Chapter 301: Xue Family Mother and Daughter Discuss Marriage
Looking at Jia Cong's hurried back, Daiyu couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Zijuan stepped forward and said to Daiyu, "Miss, you can rest assured now. I said that the Third Master is not that kind of person. Besides, how can the Miss Zhen compare to you and Miss Bao? Even if she really wants to marry the Third Master, she can only be a concubine at most. By then, I will help you bully her every day!"
Daiyu covered her face with her handkerchief and said, "Third brother is naturally the best, why did I say anything..."
…
Compared to the busy Jia Mansion, Lixiang Courtyard was still quiet. The Xue family was not qualified to enter the palace to pay tribute, and Baochai would only occasionally sit in the courtyards of the other girls or Wang Xifeng and Li Wan for a while, but they would not gather together to make noise.
As for when the Zhen family entered the mansion, Baochai naturally knew about it, and Old Lady Zhen had also heard about Jia Cong's marriage proposal. However, she did not take it too seriously.
Baochai and Daiyu have both differences and similarities. The similarity is that once they fall in love, they will put all their thoughts on their lovers. The difference is that Daiyu seems a little immature in terms of feelings and always has some concerns about gains and losses. Therefore, when she heard about the Zhen family, she couldn't wait even for a day.
But Baochai didn't care. Although she was a girl in the boudoir, she was as smart as boys. Even though she couldn't imagine Jia Cong to be so perfect, she knew that the marriage between the Zhen family and the Jia family was not a good thing.
Of course she received Daiyu's letter and wrote back to her directly. She was naturally very close to this Lin Daiyu and was well aware of the tacit understanding between the two of them, so of course she took Daiyu's instructions to heart.
"Didn't my daughter go to visit the mansion today?"
Aunt Xue came into the hall and saw Baochai there, so she asked immediately.
Baochai smiled and said, "There has been a great mourning in the palace recently. The old lady and the two ladies in the mansion have to go to the palace every day. I only go to chat with my sisters occasionally. If we gather too often, it will not be good."
"That's right!" Aunt Xue smiled and sat down. After hesitating for a moment, she whispered, "Daughter, have you heard? The Zhen family in Jiangnan actually wanted their eldest daughter to marry Cong, but Cong refused. Do you think the Zhen family is still determined? Otherwise, why would they stay at your house?"
"Although the Zhen family and the Jia family are close, can the Zhen family be closer to the Beijing Palace?"
Baochai knew what her mother was thinking, so she smiled and said, "Don't worry, mom. Brother Cong sent me a message saying that I should not have any contact with the Zhen family. Even if we meet them by chance, we just need to save our dignity. "
Aunt Xue was relieved when she heard this. Since Jia Cong had this attitude, the possibility of the two families getting married was naturally small.
Although it is the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words, Jia Cong's current status and the fact that he is the patriarch of the Jia family make it difficult for the old lady to control him through marriage.
"However, even so, it is still better to find out some information," Aunt Xue continued.
"The Zhen family is so powerful, and their relationship with the palace is far beyond what ordinary people can compare to. If the emperor grants the marriage, I'm afraid even Cong Ge'er will find it difficult to refuse."
Baochai nodded slightly, but in her heart she was thinking about what Jia Cong had told her, and she felt at ease.
"My daughter, I discussed this with your uncle the other day, but it's really not easy to find a good match for your brother now." Aunt Xue said with some worry, "Originally, I wanted to ask your uncle to help find a decent official daughter. After all, our family doesn't want the other party to have any wealth."
"But your uncle not only refused, but also forbade me to ask Cong for help."
"After all the calculations, the family that is most compatible with our family is probably a merchant family."
Baochai shook her head helplessly. She didn't know what her mother was thinking. At that time, people advocated marrying up and marrying down. How could her brother marry the daughter of an official? Even the most insignificant official might not look down on the Xue family because of their family background.
Just look at Baoqin's case. This is not a marriage but a marriage of a daughter. However, a Hanlin without power would regret the marriage as soon as he got a little better. What's more, he wanted to marry the daughter of an official? Moreover, even if he really married her, it might not be a good thing.
"Mother, why don't you just listen to uncle and find someone of equal status!" Baochai consoled, "It is said that high-class families marry daughters and low-class families marry wives. Rather than finding a family that matches your brother, it is better to find a well-behaved one who can discipline your brother. After all, no matter what family status you have, you will still have to live your own life in the future, right?"
Aunt Xue sighed softly. How could she not know this? She just felt unwilling to accept it.
"Well, let me think about this matter! " Aunt Xue sighed.
…
In the Daming Palace, the old lady of the Zhen family brought Zhen Baoyu and Zhen Muring to bow before the emperor, "Your Majesty, these are the grandson and granddaughter of the lady of honor."
"My grandson's name is Zhen Baoyu, and my granddaughter's name is Zhen Muring!"
"Get up!" The emperor said with a smile, "You have the charm of Zhong Lingxiumin!"
"Your Majesty, you are too kind!" Old Lady Zhen said hurriedly, "My grandson was spoiled and caused trouble for the family all day long. On the contrary, my granddaughter is smart and well-behaved. She met the old concubine when she came to Beijing a few years ago. The old concubine loves this great-granddaughter the most."
"My granddaughter misses the old concubine all her life, but unfortunately, she will never see him again."
The emperor nodded and waved his hand for Dai Quan to bring a tray.
"This jade ruyi will be given to this precious jade in your family!"
Zhen Baoyu hurriedly bowed forward and kowtowed three times before taking the jade ruyi. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward!"
The emperor nodded, then took a bracelet from the tray and waved at Zhen Muyu, "Little girl, come forward!"
When he got closer, the emperor took a closer look and said, "Yes, yes, this face is somewhat similar to the old concubine! Since you care about the old concubine, I will give it to you! This is the old concubine's relic, and it is not a disgrace in your hands!"
As he said this, he handed the bracelet to Zhen Muring.
Zhen Mu fell to her knees while crying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your generous gift!"
When Old Concubine Zhen saw this, she was delighted. Her granddaughter was indeed somewhat like the old concubine, which was one of the reasons for her confidence. And now the reaction of the retired emperor was exactly as she had expected.
She immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, since the old concubine passed away, the ladies have been grieving for days, and they don't know how many days they have left to live. I pity my granddaughter. She has lost the old concubine's favor first. If she loses the protection of the ladies, I don't know how miserable she will be in the future."
"So, I would like to ask His Majesty to show some mercy to this girl!"
