No matter how much the matchmaker tried to persuade, Grandpa Jiang simply wouldn't agree to the marriage arrangement. The matchmaker had no choice but to return with the betrothal gifts and five thousand taels of silver.
When the boxes containing the silver were being carried away, Fourth Daughter-in-law of the Jiang Family blocked their path.
"Father, His Excellency the Prefect has sent someone to propose marriage. What a wonderful match this is! Why won't you agree? If my daughter weren't so young, I would have accepted this proposal myself."
"Exactly!" Fifth Daughter-in-law of the Jiang Family gazed eagerly at Jiang Nian.
"Nian Nian, I saw Second Young Master Qi when he came to deliver the silver last time. He possesses celestial beauty and comes from a prestigious family. What could you possibly find unsatisfactory?"
Jiang Nian's face darkened.
"Fifth Aunt, are noble households really that easy to enter? As an uneducated farm girl who knows nothing, if I marry into such a family, I'll surely become the subject of ridicule behind my back. All the women in the Qi family are noble ladies from distinguished families. How could a backgroundless farm girl like me possibly share equal status with them? They might even consider my presence a disgrace. Even if they bully me to death, who would dare to speak up?"
Grandpa Jiang roared angrily. "Lao Si! Lao Wu! Take your wives back to your rooms!"
Jiang Lao Si dragged his wife back to their room.
Fifth Daughter-in-law of the Jiang Family was too frightened to say another word. Jiang Lao Wu pulled her by the arm back to their room, scolding her as they went.
"Why are you meddling in this? What does it have to do with you?"
"How is it not related?" Fifth Daughter-in-law of the Jiang Family muttered quietly.
"That's five thousand taels of silver! To just refuse it like that! His Excellency the Prefect originally said this money was to repay the life-saving grace, but then it suddenly became Nian Nian's betrothal gift. Isn't this just toying with people?"
"Will you please shut up, for heaven's sake!" Jiang Lao Wu covered his wife's mouth as they entered the room. "Discussing government officials behind their backs – you've got some nerve!"
At Prefect Qi's Residence.
The Qi family stared dumbfounded at the returned betrothal gifts and silver. Prefect Qi asked again.
"You're saying the Jiang family doesn't agree to this marriage?"
"Yes, Your Excellency." The matchmaker also found it unbelievable. Why would the Jiang family refuse such an excellent match?
"Grandpa Jiang said his granddaughter is uneducated and unfamiliar with proper etiquette, thus unworthy of your esteemed family's second young master. Miss Jiang Nian herself also expressed unwillingness to marry into the Qi family, saying she isn't worthy of such a high match."
"At least he knows his place." Madam Qi raised an eyebrow disdainfully.
Prefect Qi scoffed. "How dare you put on airs? If the Jiang girl doesn't marry your son, our entire family will be guilty of deceiving the Emperor. Where are we going to find another Jiang girl for next month's wedding?"
Madam Qi was immediately silenced. "How about having my niece from my maiden family impersonate a Jiang girl and marry A Heng?"
Prefect Qi's face turned livid. "Are you trying to hasten the Qi family's demise? Deceiving the Crown Prince again and again – how many heads do you have to bear such responsibility!"
Madam Qi shrunk her neck, not daring to speak further, though she felt deeply aggrieved inside. Her son was as handsome as jade, radiant and magnificent, learned and talented yet humble and courteous. How dare that Jiang girl look down upon her son!
Qi Heng watched the returned silver expressionlessly, remaining silent. The matchmaker pointed at the boxes containing the silver.
"Grandpa Jiang also mentioned that he used several dozen taels of this silver, and that he would find a way to repay it in the future."
"The old gentleman is too polite. It is I who wronged him. How could I possibly let him repay the silver?"
Prefect Qi showed a guilty expression. This silver was originally given to repay the life-saving grace, but in his urgency, it had become his son's betrothal gift.
Qi Heng stood up and faced Prefect Qi. "Father, I would like to visit the Jiang family to meet the third young lady of the Jiang family."
"Very well." Prefect Qi pointed at the chest. "Take this silver with you. This is repayment for saving my life. The betrothal gifts will be sent separately. I would feel ashamed accepting this money."
"Yes."
The Qi brothers all sensed the urgency. The fourth son, Qi Xun, tugged at Second Young Master Qi's sleeve.
