Chapter 31 The Matchmaker Arrives
The focus of attention in the capital remained on the assassination of Han Wu. However, no leads on the perpetrators were found, though two spies were apprehended.
One after another, officials stepped forward to impeach Han Wu.
If Emperor Jingping initially treated his deceased close advisors with kindness, as the number of impeachments increased, he finally came to believe that Han Wu was not a good person.
How dare these treacherous officials blind me!
Emperor Jingping was furious. After seeing numerous pieces of evidence of Han Wu's dereliction of duty and abuse of power for personal gain, he didn't offer him any preferential treatment and immediately ordered the confiscation of Han's property. The discovery of countless gold and silver treasures further confirmed Han Wu's evil deeds. As a result, the women were sent to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment brothel), and the men were exiled to the frontier.
On the day Han Ziheng embarked on his journey to the army and left the capital, Qiu Heng went to see him.
Many people came to watch the spectacle, including quite a few wealthy young men, all eager to see this ultimate playboy fall from grace.
Too many people have suffered at the hands of Han Ziheng, whether poor or rich. In the eyes of this lawless playboy, they are all worthless weeds.
Now, he has become nothing but trash.
In the crowd, someone threw a tattered straw sandal, which hit Han Ziheng squarely in the face.
Before the guards in charge of escorting them could stop them, more rotten vegetable leaves and rotten eggs rained down on them.
Qiu Heng saw Zhi Lan.
Amidst bursts of excited curses, Zhilan appeared calm, though her eyes were slightly red as she stared intently at Han Ziheng.
Qiu Heng couldn't help but smile.
Zhilan did a great job.
This is not her success alone, but their success.
It's a pity we can't celebrate with a drink.
Qiu Heng strolled forward, feeling a long time since she had felt this relaxed and leisurely.
Perhaps it was a coincidence, but the day Han Ziheng left the city in shackles was also the day Zhu Qiang, the border general, rode back to the capital.
The Imperial Guards cannot be without a leader. When Emperor Jingping lost the affection between the emperor and his subject that had lasted for many years and decided that Han Wu was a treacherous and deceitful official, then the generals who had expressed their dissatisfaction with Han Wu and were ostracized from the capital were undoubtedly good ministers.
After a period of maneuvering, General Zhu Qiang became the new Commander-in-Chief of the Palace Guards and was urgently recalled to the capital.
Zhu Qiang was a skilled military commander, possessing both wisdom and courage. The young emperor's successful escape to the south was inseparable from his efforts to stop the advancing Qi army.
At this time, there were still four years before the Northern Qi launched its major attack on the Xia Dynasty, and five years before the fall of the capital. With him in charge of the Imperial Guards, after four years of training, they would at least not be easily defeated when facing the Qi army.
In that summer when the country was occupied, the emperor's civil officials and advisors repeatedly discussed and speculated that if Han Wuteng were to step down from his position as Commander of the Palace Guard, Zhu Qiang would be the most likely successor.
The Great Xia Dynasty was rich and prosperous. What it lacked was never military funds, or even loyal ministers and capable generals, but rather the right people to be used at crucial moments.
Seeing the middle-aged general entering the city, Qiu Heng felt a little more at ease.
Things were unfolding as predicted; she was alone, but she was never alone.
Qiu Heng returned to the Earl's residence and continued tending to the incense materials. She thought there would be a few peaceful days, but unexpectedly, something new happened on the second day: two matchmakers simultaneously arrived at the gates of the Yongqing Earl's residence.
The old lady's feelings were also complicated when she saw the two matchmakers, whose atmosphere was ambiguous.
It's not unusual for a matchmaker to occasionally visit the house now that the granddaughters are growing up, but this is the first time they've all come together.
"May I ask what brings you two here?"
The two matchmakers exchanged a glance, neither wanting to speak first.
The old lady then turned her gaze to the one wearing the brown jacket.
The matchmaker smiled and explained her purpose: "I am here on behalf of the fourth young master of the Marquis of Xiping to ask for the hand in marriage with the second young lady of your family."
