Chapter 330 Engagement
When Qiu Heng arrived at Qian Song Tang, she happened to meet the matchmaker who had come to propose marriage at the courtyard gate.
The matchmaker, who was in her forties, was dressed in bright clothes with a red flower in her hair. As soon as she saw Qiu Heng, she hurriedly bowed and said, "This humble woman, Wang, greets the Princess."
"Does Matchmaker Wang know me?"
The matchmaker smiled and said, "The Marquis said that the girl who is as beautiful as a celestial being is Princess Suiyun."
Qiu Heng remained silent for a moment.
Whether Xue Han actually said that is uncertain, but the matchmaker he found was definitely a top expert in the field, with a mouth as sweet as honey.
In the main room, the old lady was in high spirits, but she forced herself to remain calm.
I was arguing with the old man about Xue Han's marriage proposal yesterday, and I never expected that the matchmaker would come knocking on the door today.
They arrived so early.
What does this mean? It means she was right. It was that young man who couldn't wait to marry Heng'er, not her granddaughter who was desperate to get married. Only that old woman was confused.
The old lady silently scorned the Earl of Yongqing when she heard a maid report, "Old lady, the sixth young lady and the matchmaker have arrived."
The old lady was stunned.
What does it mean that the Sixth Sister and the matchmaker have arrived?
How could they arrive together?
Just as I was feeling lost, Qiu Heng and the matchmaker came in.
"Grandmother." After bowing, Qiu Heng walked to the old lady's side. "I happened to meet Matchmaker Wang at the courtyard gate, so we came in together."
The matchmaker greeted the old lady with a smile: "My surname is Wang. I have been asked by the Marquis of Anping to come to your esteemed residence to propose marriage to the Sixth Miss."
"Matchmaker Wang, please have a seat."
Wang, the matchmaker, sat down and accepted the tea served by her head maid, Chuncao.
The old lady gave Qiu Heng a glare: "Heng'er, Grandmother and Matchmaker Wang are discussing serious matters. You should go back now."
Qiu Heng glanced at the row of four-season screens and realized that she had arrived at the same time as the matchmaker. Hiding behind the screens in advance was no longer an option, so she curtsied and said, "Granddaughter takes her leave."
When Qiu Heng returned to Lengxiang Residence, she was immediately surrounded by Fangzhou's men.
"Why are you back so soon, young lady?"
"Has the young lady met the matchmaker?"
Did the matchmaker bring any geese?
"Will the young lady be getting married this year?" It was a quiet maid who spoke, her tone tinged with trepidation. "When the young lady marries into the Marquis's mansion... will she bring all the people from Lengxiangju with her?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the chattering stopped abruptly, and the sound of things falling to the ground became unusually loud.
It was an orange that Granny Yu was peeling that fell to the ground.
At this moment, Granny Yu had only one thought: the sky had fallen, she was not a member of Lengxiangju!
Under the watchful eyes of several anxious people, Qiu Heng smiled and said, "Bring along anyone who wants to go."
Cheers erupted immediately.
Granny Yu hesitated for a moment and asked, "Isn't that from Lengxiangju?"
As a governess, I shouldn't have asked, but life at Lengxiangju was just too wonderful.
"I won't bring anything that's not from Lengxiangju."
Granny Fish: !
Qiu Heng smiled and said, "Except for Granny Yu and Wu Qingzhou."
The unexpected surprise prompted Granny Yu to blurt out her loyalty: "When the young master and his daughter have a daughter, this old servant can serve as the young master's governess."
She only regretted that she couldn't perform well under the Sixth Miss, and that the maids at Lengxiang Residence thought she was just a freeloader.
Even many people in other courtyards thought so!
Granny Yu felt a sense of injustice, as if she were a hero whose talents had been wasted.
Qiu Heng wasn't embarrassed by the matchmaker's visit, but she blushed a little after hearing what Granny Yu said: "Granny Yu, you're thinking about this too soon."
Granny Yu was stunned for a moment, then silently covered her chest.
How could a governess say such things to a girl who isn't even engaged yet...?
