The old lady sighed and asked how the matchmaking task she had been given last time was going.
Jiang Shuwan quickly reported the information about the people she had recently been interested in.
"Grandma, my cousin is renowned for her talent and comes from a prominent family in Luoyang. Before I could even speak, many ladies had already inquired about her. They are all quite interested in her, but her family background is a bit inferior."
As she spoke, she handed over a piece of ink-stained paper.
It was still her scrawled handwriting, but the old lady didn't mind at all.
"These candidates do come from less prestigious families, but they are all from respectable scholarly backgrounds, and their official ranks of the fourth grade are not low. Hmm, there are even sons of officials of the third grade?"
The old lady was somewhat surprised when she saw the list.
Although Liu Yunyan is a renowned talented woman, nowadays, families of certain social standing rarely judge people solely on their personalities and disregard their family background.
As for family background, it's not that being born into a prestigious family makes it easy to get married. Others also need to consider whether the men in your family are capable and competent.
Liu Yunyan's stepson is still young. Even with the support of the Marquis's mansion, it will be difficult for the Liu family to return to its former glory in ten or twenty years. In addition, with the scoundrels and ruffians from the collateral branches, the entire Liu family has fallen into dire straits.
Now, the fact that a third-rank official is willing to get engaged to Liu Yunyan is undoubtedly true love.
"Reporting to the old lady, this is the eldest son of the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He is the same age as the heir and is also a promising scholar. He passed the provincial examination this year and will participate in the imperial examination in February. I have heard that he is of upright character and has the demeanor of a gentleman."
“The Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices? So it was him. Three years ago, I went to his house for a banquet. His mother asked him to come out and pay his respects. The young man was handsome and had an extraordinary temperament. He was immediately noticed by a marquis lady who wanted to be engaged to her second daughter. However, he said that he wanted to focus on his studies and would only consider marriage after passing the imperial examinations.”
"I heard that after he passed the imperial examination, his doorstep was worn down by suitors, but he still refused, saying that he would only propose marriage after he passed the imperial examination. I didn't expect that it wasn't the timing of the marriage proposal that was wrong, but the person who proposed it that was wrong."
Madam Pei smiled as she spoke, clearly very pleased with the eldest son of the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
“Mama Chang, go to Yun’s courtyard and ask her if she is willing. If she is, arrange a time to meet her. Although the Liu family’s current social standing is not as high as that of the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, I will not let her marry into a poor family and be looked down upon.”
Mother Chang hurriedly accepted the order and went off, but returned looking embarrassed.
“Grandma, as soon as I brought up the marriage proposal, Miss Biao said she was feeling unwell, with aches and pains all over. So I came back early. How about we talk to her again tomorrow when she’s feeling better?”
"Hmph! She's just faking being sick!"
Madam Pei slammed her fist on the table in exasperation, her temples throbbing with anger.
"Please calm down, ma'am." Jiang Shuwan quickly massaged her to make the old lady feel more comfortable.
"Oh, what a tragedy!" the old lady sighed, then said to Jiang Shuwan, "Wan'er, you should work a little harder and help her look for something better. If you find someone better, maybe she'll be willing."
"Okay." Jiang Shuwan nodded silently.
Then they talked about Pei Yunzhou's marriage.
Since ancient times, it has been more common for people to marry off their daughters with their heads held high, and to take in a wife with their
Pei Yunzhou's marriage prospects are much more difficult than Liu Yunyan's. Liu Yunyan is a woman, making it easier for her to marry, and she also has a reputation for talent.
Although Pei Yunzhou now holds the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations), he is actually just a martial arts student at the martial arts academy.
He had no title to inherit, and the Wen family was picky, making it even more difficult for him to find a wife.
Not to mention the entire Marquis's mansion. Apart from some people who were popular within the old emperor's faction, everyone else wished for the mansion's downfall and would never be willing to form a marriage alliance with it.
There were some lowly officials who wanted to curry favor, but their positions were too low and they were too scheming, so the Wen family would never take them seriously, and Jiang Shuwan was not recorded in the register.
Even so, she still managed to find some women.
Although she came from a poor family and was not particularly outstanding, her father and brothers held some power, and she was well-educated, intelligent, and beautiful.
"Good child, you are thoughtful."
Madam Pei's eyes lit up.
“I know it’s hard to find a husband for Yunzhou, but I didn’t expect you to be able to find these families.”
She was clearly very satisfied.
"I dare not accept the old lady's praise. It is all thanks to the young master. Although he has offended many people by managing the new commercial tax, there are also many officials from humble backgrounds in the court who look at him with new respect."
"I heard that my uncle wants to learn martial arts and go to the border to serve the country. I admire him even more and am very willing to marry him. In particular, this Vice Minister of Revenue is a position that was filled after the previous Vice Minister of Revenue died."
"He is now the Crown Prince's superior. I also asked the Crown Prince, and I heard that this official is public-spirited and upright, and his family has a clean and honest style. He was not given important positions before because he was inflexible."
"His Majesty's favor is also due to his high regard for us. Although our family's circumstances are somewhat poor compared to the Marquis's mansion, I think it doesn't matter. Why should a family like ours care about dowry?"
"Good, good, good!" Old Madam Pei said "good" three times in a row.
“You’re right. For a family like ours to focus on a few taels of dowry would be short-sighted.”
"Tell your wife this immediately, and say that I am very satisfied. If she is willing, find a time to invite the other party over for tea to discuss the engagement."
Jiang Shuwan immediately took care of it.
Then, she was kicked out of the Wen family as soon as she entered their house.
"You vile woman! How vicious you are!"
"Your own family background is not good, so you want to find a poor family for my son!"
"She's an illegitimate daughter!"
"Do you really think my son can't find a wife? You're sending all sorts of lowly women into his house. Get out! I don't agree to this marriage!"
Hearing the angry curses coming from inside, Jiang Shuwan couldn't help but laugh in anger.
What does it matter whether you're a concubine's daughter or a legitimate daughter? Nowadays, women don't have inheritance rights, and anyone with a clear head wouldn't care whether you're a concubine's daughter or a legitimate daughter.
If the legitimate daughter's father and brothers are not supportive, no one will listen to her no matter how much she boasts.
If a concubine's daughter has a capable father or brother, a good relationship with her family, and her family is willing to help her, isn't she better than a so-called legitimate daughter?
“Madam, although this young lady is a concubine’s daughter, she is quite accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and her character, talent and appearance are also excellent. She is highly regarded by the Vice Minister at home.”
“If Madam is worried about her family’s modest circumstances, there is no need to worry. With the Marquis’s mansion here, her brother-in-law will not be deprived of food and drink. Whatever kind of life he is living now, he will continue to live the same way in the future.”
"The old lady also said that it doesn't matter if the dowry is meager. We will take care of everything and won't let the lady lose face."
"Furthermore, the Vice Minister also greatly admires my uncle, and they genuinely wish to form a marriage alliance with our Marquis's family."
Jiang Shuwan patiently tried to persuade her, but Wen Shi became increasingly angry the more she listened.
"Of course he wanted to!"
"What a load of bull! There's the Left Vice Minister in the middle, and the Minister of Revenue above him. It sounds like he's a third-rank official, but in reality, he doesn't have much power. He's just being bossed around by his superiors all day long."
"If he is like this, how can he help my son?"
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