Chen Jin woke up from his dream and sat up, finding himself covered in cold sweat. He rubbed his brows, trying to erase the heartbreaking dream from his mind.
However, the scenes in his dream were deeply imprinted in his heart like a chisel, making him unable to forget them.
He took a deep breath and tried to calm his excitement.
The dream seemed to have touched the softest, most reluctant part of his heart. His younger brother, the figure he thought he had forgotten but who often appeared in his dreams at midnight, once again appeared before his eyes.
Before daybreak, Chen Jin was already standing neatly at the palace gate in court robes.
His eyes were firm and deep, revealing a majesty that could not be underestimated. Today he would personally leave the city to see off the team transporting the official silver.
As the morning light gradually brightened, teams of Royal Guards arrived one after another. They were wearing armor, holding spears, marching in unison, and their momentum was as high as a rainbow.
Their arrival made the originally quiet palace gate lively. The sound of armor and weapons colliding and the sound of uniform footsteps intertwined together, playing a magnificent marching melody.
"Eunuch Chen, the troops have been assembled, please give us your instructions!" A captain of the Imperial Guards walked up to Chen Jin and saluted respectfully.
Chen Jin nodded slightly, his eyes sweeping across the faces of every soldier. He saw their fortitude and determination, and couldn't help feeling a little relieved.
He spoke slowly, his voice loud and clear: "This time, escorting the official silver is a heavy responsibility. You must be careful and cautious to ensure that nothing goes wrong."
"Yes, sir!" The soldiers responded in unison, their voices shaking the heavens, revealing their immense determination and confidence.
Following Chen Jin's command, the team began to slowly move. Chen Jin mounted a tall horse and led a group of followers, following closely behind the Imperial Guards. They passed through the bustling streets and arrived outside the city gate.
Outside the city gates lay a vast plain. The sun had already risen, casting its golden rays across the plain, casting a golden glow over the troops about to depart.
Chen Jin pulled the reins and halted his horse. He turned and gazed at the orderly procession behind him, a surge of pride welling up in his heart. He knew that this team not only represented the majesty and power of the Ming Dynasty, but also carried the hopes and trust of countless people.
"Let's go!" Chen Jin raised his right hand and shouted loudly.
At his command, the troops advanced like an arrow from a bow. The sound of horse hooves, the clatter of armor, and shouts intertwined into an unstoppable torrent that rushed straight into the distance.
Xiao Gan and Xue Zhongfu served as the commander and deputy commander respectively. They took the lead and guarded the entire team from the front and back.
Chen Jin quickly jumped onto the horse of the guard beside him and hurriedly chased after him. Xue Zhongfu caught a glimpse of this scene and immediately signaled to the others to continue forward, while he turned his horse's head and headed towards Chen Jin.
"Eunuch Chen, do you have any other instructions?" Xue Zhongfu asked.
Chen Jin glanced at Xiao Gan's gradually blurring figure in the distance and said in a low voice, "Master Xue, you must be very careful on this trip. You must be careful not to be confused by others, or to confuse friend with foe, or to distinguish true from false."
Xue Zhongfu understood immediately after hearing this. He bowed solemnly and replied, "Thank you for your reminder, Eunuch Chen. I will be doubly vigilant and live up to your trust."
…
In the Yasongzhai of the Xingyuan Marquis Mansion, Xue Jiyan welcomed his rare day off.
In the past, he was always regarded as the third son with the most leisurely life in the family. However, times have changed. Now his eldest brother is stationed in the border military camp, and his second brother has been away from home for several months due to the task of escorting official silver. He unexpectedly became the temporary pillar of the Marquis' Mansion.
A few days ago, his mother Hong Yingrong had made arrangements, and today he needed to accompany her to the Weiyuan General's Mansion to complete an important engagement ceremony.
Although His Majesty and the Empress Dowager had instructed the Imperial Household Department to assist in the wedding, Hong Yingrong insisted that etiquette was indispensable. She believed that the Marquis's family should personally visit and perform due etiquette, and that Miss Ding must not suffer any grievances.
In the courtyard of Xiangyun Hall, the atmosphere was solemn and festive. Hong Yingrong sat upright in the main seat, holding the carefully prepared gift list in her hand. Her eyes slowly swept over it, and every detail could not be wrong.
"Madam Zhao, Madam Han, please check these betrothal gifts." She whispered.
Zhao Mama and Han Mama arrived, their faces beaming with confidence. They began to personally count the betrothal gifts, singing loudly and carefully examining each item.
"Dowry: 800 taels of gold and 6,000 taels of silver, is that correct?" After checking the betrothal money, Nanny Zhao confirmed with Hong Yingrong.
"Yes, that's the number." Hong Yingrong nodded with satisfaction.
Mother Han picked up a load of betrothal cakes and weighed them. "One load of betrothal cakes, fifty kilograms."
"And these," Mother Han pointed to the lotus roots, taro, and pomegranates nearby. "They're all in pairs, symbolizing good things come in pairs. I hope the young couple can live happily together and grow old together."
Madam Zhao picked up another gift list. "Eight types of seafood: abalone, dried oysters, scallops, mushrooms, dried shrimp, squid, sea cucumber, and shark's fin."
"The three animals are ready: two pairs of chickens, two males and two females, a shark, and a pair of wild geese."
"Four kinds of Beijing fruits: dried longan, dried lychee, dried walnut and peanuts in shell; four kinds of candies: rock sugar, tangerine cake, winter melon candy and golden thread dates." Mother Han said as she checked the fruit basket.
Then, they counted the tea leaves, sesame seeds, dried fruit boxes and other items one by one, carefully checking each item to ensure that they were correct.
Having checked off most of the items, we now come to the final few items.
Red bean ropes, gold decorations, dragon and phoenix candles, and a couplet symbolizing couples, as well as twelve pounds of glutinous rice and three pounds and two ounces of sugar, which symbolize happiness, are sent to the woman's home so that they can make dumplings, which is a good omen for perfection and sweetness.
In addition to these, Old Lady Hong Yingrong selected twenty pieces of jade, four jade ruyi handles, and a set of enamel plates with dragon and phoenix patterns from her dowry.
After counting all the betrothal gifts, Hong Yingrong breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, everything is ready. I hope this engagement can go smoothly and make a good start for their marriage."
After counting all the betrothal gifts, Nanny Zhao hurried to Yasongzhai. Xue Jiyan had already changed into new clothes for going out, ready to welcome the important moment in his life - going to Ding Mansion to propose marriage.
The servants in the room followed the old lady's careful instructions and changed him into a sky-blue robe, with a royal blue belt inlaid with jade tied around his waist. The jade was warm and the blue was deep, reflecting his elegance and nobility.
Before leaving, Xue Jiyan specifically instructed his servant: "Don't forget the gift I carefully prepared for Miss Ding."
Upon hearing this, the servant immediately responded respectfully, "Don't worry, Third Master. I've been taking good care of it these past few days and will ensure it arrives in perfect condition in Miss Ding's hands."
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