Chapter 14 Extra 3: The Matchmaker (Part 1)
Recently, Duan Yi was ordered to investigate a salt smuggling case, and Ning Jue inevitably got involved.
Kong Pingsheng would occasionally run into Ning Jue when he went in and out of the government office. Most of the time, the two would just nod to each other and would not deliberately stop to exchange pleasantries. Firstly, neither of them were talkative people, and secondly, they really didn't have much to talk about.
But things are different today.
The two met by chance in front of the main hall, one going down the steps and the other going up. Kong Pingsheng nodded slightly and, as usual, stepped aside to let Ning Jue go first.
Ning Jue walked steadily down the steps, turned around, glanced at Kong Pingsheng, and then suddenly said abruptly, "Duan Yi has been looking for you very frequently lately. It's clear that you are reliable and have earned Duan Yi's approval."
Although Kong Pingsheng was surprised, he still replied humbly, "I don't deserve such praise. I was just doing my job."
Ning Jue nodded, but said nothing more.
Kong Pingsheng waited for a while, then hesitated, unsure whether he should take his leave.
Just as he was about to leave, Ning Jue suddenly raised his hand to stop him: "Wait."
Kong Pingsheng assumed Ning Jue had some other instructions, so he immediately bowed respectfully with both hands: "What instructions does the young master have? Please feel free to use me."
"No orders." Ning Jue raised her arm and pressed his hand down, then asked a completely unrelated question, "The chestnut cakes I brought to the yamen last time, you must have tried them after you got your share, what did you think of the taste?"
"Ah..." Kong Pingsheng was taken aback at first, then after a moment of reflection, he confirmed that he had not misheard before replying truthfully, "That day I ate too much lunch and was bloated, so I really couldn't eat anything else. Therefore, I appreciate your kindness, but I gave the portion of pastries I received to my colleague Xiao Wu."
Ning Jue: "So, you didn't taste it?"
Looking at Ning Jue's expression, Kong Pingsheng began to worry, wondering if refusing to eat the food Ning Gongzi brought would be misinterpreted as disrespect...
Logically speaking, given your magnanimity, you shouldn't have gone to such lengths.
Kong Pingsheng was hesitating about how to start the conversation.
Ning Jue then said, "The chestnut cake from last time was soft and smooth, and the filling was just the right amount of sweetness without being cloying. It's a shame you didn't get to try it."
Kong Pingsheng replied, "It is my fault for not being able to enjoy such a meal."
Ning Jue raised an eyebrow, stepped forward and suddenly asked, "Who said you weren't lucky enough to have such a good meal? Since all the brothers in the yamen have tasted it, how can you be the only one left out? Why don't you come to Duyuan tomorrow and have dinner with my wife and me? We haven't had a private get-together since you came to the capital. I also have many details I'd like to ask you about regarding the arrest of the salt criminals."
Since it was primarily for official business, there was no reason for Kong Pingsheng not to comply.
He cupped his hands in agreement and replied, "Yes, tomorrow is a day off, I will go to Duyuan to pay my respects."
Ning Jue: "It's almost Shenshi (3-5 PM), let's have some snacks and chat before dinner."
The two agreed verbally, and Ning Jue completed the task assigned by Bai Hua, then strode away from the government office with ease.
Before entering the main hall, Kong Pingsheng turned his head back and watched Ning Jue's figure disappear at the main entrance of the government office. He was lost in thought and puzzled, wondering if there was any deeper meaning behind Young Master Ning's invitation.
...
On the other side, Bai Hua also took the initiative to approach Rong Chifang and told her cousin in a few words that a young man would be coming to the mansion the next day, which would be a good opportunity for them to meet.
Upon hearing this, Rong Chifang looked rather troubled: "Hua'er, how about we postpone this for now? I just met two people recently, and I don't think it's appropriate to arrange another one tomorrow, given how close they are to each other."
Bai Hua spoke up: "There's nothing wrong with it, cousin, just listen to me. Cousin hasn't been alone with those young men before, but she can take a look when they're in a group. If they don't click, it won't bother either of us, and no one can criticize her. Since cousin wasn't interested in those two civil officials before, this time I'll introduce you to a very promising military general. Although he's only a minor official in the General's mansion in the capital, he has lofty ambitions and considerable abilities. His future prospects are sure to be bright."
Rong Chifang recalled this and asked, "My cousin mentioned this person to me before, right? Is he the one who aspires to join the army and wants to be stationed at the border?"
