Forced to choose a son-in-law
"Young lady, please."
Two burly, rough-looking women surrounded them, their faces showing disdain and a hint of schadenfreude.
Now that she was injured, Lanxin didn't want to cause any trouble and obediently returned to the simple courtyard she had stayed in before.
Xu Lanxin fell into a deep sleep after taking the medicine; any major issues would be discussed after she had slept well.
After finishing his meal at Yilan Courtyard, Xu Yingshan went to Aunt Yun's place, leaving Feng Wanqing and her daughter behind.
"Mother, what exactly does Father mean? Didn't you say he didn't care about eldest sister? Why does he still want you to choose a good family for her?"
Xu Zhilan pounced on her knees, seemingly angry but with a hint of coquetry.
"Alright, do you think your dad would mean any good?"
Feng Wanqing poked her forehead and continued to chuckle:
"He's only concerned about saving face. If his eldest daughter doesn't marry well, he'll lose face. Just wait, Mother will definitely find her a good husband!"
Ruthlessness and scheming were evident on her face, while Xu Lanzhi, seeing her mother's confident demeanor, continued to act coquettishly with a happy heart.
In the simple courtyard to the north, Xu Lanxin slept until the sun was high in the sky.
After finishing breakfast, he thought of going to Cen Yan to inquire about the progress of the case. As soon as he opened the door, the thick posts on both sides of the door immediately blocked the entrance.
"Young lady, are you getting married? Madam instructed me to keep an eye on you so you can rest easy while you prepare for your marriage!"
The old woman in brown spoke in a sarcastic tone, with a hint of contempt.
"What? Can't I even take a walk in the yard?"
"Someone come here!" the old woman called out, then continued:
"The old woman advises the young lady to stay in her room and not wander around. Otherwise, these uncouth servants don't know their own strength and might hurt her!"
Several strong and capable maids entered the courtyard and immediately took up their stances.
She gave the old woman a meaningful look, then raised her hand and closed the door.
Xu Lanxin sat back down on the stool, propped her head up, and gazed out the window in a daze.
This time she's really getting married. Will this old white lotus find herself a good husband?
cannot.
This ancient feudal system is unacceptable.
Or should we establish our own female household? Lan Xin shook her head inwardly.
It's not realistic to assume that the family isn't completely wiped out.
Why not find someone to have a fake marriage, then get a divorce, and that way you'll be free.
A crimson figure raced through my mind.
An unconscious smile appeared on Lanxin's face. Xiaoxi, who was beside her, asked in confusion, "Miss, is there something that makes you happy?"
Xiao Xi's voice brought her back to her senses.
"Xiao Xi, are you able to go out? You can go out, right?"
Lanxin held Xiaoxi's hands, her eyes filled with hope.
Xiao Xi looked puzzled, a little confused: "Yes, yes, I think so."
"Then go find Lord Cen for me and tell him that I have some undisclosed suspicions about Miaoyue Nunnery and ask him to summon me for questioning."
Before he could finish speaking, Lanxin excitedly interrupted him.
"Miss, I can only go to the kitchen to get some food; I can't leave the main gate."
Upon hearing this, Lan Xin felt a little disappointed.
“Miss, Sister Xinghong in the kitchen used to work in the Madam’s courtyard. Perhaps she would be willing to help you.”
"Alright, give it a try. If it doesn't work, you can use some money."
She's been here for so long, yet she still doesn't know her own worth or how much wealth she has.
"Xiao Xi, I'd like to ask, how much wealth do we have? Cough, how much silver?"
The maid looked troubled and embarrassed: "Miss, the mistress has been withholding the eldest daughter's dowry, and we can only receive two taels of silver a month to live on."
Does that mean we're poor? The answer is definitely yes. What Xiaoxi said next knocked her to the ground, making her unable to get up.
"Even the dowry list for the young lady has been taken away by the madam. I'm afraid, I'm afraid the young lady won't be able to get it back after she gets married. The madam can decide how much it is, and we won't have any proof!"
Do you know what's on the list?
"This servant does not know, but Li Mama, who is closest to the eldest mistress, certainly knows. However, after the madam married into the family, she dismissed or sold off all the old servants around the eldest mistress."
He acted so decisively, as if he were afraid of some secret being discovered.
"Alright, let's not worry about that for now. The important thing is to find Lord Cen for me."
Lan Xin gripped the maid's hand again and said, "Xiao Xi, you don't want to marry the person arranged by the madam, do you? So we must get this matter of finding Lord Cen settled."
Xu Lanxin waited all day, but instead of receiving the news she wanted, she was greeted by an uninvited guest.
Before the person could be seen, a clear, triumphant laugh rang out.
"Big sister, your little sister has come to see you."
Xu Zhilan walked in, wearing a yellow pleated skirt, a light green gauze long shirt, and pearl accessories in her hair.
Looking at herself, dressed in simple cotton clothes, she looked nothing like a daughter from a wealthy family.
It's true that without comparison, there's no harm done.
"What is that you looking at, big sister?"
"Look at you!"
Lan is outspoken and says whatever comes to mind.
The person covered their face with a fan and chuckled lightly: "Big sister is joking."
"Big sister, do you know that Mother has found you a wonderful marriage? I'm so envious!"
I thank you, Mother! That's wonderful, why don't you marry her?
"The seventh son of the Earl's family, the Jade Gentleman. This Jade Gentleman is handsome and talented, loved by everyone, even Qin Xingdu is very fond of him! Although he has no official rank, that doesn't diminish his good family background!"
Are you a madam? With such skill in your work, it's a real shame you don't go out and work harder.
Lan Xin suppressed the urge to curse and put on a standard smile, like the green bubble smiley face emoji.
