Chapter 12 Double Happiness: You two sisters are getting married at the same time
The bamboo tube that Shen Yunshu lost was never found.
The carriage that Tinglan hired was not there. When she rushed to Fengle Tower, the Pei family's carriage was gone. It was not convenient for her to go to the Pei Mansion to ask, so she had to give up.
There's something wrong with the wine in the bamboo tube. If someone drinks it by mistake...
Shen Yunshu didn't dare to think further and was worried for several days until someone from the Pei Mansion came to propose marriage again. Her worries were diluted by the happy event. She guessed that the bamboo tube should not have caused any big trouble, so she stopped thinking about it.
Regarding the marriage between Pei Huaian and her third sister, Shen Yunshu mentioned this matter to her father when he returned home from the government office that day, so that her father could be mentally prepared.
I thought my father would approve of this marriage, but after hearing it, he actually shook his head and said no: "Shu'er, your third sister...is not worthy of her."
"Why not?"
Shen Yunshu couldn't help but feel strange. Her father had always doted on his third sister, so why did he look down on his own daughter at this time?
Besides, Liang Liulang, who was in charge of the General's Mansion, was no worse than Pei Huaian. Since the third sister was worthy of him, she could naturally be worthy of Pei Qilang as well.
"Third sister has a kind nature and is optimistic and optimistic. Although she lacks intelligence and knowledge, Pei Qilang is also a person who does not strive for progress and is greedy for fun. They have similar personalities and appearances. Moreover, our two families are of similar status. Why does father feel that Third sister is not worthy of Pei Qilang?"
The father sighed and said, "How can two immature children live a good life together?"
"Father, don't worry about this. My third sister and I are marrying into the Pei family together. We are sisters and sisters-in-law. I will definitely help you in the future. Besides, Pei Qilang's mother died young, and his father is away on business all year round. If you marry him, you won't have to serve your parents-in-law..."
But his father still disagreed: "Even so, I'm still worried. Before the Pei family sends anyone to propose marriage, you go see Pei Qilang tomorrow and tell him that today was just a joke and ask him not to take it seriously."
"I won't go. If Father can't come up with a real reason today, I'll go talk to Mother..."
Shen Yunshu was so stubborn that even her father, Shen Tingyu, was at a loss. After a moment's silence, he said, "My father and Pei Qilang's father were classmates back then, but we ended our friendship for some reason. If Youran were to marry his son, wouldn't that be embarrassing for both him and me?"
It turns out that my father and Pei Huaian’s father have such a connection.
Shen Yunshu couldn't help but waver a little, but after thinking about it carefully, she felt that something was wrong.
"If the feud between father and Uncle Pei is deep, then Madam Pei should know about it. But since she chose me to be her granddaughter-in-law, it means she doesn't mind the feud between you..."
Before her father could open his mouth to refute her again, Shen Yunshu continued, "If the Pei family really proposes marriage, please don't refuse it for now. I really don't want you to know that there's a villain coveting my third sister. I'm so anxious to arrange a marriage for my third sister because I want to protect him. Father, please discuss the marriage with the Pei family first and don't make a decision yet. Use the Pei family as a shield to protect my third sister..."
"Which brat is coveting You Ran?"
"Father, you don't need to know who that person is. Please trust your daughter this time..."
"Well, let's leave it at that for now."
Shen Yunshu took great pains to convince her father, but little did she know that when Mrs. Pei learned that her youngest grandson was going to marry the third daughter of the Shen family, she also spent some time considering the matter.
Two years ago, when she started to arrange a marriage for her eldest grandson Pei Huaijin, the old lady had already searched for all the girls of marriageable age in the capital. She also had some understanding of the third lady of the Shen family. She knew that although she was very beautiful, she was uneducated and had a rough mind. She was a world apart from the beautiful, intelligent, dignified and well-mannered eldest lady of the Shen family.