Hearing that her cousin still remembered this, Bai Hua's eyes lit up, and she replied, "That's right. This man is handsome and has a dignified appearance. The only thing that worries me is that if you and he can get along, you will inevitably have to go to Xiangcheng with him to join the army. The border is desolate and quiet, which is not as good as the wealth and glamorous capital."
Rong Chifang smiled and said, "Hua'er thinks I'm some pampered young lady who's afraid I can't endure hardship."
Bai Hua blinked her beautiful eyes and looked at Rong Chifang, saying, "If you don't care about this, then you've agreed to the matchmaking. To be honest, I think Young Master Kong is better than the two you previously considered."
Rong Chifang lowered her eyes and sighed thoughtfully: "Actually, I am just a merchant's daughter. Even though my grandfather was once a royal merchant appointed by the late emperor, the world has changed now. Merchants are considered inferior. With my status, how can I be qualified to choose others? And others may not even be interested in me."
Bai Hua took her cousin's hand and said softly, "The difference between officials and merchants has long been a barrier in people's hearts and is difficult to overcome in a short time. I had worried before that if my cousin really married into an official family, would she suffer grievances from her husband's family? Later, my husband persuaded me that my cousin is a relative of the Bai family, and with this relationship, there is no need to worry."
Seeing her cousin listening attentively, Bai Hua continued, "While there's some truth to what you're saying, I think relying on others isn't a long-term solution. If you could find someone who is mutually in love with you, and neither of you has any class concerns, that would be a truly good match. Now that I think about it, Young Master Kong is the perfect fit. His father is the owner of a manor, and although he's wealthy, he's not good at officialdom. When Young Master Kong is summoned to join the Xiang Army and earns military merit and rewards, it will all be thanks to your hard work alongside him. In that case, you can be a truly secure wife, and no one will have a chance to gossip about you."
These words were deeply scheming. After listening to them, Rong Chifang looked at Bai Hua with a slightly complicated expression.
Two years have passed, and Bai Hua's changes are obvious.
The once frail, helpless, and naive little girl in Jiling has now transformed into an incredibly intelligent woman with a sharper and more far-sighted perspective.
Rong Chifang sighed in admiration. She couldn't say that Bai Hua's change was bad, but she herself couldn't adapt to it for a while. She tried to superimpose the beautiful face in front of her with the face of Hua'er in her memory, but found it difficult to do so. She couldn't help but wonder how much Hua'er had gone through in the past two years to have grown so obviously.
Regardless, Hua'er's words just now were genuinely for her sake, and Rong Chifang knew that she had good intentions.
Seeing that she remained silent, Bai Hua took the initiative to ask, "So... what is your opinion, cousin? Does it align with mine?"
Rong Chifang sighed and said, "After leaving Jiling, Hua'er has really grown up."
Bai Hua smiled and said, "How can we not grow up? In the blink of an eye, I'll be a mother soon. Time really flies. Sometimes when I look back, it feels like it was just yesterday, which makes me feel quite melancholy."
Rong Chifang nodded: "Yes, it all seems like yesterday."
When the topic came up again, Rong Chifang finally gave a clear answer: "I am willing to consider that young master Kong. Hua'er, please help arrange this matter."
Bai Hua felt a sense of accomplishment when she saw that her cousin had been persuaded.
She immediately replied, "It's best to do this sooner rather than later. How about tomorrow? I'll have my husband invite them to Duyuan tomorrow. We won't explain our intentions to Young Master Kong yet. Once my cousin thinks it's appropriate, and I've received your hints, we can proceed step by step."
Hearing Bai Hua's enthusiastic tone, Rong Chifang couldn't help but laugh and said, "Tomorrow? So soon... Hua'er really wants her cousin to get married soon. Could it be that she thinks I've been staying at Duyuan for too long?"
The two became increasingly familiar with each other and could even joke around.
Upon hearing this, Bai Hua raised an eyebrow and snorted, "I do want my cousin to get married sooner, get married sooner and have a baby sooner, so that they can grow up with my children and not be lonely without playmates."
Bai Hua is a married woman, so it's not a big deal for her to say such things. However, Chi Fang is currently unmarried, and her relationship with Kong Pingsheng is still far from settled. Hearing Bai Hua shamelessly talking about marriage and pregnancy, she immediately blushed with embarrassment and was at a loss for words.
Rong Chifang looked uncomfortable and turned around before saying, "Hua'er is deliberately trying to embarrass me."
