Chapter 100 The Qin Family Offers Proposal
Because Qin Sheng's wedding is approaching, everyone can't help but talk about this happy event.
At the request of the Empress Dowager, the Qin and Lu families' marriage had to be completed within two months. Originally, their wedding was scheduled for the fifty-sixth day after the imperial decree was issued. This date was still a few days away, and close to the Chinese New Year, so the New Year arrived almost immediately after their wedding.
It has been a month since the Empress Dowager issued the decree granting marriage, but the Qin family has not yet made an offer of marriage to the Lu family. It is not because they do not value it. On the contrary, it is precisely because they value it that they are taking their time, as slow work produces fine results.
After the Empress Dowager's decree granting the marriage, the Zhao family returned the betrothal gifts they had previously given. Could the Qin family simply use this betrothal gift to propose directly to the Lu family? That would be too rude.
Therefore, they didn't use the betrothal gifts they had previously prepared for the Zhao family. Many of the items in them were replaced with items of equal value. However, after a busy month, the betrothal gifts were almost ready. They could go to the Lu family to propose in the next few days.
"The items you brought back are just right for you to add to the betrothal gifts," Mrs. Qin said to Qin Silang.
Qin Silang nodded. Among the goods he brought back, some of the furs and gems were of the highest quality. If used as a betrothal gift, they would be the most decent.
"Mother, eldest brother, third brother, sister-in-law, and A Sheng, I don't have time to attend the wedding, and I can't wait to see my nephew or niece being born. I decided to take everyone away early tomorrow morning." Qin Silang wiped his face and said so.
A day and a night of rest was enough for him and the troops he brought back.
As soon as Qin Silang said this, the entire hall suddenly became extremely quiet.
"Fourth brother, you are injured." Qin Sheng was always thinking about this.
Qin Silang laughed, "It's really not a problem. Didn't you call a doctor for me? I can just ask him to apply some medicine to me later."
Madam Qin was very sad. "Silang, can't you wait until the engagement is finalized before leaving? Meet Xiaoliu's wife. Then, when your father and your second and third brothers ask about her, you'll have something to say."
"No, there's a long way to go. We're a family, and we'll meet again someday." Qin Silang said with a smile, "Dad asked me to come back this time because he wanted me to see the family with my own eyes and see if you're okay, Mom. Now that I see everyone and everything is fine at home, Dad is relieved, and so can we."
The war situation is tense. Heavy snow has been falling outside the Great Wall for two months this year. The Xianbei, Wuhuan, Shanxu and other tribes are plundering southward with extreme ferocity. He has to hurry back.
Qin Heng, Qin Sanlang, and Qin Sheng were silent, but each of them had a solemn expression on their faces. Even without Silang's words, they could already imagine the danger.
This winter, with its heavy snow and exceptionally cold weather, was a harsh one. Even in Chang'an, it was still colder and harsher in the northern borders.
They really wanted to go back to the North to help, but they couldn't leave.
"Brother, how about I go with the fourth brother tomorrow?" Qin Sanlang said.
When Nie Yunniang heard this, her heart skipped a beat, but she put her hand on her bulging belly and suppressed the words that were about to come out of her mouth.
Qin Heng shook his head and rejected his request. His third brother's wife was about to give birth and her mental state was not very good. It would be better for her if Sanlang was around.
Qin Sanlang knew his eldest brother was no less anxious than he was, but he had to stay and preside over Xiaoliu's wedding in Chang'an. Firstly, this was a marriage arranged by the Queen Mother, and they couldn't neglect it. If neither of them were present and only their mother officiated, it would be disrespectful to the Queen Mother. Secondly, their father, Qin Yue, was not around, and the eldest brother was like a father to them. If even the eldest brother was absent, it would be disrespectful to the Lu family, and the wedding would surely be laughed at.
Qin Sheng also pursed his lips.
When I think about the fact that there are still twenty days until the wedding...
"Brother, why don't we talk to the Lu family and move up the wedding date?" Qin Sanlang suggested.
The Queen Mother had instructed that the Qin and Lu families must marry within two months. Postponing wouldn't work, so should an early wedding be possible? After several interactions, Qin Sanlang realized the Lu family wasn't the kind of family that would be unreasonable. Speaking to them nicely shouldn't be a problem, right?
As long as Ah Sheng gets married successfully, Big Brother and Ah Sheng can go north to support them. If Yun Niang also gives birth within the next two weeks, the three brothers can set off together...
No matter what, if they get married sooner, at least two people in their family will go north to support, which will greatly relieve his father's pressure.
