The panting maid took a deep breath and added hastily, "Also, my aunt is here too."
"Second Madam..." Nanny Yang looked at Second Madam Lu in embarrassment. Hua Xi's mother, Madam Hua, and the matchmaker had already come to the door, and they were accompanied by their aunt-in-law. If the Lu family just drove them away today, the happy event would inevitably be overshadowed. But if they let the matchmaker in easily, it would seem that the woman was too easy to fool.
Madam Lu thought about it and said firmly, "Please invite the person in."
So, Nanny Yang went out to welcome the distinguished guest in person.
After a while, Nanny Yang led three women to the main hall. The two women walking in front were both thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old. One was elegant and noble, and the other was plain and dignified. They were my aunt Hua and Madam Hua.
The woman behind the two men was about fifty years old. She was wearing a dark red jacket embroidered with cranes and Ganoderma lucidum patterns. The color was very festive, and there was an exaggerated smile on the corner of her lips. Anyone who saw her would know that she was the matchmaker hired by the Hua family.
Behind them, there was a row of old women, holding four boxes of small betrothal gifts and a pair of wooden geese as gifts.
The matchmaker was a man who could read people's expressions. He could tell that Mrs. Lu was unhappy, so he said some nice and festive words.
"Aunt, we are indeed being rude today." The first thing Mrs. Lu's sister-in-law, Mrs. Hua, said was to apologize. She asked Mrs. Hua and the matchmaker to stay in the main room for tea, while she took Mrs. Lu's hand and went to the side room to talk in private.
Facing the obviously unprepared Madam Lu, Hua apologized again: "Aunt, it was really urgent, so I decided to do it first and report later. The two families are not outsiders, so there is nothing to be ashamed of."
"Yesterday, Xi'er's mother went to the Taihe Temple to burn incense and ask for a fortune for this imperial examination."
"The abbot of the temple did a divination and said that today is the best day for the engagement ceremony, as it will bring good luck to my husband's family, especially to my brother Xi."
Hua smiled and put her arm around Mrs. Lu's shoulders, congratulating her: "Aunt, you will soon have a son-in-law who is the top scholar."
Madam Lu Er still had a stern face and said in a deep voice: "Sister-in-law, this is too hasty. If it gets out, people will laugh at it. Who knows, others might think that the daughter of our Lu family can't get married."
Normally, the wedding date is set so tight only when one is in a hurry to get married during the warm mourning period or for the purpose of bringing good luck.
Although she had a stern face, Mrs. Lu felt a little relieved, thinking that the Hua family must be trying to pray for a good omen for the imperial examination, which was why they were in a hurry to arrange the wedding.
The corners of Hua's lips froze for a moment, then he smiled again and said in a gentle voice: "Since it's a good thing, what's wrong with being a little anxious?"
"My eldest brother said that there is a vacancy for a centurion in the Shenji Camp, and he can take up the post in three days. I think it's better to be quick than slow, right?"
Shen Jiying?! Madam Lu's eyes lit up instantly, and the displeasure on her face gradually faded.
Everyone knows the importance of the Shenjiying. The Shenjiying reports directly to the emperor, which is much better than the Wujunying.
Although they are both sixth-rank centurions, the centurions of the Shenji Camp are also superior.
Madam Lu held Hua's hand and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law is so thoughtful. I would like to thank you on behalf of Brother Si."
The smile on Hua's face grew even wider, and she said, "Where's Miss Qin? Today is her big day."
A strange light flashed across Madam Lu's eyes, and she told Madam Yang as if nothing had happened, "Madam Yang, go and bring the third young lady over here, and ask her to dress up properly and not be disrespectful to others."
The last half of Mrs. Lu's words contained a hint of warning. Nanny Yang understood what she meant, agreed with a smile, and hurried to invite Lu Qin.
The aunt and sister-in-law returned to the main room and chatted and laughed with Madam Hua and the matchmaker. There was a joyous atmosphere and even the magpies in the courtyard were chirping non-stop.
Nanny Yang left quickly and came back quickly, looking embarrassed. She walked to the second Madam Lu who was sitting at the top of the table and whispered in her ear, "Second Madam, the third girl refused to come. She said she didn't want to get married."
After a pause, she continued, "The maid from the third lady's place said that she didn't sleep all night last night..."
