Chapter 10: Your Aunt Chooses a New Husband for You
Screams followed one after another.
Ming Zhouqing did not waste time either. The two brothers each took a stick and knocked the man unconscious with great skill.
Ming Zhouhe sneered, pulled the sack over his head back, and kicked him again, "Your ambition is as high as the sky, aren't you afraid that your life is as fragile as paper?"
Ming Zhouqing turned his wrist and said, "Let's go. With our family background, if we hit someone in the street, we'll be criticized. We can only do it secretly."
"Um."
The two brothers turned around and walked away.
The Great Zhou Dynasty implemented a system of ten-day and monthly rest. Officials had a rest every ten days, which was called a ten-day rest, and a long rest every month, which was called a monthly rest, which was three days.
Therefore, the private school of the Duke of Anguo’s Mansion also has ten-day and monthly holidays.
At the hour of Mao, Shi Jianli dressed neatly and walked towards the private school. She bumped into a man wearing a crimson official uniform with a tiger patch, a three-inch round collar and scattered flowers, a golden lychee belt around his waist, and a five-beam imperial crown on his head.
She paused and called him, "Prince."
The court of the Great Zhou Dynasty just started at noon, and Mingzhao should be attending the court now.
Mingzhao also saw her, and remembering his sister's words a few days ago about not giving people the cold shoulder, he smiled and nodded, "Well, Miss Shi is going to private school?"
"Yes."
After hearing her response, Mingzhao strode past her.
Shi Jianli went to Qionghuaxuan after school, and Qiao Ruoying was checking the accounts.
"aunt."
"Come and sit down." Qiao Ruoying waved at her.
Shi Jianli sat next to her, and then an account book was handed to her.
She reluctantly checked the account book for her aunt.
Qiao Ruoying was free now. She placed the snacks next to her niece and took a sip of tea. "Li'er, how about I choose a new husband for you?"
A girl reaches the age of marriage at the age of sixteen, but her body is not yet fully grown. The Duke's Mansion will usually keep the girls for two more years, but the date of marriage must be put on the agenda, and the three books and six ceremonies must be completed without any hassles, as everything takes time.
"Okay." She replied softly, "But auntie, pick something nice."
Men should get married when they are old enough and women should get married when they are old enough. She has no reason to resist. She has to get married anyway and has her pick. Why not marry someone good-looking?
Qiao Ruoying laughed out loud, "You, like your mother, are a lustful person."
Back then, her elder sister had agreed to marry her brother-in-law because of his good looks. She was very discerning. Fortunately, her elder sister had chosen a good man. Her brother-in-law had a brilliant political career and only wanted her. Even if Li'er was his only daughter, he would not take a concubine.
It's a pity that the couple passed away early due to various reasons, and her brother-in-law had no elders to rely on, and her brothers were not in harmony. Poor Li'er was left without any parents or caregivers.
The new prefect likes to keep male nymphomaniacs, especially young girls in their early teens. He casts his lustful eyes on Li'er, and Li'er has no choice but to come to her aunt for help.
Li'er, who had just arrived at the Duke's Mansion, looked embarrassed and panicked. She cried and said that she had escaped after hitting her uncle, who wanted to give her to the new magistrate, on the head with an inkstone.
"Yeah." Shi Jianli nodded.
To put it bluntly, it's not nice to say it. Even in the dark, she couldn't bring herself to do anything bad.
Looking at her niece's similar facial features to her own, Qiao Ruoying couldn't help but sigh that if she had a daughter, she would also be beautiful with bright eyes, white teeth and a pretty face.
"Your cousin is the same, he doesn't want this or that, just like you." She came back to her senses and said worriedly.
Shi Jianli said, "My second cousin hasn't arranged a marriage yet, aunt, don't worry."
"Of course your second cousin is not in a hurry." Qiao Ruoying said, "His mother wants him to marry her niece. A few days ago, my eldest sister-in-law told me that her sister-in-law also intends to marry her daughter to Zhou Qing."