Bai Hua chased after Rong Chifang again, blinking her beautiful eyes and tilting her head in confusion: "Marriage and childbirth are the usual steps, every family does it this way, how could I have deliberately embarrassed my cousin?"
Rong Chifang stopped talking to her. Bai Hua was sharp-tongued and spoke without thinking, so continuing would only make her suffer.
Bai Hua held Rong Chifang's hand and added, "Cousin, just stay at Duyuan in peace. Even if it doesn't work out tomorrow, we still have the day after tomorrow and the day after that. There are so many handsome young men in the capital. I can always find a match for you. Even if I give birth and finish my postpartum period, as long as you take good care of me, there's no rush to go back to Jiling. There's plenty of time."
Rong Chifang was naturally moved, but after thinking for a moment, she sighed and said, "Actually, it's not easy for two people to find love and get along. Perhaps my destined marriage is in Jiling. In the end, human effort can't defy fate. I take this matter very lightly."
Bai Hua then spoke up, "I believe that human will cannot defy the will of Heaven, but how can we know that Heaven will not make my cousin leave Jiling and go to a higher and farther place? I believe in the will of Heaven, and I also believe that my cousin will eventually get what she wants."
These words deeply moved Rong Chifang, and her usually calm heart was stirred with unusual emotion.
She craned her neck to gaze into the distance through the window, seeing the boundless horizon, the treetops beyond which lay mountain peaks, and beyond those peaks, mist and haze. The world outside was so vast…
After a long pause, Rong Chifang came to her senses, breathed a sigh of relief, and spoke again: "Alright, then let's... see what fate has in store."
...
After dinner, Bai Hua and Ning Jue sat facing each other in their bedroom, discussing how to make specific arrangements for their cousin and Kong Pingsheng's meeting the next day.
When it comes to matchmaking, Bai Hua is eloquent in her words, but when it comes to actually doing it, she's completely clueless.
Previously, when Bai Hua took her cousin to see a civil official, it was her sister-in-law Zhu Xijun who was in charge of matchmaking. Bai Hua didn't really take charge at all. This time, it was the couple's turn to act as matchmakers. Neither of them had any experience, so at first, they were completely at a loss.
The two looked at each other for a long time, neither of them able to come up with a good solution first.
After a short while, Ning Jue took the initiative to suggest, "Why don't we just lay it all out at the dinner table and talk things out directly?"
Upon hearing this, Bai Hua couldn't help but glare at him and disagreed, saying, "Do you think this is about reconciling accounts? And that it's better to discuss things evenly? We have to consider my cousin's feelings in this matter, and we also need to maintain control of the situation."
Ning Jue asked, "What initiative?"
Bai Hua had her own ulterior motives. She asked Ning Jue, "When you invited him, did you let Young Master Kong guess your intentions? Because you are not usually very warm to people, your sudden invitation is quite suspicious."
Ning Jue thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, "Probably not. But even if Kong Pingsheng guessed it, so what? We're doing him a good deed by arranging his marriage; we're not cheating or deceiving him."
Bai Hua explained the situation to Ning Jue: "If Young Master Kong guesses the purpose of our invitation, he will inevitably pay more attention to Cousin when he comes, and he may even act unnaturally. I want Cousin to understand his true nature, so it is best not to reveal our intentions. Also, if Cousin really likes him, we can naturally speak frankly later. But if she doesn't like him, we can just ask Young Master Kong to leave after dinner. This will save trouble, avoid arguments, and prevent any awkwardness for either of us."
Ning Jue understood and said with a smile, "You're quite shrewd, but to be fair, this is a bit domineering towards Kong Pingsheng. He was chosen without even realizing it, which is really pitiful."
Bai Hua didn't take it seriously and defended her family, saying, "I'll naturally speak my mind on my own turf. Besides, my cousin is good enough for him. In the unlikely event that he's unwilling... I don't want to see my cousin suffer, so it's best to take a roundabout approach."
Ning Jue pondered for a moment and said, "I will listen to you on this matter. Although I appreciate Kong Pingsheng, I will still side with you when it comes to the issue."
Bai Hua raised an eyebrow and snorted: "Or do you want to side with outsiders?"
Ning Jue smiled, his eyebrows and eyes curving into a smile, and immediately began to coax her, saying, "No, no, I wouldn't dare. Please understand, Madam."
Knowing that he was deliberately teasing her, Bai Hua raised her hand and slapped his chest. It was hard and her hand hurt. It didn't feel like punishing him, but rather like punishing herself.
