Chapter 4 Chapter 4 How about I arrange a marriage for you?
It is not difficult to find a picture album of handsome men, but the difficult part is how to make Nan Xu take a look at him.
Mother Lu is quite eloquent and praised the boy in the album as unique in the world.
But Nan Xu didn't buy it.
She lazily stroked the embroidered tiger cat Jinqiu squatting on her knees and asked only one question, "How does it compare to Li Zhan?"
Mother Lu was so confused that she didn't know how to respond.
Mother Lu smiled bitterly. How many people in Kyoto City could compare with Li Zhan?
She picked up the golden ball and handed it to the maid beside her. She opened the album of handsome men and placed it in front of Nan Xu. "Although he can't compare to Master Li, he's not bad either. Just take a look at him for fun. Even if you don't like him, you can still recognize him when you go out for social events. Maybe he'll come in handy in the future. Why not?"
Mother Lu firmly believes that some destinies may seem impossible at the moment, but as long as you try to make contact, there will be a day when they will come to fruition.
For more than ten years, Nan Xu has not accepted anyone other than Li Zhan. Maybe even Nan Xu doesn't know what kind of man is more suitable for her.
As long as Nan Xu is willing to take a look, there is no need to worry about not finding love.
Nan Xu was still lazily, raising her water onion-like fingers to tease the golden ball from a distance.
Mother Lu stood in front of her persistently, separating herself from the figure of the golden ball.
"girl!"
She moved the album closer to Nan Xu.
It seemed as if she would not leave unless Nan Xu came to see her today.
Nan Xu held her forehead with her hand. She was more stubborn than Mother Lu, but she might not be more stubborn than her own mother.
I could only nod and say, "Let me take a look."
The album is not exquisite, but it has detailed content and the painting is skillful.
From three generations of ancestors to physical features, everything can be clearly seen at a glance. Even whether the person has ever stayed in a brothel or taken concubines is marked one by one.
Nan Xu became interested and forgot the time when he saw it.
When she rubbed her neck and looked up, she found someone looking at her with a smile.
"My sister-in-law is here, why didn't anyone tell me?"
Mother Lu had gone somewhere, and Yin Wu was sitting in an armchair beside her, drinking tea with a few pieces of bright cloth at hand.
Yin Wu waved his hand and said, "It's time to make summer clothes. I'll bring the material to you. It's me who told them not to disturb you." As he spoke, he walked closer and took a few glances at Nan Xu's hand.
"Ah Xu, do you have anyone you like?"
When she arrived, Mother Lu had not left yet, so she knew what the Marquis's wife was planning.
Nan Xu shook her head, closed the album, and said with a smile, "I wouldn't say I'm particularly fond of it, but I've learned a lot of things I hadn't noticed before."
For example, the third son of the Hai family, who was the chief academic officer of the Imperial College and was always a modest gentleman in front of others, once had a dispute with someone over an oiran.
For example, the second son of Minister Xu of the Ministry of Works, whom I had seen at a palace banquet before. Although he was not good-looking, he was very imposing. I didn't expect that he was a compulsive gambler.
There are so many of them, so many that I can’t pick one that I like.
Yin Wu got married early and had been with Nan Xu the longest, so she knew Nan Xu's preferences.
She pulled out the atlas and put it aside. She beckoned Nan Xu to come closer and whispered, "If you ask me, there are people who are better than Li Zhan in every way. It's just that you don't know it, Ah Xu."
Stronger than Li Zhan?
"Who is it?"
Yin Wu pretended to be mysterious and covered her lips with her hand.
"The new noble of the court today, Weiyangbo Duan Wenpei!"
he?
Nan Xu blinked, and the interest that had just been aroused gradually subsided.
"He captured my second brother, isn't he? I heard he's a cold-hearted, icy person. Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, many powerful people have fallen into his hands."
There are few good things about the rumors about Duan Wenpei out there.
It's not that he's ruthless and capricious, it's that he's cruel and ruthless, and there's also a rumor that he doesn't like women and is a man...
Rumors are unrestrained, but there is no smoke without fire.
Nan Xu really has no interest in this person.
Yin Wu looked at her expression and guessed what she was thinking.
He continued, "That's just too much! Last year, your eldest brother and I attended a banquet and happened to see this uncle. I saw that he was not an ordinary man, but he was a little cold, but he was not ignorant of etiquette."
