coobybook Chapter 119: Poor Scholar
Chapter 119: Poor Scholar
Two days before Mid-Autumn Festival.
Early in the morning, Su Li returned to her parents' home with the holiday gifts, Pei Heng, and her two children.
As soon as they got off the car, Yong'an Hou, Qin, and Su Zhe were already waiting outside the mansion gate. When they met, Qin hugged Huan'er and Xi'er and left like a sweet baby.
Yong'an Hou looked at Pei Heng who came down on crutches, nodded silently, stepped forward to look him over and said in a deep voice:
"Not bad, not bad! You're still young after all, and you've recovered well!"
Pei Heng was wearing a brocade robe, jade belt, and a white jade crown today. He had a slender figure and standing next to Su Li, they were a perfect match, making others envious.
"Thank you for your concern, father-in-law."
Pei Heng nodded in greeting.
Su Zhe came up and took Su Li's arm, saying, "Sister, you're finally back. Mother started preparing this meal three days ago. It's all your favorite dishes. Let's go and take a look."
Su Li turned her head and saw Pei Heng nodding at her with a warm smile.
"Can you, do it alone?"
Su Li was worried about Pei Heng.
In her heart, Pei Heng was always the patient who needed her careful care. Now she was a little worried about leaving him alone with her stern and extremely strict father.
"Don't worry. The Marquis' Mansion is your home and my home as well. I'll talk to my father-in-law. Don't worry."
Pei Heng gestured for her to go with peace of mind.
He leaned on his crutches and slowly followed Marquis Yong'an to the study.
The whole family is here today, but Xu Qing is the only one missing.
Su Li pulled Su Zhe aside and asked, "Why didn't she come out?"
Logically speaking, Xu Jing couldn't let go of such a good opportunity when Pei Heng came to visit her today, right?
Su Zhe snorted and said:
"Her, you'll know in a moment."
When they entered the hall and sat down, Qin was already there with Huan'er and Xi'er. As expected, there were mountains of delicious food piled in front of the two children.
"Mom, let Xijie eat less sweets. Her teeth are almost all decayed." Su Li hurriedly advised Qin when she saw that she wanted to stuff Xijie's mouth full.
Qin turned a deaf ear to her and picked up another piece of cake and stuffed it into Xijie'er's mouth, saying, "It's okay, we all have to change our teeth anyway. Is it delicious? It's delicious. Then, can you ask someone to make another portion for us and take it away when we leave?"
Xijie'er's bulging mouth made no sound, she just nodded continuously with bright eyes.
Su Li was about to speak, but Huan Ge'er said, "Don't worry, mother. I will make sure Xi Jie'er rinses her mouth and brushes her teeth properly."
Qin doted on the child to no end and continued, "That's right, just rinse your mouth and brush your teeth properly. The child is in the growth stage, how can you not let him eat!"
As he said that, he stuffed it into Huan Ge'er's mouth.
Huan Ge'er didn't expect that it would be his turn so soon. He frowned and could only bear this wave of love.
Su Li covered her mouth and laughed non-stop.
As they were talking, a figure flashed outside the hall.
"Madam, Lord Shen is here." The maid announced from outside.
Qin heard this and said with a smile:
"Yanqing is here, come in quickly."
As soon as he finished speaking, Su Li saw a handsome and dignified young man walking in with a few paper bags in his hands. As soon as he came in, he bowed respectfully and said:
"Your humble servant, Shen Yanqing, greets the Marquis' wife and the General's wife. This is a small gift I've prepared. I wish the Marquis a happy and healthy Mid-Autumn Festival."
The Marquis's wife smiled and said, "We're almost family now, why is Yanqing still so distant? I'm so happy that you can come."
family?
Su Li looked at Su Zhe suspiciously, and sure enough, he was winking at her. Looking at her mother's expression, Su Li was left with no doubts.
Then Su Zhe came over and whispered:
"This Shen Yanqing is a fifth-rank doctor in the Ministry of Personnel's Examination and Reward Department, and he's my father's subordinate. Mother has chosen him and wants to introduce him to Xu Qing."
