Go back to the Ming Dynasty to be a thousand households

Chapter 201 Concubinage Program
Accepting Qu Xiuhe's concubine would be of great benefit to Huang Laifu, not to mention that Qu Xiuhe is a great beauty, even in order to obtain the financial resources and Austrian aid of the Qu family, and to strengthen the relationship with the Qu family and a group of Shanxi merchants, Huang Laifu would not be dissatisfied. The reason for agreeing.

As for whether he likes Qu Xiuhe, whether Qu Xiuhe likes him, whether there is love between the two of them... Where in this world is there such love?Most of the officials and merchants in the later generations have second wives, third wives, fourth wives, fifth wives, sixth wives, and seventh wives... In this world, officials and military generals with some status are also concubines. Don't you all live like this?It is right to enter the country to ask the customs and actively integrate into the world.

After Gu Yunniang mentioned this to Huang Laifu that day, the matter of accepting Qu Xiuhe as a concubine was also put on the agenda.

At this time, in the hall of the General Soldier's Mansion, a brass brazier was burning in the room, which was as warm as spring.

The members of the Huang family, such as father Huang Sihao, mother Yang Shi, Gu Yunniang, Gu Qianhu, Song Shi, and several sisters, all sat in the room and discussed Huang Laifu's concubine Qu Xiuhe.As for Huang Laifu, because things were busy, he threw this matter to Gu Yunniang and others to take care of it.

"Father-in-law, mother-in-law, and daughter-in-law think that sister Xiuhe is also from a good family. We can't force her to take her in, right? We can't be sloppy with the engagement letter and the ceremony of marriage. We must find the best matchmaker to marry her." present."

Beside her mother, Yang Shi, Gu Yunniang took her hand obediently and said to her carefully.Today's Gu Yunniang wears a black velvet headband inlaid with golden jewels on her forehead, which is even more luxurious.Living in a house, raising a body, living as a wealthy official's wife for several years, and having a royal order, her luxurious temperament has been cultivated even more.

Huang Sihao and Yang Shiduan sat at the head, and the few years of peaceful and comfortable life made the two of them not look old at all.

After hearing Gu Yunniang's words, Huang Sihao just nodded with a smile, while Yang took Gu Yunniang's little hand and said dotingly: "Okay, everything will be handled by my Yunniang."

She sighed: "My Fu'er is blessed to marry such a virtuous wife."

Gu Yunniang said coquettishly: "Mother-in-law, you praise your daughter-in-law too much, and all of this is for the sake of your husband."

Yang just laughed.Gu Yunniang's mother, Song Shi, who was on the side, also smiled and said: "My daughter, if she has a husband, she will forget about her mother."

Gu Yunniang went into her mother's arms again and acted like a baby, Song Shi also patted her on the back lovingly, and said: "Okay, my good daughter."

Eldest sister Huang Zirou said with a smile: "My little brother is indeed blessed, no wonder he is called Laifu."
Everyone laughed.

Mrs. Yang said to Steward Yang: "Uncle Yang, you have to accompany Yunniang to take care of the matter. Now our Huang family is no better than before, we must do it in a decent manner."

Eldest sister Huang Zirou also said: "That's right, with our Huang family's current status, we must do well, otherwise we will lose face to our Huang family."
When the eldest sister Huang Zirou met her elder brother-in-law Xu Xueshi, she was like a lion roaring in the east of the river, and he was strictly forbidden to take concubines, but when she met her younger brother, she was very enthusiastic about him taking concubines.Moreover, in the north and south of the Ming Dynasty, the atmosphere of showing off the rich is getting stronger and stronger, especially when officials take concubines, they are all able to do things well, not to mention Huang Laifu's level.

Only the third sister, Huang Birou, remembered something, and her face was slightly sad.

Butler Yang accompanied him with a smile and said, "Old lady, Missy, don't worry, the old slave will definitely accompany the young lady to handle things in a decent manner."

Huang Sihao didn't know what to think of, and suddenly said: "Xiu He is also a girl from a good family. Would Fu'er take her as a concubine, would it be incompatible with etiquette? Fu'er is also considered to be a prominent official now, be careful of impeachment by the imperial censor."

In the Ming Dynasty, although officials, gentry, scholar-bureaucrats and wealthy upstarts generally had the custom of taking concubines, the Ming Law also made clear regulations on the scope of taking concubines, and even limited and prohibited a few.