"I also heard that this lady is an orphan. Just think about it, with such status, she doesn't even have a mother-in-law in the mansion. That must be..."
Yin Wu suddenly stopped and his face turned red.
Nan Xu lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly, pretending to know nothing.
"A Xu, look at how outspoken I am... I don't mean anything else." Yin Wu wanted to explain eagerly.
Nan Xu smiled faintly, picked up the teacup and gestured for Yin Wu to drink tea, "Sister-in-law, you worry too much. I have a bad memory."
Yin Wu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Mrs. Hou is a good mother-in-law, but the problem between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law has been a difficult problem since ancient times. The speaker may not mean it, but the listener may take it seriously.
Yin Wu sat for a while and was about to get up to say goodbye when he saw Mother Lu hurriedly opening the curtain and coming in.
Nan Xu rarely saw her look like this, so she asked her what was wrong.
When Mother Lu's breath slowed down a bit, she hurriedly said, "There's an imperial decree from the palace, specifically asking you to go and receive her. Go get ready, young lady."
*
In the palace.
An hour ago.
After the morning court session, Duan Wenpei waited outside Chongzheng Hall for the emperor to summon him.
The sun was at its zenith, and the sunlight was so bright that it was blinding. It shone on Duan Wenpei like a layer of fiery light, making the usually serious man seem somewhat approachable and warm.
The chief eunuch Guo Huai came out of the hall and invited him in with a smile on his face.
Walking around the nine-panel screen with black dragon pattern, Duan Wenpei saw Emperor Xuanwu who was working at his desk reviewing memorials.
Duan Wenpei lifted his robe and knelt to greet his majesty. "Your Majesty, I am Duan Wenpei. I have fulfilled my mission and have retrieved my certificate of immunity from death."
He held up the box in his hand, and Guo Huai, who was standing beside him, hurriedly took it and bowed to hand it to the dragon table.
The gold bricks shone brightly, reflecting Duan Wenpei's expressionless face, just like his upright body, without any bends or embellishments.
The emperor stopped writing, looked up, and called out "Duan Qing" with a slight smile.
Then he was offered a seat.
Opening the box, Emperor Xuanwu took out the iron certificate of immunity from death that he had long wanted to take back, and a look of joy appeared between his brows.
"Did Marquis Yong'an say anything?"
If the emperor wanted to take it back, what could the ministers say? Besides, Nan Yiling was still imprisoned at the time, so even if Yong'an Hou wanted to say something, he probably wouldn't dare.
Duan Wenpei recounted what happened that night, omitting the part about Marquis Yong'an wanting to marry his daughter off.
Emperor Xuanwu nodded, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry.
He looked at the iron certificate of immunity from death with great care, leaving Duan Wenpei aside. When he had looked enough, he told Guo Huai to put it away and suddenly asked, "Mr. Duan, is there a girl in the capital that you like?"
The emperor asked casually, and Duan Wenpei replied calmly, "Your Majesty, I haven't noticed it."
Emperor Xuanwu stood up and sat on the dragon couch not far away, with a look of self-blame on his face. "Speaking of which, I am also responsible. I was so focused on letting you share my worries that I forgot about your lifelong affairs."
"How about this, if you trust me, I can arrange a marriage for you."
This was the first time since Emperor Xuanwu ascended the throne that he asked about the marriage of his subjects.
He glanced at the ministers below him indifferently, and his tone did not sound like a question, but more like he was about to give an order immediately.
Duan Wenpei was slightly confused, somewhat unable to fathom the emperor's thoughts.
"I wonder whose girl your majesty is talking about."
Looking at Duan Wenpei's calm face, Emperor Xuanwu felt a little frustrated.
Compared with capable ministers, he prefers ministers who can be controlled by him.
Duan Wenpei's calmness sometimes made it difficult for him to suppress the murderous intent deep in his heart.
"Huaizhou, if you have other ideas, you can tell me."
Emperor Xuanwu's statement is ambiguous.
Duan Wenpei's expression remained normal. He straightened his back, met the emperor's eyes, and said in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant, "Your Majesty, I will accept your offer without hesitation."
There was a moment of silence in the Chongzheng Hall, and then Emperor Xuanwu burst into laughter.
