Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Pei Xia
Most girls in Beijing got married at the age of sixteen, but Tian Jie'er, the concubine's daughter of the Xue family, was still unmarried at the age of eighteen.
Some people say that because Tian Jie'er is a concubine's daughter, Xue's husband deliberately makes things difficult for her and is unwilling to choose a good husband for her, dragging it on until now.
Someone immediately refuted, saying that the sweet girl was well taken care of by the Xue family, and her food, clothing and other daily necessities were all of the best quality. In addition, she is also proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Mr. Xue also asked her to help manage the general affairs of the Marquis' Mansion.
Not to mention compared with other concubines' daughters, she is not much inferior even when compared with the legitimate daughters of famous families.
No matter how chaotic the outside world is, Madam Wen is filled with worry as she sees her beautiful daughter still waiting to be married.
This sweet girl was fine when she was little, but now that she reads more books and hangs out with Shen Xuan every day, her thoughts have become weird.
For example, she was only eighteen years old and still didn't want to get married. She just said that if she had to get married, she would marry someone she loved.
Whenever Madam Wen went to urge marriage, Tian Jie'er would bring up Xue Fenglin and Shen Xuan. She just said that her brother and sister-in-law said that even if she never got married, the Marquis's Mansion could support her, so she could do whatever she wanted.
"A girl will eventually get married. If she delays any longer, she will get older and where can she find a suitable and good family?" Madam Wen said to Yin Shuang with a sigh.
After thinking about it, he felt that he had to go find Shen Xuan. This sweet girl didn't listen to him now, and only Shen Xuan could persuade her!
Yin Shuang listened to Madam Wen's complaints from the side. She said nothing but thought in her heart: Jingui, the girl beside Hou Fulang, is already twenty years old, two years older than Tian Jie'er, but she has no intention of getting married.
This sweet girl doesn't want to get married. I'm afraid it would be useless even if she found a husband!
Yin Shuang had married the steward of the mansion many years ago, and after marriage she still worked for Madam Wen. Her younger brother Jinzhi married the manager of the farm and now has two children.
In recent years, because of Jinzhi's dignified marriage, many people have proposed to Jingui. Even if Jin Gui's parents came to Shen Xuan in person, he would also ask Jin Gui if she was willing?
If Jin Gui was unwilling, Shen Xuan would directly reject it, so he kept him until now. Now, at a young age, he has become a top-notch steward in the backyard of the marquis' mansion.
Yin Shuang followed Madam Wen to Shen Xuan Courtyard and saw him looking through the account book in the study. Jingui beside him was holding a brush and helping him copy the records. There were also two little attendants, about eleven or twelve years old, helping to organize and grind the ink.
In recent years, Shen Xuan's business has grown bigger, and he has opened some branches in the prosperous cities all over Dajin. The branch submits the account books to the head office once a month. The accountant in charge checks them first, and then Shen Xuan conducts a unified check to see if there are any errors, omissions or inaccuracies.
Seeing Madam Wen coming over, Shen Xuan stopped what he was doing and asked her to wait in the tea room, and he would go over to meet her later.
Madam Wen waited for a while, and when she drank the second cup of tea, she saw Shen Xuan coming. After sitting down and washing his hands, he said to Madam Wen: "What is the matter with you coming here? If it is an ordinary matter at home, you can make the decision yourself."
In recent years, Shen Xuan has handed over the affairs of the front yard of the Marquis's Mansion to Tian Jie'er, and the trivial matters of the backyard to Madam Wen, who has managed them in a fairly clear and orderly manner. However, when encountering matters that she was not brave enough to decide, Madam Wen would still come to ask Shen Xuan and act according to his wishes.
“Hou Fulang, I didn’t come here this time for the affairs of the harem.” Upon hearing this, Madam Wen stood up and personally poured a cup of tea for Shen Xuan, saying, “I came here this time because of my little daughter, Tianjie.”
"It is because you and the Marquis treated her too well that she became more and more willful. Now that she is already eighteen years old, she is still unmarried and relies on her brother and sister-in-law for food and money. I am really ashamed."
"I am a concubine of humble origins, living in the inner chambers and not knowing many people. I hope you can help her find a good husband so that she can have someone to rely on for the rest of her life and relieve my worries!"
When Madam Wen was only halfway through her words, Shen Xuan understood what she meant!
Urge marriage! It is truly an eternal topic between parents and children!
