsmen to prepare the second daughter's clothing.

The author has something to say: This chapter is very rich. The second girl finally has the consciousness of a time traveler!

Students who wish to submit their marks, please mark JF on the comments for easy identification ^0^

I have a delivery quota every month, and I basically deliver it all occasionally. I was busy the past two days and didn’t have time to deliver it. I caught some fish at work today, so I have some time and will deliver it slowly.