Chapter 55: Delivering the Betrothal Gifts to the Sheng Family

"I hear that Compiler Zhao will soon present his betrothal gifts to the young lady of Master Sheng's household."
"With imperial bestowals included as part of the betrothal, this is truly a supreme honor."
Hearing this, Zhao Han cast a probing look and asked, "Does His Majesty actually know of my humble domestic affairs?"
Zhang Maoze's smile deepened as he slowly replied, "Compiler Zhao, what a thing to say! His Majesty has always shown the utmost care and consideration for his officials."
"Not long ago, when the daughter of the Duke of Ying reached her coming-of-age ceremony, the imperial rewards bestowed upon her were far more generous than these. They frightened the Duke of Ying so much that he rushed into the palace overnight with his wife and daughter to express his gratitude."
Zhao Han pondered slightly.
Then, adjusting his robes with a solemn expression, he made a deep bow toward the direction of the Wenhua Hall. "Your subject, Zhao Han, kowtows in gratitude for the heavenly grace."
Upon returning home and gazing at the lavish rewards within the trunks and baskets, his inner doubts deepened further.
Changqing's eyes shone brightly. As he took inventory and recorded the items, he chuckled, "For my young master to win His Majesty's favor so quickly, I fear you are destined for a meteoric rise in the future!"
"I am afraid it is not that simple..." Zhao Han muttered to himself.
As night fell, the back courtyard's flower parlor was brightly lit.
A lingering gloom hung between Zhao Han's brows. He looked at Mammy Hu and asked softly, "Did my father truly encounter turbulent currents on his way to Bianjing and plunge into the river to his death?"
Mammy Hu was startled upon hearing this. "Indeed he did. Why is the young master suddenly asking about this matter?"
"It just feels somewhat strange. Ever since I arrived in Bianjing, everything has felt a bit too smooth."
Zhao Han finished speaking and shook his head.
"The young master is possessed of extraordinary literary talent. Even back in Yangzhou, you won the favor of the Prefect, so naturally, it is the same here in Bianjing."
Mammy Hu twitched the corners of her mouth, though her gaze kept drifting toward the jade pendant at his waist.
After hesitating for a moment in her heart, she let out a soft sigh. "Since the young master is now grown, there is no harm in speaking of certain matters."
"Back then, First Mistress met the young master's father while boating on a lake. The two of them met by chance and found themselves exceptionally congenial. In a moment of youthful impulse, they privately pledged their lives to one another."
"Who would have thought that good times do not last? That scoundrel's mother fell gravely ill, and he had to hurry back to the capital, insisting on taking First Mistress with him."
"First Mistress was attached to the old master in her heart and naturally refused. Yet he stubbornly refused to marry into her family as a matrilocal son-in-law."
"He made a great fuss, shouting about how a towering, seven-foot-tall man could never lower himself to become a matrilocal husband. In the end, the two of them simply parted ways."
"Not long after he left, First Mistress discovered she was with child and sent people to look for your father, only to learn that the boat he was taking had encountered turbulent currents, leaving his life or death unknown."
"When the young master was four or five years old, First Mistress once again entrusted someone to search Bianjing, hoping to allow the young master to trace his ancestry and leave a descendant for the Zhao family. Little did she expect that the Zhao Trading Firm was merely a phantom name with no record to be found."
"In a fit of anger, First Mistress forbade anyone from ever mentioning your father again."
"She only claimed that he had fallen into the river to feed the fish, leaving not even a skeleton behind."
Listening to Mammy Hu's words, several dark lines involuntarily dropped down Zhao Han's forehead.
So his mother had simply been swindled out of her heart by a scoundrel!
"That is all I know."
"I originally intended to wait until the young master had established a family and a career before speaking of it, but I never imagined the young master would take the initiative to ask about it today."
Mammy Hu let out another soft sigh. "When all is said and done, First Mistress still held some lingering affection for the young master's father. Before she passed away, she specifically instructed me to make sure the young master kept the jade pendant safe."
"In my view, such a heartless wretch who toys with people's affections ought to be hung at the city gates for all to see."
"With words of deep affection on his lips, he turns around and refuses to leave even his real name. If by some stroke of luck he is still alive, should I ever cross paths with him, I will surely strip away that hypocritical mask of his!"
Watching Mammy Hu's furious expression, Zhao Han could only force a dry laugh and chime in, "When that time comes, Mammy Hu and I will tear it off together, and properly vent this pent-up grievance for Mother."
"That is more like it." Hearing this, the anger on Mammy Hu's face gradually dissipated.
