Chapter 659 Xia Yu (Part 2)

The marriage between Xu Sizhen and the ninth daughter of the Jiang family had been talked about for so many years, and both the Xu and Jiang families had already prepared for it. The concubine that the Jiang family had prepared for the ninth daughter, Yuan Baozhu's family, even did not return to Le'an after sending the New Year's gift.

"...She said she was helping Madam Jiang prepare for the marriage of Miss Jiang's ninth daughter." The Jiang family warmly and solemnly received Grandma Huang San, and she felt that since both families were very sincere, the next thing would definitely go smoothly. She sat comfortably with Shiyi Niang on the big kang by the window, drinking the fragrant West Lake Longjing tea, "From what Madam Jiang said, Lord Wang, the Minister of Rites, Wang Zixin, and Mr. Jiang are close friends, and the Jiang family wants to ask Lord Wang to be the matchmaker."

Eleventh Lady pushed the small plate of elm money cakes in front of Third Madam Huang and said, "Then Sister Lao will be in charge of our prince's marriage." "Don't worry, don't worry." Third Madam Huang took a bite of the elm money cake and said, "Oh, it's also made with elm money, but why is it so fragrant? We can't make cakes that taste this good at home."

"If you like it, I'll have someone make some more for you to take back." Eleventh Lady called Amber in and asked her to ask the kitchen to make it. She then turned around and talked to Third Lady Huang, "So, sister, who should we ask to be the matchmaker?"

This question is asked skillfully.

Third Madam Huang was a capable person who was familiar with the etiquette of weddings and funerals. Given the friendship between the Xu and Huang families, it was most appropriate for Xu Sizhen to ask her to help negotiate the betrothal gift and betrothal money. But since Third Madam Huang was asked to help negotiate the marriage, it would be difficult to leave out Third Madam Huang's husband, the Prince of Yongchang Marquis, when a matchmaker was invited for the marriage. But Xu Sizhen was also a prince, so it would be inappropriate to ask Third Madam Huang's husband to be a matchmaker - the Prince of Yongchang Marquis' status was lower. But if Third Madam Huang was not asked to help Xu Sizhen with the marriage, she would probably have some thoughts if she knew about it.

Fortunately, Grandma Huang San was a very insightful person and she understood the reason immediately after thinking about it.

"I'd like to recommend someone. What do you think of him?" She said with a smile. "What do you think of the Marquis of Weibei next door? Your two families are relatives, and he is the elder. Although he is just a newly-appointed marquis, the Jiang family only invited a minister to act as a matchmaker. I think he is perfect!"

Upon hearing this, Eleventh Lady couldn't help but nodded slightly.

When she talked about it with Xu Lingyi last night, Xu Lingyi also mentioned Weibei Hou.

"Sister, you are really thoughtful." She smiled, "Mr. Hou and I are having a headache over this matter." As she spoke, she took Mrs. Huang's arm, "Since you are here, don't rush back. Why don't you come with me to see the new house prepared for Mr. Zhu. If there is anything I haven't considered, please remind me. Don't make me laugh."

Xu Sizhen was a prince of high rank, and his marriage had its own set of rules.

It's not like marrying Zhen Jie'er or finding a wife for Xu Siyu. Just follow the local customs.

Huang Sanniang was a warm-hearted person. After hearing what Shiyi Niang said, she followed Shiyi Niang out of the main room with a smile on her face. "Even if you didn't say anything, I would have wanted to join in the fun. Now that you've spoken up, don't think I'm too talkative. Just don't think I'm too talkative when the time comes."

The two chatted and laughed as they exited the main courtyard from the back door, and faced the front door of Yuanniang's former residence.

The door of Yuanniang's former residence was open on all four sides. Maids and daughters-in-law were carrying boxes and baskets, holding flowers, and some were empty-handed. Although there was an endless stream of people coming and going, everyone was in a hurry, but those who went out went to the left and those who came in went to the right. The arrangement was orderly.

Grandma Huang San couldn't help but nodded secretly.

It seems that Shiyi Niang is planning to give Yuanniang's former residence to Xu Sizhen as his new home. In this way, the house will have to be renovated. The traces left by Yuanniang in the past can be wiped out completely without anyone gossiping - we can't let the dead occupy the position of the living, right? What's more, the new person is Yuanniang's own flesh and blood!

"Big sister left a lot of things here." Eleventh Lady and Huang Fourth Grandma walked in slowly. The maids and wives stood aside to make way for them. "I'll ask them to pack up their things first and move them in after the craftsmen come in to renovate it."

"That's how it should be." Grandma Huang San laughed, "Who knows where those craftsmen came from? If one of them took something with a dishonest hand, even if the thing was brought back, he would feel uncomfortable thinking about being handled by those dirty guys, even if he was beaten to death..." As she spoke, she looked around the house.

The curtains and other things in the hall and the second courtyard were all taken up, leaving the room empty. Only in the third hall where Yuanniang originally lived was a young woman standing there, and a woman-servant was directing the maids and daughters-in-law to move things. "When they saw them come in, the two hurried forward to greet them.

Grandma Huang San looked at the two people and saw that they looked kind. She couldn't help but ask, "Who is this..."

Eleventh Lady smiled and pointed at the younger one, "Sister, you don't recognize her. This is Wei Zi who is beside the Madam!" She pointed at the older one and said, "This is my eldest sister-in-law's companion, Madam Hang." She added, "There are not enough people at home, so I asked these two to help me count my eldest sister's things."

