Chapter 474: My Daughter is Under My Father’s Control
Waving his hand for everyone to sit down, Lin Ruhai said, "His Majesty summoned us today and said that the marriage ceremony had been held before the Champion Marquis left for the war!"
"I've already agreed. Over the next two days, we'll have to hurry up and prepare some things at home! Everything we need to arrange and purchase should be prepared in advance."
"Congratulations, young lady!" the two concubines said to Daiyu in unison.
Daiyu originally thought that there was something else going on, but she didn't expect it was her marriage to her third brother.
"Oh, Daddy!" Daiyu cried tenderly, "I will leave the decision to you, Daddy!"
After saying that, she ran back to her room with her handkerchief covering her face in shame!
Looking at his daughter's shy appearance, Lin Ruhai sighed softly. Shouldn't his daughter have said, "I want to serve you for two more years?" He raised his daughter, but she was still abducted.
He shook his head helplessly, collected his thoughts, and then said to the two concubines, "On the day of the betrothal, you won't need to take care of the front yard. I will invite a few colleagues to help out. In the backyard, the imperial edicts from the Jia family should be coming, and maybe even the old lady herself. However, they are all family members, so you just take good care of them. No one will pick on the gifts."
"Prepare the necessary refreshments and red envelopes in advance so they are not missing. If there are not enough in the mansion, send someone to buy them as soon as possible."
"Also, I will write the documents for the marriage proposal tomorrow. Please take them and hand them over to the recipient. The return gifts, such as robes, hats, and belts, have already been prepared. Please check them again as soon as possible to make sure there are no omissions."
The two agreed one by one, and then returned to the backyard to prepare.
When Wang Ziteng returned home from his mission, he heard about this and was not surprised. Although the date was changed, it did not mean that he was being neglectful to his niece. In fact, because of this small matter, the queen even specially invited her sister to the palace to plead for her, which was already a great favor to her. If she was still dissatisfied, it would be her family's ignorance.
Wang Ziteng immediately said to Aunt Xue, "Don't worry. Tomorrow I'll have your sister-in-law bring Wang You and the others to your house to help with the arrangements."
"Baochai and Ruhai's daughter should be proposed at the same time, and the Jia family will be divided into two groups. However, now only Cunzhou is of suitable status in the Jia family, and the other one must be sent by the old lady herself. I think the old lady will go to Ruhai's side, and Cunzhou will come to our side."
"The women from the Jia Mansion's backyard should be the first wife to go to the Lin family, and Feng girl should be coming to us. The several imperial officials from the East Palace are not suitable, so they probably won't come."
"Besides, it was the Empress herself who ordered this, and this is arranged by His Majesty and the Empress. The Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Clan Court will also send representatives, but they won't be of high status. I will personally take care of everything when the time comes."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, brother!" Aunt Xue said happily.
Wang Ziteng smiled and said, "I am Baochai's uncle. If I don't go, who will? And as for Big Brother, I have asked someone to invite him in advance. After all, we are family. It would be inappropriate not to go to such a happy occasion. But, with me here, you don't have to worry about anything."
"There's one more thing I need to think about!"
"What are you talking about, brother?"
"There has always been an order of seniority. It was originally planned that Pan'er and the Xia family would finalize the matter before Baochai's proposal. Now that Baochai's matter has been brought forward, what are the rules for Pan'er and the Xia family's marriage?"
Aunt Xue was stunned when she heard this. She was so happy today that she forgot about this matter.
"Brother, what do you think we should do?" Aunt Xue said with a wry smile.
Wang Ziteng thought for a moment and said immediately, "Why not do it in advance? After all, there is no other way when encountering such a situation. It would not be appropriate to let Pan'er fall behind Baochai."
"Tomorrow I will personally go to the Xia family and finalize this matter. I believe they will have no objections. As for the necessary gifts, our family can always gather them. Although time is a bit tight, it is not too late. When the time comes, I, the Minister of War, will personally serve as the wedding envoy. I will also ask Liu Fang from the Duke of Liguo's Mansion to be the steward, and I will also ask the Imperial Observatory to send a letter of acceptance, and then everything will be complete."
"That's certainly the best!" Aunt Xue nodded happily.
Although the matter was urgent, with the presence of my brother and the master of the Duke's Mansion, this status was already a great honor. How could the Xia family not be satisfied?
"Then I'll trouble you tomorrow, brother. After I return, I'll have everything prepared. The sooner the better. After all, when the Imperial Observatory sets a date, Baochai's side will be given priority."
"Well, don't worry!"
The next day, Wang Ziteng personally went to the Xia family. Xia Jingui was somewhat reluctant about the Xue family's request to change the date. Why should she change it? Was her sister-in-law's affairs more important than her own marriage? However, Xia Jingui's mother agreed directly.
The personal visit of Wang Ziteng, the Minister of War, was already a great honor for the Xia family. Furthermore, this matter involved the Jia Mansion and the imperial family. Was the Xia family really going to act this way? Furthermore, the two families were previously quite compatible, but with the Xue family marrying into the Jia family, and the highly sought-after Marquis Guanjun, the Xue family's status was subtly higher than their own.
Furthermore, their future son-in-law would be the uncle of the Champion Marquis, so how could they really ignore it? The easier the Xue family's life became, the easier it would be for their daughter to marry into the family.
The Xia family immediately agreed and proposed marriage the next day.
Wang Ziteng passed the news to the Xue family, and the Xue family became completely busy. They had to rush to deal with two major events almost at the same time. The things that needed to be purchased were easy to deal with. After all, the Xue family had no shortage of money, so even if the shop didn't have it, they could go and buy it directly. However, they were a little short of manpower.
Fortunately, many officials, sons and even servants from Wang Ziteng's mansion came to help, and they were able to barely get by.
That morning, the betrothal team, led by Wang Ziteng and Liu Fang, set out from the Xue family and headed directly to the Xia family.
However, although was wealthy, Xue Pan was just a commoner, so he did not dare to go beyond the proper etiquette in the marriage proposal ceremony.
One goose, one lamb, one hu each of wine, millet, rice and flour, four rolls of silk, four sets of head ornaments, and six kinds of food.
Despite this, the scene was extremely luxurious and grand because of the presence of Wang Ziteng, the Minister of War, and Liu Fang, a first-class official.
The long procession was one mile long. Wherever it passed, many people came to watch the fun, and many naughty children joined in the fun!
The Xue family's steward, who was accompanying them, carried a large basket of copper coins and threw them out, prompting the children to scramble for them. The sound of firecrackers was incessant! The procession did not stop until it reached the gate of the Xia family .
The Xia family was not as good as the Xue family. There were only two orphans and a widow in the family. However, the Xia family also spent money to invite two senior officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Household Department to help with the situation.
