The Eldest Daughter Is Beautiful and Saucy
Chapter 455: marriage
Chapter 455 Marriage
The two sisters entered the upper room, dismissed their attendants, sat down on the couch by the window, and asked the little maid to close the doors and windows tightly.
Bai Qingyan took out a tasseled pillow embroidered with golden double blessings and placed it behind Bai Jinxiu. Then he sat down and carefully read the purchase list for the Prince of Liang’s Mansion that Bai Jinxiu had sent him.
“Liang Wangfu didn’t buy Sanhuang, pine resin and other things, but only bought a lot of saltpeter. The steward I sent over has inquired… The buyer of Liang Wangfu said that Liang Wang wanted to make ice sculptures by himself to please the emperor, so he bought a lot of saltpeter!” Bai Jinxiu leaned her elbows on the small table and moved closer to Bai Qingyan, “Eldest sister, I suspect that Sanhuang and pine resin… Liang Wangfu gave them to the Wang family in Jiuqu Lane to buy!”
“Have you sent anyone to investigate?” Bai Qingyan asked.
“I’ve sent someone there. I think it won’t be long before someone reports back!” Bai Jinxiu finished speaking, frowning. “If Prince Liang… is really refining elixirs for the emperor, I can tell how my elder sister plans to use this information. I can also prepare in advance.”
“Not for the time being. Prince Liang is in great favor now. If this matter is exposed at this time…even if the emperor punishes Prince Liang openly, he will still compensate Prince Liang secretly. It will not benefit us in any way.” Bai Qingyan said.
Soon, the Wang family’s purchasing lists for the past few months were also submitted.
Seeing Bai Jinxiu fanning herself because of the heat, Bai Qingyan ordered someone to bring in a basin of ice.
Bai Qingyan has always been afraid of cold, so Qinghui Courtyard never uses ice in summer. But Bai Jinxiu has been extremely afraid of heat since she became pregnant, so she suffers a lot in summer, and there is always ice in the Qin Mansion on weekdays.
“No need, elder sister! I can bear it for just a little while.” Bai Jinxiu was afraid that Bai Qingyan’s body could not bear it, so she smiled and said, “If elder sister is worried that I will be too hot, please have someone bring me another bowl of iced plum soup.”
“You’ve already drunk two bowls. After all, you’re pregnant, so please be more restrained!” Bai Qingyan said as he picked up the Wang family’s shopping list and looked at it.
The maid brought in some ice and placed it next to Bai Jinxiu, which immediately made her feel much cooler.
There is Sanhuang on the Wang family’s purchasing list, and the quantity is normal. In fact, it is less in the past month than last month.
What was the reason behind the close contacts between the Wang family and the steward of the Prince of Liang’s mansion?
When Bai Qingyan was just lowering her eyes in deep thought, a maid from Qinghui Courtyard came in through the curtains, and bowed to Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinxiu behind a jade screen, saying, “Young lady, young lady, three cousins from the Dong residence are here to visit young lady. Madam No. 2 has sent someone to call young lady and young lady.”
“Got it!” Bai Qingyan responded, “Let the fourth young lady go first and entertain the three young ladies in the pavilion by the lake.”
“yes!”
After the maid left, Bai Qingyan used fire to light the list of Wang’s purchases in his hand, and told Bai Jinxiu: “The dealings between Wang’s family and the steward of Liang Wang’s mansion still need to be carefully investigated, but you must not alert the enemy. If you can’t handle this matter well… send someone to tell grandma that Wei Zhong beside grandma has some skills!”
The Grand Princess is now also on guard against Prince Liang and wants to find out the relationship between the steward of Prince Liang’s mansion and the Wang family of Jiuqu Lane. The Grand Princess should do her best.
Bai Qingyan changed into a light dress and went to the pavilion by the lake with Bai Jinxiu. Dong Tingzhen blushed thoroughly. Seeing Bai Qingyan coming, she stood up and saluted: “Cousin, please take care of them!”
