The marriage of Xue Yuxin and Zhu Bin was originally set for March. There were still more than half a month to go, so there was no need to change the date.
During these days, Shen Yuning accompanied Xue Yuxin all the time, which somewhat diluted the sorrow of their separation.
However, besides busying herself with her daughter's upcoming grand wedding, Lady Shao also dragged her daughter - in - law, Lady Sun, either inviting the wives of various families to their home or taking her out to attend all kinds of banquets.
Sometimes, Shen Yuning would play with her little niece. When the niece clamored for her grandmother and mother, they were nowhere to be found.
When Lady Shao and Lady Sun returned, Shen Yuning complained in her words, "Mother and sister - in - law, why are you out for the whole day? Xi'er misses you so much."
Lady Sun didn't look like she felt sorry for her young daughter. Instead, she was beaming with joy. She tapped Shen Yuning on the forehead and said, "How can you say that? If Xi'er has no one to accompany her, you can keep her company. Mother and I, of course, have important things to do."
After some time, Shen Yuning finally understood that the two of them had been busy these days looking for a good marriage for her.
Lady Sun was always straightforward. She took her younger sister - in - law's hand and said with a smile, "Now that your elder sister is going to marry into a noble family, even though you're a bit older, you're not without suitors. After Mother spread the word about looking for a match for you, several families have shown interest. But Mother said that she must choose the very best for you. We can't just look at the family background. The character of the young man and whether his family members are easy to get along with are the most important things."
Even though Shen Yuning had developed a thick skin over the years, her face still flushed red at Lady Sun's words.
She was just hesitating in her heart. Looking for a match? Was she about to get married?
In the past, she didn't really want to get married. Maybe it was because when she was traveling around, she saw those poor women living a miserable life after marriage, which made her lose faith in men.
Now that she had returned to the capital and the Xue family, perhaps the smooth - sailing feeling from her childhood had come back, and she didn't reject the idea of getting married anymore.
Maybe it was because she saw her elder sister looking so shy and happy now.
But her elder sister had met a man she loved and who loved her in return, while she seemed to have not met such a person yet.
Lady Shao and Lady Sun were sitting at the table, holding the name cards sent by various families. They were discussing which young man was more suitable.
In the capital at that time, people didn't get married very early. It was quite common for young men to get married at the age of twenty, and some even got married at the age of twenty - three or twenty - four.
Lady Sun looked up and asked, "Would Yuning mind a young man who is younger than her? I think the third young master from Mother's natal family is a good choice, but he's just turned twenty, two years younger than Yuning."
Lady Shao also smiled and said, "The third young master is a bit naughty and childish. I wonder if Yuning will dislike his immaturity."
Shen Yuning's heart was pounding. She always thought that a man should be older to be more mature and caring. But now, she thought that a younger man might not necessarily be less sensible.
Could it be...
Could it be that seeing her second brother and second sister - in - law, since Zhang Rong was two years older than Shen Fugui, and her second brother still doted on his wife, she gradually thought it was not inappropriate.
However, she had met this Young Master Shao when she was a child. He liked to play pranks and always bullied girls. She didn't know how he was now, but just thinking about it, she wasn't very willing.
Seeing the changing expression on Shen Yuning's face, Lady Sun smiled and said to her mother - in - law, "Forget it, Mother. She probably still prefers a more sensible one. The third young master is still a child."
Lady Shao then lowered her head and pointed to the young men from other families, but they were all a bit disappointing. After all, the good - family young men would get engaged when they were in their twenties. Those who were twenty - two or twenty - three and still unengaged must have some problems.
Seeing her mother - in - law looking troubled, Lady Sun smiled and said, "It's not easy to find a young man as perfect as Mr. Zhu. Mother, don't set your sights too high. The young master of the Prince Zhuang's Mansion got sick when he was twenty and almost died, which delayed his marriage. Although he's a concubine - born son, he's still a good choice. And the Empress Dowager was raised in the Prince Zhuang's Mansion, so there's still some affection. It won't be bad."
Lady Shao frowned and shook her head, "I don't really mind that he's a concubine - born son. As long as the young man is motivated, it doesn't matter whether he's the legitimate or concubine - born son. What I'm worried about is his mother. She's not a worry - free person. You were still young and didn't know about the things that happened in the Prince Zhuang's Mansion a few years ago, but I remember them clearly. If your younger sister marries into their family in the future, it will be fine if the proper mother - in - law is good, but she still has to respect the blood - related mother - in - law, which will be a hassle."
Lady Sun sighed helplessly, "It's really difficult to find a suitable one."
Shen Yuning sipped her tea and pursed her lips. After a long time, she said, "Actually, Mother and sister - in - law don't have to worry so much. I still plan to travel with Lord Wan in a while."
Hearing this, Lady Shao immediately stood up, frowned and asked, "What are you going to do with Lord Wan? In the past, it was to raise military rations. Now, the Wan family has taken on this matter alone. Where do you still need to show yourself? Yuning, you're a young lady from a good family. Just stay at home obediently and wait to get married. Where..."
