Shipin Dalizheng

"Mom, what's wrong with you? What did Mr. Xiao say to you just now?"

Mrs. Xiao did not intend to tell her daughters the truth. The old lady was already dead, and their father had committed a crime. Another act of infidelity would only make the children more embarrassed.

"Nothing, just the same surname, so we're a bit close. I wonder when Earl Jian'an will bring his men over for inspection."

There was a sense of urgency in his words, and Xiao Jinyue didn't know how to respond.

However, Mrs. Xiao's health was getting worse day by day. Even though the two top doctors tried their best, her condition was getting worse day by day.

Rong Tang also asked about the situation. Zhang Pojun pulled his beard and said that it shouldn't be the case. Doctor Mo then said that Madam Xiao herself had no motivation to live and seemed to be seeking death.

Knowing that Mrs. Xiao's last concern was that her daughter find someone she liked as soon as possible, Rong Tang also accelerated the process. On the third day of the new year, he asked Rong Xian to send the selected information of his subordinates to the mansion, which was marked with name, place of origin, age, position, whether they had been married before, and general appearance.

Most of these people were brought from Jiangnan, and their ages were between 20 and 35 years old. They were also specially selected by Rong Tang for those with good personalities and stable emotions to be selected by Madam Xiao first. Madam Xiao looked around, but she was not satisfied with any of them.

After she had seen it, she could no longer spread the word, so this group of people went to another courtyard and were quickly picked up by others. Within a few days, among the forty-four signed marriage certificates, thirty men had already been found. Although the two parties had not met at this time, according to the secular world, they were already husband and wife.

Rong Tang also knew that this method of matchmaking was unfair, but in the ancient times when blind marriages were common, he helped to control it and eliminated bad people to the greatest extent possible.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the matchmaker came to the house to give instructions to the girls who had been arranged to marry, and asked Rong Tang about his attitude towards the matter in advance.

Rong Tang said, "Try to calm them down and tell them not to be afraid. People are picked out for their good character. If they are wronged, I will take care of them."

But when they arrived at the side courtyard, the matchmaker's admonition turned into, "Don't look so sad. The Earl of Jian'an spent a lot of money to buy you out so that he could set up a home for his officers, not specifically to make you a grandmother. You will be married in a few days, with all the proper etiquette. Don't dream of anything else. When you get married, you must forget your past status and behave yourself from now on, take care of your husband and children, don't act like a spoiled child, and don't complain about this or that. If someone looks down on their husband and is too arrogant, the Earl can buy you out, and can also send you back. Think about it, is it better to be a clean and honest wife, or go back to that dirty place of the Music Bureau to serve the officials? You have to make up your mind."

At that moment, most people straightened their faces and responded in unison: "My lady is right. I am awake now."

The matchmaker's expression softened slightly. "In the future, when you're out and about, except when you meet high-ranking ladies, you don't have to feel inferior. You should know that your husband is also an official, and he's much better off than an ordinary citizen."

After two slaps, this sweet date becomes especially sweet. Therefore, many girls who are already engaged compare it with others and feel that it is much better than marrying a farmer or a rough man.

Rong Tang heard the official matchmaker's admonition outside the courtyard wall, and knowing why, he sighed and went back. This was ancient times, and there was only so much he could do. He couldn't give the girls too much hope. They had to live their own lives, and he couldn't become the director of the women's affairs office, intervening every time a couple fought.

Nanny Xi also followed beside him. Seeing that he didn't go over to say more, she nodded, took a few quick steps to catch up, and said, "It's good that Master Bo feels pity for them, but human nature is endless. If she knew that Master Bo's focus of care is on them, she would inevitably have thoughts that she shouldn't have, and would only cause all kinds of troubles in the future. Master Bo really cares about them, so he can let Master Wei Wu of Fu Xinzhuang and Master Rong Xian follow military regulations. Master Bo himself must never show any signs of it."

Rong Tang agreed, "Madam is right. Tomorrow, the sixth day of the lunar year, the palace gates will be opened. I will go to the palace to report and try to ask for an imperial decree to prevent any future troubles for them."

Nanny Xi sighed. This Earl of Jian'an was really different from other masters. Others tried their best to make money and hide their beauty, and would pass the buck when they encountered troubles. But he was the only one who was willing to spend his family wealth and do things that others were unwilling to do.

But if she were to judge, she couldn't say that her master was bad. It is said that a woman's reputation is more important than her life, but a young girl in her prime was pushed into that dirty place, and no moralists or old scholars came to save the woman's reputation.

Xiao Jinyue waited for several days, but her mother still hadn't chosen a candidate for her, and she became anxious.

It was not that she was eager to get married, but because her mother's health was getting worse and worse, and she would faint for most of the day. Moreover, she had heard from Nanny Xi that the list of information that Earl Jian'an gave to her and her mother on the first day was carefully selected, and the list became worse and worse as time went on. At this time, except for her, there were few people who had not yet chosen a husband.

She took advantage of her mother falling asleep again and ran to see Rong Tang, wanting to tell him that she would not be picky anymore, and let him decide on one so that her mother could close her eyes before she left.

The matchmaker was reporting the results of her admonitions to the bride-to-be. She and Nanny Xi had the same idea and believed that girls should not be given too much hope. Women are weak by nature. Once they believe that someone will cover for them, they will develop a dependent mentality and will not be willing to serve their husbands wholeheartedly.

She then brought up the matter Nanny Xi had asked him about years ago. "Master, I've finally found a marriage for the military officers in your mansion. They all come from clean families. Two are daughters of minor officials in the government office. They're pretty and literate. One is the concubine's daughter of a seventh-rank official, and she's about the same age and appearance as the young military officer Wanli. The best one is Miss Xu. Her father was once a fifth-rank prefect, but her parents died a few years ago. She stayed at home in mourning for six years, wasting her prime. She's now twenty. When I went to talk to them, the grandparents were very happy and didn't mind that the military officer was a little older. You know, before I went, the matchmakers in Beijing all told her about widowers who had several children."

Whether or not to say it, the matchmaker is very considerate. In this era, it's okay for a man to be older, but if a woman is over 17 or 18 and still not married, she is considered an old maid.

Nanny Xi smiled and said, "Look at what you said, my lady. Our uncle is still young. He can just talk to the people below to arrange a marriage. Why does he need to personally see them? My lady and I will go there tomorrow. Otherwise, we can take them with us. They all look energetic and they won't be afraid of seeing each other."

The official matchmaker smiled and said, "That's what I meant. The Xu family is a bit more urgent. Let's take a trip tomorrow when we have some time."

Rong Zhan is already thirty-three years old. Years ago, he thought finding a wife for them was just a joke, but now it's become a real thing. He was embarrassed, but if he said it wasn't his intention, he would suddenly feel restless. Most normal men want to get married and have children, to continue the family line. It's just that it wasn't allowed before, but now the conditions allow it."

"This, I, cough cough..."

"That means I agree! Tomorrow I'll change into new clothes, shave, and tidy up, and then I'll show you first."

Everyone in the main hall was chatting and laughing, when Xiao Jinyue felt a pang of fear in her heart for some reason. She turned around and ran back, bumping into Rong Wanli head-on and falling on her butt.

Rong Wanli quickly helped her up, "Miss Xiao, be careful!"

Xiao Jinyue looked at him and blurted out, "Are you also looking for a date?"

Rong Wanli scratched his head embarrassedly, "Ah, it was the master who insisted..."

Xiao Jinyue ran faster.