Before daybreak, the servants in Jiang's house were already in action. They swept the floor clean, wiped the doors, windows and pillars clean, and waited for the Duke's Mansion to arrive.
Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang slept very uneasily during their first two days here. Everything in the house was too unfamiliar to them, and they felt a little at a loss. After living there for two days, they got used to it a little bit, and no longer had dark circles under their eyes when they woke up in the morning.
"Why do city people's clothes have so many stripes? It's so troublesome to wear them!" Uncle Jiang clumsily put on clothes one by one. These clothes were light and had many straps, which made them very awkward to wear.
"You are really a wild boar that cannot eat fine bran. Even when you are given the best, you are still picky." Second Aunt Jiang caressed the clothes on her body lovingly. Women are dexterous, and the maid knew how to wear them after just trying them once.
"Are you happy to work in clothes like this?" Uncle Jiang was not convinced. It was so inconvenient to wear such clothes!
"You're making me laugh to death. Have you ever seen anyone working in the fields wearing this kind of clothes?" Aunt Jiang laughed. "Besides, we've been benefiting from Brother Miao these days, and we've also been enjoying the blessings of the masters and mistresses in the city. Who told you to take this dress back home and wear it?"
"The one at my nephew's house looks quite elegant. Will he want the clothes we have worn?" Uncle Jiang felt awkward no matter how he addressed Pei Che, so he referred to him as this or that. Of course, when they met, he would still call him Young Master Pei.
"Whether we want it or not, we have to have an attitude first. Don't let people get suspicious and think that we are poor relatives who come to beg for money. Then it will be difficult for Brother Miao to live." Aunt Jiang is a daughter-in-law, and she thinks about more things than Uncle Jiang.
"You're right!" Uncle Jiang immediately became nervous, thinking that he might accidentally take anything out with him when he left.
Jiang Miao naturally didn't know that the two elders were so careful and thoughtful. He was still lying on the bed and sleeping soundly. Although he was the protagonist today, he was also the most relaxed, because according to the rules, the woman did not need to show up when the engagement was made.
Jiang Miao didn't think about trying to save face, nor did he feel that others didn't see him as a man. What about men and women? Aren't they all human beings? It was just right that he didn't have to show up. He was too lazy to smile.
Pei Che, as another protagonist today, is not so lucky. He must follow his uncle and second uncle, bring the betrothal gifts, and set off from the Duke's Mansion together.
Just like wealthy families with daughters would help them save up dowries from a young age, elders with sons would also help them prepare betrothal gifts. After years of accumulation, the betrothal gifts Pei Che gave to his future partner were already countless.
Among them were gold, silver, jewelry, famous paintings, and antique jade. However, no matter how precious the betrothal gifts were, they could only be placed in boxes and sent over. The limelight of these things was stolen by the two geese singing loudly on the car in front.
The two big geese were locked in a rattan frame, sticking their heads out and shouting "Should...ah...should...ah..." all the way, as if they were mocking Pei Che for spending a lot of money to marry a man and being a big fool.
In the carriage, Pei Shiyuan looked at Pei Che with a fake smile and said, "Sir, do you know what others say about our family?"
Pei Che raised his eyes slightly, and the corners of his mouth formed a standard arc: "I would like to hear the details."
"They say that since ancient times, wealthy families would give geese as a gift to their wives to show their deep love. Only common people would give geese as a gift. I wonder if the prince will follow local customs because he is going to marry a commoner? There are constant rumors in the upper city now, and the reputation of the Duke's Mansion is almost ruined!" For the upper class in Liangjing, this was a very embarrassing thing.
"My Lord, are you too idle to gossip about such meaningless rumors? Why don't I find you a job? Otherwise, if others hear this, they will think you are just an idler at the village entrance, gossiping about other people's affairs." Without waiting for Pei Che to respond, his uncle retorted with a sullen face. Feng's uncle is now working in the Ministry of Personnel, and the performance evaluation of all officials must go through their hands. The performance evaluation is related to whether they will be promoted or demoted, whether they will stay or be transferred in three years. Most people dare not offend them easily.
