Marriage from a high family, parents’ orders, matchmaker’s words.
The marriage between the Li family and the Cui family is completely in compliance with etiquette and law, satisfies both parents, and is in line with the interests of the two families.
Perhaps only the parties involved are dissatisfied.
Li Qinzai rejects arranged marriages in his heart. He is afraid that if he goes against his will, he will be betrothed to a pock-marked shrew, the kind who can carry a cauldron with three eclipses of the sun.
Where is Cui Jie, the daughter of the Cui family?
In the ancient mansion, Cui Jie walked gently into the front hall with small steps.
When he entered the hall and knelt down to worship his father, Cui Linqian, his movements were impeccable. From stretching his sleeves, to kneeling on both knees, to placing palms on his forehead, his movements were smooth and flowing, revealing an elegance that had been immersed in him for many years.
Cui Linqian looked at his daughter with satisfaction, stroking his beard and nodding with a smile.
Cui Jie is almost eighteen years old this year.
Women these days are getting married relatively early. Most of them have decided to get married when they are around sixteen years old. Cui Jie, who is eighteen years old, is already married late.
If it were an ordinary family, the government's official media would come to urge them to get married.
Sitting on her knees in front of Cui Linqian with her head bowed, Cui Jie remained unmoved, even if the mountains collapsed and the ground cracked, she would not change her expression.
Eighteen years old is the age when a flower is quietly blooming.
Cui Jie, who was sitting in front of Cui Linqian, looked very quiet. Her thin body exuded a frail and youthful charm, and there was a hint of Cui Linqian in her brows.
Her eyebrows are like willows, her eyes are like autumn water, and her thin lips have lost a little blood, making her look even more delicate and helpless.
After three years of mourning the loss of her mother, Cui Jie has still not completely recovered from her grief. She raised her eyes and frowned, her face still showing a hint of sadness.
Cui Linqian looked at his daughter quietly and sighed softly: "Jie'er, your mother has passed away. This is destiny. Mortals have nothing to do. Those who are still alive should live well and be as cheerful as possible, otherwise your mother's spirit in heaven will not be at peace." Cui Jie lowered her eyelids and said softly: "Yes."
"The three-year period of filial piety has passed. Yesterday, the British Duke of Chang'an sent a letter, urging you to get married to Qin Zai, the fifth young master of the Li family. I have agreed to it. In a few days, the British Duke will send someone to accept your marriage."<
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Cui Jie's lowered eyelids trembled, she lowered her head and bit her lips without saying anything.
Cui Linqian looked at her and said: "The British prince has been a hero for three dynasties and is a member of the Holy Family. His family's descendants are widely favored. You will not be wronged by marrying into the Li family."
Cui Jie whispered: "Father, my daughter wants to stay filial piety for her mother for a few more years."
Cui Linqian laughed: "Nonsense, three years of filial piety have been completed. You have fulfilled your filial piety. This person has passed away, and there is no reason to let your children delay their youth and observe filial piety before his death."
Cui Jie bit her lips fiercely and was silent for a long time. Then she suddenly leaned over and said, "Father, my daughter would like to remain unmarried for the rest of her life and to fulfill her filial piety in front of her father. Please do it for me, father."
Cui Linqian shook his head repeatedly: "The marriage was decided four years ago. There is absolutely no possibility of changing it. The woman will eventually get married. How can I keep you as an old lady? I will never mention this matter again."
Cui Jie couldn't help it anymore and protested: "Father, the fifth young man of the Li family... is not a good man. My daughter really doesn't want to marry him. I beg her father to show mercy and cancel the marriage."
Cui Linqian was startled and then got angry: "How did you hear that Li Qinzai was not a good man? Don't listen to the gossips in the backyard. The marriage has been decided, how can you be allowed to do whatever you want!"
Cui Jie, who was originally a little emotional, suddenly calmed down and returned to her cool and weak appearance.
She has been smart since she was a child, and from her father's firm tone, she knew that this marriage was absolutely impossible to change.
Rich families take "credibility" very seriously, so once the wedding date has been set, there is basically no possibility of breaking off the engagement.
The Li family and the Cui family are both wealthy families in the world. If the two families break off their engagement, they will be a huge laughing stock, and neither family can afford the consequences.
"Yes, my daughter understands." Cui Jie said calmly.
Cui Linqian looked at her in astonishment. Her rare excitement just now was completely gone, as if it was his own hallucination.
At this moment, she has become a lady of an aristocratic family in the eyes of everyone, elegant and quiet.
Cui Linqian pursed his lips and said softly: "Jie'er, don't listen to the gossip outside. The Li family has made great contributions in three dynasties, and the emperor is very favoring it. The daughter of the Cui family in Qinghe is a perfect match for her to marry a descendant of the dynasty's meritorious deeds."
Cui Jie still lowered her eyes and said: "Yes."
His daughter's reaction was too calm, and Cui Linqian suddenly felt uncomfortable. He glanced at her suspiciously, then shook his head and asked her to retreat.