Bai Jinxiu covered her lips with a handkerchief and smiled: “Ting Zhen has always had the best temper. It must be their fault that she is so angry today!”
Dong Tingyu smiled and said, “Yes, yes, yes! It’s all my sister’s fault. I will never talk about my sister’s marriage again!”
“Oh! We are sisters! What’s wrong with talking?” Bai Jinzhi winked at Dong Tingzhen, “Sister Tingzhen, please tell me… Have you seen the grandson of Master Chen? I heard that… If there hadn’t been this imperial examination fraud case, Chen Zhaolu would have been the top scorer!”
Dong Tingzhen’s face turned even redder, and she pretended to be angry and said, “If you continue like this, I won’t pay any attention to you!”
“What a fool you are! How dare you talk about a girl’s marriage like this!” Bai Jinxiu raised her hand and tapped Bai Jinzhi’s head.
“Has Master Chen asked a matchmaker to propose marriage?” Bai Qingyan asked Dong Tingzhen with a smile.
Dong Tingzhen looked a little irritated. She sat down at the table with a red face, nodded, and said while pulling her handkerchief, “This morning, Old Lady Tan came to my house and told my mother about this matter. My mother only said… that she would discuss it with my father, and nothing has been decided yet! But these two are talking about it everywhere!”
“Sister, calm down. I didn’t tell anyone about it! We are all sisters here, I just said it for fun! Don’t be angry, I won’t say anything!” Dong Tingfang also smiled with her lips covered with a handkerchief.
“But is it Old Lady Tan from the Imperial Tutor’s family?” Bai Qingyan asked again.
Although the imperial tutor Tan Song has retired, he is still highly respected in the capital. If Taifu Chen asked Old Lady Tan to act as a matchmaker, it means he is truly sincere.
“I have heard Qin Lang mention Chen Zhaolu. He is a gentleman and a top scholar. He is watched by many noble families in the capital. If he can really get married with Sister Ting Zhen, it would be a good match.”
Dong Tingzhen frowned even more, tugged at the handkerchief in her hand, tilted her head to look at the lake, and seemed unhappy.
“Tingzhen… do you have someone in your heart?” Bai Qingyan asked.
Dong Tingzhen was startled, her back straightened, her eyes flickered, she lowered her eyes and stroked the jade bracelet on her fair wrist, saying: “No, cousin, you are too suspicious!”
“Tingzhen, once a marriage is decided, it is for life. Your uncle and aunt have always loved you and would not want to see you compromise yourself in this important matter. If you really have someone in your heart, you should tell your uncle and aunt as soon as possible. If it is a good match… your uncle and aunt would not go against your wishes and marry you to Chen Zhaolu just because he is the top scholar.”
Listening to Bai Qingyan’s gentle words of comfort, Dong Tingzhen thought about it carefully, and looked up at Bai Qingyan: “Don’t worry, cousin, I’m just a little unsure. If I really have someone I like, I will definitely tell my father and mother! By the way… Brother Changyuan knew that my cousin and fourth cousin were going to be promoted, so he asked the three of us to bring gifts.”
Dong Tingzhen changed the subject and handed two brocade boxes to Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi respectively. Each box contained a Shoushan stone seal that was carved by Dong Changyuan himself.
“Oh my! What a beautiful seal! Thank my cousin Changyuan for me!” Bai Jinzhi couldn’t let it go. Touching the lifelike kitten on the top of the seal, he couldn’t help but sigh, “Are all the people in the Dong family so skillful? My cousins are… even my cousin is.”
The seal in Bai Qingyan’s hand was carved with plum blossoms, which was quite unique.
Looking at the exquisitely carved seal in his hand, Bai Qingyan couldn’t help but think of the jade hairpin carved by Xiao Rongyan himself, and his ears felt slightly hot.
She put the seal back into the brocade box.
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