However, the old lady also knew that her youngest grandson was a beautiful woman with a beautiful appearance, and he looked like a good match with the third wife of the Shen family. However, the old lady still hoped to choose a quiet, docile, intelligent and hardworking girl for her youngest grandson, who would be able to support her husband in raising children and helping him to make progress.
For example, the maid from the Meng family who used to serve the daughter-in-law of the eldest wife, although she was a little weak in character, was barely worthy of the old lady's favor. Unfortunately, Xiaoqi looked down on her and was unwilling to marry her. Later, the maid asked Lin Wulang from the Changxing Marquis' Mansion to marry her, and she would be getting married in some time.
Now Xiao Qi is looking for someone who is not as good as Meng Yatou. It would be worse if he was forced to marry Meng Yatou.
The old lady had also earnestly advised her youngest grandson: "Marry a virtuous wife. If the third daughter of the Shen family is half as virtuous as her elder sister, grandma would have agreed. It's really..."
But Xiao Qi not only refused to listen, but also stiffened her neck and retorted: "Grandma, I don't like virtuous girls. I just like those who stay at home and do nothing..."
Listen, what is this saying?
The old lady frowned and refused to agree. Xiao Qi's stubborn temper also came out: "I will not marry anyone but Shen San. If grandma doesn't agree, then I will never marry again."
The old lady poked his head in anger: "You are really crazy..."
In the end, it was Nanny Tang from Ciyouyuan who made the old lady agree.
Nanny Tang whispered to her, "Old Madam, the maid who was in charge of tidying the Seventh Young Master's bedroom today pulled out several pieces of clothing and handkerchiefs from under the bed. There were stains on those underwear that hadn't dried yet. I don't understand, but I do. It's clear that the Seventh Young Master... has figured things out..."
The old lady was at a loss whether to laugh or cry when she heard this: This little monkey is greedy for Chen San to this extent?
After all, the old lady still favors her youngest grandson. Since he likes the third lady of the Shen family so much, it would be better to fulfill his wish.
However, the old lady couldn't make the decision on this matter alone. She remembered that Xiaoqi's father and Shen San's father had an old grudge and they had been out of touch for many years. Now Xiaoqi insisted on marrying a girl from the Shen family, and this matter required the approval of her father.
So, ignoring her grandson's urging, the old lady asked someone to write a letter to Quanzhou to ask Pei Yuanzhou's opinion.
However, before the letter could be sent, Xiaoqi's father came back.
He had just returned from leading his team out to sea and was planning to rest for a month. He would take this opportunity to go back to the capital to visit his parents and help the eldest wife arrange Pei Huaijin's marriage.
Mrs. Pei told him about Xiao Qi's affairs. Unexpectedly, he not only did not object, but thought it was a good thing.
"But didn't you break off relations with Minister Shen?"
"Yes, we haven't been in touch for many years," Pei Yuanzhou said with a meaningful smile, "Now it's a good opportunity to use the marriage of my children to reconcile with him..."
When the Pei family sent an official matchmaker to propose marriage, Pei Yuanzhou also went with them.
Shen Tingyu originally wanted to get away with the marriage, but when an old friend came to visit, the two of them had a drink together, reconciled their old relationship, and directly arranged the marriages for their two children.
After the people from Pei's house left, Shen Yunshu went to the front yard to find her father, wanting to ask how their conversation went.
My father was drunk and had lost his usual dignified demeanor. He sat on the steps with his legs crossed, reciting poetry and seemed to be in a good mood.
Seeing her coming, her father patted the empty space beside him and asked her to sit down. He said through his drunken eyes, "I have discussed with Brother Yuanzhou that while he is in Beijing for a month, we can arrange Youran's wedding together. Then you two sisters will get married at the same time, and it will be a double blessing for his Pei family..."
Shen Yunshu was very surprised.
It was clear that my father's attitude towards this marriage was ambiguous a few days ago, saying that he had a grudge with Pei Huaian's father. Why is it that today he not only calls me "Brother Yuanzhou" all the time, but even sets the date for my third sister's wedding?
"Father, isn't this too hasty?"