The sweet girl is already eighteen years old, and there are many people who want to propose marriage to her. But every time Xue Fenglin asked Tian Jie'er what she thought, she said no, so Xue Fenglin just followed her.
Madam Wen could no longer bear it, so she came to see him in person. After all, most girls and boys in Dajin are engaged when they are fourteen or fifteen years old. After they are eighteen, most men of matching age are already engaged, so it becomes very difficult to find suitable talents!
Aunt Wen is Tian Jie'er's biological mother. She came to ask Shen Xuan in person, so Shen Xuan couldn't refuse her outright.
After thinking for a while, he said to Aunt Wen, "Aunt, you don't have to worry. Marriage has always been about mutual consent. If Tian Jie'er is not happy, she will not be happy after getting married."
"If you are so worried about her marriage, why not use my name to organize a few banquets for Tian Jie'er, like other famous families in Beijing, and invite all the men of marriageable age in Beijing."
"At this banquet, men and women interact with each other and talk about everything. Maybe they will develop feelings for each other. If Sweetie is willing, you can talk to her about marriage. I'm afraid she will agree too."
Shen Xuan was very busy every day and he hated socializing, so he had never held such a banquet specifically for Tian Jie'er.
Now he has delegated the power to Madam Wen to do it, and inviting young talents in his name can be regarded as fulfilling her obligations as a brother and sister-in-law.
If Tian Jieer doesn't want to get married anymore, then don't force her, just follow her own preferences.
When Aunt Wen saw Shen Xuan had said this, she also sighed, thanked Shen Xuan gratefully, and left.
It was impossible for Shen Xuan to force Tian Jie'er to marry, but it was very good that he was willing to organize a banquet for Tian Jie'er.
Madam Wen personally selects the guests, so of course she has to find out about everyone's character and will not choose the bad ones! There are so many young talents in Beijing, she doesn't believe that Tian Jieer doesn't like any of them!
Thinking of this, Madam Wen ran back with full confidence to make a list!
Although she was a woman in the inner court, her family had been doing high-end silk business in the capital, and she knew many of the powerful people in the capital.
Madam Wen went back to her parents' home the next day in order to inquire about the details of those men of marriageable age from her family.
The young masters of famous families in the capital all behaved in a gentle and refined manner at the banquets of aristocratic families, but they had some dark habits in private, whether it was gambling or lust, which could not be hidden from these low-level businessmen.
When Madam Wen went there, she made a list in advance, on which were written the names of more than thirty young men from famous families. When I returned from my mother's house, there were only nine people left on the list.
However, not all of these nine people are both talented and beautiful. Some have ordinary looks, some have difficult-to-talk-to mothers-in-law or sisters-in-law at home, and some are honest but weak and incompetent, and may not be able to stand on their own in the future.
After looking around, Madam Wen felt that there were only two or three men who were worthy of Tian Jie'er.
But no matter how good Tianjie is, she is still a concubine's daughter after all. If she meets a family that is particular about status and hierarchy, I wonder if they will look down on Tian Jie'er's background!
Madam Wen looked at the list and sighed again. She was so exhausted that she finalized the list.
In addition to the remaining nine people on the list, Madam Wen took out an extra list with the names of more than a dozen young talents on it.
However, these people are different from the previous nine people. They come from poor backgrounds and have relied on their own efforts to make it in Beijing. They can be considered to have some abilities.
These people were not chosen for the sweet girl, but were selected for other young men and women who were about to attend the banquet.
When the Marquis's Mansion holds a banquet, it is impossible that only Tian Jie'er, a young lady waiting to be married, will attend.
There are also many girls and boys who have reached marriageable age from the Xue family's side branches and from families in the capital that have close ties with the Xue family. They will also be invited to the banquet and will be seen together with the invited young men.
However, all participants knew tacitly that the host of the banquet was the Marquis's concubine's daughter, Tian Jie'er, and the others were just green leaves beside the flowers.
After selecting the guests for the banquet, Madam Wen handed the list to Shen Xuan.
Shen Xuan took a look and handed the list to Jin Gui, asking him to be responsible for the invitations. He also called Tian Jie'er over and asked her to be responsible for the banquet.
"Why are you suddenly holding a banquet for no reason?" Tian Jieer asked with a frown, already having a guess in her mind.
