Volume 4: Gathering of Sages Chapter 565: Getting Married is Like Going to the Market
After irritating his father, Lu Sanlang finally calmed down. Although he was no longer the same person, he still had no interest in staying overnight at the Lu Residence. After all, his mother was his best mother, and his father treated him differently, but he had no interest in being perfunctory with his two married brothers and sisters-in-law, so he left the house in the middle of the night.
As for where to go, need I say it? He doesn't like to travel at night in fancy clothes. He likes to show off his achievements proudly.
So, of course, he is going to...his fiancée's house!
This time was different from the later times. Common people usually blew out the lights and went to bed after dinner - firstly to save money on lamp oil, and secondly because there were no entertainment activities. Even for officials like Liu Shilang of the Ministry of Works, dinner meant the end of the day. So, when they heard that the future son-in-law suddenly came, everyone in the Liu family was caught off guard.
Among them, Liu Qing was the most confused when she received the news from the little girl. She was very glad that she had not let her hair down or taken off her coat, but was still reading the book that Zhu Ying brought, and had not had time to go to bed. So, when she heard that her father and mother had opened the main hall to receive Lu Sanlang despite the late night, she quickly tidied herself up and hurried over with the maid.
After she had passed through the back door of the main hall and behind the screen in the middle, she could clearly hear Lu Sanlang's slightly low voice outside. It was obvious that the initial greetings and courtesies had ended. When she heard him address her parents so directly, she couldn't help but blush, but she was overjoyed in her heart.
"Father-in-law, mother-in-law, our two families have already made up their minds and originally wanted to get married as soon as possible, but because of me, the wedding has been delayed until today. After all, although I have a small fortune, I don't want to marry Sister Qing as a free man. Now that the emperor has issued an order, I am at least a seventh-rank official, and I am also a tutor in the Eastern Palace. I am finally qualified to talk about marriage."
Minister Liu and his wife were both delighted by what Sanlang Lu said. When marrying a son-in-law, one would choose a virtuous woman who can manage the household, and when marrying a daughter... of course one would hope that the son-in-law is studious, motivated and has a promising future!
To be honest, Lu Sanlang's image was not very good. He didn't lose weight after more than a year of hard work. His round face became even rounder and his waist seemed to be thicker. But in this year, Lu Sanlang completed a journey that even a Jinshi with a good family background could not complete. This seventh rank may not seem like a big deal, after all, the third-class Jinshi were released to become seventh-rank county magistrates.
But this is a Beijing official, and a tutor in the Eastern Palace!
Therefore, when faced with such a prospective son-in-law who came to talk about marriage seriously, Minister Liu couldn't help but like him more and more, and had long forgotten his reluctance when he discussed this matter with Lu Wan. However, he still had to put on a stern face and criticize it. He coughed and said, "You two have already decided on your marriage, but shouldn't it be your father who should talk about this matter?"
"I think it would be more sincere and more worthy of Sister Qing if I say it in person."
Liu Qing was so upset by Lu Sanlang's repeated affectionate address that she couldn't help but scold the fat man for being cunning. You know, even when she "ran into" him, he always called her Miss Liu. When had he ever called her like that? But she had to admit that she really liked him calling her that, compared to the somewhat unfamiliar Miss Liu.
Just like the relationship between Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying! Although she teased Zhu Ying that they were too cheesy, she still had hope in her heart.
Lu Sanlang's talk had just begun: "My father has a request for me now, so of course he has to listen to me. I will invite him to my house to discuss the marriage in detail, but first I have to ask my father-in-law, mother-in-law and sister Qing for their consent. As for my two brothers and sister-in-law, there is no need to worry about them. My mother is very satisfied with sister Qing and will definitely help us with everything."
He smiled a little, revealing a very sincere and genuine smile: "My mother also said that she had already bought a courtyard with two roads running east and west and three entrances in front and back across the street from my house, and she will give it to me and sister Qing. It will be convenient for her to visit us and stay there occasionally. It will also be closer for me to go to the Imperial College and the palace. Anyway, I am used to living outside, and she believes that I can take care of myself."
"My mother will talk to my father about dividing the family property after I get married, so that my two brothers won't have to worry about me taking a smaller share of the family property. To be honest, I'm the youngest son in the family, so I'm not interested in competing with them."