"Are you happy, eldest sister? This was something Mother went through a lot of trouble to get. You've really climbed the social ladder. Marrying into the Earl's mansion is something most people would kill for!"
Haha, that's great, go for it!
Seeing that Lan Xin remained silent, the man grew increasingly bored as he spoke.
As he got up to leave, he couldn't help but sigh at the door:
"The matchmaker will be coming to propose marriage the day after tomorrow, so you should prepare well, sister."
After Xu Lanzhi left, Xiao Xi stepped forward and asked, "Miss, should I inquire about this young man's character?"
"No need. What good family could she possibly marry into? My dear sister just said that Chief Qin also likes her."
She took a sip of tea and continued, "Are you sure Xinghong delivered the message?"
"Miss, I just asked again."
Before she could finish speaking, the old woman's voice rang out from outside the door: "Young lady, the young master wants you to go to the front hall to report!"
Who could it be at this time? Xu Lanxin was filled with anxiety. Her dear sister had just left, and her father had sent her over right afterward.
She walked sadly to the entrance of the front hall, but when she saw that familiar and handsome face, her mood brightened and her steps became lighter.
After exchanging greetings, Xu Yingshan greeted him with a smile, saying, "Xin'er, you've arrived. Lord Cen has come today to inquire about the suspicious points in the case. Why don't you tell him in detail!"
Lan Xin looked somewhat embarrassed and glanced at Cen Yan, who understood her meaning.
"Lord Xu, this case needs to be kept confidential during the investigation. It is not convenient for others to hear the details. I hope you will excuse us for a moment."
"But"
"My lord, you don't trust me."
The man sat upright in the mahogany chair, speaking in a calm tone, but his eyes held an unquestionable authority.
After everyone had left, Lan Xin stepped forward and said, "My lord, since I did not personally examine the body, I have no doubts to share with you."
"I have summoned you here because I have a request to make."
The man's cold eyes stared at her, as if trying to see right through her.
Tell me about it.
He picked up his teacup and took a sip before speaking, his tone almost the same as usual, making it impossible to tell whether he was angry about being lied to.
Lanxin took a step and sat down directly opposite the coffee table.
"Sir, you promised to do me a small favor the other day. Do you remember?"
"certainly"
Lanxin excitedly grabbed his wrist, but he quickly signaled her to let go with a look.
"May I ask my daughter's father for her hand in marriage, sir?"
Seeing the questioning and shocked look in his eyes, Lanxin quickly explained:
“This is a very small favor. My lord and I agree to a marriage. I promise that I will only delay your life for two years. During this time, I will assist you in solving cases. Once I am able to live on my own, I will be able to divorce you and give you your freedom.”
After hearing the last sentence, the man's eyes flashed with a hint of anger, but he held back.
"Restore my freedom? I'm now branded as an abandoned husband. You've certainly played your cards right."
Lan Xin laughed awkwardly twice: "You flatter me, haha. If you feel you've been taken advantage of, I'll leave half of my dowry to you as compensation on the day of our divorce, how about that?"
If someone agrees, they agree; if they disagree, they disagree. Why get so angry?
"Your Excellency only needs to ask for my hand in marriage the day after tomorrow, before the Earl's family proposes marriage."
He was just staring intently at her, his face still cold and his eyes filled with displeasure.
"grown ups?"
The man suddenly stood up, flicked his sleeves, and left without leaving a single word!
Seeing his resolute attitude, Lan Xin quickly stepped forward and grabbed his sleeve: "My lord, you are the only one I can ask for help from, and you are the only one I can think of!"
The man turned back halfway, said "Wait" once, and then hurriedly left.
Strange, she just caught a glimpse of him smiling, and it had a hint of wickedness to it. Was it just her imagination?
Lan Xin shivered. Forget it, she decided not to think about it anymore.
Two days passed in a flash, and Lanxin obediently learned the rules without uttering a word of resistance, as if she were genuinely waiting to be married.
The first woman to deliver the message told her to meet the matchmaker. When she found out who it was, her heart sank to the bottom of a well, feeling utterly cold.
The path to the front hall seemed long yet short. She didn't want to walk so fast, and even though the person in front of her was urging her on, she didn't want to move forward even a step.
Is he not coming?
Upon entering the front hall, he mechanically bowed and was then mechanically pulled over by the Earl's family's coal miners, who showered him with praise.
Anyway, she couldn't hear any praise. The fact that he wasn't coming had already crossed her mind. They hadn't even exchanged betrothal gifts yet, so she had to find a way to sabotage the marriage.
Just as the two families were happily preparing to exchange birth certificates, they were interrupted by a loud, hoarse voice.
"Imperial edict has arrived!"
Then the whole family knelt on the ground, waiting for the imperial decree to be read.
Lan Xin's thoughts were interrupted. She stole a glance at the eunuch who was delivering the imperial decree. His red lips were painted even more heavily than a monkey's butt!
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: It is hereby heard that Xu Lanxin, daughter of Xu Yingshan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, is of dignified appearance and gentle demeanor, and that my beloved minister Cen Yan is of outstanding talent and virtue."
When Lan Xin heard the two names, she was startled and didn't listen carefully to what they were saying afterward.
Is it a done deal? A marriage bestowed by the emperor? Did it have to be so grand? But as long as the goal is achieved, that's all that matters!
Lan Xin accepted the imperial decree and saw the eunuch off.
Feng Wanqing gritted her teeth, not daring to utter a sound, but when she saw Na Lanxin walk up to her and wave the imperial edict in her hand, she became even angrier.
Haha, she's won a round! Lanxin is in a great mood; it's rare to see her bickering with the matchmaker.
With a happy expression on her face, she walked briskly back to her little courtyard.
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