"It also fulfills your mother's wish." Shen Xuan smiled and said, "You are already eighteen years old, which is the best time of your life. Although I don't restrict you from getting married, but if there is no movement, your mother will not forgive me, and will come to me to cry every day!"
Shen Xuan's words were exaggerated. Now the Marquis' Mansion had long been Xue Fenglin's world, so Madam Wen naturally didn't dare to really complain in front of Shen Xuan. But she didn't say it on the surface, but no one knew what she was thinking in her heart.
Shen Xuan organized a banquet for Tian Jie'er in his own name, firstly to save her face, and secondly to fulfill Madam Wen's love for her daughter.
"Oh, my mother is so mean! Sister-in-law, you are also worried sick!" Tian Jie'er said speechlessly.
"Why should I worry? Your mother personally drew up the list of guests for the banquet. You are in charge of the banquet. You worry about it. I just put forward the names and I am happy to be free." Shen Xuan said, "But since the banquet is already held, you should put some thought into it and don't act recklessly. If you don't like them after meeting them, you don't have to marry and just stay at home. Your brother's words will count in the future."
Such favorable conditions have already provided Tian Jie'er with a safety net for the rest of her life. With such a good brother and sister-in-law, what else could you ask for? The brothers and sisters from other aristocratic families can’t even envy me enough!
Tian Jieer was deeply moved when she heard this, and couldn't help but hugged Shen Xuan's arm and said, "Good sister-in-law, you are still the best! I will definitely prepare this banquet well and not embarrass you."
She had come into contact with Shen Xuan a lot over the years and knew that he was the easiest to talk to, and it was easy for her to act coquettishly with him.
This banquet is held in the name of Shen Xuan, so it can't be bad! Tian Jie'er has been helping the household in the past few years and is very familiar with these chores, so she started to make careful preparations right away.
Half a month later, the Marquis' Mansion held a banquet at a farm outside the capital, a lively early autumn banquet.
This summer has just passed and the weather is still a bit hot and stuffy. The farm in the suburbs of Beijing is located next to a hill. It is very cool and there are many fruits and vegetables planted there, which can be picked by oneself. It is a perfect place for young men and women to gather together and enhance their friendship.
This banquet was the idea of Sweetie, and it was organized in a very novel way.
In addition to the feast, the sweet girl even asked everyone to draw lots on the spot, and divided into groups of three or two to compete in picking fruits!
The participants traveled light, wearing shorts that were convenient for walking. The boys and girls worked together and became familiar with each other in just half an hour. The atmosphere was very lively for a while.
Although the banquet was well organized, the host, Tian Jie'er, was so busy running around, socializing like a butterfly, that she didn't have time to say a few words to the young men selected by Madam Wen.
Seeing the young men she had chosen for the sweet girl chatting enthusiastically with other girls and boys, Madam Wen became so anxious that bubbles appeared in her mouth. I couldn't help but go to Shen Xuan's seat and said to him, "Hou Fulang, Tian Jieer has been busy until now and hasn't had a break. How can she have time to interact with the young masters? Why not let her come back and sit?"
Shen Xuan smiled when he heard this and said, "Madam Wen, today's banquet is so well organized, and Tian Jieer is in the limelight. If those young masters really want to get to know her, they will always find an opportunity."
Shen Xuan's words were very realistic. It's not like Tian Jie'er couldn't find anyone. If someone was interested, wouldn't he be able to find an opportunity to talk to her?
And if he has feelings for her but is unwilling to take the initiative, what kind of man is he? This kind of man has no opinion of his own, not to mention that the sweet girl will definitely look down on him. Even if you marry her reluctantly, you will not be happy in the future.
Madam Wen was getting anxious and angry, while Tian Jie'er was also feeling uncomfortable.
The reason was not because none of those famous young men were willing to come to her, but because she saw a familiar figure at the banquet.
It was strange to say, she had only met the man once and did not know his name, but perhaps because the time and occasion were too special, she still remembered him today.
The man was much older than her, probably around twenty-five or twenty-six, but he still hadn't married. He was unexpectedly invited to the banquet today, and was chatting and laughing with the Xue family's side branches and several brothers and sisters with unknown family backgrounds. It was obvious that he was invited by Madam Wen to come and fill the party.
The man was none other than Pei Xia. When the capital city was in rebellion, it was he who took in Tian Jie'er and Xue Fengtang, allowing the two siblings to return safely to the Xue family.