The smile on Mrs. Lu's lips suddenly disappeared, and her brows furrowed deeply. She felt that she had really spoiled her daughter in the past. On such an important occasion as today, her daughter actually embarrassed her in public.
Although Hua Shi didn't hear what Nanny Yang said, she could see something from Madam Lu's expression and said with a smile, "Aunt, this little girl is very shy, that's the truth."
Hua and Mrs. Hua exchanged glances, and Mrs. Hua said kindly, "Yes, we will go over to see her later, and it will be the same."
"..." Madam Lu's fair, delicate and rosy hands tightly grasped a handkerchief, her eyes uncertain.
She knew that her daughter was not thin-skinned at all, but was fooled by those people with ulterior motives.
In the past, she could treat her daughter as young and indulge her daughter's willfulness, but her daughter would soon marry into the Hua family as a daughter-in-law. Would she still be so willful after getting married? ! The husband's family would not spoil a daughter-in-law like this! My daughter must come! Madam Lu ordered Madam Yang again: "Go and invite her again."
She signaled to Madam Yang with her eyes that she must "invite" Lu Qin to come even if she had to use threats or bribes!
After a while, Lu Qin, wearing a pink dress, came down accompanied by Nanny Yang. Her little face was tense and her body was stiff, exuding an aura of rejection.
"This must be Miss Lu San." The matchmaker smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits. "She is so pretty, and looks so blessed."
"I think you've lost weight." Madam Hua said with a bit of heartache, pulling Lu Qin to her side affectionately, looking very kind, "Little girl, you should eat more."
Lu Qin looked at Madam Hua with a complicated look.
When she first met Madam Hua at Baiyun Temple, she had a good impression of her. She remembered that her grandmother had told her that when a girl is looking for a husband, it is more important for her mother-in-law to like her than for her husband's family to like her. In addition, she had a good impression of Hua Xi, so she agreed to the marriage.
However, no matter how good this marriage seemed, she had no intention of betting or gambling on it.
After Lu Qin paid her respects to Madam Hua, Madam Hua took out a purse from her sleeve pocket, thrust it into her hand with a bit of force, and said enthusiastically, "Miss Lu San, you and I hit it off right away. It seems like our fate in our previous life."
"Ah..." Lu Qin felt a sharp pain in the palm of her hand where a purse was stuffed, and she frowned and cried out in surprise.
"Ouch." Madam Hua also cried out, "Your hand is bleeding."
She took the purse back from Lu Qin, frowned at it, and said apologetically: "It's all because my embroiderer was too careless. She actually left the needle on the purse. When I get back, I will punish her!"
Madam Hua casually handed the purse to the accompanying nanny, and then took off a jade bracelet from her wrist and put it on Lu Qin's wrist herself.
Lu Qin could only thank Madam Hua, and her maid hurriedly helped her clean the wound on her palm.
Hua gave the matchmaker a wink, and the matchmaker happily told her about the auspicious omen of marriage from Taihe Temple...
After a simple ceremony, the engagement ceremony was completed.
Madam Hua and others did not stay long and left without having lunch. Only Madam Lu and Lu Qin and her daughter were left in the room.
Lu Qin held this anger in her heart for a while. When she saw that no one else was around, she said unhappily, "Mom, I told you yesterday that I don't agree with this marriage."
"If you insist on doing it, I will tell grandma!"
Since becoming a widow, Mrs. Lu has lived in Jingxin Temple all year round to worship Buddha and rarely took care of household affairs.
Mrs. Lu thought that her son had a job and her daughter had a marriage, and she felt that today was a double happiness. She was in a good mood, but when she heard that her daughter was so disobedient to her, she immediately flew into a rage.
“Bang!”
Madam Lu slammed her palm heavily on the tea table, causing the teacup and fruit plate on the table to tremble a few times. The cherries on the fruit plate rolled to the ground like pearls that had been cut off from their strings...
"Enough, Lu Qin, is that how you talk to your mother?!" Madam Lu Er was so angry that her face turned blue. She shouted at her daughter by her full name, thinking that her daughter was too ignorant.
"You clearly agreed to this marriage yourself, and no one put a knife to your neck at the beginning. Now you change your mind every day, sometimes you want to get married, and sometimes you don't want to get married. What girl is like you!"
"How dare you use your grandmother to pressure me?!"
