At noon, Luo Changqi and the others also had lunch together. They drank a lot of wine with Old Marquis Wang.
After the meal, the two sides exchanged their birth dates and both sides asked a Taoist priest to compare their birth dates to see whether Zhang Dahua and Wang Xingren were suitable for being husband and wife.
If the horoscopes are not compatible, no matter how much the two people love each other, both families will not agree to the marriage.
As soon as he returned to Changning County, Wu Deyong called Xiong Zhubu over and asked, "Xiong Zhubu, how many years have you been the chief clerk in Changning County?"
Zhubu Xiong didn't know what Wu Deyong meant by asking this question. Did he want to make room for him?
Xiong Zhubu did not dare to think too much and immediately replied: "Your Excellency, I have been serving as the Zhubu in Changning County for eight years."
Wu Deyong nodded, then asked, "Do you know how many veterans in this county have retired due to injuries? Has the court paid them any pensions in recent years?"
Xiong Zhubu replied: "Sir, as a retired soldier, you asked me to say this, and I can't answer it, but it's all recorded, I will find out after checking.
As for the pension, I have never seen any in the years I have been in office.
When distributing pensions to veterans, the court would issue a notice and ask the government to submit a list of names. But in recent years, the court has issued two notices, and the subordinates have also submitted the list, but there has been no follow-up after the list was submitted. "
Wu Deyong nodded and said, "Go ahead and check how many retired veterans there are in this county, and report back to me."
"Yes, sir!"
After Chief Clerk Xiong left, Wu Deyong told Lord Wang the information he knew.
Lord Wang nodded, "Okay, I understand.
This group of people who have nothing to do with human affairs, I will definitely ask the emperor to investigate this matter thoroughly."
Wu Deyong said, "Old Marquis, this matter is of great importance and involves too many things. You must handle it properly."
Lord Wang sneered, "At most, I will bring this head to the palace. I don't care about other things, but I will find them to give an explanation for deducting the money these old brothers have earned."
Wu Deyong could only sigh. He was very disgusted with the actions of some people, but there were some things that were beyond his control, not even his father's.
He wanted to persuade Lord Wang, but after thinking it over, he decided not to. He went back and wrote a letter to his father to let him know what was going on.
Xu Chu said to Lord Wang: "Grandfather, I need to write a letter to my father to let him know..."
Before Xu Chu finished speaking, Lord Wang waved his hand and said, "Your family should not get involved in this mess. Your father can't help you. Just do your job well."
Xu Chu was a little embarrassed. His father was just a deputy director of the Dushui Division of the Ministry of Works, a small official of the fifth rank. He really couldn't help with anything.
To put it bluntly, those ministers in the court could probably kill him with just a fart.
Fortunately, his father was an honest man and no one in the Ministry of Works was against him.
Besides, since he has become a relative of the Wang family, generally speaking, no one would bother him.
If his father got involved in the matter of withholding pension money, someone might immediately target him.
…
If you want to find an expert to match your horoscopes, the natural place to go is Zi Yang Temple.
Ye Hongyun and Zhang Hulan made an appointment to go together. Daochen was the one who brought them together, saying only eight words: the five elements complement each other, a match made in heaven.
Ye Hongyun also asked Daochen to find a suitable day for engagement, and three days later would be a good day.
The engagement gifts don't need to be many, just a wild goose, a sheep, some wine and colorful satin. Ye Hongyun helped prepare these things.
When getting engaged, Wang Xingren took off the jade pendant he was wearing. The jade pendant was warm and transparent, with a soft luster in the sunlight.
Wang Xingren handed over the jade pendant with both hands and said solemnly: "This jade pendant has been with me for a long time. I give it to you today. I hope it can protect you."
Zhang Dahua's cheeks flushed. After taking the jade pendant, she shyly took out a sachet, which she had made day and night over the past two days.
There was an orchid embroidered on the sachet. She handed it to Wang Xingren and said softly, "I made this myself. I hope you will always be by my side."
Wang Xingren happily took it and put it directly on his waist, his mouth grinning from ear to ear.
The two parties exchanged tokens of love, and the marriage was officially settled.
After the engagement, the next step is to pay the betrothal gift. Ye Hongling has already prepared the gifts in the capital.
Ye Hongyun just needs to help prepare some living things, such as cattle and sheep.
When the betrothal gifts were presented, Lord Wang was also present in person.
The betrothal gifts included ten cows, thirty sheep, silk fabrics, tea, and porcelain.
The gift money was sixty-two taels, and the gift money had to be an even number to make it a lucky number.
After Lord Wang completed the marriage proposal with Wang Xingren, he immediately returned to the capital.
The wedding date has not been set yet, and Zhang Hulan originally intended for Zhang Dahua to get married a year or two later.
It’s just that Wang Xingren couldn’t wait, and Zhang Hulan was also worried that things might change in the future. She didn’t want anything to go wrong with such a good marriage.
Finally, Zhang Hulan asked Zhang Dahua to have the child later, and Wang Xingren nodded in agreement.
Whether or not to set the wedding date is more important, and Lord Wang must go back and discuss it before making a decision.
…
The Zhang family was very lively during this period. Everyone in the village knew that Zhang Dahua had married a good man. It really was like the old saying that a sparrow on a branch turns into a phoenix.
Although marrying into a marquis's mansion cannot be compared to becoming a real phoenix, it's almost the same.
When the villagers saw Zhang Hujun, they congratulated him.
Although Zhang Hujun did not participate much in Zhang Dahua's marriage throughout the whole process, the smile on his face never faded.
The same goes for Mrs. Li. She is very happy that her daughter has a good marriage.
Li had put away Zhang Dahua's betrothal gifts and kept the cattle and sheep on Zhang Hulan's farm, to be taken with her daughter to her husband's family in the future.
…
Capital city.
As soon as Lord Wang returned to the capital, he went straight into the palace.
In the palace, in the Yangxin Palace, a eunuch came to report: "Your Majesty, Lord Wang wants to see you."
Emperor Yongxing put down the memorial in his hand, looked up and said in surprise: "Didn't he go to Ding'an Prefecture to propose marriage for his grandson? Why is he back so soon?"
The eunuch replied, "He is back. He looks very tired and exhausted, so he must have just arrived."
Emperor Yongxing was surprised again, "Oh? He came to see me right after returning. It seems that there is something urgent. Quickly summon him in."
The eunuch immediately went outside the palace gate to pass on the message.
There was some distance from the palace gate to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and it was a quarter of an hour later when Lord Wang arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"Your Majesty, long live the emperor."
"Lord Wang, please stand up." Emperor Yongxing ordered the eunuchs, "Bring a stool for the old marquis."
The eunuch immediately brought a stool and said, "Master Wang, please sit down."
Lord Wang knelt down without getting up. He crawled on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report..."
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