Su Li said "oh" and looked at Shen Yanqing.
This man had a clear and upright expression, the appearance of an upright gentleman. At this moment, he was calmly answering his mother Qin's questions. It seemed that his mother was very satisfied with him.
However, she still asked Su Zhe silently:
"Would Xu Qing be willing?"
Although Shen Yanqing was a handsome man, it was obvious that his family was not well off. His cotton clothes were a bit pale from washing, and the cuffs were slightly frayed. But even so, the clothes were starched and clean, which made him look fair and neat, and particularly pleasing to the eye.
However, based on Su Li's understanding of Xu Qing, she definitely looks down on Shen Yanqing.
"Isn't it? They've been having a quarrel these past few days!"
Su Zhe mouthed the words.
After Shen Yanqing and Qin finished their conversation, they took their leave and were led by servants to the study to find Marquis Yong'an.
Qin still had the look of a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law, who never tires of looking at him. She slapped her thigh and began to ramble:
"Yanqing is your father's most proud student. He has a virtuous character and a promising future. I have been searching for him for a long time before I finally found him. He and Qing'er are a perfect match, both talented and beautiful."
Su Li and Su Zhe looked at each other silently and said:
"Mom, did Cousin Qing agree?"
Qin was stunned and said, "Since ancient times, marriage has been decided by parents and matchmakers. Qing'er's parents passed away early, so your father and I are her parents. Naturally, we have the final say on her marriage."
"She rejected the Sun family on her own initiative years ago, and finding a suitable partner in an aristocratic family is now impossible. Shen Yanqing is the best. Although his family is poor, he only has an elderly mother to support, and the family is simple. People from humble backgrounds don't have the many complications of aristocratic families. I wonder how much less worries Qing'er will have if she marries him."
"Although he's a little poor now, Yanqing is capable and motivated, and has a good reputation. Your father also said that given time, his achievements will not be inferior to his."
Qin was anxious.
She hadn't known Xu Qing's feelings before, thinking she was truly filial and didn't want to leave her. But ever since Su Li's return, she had begun to sense some signs. Not long ago, when she heard Pei Heng was well, Xu Qing had repeatedly inquired about him in subtle ways, and had repeatedly wanted to go to the General's Mansion with her. What else could she not understand?
Her daughter had gone through so much hardship before finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. She would never allow Xu Qing to disrupt the lives of her daughter and son-in-law.
There was another matter that forced her to quickly arrange Xu Qing's marriage.
Because a few days ago, Marquis Yong'an came back and told her that Lord Tantai had told him openly and secretly that His Royal Highness Prince Jing intended to take Xu Jing as a concubine.
"Prince Jing? When did he fall in love with Xu Qing?" Su Li was surprised.
"Yes. I was shocked too. Li'er, your father is on duty at the Ministry of Personnel, and so many eyes are on him. Prince Jing, Prince Heng, Prince Kang, who wouldn't want to win him over to serve under their command? But your father is a loyal minister. He has been cautious and treading on thin ice all these years, fearing any mistakes. How could Prince Jing's request to marry Jing'er be sincere at this critical moment?"
After analyzing the situation with her husband, Qin decided that the matter could not be delayed any longer, so they simply contacted Shen Yanqing.
Shen Yanqing held an important position in the Ministry of Examination and was also handsome, so logically he should have no trouble finding a wife. However, he was too upright and was in charge of the performance evaluation of officials, which had offended many people over the years.
In addition, his family was poor, and no one looked down on him even when he was twenty-five or twenty-six.
He had originally made up his mind to remain a bachelor for the rest of his life, but he did not expect that the head of the Ministry of Personnel would actually talk to him and ask him if he would consider marrying his niece.
He doesn't want to curry favor with his superiors.
But after meeting Xu Jing at a poetry gathering, he couldn't forget her. So he agreed to Yong'an Hou's request and came to visit again today during the Mid-Autumn Festival.