Qin Heng pondered for a moment and asked Madam Qin, "Mother, what do you think?"
Madam Qin nodded and said, "We can try. But let's make it clear first, if the Lu family agrees, then they are being reasonable. We, the Qin family, cannot neglect them just because we are short on time. We should follow all the proper etiquette for a wedding."
Qin Heng said, "That's for sure." They are not the kind of people who would take advantage of others.
Qin Sheng also nodded seriously.
"I'm sorry, Ali." Mrs. Qin sighed. She was very satisfied with her daughter-in-law, Lu Songli.
Speaking of Lü Songli, Mrs. Qin couldn't help but think of the pills her youngest son had brought back a few days ago, claiming they were from her future daughter-in-law. After taking them, she'd felt much better over the past two days. First, she slept more soundly at night, deep and peacefully, unlike before when she slept lightly and was easily awakened. Also, her breathing was much smoother, with no more chest tightness or shortness of breath.
When Qin Sheng heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Qin Heng and the others were a little surprised. They hadn't expected Lu Songli to help them so much. Their future sister-in-law was indeed very kind.
Mrs. Qin was in poor health, often falling ill, which had always been a headache for the Qin family. They hadn't expected the pills she had sent would actually work for their mother. She must have had some kind of lucky break, but they wondered if the pills would last forever.
The Qin family sympathized with Qin Silang's exhaustion after the long journey back, and wanted him to rest as soon as possible.
Qin Silang called out to Qin Sheng, "Ah Sheng, how about going for some practice?"
"No." Qin Sheng turned his head and refused, "I don't bully the old, weak, sick and disabled."
Qin Silang: ...Old, weak, sick, or disabled? Who are you talking about? It was just a suggestion, but now we have to practice!
"What about your third brother? Are they qualified to fight with you?" Qin Sanlang came over and hugged his neck.
"Let's go!" Qin Silang raised his foot and was about to walk towards the training ground.
Qin Sheng took advantage of his third brother's inattention and quickly grabbed the wrist of his hand that was around his shoulder with his left hand. Then he turned around quickly, pulled his right hand, grabbed his shoulder with his right palm and pressed it down. Before his third brother could react, he let him go and slipped away.
The voice came from far away, "Fourth brother, you are still injured, take it easy."
"This brat!"
Only Qin Sanlang and Qin Silang were left standing there, looking at each other in bewilderment.
"Do you want to practice more?" Qin Sanlang asked.
"No practice!" Qin Silang looked at him with disdain and walked away.
Qin Sanlang: ...Why are you so arrogant? Isn't Silang also disliked by Ah Sheng? How dare you dislike him!
…
The next day, the Qin family saw Qin Silang off together.
On the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, it is a good time to accept betrothal gifts and get married.
Early in the morning, the Qin family came to the Lu family to propose marriage. Madam Qin and Qin Heng came in person with Qin Sheng, and also brought an official matchmaker.
The Lu family knew that the Qin family had been preparing the betrothal gifts for the past month. They were offering to replace the gifts returned by the Zhao family with items of equal or higher quality. The time was short and the task was heavy, so it wasn't an easy one. Therefore, they didn't mind.
Therefore, the Qin family's betrothal gift appears to be standard and nothing special, but it actually has its own unique features.
A careful comparison revealed that the item still bore the same name, but the value of the entire betrothal gift was 30% higher than the one given to the Zhao family. Zhao Yutan was the eldest daughter of a third-rank official, and her dowry was 50,000 taels. Naturally, the betrothal gift from the Qin family couldn't be much different in value.
Lu Songli was only the second daughter of a fifth-rank imperial censor. Even if the Qin family had used the betrothal gifts returned by the Zhao family, it would have been fine. But the Qin family did not have any.
Now that the Qin family has sent the betrothal gift, what do you call this? This is a low-key slap in the face.
Of all the betrothal gifts, Lü Songli's favorites were the first three furs: a snow fox fur, a muskrat fur, and a sable fur. The sable fur was especially light, with long, narrow, soft brown hairs evenly interspersed with silvery-white guard hairs. It was the finest sable fur.
Lu Songli stroked it gently.
"Like it?" Qin Sheng asked.
Lu Songli nodded. These three skins were the best furs she had ever seen.
Winters here are exceptionally cold, even colder than later generations, probably due to the low carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, there are few ways to keep warm. Down jackets, padded jackets, cashmere coats, and the like are out of the question in the dead of winter. The skins sent by the Qin family would surely be very warm and beautiful if made into clothing.
Qin Sheng took note of it secretly.
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