Su Yuanzhou and Shen Yue's wedding was scheduled for the sixth day of June.
On the morning of April 28th, everyone in Prince Ning's mansion, from the master to the servants, got busy early, preparing to go to the Shen family to propose marriage.
Because Chen Yue was still in mourning, the Ning Wang Mansion kept a low profile on the engagement and did not publicize it. However, to show her importance, Lin Wanyin invited the Lin family's eldest master, Lin Wanli, to come to Beijing to help arrange Su Yuanzhou's marriage.
At the beginning of the morning hour, the sixty loads of betrothal gifts prepared by Prince Ning's residence were already at the gate, waiting only for the uncle's order to proceed to the Shen family.
Lin Wanli was dressed in a Hangzhou silk brocade robe, looking calm and elegant.
The housekeeper reminded them that the auspicious time had arrived. Lin Wanli stood in front of everyone and said loudly, "The eldest wife of the Shen family is still in mourning. You don't need to smile so festively, but don't look so sad either. You have to grasp the scale here."
Seeing that the servant carrying the betrothal gifts was confused, he demonstrated it to him.
Everything was ready. Lin Wanli shouted "Let's go" and the servants bent down and raised the betrothal gifts.
Lin Wanli, who was walking in front, walked out of the Ning Wang Mansion and saw a carriage parked at the gate. The person who got out was an acquaintance.
"Going to the Shen family to propose marriage is the Su family's business, so we won't bother the Lin family."
Su Chengye got off the carriage, flicked his robe and walked in front of Lin Wanli.
Su Chengye has always been a little afraid of this former brother-in-law.
Even though he had a noble title and Lin Wanli was just a merchant, he always seemed to be inferior to Lin Wanli.
In the past, he had tried to stand up straight in front of Lin Wanli, but the Su family's money came from the Lin family, and his connections were supported by the Lin family. Even his ancestors were buried on the Lin family's mountain. So in terms of momentum, he unconsciously felt weaker than Lin Wanli.
But things are different now. His son became king because of his military achievements, so his value naturally increased.
So when facing Lin Wanli today, Su Chengye secretly reminded himself that he was Su Yuanzhou's father, and the Lin family was nothing.
The words he spoke were also a bit stronger than before.
Lin Wanli raised his hand to signal the servant to stop and put down the things in his hands.
Then he raised his eyelids and glanced at Su Chengye, "What does the Marquis of Pingning mean? My mother's uncle is older than me. As an uncle, what's wrong with proposing on behalf of your nephew?"
The Lin family's businesses spanned the Great Zhou, all thanks to Lin Wanli's exceptional business acumen. He held Su Chengye, his former brother-in-law, in the dark. He had previously treated him with courtesy, out of consideration for his sister. Now that his sister had divorced him, he had become cold and unkind to Su Chengye.
If he hadn't considered that he was Su Yuanzhou's biological father, he would have sent someone to throw him out.
The Su family had been a hive of activity lately. Su Chengye, flattered by his colleagues, felt a bit flattered.
Hearing Lin Wanli's words, Su Chengye said seriously, "Since I'm here, I won't bother Master Lin anymore. As a father, I'm the one proposing, which only shows how much the Su family values this marriage."
Lin Wanli looked at him with an inexplicable expression, "It's true that you are my father, but Yuanzhou has entrusted me to go to the Shen family to propose marriage. Please, Lord Su, move aside and don't delay the auspicious time."
Seeing this, the butler on the side stepped forward and respectfully asked Lin Wanli in a low voice, "Uncle, do you want to ask the prince to come out?"
Lin Wanli waved his hand and said, "No need."
There was no need for a nephew to intervene in such matters. A son always had to respect the rules when dealing with his father. Unlike him, if he got angry, he would not go easy on Su Chengye.
Su Chengye was even more indignant when he saw the Ning Palace's steward being so respectful to Lin Wanli. Why did Lin Wanli get to show off his power in the Ning Palace? This was his son, not Lin Wanli's son.
