After Jiang Nian agreed to Prefect Qi's proposal to marry Qi Heng, she informed her grandfather. Grandpa Jiang asked her with solemn seriousness, "Have you thought it through? Don't regret it later."
Jiang Nian nodded. Her decision to marry Qi Heng wasn't solely due to the conditions Prefect Qi offered. She also had concerns—in these chaotic times, only with Qi Heng's protection could the Jiang Family remain safe. Without a powerful backer, even if their household stored grain supplies, they wouldn't be able to keep them secure. Such resources might even become a death warrant.
At Qi Manor, after discussing his major affairs, Prefect Qi finally said to Qi Heng, "Tomorrow, take your men personally to the Jiang Family to propose marriage. The betrothal gifts must be lavish. This time, the Jiang Family will definitely agree."
"Really?" Qi Heng was both shocked and delighted, then asked in confusion, "Father, you didn't force her, did you?"
"Brat, do you think your father is that kind of person?" Prefect Qi shot him a glare.
"Then why did Nian Nian agree to marry me?" Qi Heng was puzzled.
"I agreed to a few small requests of hers," Prefect Qi said indifferently.
"What requests?" Qi Heng felt that any conditions capable of persuading Jiang Nian couldn't be trivial.
Prefect Qi smiled slyly. "Son, I've sold you out to her. From now on, you must obey her and avoid provoking her unnecessarily."
Qi Heng: "……"
The three brothers—Qi Ji, Qi Mo, and Qi Xun—lowered their heads, their shoulders trembling slightly.
"And you three," Prefect Qi pointed at them threateningly, "Once Jiang Nian enters our household, she'll be the little ancestor of Qi Manor. Anyone who dares to offend her will be thrown out along with my sons!"
"What!" The three brothers could no longer laugh, staring at their father in shock. Qi Heng couldn't help but smirk, raising an eyebrow with a provoking expression.
Prefect Qi instructed the steward to prepare abundant betrothal gifts and personally supervised the selection of the finest items from the storeroom. He was quite fond of Jiang Nian—she was beautiful and sweet-tongued, especially when she mentioned his "imperial destiny." Her words were pleasing and showed her good sense.
When Qi Heng went to propose marriage, all three brothers accompanied him. Madam Qi also wanted to join, fearing the Jiang Family might reject them again.
"You?" Prefect Qi scowled. "If you go, your daughter-in-law will never enter our household in this lifetime."
"I…" Madam Qi anxiously instructed her son, "A-Heng, this time you absolutely must not be driven out again. Why not bring more people? If she refuses, you should…"
"Enough!" Prefect Qi scolded. "Stop with your foolish schemes! If you behave yourself, your daughter-in-law will come willingly. If you keep causing trouble, she'll slip away again."
"I'm just worried," Madam Qi muttered under her breath.
Qi Heng set off with his retinue to the Jiang Family to present the betrothal gifts. Qi Xun and Qi Mo followed eagerly. "Second Brother, we're coming with you!"
Yong’an Village buzzed with excitement as villagers gathered to discuss Qi Manor's proposal.
"My goodness, you should've seen it—chest after chest carried into the Jiang Family's home until their courtyard was completely filled. The last chests were still entering the village when the first ones arrived. How many betrothal gifts did they send?"
"That Jiang Nian is truly blessed. Marrying into the prefect's household means a lifetime of luxury and wealth."
"Absolutely," a farmer spat out melon seed shells. "The Jiang Family has produced a noble lady, and now they'll rise along with her."
Some envious voices added, "A peasant girl marrying into a wealthy, powerful family? She'll be divorced within two years. Does she really think it's easy to be a daughter-in-law of such a household?"
The villagers' attitude did not affect the Jiang family, as the entire household was busy entertaining the three Qi brothers. Qi Heng expressed slight apologies to Grandpa Jiang:
"Grandfather, the wedding arrangements are somewhat rushed. The auspicious date is in just six days, as previously set by my father. However, we will certainly not let Third Miss Jiang suffer any grievances."
Qi Heng held a box in his hands, while Qi Xun and Qi Mo each carried boxes as well. Qi Heng explained:
"This box contains the wedding attire. The other two boxes hold the phoenix crown and jewelry, all prepared for Third Miss Jiang."
