After irritating his father, Lu Sanlang finally calmed down. Although he was no longer the same person as before, he still had no interest in staying overnight at the Lu Mansion. After all, his mother was his best mother, and his father treated him differently, but he had no interest in being perfunctory with his two married brothers and two sisters-in-law, so he left the house in the middle of the night.
As for where to go, need I say it? He doesn't like to travel at night in fancy clothes. He likes to show off his achievements.
So, of course, he was going to... his fiancée's house!
This time was different from the later times. Common people usually blew out the lights and went to bed after dinner to save money on lamp oil and because there were no entertainment activities. Even for officials like Liu Shilang of the Ministry of Works, dinner meant the end of the day. So, when they heard that the future son-in-law suddenly came, everyone in the Liu family was caught off guard.
Among them, Liu Qing was the most confused when she received the news from the little girl. She was very glad that she had not let her hair down or taken off her coat, but was still reading the book that Zhu Ying brought, and had not had time to go to bed. So, when she heard that her father and mother had opened the main hall to receive Lu Sanlang despite the late night, she quickly tidied herself up and hurried over with the maid.
After she had passed through the back door of the main hall and behind the screen in the middle, she could clearly hear Lu Sanlang's slightly low voice outside. It was obvious that the initial greetings and courtesies had ended. When she heard him address her parents so directly, she couldn't help but blush, but she was overjoyed in her heart.
"Father-in-law, mother-in-law, our two families have already made up their minds and originally wanted to get married as soon as possible, but because of me, the wedding has been delayed until today. After all, although I have a small fortune, I don't want to marry Sister Qing as a free man. Now that the emperor has issued an order, I am at least a seventh-rank official, and I am also a tutor in the Eastern Palace. I am finally qualified to talk about marriage."
Minister Liu and his wife were both delighted by what Sanlang Lu said. When marrying a son-in-law, one should choose a virtuous woman who can manage the household, and when marrying a daughter... of course one hopes that the son-in-law is studious, motivated and has a promising future!
To be honest, Lu Sanlang's image was not very good. He didn't lose weight even after more than a year of hard work. His round face became even rounder and his waist seemed to be thicker. But in this year, Lu Sanlang completed a journey that even a Jinshi with a good family background could not complete. This seventh rank may not seem like a big deal, after all, the third-class Jinshi were released to become seventh-rank county magistrates.
But this is a Beijing official, and a tutor in the Eastern Palace!
Therefore, when faced with such a prospective son-in-law who came to talk about marriage seriously, Minister Liu couldn't help but like him more and more, and had long forgotten his reluctance when he discussed this matter with Lu Wan. However, he still had to put on a stern face and criticize it. He coughed and said, "You two have already decided on your marriage, but shouldn't it be your father who should talk about this matter?"
"I think it would be more sincere and more worthy of Sister Qing if I say it in person."
Liu Qing was so upset by Lu Sanlang's repeated affectionate address that she couldn't help but scold the fat man for being cunning. You know, even when she "ran into" him, he always called her Miss Liu. When had he ever called her like that? But she had to admit that she really liked him calling her that, compared to the somewhat unfamiliar Miss Liu.