LRAB The selection process begins in Chapter 104.
The selection process begins in Chapter 104.
Xinya Garden, another courtyard
Pei Rujing, Zuo Mingxuan, and others are all here.
These people were all members of a mahjong club, and they knew each other well, so there was no sense of unfamiliarity between them.
Looking at the storybooks laid out on each desk in front of him, he exclaimed in surprise, "There are so many?"
Zuo Mingxuan was also stunned: "Princess, Ruijintang has organized quite a large competition this time. I thought that since it was the first time they had held such an unconventional competition, it wouldn't attract many people."
Pei Rujing walked behind a desk and sat down, casually picking up a storybook to read: "Because Ruijintang was busy preparing for the competition, they hired a lot of people to promote it on the streets and alleys. Plus, with such a generous prize, it's not surprising that it attracted people."
Zuo Mingxuan found a seat next to Pei Rujing and sat down: "To make this known to everyone, it must cost a lot of money, right? Add to that the prize money for the competition and the judges' fees, it'll be several thousand taels of silver. Does Young Master Wen have that much money?"
Her gaze fell on Pei Rujing, and she seriously suspected that Pei Rujing had paid for the money.
She knew Pei Rujing fairly well.
Pei Rujing had never worried about money since childhood and was used to spending lavishly. Several thousand taels of silver sounded like a lot, but it was not as expensive as a hairpin on the county princess's head.
If Wen Zongji were to ask, Pei Rujing would absolutely not mind spending the money on his behalf.
Pei Rujing said, "When we got married, my father-in-law and mother-in-law gave him a lot of money. I asked him if he needed any more money, and he said no, it should be enough."
Zuo Mingxuan slapped her forehead: "I almost forgot. Although you haven't separated your families, getting married is equivalent to having your own little family. It's impossible for Marquis Zhongyong not to give Young Master Wen money for his household expenses."
Pei Rujing glanced at her: "Don't always act like I'd be fooled. Besides, it's just a few thousand taels of silver. Even if I gave it to you, what difference would it make?"
The wealthy and powerful county magistrate didn't care at all.
Having said that, he tossed the storybook aside and picked up the next one.
She had already sentenced that storybook to death.
Zuo Mingxuan said, "You can't say that. Men are always greedy. If the county princess gives in this time, what will he do next time? If we let him develop this habit, won't the county princess have to support him with her dowry for the rest of his life?"
Pei Rujing stood up straight and sneered, "You're the only one here who isn't married. What do you know about men?"
puff-
Hearing this, everyone else laughed and teased Zuo Mingxuan, "President, the county princess is right, you don't understand men."
"Men are fickle. When they like you, everything about you is good—gentle, considerate, tender, and affectionate. But once they stop liking you, everything you do is wrong, and nothing you do will please them."
"It is said that women's tempers are unpredictable and hard to fathom, but men's thoughts are like the weather in March, changing in an instant."
Zuo Mingxuan frowned: "You're here to be judges, don't gossip!"
Hearing this, everyone covered their mouths and laughed: "The president is angry. Okay, okay, we won't say anything more."
Pei Rujing looked at Zuo Mingxuan smugly: "Did you hear that? Stop worrying about me from now on. I heard that Madam Zuo has found another young master for you. You should start thinking about what kind of husband you'll marry in the future."
Zuo Mingxuan was annoyed when she heard this: "I don't know what my mother is so anxious about. We've only been at peace for a few days and she wants to find someone to marry again. She even said that my aunt has taken a liking to him, so he must be a good person."
Pei Rujing was genuinely unaware that the Empress was involved: "Since it was chosen by your aunt, what are you worried about? Just go and meet her properly."
The Empress, a model of virtue and grace, was a role model for all women in the land.
Her judgment is certainly good.
Zuo Mingxuan rolled her eyes: "You think I didn't go see them?"
Pei Rujing was stunned: "You've seen them all?"
That's pretty quick.
"How does it feel?"
Zuo Mingxuan couldn't help but complain, "He is indeed handsome, but does the county princess know what his first words were upon meeting him?"
"What?"
Pei Rujing asked subconsciously.
He said he had arranged to have a cockfight, and asked if I wanted to go watch.
puff-
Pei Rujing couldn't help but laugh: "You two are a good match, you both love to have fun. Have you gone to see it yet?"
"I went," Zuo Mingxuan said. "Then I watched him and his opponent keep hurling insults at each other during the cockfight. The two of them were hurling insults more enthusiastically than the two fighting cocks. I instantly lost interest."
"Haha, it's okay, we can meet the next one."
Zuo Mingxuan threw the discarded script aside and said, "Spare me."
She had only met a few people when she became impatient.
Pei Rujing shrugged: "It's no use telling me."
Zuo Mingxuan was just grumbling: "Has Madam Wu sent invitations to the county princess for the banquet she's hosting?"
"It's been sent."
"Is the county princess going or not?"
"Go ahead, I don't have anything else to do anyway."
After all, Madam Wu is the wife of the Grand Secretary and a good mahjong partner; Pei Rujing wouldn't refuse her such a small favor.
"I heard that Madam Wu not only invited women, but also many unmarried men from the capital."
Pei Rujing suddenly realized and teased her, "Then you have to go."
This was clearly a matchmaking event. Someone like Pei Rujing, who had just gotten married, shouldn't have been on the list. It was only because of her unusual status and her personal relationship with Madam Wu that Madam Wu invited Pei Rujing.
Zuo Mingxuan looked at her with a resentful expression.
She's not stupid; of course she knows that.
Madam Zuo took it very seriously and specially went to Yunxiu Workshop to order clothes for Zuo Mingxuan. She also specifically instructed that they be finished as soon as possible so that they could make it to Madam Wu's banquet.
Pei Rujing asked in confusion, "Doesn't Madam Wu dislike these kinds of occasions? Why is she taking the initiative to hold a banquet this time?"
Zuo Mingxuan explained, "The sixth son of the Wu family has become the second-highest scorer in the imperial examination and has already entered the Hanlin Academy. His previously arranged marriage has also been finalized. This banquet is probably Madam Wu's way of giving face to her future daughter-in-law."
Pei Rujing suddenly realized, "I see. Wu Fengyuan and my husband were born in the same year. Which family's daughter did he marry?"
Zuo Mingxuan was speechless: "Princess, this matter caused a sensation in the capital at the time, how come you have no recollection of it at all?"
"A sensation in the capital?" Pei Rujing looked bewildered. "It's just an engagement. How come it caused such a sensation in the capital? I had no idea!"
"Because the great Confucian scholar who taught Wu Fengyuan praised him as having the talent of a top scholar, and his fiancée was the granddaughter of the great Confucian scholar Zhou, the Miss Zhou who was skilled in both music and painting. After this matter spread, everyone praised them as a perfect match, a match made in heaven."
Pei Rujing had no recollection of it at all: "I didn't know anything about it, which means it didn't cause a sensation in the capital; it only caused a temporary stir in public opinion."
Zuo Mingxuan was at a loss for words: "As long as the county princess is happy. However, I am quite curious about this Miss Zhou, and I'll take a look at her during the banquet."
"The Zhou family is a scholarly family with extremely strict family education. This Miss Zhou is the only legitimate daughter among the younger generation of the Zhou family and has been personally taught by the great Confucian scholar Zhou. Even when she goes out to attend banquets, they are only those with very good personal relations with the Zhou family. I have not yet met her."
Pei Rujing also became interested: "It's quite mysterious."