Chapter 736

Chapter 743: Presenting the Captives (Part 2)

Eleven Mother was indeed feeling somewhat troubled at the moment.

"...The fortune-teller said she must be at least three years younger, so I wasn’t in a hurry. Now that everyone is half-jokingly and half-seriously bringing it up, I’ve been unsure how to respond." She looked apologetically at Fourth Madam Tang. "I’ll need to wait until after this busy period to sit down and discuss it properly with Marquis Xu."

"Of course," Fourth Madam Tang replied with an unbothered expression, her smile unwavering. "The Sixth Young Master has just gained his future prospects, and there’s still much to attend to. I merely brought it up on a whim." She covered her mouth with a light laugh. "Don’t you think, the more I consider it, the more suited the Sixth Young Master seems to our Eldest Daughter? The Sixth Young Master is fifteen this year, and our Eldest Daughter is twelve. He is the legitimate second son of the marquis, and she is the legitimate eldest granddaughter of our household’s heir. Not to mention her virtues, speech, appearance, and conduct—she has been taught since childhood by a governess who once served in the palace..." As she spoke, Madam Tang observed Eleven Mother’s expression, but seeing her remain indifferent, she began to feel uneasy.

Could the rumors be true?

Were the Zhou and Sun families both interested in strengthening their ties with the Xu family through marriage?

Perhaps because the Tang family had married several daughters into powerful ministerial households in recent years, though it appeared prosperous on the surface, they hadn’t gained much benefit. Especially in the matter of Shaohua’s marriage—fearing to offend Marquis Jianning, they married his legitimate eldest daughter. But who could have predicted that after the Empress Dowager’s death, the Yang family would not only collapse but also drag Shaohua’s future down with it? The noble families of Yanjing, afraid of offending the late emperor, quietly distanced themselves, causing the Tang family to grow increasingly isolated from Yanjing’s aristocracy over the years.

The Xu family, on the other hand, was the complete opposite.

First, the emperor appointed Xu Sijin, who had never led troops or fought in battles and was not yet twenty, to pursue the Duoyan tribe alongside Ouyang Ming. When news came that Ouyang Ming had suffered a major defeat and Jin’ge had chased the enemy into the grasslands with no further news, the emperor immediately issued an edict for Gong Dongning to personally lead a large army to search for him. Despite opposition from Minister Chen and Minister Lu, he even dispatched the central and rear armies of the Five Military Commissions to Xuantong to reinforce the troops... Although the Duoyan tribe was ultimately captured by Xu Sijin, the emperor had already enfeoffed Gong Dongning as the Marquis of Xining and Xu Sijin as the Earl of Wujin even before the captives were presented at the Meridian Gate... People joked privately that if it weren’t for rewarding Xu Sijin, Gong Dongning might not have obtained the title of Marquis of Xining so quickly.

Then, taking advantage of the great victory in the northwest, Xu Lingyi advised the emperor to "survey the bestowed lands and reallocate them according to official ranks and titles," which the emperor approved. This resolved the crisis of land reclamation and greatly enhanced Xu Lingyi’s prestige among the dukes, even surpassing what he had gained during the pacification of the northwest.

The emperor had only recently ascended the throne. Given time, the Xu family would surely become unparalleled!

Thinking of this, Fourth Madam Tang became even more determined to form a marriage alliance with the Xu family.

In terms of closeness, the Xu family was naturally more intimate with the Zhou and Sun families. With nothing but empty words, and considering that Xu Sijin was Eleven Mother’s only biological son and already held a title and merit, not even Eleven Mother—let alone herself—would easily agree.

This matter required long-term planning.

It would be best to have someone close to Eleven Mother act as a matchmaker and also make arrangements regarding the eldest daughter’s dowry. Whether through personal connections or material wealth, something was bound to move her!

Having made up her mind, Fourth Madam Tang felt she couldn’t stay a moment longer.

What she could think of, others could naturally think of as well. If someone else got ahead of her, she would regret it too late!