"Don't worry. They're the ones who are anxious. Marrying two new brides at once is a hassle for them. You and Youran can just relax and wait for your wedding. I've already prepared Youran's dowry..."
Three days later, the Pei family arrived with a betrothal gift. Silks, satins, pearl and jade crowns, tea, fruit, mutton, and wine filled the yard. There was also a large mahogany box filled with gold and silver ingots. Two strong men were panting as they carried it...
Pei Yuanzhou has been in business for many years and is indeed very wealthy.
Shen Youran only glanced over, not even bothering to look at the gift list, because her wedding dress hadn't been embroidered yet. Nowadays, it was popular for girls to embroider their own wedding dresses. Her sister had accompanied her to embroider it before, but when her sister went to live in the Pei family's farm, she thought that she didn't know when she would get married, so there was no need to rush, so she put it in the cabinet...
I never expected her marriage to come so soon.
These days she took out the half-embroidered wedding dress from the cupboard, and wielded the embroidery needle so dazzled that she almost cried.
Fortunately, the older sister helped to embroider, and with the two sisters working together, there was hope that they could finish the embroidery before getting married.
However, Shen Youran's eyesight was not good to begin with, and her anxiety caused her to become so hot that the fire went straight into her eyes, causing them to turn red and she to cry continuously. She drank fire-reducing medicine for several days but it didn't work to suppress the fire.
Seeing her like this, Shen Yunshu had no choice but to take the needle away from her hand and told her to heal her eyes first. As for the remaining embroidery, Shen Yunshu asked Tinglan and Qinghe, who were good maids, to help. As long as they kept quiet, no one else would know that the wedding dress was not embroidered by Shen Youran alone.
Shen Youran wrapped ice cubes in a handkerchief and applied them to her eyes. She lay on the beauty bed and chatted with her sister: "Sister, what does Pei Huaian look like?"
A few days ago, her elder sister came to her with a Mohele, the same one she had picked out at the temple fair but had no money to buy. She said that the masked man who helped her pay for it that day was none other than Pei Huaian, the seventh son of the Pei family.
At that time, her elder sister only told her that Pei Huaian was interested in marrying her. She didn't expect that she would marry him without even meeting Pei Huaian.
"He, with his jade-like qualities and golden appearance, can be described as the pine wind and water moon, yet he is not as pure and elegant as her. How can the fairy dew and bright pearls even match her brightness and smoothness?..."
Shen Youran had never heard of these words, but she could understand: "Big sister, what you mean is that he is extremely handsome, right?"
Shen Yunshu nodded. "Well, don't worry about his appearance. He's a perfect match for you. And although he has a reputation for being a playboy and his behavior is frivolous, he hasn't tainted himself with any bad habits. He's straightforward and uninhibited, but he also knows the big picture, is filial, and has a kind heart..."
Shen Youran's legs lifted as she listened, and she said happily, "The man that Big Sister helped me choose was definitely the right one."
When the wedding dress was about to be embroidered, the Lu family sent someone to give each sister an additional dowry.
Shen Yunshu had previously discussed with her mother about marrying out of the Shen family, and she had not returned to the Lu family for some time, pretending to help her sister embroider her wedding dress.
The person who came to add makeup today was Xu Bo, the steward of the Lu Mansion. Shen Yunshu asked him a few words about Lu Yi.
After Lu Yi was taken to the government office that day, someone sent a message to the Lu family. The Lu family wanted to get Lu Yi out, but there were too many witnesses and the brothel girl refused to give in. In the end, she was sentenced to 30 strokes of the cane and 15 days' detention.
Now fifteen days have passed, and the Lu family has taken the man back. They have put him in solitary confinement, allowing him to recuperate in his room and reflect on his mistakes.
Shen Yunshu was happy to hear this. At least before they got married, he wouldn't be able to bother her and You Ran anymore.
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① From Emperor Taizong of Tang’s “Preface to the Holy Teachings of the Great Tang Tripitaka”
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