nashuaworldcup Chapter 254 The Xiao Family's Proposal
Chapter 254 The Xiao Family's Proposal
Shen Zizai nodded. Looking at his daughter's condition, he had forgotten that His Majesty had granted her permission to rest.
It's no wonder he didn't care; his daughter didn't look frightened or injured at all.
"Take some tonics with them, Father," he instructed.
"Daughter takes her leave." Shen Li took the opportunity to slip away.
By the time Shen Zizai came to his senses and wanted to ask how to deal with the King of Chess as soon as possible, Shen Li had already left.
"That little devil." He chuckled helplessly.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
The next morning, Xiao Bailing brought her two daughters to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. Xiao Qi was not at home because he was taking up his post at the Five Armies Commandery, but the mansion was very lively. When the family of three arrived, they found that the old man was taking inventory of the treasury.
"Father, how come you're still managing the accounts at your age? Didn't I just go through them for you after the New Year?" Xiao Bailing asked, puzzled.
Shen Li and Shen Yue stepped forward to pay their respects.
"You've all arrived." Old Duke Xiao sat in his chair, and smiled even more broadly when he saw them arrive. "You've come at the perfect time. I was just about to send someone to fetch you."
"Is there some good news?" Shen Yue could tell as well.
"Yue'er has made progress; your cousin wants to propose marriage." Xiao Zhan said, laughing heartily, his face glowing. "I never thought this old man would live to see this rascal finally realize he wants to get married."
"Really?" Xiao Bailing was also very surprised upon hearing this: "Which family's girl has he taken a fancy to?"
Shen Yue listened with great curiosity.
"The Lin family, Lin Wan'er."
"That brat has a sharp eye! If he didn't like it, fine, but he picked the best one right away." Xiao Bailing immediately clapped his hands and said, "If this works out, it will be a great joy for the Xiao family."
"Hello, Sister Wan'er. But has the Lin family agreed?" Shen Yue asked with concern.
"Qi'er said there shouldn't be any problem. We've already sent a matchmaker to their door. We still need to prepare the betrothal gifts as soon as possible," Xiao Zhan said.
Shen Yue looked at Shen Li: "Really, sister? Sister Wan'er is going to marry into our family?"
"Probably." Shen Li smiled with relief, finally this day had come.
"That's wonderful. I'll take care of the betrothal gifts. We can't let the young lady down." Xiao Bailing said, rolling up her sleeves and personally walking into the treasury.
Xiao Zhan grinned from ear to ear, praising Lin Wan'er and saying that his grandson was a fool who had good luck.
Shen Li and Shen Yue also helped with the betrothal arrangements. At lunchtime, the matchmaker returned. She was the wife of one of Duke Xiao's former generals and had always had a good relationship with the Lin family's wife.
"Sister Xing, you've worked hard. Let's have a meal together." Xiao Bailing invited her into the inner room.
Shen Li and Shen Yue, the two younger generations, greeted them from the side.
Madam Xing followed Xiao Bailing into the inner hall, but the smile on her face seemed somewhat unnatural.
Shen Li had a bad feeling.
"There's no need for a meal," Madam Xing said, waving her hand.
Xiao Zhan, seated at the head of the table, immediately spoke: "Niece-in-law, I'll be frank. How did the inquiry go? Has Madam Lin agreed?"
"This..." Madam Xing hesitated for a moment.
The whole family froze for a moment, but Xiao Bailing asked, "Was it not going well?"
"Madam Lin said she cannot agree to this marriage. Thank you for your opinion, Duke, but she doesn't want her daughter to marry a military general." Madam Xing still said it, but she looked a little embarrassed in front of the Xiao family.
"What?" The joy on Xiao Zhan's face vanished; this was an outcome he hadn't anticipated.
After all, Xiao Qi had said before that there was a chance, so why did it fall through again?
"I have failed the Duke's trust, and I am truly ashamed," said Madam Xing, feeling quite guilty.
Xiao Bailing was also immersed in disappointment. After all, she had been happy all morning and couldn't accept such a contrast for a while.
Shen Li spoke up again: "Marriage is a matter of fate, how can you blame Auntie? We'll make the trip for you, Auntie, and we'll definitely pay you a visit another day to express our gratitude."
Mrs. Xing looked grateful.
Xiao Bailing also recovered and comforted Madam Xing, asking her to stay for lunch, but Madam Xing declined and left.
After the person left, the entire dining room fell into a long silence.
Even Shen Li couldn't understand how such a thing could happen. Didn't Lin Wan'er discuss it with her mother?
This made the marriage between the two families difficult to arrange. Everyone knew that since the Lin family had rejected the Xiao family, other families would come to propose marriage.
Even the emperor and the harem might help Lin Wan'er with this matter, since the Lin family holds military power and would still be taken seriously.
I never expected that something that should have gone smoothly would turn out like this.
She frowned, but couldn't think of a good solution, since it wasn't an external force interfering, but rather Madam Lin.
Only Lin Wan'er herself can convince them.
"Grandpa, don't be sad. There's bound to be a way out," Shen Li comforted the old man.
Xiao Zhan sighed deeply. He had finally come to his senses, but the other party wouldn't agree, so he wouldn't be able to marry his granddaughter-in-law anytime soon.
Xiao Bailing also tried to persuade her, but she herself didn't have much confidence. Marriage was a matter of parental consent and matchmaker's words, and if the other person's mother didn't agree, what chance could there be?
Shen Li didn't know what to say, as too much gossip would damage Lin Wan'er's reputation, so she could only leave this matter to Lin Wan'er herself.
The mother and her two daughters stayed at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion until evening. When Xiao Qi returned, she frowned and muttered, "How could this be? She clearly promised me."
He still remembers how, when he expressed his feelings, the usually aloof Lin Wan'er almost shed tears, and then readily agreed.
Logically, there shouldn't be any problems with the marriage proposal, but unexpectedly, Madam Lin actually objected.
The group couldn't think of a good solution, so after comforting Xiao Qi, they went back. The mother and her two daughters were in low spirits the whole way.
Lin Wan'er was also incredulous upon hearing the news. When she went to see Madam Lin, Madam Lin was in the Buddhist hall worshipping Buddha.
"Mother, why are you objecting? Didn't you say a couple of days ago that you wanted to think about it? How come you made a decision without consulting me?" Lin Wan'er didn't care about anything else and came in to ask.
Madam Lin, though in her early forties, looked older than the noblewomen near Kyoto. She wore a dark gray dress embroidered with white orchids, held a string of prayer beads in her hand, and was reciting Buddhist scriptures.
"Mother," Lin Wan'er sighed, "you have to tell me why, don't you?"
“Three generations of the Lin family have served in the military. Your grandfather’s generation had five brothers, but your father’s generation only had three brothers. In your generation, the entire Lin family only has one male member, your older brother.”
Madam Lin spoke, her voice more deathly still than calm: "Your father and brother are on the frontier, and they don't know what they will face tomorrow. I pray for them every day by chanting scriptures and worshipping Buddha, but even so, I am often awakened by nightmares."
"I don't want you to live like that."
Lin Wan'er was also moved. As far back as she could remember, people had been dying in her clan, almost all of them in battle. She had also witnessed her mother's arduous struggle.