After this was said, even if Minister Liu was not mentioned, Mrs. Liu felt relieved. Mothers have always been most afraid of their daughters encountering a bad mother-in-law. Mrs. Lu is known for her virtue, but it is said that she and her husband have quarreled several times because of the fat boy in front of her. This is also famous. If her daughter married and was bullied by the fat boy in the Lu family, Mrs. Lu would definitely stand on her son's side and would not help Liu Qing, the daughter-in-law.
If she moves out, she won't have to worry about conflicts between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, or between sisters-in-law. If Lu Sanlang really dares to bully Liu Qing, she can still support him! Think about it, this little fat guy is really good. How many men in the world can be like him, not afraid of being labeled as unfilial, and live alone in a separate family!
So, before Minister Liu could say anything, Madam Liu made the final decision: "Then it's up to you! But it's already October, when do you plan to set the wedding date?"
Seeing that Minister Liu glanced at his wife and wanted to speak but stopped himself, Lu Sanlang smiled and said, "There are only two auspicious days in November. Young Master Zhu picked one and my teacher picked the other. In this case, how about going to October next month? Otherwise, it will be too late to celebrate the New Year and avoid the first month."
Minister Liu and Mrs. Liu were dumbfounded. This was a wedding, not a market. Why was Sanlang Lu so anxious? But when they heard the fat boy shaking his head and saying four proverbs, the couple seemed to understand.
"It is said that after a long drought comes sweet rain, and in a foreign land one meets an old friend. On the wedding night, one's name is on the list of successful candidates."
I guess this kid Lu Sanlang is hoping for double happiness, right?
After figuring this out, Minister Liu and Madam Liu looked at each other. Minister Liu thought this was a joke, but Madam Liu thought it was a good omen. Madam Liu thought of what her husband had said when he came back, that the Emperor had specifically ordered the ceremony of enthroning the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace to be simple and grand, so she smiled and nodded, "That's fine, there are ways to rush things."
"As long as it is simple and grand, that's all."
Minister Liu was almost choked to death by his wife's request. The emperor's strange order almost stumped a bunch of officials from the Ministry of Rites - simple is simple, grand is grand, when have these two words ever been confused?
Thinking of this, he could only use his trump card, frowning and shouting bluntly: "Qing'er, come out !"
Liu Qing, who was hiding behind the screen and eavesdropping, was stunned. How did her father know that she was eavesdropping? If it were someone else, they would definitely hesitate at this moment, but she thought that it was her parents and fiancé outside, so she almost subconsciously walked out quickly. Until she faced Lu Sanlang, she only saw him smiling and shaking his head at her.
Seeing that Liu Qing was still confused, Lu Sanlang coughed and said, "Sister Qing, you have been fooled by your father-in-law."
Minister Liu didn't expect that the little fat man would dare to talk nonsense in front of him. He was about to scold him, but Madam Liu smiled and said, "Qing'er, your father wants to use you to save face. Don't worry about it. I will discuss it with Madam Lu in person tomorrow. As for your father, let him go and have tea with Lu Jijiu. It's late now, it's just right for you to come out, send Mr. Lu back."
Although they didn't deliberately make room for them to talk, asking herself to see them off was at least an attitude. Therefore, although Liu Qing felt very uncomfortable about her mother revealing that her father was using her to step down, she still hurriedly agreed and then walked up to glare at Lu Sanlang.
Seeing that the little fat man didn't care at all, but smiled and saluted, then walked in front of him with confidence, Liu Qing quickly followed him. When they walked out of the main hall and the door curtain fell behind her, she rushed forward and asked angrily, "Hey, why did you suddenly come to my house to bring up this matter?"
"This matter? Isn't it our marriage?" Lu Sanlang stopped and asked back with a righteous look on his face. Seeing the maids and servants at the door with expressions of "I saw nothing, heard nothing" on their faces, and a maid behind Liu Qing also took a few steps back without saying a word and then looked away, he became even more unscrupulous.
Although he was not as reckless as Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying, he still moved closer and lowered his voice and said, "Do you want to keep dragging it out like this? Aren't you afraid that I, who often goes to Tingyu Cottage, will be..."
