spend time

An hour later.

Old Madam Xue was helped into the house to rest.

Xue Lin followed his grandmother into the house and sat blankly on a chair beside the bed.

Madam Xue glanced at her grandson and asked with a low smile, "You have also met the princess today. If you are allowed to marry into the Nanyang Palace, are you willing?"

"Of course I am willing." Xue Lin blurted out, his handsome face flushed, and whispered: "But, there is a Changning Earl in the Nanyang Palace... How can the princess be interested in me?"

Xue Liuniang looked at her cousin silently, thinking that you finally know your own worth. Compared with the Earl of Changning, there is a world of difference between you and him. Not to mention the princess, I would not choose you even if I were in your place.

Unfortunately, Madam Xue was obviously confused and said, "As long as the marriage is not settled, there is still a chance. Think about it, why did the princess specially invite me to be the guest of honor at the coming-of-age ceremony?"

Xue Liuniang couldn't listen any longer and continued the conversation softly, "In Jingzhou, grandma has the highest imperial rank and the longest seniority. Besides, I will soon marry into the Chen family, so grandma is considered the princess's elder. Therefore, the princess invited grandma to be the main guest."

In the final analysis, it was a matter of respect for Governor Xue and Chief Clerk Chen. It had nothing to do with Xue Lin.

Xue Lin understood the implication of his cousin's words and felt very embarrassed.

Madam Xue felt sorry for her grandson and rolled her eyes at her granddaughter: "No matter what, we have to give it a try."

"How do you want to test it, grandma?" Xue Liuniang frowned, "Are you going to ask for marriage?"

Madam Xue nodded as a matter of course: "A daughter of one family will be sought after by hundreds of families. Whether the marriage can be successful is one thing, but you can't even have the courage to propose. If he is rejected, then find another good marriage for Qilang. If the princess falls in love with Qilang, wouldn't it be a happy event falling from the sky?"

Without waiting for Xue Liuniang to persuade him, he waved his hand and said, "You will be married in more than a month, and you will be the daughter-in-law of the Chen family in the future. Don't worry about the Xue family's affairs."

Xue Liuniang had no choice but to shut up.

After Old Madam Xue fell asleep, Xue Liuniang winked at Xue Lin, who followed his cousin out of the room to talk.

"In my opinion, this marriage will never happen. It's all grandma's wishful thinking." Xue Liuniang whispered, "Grandma wants to talk about it, and I can't stop her. You know what's going on, so don't dream."

Xue Lin lowered his head and groaned for a long time before saying, "Just let me have a sweet dream for a few days."

Xue Liuniang: "..."

It’s not Xue Lin’s fault.

I met Jiang Shaohua a few years ago. At that time, Jiang Shaohua was only ten years old, and had not grown up yet, looking very young. Today, I suddenly saw the fifteen-year-old Princess Nanyang, who was beautiful and majestic, with a noble temperament, a beautiful face, and as dazzling as the morning sun.

Not only was Xue Lin stunned, even she, as a woman, felt her heart flutter.

Forget it, let him have sweet dreams for a few days. Once he is poured a basin of cold water on her in the future, she will give up completely.

……

Like Xue Lin, there were quite a few young men from aristocratic families who came to watch the ceremony and "by the way" let the princess have a look at them.

"Young Master Cui Jiu of the Qinghe Cui family, Zheng Shiyi of the Xingyang Zheng family, the young master of the Li family, and the Wang family also have young men of the right age. The Fanyang Lu family could not bring their own children, so they brought the grandson of the clan leader."

"In addition, there are visitors from various governors' mansions, and there are also many young masters with outstanding family backgrounds."

Chen Changshi was meticulous in his work. He got to know the details of all the visitors and even recorded the names, ages, hometowns, family backgrounds, personalities, preferences, etc. He recorded each person on a page for more than ten pages.

As Chen Changshi spoke, he presented the carefully compiled booklet to the princess: "There is also today's Xue Qilang, the princess may wish to take a closer look."

Jiang Shaohua laughed: "What's so good about this?" Chen Changshi said: "So many people came to ask for marriage, which shows how powerful our Nanyang County is. It's a good thing after all. Princess, take a closer look, maybe there will be a suitable candidate among them."

After all, this was a recruitment of a son-in-law. The fact that so many aristocratic families were eager to send suitable sons to Jiang Shaohua for him to take a look at was the greatest affirmation of Nanyang County.

"The princess's marriage is not only her own business, but also a major event for our Nanyang County Nanyang Palace." Chen Changshi looked at the princess meaningfully: "The princess has a broad mind and ambition, and is a person who can do great things. If we can use the marriage to win over Nanyang County, it will be a good thing."

Jiang Shaohua had spent a lot of effort and money to bring Pingzhou under his command. If he could take over another state or county through marriage, it would be a good deal.

Jiang Shaohua was silent for a moment, then said, "Put it aside for now. I'll watch it when I have some free time."

Chen Changshi said no more.

After Chen Changshi left, Jiang Shaohua took the booklet and flipped through two pages at random.

Chen Changshi was a meticulous person, and he recorded everything in great detail on the paper. He even thoughtfully drew a simple portrait. Chen Changshi was a great painter, and his few strokes were very vivid.

Jiang Shaohua felt a little amused and a little headache. Did he think she was going to choose a concubine? This situation was really absurd.

Knock knock knock!
There was a knock on the study door.

Jiang Shaohua paused: "Who?"

A familiar young voice sounded outside the door: "Princess, it's me."

Jiang Shaohua subconsciously stuffed the booklet into the drawer, and then said, "Come in."

The person who pushed the door open was a boy in plain clothes. He was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with handsome features, energetic, smiling and clear eyes.

It was Cui Du, the Earl of Changning.

Jiang Shaohua relaxed his brows when he saw him: "It's so late, why haven't you slept yet?"

Cui Du smiled and said, "Tomorrow is the princess' coming-of-age ceremony, why don't you go to bed early?"

Jiang Shaohua replied calmly, "Chen Changshi just sent me a document, and I need to consider it carefully. What are you doing here?"

Cui Du said "oh", took a few steps forward, and pulled out a piece of paper from his sleeve: "Chen Changshi has written a book these past two days, recording all the young men who came to ask for marriage."

"I went to see Chen Changshi, and he said that I was different from them and there was no need to record it. However, I thought that the necessary procedures must be followed. I can't be different from others just because I am an official of the Nanyang Palace and I am familiar with the princess."

"This is written by me myself. Please put it in the booklet."

Jiang Shaohua: "..."

This was the first time in Jiang Shaohua's life that he experienced such embarrassment.

She looked at Cui Du, who looked back at her with a frank expression, and put the page he had written on the table: "I'll leave now, so as not to delay the princess from reading the documents and considering them carefully."

After saying this, he bowed, took his leave and left.

The door of the study closed gently.

Jiang Shaohua looked at the papers on the table and twitched his lips. For some reason, he felt like laughing again.

She held her forehead and smiled silently. Then, she picked up the paper written by Cui Du and read it carefully. (End of this chapter)