67. Chapter 67 Granted Marriage
The two of them embraced quietly for a while. It was already very late at night. Not wanting to disturb her rest, Pei Xiuhan patted her head and said, "Go to bed early. If you can get up early tomorrow, you can give me a ride."
Knowing that she definitely wanted to send him off, Pei Xiu Han didn't stay any longer.
Xiaoxiao nodded obediently.
After he left, Xiaoxiao took out her own small treasury. It was a rosewood box with a picture of magpies climbing on plum trees carved on it. It was originally a jewelry box, but now Xiaoxiao used it to store money.
Xiaoxiao counted carefully and found that there were four hundred-liang silver notes, three ten-liang silver ingots, and a few pieces of silver in the box, a total of four hundred and thirty-six liang.
Xiaoxiao took out four hundred taels of silver notes, intending to give them to Brother Pei tomorrow and ask him to donate them. There had been a famine in the village, and Xiaoxiao had also been hungry when she was a child, so she knew best how painful hunger was. The remaining thirty or so taels would be enough for them to spend for a while.
Afraid that he wouldn't accept the money if she gave it to him directly, Xiaoxiao didn't rest. She rushed out a purse overnight, stuffed the silver into the purse, and also stuffed a note asking him to help donate.
Because she wanted to make the embroidery perfect, she didn't embroider very quickly. It was not until dawn that Xiaoxiao finished embroidering. She took a quarter of an hour and then got up.
After packing everything, she went to Prince Yan's Mansion.
Pei Xiuhan naturally noticed the dark circles under her eyes and thought that the little girl didn't sleep well because she was worried about him. His eyes moved slightly and he couldn't help but reached out and pinched her little face, "There's nothing to worry about."
Xiaoxiao curled her lips and let him pinch them obediently.
Knowing that she must not have had breakfast, Pei Xiu Han asked the maid to set the table. After they finished their breakfast, Xiao Xiao sent him to the city gate and then took out his purse from his arms.
She handed the purse to Pei Xiuhan and said with a smile, "There is a letter written to you, brother. Please read it when you get here."
The weather in September has gradually turned cooler, and the sun is not as bright as before, but Pei Xiu Han felt a warmth in his heart. He didn't think much about it and held it in his arms.
After he climbed onto his horse, he looked at Xiaoxiao deeply and said, "Go back."
After he finished speaking, he didn't delay any longer and led his men towards Guzhou. The galloping horses raised clouds of dust that looked like rising smoke.
Everyone on the side looked over curiously.
Xiaoxiao didn't look away until his figure turned into a small dot and completely disappeared on the official road. She felt a little empty in her heart.
Lu Zhu came out with her and saw that she looked like she had lost her soul. She could not help but comfort her, "This journey is far less dangerous than the battlefield. The master will be fine. Don't worry about her."
Xiaoxiao nodded.
*
The news of the robbery of the disaster relief silver soon spread throughout the capital. Seeing that their masters were worried, the ladies also became a little worried. Zhong had always been kind-hearted. After learning that the disaster relief silver had been robbed, she began to think about raising funds for charity.
Any one of the noble ladies in the capital city has a lot of silver on hand. Even if one person only donates one hundred taels, it is a considerable amount of charity.
She simply gathered a few close friends and brought up the matter of donating money and supplies. These ladies were all prominent figures in the capital. They knew that if this matter was handled well, it would benefit their husbands in every way, so they all offered suggestions.
A few of them started to organize this matter. For a while, many ladies came to donate money, and even the ladies donated a lot of old clothes and old jewelry.
Clothes and jewelry can be sold and then exchanged for food to be shipped to the disaster area. Some people even donate books.
Xiaoxiao gave most of her money to Pei Xiuhan. Since she didn't have much money left, she also donated her clothes and jewelry. She also donated the guzheng she won.
This guzheng was worth a fortune and was bought for a large sum of money on that day. The news of Xiaoxiao donating the guzheng spread throughout the circle of noble ladies. No one expected that she would be so willing to give it away. After Mo Shuang learned about this, her face turned very ugly. It was obviously her guzheng, but Xiaoxiao got the good reputation.
She almost gritted her teeth, and her dislike for Xiaoxiao reached its peak.
In just three days, Zhong and her team raised 10,000 taels of silver. When the emperor learned of this, he not only praised Zhong in court but also specifically praised several women who had donated more. He also rewarded their husbands with several bolts of cloth. The ministers who didn't receive any cloth told their wives about this when they returned home.
On the second day, many noble ladies made additional donations, and noble ladies followed suit. In a short period of time, they raised 60,000 taels of silver.
On the eighth day, Zhong presented the first batch of donations to Pei Jing. Fearing that the disaster relief money would be robbed, Pei Jing secretly found two officials this time and planned to let them take the silver to Fengzhou. Fengzhou is adjacent to Guzhou, and they can exchange the supplies in Fengzhou and then transport them to Guzhou.
Pei Xiuhan and others traveled day and night, galloping all the way, and were about to arrive at Guzhou.