"Even if your grandmother knew, she would stand on my side! Marriage is a union of two families, but you, the two families have already exchanged engagement letters, and you broke off the engagement at that time, are you trying to make the Bo family and the Hua family enemies?"
"You, you were led astray by that Miss Gu, and your temper has become so unruly!"
Madam Lu became more and more agitated as she scolded. Nanny Yang looked at Madam Lu worriedly, then at Lu Qin. She wanted to persuade them but didn't know how. Both mother and daughter were stubborn.
When Lu Qin heard her mother say that she had agreed to the marriage, she felt a little ashamed. But when her mother criticized Gu Yanfei, Lu Qin frowned deeply and retorted:
"Mom, please don't misinterpret Yan Fei's good intentions!"
"I agreed to the marriage before, but when I picked a fruit and took a bite, I realized it was rotten and full of worms. Are you forcing me to swallow the rotten fruit instead of spitting it out?"
When Mrs. Lu Er heard her daughter compare the Hua family to rotten fruit, she became even angrier and said sternly, "Look at you, what are you saying! You are clearly blinded by lard!"
"Someone, come and drag the third girl away..."
Several old women guarding outside heard the noise and came towards Lu Qin.
Lu Qin only regretted not bringing a handy weapon. He held his neck high, stood straight, and said, "If anyone dares to touch me, don't blame me for being rude!"
Her dizziness became even worse, and her throat felt burning. It felt like there was fire burning her when she spoke, and she felt extremely uncomfortable.
Forget it, there’s no way she can convince her mother anyway, so she might as well go to Jingxin Temple to find her grandmother.
The maids dared not disobey Madam Lu's order and continued to approach Lu Qin.
One of the maids reached out to grab Lu Qin, saying, "Third Miss, please don't make things difficult for me..."
Instead, Lu Qin quickly grabbed the old woman's wrist and pushed her, causing the two old women to collide with each other.
Lu Qin took advantage of their moment of distraction and rushed out of the house...
This scene completely angered Mrs. Lu Er, and her voice became even sharper: "Stop her!"
Lu Qin, who had already rushed to the gate, felt a blur in front of his eyes and the world was spinning. It seemed as if all the strength in his body was drained away, and he staggered.
A maid hurriedly grabbed Lu Qin's hand and tried to persuade her: "Third Miss..."
She wanted to persuade him, but before she could finish her words, she saw Lu Qin's eyes rolled up and he fell straight down.
"Third girl!"
The other maids and servants nearby also saw it and screamed out. Two servants supported the fallen Lu Qin. Even Madam Lu II shouted "Sister Qin" worriedly and ran towards her daughter, calling her daughter's name over and over again with a trembling voice.
"Second Madam, the third girl fainted. She has a fever!"
"Quick, go get the doctor!"
"Hurry up and carry the third girl into the inner room..."
As Lu Qin fainted, there was chaos inside and outside the house.
Lu Qin developed a high fever, so she consulted a doctor and took some medicine, but the fever still persisted.
The next day, her fever not only did not subside, but it got worse and worse, and she fell into a coma.
Wei Jiaoniang was extremely anxious because she had not received any news from Lu Qin. As the day for the Hua family to get engaged was approaching, she simply went to the Chang'an Earl's Mansion. Only then did she know that Lu Qin was ill, and very seriously ill, and the Lu family had already hired many doctors.
Wei Jiaoniang was worried about Lu Qin, so she went to Gu Mansion in person and asked Gu Yanfei to go to Chang'an Marquis Mansion with her.
Wei Jiaoniang would come to play with Lu Qin every now and then. She came so often that the doorman of the Bo Mansion was familiar with her and directly asked the maid to take her and Gu Yanfei to Lu Qin's yard.
Madam Lu was also there. She looked more haggard than she was two days ago, with faint dark shadows in her eye sockets. It was obvious that she did not get enough rest last night.
When she saw Wei Jiaoniang, Madam Lu greeted her politely, "Jiaoniang, you came specially to visit Sister Qin, which is thoughtful of you."
"Aunt, how is Ah Qin?" Wei Jiaoniang asked with concern, "I heard from the concierge that she has a high fever."
"She caught a cold in the night wind the night before and developed a fever. The doctor at Huichun Hall has already prescribed medicine for her and she has taken three doses of the medicine," Madam Lu forced a smile, "but the fever hasn't subsided yet and she is asleep inside."
"It's no problem."
