Xiao Ji stormed out the door in a huff, only to see several soldiers on duty glancing his way. The bolder ones even winked and teased him, “What’s up, boss? Why’d the old man beat you?”
Xiao Ji… sometimes he really itched to throw a punch.
That evening, after finishing his shift, Xiao Ji returned home. He stood before his old family residence, gazing at the cracked plaster on the outer wall, and thought of what Han Ming had said earlier that day—his future wife was a young lady from a wealthy family.
Though he wasn’t entirely sure just how wealthy this family was, it didn’t stop him from feeling a headache coming on.
Back in his room, he took out the silver he had saved over the years and counted it. With a monthly salary of four taels, after covering daily expenses, it had taken him several years to barely save around two hundred taels.
In the past, he hadn’t thought about marrying or having children, feeling that a carefree, solitary life suited him just fine. He’d even prided himself on saving so much silver.
But now, upon careful calculation, his future wife, being a young lady from a wealthy family, would surely have been raised delicately and accustomed to luxury. While he couldn’t provide a life of rare delicacies and servants at her beck and call, at the very least, the house needed a thorough renovation, inside and out.
Otherwise, he was afraid a spider or centipede might suddenly crawl out from some corner and scare her to death.
And regardless of the reason she was marrying him, as a man, he had to provide a betrothal gift, right? Once his wife entered the household, he’d also need to prepare seasonal clothing for her. A young lady from a wealthy family couldn’t wear fabric that was too shabby…
He also knew that when wealthy families married off their daughters, they often sent along maids and elderly servants. When those people arrived, they’d need a place to stay…
As Xiao Ji calculated, a vein throbbed at his temple. Finally, he gathered the silver he had separated into several piles, stuffed it back into the clay jar, and slumped onto the bed.
Several days later, Xie Linlang finally learned the name of her future husband.
Zhu Yu, a second-rank maid from Madam Xie’s side, personally delivered Xiao Ji’s birth chart. The main household was currently busy preparing the dowry for the eldest young lady, and everyone was run off their feet. However, since Xie Linlang’s marriage had been personally arranged by the master, Madam Xie didn’t dare treat it too carelessly.
With Meixiang needed for Xie Yurou’s affairs, Madam Xie assigned Zhu Yu to Qiushui Pavilion.
The eldest young lady, Xie Yurou, was marrying well. Fearing that her young daughter might be bullied after marrying into the Hou Fu, Madam Xie planned to select a few steady and capable servants from her own side to accompany her daughter as part of the dowry. Consequently, the servants in the main household were all vying to prove themselves recently, and Zhu Yu was no exception.
Never did she expect to be sent to Xie Linlang. Zhu Yu was deeply resentful.
Unable to muster a pleasant expression for Xie Linlang, she watched as Xie Linlang carefully examined the birth chart of her hopeless future husband and said impatiently:
“Third Young Lady, it’s true that Third Son-in-Law is a bit older, but older men know how to cherish their wives, don’t they?
Besides, you can only blame your fate for not being born from Madam’s womb. If you ask me, you should just settle down and prepare for marriage. Who knows, you might even have the fortune to become a general’s wife someday.”
Zhu Yu’s words hadn’t angered Xie Linlang, but Xiao Qiu, who was serving behind her, couldn’t hold back.
She rushed forward but only managed to utter a single “You—” before Xie Linlang grabbed her sleeve and pulled her back.
Xie Linlang placed the birth chart back on the table and looked at Zhu Yu calmly. “You’re right. After all, I wasn’t born from Madam, so I deserve this. But this marriage was personally proposed by Father. As his daughter, it is my duty to share his burdens.”
“If Sister Zhuyu wishes to plead injustice on my behalf, why not go speak with Father and suggest he send you instead? Your age would be quite suitable for the match.”
Zhuyu served in the main household but was rather restless. She had once wanted to enter Eldest Young Master’s courtyard, but Madam Xie’s strict management always kept her from overstepping.
On the day the Hou Fu sent betrothal gifts, she found the heir elegant and refined. As a servant with lofty ambitions, dreaming of rising above her station to become a mistress, she naturally looked down on a low-ranking soldier.
Moreover, Xie Linlang’s mockery about her age had flushed her face with anger. Deep down, she despised Xie Linlang, this unfavored young lady, yet she dared not openly insult her. After all, if the matter reached Madam Xie, regardless of whether she was in the right, she would surely face severe punishment.
Unable to win with words and too afraid to strike, Zhuyu could only clench her fists and turn away.
Afterward, she cursed inwardly, hoping the hateful Xie Linlang would be abused daily by her old husband after marriage, preferably beaten until she was covered in bruises.
Once Qiushui Pavilion was free of outsiders, Xiao Qiu set aside her anger toward Zhuyu and cautiously looked at Xie Linlang. “Miss, please don’t be sad. Your future husband is sure to be an excellent man.”
Her young lady had already suffered so much; if she were to marry the wrong person, it would truly be…
Xie Linlang took a deep breath. In truth, the situation was already far better than she had imagined. At the very least, she wasn’t being given away by her father as a concubine. Though the man was a bit older, she would at least be his legitimate wife.
Moreover, no matter how unfavored she was, she was still the daughter of a Vice Minister of Revenue. After marriage, she could use the prestige of Xie Manor as a shield—even if the couple didn’t get along, her husband likely wouldn’t dare beat her.
Besides, this match was arranged by her father, so her Legal Mother would probably prepare a dowry for her when she married out. It all seemed quite promising.
A similar situation was unfolding at Zhengyang Men Weisuo. Ever since learning that their Xiaoqi had been personally recommended for a match by a superior and was soon to marry a young lady of noble birth, the men under Xiao Ji’s command were even more invested than Xiao Ji himself.
They were practically on the verge of rushing to Zongqi to inquire which family’s daughter their superior had in mind for their leader.
Thus, news of Xie Linlang reached Xiao Ji. Among the details, the only thing Xiao Ji remembered was that his future bride had just turned fifteen.
According to Daqing’s customs, a girl could only discuss marriage and wed after her coming-of-age ceremony at fifteen. But a fifteen-year-old girl should naturally be paired with a young man of seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen—he was already twenty-five!
Xiao Ji went to find Han Ming and immediately asked him to arrange a different match. Han Ming looked at this troublemaker and laughed in exasperation. “Do you think this is a market where you can pick cabbages, disliking one and swapping for another?”
After scolding him thoroughly, Han Ming softened his tone and coaxed him. “This match was arranged by Master Chen. Moreover, she’s the daughter of a Vice Minister of Revenue—who are you to pick and choose?
If you think the girl is too young, then after she marries you, just don’t consummate the marriage right away. Treat her like a child, provide her with good food and care for a year or two, and then you can consummate the marriage and have children.”
Xiao Ji was utterly stunned by his superior’s shameless reasoning. After repeatedly confirming that he couldn’t swap for another match, he could only leave in frustration.
With the family’s remaining two hundred taels of silver already allocated for various uses, Xiao Ji often took advantage of his days off to earn extra income. When Han Ming later heard about this, he felt quite pleased, thinking this unreliable fellow had finally grown up.
He immediately seized the opportunity to slip the man into Master Chen’s guard unit. The old fellow had his wits about him: “Master Chen enjoys His Majesty’s deep trust and is permitted to enter the Royal Hunting Grounds. Once you’re there, don’t get greedy—just hunt a few foxes or the like. Selling their pelts alone can earn you a tidy sum.”
Xiao Ji nodded in profound agreement. These soldiers were treating His Majesty’s royal hunting park as their own backyard.