Pei Shiyuan was hit by him and his face looked a little ugly. At this moment, Gao Shichang, who was sitting nearby to watch the ceremony, spoke up.
"Lord Feng has such great authority. No wonder people say that if there are two Fengs in the court, they can hold up half the sky. In my opinion, what the Duke said is right. Marrying a man is not a glorious thing in the first place, and being controlled by others is a loss of the family's style. If such an unfilial descendant were in my Gao family, he would have been expelled from the family long ago."
Gao Shichang originally thought that his trip would not be very smooth, but he did not expect that the uncle and nephew of the Pei family would become so stalemate, and even spoke coldly to outsiders. He did not mind adding fuel to the fire.
The eldest uncle of the Feng family snorted coldly: "Master Gao, do you know what it means when rumors stop at the wise? Are you questioning the emperor's decision? My nephew's marriage was granted by the imperial decree. Thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all the emperor's grace. How can you have any say in it? As for the rules of your Gao family, oh, it's better not to mention it."
Gao Shichang said with contempt. He recalled what happened last year. Although only one of his clan members died, it was still a great shame for him! He relaxed and started a verbal battle with Feng's uncle. The two scholars cursed each other with literary talent and quoted anecdotes from time to time. The battle was so fierce that it was jaw-dropping.
Pei Shiyuan and Pei Che listened quietly to the two people arguing all the way, until the deafening sound of firecrackers reached their ears, and then they realized that the convoy had arrived at the entrance of the alley.
Dozens of identical carriages moved forward in an orderly manner, almost blocking the entire street. People all stopped to watch. They didn't know which family the girl was from to be treated so well. Judging from the situation, she must have been favored by a wealthy family in the upper city.
The maximum number of firecrackers in Daliang is one thousand, but at this moment, the crackling sound lasted for a long time without a pause. The eldest uncle of the Feng family asked loudly: "Che'er, where did you buy these firecrackers? I heard that there are about five thousand."
"Uncle, this was Ah Miao's idea. He had people connect two firecrackers together. They only need to be lit once and they can go off for a long time." Pei Che said. It was a very common thing, but since no one thought of it first, it was considered a clever idea.
After the sound of firecrackers stopped, the motorcade slowly drove into the alley and stopped in front of Jiang's house. The front door of Jiang's house was wide open, and people nearby gathered around to watch the excitement. The bustling crowd added a touch of festivity to the scene.
The word was quickly passed on that they were allowed to take their seats. Then the host stood in front of the Jiang residence and read out the list of betrothal gifts from the Duke of Zhongguo's Mansion one by one to everyone. As he read a word, the servants carried in one item.
The betrothal gifts came in an endless stream, and it took nearly half an hour to finish reading them. Such a scene had never been seen in West City before, and while everyone was amazed, their thoughts still lingered on the first sentence this person said.
What does it mean that the prince of the Duke's Mansion is seeking to marry the young master of the Jiang family? How can the one he is seeking to marry be a young master
When everyone was puzzled, someone with quick news said: "It is said that the wealthy families in the upper city have already spread the word that the emperor has given a male wife to the prince of the Duke of Zhongguo's mansion. The masters of the Imperial Observatory have calculated that they are a match made in heaven, and this marriage was personally requested by the prince!" The small families only dared to discuss it in private and did not dare to publicize it loudly to avoid retaliation. But now that they have come to propose, there is no need to be shy.
"Male wife!" Everyone was very surprised. It was not unheard of for men to fall in love, but most of them kept it secret for fear of being discovered. I didn't expect these two to be so bold and dare to ask for an imperial decree
"That's right! I heard that Prince Pei was particularly in love with that man, but his family did not agree, so he knelt in the palace for three days and three nights before the emperor showed mercy and issued an imperial decree to arrange a marriage for the two of them!" The man proudly announced the false news, which had been passed on to who knows how many times, to everyone, making everyone think that Prince Pei was indeed affectionate. No one knew how charming that man was to win the favor of Prince Pei!
The conversation outside the house was lively, and the conversation inside the house was no less lively. When Gao Shichang saw the two men for the first time, he could see their uneasiness. After all the procedures were completed, he took out the emperor's edict and began to read it. The emperor was a matchmaker, so he couldn't be stingy. This edict was to give them a gift.