Shen Yuning shook her head, "Mother, I might have been an obedient girl in the past, but after being a village girl and a merchant's daughter for a few years, I deeply feel the injustice in this world. Lord Wan sent me a letter saying that he would come back around summer. At that time, he not only wants to travel around the Great Zhou, but also plans to travel around other countries to see the local customs. I also want to go with him."
Hearing this, Lady Shao became even more anxious, "Yuning, do you have something improper with Lord Wan? He's already married!"
Shen Yuning laughed, "What are you thinking, Mother? Lord Wan and I are just confidant friends. Many of his views and ideas coincide with mine. But that's all. I don't like older men. If I have to choose, I'd rather choose his son than him."
Lady Shao felt a bit relieved, but still muttered discontentedly, "What confidant friends? There's no such thing as confidant friends between men and women. If you act like this, people will say that you're not proper. You're still unmarried and always following a man around."
Shen Yuning said seriously, "It's precisely because the world has so many obstacles for women that I have to set an example. Otherwise, wouldn't I be sorry for the title of Rongchang Country Lady bestowed on me by the late emperor? I just hope that one day, the world won't have so many prejudices against women."
Xue Yusong stepped in. Hearing this, he said, "You not only hope that women can have fewer restrictions, but you probably even wish that women can become officials in the court, right?"
Shen Yuning's eyes lit up. She quickly stepped forward to greet her elder brother and took the things from his hand, "Brother still understands me best. I think the reason why the world is so harsh on women is probably because there are many pedantic officials in the court. And all the officials are men. It's very difficult to expect men to speak up for women. If our Great Zhou allows women to become officials in the court, many things can be solved."
Xue Yusong glared at her angrily, "It takes decades of hard study in the cold window to enter the court. Do you think it's a simple thing? Or do you want the emperor to give some kind of inheritance title?"
Shen Yuning straightened her back, "If we give inheritance titles, then women becoming officials won't be for the common people, but only for the high - level people to seek personal gain. What's the point of that? And brother, you're underestimating women. If men can study hard in the cold window, why can't women? I think many women are more tenacious than men."
Xue Yusong could never win an argument with his second younger sister. He could only look at Lady Shao helplessly and say, "Mother, why don't you discipline her?"
Lady Shao ignored their dispute and continued to discuss with Lady Sun about the suitable young men.
However, Lady Shao didn't have to worry for long. The next day, Lady Chen came to visit.
The Chen family and the Xue family had a very good relationship and often visited each other. So it wasn't a surprising thing that Lady Chen came.
Lady Shao greeted Lady Chen with a big smile, "Why do you have time to come today? I heard that your third son had another son. I haven't congratulated you yet."
Lady Chen's third son had been away on an official assignment for several years and it was not easy for him to come back. Even though he had given her a grandson, she hardly saw him all year round. But having a grandson was a happy event, so Lady Chen was naturally happy.
However, she didn't come for her third son today. After chatting for a while, she took her old friend's hand and said, "My fourth son came back the other day. He did a good job on this mission and the Regent rewarded him generously. I guess he will be promoted again in a while."
Lady Shao offered another round of congratulations, but there was not much sincerity in it. It was a good thing that a concubine - born son was making progress, but if he made too much progress and surpassed the legitimate son, it wasn't necessarily a great thing.
However, Lady Chen obviously didn't come to boast about her concubine - born son. She just sighed with a smiling face, "Well, no matter how capable he is, what's the use? He's already twenty - six. I'm really worried. His mother was originally my personal maid. I treated her like my own younger sister and I've always been very concerned about him. In the past, he said that a man should focus on his career. I understood and didn't force him. Now that he has achieved something in his career and has the emperor's appreciation, what else is he lacking? This..."
Lady Shao's heart skipped a beat. Young Master Chen the Fourth was still unmarried. How could she have forgotten about this?
At this moment, she didn't think there was anything wrong with this concubine - born son making too much progress and surpassing the legitimate son. She just thought that Chen Wenwei was a perfect young man. His biological mother had passed away, and his legitimate mother treated him like her own son. The family was harmonious. Most importantly, the Chen family's master and mistress both liked Shen Yuning very much.
This was simply a one - in - a - million good match.
Lady Chen lowered her head and said, "I won't hide the truth from you, sister. In my opinion, I should just invite a suitable matchmaker to arrange a marriage for my fourth son. But when I talked to him yesterday, I found out that since he was the county magistrate in Yun County, he has had Yuning in his heart, which is why he refused so many good girls I chose for him. It's his own idea. He insisted that I come here to ask for Yuning's opinion."
Lady Shao was even happier. This young man Chen Wenwei knew how to be considerate. He was afraid that if he invited a matchmaker to come to the door and Yuning didn't like it, her reputation would be even worse.
Such thoughtfulness was really wonderful.
Lady Chen added, "I'm not a person who likes to play tricks. You know all about the situation in my family. I've watched Yuning grow up. If she marries into our family, I will treat her well and never treat her badly."