Not to mention that Granny Yu ate one less bowl of rice that day because she was reflecting on her actions, the news that Xue Han had asked a matchmaker to propose marriage spread quickly throughout the Earl's mansion.
Qiu Fu and Qiu Ying came to Lengxiang Residence together to congratulate Qiu Heng.
"Sixth sister, judging from how anxious Marquis Anping is, you might get married before your fourth sister."
Qiu Fu's marriage was arranged in March. The groom was the Imperial Academy student who led the petition for Qiu Heng and Xue Han. His surname was Chen and his courtesy name was Huaiqing. The wedding date was set for next spring.
Qiu Fu glared at Qiu Ying: "Just talk about Sixth Sister, why are you dragging me into this?"
Qiu Ying covered her mouth with her fan and laughed, "Fourth Sister is shy."
Qiu Fu blushed instantly.
She took the initiative to arrange this marriage.
She couldn't trust the marriage her parents had chosen for her, but as she got older, she knew she couldn't keep putting it off.
That day, while out for a spring outing, she happened to run into a group of imperial college students, among whom was Chen Huaiqing. When she heard someone call his name, she remembered that her cousin Qiu Yang had mentioned that the leader of the imperial college students who had petitioned for her sixth sister's life was named Chen Huaiqing.
She had an idea right then and there.
A person with good character will never treat his wife badly.
Besides, he's good-looking.
Qiu Fu was a decisive person. She walked over to thank the students in a generous manner, and especially thanked Chen Huaiqing.
A few days later, she secretly asked her grandmother to ask the Chen family for their opinion. Perhaps the impression that their first meeting had left on Chen Huaiqing was good, and the marriage was arranged.
The parents were dissatisfied, but their grandmother kept them in check; she didn't care whether they were satisfied or not.
As expected, because Xue Han sent a matchmaker to propose marriage, Madam Zhao, the first wife, was upset about her daughter's marriage again. Qiu Fu was summoned as soon as she returned from Lengxiang Residence.
"Look at your sixth sister, and then look at yourself. In the future, her husband will be a powerful marquis, while your husband will be a student who hasn't even been appointed yet. You're both sisters, are you willing to accept such a disparity?"
Qiu Fu forced a smile: "I have nothing to be resentful about. It's your mother who's resentful, isn't it?"
"You're still talking back!"
"What's all this fuss about now?" Master Qiu walked in, scolding not Qiu Fu, but Zhao Shi instead, "Don't always have such words on your lips."
Zhao was unconvinced. After Qiu Fu left, Master Qiu said, "Times have changed. The new emperor likes young people with good character. Chen Huaiqing has gained a reputation with the new emperor because he led the students of the Imperial Academy to submit a petition. Besides, have you forgotten who he petitioned for?"
For Qiu Heng and Xue Han, and Xue Han is now a favorite of the new emperor.
Zhao was enlightened, and her feelings suddenly became complicated.
So, that grumpy brat just casually found herself a husband with a promising future?
Zhao felt a sense of frustration, as if all her efforts had been in vain.
Apart from Zhao, who felt a pang of jealousy, the entire Earl's mansion was filled with joy because of the matchmaker's arrival. Soon, the two families matched their birth dates and went through a preliminary engagement, at which point Qiu Heng and Xue Han were officially engaged.
Afterwards, the groom's family had to prepare betrothal gifts, and the bride's family had to prepare dowry. Even though Xue Han had been secretly preparing for this, he still had many things to do after being enfeoffed as a marquis and moving into the marquis's mansion. Moreover, the wedding ceremony required choosing an auspicious day, so even if it was done quickly, it couldn't be completed in ten days or half a month.
Xue Han was so busy he was practically running around, completely overwhelmed, while Xue Quan was even busier than him. In comparison, the Yongqing Marquis's mansion was much more relaxed in preparing for their sixth daughter's marriage.
Qiu Heng was even more relaxed, not intending to trouble herself with embroidering mandarin duck pillowcases or red veils, but instead settling down to prepare a new incense.
A new life, a new identity, and new incense should be offered to celebrate.
(End of this chapter)
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