Yet Zhao Han furrowed his brows once more. After turning it over in his mind every which way,
he still felt that the smooth sailing he had experienced lately had nothing whatsoever to do with his estranged father, whose life or death remained unknown.
After all, which of the high-ranking officials holding pivotal positions at court did not come from a spotless lineage with a clear background?
Even someone traveling incognito would never use a false name to deceive an innocent maiden, only to vanish without a trace and leave no record behind.
---
In the blink of an eye, it was the first day of the fifth month—a time of smooth fortunes and complete auspiciousness.
The gates of the Zhao residence were thrown wide open, with red silk banners hanging high beneath the eaves.
The young pages and maidservants all had red silk sashes tied around their waists; every single one of them was high-spirited and beaming with smiles.
One hundred and twenty-eight crates of betrothal gifts were neatly lined up outside the gates well in advance, their sandalwood chests covered in embroidered red silk and gleaming brightly in the morning light.
At the very front was a pair of wild geese with lush plumage, their necks similarly adorned with red silk ribbons.
Since Zhao Han's parents had both passed away and there were no senior clan elders, those who went to the Sheng residence today to deliver the betrothal gifts were naturally Mammy Hu alongside a professional matchmaker.
Jiying Lane, the Sheng residence.
Today, the Sheng household was likewise decorated with lanterns and colored streamers, brimming with joyous festivity.
The purple sandalwood table in the main hall was laden with seasonal fresh fruits and delicate pastries, while thin wisps of smoke curled gracefully from the incense burner, filling the entire room with a radiant, hazy glow.
Old Madam Sheng possessed extensive connections in Bianjing, and Hualan was the very first granddaughter raised under her personal care. Thus, the high-ranking noble relatives who came today to observe the ceremony and offer congratulations were numerous.
Madam Wu of the Yongchang Count's Mansion arrived with gifts and a smiling face, while the Old Madam of the Yu family, supported by her granddaughter Yu Yanran, slowly alighted from her carriage.
Old Madam He, whose maternal family had served as imperial physicians for three generations, had traveled from afar and now sat hand-in-hand with the Old Madam in the Shou'an Hall, reminiscing about old times.
Even the Marquis of Yongyi's Xu family, with whom they had long lost contact, sent people bearing congratulatory gifts today.
Wang Ruofu's maternal family naturally would not miss this auspicious day for their grandniece.
Old Madam Wang, accompanied by her son Wang Shiping and daughter-in-law Lady Ji, arrived early at the Sheng residence.
Naturally, Wang Ruoruo, who was married into the Kang family, had also come along.
As for Hualan, she had been sitting before her bronze mirror since the earliest streaks of dawn, applying her makeup and dressing her hair. Today, she wore a light pink brocade skirt with intertwined crabapple blossoms embroidered in silver thread along the collar and cuffs. As she moved, subtle patterns rippled across the fabric, making her face look like a lotus blossom, warm and glowing with gentle radiance.
When Madam Wu and the other female relatives saw Hualan in the back courtyard, every single one of them praised her for being poised, generous, gentle, and accommodating.
Rulan blinked her bright, limpid apricot eyes and leaned close to Minglan's ear, whispering, "Once Eldest Sister is fully married into the Zhao family, she won't be able to discipline us anymore regarding our studies and embroidery."
With that, she mischievously stuck out her tongue, looking thoroughly relieved.
Under Old Mama Kong's tutelage, Hualan had completely shed her former self and grown extremely strict with her three younger sisters.
Should any of them show signs of laziness or slacking off, Hualan would show zero mercy, directly reprimanding them on the spot—leaving Rulan with no idea where to even go to air her grievances.
Minglan tilted her head slightly, revealing a delicate face as white and smooth as jade, and whispered softly, "Eldest Sister does it all for our own good. What Old Mama Kong said is so true: among sisters, glory is shared together, and disgrace is borne together."
"Today, with Eldest Sister looking so glorious and prestigious, we share in her reflected glory as well."
As she spoke, she glanced once more in Hualan's direction, her eyes filled with admiration.
Rulan gave a light huff. "Hmph, I don't care. I specifically refuse to let Molan look glorious."
"The very sight of her makes me angry!"
Molan stood with her maidservant on the other side, watching Hualan surrounded like the moon by a host of stars. Jealousy flared in her eyes, and she secretly vowed that when her own wedding day arrived, she would be just as magnificent.
As the auspicious hour drew near, Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu sat side by side in the seats of honor in the main hall.
Their complexions were rosy, and both wore beaming smiles.
The observing guests lined both sides of the hall, from time to time bursting into ripples of cheerful laughter and chatter.