The group traveled for nine days and didn't even rest in an inn. At night, they would find a dilapidated temple to rest for two hours before continuing on their journey. After a few days, even Pei Xiu Han, who was strong and healthy, felt a little tired.
Seeing that the guards were also unable to hold on, Pei Xiuhan found an inn that day. Although the inn was not big, it was enough for everyone to have a good rest and have a hot meal.
They were all armed with scimitars, and looked no ordinary people. The shopkeeper came out quickly and personally pulled the war horses into the stable.
Although they had not yet arrived in Guzhou, after sitting down in the hall, Pei Xiuhan could not help but take out his purse.
These days, every time he took a break, he couldn't help but take out his purse and play with it for a while.
When the guards first saw this scene, they were shocked, but now they have become accustomed to it. Many people have even guessed his feelings for Xiaoxiao. After all, the scene of Xiaoxiao giving him the purse was seen by many people.
Pei Xiuhan played with it for a long time, but finally couldn't help it and opened the purse in advance, wanting to see what the little girl wrote to him. When he saw the banknote, he was stunned.
Pei Xiuhan's dark eyes unconsciously showed a hint of tenderness. Guessing that she must not have much money in her hands, he couldn't help but tap the table lightly.
Knowing that she would definitely not accept the money, Pei Xiuhan thought about it and simply picked up a pen to write two letters, one to Zhang Li and the other to Pei Jing. He planned to ask Pei Jing to grant the marriage directly. He could ask Butler Li to prepare the betrothal gifts so that she would not be left without money.
It is actually better to propose earlier so that the wedding date can be put on the schedule as soon as possible.
He has always been a man of action. After writing the letter, he had it delivered.
Zhang Li received the letter sent by Pei Xiuhan that night. If the bandit suppression had not been completed, he would have wanted to return home that night. He tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep that night. Finally, he picked up a pen and wrote a letter to Xiaoxiao, asking for her opinion.
When Pei Jing received the letter, he was also a little shocked. He never expected that the emperor's uncle would be so anxious. He originally wanted to punish him, but when he thought about his uncle's age and it was not easy for him to meet someone he wanted to marry, he simply drafted an imperial edict.
The next day, Eunuch Zhang took the imperial edict to the Zhang Mansion. There were guards guarding the door. These were the people arranged by Pei Xiuhan because he was worried about her.
The guards all knew Eunuch Zhang. When they saw him, they hurriedly welcomed him in. Eunuch Zhang was an old man who served the emperor. He had watched Pei Xiu Han grow up and had always hoped that Pei Xiu Han would get married soon. When he saw that he had finally obtained the imperial edict, he smiled with wrinkles on his face.
When Xiaoxiao learned that Eunuch Zhang had arrived, she walked out of the courtyard. Every time Pei Jing wanted her to enter the palace, it was Eunuch Zhang who came to pick her up. She thought Pei Jing was looking for her for something again.
Unexpectedly, he was holding an imperial edict in his hand.
Xiaoxiao was stunned for a moment. Eunuch Zhang smiled and said, "We are here to announce the imperial edict. Miss Xiaoxiao, please accept it."
Upon hearing this, Luzhu also came out and knelt down. Xiaoxiao was about to kneel down as well, but Eunuch Zhang held her arm and said with a smile, "The emperor has specifically ordered that Miss Xiaoxiao does not need to kneel. We can just announce the decree directly."
After he finished speaking, he unfolded the imperial edict in his hand and began to read, "By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: I have heard that Zhang Xiaoxiao is a woman of great beauty, of good character, gentle and virtuous, and I am deeply pleased to hear of her. The Prince of Yan is now in marriageable years, and it is time to choose a virtuous woman to marry him. It so happens that Zhang Xiaoxiao is unmarried, and she is a perfect match for the Prince of Yan. To complete this beautiful marriage, I hereby betroth Zhang Xiaoxiao to the Prince of Yan as his consort. All ceremonial arrangements shall be jointly handled by the Ministry of Rites and the Director of the Imperial Observatory, and an auspicious date shall be chosen for the wedding."
Xiaoxiao was completely bewildered. She had never expected the Emperor to suddenly grant her a marriage. Her heart began to beat fast, and she was so stunned that she forgot to accept the order. It was not until Luzhu tugged at her sleeve that she quickly accepted it.
She couldn't help but ask Eunuch Zhang, "Why did the emperor suddenly grant me a marriage?"
Eunuch Zhang smiled and said, "Yesterday the Prince Regent wrote a letter to the Emperor, asking for his permission to marry."
Xiaoxiao couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, not understanding why he suddenly came early.
Eunuch Zhang smiled and said, "I wish you and the Prince Regent a happy and harmonious life. The Prince Regent is a man of great talent and bearing, and marrying him as a princess is something many noble ladies would never dream of. You are truly blessed."
Xiaoxiao's cheeks felt a little hot. After sending Eunuch Zhang away, Xiaoxiao was still a little dazed. She felt that today's arranged marriage was like a dream. Even after knowing that he was interested in her, Xiaoxiao did not expect that he would marry her as a princess. After all, her social status was really low.
