The last time the Queen Mother of Prince Runan brought Jiang Changning into the palace to meet the Queen Mother, not many people knew about it and it didn't cause any disturbance.
This time, the Queen Mother ordered the eunuchs to leave the palace and give gifts to Jiang Changning, which finally attracted the attention of various governments.
Jiang Changning, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's savior, has appeared in public.
Jiang Changning had anticipated that this would be revealed to the public when he took out the golden lock.
But Jiang Changning never expected that there would be so many people in Beijing who wanted to take shortcuts.
Matchmakers came one after another to propose marriage for Jiang Changning.
The matter of marriage proposal was not brought to Jiang Changning's attention, so he pretended not to know.
But unexpectedly, that day, Zou said to her in front of her: "Old lady, men should get married when they are old enough, and women should get married when they are old enough. My cousin has been 15 years old for many days, it's time to find her a husband."
After hearing this, Jiang Changning stood up and tried to avoid it.
Zou came forward, pushed her back to her original position, and said with a smile: "Cousin, this concerns your life, so you'd better listen. The family I'm telling you about is a good one."
"Ms. Ning, just sit down and listen." Old Mrs. Zhuang didn't look very good.
Mrs. Wu also had a droopy face and looked at Mrs. Zou with anger.
Jiang Changning's eyebrows twitched slightly. She had become a tool in the fight between the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law again.
Zou told Jiang Changning about this marriage, "The third young master of the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites..."
"I remember that the third young master was born out of wedlock." Wu interrupted.
"Although the third young master is born out of wedlock, he is raised under the name of the mistress," said Zou.
"Even though he was raised under the wife's name, it doesn't change the fact that he was born out of wedlock." Mrs. Wu made the fact that he was born out of wedlock particularly clear.
"Except for being born out of wedlock, this third young master is very good in other aspects. He is polite and well-mannered, and is studious. He will enter the examination next year and will definitely pass. By then, my cousin will be the wife of an official."
Zou turned her head and looked at Jiang Changning, "Cousin, do you want to meet someone?"
Old Madam Zhuang glared at her angrily and said coldly, "A concubine's daughter-in-law is inferior to others. There is no need to meet her."
Even though the Jiang family fell into decline, they never reached the point of marrying their legitimate daughter to their illegitimate son.
Mrs. Wu glanced at Mrs. Zou and raised the corners of her lips.
Jiang Changning doesn't care whether the child is born out of wedlock or not, as long as the person has good character and is able to make progress.
But she didn't believe that Zou would find a good family for her.
If Mrs. Zhuang doesn't let me see you, then I won't see you.
Zou said unwillingly: "There is another young master, who is also good. He is the eldest son of the chancellor of Kyoto Prefecture."
Before Wu spoke, Zou added, "This one is the legitimate child."
Mrs. Wu snorted lightly, picked up the teacup, and took two big gulps.
"This young master is not only good-looking, but also a famous talent in Beijing. He is an expert in both poetry and painting. The lyrics he wrote are sung everywhere," said Zou.
In Zou's words, the eldest son of the Kyoto prefecture chief is a rare and good man.
But Zhuang Qingyan is only two months younger than Jiang Changning. With such a good marriage partner, would Zou not leave her to her own daughter
"Don't worry about Ning's marriage. You should worry about Deng'er's marriage." Old Mrs. Zhuang ended the topic neatly.
Zou had so much to say that she couldn't say it anymore. She muttered, "I'm doing this for my cousin's own good."
No one responded to her words. Jiang Changning returned to the courtyard and said, "Shu Fei, ask them to check on those two people."
Although I feel that Zou’s matchmaking has bad intentions, I have no evidence.
Check it out, get the evidence, and don't wrongly accuse anyone.
"Miss, do you think those two are marriageable?" Su Fei asked.
In the evening, Jiang Changning went to Old Lady Zhuang's yard again.
The girl from the first room had not arrived yet, and the two girls from the second room were sitting in the side hall drinking tea.
