Chapter 16
I came to my sisters and said, "Hey, you finally came here? You didn't even come to look for us when you came back. I thought you didn't want to play with us anymore."
In return, I punched him in a friendly gesture, "Just finished my work."
My friends are all genuine people, none of them are bad people. But that doesn't stop them from being scheming, after all, they all come from wealthy families.
We made an appointment to meet again after the New Year, and I glanced at my brother.
Then, someone whispered, "As for the mess at the Xuanhua Marquis's Mansion, she has a sixteen-year-old legitimate son who's not bad looking. She's trying to get him."
"It is said that the do-er agrees. The other side hasn't agreed, don't worry."
I nodded. "Thanks."
"You've learned to be polite now. We're all just friends." He was slapped on the back and felt like he was being used as a vendetta.
I stumbled, and they laughed.
I chatted with them briefly about my experiences outside, and then I heard a pager outside.
Everyone hurried back to their seats and greeted the Emperor. The Empress, the Crown Princess, the Crown Princess, the Third Princess, and so on. After everyone was seated, the Emperor's aunt looked at my brother and me and smiled, "An Lan, you two are willing to come back?"
My brother and I hurriedly stood up and saluted again.
"Sit down, you've grown up now." Indeed, I will be seventeen next year.
"This is Ranran. She is getting more and more beautiful." The Queen looked at her brother and said.
My brother lowered his head shyly.
The emperor's aunt added fuel to the fire, "Third brother, come back to your senses." The third princess looked at her brother without blinking since she came in and sat down, with her mouth slightly open.
This made everyone burst into laughter. I glanced at the Marquis of Xuanhua and felt that her legitimate son was about to tear the handkerchief to pieces. I couldn't help but sneer in my heart.
Before the banquet even started, the emperor's aunt couldn't help herself and must have been really anxious.
"An Ran and the third brother are not young anymore, and they have never been able to get together. Let's decide today."
The Queen also quickly agreed, "That's right, this important matter in life can't be delayed."
Mother hurried forward and said, "I will follow your Majesty's orders."
As soon as these words were spoken, the Queen and the Third Princess breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ministry of Rites, please go back and choose a few auspicious days to present it. The sooner the better." It was obvious that the emperor's aunt was anxious.
That's true. After all, the third princess is already 22 years old, and will be 23 next year. It's rare for her to still be unmarried.
The New Year's Eve banquet went on normally, except that the Third Princess kept grinning at my brother, which made me very angry. Everything was normal.
The next morning after returning home, the imperial edict arrived, setting the wedding date for September, when the weather was neither too hot nor too cold. Originally, they wanted to set it for May, but my mother postponed it on the grounds that there was not enough time to prepare the wedding items.
The Third Princess's things had already been prepared, and my brother's family was almost ready as well. But regardless, it wasn't appropriate to get engaged and married within six months.
Wedding attire preparations must begin now. For a royal wedding, one doesn't have to make it themselves. However, having the attire tailored and selected is a very time-consuming and labor-intensive process.
After the imperial edict came down, his mother's servant was also relieved. After all, Yu Anyan was already sixteen years old. If his older brothers didn't get engaged and married, it would be inappropriate for him to get ahead.
Our younger brother is very gentle and delicate, a typical characteristic of men these days. He's been raised by Shijun, and both of us are gentle, so our family is very harmonious. We haven't been particularly close, but we share the same mother. Father and Shijun have a good relationship, so we're also okay with it.
Sometimes, when we get together, I guess some of the comments my brother and I make still subtly influence him, so although An Yan is gentle, he is still very decisive in doing things.
It is usually An Yan who makes the decisions on the side of the servant.
When I have time, I'll go to my brother's place for lunch.
"How's your review going?" asked my brother.
Yes, it's been ages since I last visited my in-laws, elders, and friends and family. During the Lunar New Year holiday, I felt like I was constantly on the go. Finally, my father couldn't stand it anymore and forced me to stay home. And this fall, exams are coming up, and I have to start studying again.
I'm already used to taking exams, but it's very hard.
Fortunately, my father was busy preparing for my brother's marriage and my mother was busy in the court, so no one noticed what I was busy with.
By the way, for our contributions on the battlefield, the Empress gave us many rewards. It's hard to publicize them, so they're still just gold, silver, jewelry, and farmhouses, but our annual salaries have been increased. But those who understand will understand.
Also, my grandmother passed the title of Marquis to my mother, so I was naturally promoted to Marquis's daughter and had the title.
Coming back to the topic, since someone cares about me, I naturally express my resentment.
"I'm just asking for trouble!"
My brother couldn't help but laugh, "Do what you can and take care of your health. You are still young after all."
I sighed deeply.
My brother changed the subject, "An Yan came to me recently and asked me to make some decisions for him."
"Huh? What idea? Is there something wrong with his shop?" I guessed.