With the imperial edict still in his hand, Gao Shichang was ready to vent his anger on them, so he smiled and said, "I am here to watch the ceremony on the orders of the emperor. I wonder if you two are from the Liyang Jiang family or the Fengyuan Jiang family?"
The people he mentioned were all the local Jiang clans. The Jiang Miao family might have had some connection with them five hundred years ago, but now they have nothing to do with them at all.
Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang didn't quite understand what he said. After the son explained in a low voice, Uncle Jiang suddenly realized that he was asking about where they lived.
"Sir, we are from the Jiang family of Jiangjiawan, and we live fifty miles away on the official road in the east." Uncle Jiang smiled naively.
Gao Shichang chuckled, "I've never heard of this place before. It must be very remote. I wonder what you two do for a living?"
The houseboy explained again in a low voice, and Uncle Jiang said, "I usually tend to the fields at home and raise a few chickens."
Gao Shichang laughed loudly and looked at his uncle Feng and Pei Shiyuan: "Lord Feng, Duke, congratulations on your marriage. I guess you will need food and chickens in the future."
Pei Shiyuan smiled awkwardly. Feng's uncle had a sullen face. If Gao Shichang hadn't been holding the imperial edict at the moment, he would have wanted to rush forward and punch his smug face.
Pei Che's expression was exactly the same as Feng's uncle's. As an official of the imperial court, he had no sympathy for the common people and even enjoyed it. What a scum!
Gao Shichang looked at them proudly, feeling very happy, and asked again: "There must be a lot of work to do in the fields, right? If you are too busy someday, you can ask your in-laws to help. I just wonder if our prince will go to the fields? Hahaha."
"From what the adults said, you can do farm work now?" A voice suddenly sounded. Gao Shichang was startled. He turned around and found a handsome and clever young man walking out and looking at him coldly.
"Who are you?"
"Aren't you here to watch the ceremony? You don't even know who I am. Don't you take the emperor seriously? That's why you are so perfunctory in your work?" Jiang Miao didn't want to come out at first, but he couldn't suppress his curiosity, so he came out and hid inside to listen. As a result, he found that this person had been laughing at them, and he couldn't bear it anymore.
"Are you Jiang Miao?" Gao Shichang was a little displeased with the big hat he casually put on her. "On the day of the engagement, you should have sat in the room and waited. How can you come out and show your face in public!"
"Does the law stipulate that you can't go out when the engagement is made?" Jiang Miao rolled his eyes. "If there is no such rule, don't you think you are being too nosy? Although we farmers don't understand the principles, we still follow the etiquette when visiting other people's homes."
Hearing him mocking him for not knowing etiquette, Gao Shichang sneered: "You are such a sharp-tongued person. No wonder Prince Pei is under your control."
"Ah Che loves me and respects me. We are clearly a couple made in heaven. What's the point of talking about restrictions? It's just the love between husband and wife. Why are you nagging me?" Jiang Miao's shameless remarks shocked everyone. Even Pei Che, who knew it was fake, couldn't help blushing.
"You have no shame!" Gao Shichang couldn't continue to argue with him about this. "What did you mean by what you said when you came out?"
"What I mean is, if you understand farming, you must understand the suffering of the people. How can you make fun of this? If you don't understand, then isn't it like the pot calling the kettle black when you laugh at others?"
"Heh, you are indeed a street vendor. You have to deal with people every day, so you have become good at talking." Gao Shichang began to use his identity to suppress Jiang Miao from the perspective of class. Unfortunately, Jiang Miao came from the most free and equal country, and the ancient class system was nothing to him.
"I am a street vendor. Scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans are at the end of the hierarchy. But I don't know why you, who are at the front, are arguing with me here? Look at other educated and cultured people, they all keep silent. I usually only argue with gossipers on the streets."
"Hahaha, the term 'long-tongued man' is very clever. Che'er, your man speaks in a very interesting way." Lord Feng laughed out loud without any politeness.
(End of this chapter)