She looked a little tired, but she was not too worried about her daughter. After all, everyone has headaches and fevers from time to time.
Of course, she also saw Gu Yanfei with Wei Jiaoniang. Seeing that she was a rare beauty with a beautiful face, she took a closer look. She also felt that the girl looked familiar, so she asked casually, "Who is this girl..."
Wei Jiaoniang introduced Gu Yanfei in a very generous manner, saying, "This is the second daughter of the Gu family..."
Mrs. Lu, who had just been smiling, turned dark in an instant when she heard the words "Second Miss Gu". Her face seemed to be stained with ink, and she said in a cold tone, "So it's Miss Gu."
She made this simple sentence sound sarcastic.
No wonder she felt that this girl looked familiar. It turned out that she looked like the former wife of Marquis Dingyuan, Mrs. Xie.
After that, Mrs. Lu didn't say much. She led the two girls towards the inner room in silence.
The inner room was filled with a strong smell of medicine, the windows were closed and the light was a little dim.
Lu Qin was lying on a rosewood bed with a soft gauze bed curtain that looked like sky blue after rain. The large bed made the girl under the quilt look even more petite and delicate. Her face was pale, and her fan-like eyelashes covered her white cheeks.
When Gu Yanfei saw Lu Qin lying unconscious on the bed, his pupils twitched slightly and he was stunned.
After a while, she suddenly asked, "Is the Hua family here to let Xiao Ding go?"
She used a questioning tone, but her expression was quite firm.
Putting on a small engagement means engagement, which also means that the marriage between a man and a woman is basically confirmed and there is a covenant.
What?! Wei Jiaoniang was shocked when she heard this, and subconsciously looked at Mrs. Lu Er, "Aunt?"
There was a hint of questioning in her shocked expression.
"..." Madam Lu's eyes wandered for a moment, and she found it difficult to look directly at Wei Jiaoniang.
Early yesterday morning, when the wife of the Prince of Weiguo came to see her, she personally promised the other party that she would investigate the Hua family and Hua Xi again. However, the Hua family came with a matchmaker to arrange the engagement that day, and she agreed.
However, Madam Lu only felt guilty for a moment, and then she straightened her chest as if it was a matter of course.
Lu Qin is his biological daughter, so her marriage is naturally decided by him and her father. Now that they, as parents, have agreed to the marriage, why should he ask outsiders for their opinions? !
Although she thought so in her heart, Madam Lu II did not intend to offend the Duke of Wei's Mansion. She was still very polite to Wei Jiaoniang and said, "Jiaoniang, I know you care about Miss Qin. Don't worry, I have asked someone to find out about it. The second son of the Hua family has good character, good knowledge, and everything else."
These words sound like perfunctory and polite remarks.
When Wei Jiaoniang accompanied Lu Qin back to the mansion the day before yesterday, she had heard too much of what Mrs. Lu said, and she didn't want to go around in circles with her anymore, so she turned around and asked Gu Yanfei, "Yanfei, what do you think?"
Gu Yanfei lowered his eyes and looked at Lu Qin lying on the bed. Her eyes were closed and she was motionless. The skin on her cheeks was like white porcelain stained with rouge. She looked so peaceful as if she was just asleep.
"It should be not only the small engagement ceremony, but also..." Gu Yanfei narrowed his eyes slightly, forced his spiritual power into his eyes, and stared at Lu Qin deeply for a moment, "Moreover, she also lost her essence, blood, and soul, so she is unconscious."
"Ah Qin is not sick."
Gu Yanfei's last words were almost a sigh.
"..." Wei Jiaoniang's face turned pale and lost its blood color. Her heart felt as if something was grabbing it and she looked at Gu Yanfei helplessly.
"Second Miss Gu, my daughter is clearly ill." Madam Lu frowned unhappily, but her tone was restrained as she ordered them to leave. "Sister Qin needs to have a good rest. You have also seen her, so don't disturb her rest."
Mrs. Lu felt that Gu Yanfei was really raised wrongly. She was a good girl, but was raised like a country witch.
Gu Yanfei stood beside the bed as if he hadn't heard anything. He lowered his eyes and looked at Lu Qin for a moment, then sighed.
She suddenly moved, untied the white jade bracelet that she had bought the day before, and grabbed Lu Qin's burning right hand from under the quilt...
Qingguang: Please give me a guaranteed monthly ticket~
(End of this chapter)
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