Now, many years have passed, and Pei Xia seems to have long forgotten who Tian Jie'er is, but Tian Jie'er recognized him at the first sight.
Pei Xia was just a captain back then, but now he is still in the Ye family army and his position has been promoted to the fifth rank of Lieutenant General.
Military officers like Pei Xia, who had no family background, actually held a lower official position than civil officials of the same rank, and were not good candidates for the daughters of prominent families to choose as their husbands.
It is also because of this that Pei Xia, at the age of 26, has not yet married or had children despite his handsome appearance. He came to the banquet today to talk with those concubines who were not prominent in status. He did not even glance at Tian Jie'er, the concubine's daughter of a marquis.
Seeing Pei Xia getting along well with several brothers and sisters from the side branches of the Xue family, Tian Jie'er made them smile with just a few words. I don't know why, but the more I looked at it, the more uncomfortable I felt.
She knew all those members of the Xue family's side branches, and they were not good people.
When she and Madam Wen were down and out, these people often deliberately gave them a hard time in order to please Mrs. Bai. Later, when they saw that they had gained the upper hand, these people changed their minds and came closer.
Tian Jie'er has been helping the housekeeper over the years. Although she appears to be very friendly with them on the surface, she still has a knot in her heart that she can't get over and she can't like them privately.
Sweetie straightened her skirt, straightened her back, raised her head and walked up to them and asked, "You guys are so happy. I wonder what kind of joke you heard? Why don't you tell me?"
Those members of the Xue family's side branches knew they were in the wrong and were a little scared when facing Tian Jie'er. At this time, he put away his smile and said awkwardly: "It's not a special joke, it's just that Mr. Pei's words are really funny. We are a little tired now, so let's go back to the tent to rest first."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Xue family's side branches dispersed, leaving only Tian Jie'er and Pei Xia, staring at each other.
Pei Xia looked at Tian Jie'er speechlessly and said, "Then Pei will go back to the tent and sit for a while..."
"Wait." Tian Jie'er suddenly said, "Pei Zhonglang, do you really not remember me?"
Pei Xia raised an eyebrow and glanced at Tian Jie'er. After thinking for a while, he shook his head and said, "I wonder when I met the daughter of the Xue family? Pei really can't remember."
Upon hearing this, Tian Jieer showed a hint of disappointment on her face, and then she spoke: "More than five years ago, on New Year's Eve, my brother and I needed your help..."
At this point, Pei Xia sighed, as if she finally remembered Tian Jie'er, and nodded, "So you are the little girl from back then. I finally remembered. I didn't expect you to have grown up so much now."
After saying this, Pei Xia was about to turn around and leave. Tian Jie'er's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't help but pull Pei Xia's sleeve and said, "Those people you were chatting with just now were not good people. Since you were invited to the banquet, you must be here to find a good person. They are not good people at all!"
Pei Xia smiled upon hearing this, and looked Tian Jie'er up and down before saying, "You came to tell me this on purpose? Don't worry, I have no interest in them, I'm just chatting with them."
"Besides, even if I were to look for a lover, I would not look for him in your Xue family, so you can rest assured."
"Why?" Tian Jie'er was stunned when she heard it and asked without thinking.
Pei Xia was silent for a while, then glanced at Shen Xuan who was sitting at the table in the distance and said, "No reason. I was born poor and just want to find a marriage that is equal to my status. I can't afford to marry into this Marquis's Mansion, and I don't want to become a relative of your Marquis."
After he finished speaking, he turned and left, leaving Tian Jie'er alone. She stared at his back in a daze, her face pale. I don't know why, but I feel a little bitter...
A few days later, I heard that many of the brothers and sisters who had attended the banquet had secured good marriages with well-matched people.
Only Tian Jie'er was as usual, not liking any of them. Instead, she was even more resistant to Madam Wen's plan to arrange a marriage for her.
Later, I heard that the Xue Mansion held several banquets, and the list of names was drawn up by Tian Jie'er herself, but Pei Zhonglang was always on the list.
For some unknown reason, Pei Xia never went to the Xue Mansion's banquet again, and Tian Jie'er was unwilling to host banquets anymore.
All we know is that Pei Xia later held a high position of the second rank and became a well-known general in the Jin Dynasty, but he never married until he died on the battlefield. Tian Jie'er never married in her life and lived as a lady in a marquis's mansion all her life, holding a high status in the mansion.
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