Withdrawing her hand, Bai Hua had an idea and said seriously, "How about... we let the two of them meet privately before dinner? Not in a pre-arranged way, but so that they misunderstand it as a coincidence. That way, there won't be any third pair of eyes watching them, and perhaps the two of them can chat more easily and get closer to each other."
Ning Jue thought for a moment and said, "That's an idea. Your cousin knows the purpose of Kong Pingsheng's visit, but Kong Pingsheng doesn't know your cousin. In this way, she is in the dark, while Kong Pingsheng is in the light. This is what Hua'er meant by gaining the initiative."
Bai Hua nodded, replying with great pride, "I have certainly thought things through thoroughly. Whether the two of us are destined to be together remains to be seen tomorrow. There is only so much that others can do, but I think there is about a 60-70% chance."
Ning Jue: "Sixty or seventy percent, that's not very high."
Bai Hua: "When my cousin was asked to do the first two things, I estimated that she had a 40% chance of getting a match."
Ning Jue: "Then there's still some hope this time."
Bai Hua yawned lazily and stretched her arms. She had been feeling tired lately, and now that she had been thinking about her cousin for a while and sitting for a little too long, she couldn't help but feel aches in her back.
She supported her lower back with one hand and tried to get up.
Ning Jue quickly got up before her and stood behind her to help her up.
The two walked hand in hand toward the bed.
Once on the couch, Ning Jue told Bai Hua to lie down on her side, while he sat beside her and patiently massaged her lower back to relieve the soreness and fatigue.
Bai Hua lay on the pillow, comfortably closing her eyes, her brow relaxed in contentment, and murmured softly, "I'm a little sleepy."
Ning Jue didn't stop moving. After observing her expression and knowing what pressure was most comfortable, he served her even more considerately and attentively.
"Go to sleep. I'll massage you for a while longer. You won't feel sore when you wake up tomorrow."
"My husband is so good."
Ning Jue raised an eyebrow, her tone rising as she said, "You only realize that now?"
Bai Hua smiled, her eyes still closed, her tone full of happiness: "I knew it all along."
...
The following day, Kong Pingsheng was invited to Duyuan Garden.
After entering, a servant led him to the hexagonal pavilion in the corridor and gestured for him to sit for a while.
Kong Pingsheng was somewhat puzzled and asked, "Aren't you going to look for the young master?"
The servant replied, "Madam has summoned the master. Please wait here for a moment, esteemed guest."
Kong Pingsheng had no suspicions. A maidservant served him hot tea and filled a cup. He sat on a stone stool and drank it slowly, patiently waiting for his summons.
A short while later, a gentle-looking woman in a light yellow dress walked gracefully down the corridor and happened to run into him. The woman looked at him with a blank and unfamiliar expression. Kong Pingsheng immediately stood up politely, bowed, and took the initiative to introduce himself to her.
"Greetings, Madam. I am a clerk in the General's mansion. Today, I have been invited by the young master to a banquet at Duyuan Garden."
The other person seemed to be subtly sizing him up. After listening to his words, she lowered her eyes and bowed slightly, introducing herself as, "I am Madam Ning's cousin. I came to Du Garden to take care of things. I've come to greet you, young master."
After saying that, she actually sat down in the pavilion.
Kong Pingsheng suddenly felt a little nervous, unsure of the other party's intentions. He hesitated and looked over, his eyes filled with a daze.
He instinctively exchanged pleasantries: "So you're Miss Cousin."
Rong Chifang sat down, smoothed her skirt, looked up at the sound, and smiled at him, saying, "I just strolled around the back garden for a while and got a little thirsty. I would like to ask for a cup of tea here, sir. I wonder if you would allow me?"
Kong Pingsheng had little experience with young ladies, and he replied somewhat blankly, "There's no reason not to, please do as you please."
Rong Chifang reached for the teapot, and Kong Pingsheng, being perceptive enough, immediately stood up and helped pour the tea.
"No need to trouble yourself, I can do it myself."
"I'll do it."
Respect is not as good as obedience.
As Rong Chifang took the tea from the other person, she drank it while subtly glancing at them.
As Hua'er had described, Young Master Kong was handsome and had a naturally masculine and heroic appearance. He was very capable in his every move, and he was indeed very different from the refined civil officials she had met before.
Rong Chifang was not unfamiliar with martial arts practitioners. Her family had once run a sword hall, and most of the disciples had met her. However, there was a great difference between swordsmen and military generals. She had heard that Young Master Kong was determined to defend the border, wearing armor to protect his country. Thus, the aura of a military general was very fitting for him.