In order to train him, his father gave An Ran a shop early on and asked him to run it. Together with Shijun's shop, An Yan's business was also quite successful.
"It's not the shop's problem." The elder brother put down the teacup. "After I got engaged, Shijun asked my father to find a lot of information about women of the right age, hoping to arrange a marriage for An Yan."
"Ahem," he choked on the water, "An Yan is too young, is it so early?"
My brother patted my back and said, "That's what I meant. I guess An Yan meant the same thing. He probably wants father and me to persuade Su Shijun."
My brother paused and continued, "Actually, everyone around here is engaged at about the same age, and some are even married. Su Shijun might have been anxious for a long time because of me."
I thought about it and said, "It's really not our place to intervene too much. How about getting engaged first and then getting married in two years?"
My brother replied, "That's what I meant, and An Yan agrees."
"Who are they? I'll go and check them out." I took the roster from my brother. Well, it seems that An Yan and my brother both had this plan.
"How about calling An Yan over and asking for specific requirements?" I flipped through a few pages. Some of the people I knew, but they didn't have a good reputation in private.
It’s not that my father made a bad choice. It’s just that he didn’t know the requirements of the Lord’s wife, so he just wrote down those who were of suitable age and could get married.
"It's better to be early than late. Are you available this afternoon?"
"Okay, take a break this afternoon."
After dinner, my brother asked Kong Qing to invite An Yan over.
After a while, Kong Qing came back and said that An Yan would be here soon after he got ready.
Another quarter of an hour later, An Yan came in, bowed to everyone, and sat next to his brother.
"I called your sister over as well. She is more familiar with these women." The brother said to An Yan.
"Thank you for your concern, brother and sister." An Yan was very polite.
I glanced at my brother, and he asked Kong Qing to go out and closed the door.
"Let's get straight to the point. First question: do you want to be the boss or the servant?"
My words made An Yan blush. However, this is indeed an important question. To be the master, you have to choose from the lower ones, while to be the servant, you should look at the higher ones. Of course, my brother and I both want to be the master, not every family is like ours.
"I want to be the master." An Yan's voice was timid. After all, she knew the family situations of many of her friends. She had always been grateful to be born into this family.
"That's good. My brother and I support your choice." As I said this, I tore up all the names in the booklet of those whose families had masters and those who were engaged that I knew.
"Second question, do you require the eldest daughter?"
An Yan shook her head and said, "Sister, I don't ask for the eldest daughter, but I want to marry someone from a good family."
I understand. I don’t want a wicked eunuch.
"Okay." He tore it in half again.
Looking at the booklet with about twenty people left, I said to An Yan, "I forgot to ask in advance, is there anyone you like or have a crush on?"
Okay, An Yan's face turned completely red.
After hesitating for a long time, An Yan finally stammered, "Sister, can you help me find out about Zhou Pinshan, the second son of the doctor in the Ministry of Justice?"
I flipped through the booklet and, lo and behold, there was still something left in there.
"Okay." I used the pen in my brother's room to copy the remaining names in the booklet and then went out.
"You guys chat, I'm leaving first. I'll get back to you in a few days."
An Yan stood up quickly and said, "Thank you, sister."
I waved and left.
Returning to my courtyard, I called Zhixia over and said, "Please inform Linxue and ask her to quietly go to Kelaiju to find me."
Over the past few years, I've been secretly setting up an information department outside of my home, and only Zhixia knows about it. But I think my brother knows too, since I haven't been able to hide anything from him. If the gold and silver in the real account book are missing, you can still see it.
After saying that, I led my men out the door.
"Master." Someone knocked on the door gently.
"Come in."
After Lin Xue came in, she reported to me the changes in the court over the past two years, and also talked about the situation in the homes of some key targets of observation.
Fortunately, the relationship between the royal family and Marquis Jing'an remained largely unchanged. Everything remained normal with the Crown Princess as well. At least, that was what we could detect.
"How's things going with Marquis Xuanhua?"
"Marquis Xuanhua hasn't made any moves, but her son has asked someone to prepare some medicine." Lin Xue glanced at me. Okay, I understand.
"It's rare." Indeed, the noble family has never seen anything like this.
"Keep an eye on it, don't make your brother feel sick."
"yes."
After she had almost finished reporting the situation, Lin Xue took a sip of tea to moisten her mouth.
"The requirements at the music hall are stricter. Prostitution is strictly prohibited, even if it's consensual. We must maintain a clear and transparent relationship." I couldn't help but emphasize it again. It's the easiest place for things to go wrong, but they have easy access to intelligence, so there's nothing we can do about it.
"Master, don't worry, I'm watching."
After we finished discussing the matter, I gave her the copied list and said, "Check the situation of these people and their families."
Lin Xue took a look, confused, but still agreed. "See if it's suitable for marriage?"
Lin Xue understood now. "Okay, Master. I'll give you an answer in two days."
"I checked it carefully."
After saying that, he let her leave.
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