Having said that, Sun Lurong then asked a question that had been bothering her: "By the way, why has that Madam Pan been coming to our house so often lately? Are you two getting along so well?"
Wei Shuwan couldn't help but chuckle. She had originally planned to tell her mother after the stroke of the character "八" was drawn, but since her mother had asked, she couldn't hide it from her. So she simply told the truth: "It's not that Madam Pan and I get along well, but that she gets along well with my uncle."
“Xingjian?” Sun Lurong was deeply surprised, her eyes widening suddenly: “Him and Madam Pan?”
Wei Shuwan nodded solemnly to her mother: "Mother, do you still remember ten years ago, when Uncle went alone to the enemy camp to rescue a girl?"
"Of course I remember, could it be..."
"Yes, it is Madam Pan."
Wei Shuwan couldn't tell her mother the details of accidentally witnessing her uncle bathing, so she only gave a general overview: "So from that time on, Madam Pan developed feelings for her uncle. After some things happened later, her feelings for him grew stronger. Now she should be completely in love with her uncle."
Sun Lurong slowly let out a breath, initially more surprised than happy. After a while, she revealed a hint of joy: "That's good. One of them is the daughter of a military governor, and the other is a county marquis. They are a good match. In addition, they have been stationed together at the border for so many years. They know each other well and their personalities, which saves me the trouble of searching for someone for him."
“That’s what I think too. If Madam Pan could really be my aunt, I would be more than willing. But right now I only know Madam Pan’s feelings, while my uncle’s feelings are different…” Wei Shuwan’s face showed a troubled expression.
Sun Lurong was greatly puzzled: "What, he's being picky about other girls? Madam Pan has a good family background and looks. Although she's a bit older, your uncle is also getting on in years and still hasn't found a wife. Madam Pan doesn't mind that he's old, so what right does he have to complain about her!"
Hearing her mother scold her uncle, Wei Shuwan knew that her mother thought highly of Madam Pan. Since that was the case, she had no reason to hide it anymore, so she simply told her mother about her plan to go to the hunting grounds to bring them together in three days.
After hearing this, Sun Lurong patted her leg with her bare hand, "That's a good idea! Otherwise, with your uncle's stupidity, he would have cooled down the girl's enthusiasm sooner or later."
With her mother's support, Wei Shuwan became even more convinced that her act of deceiving her uncle was righteous. So, she didn't hold back and assigned her mother a small task as well: "Then, Mother, why don't you take care of coaxing Uncle to the hunting grounds?"
Although Sun Lurong realized she had fallen into her daughter's trap, she thought about it and readily agreed: "Okay, this is better than me having to go around arranging marriages for him! I'll leave this to Mother."
With her mother's assurance, Wei Shuwan began making arrangements after lunch. While it was still early, she asked Ziqiao and Miaoxiang to go to the outskirts of the city to book the hunting grounds for three days later.
This hunting ground in the northern suburbs was once the royal hunting ground of the previous dynasty, accessible only to high-ranking officials and nobles. However, in this dynasty, a southern hunting ground several times larger than the northern one was built, and the northern hunting ground was essentially abandoned. Later, it was granted by the emperor to a certain prince or nobleman as private property and was opened to the public, becoming a place for wealthy young men and rich merchants in Shengjing to spend money and have fun.
Although booking the entire North Suburb Hunting Grounds was quite expensive, Wei Shuwan felt that this amount of money was nothing compared to her uncle's life-long event. Therefore, she instructed Ziqiao to book it no matter the cost, to ensure that no outsiders would disturb them on that day.
Ziqiao and Miaoxiang arrived at their destination by car and went straight to find the owner, a man in his forties with a mustache. Perhaps because they had disturbed his afternoon nap, he seemed a little unhappy, his long, narrow eyes squinting at them with a hint of scrutiny.
"You want to book the entire venue for three days from now?"
“Yes,” Zi Qiao replied.
The other person smacked his lips twice, his mustache twitching slightly, and then calmly said, "Someone has already booked it for three days."
"Which one?" Zi Qiao asked anxiously.
Although Shengjing City is large, those who can afford to rent this hunting ground are naturally the wealthy and influential families. Asking them directly might allow for some negotiation. After all, for most people, there's little difference between going a day earlier or later when it comes to hunting.
Zi Qiao hadn't expected that her casual question would annoy the other person so much. The man's beard practically stood on end: "You little girl, I said someone's booked her, so there's someone's booked her. Why do you have to keep asking until you get to the bottom of it?!"
"I was just thinking of negotiating with them. If they're willing to give it up, we're willing to pay double the price." Even though Zi Qiao could clearly hear the other party's impatience, she still patiently explained her point.
But the other party became even more agitated upon hearing her words: "Do you think the Hunting Grounds is a place where you can do whatever you want just because you have some money? These past few days have all been distinguished guests of our master's family. Don't even mention three days later, you won't be able to book the whole place even in ten days!"
"You!" Zi Qiao couldn't hold back any longer at the arrogant tone of the other party. Just as she was about to lash out, Miao Xiang grabbed her and pulled her out the door.
"Sister Ziqiao, don't take it to heart. The owner of this hunting ground is a noble descendant of the emperor. We can't afford to offend them."
Zi Qiao thought about it and agreed. She had no choice but to suppress the anger in her chest, glare angrily through the door, and then she and Miao Xiang returned to the carriage. They had to rush back to report before the city gates were locked.
An hour and a half later, Wei Shuwan learned of the news and couldn't help but feel a little disheartened.
“I have already made arrangements with Sister Pan, and my mother has also gone to my uncle’s place to persuade him. If it were just a one or two-day delay, it would be fine, but judging from what they’ve said, I’m afraid it might not be possible even in ten or eight days.”
Having failed to accomplish their task, Ziqiao and Miaoxiang felt guilty and hung their heads dejectedly, looking ashamed to face Wei Shuwan.
Wei Shuwan felt genuinely sorry for them, so she put the matter aside for the time being and comforted them, saying, "It's alright, let me think about it some more. Maybe there are other places to go."
After the two maids left, Wei Shuwan let out a long sigh. In the dead of winter, where else could she go for a winter hunt besides the hunting grounds? The vegetation had long since withered, and the lake water had begun to freeze.
However, the hunting grounds cannot be booked, and if it is delayed until ten days later, time may not be of the essence.
After all, matchmaking is not something that can be done successfully in one or two attempts, and the special envoy from the Ziyi Kingdom may not arrive for some time. Once he asks the emperor for a marriage proposal, it will be too late even if the uncle wants to agree.
So we still need to be quick.
Just as Wei Shuwan was sitting in a city of worry, she heard the gatekeeper outside report: "Miss, a man who claims to be the owner of the North Suburb Hunting Ground requests an audience. Should we bring him in?"
Upon hearing the words "Northern Suburbs Hunting Grounds," Wei Shuwan immediately sprang up from her embroidered stool. "Please come in quickly!"
No wonder Wei Shuwan was so excited. The hunting grounds are now open for business, and the owner's special visit must mean that the matter has taken a turn for the better.
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