Chapter 218: Marriage Settled, An Xiu’er Enters the Capital

Fan Mingyuan coughed awkwardly and said, “I couldn’t sleep. I came out for a walk. Why aren’t you resting?”

Xiao Ruoshui rubbed her nose awkwardly. She had already laid down and saw a figure standing outside the door. She had to open the door to see who it was.

Fan Mingyuan also realized that he had asked a stupid question. He was so nervous that he didn’t know where to put his hands and feet. After a long time, he found his voice. “You should rest early. I’m going back to my room.”

“Brother Yuan.” Xiao Ruoshui suddenly stopped him. She bit her lower lip and mustered her courage. “If you’re unwilling, you can refuse.”

After all, what she had told Shen Yijia before was her own guess. When she asked Fan Mingyuan if he was willing to marry her, he only agreed and nothing else. If she guessed wrongly and Fan Mingyuan only agreed because he wanted to help her, how awkward would that be?

Fan Mingyuan was stunned for a moment. He did not expect his silence to cause Xiao Ruoshui to misunderstand. He forgot all decorum and stepped forward and held her hand. “No, I’m not unwilling. I just didn’t expect this day to come. I’m very happy.”

Xiao Ruoshui was stunned. She did not expect a person who usually looked calm to be so childish. When she returned to her senses and realized that they were holding hands, her face instantly turned red. She pulled her hand away and said anxiously, “I- I’m going to rest. Go back to your room quickly.”

The door closed with a bang. Fan Mingyuan looked at his hand for a long time and smiled foolishly.

Because they were in a hurry, it took them less than a month to reach the capital.

In the general’s residence, Xiao Ruoshui was summoned by the general’s wife, Madam Zhou, the moment she stepped into the residence. Fan Mingyuan handed over a visiting card and went to see General Xiao.

General Xiao was in his early fifties. Perhaps it was because he was a general, but he did not look old. The most impressive thing about him was his slender and sharp black eyes. He was like an eagle in the night. When he saw Fan Mingyuan, he laughed heartily. “Nephew, you haven’t returned to the capital for a long time.”

This was not the first time Fan Mingyuan had seen General Xiao, but it was the first time he was so nervous. He cupped his hands and bowed. “Greetings, General Xiao.”

General Xiao helped him up. “You’re being too polite. You can still call me Uncle Xiao as usual. Speaking of which, thank you for taking care of my daughter these days.”

Fan Mingyuan pondered for a moment and said, “Of course.”

General Xiao glanced at him. “Sit.”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

After taking a seat with Fan Mingyuan, General Xiao slowly said, “You haven’t returned to the capital for so many years. You didn’t come here just to send Ruoshui back, right?”

Although he had yet to meet his daughter, General Xiao was not stupid. If Fan Mingyuan wanted to send a gift, he could have sent a few people to deliver it.

Fan Mingyuan did not expect him to be so direct, so he went straight to the point. He stood up, lifted his robe, and knelt down. “I would like to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage, General.”

General Xiao was stunned. He had guessed many possibilities, but he had never guessed this. He knew that Xiao Ruoshui had always admired Song Jingchen. The incident at the Bulwark Duke’s residence had only happened because he had ordered someone to lock Xiao Ruoshui up.

However, to betroth Ruoshui to Fan Mingyuan…

Thinking about how the situation in the capital was still unclear, the voices of the eunuchs in the imperial court gradually became louder. Recently, the Eldest Prince had mentioned Ruoshui to him a few times.

General Xiao weighed his options and did not let him get up immediately. He said, “I watched you grow up, so there’s no need to say anything. I’ll only ask you one question.”

Since the general didn’t reject him immediately, there was hope. Fan Mingyuan asked anxiously, “Uncle, please speak.”

General Xiao said, “Do you have any plans to return to the capital within five years?”

Fan Mingyuan was stunned. If it was in the past, he would definitely have replied, “Yes.” But now, he shook his head firmly. “No.”

If General Xiao was unwilling to let his daughter marry far away, his words would completely end his marriage with Xiao Ruoshui.

Unexpectedly, General Xiao nodded in satisfaction and personally helped him up. “As long as you promise to treat Ruoshui well in the future, you can officially come and propose tomorrow. You can settle the marriage first.”

A woman who had been engaged did not need to participate in the maiden selection process.

Fan Mingyuan’s mind was in a mess. He did not expect General Xiao to agree so easily. He looked up in disbelief and met General Xiao’s half-smile. He quickly promised, “I won’t let you down in this life. If I betray this promise, I’ll willingly be killed.”

Xiao Ruoshui, who had finally escaped from her mother’s clutches, happened to hear this. Her face flushed red and she heaved a sigh of relief. There was no need for her to say anything else.

Madam Zhou naturally wanted the best for her daughter. Although she felt that it was a little unfair to betroth her daughter to a low-ranking official, she could not afford to take her time to choose.

Especially since she had previously revealed some information to the ladies of the few families. They had clearly discussed it well, but in the end, there were no arrangements for a marriage between their families. She felt very disgusted. She knew that those people were afraid that marrying into their family would anger the royal family.

The next day, Fan Mingyuan invited the official media to propose marriage. In just half a month, they had gotten engaged.

Once the news of the marriage between the legitimate daughter of the general’s residence and an unknown seventh-grade official spread, many people were so angry that they smashed their teacups.

At the beginning of July, the decree for the palace selection was also issued. Originally, Fan Mingyuan wanted to stay in the capital for two more days to accompany Xiao Ruoshui. A secret meeting with General Xiao forced him to rush back to Anyang County immediately.

By the time the decree reached Xiagou Village, it was already mid-August.

The maiden selection was usually held by the Internal Affairs Bureau and the Ministry of Rites to choose outstanding women from all over the country. To Shen Yijia’s surprise, An Xiu’er was chosen.

The ladies of the imperial court could only avoid participating if they were married or engaged. That was because under the emperor’s watch, everyone knew which family had unmarried ladies. If they did not participate in the selection, their families would inevitably be despised by the emperor.

However, it was different for ordinary girls. As long as no one said anything, they would not be forced to do so. Therefore, An Xiu’er would only go if she was willing to.

Shen Yijia stood at the entrance of the courtyard and watched as An Xiu’er carried a small bag and boarded the carriage specially prepared for the participants of the maiden selection. The moment she entered the carriage, she seemed to have sensed something and looked back. Her lips curled into a smile as she nodded at Shen Yijia.

Shen Yijia was stunned. She rubbed her arms. It was not winter yet. Why was it suddenly cold?

Shen Yijia had an ominous premonition.

As soon as the carriage left, Auntie Tian came crying. “What kind of place is the palace? Can commoners like us go there? Why won’t she listen?”

Auntie Tian held a handkerchief and cried. Shen Yijia realized that the An family did not agree to An Xiu’er’s participation. She secretly participated in the county-level selection and only came back to pack her things after she was chosen.

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