That's fine.

Lest someone say something is lost or replaced!

Grandma Huang smiled and nodded, and continued to go to the fourth room with Shiyi Niang: "Your sister-in-law came from Yuhang?"

"Not yet!" Eleventh Lady laughed, "They said they would set off once the date of Brother Zhe'er's wedding is set." But in her heart she was thinking of Fifth Lady and Luo Zhenhong, whom she had met when he was still a baby - from the tone of Luo Zhensheng, they would all come to Yanjing together by then.

While Eleventh Lady was talking to Grandma Huang San, Xu Sizhen was wiping his eyes with Tao Cheng who was kneeling in front of him.

"Manager Tao is really something. Every time he sees our Fourth Young Master, he makes him cry." Wang Shu handed a handkerchief to Xu Sizhen while half-seriously and half-jokingly scolding Tao Cheng.

Tao Cheng raised his head and put on a smile that was uglier than crying: "It's all my fault, it's all my fault. I've upset the prince." Then he stood up and saluted Wang Shu, "Wang brother is right, I will never do that again!"

Xu Sizhen felt a little sorry and said hurriedly, "Mother Tao is my mother's wet nurse. You are like a brother to me. Wang Shu, you can't be so rude to Steward Tao."

"I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it." Tao Cheng saluted Xu Sizhen nervously.

Wang Shu was rewarded by the Marquis, and in recent years he has gained the trust of Xu Sizhen, so of course he is not afraid of Tao Cheng, the former wife who is now a manager of a farm, being his chambermaid. But he dared not be negligent in doing what he should do.

"The Fourth Young Master is right. I will never dare to do it again!" He stepped forward uneasily and saluted Tao Cheng, "Manager Tao, I hope you can be magnanimous and not treat a servant like me with the same decency!"

He emphasized the word "xiaoshi" (little servant), hinting to Tao Cheng, "Don't think that just because the Fourth Young Master said you are his brother, you really think you are the Fourth Young Master's brother. If I tell this to the Madam or the Marquis, you will be in big trouble!"

Tao Cheng couldn't understand what was going on.

Wang Shu, who was young but stubborn, had big ambitions. He was just a farm manager and could not see the prince at ordinary times. He had relied on the favors in the past to make the prince look at him with a high regard. If he offended Wang Shu, who had been serving the prince for many years, he would make things difficult for him in front of the prince every day. If water drips through a stone, he might lose even the favors in the past.

Although there was a fire burning in his heart, he still endured it.

"Look at what the Wang brothers said. I'm just a few years older than you."

Seeing them being polite to each other here, Xu Sizhe could not help but smile and wave his hand: "Okay, you guys stop going back and forth there." He ordered Wang Shu, "Go and weigh out 100 taels of silver and give it to Manager Tao." Then he said to Tao Cheng, "Please buy me some paper money and candles to bury Mother Tao. Tell her that I'm getting married... and tell her not to worry..." As he spoke, his face suddenly turned red.

So much?

Wang Shu glanced at Tao Cheng.

This guy would cry every time he came, and then the prince would reward him with a large sum of silver. Who knows what he did with the silver.

Although he thought so in his heart, he did not dare to show it on his face. He bowed respectfully and retreated.

"Your Highness, there's no need to say so much!" Tao Cheng said hurriedly, "When I heard that Your Highness was going to get married, I went to my mother's grave to pray that day..."

"Others say that for this kind of thing, you have to use your own money to buy paper money." Xu Sizhen said sincerely, "It's not convenient for me to leave the house. You can go there for me!"

As she was speaking, Qiuyu came over to Shiyi Niang.

"Fourth Young Master, the Fourth Madam asked me to come over and ask you if you will be free in three days?"

Xu Sizhen stood up quickly and said, "Sister Qiuyu, please tell mother. I will follow mother's instructions!"

Qiuyu left with a smile.

Tao Cheng couldn't help but look confused.

Xu Sizhen explained, "My mother said that I'm getting married soon, and she asked my eldest uncle to come over in three days, together with Chief Steward Bai and Steward Lu, to sort out the things my mother left for me and officially hand them over to me." As he spoke, he smiled awkwardly, "Actually, it has been my mother and Steward Lu who have been managing the farm all these years. I heard the figures Steward Lu reported to me, except for a few years when the harvest was poor, the income in other years was good. I felt that if it was handed over to me, I might not be able to manage it as well as my mother, so I asked my mother to continue to help me manage it, but my mother refused. She said that I have grown up, and should learn to manage these things..." As he spoke, he smiled awkwardly.

Is that Eleventh Lady really that good?

Tao Cheng was very suspicious and couldn't help but say, "You will be the Marquis of Yongping in the future, so the late Madam's property will naturally not be in your eyes. But that is the late Madam's love for you, you must not let her down."

Only if Xu Lingyi died could Xu Sizhen become Marquis of Yongping.

His father was alive and well, Tao Cheng couldn't help feeling unhappy when he said this.

"I am only the son of the Marquis of Yongping now." Xu Sizhen frowned slightly and corrected Tao Cheng, "Don't ever say anything like I am the Marquis of Yongping again in the future."

Tao Cheng secretly cursed and kept his head down for a long time, until Wang Shu came in with the silver. Xu Sizhe did not want to embarrass Tao Cheng, so he calmed down and served him tea.

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Supplement for August 20th!