They stayed at the estate until June 20th, when the Marquis sent people over, and only then did everyone pack up and return to the Marquis's residence.
Xu Di participated in the provincial examination. After having breakfast in the morning and kowtowing to the old lady, he went to the examination hall with his two pageboys.
After dropping Xu Di off at the gate in the morning, Zhang Zhaoci went to the old lady's courtyard. However, the old lady was not in her room but in the small Buddhist shrine in the backyard, so Zhang Zhaoci went to the small Buddhist shrine.
The old lady was offering incense to the Bodhisattva she worshipped when she saw Zhang Zhaoci coming over. She quickly beckoned her over and said, "I'm offering incense to the Bodhisattva. Please bless our Di'er so he can pass the exam."
Zhang Zhaoci quickly knelt down, respectfully kowtowed, offered incense to the Bodhisattva, and then helped the old lady out of the small Buddhist hall.
Granny Shen hurried over from the front yard and said to the old lady, "Old lady, the eldest madam has brought the eldest young lady here. They say they've come to pay their respects to you."
The old lady looked at Zhan Zhaoci, and Zhang Zhaoci also looked at the old lady with a puzzled expression. The old lady said, "They are like night owls entering the house. They can't be up to anything. Let's go and see what they want."
Xu Shao dressed as always, with her hair styled in a flying fairy bun and adorned with a bright phoenix hairpin. As she grew older, her eyes and brows became increasingly sharp.
Seeing the old lady enter, she quickly stood up, bowed to her, and said, "Grandmother, your granddaughter has come to pay her respects."
The old lady waved her hand, and after she was seated, she asked, "How are your parents-in-law doing lately? How is Xing'er's studies going? He'll be taking the provincial examination this year, won't he?"
Xu Shao smiled and said, "Grandmother, my parents-in-law are both doing well. Xing'er is doing well in his studies. The teacher at the school said that he should have no problem passing the exam this year. We also plan to let him try this year. He's still young, so it won't hurt for him to take the exam a few more times."
Xu Shao's eldest son, Zhao Sixing, had already obtained the title of Xiucai (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the county level). As a teenager, Xu Shao and her husband felt proud to talk about their eldest son. When talking to the old lady about their eldest son, Xu Shao's face was full of pride.
The old lady smiled and nodded, saying, "It's all thanks to your and the young master's excellent teaching."
Xu Shao smiled and responded. Seeing Zhang Zhaoci standing next to the old lady, she said, "Grandmother, my sister-in-law is here too. I have a family here whose daughter is about the same age as our Di'er. I was thinking of coming over to discuss it with you and see if it's suitable."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhaoci smiled and said, "Big sister, we are really sorry. We appreciate your kindness, but our son Dige has already been engaged. The marriage certificate has been written, and we are just waiting for the two children to reach the right age to get married."
Xu Shao looked surprised upon hearing this, and she and Madam Hou exchanged glances. Madam Hou asked in astonishment, "How come I've never heard of this before?"
Zhang Zhaoci said with a smile, "She is the daughter of one of my third master's colleagues. She is beautiful, has a good personality, and is also shrewd. I like her. My third master thinks that she is also suitable for my son, Di Ge. After we asked our grandmother for her opinion, we arranged their marriage."
Lady Hou's face was rather unpleasant, and Xu Shao's face even showed anger, probably because she was trying her best to hide her feelings in front of the old man.
The old lady said with a smile, "Marriage is a major event, and it is always about the parents' decision and the matchmaker's words. Since Rao'er and his wife think it is suitable, then let's settle it. I asked Di Ge'er, and the girl also learned to read and write at home with her parents and brothers, and she also studied with Granny Lu for two years. Granny Lu also thinks the girl is a good girl."
Xu Shao said, "Why didn't you tell us about this when you came back?"
Zhang Zhaoci said strangely, "Big sister, it's not like we're getting married, it's just settling the marriage. There's no need to tell you specifically, is there? Don't worry, you'll definitely get an invitation when your nephew gets married."
Lady Hou sat with Xu Shao for a while longer before leaving under the pretext of having other matters to attend to. On the way to Lady Hou's courtyard, Xu Shao said somewhat irritably, "Mother, what do you think they mean? Is Xu Di's engagement real or fake?"
Lady Wu, the wife of the Marquis, said, "It should be true, right? How could you joke about a child's marriage? You know, why did you insist on arranging a marriage for Di'er? Even if the Third Prince and his wife didn't make the decision, there's still the Marquis and the Old Madam. Xu Di is the eldest grandson of the family, and the Old Madam and the Marquis are very concerned about his marriage."
Xu Shao said, "Forget it, let's just let it go. Mother, what exactly does the old lady mean? Can't you help us ask her?"
Xu Shao wanted the old lady to help inquire about the family whose surname was Zhou. Although the Zhou family was a scholarly family, their eldest son married the daughter of Liang Chengdi's elder brother, Prince Cheng, who was a princess and was given the title of Princess Longyu by Liang Chengdi.
Although Princess Longyu is a princess, she is Prince Cheng's only child. After Emperor Liang Cheng ascended the throne, Prince Cheng strongly supported him. It was because of the support of the late emperor's eldest son that Emperor Liang Cheng was able to accomplish many things smoothly. For this reason, Emperor Liang Cheng treated Prince Cheng very well, and also treated Prince Cheng's only child, Princess Longyu, very well.
Back when Princess Longyu was choosing a husband, Emperor Liang Cheng helped her look at many noble sons from the capital. Unfortunately, Princess Longyu preferred a poor country boy who had just passed the imperial examination, who is now the head of the Zhou family, Zhou Qingchun.
After getting married, Zhou Qingchun worked in the Hanlin Academy and was greatly favored by Emperor Liang Cheng. After the birth of Zhou Yanran, the eldest daughter of Zhou Qingchun and Princess Longyu, she was granted the title of County Princess.
Xu Shao's interest lay with Zhou Yanran, the eldest daughter of Princess Longyu. Although Zhou Yanran had a princess as her mother, she was a gentle and kind young woman, an ideal daughter-in-law or granddaughter-in-law for many families in the capital. Xu Shao valued Zhou Yanran's status as a princess mother, the good relationship between Emperor Liang Cheng and Prince Cheng, and most importantly, Princess Longyu being Prince Cheng's only child. Wouldn't the future inheritance and connections all come from Princess Longyu's children?
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