Chapter 189 If the relationship lasts (25)
Shi Jianli did not go, and Qiao Ruowei was entertaining her outside. After she refused, He Chenggu said that he wanted to meet Shi Jianli.
Helplessly, he saw Li go to the front yard.
"Miss Shi, could you please walk with me? I have something to say to you. If you still refuse after listening to me, I will never bother you again." He Chenggu bowed and asked pleadingly.
"Okay." Shi Jianli nodded, followed by Lanxing Xianyue and Huayan Longcui, and took He Chenggu to the garden.
When they arrived at the garden, Shi Jianli stopped, asked Lanxing and Xianyue to stay away, and said, "Second Master He, please say whatever you want to say."
He Chenggu stared into her eyes and said, "That day when we first met at Taiyuan Lake, although the girl was only wearing a plain dress, her smiling eyes and bright temperament made me unforgettable."
"Later, when I got home, I asked someone to find out where the girl came from. I asked my sister to inquire at Princess Kunyi's residence, and then I sent a matchmaker to the house. Perhaps the sincerity was not enough, so the girl refused. Today, I specially asked my mother to go to the house again to propose marriage."
"The young lady is not engaged yet, and I have never been engaged either. Even if the young lady refuses today, I understand. After all, you and I have only met once. But can you give me a chance to propose to her in the future?"
Shi Jianli shook her head and said seriously, "I have a lover, but he is not in the capital now. When he returns, I will agree to his proposal. I am grateful for Mr. He's love."
He Chenggu opened his mouth and asked disappointedly, "Can I ask who Miss Shi's sweetheart is?"
"Prince Anguo, please return tomorrow."
He Chenggu clenched his fists. It seemed that he really... couldn't compare.
In the end, He Chenggu and Lady Cheng Enbo returned along the same route with the betrothal gifts.
After the servant who had inquired about the news came back, Yuan Yuhe breathed a sigh of relief. After thinking about it, she decided to write another letter to Mingzhao.
If she doesn't come back soon, her daughter-in-law will be gone.
At the banquet at Princess Kunyi's mansion, many ladies asked about Li'er. After rejecting the offer from the Marquis Cheng'en Mansion, there would probably be other "Marquis Cheng'en Mansions".
As expected, on the third day after the Cheng'en Marquis's Mansion was rejected for the second time, another family went to the Shi Mansion.
On the first day of May, Lan Xing fanned Shi Jianli, who was eating an ice bowl, and said, "Miss, the one who came to your house today is a matchmaker hired by the Tongzhengshi family."
In terms of marriage, the Great Zhou Dynasty has always had the tradition of visiting the bride's home once to express interest and visiting the bride's home again to express sincerity. However, most families are too embarrassed to admit their feelings after being rejected, so they will not visit the bride's home a second time after being rejected once.
Including the rejection today, there were a total of seven times from six families. It has only been about twenty days, and the girl has only attended one first birthday party.
"Thank you for your hard work, my mother. I'll give her a good shoulder massage later."
Shi Jianli handed the bowl to Lanxing and turned over. "My father should be back by now. Xianyue, go get my mint cake."
"Yes, girl." Later on, the adults would definitely complain that the girl only missed the mint cakes he brought back and not her father.
Not long after, Xianyue came back, put the mint cake down and said with a smile, "This is the mint cake that the master brought back for you."
Shi Jianli sat up with her legs crossed and untied the cotton rope.
"Prince Ming has returned and is talking to the Master and the Madam in the front yard."
Shi Jianli nodded, picked up a piece of mint cake and put it into her mouth.
After reacting, she turned her head and asked, "Who's back?"
"Prince Ming."
Shi Jianli put on her slippers and walked into the house. "Please comb my hair into a bun."
Xianyue and Lanxing looked at each other and smiled, then hurried to catch up.
After combing her hair, Xianyue put a shawl on her. She muttered, "How annoying! It's so hot wearing so many clothes."
"Wait until June and put more ice in your house." Lan Xing replied to her.
"Ask the kitchen to make me some more ice drinks."
"That won't do. I need Madam's consent."
"Okay, I beg you, mother."
After packing up, Shi Jianli walked briskly towards the front yard. Hearing voices in the main room, she stuck her head in and saw Mingzhao was still there.
Seeing her, Qiao Ruowei waved at her and said, "What are you doing peeking around? Come and sit down."
"Mother, Father." Shi Jianli asked them, trotted over and sat next to Qiao Ruowei. She met Ming Zhaohuan's gaze again, paused slightly, and asked, "When did my eldest cousin come back?"
Mingzhao, still in his white and blue riding uniform, sat upright on one side, looking at her with a faint smile, and replied, "I just got back a while ago. How have you been lately?"
"I'm doing fine. I went to the palace to play with my sister Lin and the others yesterday. Are my cousins back too?"
"They won't arrive for two days, so I came back first."
Shi Jianli glanced at her parents secretly, and then asked, "Did you come back earlier because you had a military order to deliver something?"
"There was no military order. I just wanted to arrive earlier, so I drove my horse faster."
Qiao Ruowei laughed and found an excuse to take Shi Jiannan away. "You guys chat, I have something to discuss with your father."
After the two elders left, Mingzhao stood up and walked to her. He leaned over, flipped his hand, and handed her the Jade Bone Whistle. "I brought you a small gift."
Shi Jianli glanced at him, lowered her eyes, and took the whistle from his hand. "What is this whistle used for?"
Her fingertips brushed across her palm almost imperceptibly, and Mingzhao curled her fingers slightly and clenched them into fists.
"I will teach you how to control the horse later."
"Oh." Shi Jianli held the pear in his palm and moved closer to him, asking curiously, "Why did you come back by yourself?"
"I heard that during the days when I went to suppress the bandits, many families came to ask for my cousin's hand in marriage."
She nodded slightly, pretending to be confused: "Well, what's the matter?"
"I think there should be a first come first served basis, right? My family was the first to come and ask for marriage."
Shi Jianli leaned back in the chair and snorted softly, "What do you mean by first come first served? It depends on whether I like you or not. There are so many people in Duzhou who want to marry me. You are not the first one."
Mingzhao pressed down his hand that was about to touch her head and leaned closer: "It's not a first come, first served kind of thing. My cousin hasn't rejected me since then. Does that mean she likes me a little bit?"
She raised her chin slightly: "Guess?"
Mingzhao still had a smile on his lips, and he couldn't help but gently place his hand on the top of her head. "How do you feel about asking me to marry you? Do you agree or refuse?"
Shi Jianli raised her eyes and caught a glimpse of the edge of his palm. She acquiesced to his behavior and looked at him for a moment: "I thought my cousin was confident and not anxious at all."
"I was anxious, so I came back early, but I didn't dare rush you into making a decision." Mingzhao half-knelt down and looked up at her slightly. "Can you give me an answer now?"
Shi Jianli pondered for a while and said, "I can promise you, but you have to promise me one thing."
"Well, go ahead."
"During the engagement period, if I am not satisfied, my family can cancel the engagement at any time, and your family cannot refuse for any reason."
"Okay, I'll let you marry me without any worries. The conditions will be written down in black and white on the marriage certificate." Mingzhao lowered his eyes and took out a half-curved hollow fish-shaped jade pendant from his bosom and placed it in her palm. He then untied the other half of the jade pendant hanging from his waist and shook it in front of her by the rope. "This is a pair. The other half is here."
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