"I am Prince Ning's biological father. Master Lin has been refusing in every possible way. I'm afraid he is trying to get involved with Prince Ning's Mansion and profit for the Lin family, right?"
He spoke with great righteousness, but subconsciously turned his head away and did not meet Lin Wanli's gaze.
Lin Wanli was so angry that he laughed out loud. Before he could say anything, a man's cold voice came from behind him.
"What's the matter, father? My uncle proposed at an auspicious time. Are you trying to ruin your son's marriage?"
Su Yuanzhou walked past the crowd and came to Lin Wanli.
Seeing his son come out, Su Chengye hurriedly explained, "My son, you misunderstood. I wanted to go to the Shen family in person to propose marriage. This is also because the Su family attaches great importance to this marriage. There is no need to trouble outsiders."
Su Yuanzhou curled up the corners of his lips, showing sarcasm.
Outsider? To him, his uncle was not an outsider.
He was about to speak when Lin Wanli grabbed his sleeve and gave him a look.
Talking back to his father in public was bad for Su Yuanzhou's reputation.
He laughed heartily, "Since Marquis Pingning has such a heart, then I won't be polite with you."
"The matter of proposing marriage will be left to Marquis Pingning."
Su Yuanzhou didn't understand what his uncle meant, but since he knew what his uncle said, he didn't interrupt.
Su Chengye's face lit up with joy. It seemed that Lin Wanli still had some concerns and didn't dare to make things too awkward.
Then Lin Wanli loudly ordered the servants carrying the betrothal gifts behind him, "Open all the betrothal gift boxes."
Then he said to Su Chengye, "I prepared all the betrothal gifts for Yuanzhou. Since the Su family is so willing, I won't fight for it."
"The Emperor is paying close attention to the marriage between the two families. Marquis Pingning is also well aware of the Shen family's status. If the betrothal gift is too small, Yunzhou will lose face."
"Please take a look at the betrothal gifts I have prepared, Marquis Pingning. Just prepare them accordingly."
Lin Wanli stepped aside and made a gesture of invitation, signaling Su Chengye to come forward.
As for the betrothal gifts, half of them were brought by him to show off to Su Yuanzhou, another part was prepared by Lin Wanyin, and the remaining small part was a reward from the emperor.
He said this to suppress Su Chengye's thoughts and make him give up.
Su Chengye didn't expect Lin Wanli to say this. It was clear that if the Su family offered a betrothal gift, they would have to provide it themselves.
The Su family offered a betrothal gift? What did the Su family offer?
But at this time Lin Wanli was staring at him with burning eyes, and his son was also watching from the side, so he could only step forward.
Even though the Su family has declined over the years, Su Chengye has seen a lot of good things.
He took a few steps forward, looked at the rows of opened betrothal gift boxes, and swallowed hard.
A flower vase made of eight-treasure cloisonné enamel, a jade ruyi carved from a whole piece of warm jade, a ruby headpiece the size of a pigeon egg, and out-of-print calligraphy and paintings by masters of the previous dynasty.
The betrothal gifts prepared by the Lin family were all extraordinary. There was also a full ten thousand taels of gold, which made him unable to open his eyes.
Su Chengye saw the rest of the story and broke out in a cold sweat. Even if the Su family sold their ancestral home, they wouldn't be able to afford such a large betrothal gift.
After all, he is Su Yuanzhou's biological father, and Lin Wanli does not want to embarrass him in such an occasion.
Whenever the Lin family does something, they will always leave room for maneuver unless it is absolutely necessary.
"Marquis Su may not be prepared today. In that case, leave the engagement to me."
"Although my status is not as noble as Marquis Su's, I am still Yuanzhou's uncle. I will do my best to make this happen."
Lin Wanli gave Su Chengye a way out, and Su Chengye, as if he had been pardoned, immediately said, "Master Lin is right. Then I will wait for good news."
Afterwards, Lin Wanli took people to the Shen family.
Su Chengye looked at Su Yuanzhou and asked aggrievedly, "Can I go in and have some tea?"
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