Shi Jianli paused while flipping through the account book, but only said, "It's a good thing that it's a close relationship."
There are some things she can't say.
Qiao Ruoying thought for a moment and realized that a closer relationship would be a good thing, but regardless of whether her husband and mother-in-law agreed, He'er was unwilling to marry Li'er, and Li'er was unwilling to marry He'er.
Marrying Li'er off doesn't make me feel at ease having her by my side. She has no idea whether she is living a good life or not.
But Qiao Ruoying was unwilling to marry her niece to her husband's illegitimate son.
It's simple. Which woman likes the children her husband has with another woman?
Li'er was also not interested in her illegitimate sons, thinking that their family backgrounds were still a bit high and difficult to control.
Qiao Ruoying added, "Zhou Qing's marriage is settled, but she still has things to worry about."
"What are you worried about?" Shi Jianli responded at the right time. While checking the accounts, she chatted with her aunt to relieve her boredom.
"Your eldest cousin's marriage."
Qiao Ruoying took a sip of tea and continued, "Zhao was engaged to the eldest daughter of the Hongnong Yang family in his early years. The Yang family girl is only one year younger than Zhao, so she should have married him long ago."
"It's just that Zhao has been away for six years, and the old man of the Yang family passed away three years ago. The young lady of the Yang family had to observe mourning, so that's why it was delayed."
"The mourning period should be over. Is the Duke's wife worrying about how to arrange the wedding?" Shi Jianli was multitasking. She took a pen and circled the doubtful parts in the account book.
"She should be happy about the wedding, why would she be worried?"
"Miss Yang caught a cold last year, and it's been nine months now, and she still hasn't recovered. My eldest sister-in-law went to visit her last month and came back saying she was lying sick in bed, looking very pale and haggard."
"My sister-in-law invited the imperial physician over, and he said that Miss Yang is very weak and has a serious illness that is difficult to treat. I'm afraid she is terminally ill."
"The Yang family's second daughter is only nine years old now. The age difference between her and Zhao Hao is too great. The Yang family will probably cancel the engagement."
"So, how can she not worry?"
Shi Jianli knew Mingzhao was engaged, but this was the first time she had heard of such an inside story. "The prince is only twenty-one, so there shouldn't be any rush, right?"
"You call Zhu Qing your second cousin, but why do you call him Prince Zhao Huan?"
"He is the eldest son of the first wife, so there is a gap between them. It's always better to be cautious." Shi Jianli lowered her eyes and said.
Qiao Ruoying sighed. Li'er was still reserved after all.
She returned to the previous topic, "Twenty-one years is not a big age, but many people have lost their children by this age, and my sister-in-law wants to have a grandchild."
"Plus, most girls of similar age and social status are already married or engaged, so there are fewer girls to choose from."
"The only person she doesn't have to worry about is Lin'er. When Lin'er turns eighteen, the Duke of Fuguo will come to ask for an appointment. This is a good match, a good match. The prince is steady and has good character, and he is young and promising."
Shi Jianli nodded. Yesterday, she saw that Prince Ji was not as old-fashioned and boring as Sister Lin said. Although he was a little cold, his eyes occasionally fell on Sister Lin. If you looked closely, you could see his care and concern.
As Qiao Ruoying drank her tea, the more she looked at Shi Meili, the more she liked her, and the more she despised Qiao Jingchuan.
Li'er is beautiful and has a good temperament. She is also good at managing accounts. The ten or so shops under her are all making a lot of money, especially Hua Simeng and Qun Yu Pavilion. There are crowds of customers coming every day, and the business is booming. She will not have to worry about food and clothing in the future, and she will have enough money.
Ever since Li'er came, with her help, the profits of her shop have increased visibly.
Qiao Jingchuan is blind!
Shi Jianli looked up from the account book and saw Xianyue, whom she had sent out in the morning, coming back. She put down her pen and waved at her.
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