Upon hearing this, the other matchmaker relaxed.
After all that fuss, it turns out they're not competitors.
"The Marquis of Xiping's residence?" The old lady was somewhat surprised.
The Yongqing Earl's Mansion and the Xiping Marquis's Mansion did have some social interactions, but they weren't particularly close. To be precise, the Xiping Marquis's Mansion held a rather high-handed attitude towards mansions like the Yongqing Earl's Mansion.
Their family actually came to ask for Er Yatou's hand in marriage?
The old lady was burning with passion; if it weren't for the woman's modesty, she would have been unable to suppress her smile.
"Young Master Zhao is the youngest son of the Marquis's wife and is deeply loved by the Marquis and his wife. He is just nineteen years old this year, about the same age as your second daughter..."
The old lady nodded and looked at the other matchmaker.
The matchmaker smiled and said, "This young lady has come for your family's sixth daughter."
The old lady was stunned.
Sixth Sister?
That can't be right. First of all, that girl is still young. She's only been in the countryside in the south for a little over a month and someone is already asking her for marriage.
At this moment, the old lady even began to doubt herself.
The old man seemed to be possessed and doted on the sixth girl. His granddaughters were also affectionate towards her. Now, someone actually wanted to marry her. It seemed that everyone liked the girl except her.
But Sixth Sister grew up in the countryside! She lost her mother at a young age! Even her adoptive parents died early!
Is it the world that has become abnormal, or is it her who is abnormal?
The old lady seemed lost in thought, questioning the meaning of life, when the matchmaker coughed.
"Oh, may I ask which household you are from?"
"He is the second son of Cui, the deputy commander of the Infantry Division," the matchmaker said with full confidence.
Deputy Commander Cui was second only to the Infantry Commander, a high-ranking military officer with real power. It's unclear why he took a fancy to the impoverished Yongqing Earl's Mansion.
The old lady was even more shocked than when she first heard that the Marquis of Xiping's family was asking for her second granddaughter in marriage.
It turns out they weren't some lowly family trying to climb the social ladder!
What is wrong with this world?
"Marriage is a major event, and I need to discuss it with the Earl and the maids' parents," the old lady said, suppressing the urge to agree immediately.
"That's natural."
The two matchmakers got up to take their leave.
The old lady immediately sent someone to summon Yongqing Earl.
The Earl of Yongqing rushed back to his residence, completely bewildered: "What's the matter that's so urgent?"
"Two matchmakers have arrived, seeking to marry Second Sister and Sixth Sister."
Which two?
"The family seeking to marry the second daughter is the Marquis of Xiping's mansion, while the family seeking to marry the sixth daughter is the Cui family, the deputy commander of the Infantry Division."
The Earl of Yongqing gasped, "They're all good!"
The old lady smiled and nodded: "I think so too. Shall we send a reply to both families?"
Yongqing Bo calmed down and waved his hand: "No rush, let me think about it some more."
The various upheavals in the Palace Guard Division have not yet affected the Infantry Division, so it's best to wait and see.
The Marquis of Xiping's residence is fine; it's clearly the Earl of Yongqing's residence that's trying to climb the social ladder.
"You should talk to the second son and his wife. If there are no problems, then settle the matter of the second daughter. The second daughter is not young anymore... As for the Cui family, I will ask the sixth daughter what she thinks."
The old lady stared in disbelief at the departing figure of the Earl of Yongqing.
What does "sixth daughter" mean?
Lord, do you even know what nonsense you're spouting?!
The Earl of Yongqing wasn't really concerned about Qiuheng's feelings; rather, Han Wu's death made him want to wait until the personnel of the Three Departments were stable, but he was also afraid of missing out on this great marriage opportunity.
"The Cui family is asking for my hand in marriage?" Upon hearing what the Earl of Yongqing said, images flashed through Qiuheng's mind.
The ball flew towards her with malice, and the boy invited her to play football with malice.
It's Cui Er, Han Ziheng's friend.
Qiu Heng was greatly puzzled after meeting the person above her.
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