"You're going to die!" Liu Qing was so angry that she raised her foot and stomped on Lu Sanlang's foot. However, her long-prepared kick hit nothing, because the cunning little fat man suddenly dodged to the side with impossible agility, and then reached out his hand at the right time to support her who stumbled forward because of the empty step.
Although she broke free immediately, her face still became even hotter due to the forced contact just now.
Liu Qing gently lifted the messy hair by her ears, trying to hide the feverish look on her face, and then she lowered her head and said angrily: "Why haven't I seen you so anxious before! Tell the truth quickly, otherwise even if my parents agree to it, I won't agree to it!"
Faced with such a threat that sounded fierce but was actually weak and empty, Lu Sanlang's smile deepened. When his fiancée looked up at him in anger, he said seriously, "It's very simple. People think married people are more reliable. You probably don't know that just because my teacher is not married, some people have already accused him of not being an adult and not qualified to be the master of the East Palace."
Seeing Liu Qing's eyes widened in disbelief, he smiled and said, "Why, you don't believe it? This is true. When some officials in the court impeach someone, they first find fault with the person's character, as if a person with bad character can't be a good official. If the person's character is impeccable, they will point out the shortcomings of his family affairs and whether his relatives and friends have flaws."
"If this person's family affairs and relatives are clean, or if this person is so cautious that he has no relatives or friends at all, then find out his personal problems. If the couple is harmonious but he has no concubines, then he is said to be henpecked; if the couple is not harmonious, then he is said to be harsh to his wife and forgetful of his roots; if this person has many children, then he is excessively lustful; if he has no children, then he is a homosexual..."
Liu Qing listened in amazement as Lu Sanlang criticized some upright officials in the court for nitpicking when they impeached someone. She even forgot that she came to question Lu Sanlang why he was in such a hurry to get her married.
As she was distracted, her tender hand fell into Lu Sanlang's hands.
"So, if I, the tutor of the Eastern Palace, am killed by those righteous people because I am not married, and then killed as an example to warn the teacher, wouldn't it be too unfair for me? In this case, we should get it done before the teacher gets married. Then when we go to Zhang Garden to congratulate the newlyweds, won't we be able to be a couple openly?"
This really makes sense... No, this is totally wrong!
Liu Qing pulled her hand back with all her strength, but under Lu Sanlang's gaze, which suddenly became extremely pitiful, she could only mutter angrily: "Just go ahead and do it anyway!"
"Well, I'll listen to you, ma'am. Let's go!" Lu Sanlang took a step back, bowed with a smile, and said sincerely after he stood up, "I've said everything I need to say. You don't have to see me off. It's cold at night, so don't walk too much. I'm thick-skinned, generous, and fat, so I can walk by myself."
Lu Sanlang didn't seem to think that these eight words were applied to him at all, it was totally incongruous, he waved his hand and turned to leave. After walking a few steps, he heard Liu Qing's voice from behind.
"Don't be too stubborn when things get tough, and take care of yourself! Also, don't make enemies everywhere. I'm not Sister Yingying, so I don't have the ability to help you... At most, I can pray to the gods for you behind your back!"
Lu Sanlang smiled immediately, waved his hand to say goodbye without looking back, and walked out while whispering: "What's the point of praying to the gods? You might as well ask your father to help me, your son-in-law... Tsk, I originally planned to get married after the teacher, at least I can be considered a disciple, but now there is no way. Who would have thought that I would be criticized for not getting married."
"Fortunately, the teacher is impatient. If he had let Boss Zhu get married first like before and then delayed it until February next year, there would have been a lot of things for people to talk about!"
He left the Liu family, met up with several of his followers, mounted his horse and hurried to the Xiao family, but after passing through the dark night, he finally arrived at the end of the field, and he saw the door of the Liu family next door was wide open, and someone just happened to come out. When the two sides met, he found that it was Zhu Tingfang, and he was stunned for a moment. He was just talking about someone on the road, and now he bumped into him, how could it be such a coincidence?
Although he always kept his distance from the eldest son of the Zhu family, since he bumped into him, Lu Sanlang hurried forward to greet him. Before he could say a few words, Zhu Tingfang gave him a meaningful smile.
"Lu San, go back and talk to your teacher. I hope my master can also teach the future prince."
