Miss Zhang understood that if she went back at this point, not only would she be at odds with the Eastern Palace, but her parents would also use her marriage to please their superiors or to benefit her brothers.
Her momentary sigh was met with the Crown Princess's satisfaction, and Miss Zhang immediately said, "With the Crown Princess and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince acting as matchmakers for us, this marriage will definitely be a good one. Then I will shamelessly pick someone I like."
Qin Wan was becoming increasingly satisfied with Miss Zhang. She patted her hands and said with a smile, "I will prepare four loads of dowry for you. Don't worry, I will also provide all the glass and mirrors in the bridal chamber."
"Thank you, Princess." Miss Zhang immediately bowed to express her gratitude.
There were nine people. Miss Zhang bravely looked at them one by one. Unexpectedly, she felt shy when she saw the burly soldiers.
They all avoided her gaze and dared not look at her.
Miss Zhang was no longer shy and became bolder. She had originally planned to just look at the appearance, but now she even dared to ask questions.
Miss Zhang first spoke a few words to the ones she liked, and finally stood in front of a bald man with a somewhat fierce look. Seeing his dark face flushed, she pursed her lips and smiled: "Will you marry me?"
The bald man was none other than Ren Liu. He immediately stared at Miss Zhang with eyes wide open in disbelief. Just as she was about to lose her temper, he nodded vigorously, his head almost falling off with such strength: "Yes, yes, yes, yes!"
Miss Zhang smiled with satisfaction, turned around and walked towards Qin Wan, and Ren Liu followed closely.
Miss Zhang couldn't help but look back at him: "Why are you following me?"
"Hehe, follow your wife." Ren Liu scratched his head and smiled foolishly.
Miss Zhang looked at his silly look, feeling a bit regretful and a bit wanting to laugh. She finally smiled, pursed her lips and bowed to Qin Wan: "Crown Princess, I have made my choice."
Qin Wan glanced at Ren Liu and nodded with a smile: "Not bad."
Ren Liu was Lu Yan's subordinate at the border. Because he was not a personal soldier, the Ministry of War assigned him a task after he returned to the capital.
Although Qin Wan didn't remember who Ren Liu's wife was in her previous life, she knew that he was very good to his wife and was a gentle man with a strong heart.
Miss Zhang and Ren Liu are definitely a perfect match.
The other young ladies saw that Miss Zhang had made the first move, and after looking at each other, they also came forward to choose their husbands.
They were not as bold and careful as Miss Zhang. After just one look at her appearance, they quietly went to tell Qin Wan.
Qin Wan wrote down their choices and showed them to Xie Qing.
Xie Qing called the rest of the people aside and questioned them, then asked them to write engagement letters on the spot, exchange tokens and finalize the marriage.
Qin Wan directly let them marry out of the Eastern Palace and only sent someone to notify their families to prepare dowries and send them to the Eastern Palace.
These were the daughters of minor officials of the sixth or seventh rank. Their families prepared a dowry of only twelve loads at most, and some had even less, only eight or ten.
Qin Wan added sixteen loads to their loads.
The total value is almost the same, which makes them speechless.
The engagement was made on the same day, the betrothal gifts were given on the second day, the house was cleaned on the third day, the invitation was sent on the fourth day, the dowry was delivered on the fifth day, and the wedding was held on the sixth day.
The entire process was organized by the Ministry of Rites, and the Eastern Palace sent the bride off, which was quite grand.
Even the emperor, who had not been seen for a long time, showed up at the wedding.
The emperor was very pleased: "The soldiers fought on the battlefield and risked their lives for our Great Zhou, all for the safety and happiness of the people, but what about their lives? Now that I can see them starting families, I am very relieved and rewarded!"
"Your Majesty will reward you with a pair of jade ruyi!"
Eunuch Zhang sang and cheered on the spot, and pairs of jade ruyi were brought out and given to the newlyweds.
Concubine Li smiled and said, "Good things come in pairs. I will also give a pair of jasper ornaments to the newlyweds."
Starting with the rewards from the emperor and the imperial concubine, the newlyweds were really honored both financially and financially.
The emperor then said to Xie Qing, "The families of these officials must also be rewarded. If you see someone who is suitable, you can promote him."
"Yes." Xie Qing agreed. The assessments of these officials were all normal, so there would be no problem with their promotion.
Now Xie Qing has acted as a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for their daughter, breaking their idea of clinging to the powerful. Even if these officials have complaints, they will stand firmly on Xie Qing's side because they have been promoted because of this incident.
What's more, after this incident, those who planned to send women to the Eastern Palace would naturally understand what Xie Qing meant.
Xie Qing also won over the officials in one fell swoop, letting everyone know how much he was favored by the emperor.
It's not about killing two birds with one stone, but achieving multiple goals at once.
The emperor, who had not been seen for a long time, also showed up. The officials in the court found that the emperor was fine except that he looked a little weak, so they were completely relieved.
From then on, Xie Qing became more adept at handling government affairs in the court.
If he was happy, the Fourth Prince would be unhappy. However, no matter how unhappy he was, he could only endure it at this moment.
After the first heavy snow, the weather became increasingly cold, abnormally cold.
Qin Wan and Xie Qing had made preparations early in the morning. A large amount of charcoal was shipped to the south, and the north also tried its best to prepare food and warm clothes.
Xie Qing also ordered officials from all over the country to inspect houses and reinforce dangerous houses to prevent them from collapsing and endangering lives due to the wind and snow.
The Qin family will provide all the financial support in this regard. Any lack of people, materials, or money will be provided by the Qin family, and the local officials only need to step in.
The days passed quickly in the busyness. When it came to the twelfth lunar month, the heavy snow never stopped. However, even with the heavy snow, people still had to celebrate the New Year.
However, Concubine Li fell ill after surviving the Laba Festival.
It’s not that she wanted to be sick or leave such an important matter as the palace banquet to Qin Wan, but this winter was too cold. If there was a little cold wind and she was not careful, Concubine Li would have a high fever.
As soon as Concubine Li fell ill, Concubine Ru died.
Even if a guilty concubine died, it would not cause any waves.
Despite her illness, Concubine Li reported the matter to the emperor through a screen outside the Qianqing Palace.
The emperor's attitude was cold: "If he's dead, then he's dead. Just send him to the temple for burial. Oh, and let Lao Wu keep vigil."
Concubine Li hesitated and said, "It's almost Chinese New Year, Fifth Prince, why don't you stay in the palace for the New Year?"
The emperor glanced at her through the screen and said, "You are also ill, so don't worry too much. As for the fifth child, his biological mother died, and he didn't go to the wake and celebrate the New Year? If it were an ordinary family, after the mother died, they would have to live in a reed house for three years. Letting him go to the temple is not too hard."
In the families of ordinary people, there was no son who would mourn for his stepmother for three years.
However, Concubine Li did not say this. After finding out what would be done to Concubine Ru, she said goodbye and left.
Inside, Xie Qing was reviewing memorials, but he couldn't help but look at the emperor—the sketchbook in his hand. "Father, it's almost the end of the year, and you should be well again. The Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony is about to begin, and you should be the one presiding over it."
The emperor immediately threw the book away and coughed twice.
Eunuch Zhang immediately said, "Your Majesty, the imperial physician should check Ping An's pulse."
Xie Qing was speechless. He had just asked a question when the imperial physician was summoned...
He watched in silence as the imperial physician came in, took his pulse, and prescribed a prescription. He then repeatedly warned him, "Your Highness, I've said this many times, Your Majesty, please don't overwork yourself..."
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