Walking out of the front hall, Cui Jie's calm and pretty face flashed with a hint of unruliness.
She had heard of Li Qinzai's reputation far away in Qingzhou. Ever since she found out that he was her future husband-in-law, Cui Jie was particularly interested in the news about him, and even secretly sent people to Chang'an City regularly to inquire about him. p>
Four years have passed, and the news I have found out is certainly not good news.
In the past four years, Li Qinzai's actions have completely exposed his reputation, conduct and character.
To say that he is "full of evil" may be a bit exaggerated, but to say that he is "notorious" is particularly appropriate.
The more she heard about it, the more Cui Jie became disgusted with this husband-in-law she had never met, and the more she felt rejected by the marriage. Now it has reached a point where hearing his name makes her whole body uncomfortable.<
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I don’t ask for gold and jade halls, I don’t ask for even city jade, I just want to meet my beloved in this life.
Li Qinzai is by no means a good man.
Cui Jie has been reading poetry and books intensively since she was a child. Her knowledge is not inferior to that of the Jinshi of the dynasty, and her cultivation is as good as that of an eminent monk. Her knowledge and cultivation have boosted her arrogance.
People like Li Qinzai, no matter how noble they are, are not worthy of her marriage.
The moment she walked out of the front hall, Cui Jie, who had been a good girl for many years, suddenly had a very bold idea in her heart...
…………
Chang'an City.
The beauty cream is so popular all over the city that demand exceeds supply.
A bottle of beauty cream sells for a lot of money, and the ladies in Chang'an still flock to it.
Not only that, guests from the British government also came to the door in an endless stream. Most of them were respectable ladies from Chang'an City, who came directly to ask for an audience with Li Cui.
Li Cui obviously has the qualities of a strong woman. After discovering that the supply of beauty cream was in short supply, she immediately sent people to expand the workshop outside the city and summoned the manpower of Zhuangzi. Both men and women worked in the workshop to produce the beauty cream day and night. p>
A few days later, five carriages were loaded with the proceeds from the sale of the facial cream, and the coachmen drove the money into the Li family's warehouse.
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Even Li Ji was shocked.
The Li family has never been short of money. It has been in business since the reign of Emperor Gaozu Wude. Over the decades, Li Ji has also made a lot of money for the family. There are many shops in several big cities in Guanzhong, and he has even formed joint ventures with powerful people.
Received several caravans.
However, Li Ji had never seen such a hugely profitable business in his life. It had only been a few days since he opened the business, and he already had five cartloads of money.
The Li family is about to make a fortune!
Does that thing called "Yanzhuanpao" really have such great magic power?
I heard that it was Li Qinzai who did it again?
For the same amount of money as a bottle, this evil person really dares to sell it.
The silly ladies in Chang'an City really dare to buy it. A small bottle of beauty cream has exposed so many prodigal women.
In the late summer afternoon, Li Ji sat in the yard, watching the housekeepers and servants in the house suddenly become busy, and watching his second daughter-in-law, Li Cui, moving vigorously between the warehouse and the front yard, shouting loudly from time to time, saying that she was so gentle in the past.
Her virtuous appearance completely collapsed.
The majestic Duke's Mansion, the residence of meritorious service members of the three dynasties, has actually turned into the Chang'an office of the Li Family Store.
The housekeeper Wu Tong was busy following Mrs. Li Cui, waving his handkerchief and telling the uncle outside to come in and play...
Li Ji's hand stroking his beard trembled slightly.
Li Ji should have been happy when the Li family got rich, but why did he feel an unknown fire in his heart?
Li Qinzai suddenly appeared behind Li Ji and carefully kneaded Li Ji's shoulders.
My shoulders are very slippery, please use some strength.
"Grandpa, the house has been a bit noisy these days. Many ladies of the day have come to visit. It makes no sense for my mother not to entertain her personally. You..."
Li Ji waved his hand: "No problem."
After a pause, Li Ji suddenly asked: "A few days ago you said you were going to make something called a 'facial mask', didn't you mean it would be used to treat pockmarks?"
Li Qinzai was stunned: "Yes, Zhuyan Cream can cure pockmarks... right?"
Li Ji pointed to the gate of Li's Mansion, which was constantly flowing, and said: "Are there so many pockmarks in Chang'an City?"
Seeing that Li Ji's face looked a little strange, after thinking about it, I felt that Li Ji might be a little unhappy because his home had turned into a vegetable market.
Li Qinzai said cautiously: "A place where water and soil support a person, maybe Chang'an's special water quality pockmark..."
Li Ji was silent for a while and said calmly: "Very good, I am not yet seventy years old this year, so you have fooled me into thinking that I am a fool. Qin Zai, I am very itchy today, please take my horse."
Li Qinzai's heart sank: "Grandpa, do you want to dance?"
"I'm not dancing, I'm just sparring with you. Please!"