Pointing at Duan Wenpei, he said to Guo Huai standing beside him, "Look, this is how a minister should be. Unlike those old-fashioned people, they are eager to refute me ten times after I say one thing."
Guo Huai smiled and said yes.
By the time the emperor had laughed enough, the imperial edict granting the marriage was ready.
Emperor Xuanwu walked up to Duan Wenpei with the imperial edict, and Duan Wenpei knelt down to receive it.
The emperor withdrew his hand and handed the imperial edict to Guo Huai.
"Mr. Duan, I won't tell you whose daughter this is yet. You'll understand once the imperial decree comes."
Duan Wenpei's broad shoulders, outlined by his crimson official robe, gave him a sense of awe. He leaned forward and bowed, his voice clear and distinct.
"Your Majesty, I bow to thank you for your grace."
*
In the Marquis' Mansion, when Nan Xu bathed and burned incense and arrived at the front hall, many people were already standing in front of the incense table.
At the front was Guo Huai, the imperial attendant.
"Congratulations, second young lady. Congratulations, second young lady."
As soon as he saw Nan Xu, his fair and beardless face broke into a smile and he kept congratulating him.
Nan Xu felt uncomfortable being stared at by him and turned slightly to the side.
The Marquis's wife felt strange, but did not dare to offend, so she quickly stood up and stood in front of Nan Xu, secretly handing her a purse from her sleeve.
"Manager Guo, could you please tell me where this joy comes from?"
It is not uncommon for a family like the Marquis' Mansion to inquire about the emperor's intentions before announcing the decree.
Guo Huai narrowed his eyes, weighed the weight of his purse, and whispered, "Don't worry, madam."
He then shook his whisk and began to read the imperial edict.
The content of the imperial edict was concise and to the point. It was not until the last two words "qinci" that Nan Xu looked at Guo Huai in a daze as he handed the imperial edict to her.
The color of the Emperor Minghuang was so sharp that it hurt people's eyes.
Nan Xu's heart skipped a beat, and she handed the imperial edict to the steward as if it were hot.
Guo Huai had already returned to the palace, and everyone came forward and surrounded Nan Xu, talking in a flurry.
"Congratulations, second sister. Even without Li Zhan, you've found a good marriage."
"Ah Xu, am I being too good-mouthed? How come the decree of marriage came as soon as I mentioned Wei Yangbo?"
"Second sister, this decree comes just in time."
"A Xu..."
"A Xu..."
Nan Xu looked at the mouth opening and closing and shook her head in a trance.
She felt a little ridiculous.
Why was she granted marriage to Wei Yangbo?
She and he are completely unrelated, so when would the emperor have the leisure to act as a matchmaker!
Nan Xu didn't know how he walked out of the front hall and how he returned to Xiefangyuan.
It was not until the moon reached its zenith and she looked out the window at the boundless night that she finally accepted the fact that she had been given a marriage.
But is this man really a good man?
*
The next day, all the information about Duan Wenpei was compiled into a book and placed in front of Nan Xu.
This isn't like a picture album of handsome men. You can take a look at it if you're happy, and throw it aside if you're unhappy.
Nan Xu looked at him for a moment, then suddenly threw herself into the Marquis's arms and said in a muffled voice, "Mother, can you not marry me?"
The Marquis's wife was filled with frustration, but she could only caress Nan Xu's head tenderly and comfort her softly, "The imperial decree has been issued, Ah Xu, you must not act recklessly."
Nan Xu lay in the Marquis's arms and refused to get up.
The imperial edict cannot be disobeyed, but she still felt a little unhappy.
She has always been convinced that a woman should marry a man with whom she loves each other. Even if they are not in love, they should still treat each other as equals and live in harmony and happiness.
Your Majesty has granted the marriage, if we don’t talk about her, how would we know that Wei Yangbo is willing?
In the future, when the two of them live in the same room, they will get tired of each other and become a couple of enemies. At that time, they will have no choice but to swallow their bitterness.
She didn't believe that God would be so harsh to her.
"Mother, please let your daughter meet Wei Yangbo."
The author has something to say:
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Thank you for the support from the comment section.
To be honest, I was quite nervous about starting this new article. I was afraid that it would be poorly written and would spoil everyone's interest.
I hope you enjoy watching it~
Ah Xu: Big cat, go ahead~
Duan Wenpei: Go!
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