"Second Brother, have a proper talk with Second Sister-in-law. Make sure she agrees to marry into our family. Once she enters our household, I'll serve her like an ancestor."
Third Brother Qi Mo nodded in agreement. "Me too. I only recognize Miss Jiang as my second sister-in-law."
Eldest Brother Qi Ji approached Qi Heng and whispered close to his ear: "Second Brother, do you know how to charm women? Let me teach you a few tricks."
"You know how?" Qi Heng raised an eyebrow with a light scoff.
Qi Ji: "……"
As Qi Heng moved to leave, Qi Xun stopped him.
"Second Brother, change into nicer clothes before you go. Wear white – you look best in white. Perhaps when Second Sister-in-law sees how beautiful you are, she'll be moved and agree to marry you."
"Nosy."
Qi Heng gave him a faint glance before stepping past him. Two quarters of an hour later, Qi Heng appeared wearing a moon-white wide-sleeved gown with crossed collar and cloud patterns, simply belted with a white jade girdle, looking unrestrained and free-spirited.
Before leaving, Qi Heng took a mutton-fat white jade hairpin from his cabinet – a gift from his grandfather meant for the woman who would accompany him through life.
Riding to Yong'an Village, he found several children playing with stones at the Jiang family's doorstep. Dismounting, Qi Heng inquired:
"Children, is anyone home?"
Jiang Li and Jiang Ya looked up and cried out happily. "Big Brother, we remember you! You're the one who brought silver to our house last time."
"That's me." Qi Heng waved for his attendants to carry the chest inside, and the children followed them in.
"Grandpa! Grandma! Big Brother brought silver again!"
The Jiang men were all working in the fields, leaving only the women at home. Everyone came running out when they heard, including Jiang Sui and Jiang Nian.
Seeing the silver returned, everyone except the old master and the third branch couldn't conceal their delight.
"Father, Second Young Master Qi has brought silver again!" The fourth daughter-in-law exclaimed with mixed surprise and pleasure, while the third daughter-in-law shot her a glare.
Qi Heng bowed respectfully to Grandpa Jiang.
"Elder, I am Qi Heng. Last time I rashly sent matchmakers to propose marriage – that was discourteous of me. I've come today to apologize. Please accept this silver – it's not betrothal gifts, but repayment for saving my father's life. I beg you not to refuse again."
Grandpa Jiang truly couldn't understand why the son of a prefect would insist on marrying his granddaughter. Unwarranted kindness surely hid evil intentions.
Coincidentally, the third branch thought the same. Jiang Nian frowned deeply. In her previous life, even after marrying into the Qi family, there had been nothing particularly requiring her presence. Why was she so indispensable?
Grandpa Jiang repeated his usual response, saying his granddaughter was too dull to be worthy of Second Young Master Qi.
Qi Heng didn't respond directly, only asking: "Might I have a private word with Third Miss Jiang?"
Grandpa Jiang's face darkened. Though they were farming folk, their daughters couldn't just meet with anyone casually. If word got out, what would become of their reputation?
Qi Heng scanned the Jiang family members, his gaze settling on Jiang Nian. Instinct told him this was the person he wanted to meet today.
Jiang Nian kept her eyes downcast, quietly shifting her position to stand behind her mother, avoiding his gaze.
"Third Miss, might I speak with you privately?" Qi Heng's gaze fixed directly on her. Jiang Nian pretended not to hear, remaining silent. Qi Heng bowed to her.
"Third Young Miss, I have a request to make. Just a few words—I assure you there will be no offense."
The gazes of the Jiang Family were fixed on Jiang Nian, and the pressure weighed heavily on her. After a long pause, she slowly took a step forward.
"Very well, I'll hear you out."
"Thank you."
Jiang Nian led Qi Heng to the rear courtyard, where medicinal herbs dug from the back hill were laid out to dry. Feeling uneasy in his presence, she avoided looking at him and instead kept her head down, turning over the sun-dried herbs.
"What did you want to say?"
Qi Heng bowed to her respectfully. "I beg you to agree to marry me. I vow to you that in this lifetime, I will take no one else as my wife."
Jiang Nian turned to face him, voicing the doubt that had long lingered in her heart. "Why are you so determined to marry me? Don't tell me it's because you've taken a fancy to me—I wouldn't believe that even if beaten to death."