Jiang Lao San and his wife privately felt sorrowful, wishing to keep their daughter at home for a few more years. Jiang Da Sao comforted her.
"Daughters must marry when they come of age. Once Nian Nian is married, my Xiao Mai will be next."
The two families finalized the engagement and proceeded with the San Shu Liu Li formalities at the fastest possible pace. Jiang Lao San and his wife had no time for melancholy, busily preparing their daughter's dowry.
The aunts personally sewed festive quilts for Jiang Nian. As she stitched, Jiang Lao San's wife sighed:
"All these betrothal gifts will accompany Nian Nian when she marries. No matter how we prepare, our dowry cannot compare to what Qi Manor has sent."
Jiang Er Xifu grumbled: "This is the best dowry our family can provide. If the Qi Family truly looks down on it, they shouldn't marry her. We're not exactly eager to send our daughter away anyway."
"Exactly!" Wife of Jiang the Fourth chimed in. Though they usually bickered, in times like these, they always sided with their own family.
Grandpa Jiang placed several rice stalks into the dowry, advising Jiang Nian never to forget her roots. With tearful eyes, Jiang Nian clasped her grandfather's hand.
"Grandfather, please take care of your health. I'll visit you often."
Grandpa Jiang shook his head disapprovingly. "Nian Nian, Qi Manor is an influential family with many rules. You can't be willful like before, going out whenever you please. Learn their customs properly, so no one can say we farming families lack manners."
Jiang Nian's eyes reddened. Hadn't she done exactly that in her previous life? Day after day, she lived in suffocating frustration, eventually angering herself to death. This time, she was aiming for the position of future princess consort – if she had to endure the same oppression, why bother marrying at all?
However, she didn't dare say this to her grandfather. "Grandfather, don't worry. I know what to do."
"Good, you've always been sensible. I won't say more." Grandpa Jiang produced two thousand taels of silver.
"Grandfather, what are you doing? I don't want this." Jiang Nian refused.
"Take it." Grandpa Jiang insisted. "This silver originally came from Qi Manor. We used some for your and Xiao Mai's dowries, but I saved two thousand taels for your siblings' future weddings and dowries."
"Grandfather." Jiang Nian said firmly. "I don't need silver. I won't want for food or clothing in Qi Manor. You keep this money."
"Nian Nian." Jiang Nǎinai persuaded her. "Take it. Without Qi Manor, our family couldn't have obtained so much silver. We can manage fine at home, but if you go to Qi Manor without money, people will look down on you."
"Grandmother." Jiang Nian sighed. "Alright, I'll accept it."
As the wedding day approached, neighbors came to help the Jiang family – cleaning, sewing festive quilts, and cutting new clothes. The courtyard tables were laden with wedding candies and fruits, with children grabbing handfuls when they visited.
The Qi Family was also busy decorating the wedding chamber. Servants cheerfully climbed ladders to hang red silk drapery on doors and corridors, pasting double happiness characters everywhere. Madam Qi and Qi Da Shao Furen were overwhelmed with work, with servants constantly running back and forth.
"Madam, which Hejin Wine should we choose?" The maid held up two wine cups for her selection.
"Let me see." Madam Qi took the cups, examining each one carefully.
"Madam, we're missing one type of fruit for the bed scattering ceremony."
"Whatever's missing, go buy it immediately! Do you really need to ask me about such trivial matters?" Madam Qi scolded with a headache.
"Yes." The maid hastily retreated.
"My son gets married, and his mother wears herself out with worry." Madam Qi sighed repeatedly. "That boy is nothing but a debt collector."
The eldest young madam, Liu Shi, smiled as she poured her a cup of tea. "Mother, please calm down. Second Brother's wedding is indeed too rushed – no amount of urgency can change that."
"Your elder brother's wedding was much less trouble." Madam Qi remarked absentmindedly.
Liu Shi's expression shifted slightly. Of course it had been less trouble – when they married, Madam Qi hadn't bothered with any of the arrangements, leaving everything to the housekeeper.
Her husband wasn't Madam Qi's biological son. He was born to Prefect Qi's mistress before his marriage. After learning of the child's existence, Madam Qi had the one-year-old brought into the residence, severing all connections between her husband and his birth mother.