Aunt Chen gave Sun Wanwan to the second son of the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies as a favor, in order to please the Minister. This would not only help her husband's career, but also allow her daughter, Chen Susu, to smoothly arrange a marriage between her and the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies' eldest son.
That's quite a clever plan.
As for what would happen to Sun Wanwan, she hadn't thought about it at all.
Anyway, she's not her daughter.
What does it matter to her whether she's doing well or not?
"Sister, I'm not exaggerating, but a noble family like the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies never intermarries with military officials."
"Don't let your brother-in-law's high position fool you; he's not exactly a rare person. But it's precisely because he's not rare that his upright and refined character is so apparent, isn't it?"
"Sister, don't you think that makes sense?"
Aunt Chen was eloquent, and Madam Sun was somewhat swayed by her words. "But I have already spoken with Madam Lu."
"You agreed on something? What did you agree on?"
"We didn't consult any fortune tellers or exchange any invitations. It was just a few jokes. It's her business, what does it have to do with you?"
"Sister, you haven't met the second son of the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies. His name is Jia Qingzhou, and he is affectionately known as Young Master Qingzhou. He is knowledgeable in poetry, literature, and etiquette, and is very refined and handsome."
"It's because I'm close to Madam Jia that I heard Young Master Qingzhou is not yet engaged, so I thought of Wanwan."
"Otherwise, how could such a good marriage have fallen into the hands of your Sun family?"
"Is it really that good?" Madam Sun was somewhat tempted.
She only has one daughter, Sun Wanwan. If there's someone better, of course she'd want her...
"Sister, I'm your own sister, would I ever harm you?" Aunt Chen glared at her, looking angry.
“I kindly suggested a good marriage to Wanwan, but since you are so suspicious of me, I’ll leave.”
After saying this, she called to her maids and servants to leave, but Madam Sun quickly stopped her.
“Good sister, that’s not what I meant. We came from the same mother’s womb. I can’t doubt you, no matter who else I’m doubting.”
"Hmph, you know that much. Let me tell you, it's only because you're my older sister that I'm leaving. Otherwise, I would have turned around and left long ago."
Seeing that Madam Sun's attitude had softened, Aunt Chen quickly pressed her advantage and told her about the Jia family's situation.
Even though it was a second-rate aristocratic family, the Jia family still had a large population, with more than a hundred people in total, including the direct descendants, illegitimate descendants, and collateral branches.
"It's so complicated..." Madam Sun hesitated.
She wanted to find a family with a simple background with Sun Wanwan.
"Sister, no wonder civil officials look down on the children of military officials. Look at your mind, is this what you call complicated? This is called profound knowledge, okay?"
"Why do you think those powerful and aristocratic families in the court look down on His Majesty's family?"
"Because they have a large population, they multiply for generations, even ten generations, and their influence spreads far and wide, so that their people are everywhere in the court, from top to bottom, and in every nook and cranny."
"Large families help and support each other. Even if His Majesty dismisses one, hey, look, the other positions are still held by members of their family."
At this point, Aunt Chen looked at Jiang Shuwan with a mixture of envy and jealousy.
"Look at the Pei family that Miss Jiang married into. The Pei family is a family with two noble members. Not long ago, the old lord lost the emperor's favor, and the lord's family was disgraced. But with a bloodline of the marquis's family in the court, who would dare to look down on the lord's family?"
That's true.
Although the old man had lost his mind, he went to a Taoist temple to cultivate himself.
However, with the Marquis's family as a blood relative, most families would still give the Earl's family some face.
Aunt Chen may be greedy and likes to take advantage of others, but she's not a fool...
Hearing Aunt Chen's words, Jiang Shuwan narrowed her eyes slightly.
Aunt Chen spoke with reason and evidence, displaying considerable insight and understanding, like a wise person.
He also acted as if he was entirely in Madam Sun's best interest; no wonder he was able to persuade Madam Sun in his previous life.
She just doesn't do human things.
They even harmed their own relatives.
She and Madam Sun were sisters born of the same mother, and Sun Wanwan was someone she watched grow up.
They were actually quite ruthless.
"Sister, if you don't believe me, ask Miss Jiang. Ask her if a civil official or a military official is better?"
Meanwhile, Aunt Chen was still trying to persuade Madam Sun, and she also managed to bring Jiang Shuwan down.
What a cunning old woman.
As is well known, Pei Yanzhi studied at the Imperial Academy and pursued a career as a civil servant.
If she said military officers were good, then why did she marry a scholar?
Praising civil officials is just pushing Sun Wanwan into a fire pit.
"Miss Jiang, oh no, Lady Jiang, do you think what I said is right?"
Seeing that Jiang Shuwan remained silent, Aunt Chen sat down next to her.
“Your Highness, I heard from Wanwan that you met her at the poetry gathering. You two have been sisters for so many years, you can’t just make things up.”
It's fine if Jiang Shuwan isn't here.
Since she's here, I have to act as her advocate.
Who told her to marry a prince who also pursued a career in civil service?
The heirs of noble families with military achievements all pursue careers as civil officials. With Jiang Shuwan as a ready example, she didn't believe that Madam Sun could remain unmoved.
As expected, Madam Sun was very tempted.
She wasn't interested at first.
After Aunt Chen's persuasive words, she truly hesitated and began to have other ideas.
Glancing at the changes in Madam Sun's expression, Jiang Shuwan smiled and twirled her teacup before finally speaking.
"It's not appropriate for a junior like me to interrupt when the two elders are talking. But since Aunt Chen has asked, I can only say that I don't know."
"You!" Aunt Chen was surprised that she could say she didn't know anything about this situation.
Jiang Shuwan blinked innocently, her face full of cunning. "Oh dear, Aunt, why are your eyes so wide, like copper bells? I really don't know. I'm a woman who stayed at home every day before I left my maiden home, and even after I got married, I stayed in the inner quarters of the Marquis's mansion. Aunt, you're asking which is better, a civil official or a military official? I really can't answer that. After all, in my limited knowledge, they all serve His Majesty. Are they really going to be divided into different ranks?"
yes!
We are all loyal to His Majesty, so why are military officers considered inferior?
Madam Sun's eyes immediately hardened.
She came from a family of military officers and disliked Aunt Chen's derogatory remarks about military generals.
"Ha, what do you know, you little girl? People are born into different classes, and military officers are one level below civil officers..."
"If that's the case, Jia Qingzhou, the second son of the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, is so good, why didn't Aunt introduce Cousin Susu to him? Susu is of marriageable age, isn't she..."
Aunt Chen couldn't help but roll her eyes.
The Jia family's resources were all used to pave the way for their eldest son. There was no question about the second son. How could she possibly marry her precious daughter to the second son of the Jia family?
Moreover, Jia Qingzhou, who always found beauty in books, did plenty of things to keep women company even though he failed the imperial examination...
Of course, now is not the time to think about that.
Aunt Chen slammed her hand on the table and stood up angrily. "Fine, so you're saying that if I don't recommend a good marriage to my daughter, it means I have ulterior motives?"
"Big sister, do you think so too? Ha, then I'm afraid no one will dare to come to your Sun family to propose marriage in the future. Every family has unmarried relatives!"
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