Such as: living parents mourning can not marry a concubine.Grandparents were imprisoned and not allowed to take concubines.People with the same surname are not allowed to marry as concubines.Relative wives and concubines shall not be married as concubines.Fugitive women were not allowed to marry as concubines.Supervisors are not allowed to marry the daughters of their supervisors as concubines.Slaves and maids are not allowed to marry others as concubines privately.A foster father is not allowed to marry a foster daughter as a concubine.Officials are not allowed to marry prostitutes and girls from good families as concubines.I was ordered not to take a concubine halfway...etc.

In the early years of the Ming Dynasty, the children of merchants were regarded as untouchables, and they were accepted as concubines without saying anything.However, at the end of the Ming Dynasty, especially in the Wanli year, business affairs flourished and the status of merchants was greatly improved. The daughters of merchants were already genuine girls from good families.

The Ming law stipulates that high-ranking officials are not allowed to accept women from good families as concubines, no wonder Huang Sihao is worried about this.Especially now that his son's official fortune is getting better and better, and his future is limitless, Huang Sihao doesn't want to ruin his son's future for a woman.

After hearing Huang Sihao's words, Yang said disapprovingly: "Who cares about this ban now? Look at the surrounding Junbao prefectures and counties, which official doesn't accept a daughter from a good family as a concubine? You are a deadhead and don't know how to work around it. "

Huang Sihao snorted displeasedly, and everyone snickered.

Gu Qianhu also smiled and said: "Brother Shi doesn't know anything. As far as my brother knows, the governor of Kelan Prefecture also took Yang, a daughter of a good family in Zhoucheng, as his concubine, and no one said anything."

Huang Sihao nodded and stopped talking.

The matter was settled in this way, and soon, under the help of Sun, the most famous matchmaker in Wuzhaibao, Huang Laifu started to accept concubines.

※※※

Regarding the matter of Huang Laifuna's own daughter as a concubine, Qu Tingzhu, Qu Liangwan, Qu Yuanrui and his son of the Qu family all agreed with both hands and feet.Over the years, Huang Laifu's official position has been getting bigger and bigger. In just a few years, he was promoted from Qianhu to deputy commander in chief.Such a promising young man, if his family doesn't hug his thigh tightly, whose thigh should he hug?
Besides, during the few years that the Qu family had been in contact with Huang Laifu, they knew that Huang Laifu was very protective of his family, his wife and children. Qu Xiuhe and Gu Yunniang, the wife of the General Military Mansion, also had a very harmonious relationship. Will not be wronged.

And the most important thing is that in the past few years, the business of the Qu family has been closely linked with Huang Laifu. In the future, the relationship with Huang Laifu will be stabilized, and even improved, so that the daughter, Huang Laifu and concubine, This is the most ideal.Other merchants didn't have this opportunity, or the daughter they gave birth to was ugly, and General Huang looked down on him. If he had this opportunity, he would be a fool if he didn't seize it.

As the headquarters of the Qu family, the Qi County Guild Hall has been expanded repeatedly after several years of development, becoming the de facto headquarters of the Qu family.The general affairs of the Qu family were moved to the Qixian Guild Hall for handling.

At this time in the museum, the discussion is already in full swing.

Qu Liangwan laughed loudly, and said: "Mrs. Sun came to me yesterday and told me about Fifth Sister. This is really a happy event. Fifth Sister is seventeen years old, just at the right age. It is a god to be able to enter the General Military Mansion It is a blessing to be cared for. With the care of Mr. Huang in the future, it will be difficult for our Qu family to think about it."

Qu Tingzhu also stroked his beard and smiled, exchanging a daughter for the joint marriage of the two families, this is the best.Of course, this is also because of Huang Laifu's identity. If it was someone from another family, not to mention letting his daughter be a concubine, he would be a wife. With the current status and financial resources of his Qu family, don't think about it if he is not such a person.You know, over the years, people who come to ask for marriage can be said to be like carp in a river, but he is waiting for the price, and finally he has waited for a good family.

Qu Yuanrui was slightly hesitant, although his cooperation with Huang Laifu has become closer and closer these years, his career has grown bigger and bigger because of this, and his status in his father's heart has become higher and higher.However, in exchange for his sister's happiness with the two in-laws, he was still worried in his heart, worried that his sister would not want it.

