CHAPTER 135: CHAPTER 135: MARRIAGE FATE (PART 1)

County Magistrate Cui comes from a prominent family, known as a gifted child since he was young, and later became the youngest Advanced Scholar in Da Liang, making him the youngest County Magistrate.

For the past three years, County Magistrate Cui has indeed managed Ye County very well, with its annual taxes being the highest in Nanyang County, probably about seven or eight times that of a poor county like Li County!

In Ye County, no family is in poverty, the only difference being whether they are willing to eat meat at their meals or not. County Magistrate Cui has always been proud of this.

Unexpectedly, today he received a heavy slap in the face.

However, this slap was well received. It brought the floating County Magistrate Cui back down to earth, prompting him to reflect and self-examine.

Mrs. Li, feeling distressed for her husband and unable to bear seeing him so dejected and self-reproachful, softly said, "When the granary is full, one knows honor and disgrace. Being able to let the people live and work in peace, and enjoy a life without worries about food and clothing is already quite remarkable. In the Fourteen Counties of Nanyang, Ye County is the most prosperous, deservedly the first."

"You are neither greedy nor corrupt, diligent in your duties, and handle everything personally."

"Even if asked for the Commandery Princess’s assessment, you would still be a good and honest official."

County Magistrate Cui was somewhat reassured by his wife’s praise, regaining some confidence, and said energetically, "I will certainly correct any inadequacies in my previous actions. Cousin, please don’t always praise me. If I act improperly, you must remind me."

Mrs. Li smiled gently, her voice tender, "But in my eyes, cousin is perfect in every way!"

County Magistrate Cui was moved when he saw his wife’s charming smile and leaned over to hold her hand, just wanting to get closer when the door was pushed open.

Their two sons, who were little debt collectors, rushed in one after the other, heading straight for their mother and pushing County Magistrate Cui aside.

With a helpless expression, County Magistrate Cui, unable to fight with his sons, had to let go.

Mrs. Li couldn’t help but laugh.

...

The Commandery Princess, true to her word, stayed in Ye County for several days.

Perhaps inspired by the case of Miss Huang, there were a number of women over the age of twenty who came to the county government one after another to file complaints, asking the magistrate to take charge and allow them to get married.

It was only at this point that County Magistrate Cui realized that there were quite a few women in Ye County in the same situation as Miss Huang. Their families coveted the silver their daughters earned and refused to let them marry, keeping them at home.

Yang Shi judged cases for two days, after which County Magistrate Cui volunteered to take over the tangled mess. In his capacity as the magistrate, he issued a public document stating that women should marry by the age of twenty. If parents refused to let them marry, the women could report to the county government, and a portion of the family assets would be confiscated as dowries for the women.

Jiang Shaohua, upon reading the document, found County Magistrate Cui’s writing eloquent and quite commendable and had Chen Sheren seal it with the Prince Mansion’s stamp.

The documents bearing the Prince Mansion’s stamp were posted throughout Ye County.

The women excitedly spread the news, though naturally there were some discordant voices. For example, a few men cynically insinuated that the Commandery Princess, being a woman, was favoring women excessively.

However, such faint voices were quickly drowned out by the surging tide.

"Commandery Princess, there’s good news."

Chen Jinyu came to report with pleasure, "Among the trusted aides traveling with the Commandery Princess, there is one named Sun An, who asked Meng Sanbao to come to me with a message. He wishes to marry Miss Huang."

Jiang Shaohua had a total of two hundred personal soldiers around her. All these personal soldiers were direct subordinates of the Nanyang Prince Mansion, each more skilled than the other, and often accompanied the Commandery Princess.

Jiang Shaohua was most familiar with trusted aides like Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao. Sun An was older and steadier, speaking little, with not much of a presence.

A dark-skinned male face flashed in Jiang Shaohua’s mind: "How old is Sun An this year?"

Chen Jinyu smiled, "He is twenty-four, the same age as Miss Huang. He had previously been engaged, but his bride fell ill and died before getting married. Later his mother also fell ill and passed away, and with no one to look after him, his marriage kept getting delayed year after year."

"That day during the trial, Sun An was present too. He was very sympathetic to Miss Huang’s plight and admired her sincerity and kindness. He wishes for the Commandery Princess to act as a matchmaker."

Jiang Shaohua thought for a moment and said, "Go and bring Sun An here, I want to ask him directly."

Soon, Sun An appeared before Jiang Shaohua.

Jiang Shaohua carefully examined him.

Sun An, this sturdy young man with a dark complexion, was embarrassed, his face turning red, and he was at a loss under the gaze of the young Commandery Princess.

Jiang Shaohua chuckled, "The Commandery Princess called you over to personally ask about your intentions before making a decision. There’s no need to be so nervous."

"Sun An, the Commandery Princess asks you, why do you want to marry Miss Huang? Is it out of pity and sympathy, or do you truly like her?"

Sun An calmed his breathing and answered somewhat shyly, "Reporting to the Commandery Princess, I do feel some compassion for Miss Huang, but even more, I respect and love her. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have braved the embarrassment and mustered the courage to seek the Commandery Princess’s help in this."

It is not uncommon for a man’s pity for a woman to turn into love.

Jiang Shaohua looked at Sun An and slowly said, "The Commandery Princess is pleased to see this marriage happen and will personally act as a matchmaker for you. Miss Huang is a diligent, capable, and kind woman. If you marry her, you must treat her well in the future."

"If you don’t, the Commandery Princess will personally support Miss Huang."

Sun An’s dark face brightened with joy, and he nodded repeatedly with delight.

...

Meanwhile, Chen Jinyu also called Miss Huang over to inform her about Sun An’s proposal.

"The Commandery Princess asked me to speak with you. If you are willing, you can set the engagement in Ye County, but the wedding and festivities will have to wait until the Commandery Princess has finished inspecting all the counties and returned to the Prince Mansion to make arrangements."

Sun An’s parents have long passed away, and he is now a personal soldier of the Prince Mansion, living and eating there. Sun An’s marriage would also have to wait until he finishes this period of duty.

Moreover, such a joyous occasion like marriage shouldn’t be rushed. It’s more respectful to have an engagement period before finalizing the wedding arrangements.

Miss Huang nodded without hesitation, "I am willing to marry him."

Chen Jinyu chuckled, "Aren’t you even curious to meet Sun An?"

Miss Huang softly said, "I trust Chen Sheren, and trust the Commandery Princess even more." Traditionally, a woman’s marriage is arranged by her parents. Seeing her husband for the first time only on the wedding night.

Chen Jinyu, looking at the obedient Miss Huang and seeing the trust in her eyes, felt an inexplicable bitterness.

A woman’s fate drifting like duckweed, and Miss Huang so easily entrusting her future to another.

She was still young now. In a few years, would she be bound to a marriage, marrying a man she had never met as his wife?

Would all her joys, sorrows, clothing, honor, and disgrace for the rest of her life rely on the conscience of one man?

An indescribable and overwhelming feeling of frustration and anger surged in her heart.

Miss Huang, clearly misunderstanding, plucked up the courage to look up and said: "If Chen Sheren wants me to meet him, I will see him."

Chen Jinyu came back to her senses and nodded with a smile: "Wait here for a while, I’ll bring Sun An over."

Miss Huang obediently agreed.

After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Chen Jinyu returned with a tall and sturdy young man following behind him.

Miss Huang glanced up quietly.