"You’ve been busy these days!" Fourth Madam Tang said with a smile as she stood up. "I’ll take my leave now. When Jin’ge returns, I’ll come again for a drink!"

The Tang family gave Eleven Mother a feeling of being overly opportunistic. She had no desire to form a marriage alliance with them, so she was more than happy to see Fourth Madam Tang leave. She exchanged a few polite words and personally escorted Fourth Madam Tang to the Chuihua Gate.

Outside the Chuihua Gate stood a plain black-lacquered carriage with a flat roof, hung with embroidered ribbons bearing the silver chilong pattern reserved for first-rank officials. Surrounded by maids and matrons, the fifth madam, Lady Dan of Danyang County, was chatting warmly with a fair-skinned woman wearing a lake-colored *baoping zhuanghua* jacket.

Fourth Madam Tang’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

She hadn’t expected to run into the wife of the heir to the Marquis of Dingnan, Lady Mu, right at the gate!

Before the fifth madam and Lady Mu could react, Fourth Madam Tang stepped forward with a cheerful greeting. "I didn’t expect to run into the wife of the heir to the Marquis of Dingnan here! You are quite a rare sight!"

Lady Mu was reserved by nature. The Sun family had few members, and since her husband was an adopted heir, she seldom socialized outside.

Hearing this, she blushed and hurried forward to pay her respects to Fourth Madam Tang.

The fifth madam, however, sided with her sister-in-law. While greeting Fourth Madam Tang, she said with a smile, "My sister-in-law actually visits often. It’s just that you, Fourth Madam Tang, seldom come, so you rarely run into each other."

Fourth Madam Tang laughed.

The three exchanged pleasantries for a moment before Fourth Madam Tang boarded her carriage. The fifth madam, Lady Mu, and Eleven Mother then entered the Chuihua Gate.

As she let the curtain fall, Fourth Madam Tang saw the fifth madam step aside, intentionally allowing Lady Mu to walk side by side with Eleven Mother. Lady Mu took the opportunity to link arms with Eleven Mother and said something that made Eleven Mother laugh.

She couldn't help but frown.

Returning, she whispered as she discussed with Madam Tang.

Madam Tang pondered for a long while before saying, "The matter of the dowry is easy to handle. As long as the Xu family agrees, we can simply follow the dowry given to the Xu family's eldest daughter and add twenty percent more. As for the matchmaker... let's invite the Grand Madame from the family of Count Zhongqin. Over all these years, Lady Eleven has never missed sending her gifts during festivals."

Madam Tang still hesitated a bit:

After all, Grand Madame Gan is a widow—is it appropriate to ask her? I think Madam Xu and Madam Huang are also on good terms, and besides, Madam Huang has acted as matchmaker for several of the Xu family's children's marriages...

"What do you know?" Madam Tang interrupted Madam Tang's words. "Exactly because Madam Huang has acted as matchmaker for several of the Xu family's children's marriages, probably nine out of ten people who want to marry into the Xu family would ask Madam Huang to sound them out. Rather than all rushing in at once and letting Madam Huang start calculating in her mind, it's better to go to Grand Madame Gan—it's just helping to pass on a message. If the Xu family is interested, they will naturally invite another matchmaker!" She added, "You should go to the Gan family this afternoon. I've met the Sun family's eldest daughter—she's quite outstanding in appearance."

Madam Tang quickly nodded in agreement, changed her clothes, and went to the residence of Count Zhongqin.

When Lady Gan learned of Madam Tang's purpose, she first blocked her way: "You and I thought alike. My maternal niece is eleven this year and still hasn't been betrothed. My sister-in-law heard that the sixth young master isn't engaged yet and came personally yesterday to discuss this matter, planning to ask my mother-in-law to sound out Madam Xu's intentions!"

"That's wonderful!" Madam Tang responded without backing down. "This saves the Grand Madame from making two trips for the same matter."

Lady Gan was somewhat irritated but couldn't refuse, so she reluctantly accompanied Madam Tang to see Grand Madame Gan.

