Chapter 476: Your daughter is being betrothed to a prince?
Now Wang Xifeng's mentality has changed, and she no longer has so many demands. However, this matter is a big deal for this enemy. Even though she feels very jealous, how can she not be careful and let this enemy lose face?
Two days passed in a flash, and the entire Shenjing City seemed a little tense because of the busyness of the Jia Mansion, the Lin Mansion, and the Xue Family.
Especially on the day before the betrothal ceremony, word leaked out in the palace that after the betrothal ceremony, the Ministry of Internal Affairs would prepare fifty tables of banquets at the Lin and Xue families to entertain the guests, and the emperor and the retired emperor would also provide meals!
Soon after, word came from the palace that His Majesty would take a day off on the day of the marriage proposal due to poor health.
Is there anyone in the court who isn't intelligent? Isn't the emperor's intention clear enough? I'm giving you a holiday, so you must go and watch the ceremony and join in the fun...
Therefore, all the prefectures in Shenjing City prepared gifts and waited for the day of the betrothal ceremony to arrive.
In the evening of the day before the marriage proposal, a huge team walked out of the palace and headed straight for the Jia Mansion!
The Jia family knew that the identities of the visitors were all extraordinary, so they opened the main gate to welcome them. Jia Cong, the person involved, Jia Mu, and Jia Zheng were waiting in the front hall of Ningguo Mansion.
"Greetings to the old prince and the Duke of Yansheng! Thank you, the two stewards! Please come in, old immortal and the supervisor!"
When the three old ladies saw everyone coming, they hurried forward to greet them.
The old prince and the Duke of Yansheng responded to the full greetings, but the others all dodged and dared not respond!
"Hahaha, today is a big day for your family, no need to be so polite!" Prince An laughed and said, "First, have someone check everything to make sure there are no omissions. Let's also discuss the rules for tomorrow."
She led everyone into Ningzheng Hall, and then the old lady ordered Mrs. Xing, Wang Xifeng, Li Wan, and Youshi to take Jia Zhong and others to check.
Not long after, Wang Xifeng hurried back and whispered a few words to the old lady.
The old lady looked at Prince An and Duke Yansheng in surprise and confusion. She had lived a lifetime and had seen the world. She had witnessed the retired emperor taking a concubine as the crown prince, she had also witnessed the former crown prince taking a crown princess, and she had also experienced the six ceremonies of Emperor Longxing and Empress Shang. Therefore, she was very clear about the royal etiquette.
But how could his grandson's marriage ceremony be exactly the same as the one used by the retired emperor and the former crown prince to marry a principal wife? Even the Longxing Emperor's marriage to Empress Shang was inferior to this. After all, although the Longxing Emperor was a prince, he did not have the title of crown prince.
"Old Prince, Duke Yansheng, this betrothal ceremony..."
The old prince smiled and said, "You don't need to think too much. This is the grace bestowed upon the Marquis of Guanjun by the Emperor and His Majesty. Just accept it. No one will complain about it!"
Duke Yansheng, standing by, nodded and said, "After consulting with the Emperor, His Majesty personally issued an order to have the Ministry of Rites, the Imperial Household Department, and the Imperial Clan Court oversee the operation. While this may be a slight overreach, it's a difficult order to disobey. Furthermore, this is also an honor for your Jia family."
Dai Quan and Xia Shouzhong also spoke up, confirming what the two said.
In reality, aside from Xia Shouzhong and Dai Quan, who knew the inside story, who among them wasn't surprised? Even if it was an imperially arranged marriage, this ceremony was excessive. However, since both the retired emperor and the emperor had already approved of it and personally issued an edict to instruct everyone, what was the point of them saying more?
They are just doing things according to the will, it’s not their fault anyway!
Upon hearing this, Lady Jia could only agree with a wry smile.
Afterwards, the group discussed the matter. Prince An, Dai Quan, and Zhang Jizong would go to the Xue family, while Jia Zheng would go to the Jia family! Duke Yansheng, Xia Shouzhong, and the Great Illusionary would go to the Lin family, while Jia's mother would go to the Jia family herself. As for Jia Cong, the person involved, he was the one with the least time to spare. He simply waited at home, and there was no need for his help at all.
Those who are planning to go tomorrow will all rest after they have completed the discussion, while the others will continue to make preparations and work all night long.
At the hour of Mao the next day, accompanied by a series of firecrackers, two mighty teams walked out of Ningguo Mansion.
After going out, the two teams went east and west, one on the left and one on the right. Although the Xue family and the Lin family were in the same direction, it was naturally impossible for them to mix together, so the team heading to the Xue family needed to make a circle.
The first to come out was a team of attendants and servants, followed by a deacon leading the ceremonial procession with lights, drums and music. After that came the sedan chairs of the marriage envoy, the book recipient and the Jia family's carriage. Then a team of eunuchs carrying the red silk-covered gift of marriage followed closely behind, and finally there was a long procession of ceremonial processions.
Compared with the Xue family's marriage proposal team two days ago, this team was several times larger and stretched for two or three miles.
The Lin Mansion and the Xue Family had naturally already made preparations, with the main gates wide open, waiting for the arrival of the betrothal party.
In the front hall of the Lin Mansion, Lin Ruhai was drinking tea and chatting with a group of colleagues. Even the Minister of Revenue Shu Yuze came in person to help, and all other officials from the Ministry of Revenue were present.
The Xue family's presence was equally impressive, with Wang Ziteng at the head and more than half of the eight dukes and twelve marquises arriving. As for the rest, they naturally went to the Lin family.
"Madam, word has come in from the front that the betrothal procession is on its way to our house and will be here in about two quarters of an hour!"
Aunt Xue stood up suddenly and asked, "Brother, have you gone to meet her?"
"My uncle has already taken the others to greet him. He also said that the person coming this time is not ordinary, so he asked Madam to be cautious in dealing with him and not to lose her manners."
In fact, Wang Ziteng was confused at this moment!
Since the royal family was so concerned about this matter, he certainly knew that the battle would be huge. However, when he heard the message from the servant he had sent out, Wang Ziteng still didn't come to his senses.
Prince An will be the marriage envoy, Dai Quan, the general manager of Daming Palace, will be the deacon and the director of the Imperial Observatory, and the next generation of Heavenly Master will be the recipient of the book!
If he didn't know that the royal family would never make a mistake in such an important matter, he would have wanted to go back and ask his sister whether his niece was betrothed to Jia Cong or the prince?
At the same time, Lin Ruhai was also completely stunned!
Fang Yao, who was standing by, came back to his senses and said to Lin Ruhai with a wry smile, "Ruhai, your daughter is not being betrothed to the prince, is she being married to His Majesty?"
"Everyone, please wait a moment!"
Lin Ruhai went straight to the back house without saying a word.
In the backyard, Daiyu sat in her room, her face full of shyness. Today, as the person involved, she didn't need to show up, but today was the day she and her third brother would celebrate their marriage. How could Daiyu be so happy? She hadn't slept all night last night, her mind full of today's happy event.
"Greetings, Master!"
"Is Yu'er in the room?"
Hearing Lin Ruhai's voice in the courtyard, Daiyu went out in surprise, "Daddy, why are you here?"