He said: "What does Fifth Sister say, is she willing? As her elder brother, unless Fifth Sister is willing, we can't force her."

Qu Liangwan snorted coldly. Over the years, his jealousy towards his fourth brother Qu Yuanrui has become more and more intense, but it has always been deeply buried in his heart.Huang Laifu is a nostalgic person, after cooperating with Qu Yuanrui, he feels smooth, he has always been in charge of selling food, Qu Liangwan wanted to intervene, but never had this opportunity.

Finally, this opportunity came, Fifth Sister has always been obedient to her, and she listens to her elder brother in everything. Maybe in the future, having a younger sister in the General Military Mansion can change Huang Laifu's view of herself.

At that moment, he smiled and said: "Why would you not want to? For more than a year, if Fifth Sister didn't like Mr. Huang, why would she keep entering the General Military Mansion to talk? Look at the other women, will it be like this? Let's talk Yes, Master Huang is a person who thinks of love, you have also heard that Master Huang loves his wife and children at home, if Fifth Sister enters the mansion, Master Huang will definitely treat her well."

Qu Tingzhu couldn't help nodding, and he said softly, "Si'er, your elder brother is right. It is definitely a good choice for Xiuhe to enter the General Military Mansion."

Qu Yuanrui nodded silently and said nothing more.

At this time, I suddenly heard a burst of drumming and joy outside, as well as the sound of crackling firecrackers, and then a group of Huang's family members rushed in carrying boxes of heavy wedding gifts, and everyone put down their burdens. Said: "Great joy, great joy."

Then I saw Steward Yang and the matchmaker Mrs. Sun coming in. As soon as they entered the hall, Mrs. Sun raised her handkerchief and said loudly: "Ah, the old shopkeeper is very happy today. The old lady has to wait for the shopkeeper." gone."

Qu Tingzhu moved his fat body and stood up. He looked around and saw a crowd of onlookers outside the hall, everyone was pointing and pointing, with envious expressions on their faces.He had a lot of face in his heart, so he laughed and said: "The old man said why the magpies are calling today. It turns out that Steward Yang and Mrs. Sun have arrived, please sit down, please sit down."

Qu Yuanrui and Qu Liangwan also hurriedly stood up together...

……

Although he is a concubine, the Qu family can be regarded as a person with status and wealth, so the Huang family directly negotiated marriage with the Qu family through Mrs. Sun as a matchmaker.

Steward Yang also brought thousands of taels of silver, four pieces of brocade handkerchiefs, five pairs of precious hairpins, two jewel headbands in the golden chamber, one pearl and jade headband in the golden chamber, passionflower tip hairpins, and rhino jade hairpins.In addition, there are [-] dan coats of noodles, some soup, fruit and tea cakes, cloth, silk and cotton as dowry gifts.

Among these betrothal gifts, one thousand taels of light grain silver is worth 60 yuan in later generations, plus other gifts, the value of the betrothal gift exceeds more than 100 million.Such a rich gift reflects the importance that the Huangfu attaches to taking concubines.The Qu family's family business has become bigger and bigger in recent years. Although they are not short of these properties, the attention of the Huang family is enough to satisfy them.

At the moment, everyone was in harmony, and the marriage letter was negotiated and signed.

"Now there is the Qu family in Qixian County, Shanxi. There is a complaint to give birth to a self-supporting woman named Qu Xiuhe. She has grown up, is beautiful and gentle, and has a graceful manner. Based on the Sun family of Wuzhaibao, it is proposed to assign Huang Laifu, the deputy commander of Shanxi Town, as The concubine received 1000 taels of silver today, and there are a few things left. My daughter obeyed the auspicious choice to get married, and the dream of bears and dreams was endless. This daughter was born and raised, and she has never been gifted by others. There is no overlap, and the origin is unknown. If there is such a look, and if it slips away, it was sent back by the Sun family. If Feng Shui is not in danger, this is the destiny and has nothing to do with the silver master. Now I want to engage a certificate, so I will make a marriage certificate as a photo."

The above is the marriage letter that a man in Ming Dynasty must write when taking a concubine, which is protected by the law of Ming Dynasty.

In the end, everyone agreed on a date for entering the house, and then there will be a wedding ceremony for concubines.

(End of this chapter)