Grand Madame Gan repeatedly declined: "Since you've come specially to invite me, it means you think highly of me. If it were any other matter, I would naturally take it on, but this matter won't do—no matter what, I am a widow." No matter how Madam Tang pleaded, she just shook her head.

Madam Tang had no choice but to leave disappointed.

The personal maid of Grand Madame Gan couldn't help but find it strange: "Do you think the Tang family's eldest daughter and the Xu family's sixth young master aren't a good match?"

Even though she is a widow, it's just passing on a message, not acting as a matchmaker. Why refuse so sternly and offend people for nothing!

"Every family has its own sutra to chant," Grand Madame Gan said solemnly. "I rarely leave the house and have long been unaware of what's happening outside. Lady Eleven is a person who values loyalty and righteousness—why should I cause trouble for her?"

At this, the corners of her mouth lifted into a happy smile. "Counting the days, Jin'ge should be back in five days, right?"

"Yes!" the older woman said with a smile. "They say the army will arrive in the capital on the 29th and camp near the Western Hills. On the 30th, the Ministry of Rites will conduct sacrifices at the suburban altars and the ancestral temple, and the war captive ceremony will be held at 8 a.m. on the first day of the seventh month."

"I wonder if Jin'ge has lost weight?" the Grand Madame muttered as she opened the round-cornered high cabinet made of boxwood by the kang and took out the clothes she had made for Jin'ge, checking them again. Then she said, "Take them over first thing tomorrow morning."

The older woman agreed with a beaming smile and went to Lotus Lane early the next morning.

"You've made so many clothes for Jin'ge again," Lady Eleven said with a smile, asking the older woman to thank Grand Madame Gan on her behalf and adding, "When Jin'ge returns, I'll bring him to kowtow to the Grand Madame."

The older woman repeatedly said, "I wouldn't dare."

Lady Eleven had someone reward the older woman with ten taels of silver and served tea.

Amber smiled as she put the clothes away in a camphorwood chest carved with a shepherd boy playing a flute: "I think the sixth young master won't need new clothes for three years!"

"Not just three years!" Lady Eleven walked over to help organize the clothes. "I think even the dancers won't need to make clothes!"

"Look at what you're saying, madam!" Amber laughed. "It's just that you're too strict with the sixth young master—like these undershirts, he has to wear them until the collars turn yellow before they're replaced. If it were anyone else, they'd be changed seasonally."

"Is this considered strict?" Lady Eleven said with a smile. "There are countless people in this world who can't even afford Songjiang's sanling cloth! He's already living quite luxuriously!"

Amber was about to say something with a smile when a young servant in blue clothing, standing behind the gauze screen, reported in a muffled tone: "Madam, the sixth young master's peacock has flown away."

Lady Eleven was greatly surprised: "How could the peacock fly away?" As she spoke, her gaze followed the sound.

She saw that the young servant was lean but quite tall. Even though he had come to report, he held his head high, his posture very upright, without any trace of subservience.

This is the inner courtyard of the residence; how could they send a young servant who is unusually tall and doesn't look like a child to report something? And this servant has such an arrogant demeanor, clearly someone with a strong mind. If he encountered someone like her who isn't too particular, it might be fine, but if he ran into the Elder Madam, Second Madame, or Fifth Madame, one improper response could earn him a cane strike.

She frowned inwardly, feeling uneasy, and walked out.

"Under whose supervision do you serve..." Before she could finish her sentence, Lady Eleven froze in place.

Amber also felt there was something off about this young servant. Hearing Lady Eleven's words cut off abruptly, she sensed something was wrong. Hurrying out, she said sternly, "Madame is asking you a question, how dare you..." As she looked up, she saw a pair of beautiful phoenix eyes that sparkled like black obsidian.

"Six, Sixth Young Master..." Amber stammered, her words catching in her throat.

Xu Sijin chuckled playfully. Lady Eleven had already stepped forward to embrace her son, "Jin Geer, Jin Geer, is it really you?" Tears began to fall uncontrollably.