As soon as the official positions of the newly-appointed scholars were finalized, good news came one after another and spread throughout the capital.
On the day when the imperial examination results were announced, the family of the cabinet scholar quickly chose a second-class candidate as a husband for their daughter.
The two families, the Kyoto garrison commander and the Imperial Household Department's Shaoqing, were competing for the same Jinshi as their son-in-law. They met unexpectedly with their matchmakers, and their followers started arguing in the street and even fought. In the end, the Jingzhao Yin was alerted and came out to mediate, and the disturbance was finally settled.
Unlike other wealthy families who focused their attention on talented Jinshi graduates, Du Zhuan, the salt transport envoy, had a unique vision and did not fight or compete. He had early on taken a fancy to a fellow Jinshi who was about to be exiled to Yangzhou.
He decisively set a wedding date for his little daughter, and planned to let his daughter go to his post with her husband after the wedding on an auspicious day.
The Jiang family, the chief academic officer of the Imperial College, had a new top scholar, which attracted countless matchmakers to visit them.
However, the second wife, Mrs. Qiao, gave strict instructions to the doorman to politely decline all proposals and simply say that the number one scholar's marriage had already been arranged.
This news aroused the curiosity of everyone in Beijing, and they speculated who would be the new top scholar.
The Jiang family kept silent about the matter until the day of the proposal, when the three letters and six ceremonies were complete, and then the answer was revealed.
It turned out that the number one scholar was destined to marry the eldest daughter of the Xingyuan Marquis's family. The two families had already secretly discussed it and were just waiting for an auspicious day to assemble the couple.
The Jiang family's proposal of marriage this time was so comprehensive and meticulous.
The engagement letter, gift letter, and welcoming letter are all available, and the rituals of accepting the bride's proposal, asking for the bride's name, and accepting the marriage proposal are all carried out step by step. The two families have matched the children's horoscopes, and they are a perfect match with many children, good fortune, and a long-lasting happy marriage.
The sky was clear and the weather was sunny that day.
The Jiang family's procession marched in a mighty procession, all the way to the Xingyuan Marquis's residence. The servants at the front of the procession were all in high spirits, carrying boxes filled with betrothal gifts, covered with bright red silk cloth, which looked particularly dazzling in the sunlight.
The gifts in the box, including betrothal money, betrothal cakes, seafood, three kinds of meat, four kinds of golden fruits, four kinds of candies, etc., swayed slightly with their steps, as if they were also rejoicing for this happy event.
People along the way stopped to watch and talked one after another. The servants of the Jiang family distributed wedding cakes along the street. Those who received the wedding cakes had happy smiles on their faces, as if they had also been touched by the joy.
As the team continued to move forward, the gate of Xingyuan Marquis Mansion gradually came into view.
The front of the Marquis' Mansion was already crowded with people and extremely bustling.
The servants of the Xingyuan Marquis' Mansion lined up on both sides early in the morning, awaiting the arrival of the Jiang family's marriage proposal team. The second son of the Xue family, Xue Zhongfu, and the third son, Xue Jiyan, even stood in front of the gate to welcome them personally, which undoubtedly showed the importance the marquis' mansion attached to the Jiang family.
As soon as the wedding procession arrived at the Marquis' Mansion, the entire Dongxing Street was packed with people. The servants of the two families worked together to carry boxes of betrothal gifts into the Mansion.
The Jiang family's first wife, Sun, and second wife, Qiao, gracefully stepped down from their ornately decorated carriage, their demeanor dignified and their demeanor extraordinary. Seeing this, Xue Zhongfu and Xue Jiyan immediately stepped forward, bowing respectfully and greeting them.
"Madam, Madam, may you be blessed with good health." Xue Zhongfu said with a smile, his voice revealing his respect for the two ladies. "Mother and sister-in-law are already waiting for you in the inner hall."
When Sun came today, she was not only thinking about the important matter of proposing marriage for her nephew, but also worried about her pregnant daughter Jiang Shuxiu.
Ever since she learned that her daughter was pregnant, she prayed devoutly to the Buddha every day, asking the Buddha to bless her daughter and child with safety.
Although she knew that the people in the Marquis' Mansion had no worries about food and had all kinds of delicacies from land and sea, she still insisted on sending someone to deliver carefully selected supplements every day, hoping that these supplements could nourish her daughter's body, and at the same time expressing her deep love and care for her daughter.
"Thank you both gentlemen for your concern." Sun responded gently with a warm smile on her face.
Surrounded by the crowd, the group went to Xiangyun Hall. Hong Yingrong had been waiting there for a long time. Seeing the two ladies of the Jiang family arriving, she warmly stepped forward to greet them and exchanged pleasantries.
Sun held her daughter Jiang Shuxiu's hand tightly, her eyes full of love and care.
She carefully looked at her daughter's outfit today - the osmanthus green brocade skirt made her skin look even whiter and more delicate, her belly was slightly bulging, and she was pregnant. Her rosy face and energetic look made Sun feel very relieved and happy.
At the same time, Xue Huichun and Xue Shanqiu also rushed over to pay their respects to the two aunts of the Jiang family.
Today is a special day for Xue Huichun, so she specially changed into a peony-colored embroidered dress to highlight the festive atmosphere. She also pinned a double-knotted hairpin with red coral beads on her bun, which added a bit of gorgeousness and nobility.
At this moment, she is like a rich peony flower blooming in the world, radiant and eye-catching.
"Oh, look at our Huichun, she is so dazzling today." Sun praised, her eyes revealing her love for Xue Huichun.
Xue Huichun lowered her head shyly, her voice trembling slightly, "Auntie, you're too kind."
"Haha, good boy." Sun nodded with a smile, then turned to Xue Shanqiu who was standing beside her. "Shanqiu has also grown up to be more and more handsome. Old Madam, the children of your Xue family are really more outstanding than the other."
As everyone laughed and the atmosphere gradually heated up, Hong Yingrong gently reminded, "Madam, Madam, the auspicious time has arrived. Should we proceed to the main event of the day and officially begin discussing the marriage?"
Sun nodded slightly when she heard this: "Look, I'm so happy that I even forgot about the important things. Let's get started now."
Nanny Zhao withdrew in response, and soon returned with a group of maids and servants, holding various gift lists and marriage certificates in their hands. With the joint witness of the parents of both parties, the marriage ceremony officially began.
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