It wouldn't be accurate to say he was a stranger; to be more precise, my first impression of him was that he was a very reliable and upright person.
She admitted that no other man had ever given her this feeling so directly, not even her father or brother.
Rong Chifang was lost in thought, forgetting that she had been staring at him for a while. It wasn't until Kong Pingsheng noticed her gaze and coughed awkwardly that she finally snapped out of it and awkwardly looked away.
She used drinking water as a cover-up.
Seeing her like this, Kong Pingsheng also took a sip of tea.
The atmosphere between the two was a little awkward. Rong Chifang knew why the two had met, so she was somewhat prepared. As for Kong Pingsheng, he was completely unaware of the situation and ended up drinking tea at the same table with a young and beautiful girl.
He was not a talkative person to begin with, and was now at a loss for words. He looked in the direction the servant had just left, hoping that the servant would return quickly so that he could be summoned to Young Master Ning's presence soon.
After a moment of silence, Rong Chifang spoke up again: "Young Master Kong looks very young, and seems to be younger than me."
Kong Pingsheng was surprised that the other party suddenly spoke up, but he still replied readily: "I am already twenty-two years old, so I should be older than you, young lady."
Twenty-two...
It turns out she's two years older than me; I really can't tell.
Rong Chifang: "Appearances often don't match one's actual age. I originally thought you were under twenty."
Kong Pingsheng looked at her and guessed, "Is the young lady twenty years old this year?"
Rong Chifang was taken aback, then nodded with a hint of embarrassment, saying, "Young master guessed correctly. I just celebrated my birthday last month."
Seeing her blush, Kong Pingsheng thought he had offended her, so he quickly looked away and apologized, "It was really impolite of me to guess your age, but you just guessed that I was under twenty, so I just asked. I hope you won't take offense."
Rong Chifang generously replied, "How could that be? We're about the same age. We can just sit and chat like friends. There's no need for so many reservations. If you have any other questions for me, please feel free to ask."
Hearing her words, Kong Pingsheng did relax a lot, but then he wondered what else he should ask her.
The two had just met and were not familiar with each other at all. Given the need for propriety between men and women, it seemed inappropriate for him to inquire about anything else.
Thinking of this, Kong Pingsheng touched the tip of his nose and said cautiously, "Please ask me first, young lady. I will answer any questions you may have."
Rong Chifang covered her mouth and smiled, finding it quite rare that the other person, despite his heroic demeanor, also possessed a touch of simple-minded clumsiness.
She really did have a question she wanted to ask, and since the other party was willing to give her a clear answer, she didn't have any extra reservations about asking.
Rong Chifang cut to the chase, saying directly, "I want to ask you, were you disappointed after seeing me? Even just a little bit."
"What?" Kong Pingsheng didn't react for a moment, his eyes full of confusion.
Rong Chifang didn't want to beat around the bush, so she asked in more detail: "What do you think of my personality?"
Kong Pingsheng was still dazed, and answered instinctively, "Okay."
Rong Chifang then asked, "What about his appearance? Does he suit your taste? You can just tell me, it's okay."
this……
Kong Pingsheng was speechless. He was completely stunned upon hearing this, his mouth slightly open, but he couldn't say anything.
Rong Chifang tilted her head and looked at him, still patiently waiting for his answer.
Kong Pingsheng was so nervous that his palms were sweating, and he was extremely anxious, but he didn't know what to say.
After a long while, he finally figured it out. The conversation just now... Could it be that the girl in yellow was looking for a husband, and mistakenly thought he was looking for her?
Realizing this, Kong Pingsheng blushed even more awkwardly.
Just as he was thinking about how to explain, the other party suddenly sighed, his eyes showing a hint of disappointment, and said, "Alright, young master, there's no need to be so blunt. I know you don't think much of me, so I'll leave now and won't take up any more of your time."
"Wait!" Kong Pingsheng quickly stopped her, not wanting to delay her business. "I think, I think there might be a misunderstanding..."
Rong Chifang interrupted him and asked, "Misunderstanding? Does the young master mean that you actually have feelings for me, and that I misunderstood your intentions?"
"I……"
Kong Pingsheng was naturally going to say no, but when he looked at the girl's expectant eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say anything hurtful.
But they don't value him, so even if he thinks it's good, he has no right to express his opinion.
Author's Note: [Sprinkling flowers]
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