Seeing Jiang Changning coming in, Zhuang Qingmei said with envy, "Sister Ning is so lucky. The third young master of the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites and the eldest son of the Prime Minister of Kyoto have both asked mother to propose marriage to Sister Ning."
"Fifth sister has really long ears. She can find out things so clearly even though she is studying in school." Jiang Changning said sarcastically.
"I just heard about it from the maids," Zhuang Qingmei said hurriedly.
Jiang Changning glanced at Zhuang Qingyan and said, "How unruly! They can only talk about the masters' idle chatter."
"Those who don't follow the rules should be dragged out and beaten with a stick." Zhuang Qingyan said in a deep voice.
Zhuang Qingmei laughed awkwardly twice and fell silent for a while.
After a while, she came back and asked, "Sister Ning, who do you want to marry?"
"Fifth sister, you have read "Female Training" in vain." Jiang Changning stood up, angrily looked at himself, and walked away in a huff.
When a girl is engaged for the first time, she should obey the orders of her parents and the words of the matchmaker. A girl cannot marry whomever she wants.
Zhuang Qingmei's words imply that Jiang Changning had secretly made a promise to someone and had decided to spend his life with them.
"It seems like you want to be beaten." Zhuang Qingyan glared at her and stood up and left.
Zhuang Qingmei rolled her eyes nonchalantly, picked up the teacup and took a few sips.
The next day, Zhuang Qingru took her husband back to her parents' home.
Tomorrow is Mrs. Zhuang’s 60th birthday, and tonight the Zhuang family will hold a birthday banquet.
Zhuang Qingru, the eldest daughter of the Zhuang family, married Fang Xiao, the second son of the Earl of Wuchang.
The current Earl of Wuchang is the elder brother of the Queen Mother of Runan. The Queen Mother of Runan came to the Zhuang family and wanted to adopt her as her goddaughter and let her marry on her behalf. Zhuang Qingru definitely contributed to this.
"Sister Ning, you are really good at keeping your mouth shut. You didn't reveal a single word about such an important matter. When I first heard about it, I was really shocked." Zhuang Qingru smiled as if in the spring breeze, but there was a hint of accusation in her tone.
Jiang Changning looked at her and smiled faintly, "My father taught us not to expect rewards for doing good. If the Concubine hadn't seen the golden lock, I wouldn't have mentioned this matter."
Zhuang Qingru narrowed her eyes, this was a hint at her.
"Sister Ning has won the favor of the Empress Dowager, which is a great thing. But the Empress Dowager is in the inner palace and has many political affairs to attend to. We don't need to disturb the Empress Dowager about trivial matters, don't you think, Sister Ning?" Zhuang Qingru stared at Jiang Changning sharply.
"There's no need to bother the Empress Dowager with small matters, but you have to make the decision on big matters." Jiang Changning looked at her without showing any weakness.
It's best to live in peace. If you dare to plot against her again, don't blame her for fighting back. Don't think she doesn't know that Zhuang Qingru is coveting the title of Earl of Wuchang.
"Sister Ning, you are really different now than you were before." In Zhuang Qingru's impression, Jiang Changning was docile and indecisive.
"People always grow up." Jiang Changning said lightly.
"I just hope that Sister Ning can always be so high-spirited." Zhuang Qingru stood up and said.
"Thank you, big sister, for your kind words. I will." Jiang Changning said with a smile, and then politely escorted her out.
The birthday banquet is a family banquet, and Jiang Changning, an outsider, is not qualified to attend.
In the evening, Jiang Changning sat in the yard, listening to the opera singing coming from the front yard, smiling slightly, it was really lively.
Old Madam Zhuang was a second-rank lady granted by imperial decree, and Zhuang Shenmao worked in the Ministry of Revenue, so many people came to the Zhuang family to celebrate Old Madam Zhuang's birthday.
Jiang Changning, together with the girls from the Zhuang family, celebrated the birthday of Old Mrs. Zhuang and presented her with a birthday gift, a portrait of Guanyin.
(End of this chapter)