Although she was a little shocked, Xiaoxiao was still happy in her heart. She felt sweet in her heart when she thought about living with him in the future.
The news that the emperor had granted her a marriage with the regent soon spread, and everyone was shocked, especially Zheng Danyun and others. They all thought that Zhang Xiaoxiao would enter the palace, but unexpectedly, the emperor had granted her a marriage with the regent.
When these noble ladies thought about how they had tried to get close to Zhang Xiaoxiao more than once, they all looked a little strange.
This matter also caused discussions in the court. Some ministers even felt that this was Pei Jing's first step in rebelling against the Regent. It was similar to: Since you want to place a beauty by my side, then while you leave the capital, I will take the initiative and give the beauty to you.
No one thought that the imperial edict was personally requested by the Prince Regent. When Mrs. Zhong learned of this, she was also shocked. She immediately asked her maid to prepare a carriage and planned to go to Zhang's house. When she reached the gate of the courtyard, she said to the maid, "Call Xi'er and ask her to go there for me."
Zhong knew Xiaoxiao well. The little girl was very obedient. Now that the emperor had granted the marriage, even if she didn't want to marry Pei Xiuhan, he probably wouldn't tell her. It would be better to let Mu Xi go and find out.
Mu Xi has a good relationship with Xiao Xiao, so when girls are whispering to each other, they tend to tell the truth more easily.
The maid quickly came back with a message, "The second young lady has gone to the Zhang residence."
Mrs. Zhong couldn't help but laugh and shook her head, "She is well-informed."
She didn't bother with it anymore.
Mu Wen didn't know about this yet. The wedding date between her and Zhong Yu had already been set. If you calculated carefully, there were only more than three months left, and they would be married before the New Year. She was now embroidering her wedding dress at home.
The maids in her courtyard didn't go out much, and didn't know that Xiaoxiao had been given a marriage.
When Mu Xi came to Xiaoxiao, Xiaoxiao was still a little dizzy. She couldn't help but pick up a pen and write down her joy on the letter.
Upon learning that Mu Xi had arrived, Xiaoxiao quickly put away the letter and came out to greet him.
Mu Xi was wearing a crabapple-colored dress today. She had bright features and outstanding temperament. When she walked over, her figure was very graceful.
Xiaoxiao couldn't help but look at her more. She felt that she had changed more and more in the past six months. Not only did she grow taller, but she also completely transformed from a little girl into a charming beauty.
When Mu Xi came in, she saw the imperial edict on the table. She stretched out her slender jade fingers and picked up the imperial edict. She couldn't help but sighed, "I didn't expect that your marriage would be ahead of mine."
Xiaoxiao blushed a little and whispered, "I didn't expect that either."
Mu Xi read the imperial edict carefully before sitting on the couch with Xiaoxiao. She had previously suspected that her cousin might be interested in Xiaoxiao, so she was not too shocked at this moment. She came over to check on her because she was afraid that Xiaoxiao could not accept it.
Seeing Xiaoxiao's blushing face and eyes full of embarrassment, she didn't bother asking any more questions. Instead, she smiled and said, "Then you will become my cousin's wife in the future, right? Not bad, getting married will instantly raise our generational status."
Xiaoxiao's face turned even redder. When she met her teasing gaze, she couldn't help but wrinkled her nose and said, "Your marriage hasn't been decided yet. At worst, you can marry someone of a higher generation."
Mu Xi pinched her little face and said, "Okay, you dare to tease me."
Xiaoxiao smiled and hid back. She had delicate features and charming eyes. When she smiled, her eyes were brighter than the stars in the sky.
Even though he knew she was beautiful, Mu Xi was still dazzled when he saw her smile.
She leaned closer to Xiaoxiao and said with a smile, "Tell me the truth, has your cousin expressed his feelings to you a long time ago?"
Xiaoxiao touched the tip of her nose and didn't hide it from her, "Not long."
Thinking of him, Xiaoxiao's cheeks felt hot again. The shy look of the girl was so charming that even Mu Xi, a woman, couldn't help wanting to bully her when she saw her.
Thinking that his cousin was not a good person, Mu Xi's heart was moved, and he couldn't help but ask her in a low voice, "Tell me the truth, did your cousin bully you?"
Xiaoxiao was stunned by her question and quickly shook her head, "Brother Pei is a very good person, he won't bully me."
She spoke seriously, but she looked like someone who was easy to bully.
Mu Xi didn't believe it and couldn't help but sigh, "I don't believe it. He didn't kiss you before he left?"
Xiaoxiao's face flushed red. Although she didn't kiss him before leaving, she had kissed him before. Xiaoxiao had never expected that this was what she meant by "bullying".
Mu Xi noticed her expression and perked up. "So they kissed, didn't they? Tsk, I can't believe he couldn't resist the beauty after all. I thought he would die alone. Tell me, what does it feel like to kiss someone?"
Seeing that she dared to ask anything, Xiaoxiao blushed so much that blood almost dripped out of her face. She couldn't help but stammer, "No, no."
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