Chapter 7: Taking the initiative to marry
"What? You want to marry the general for Fu Niang?" Old Master Xiahou looked at Shen Wangshu in surprise, thinking he had heard it wrong: "Niannian...did someone whisper something in your ear these days? Tell your grandfather."
In the study, Shen Wangshu looked at the rolls of files on the table waiting to be processed. The old man's thick brows were furrowed, and his temples were gray. In just a few days, there was a bit of lingering sadness between his brows, and his eyes were dark blue. It was obvious that the things that worried him had not been solved. There was a cup of cold strong tea on the table.
It is not easy for the old man to live to such an old age, and he took in the two sisters at great risk. People should know how to be grateful.
In the original text, Shen Wangshu was forced to marry in a substitutionary marriage. The old man was determined to protect her, and Madam Xiahou threatened to commit suicide. The entire Xiahou Mansion was in chaos because of this matter.
In the end, Xia Hou Fu cried and said a lot of hurtful words to the original owner. The original owner looked at her grandfather who had been frowning since that day, looked at Madam Xia Hou who resented her, and her uncle who avoided her gaze, and she took the initiative to compromise and marry in place of him.
On the wedding day, no one came to see her off. The entire Xiahou Mansion was deserted, without a single piece of red silk hanging. The veil was hastily embroidered by Shen Wangshu herself in those few days. She had never been good at housework since she was a child, and had pierced her fingers with several holes. Sometimes her vision would become blurry while she was embroidering.
The wife of Marquis Yongning once hugged her and said lovingly, "We, Nian Nian, don't have to do housework ourselves. When you get married, A'niang will find the best embroiderer in the capital for you, and we will get married in a grand ceremony with phoenix coronet, bridal robe and red makeup."
But now, only the gray-haired grandfather was left. He took out a pair of dragon and phoenix bracelets from his sleeve and handed them to her. He said tiredly and guiltily: "This is what your grandmother wore when she married me. Grandfather originally wanted to leave one for you and your elder sister, but now you are the only one left, and grandfather can't keep you."
A sedan chair, a red dress, a pair of dragon and phoenix bracelets, the original owner was so carelessly carried to the Rongguo Mansion.
She never had a good day after getting married. Because of the contemptuous attitude of the Xiahou Mansion, no one in the Rongguo Mansion was kind to the original owner. Although her husband Chen Ting did not treat her harshly, he did not love her either. She was no different after marriage than before marriage. She had a withdrawn and weird personality and she spent most of her time in the military camp.
In this depressing environment, the original owner died of depression after only living for half a year.
Thinking of this, Shen Wangshu looked into the old man's eyes, shook his head and said softly: "No one forced me, it was all my own will."
Rather than being forced to leave, it is better to take the initiative. By then, Madam Xiahou may allow her to marry in glory because she took the initiative to protect the Xiahou Mansion from disaster. In this way, the Rongguo Mansion will not treat her like the way in the original text.
Old Master Xiahou didn't quite believe it. He moved his lips for a moment and said, "But did someone whisper something in your ear? Don't be afraid, tell Grandfather."
Shen Wangshu smiled helplessly, pushed the excited old man back to his seat, and said in a brisk voice: "Really no one did anything to me, it's just... Nian Nian couldn't bear to see grandpa frowning over this matter, aunt crying, and even sister Afu is not as lively as before."
"Actually, what my aunt said that day was right. The emperor probably intended to test our family by granting us this marriage. I cannot stay in Xiahou Mansion for too long, otherwise, sooner or later, it will bring greater disaster to our family."
The old man looked at his young granddaughter. She was clearly still a child who had not grown up. She was innocent and carefree in the capital before, but now she had to plan for their whole family. In order not to implicate them, she had to take the initiative to marry that man...
"No matter what, I'm marrying the general, he will protect me, right?" Shen Wangshu tried to say it in a positive way: "Many girls who were granted marriage before died on the road, and only one or two committed suicide in the wedding room. I don't believe this is a curse, it must be man-made."
"Some people don't want those noble girls to marry the generals..."
Before she finished speaking, the old man understood and immediately interrupted her: “Okay, Grandpa knows what you mean.”
Shen Wangshu looked at the old man with curved eyebrows and eyes: "Grandfather, Nian Nian will not commit suicide. Nian Nian will try her best to live."
The old man's eyes suddenly became wet. He turned his head and wiped his tears, then asked in a trembling voice, "Have you really thought it through?"
"I've thought about it," Shen Wangshu nodded, remembering Xia Houfu's dim eyes when she came to see her in the afternoon, and paused, saying, "Sister Afu is innocent and lively, and the ideal husband should be a young man in bright clothes and a gallant horse, or a handsome gentleman."
Instead of the Rongguo Mansion, which is full of complicated issues.
Old Master Xiahou stared at her for a long time, and finally sighed: "Okay."
*
Ever since that day when Shen Wangshu offered to marry in place of someone else, the entire Xiahou Mansion became busy.
The next day, Mrs. Xiahou personally stepped into Luoying Courtyard to meet her.
She came at the same time as Xia Houfu did that day. In the afternoon, when Shen Wangshu was decocting medicine, she opened her mouth and said the same thing: "Are all the servants in your courtyard disobedient? They actually want the master to decoct the medicine himself."
"Greetings to my aunt." Shen Wangshu bowed deeply and then replied, "The servants sent by my aunt are very dedicated. I just want to watch the medicine furnace myself."
Of course, Madam Xiahou was not concerned about whether it was a medicine furnace or not. She looked at the weak little girl in front of her and asked hesitantly, "I heard from my father-in-law that...you took the initiative to marry in Fu Niang's place?"
Shen Wangshu looked up and saw Madam Xiahou's red and swollen eyes that could not be covered by makeup. It seemed that she had been unable to sleep and eat well these days. He nodded and said, "Yes."
Madam Xiahou didn't expect her to answer so straightforwardly, without any hesitation. Thinking of what she said that day, she coughed lightly and said unnaturally, "That day, my aunt was a little excited and said some unpleasant things. Don't take it to heart."
Shen Wangshu lowered his eyebrows and said submissively: "Nian Nian doesn't dare."
"You...both your father and mother are gone, so your aunt will marry you off according to the etiquette of a legitimate young lady in the palace. Nanny Liang was released from the palace and used to serve the imperial concubine. I originally wanted to leave her to Fu Niang, and she will follow you in the future and do her best for you.
If there is anything you are unsure about in the Duke's Mansion, you should ask Nanny Liang for her advice. ”
Madam Xiahou said, "I will add three more dowries from my own dowry. Although it may not be as glorious as when you were a lady in the capital, this is the most I can give you."
"You helped Fu Niang to avoid this disaster, and I, your aunt, thank you from the bottom of my heart, but this is all I can do.
Fu Niang cannot go to the Duke's Mansion. You are much smarter and more clever than her. I hope you will be well after you marry there. ”
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