Chapter 1392: Chapter 1370: A Mutual Attraction
Second Miss Cheng agreed but couldn’t help spinning around with the box in her arms after returning to the room, telling her personal maid, "Today wasn’t a wasted trip."
The maid laughed, "As long as Miss is happy."
Second Miss Cheng hugged the box and chuckled, "Of course I’m happy."
Chancellor Cheng didn’t take these trivial matters to heart. He was quite open about his wife’s concern over whether Bai Dalang intended to use their daughter to climb the social ladder.
"I’ve spoken with Bai Zhi. He’s doing well in his studies, and his character is quite honest. Just as the matchmaker said, their Bai Family also comes from a line of nobility. In fact, if we trace back ancestors, they might be even stronger than us."
At least their ancestors are recorded in the Clan Record, while the Cheng Family hasn’t even touched the threshold.
Of course, Old Master Bai’s branch is not only a side branch but also split off. For the past two generations, no one has entered government service, so they seem quite inferior to the Cheng Family.
But one must consider not only the past and present but also the future.
He said, "In last year’s big case about the Prince of Yizhou, Bai Zhi’s cousin Bai Shan was the main accuser. Now, who in the scholar world doesn’t know him?"
"Moreover, Bai Shan is currently studying at the Imperial Academy. It’s said he’s exceptionally talented, with courage beyond measure. With such a reputation, he is destined for greatness in the future."
Madam Cheng said, "Last year, when I mentioned the Prefect’s family wanted to match their younger daughter with him, you said his future was uncertain and could endanger the family."
"Ahem, the greater the future, the greater the risk, right? Now we’re not marrying Bai Shan; we’re marrying Bai Zhi," said Chancellor Cheng. "Moreover, Bai Zhi’s younger brother is also studying at the Highest Institute. Think about it, which of our family’s children can currently enter the Imperial Academy?"
We can only rely on age-based ennoblement, but these people all work outside the home, and the family isn’t large. Even in the capital, one must queue for ennoblement.
Chancellor Cheng only has one ennoblement slot that can be used for entry into the Four Schools, so he is very cautious, needing to select one person who is best suited to send in for studies. This way, the slot isn’t wasted, and the family’s interests are maximized.
For this ennoblement slot, the family has nearly fought to the breaking point in the past two years.
Chancellor Cheng sighed, "If only the kids in the family could enter the Imperial Academy on their own like Bai Zhi."
At this, Madam Cheng fell silent.
How can the Imperial Academy be so easy to test into?
So, considering Bai Zhi’s prospects, Madam Cheng didn’t have much further comment.
Chancellor Cheng made the final decision, "This is a win-win for both our families. The marriage is set, so stop worrying. Besides, didn’t Second Lady agree?"
Madam Cheng just gave Chancellor Cheng a sidelong glance. Of course, Second Lady agreed, among the few boys in the family and those who often visit, who is better looking than Bai Dalang?
Bai Dalang returned home, and a group of people gathered around him. He felt rather disdainful and waved them off, "You’ve been running around all day, aren’t you tired? Go rest. We have to set off early tomorrow."
Manbao couldn’t hold back and eagerly looked at him, "Senior Brother, Old Master Bai said you agreed after talking with Second Miss Cheng. Would you like to share some tips with us?"
Bai Dalang glanced at her, then turned his gaze to Bai Shan, "Do you all really need me to share experiences?"
Bai Shan lightly coughed and pointed to Bai Erlang, "There’s Erlang too."
Bai Erlang didn’t mind being dragged into this, nodding repeatedly, "Big brother, tell us, tell us."
Bai Dalang helplessly replied, "There’s no particular trick. I just felt we could talk, and I was happy with that, so we decided."
The three propped their chins, watching him, waiting for more details.
Bai Dalang met their gaze and glanced outside. Seeing only the few of them in the courtyard, he hesitated slightly, then lightly coughed and started to explain in detail.
Actually, their first conversation was awkward.
Mrs. Bai and Madam Cheng subtly suggested letting the two young people meet and have a chat. After considering, Madam Cheng let Second Miss Cheng take Bai Dalang to the garden to find her brother.
But apparently, her brother had no intention of appearing in the garden, so the two of them just walked around the garden together.
At first, Bai Dalang also wasn’t sure what to say. The two of them walked three steps apart in the garden, followed by two maids and a woman.
After making a round of the garden, they barely exchanged a handful of words. It was only after sitting down in the pavilion, when the servants brought tea, that they found a topic for conversation and started talking.
Once they started talking, he realized they liked similar teas, which led to discussions about books, then paintings, and finally food. They found they had much in common...
And it was in that moment when Second Miss Cheng lowered her head and smiled subtly, which left him enchanted, and he agreed.
So his advice to his brother was, "When you meet the right person, you’ll just know that they’re the one you’ll spend your life with, and that’s your person."
Bai Erlang felt this advice was not very practical, especially considering Bai Shan and Zhou Man beside him.
He turned to the two of them and asked, "When you first met each other, did you know you’d spend the rest of life together?"
Bai Shan and Manbao exchanged a look, then together shook their heads and said, "We’re not insane; we were just kids back then."
Bai Erlang turned his hands to his brother in a questioning manner.
Bai Dalang couldn’t help but swat him, "You’re the one asking for advice, and then you contradict it? Are you looking for a beating?"
Bai Erlang bolted, feeling that his brother with a fiancée was really irritable.
Bai Shan and Manbao didn’t dare to provoke him either and quickly followed suit.
Old Master Bai discussed the marriage with Mr. Zhuang. The engagement was rather rushed, which left him a bit unsettled.
Mr. Zhuang, seemingly aware of his worry, thought for a moment and then smiled, "It’s a mutually beneficial alliance. Chancellor Cheng has a good reputation in Mianzhou, so if Dalang enters officialdom in the future, having the in-laws’ support will ensure stability."
Seeing Mr. Zhuang’s approval of the marriage gave Old Master Bai some relief, and he smiled as he requested, "Once we reach the capital, please help supervise them frequently, so the two children don’t neglect their studies."
Old Master Bai said, "If they deserve a scolding, scold them. If they deserve a beating, beat them. Dalang was your first disciple, and Erlang is even your direct disciple. A teacher is like a father, so please don’t be polite."
Mr. Zhuang, of course, was courteous, saying both children were well-behaved.
The group rested for one night in a villa in Mianzhou. Several of them were visiting Mianzhou for the first time but didn’t dare to roam around. They just walked a bit at the entrance and came back.
They planned to take a good look at Mianzhou City while leaving the next day by carriage. But at dawn the next day, after rising and having breakfast, they set off out of the city.
The streets were still mostly empty. They leaned out of the carriage to look outside but saw only a few scattered stalls emitting smoke. Occasionally, someone came to buy some breakfast and then turned back home.
All the way out of the city, they didn’t see any bustling scenes.
Early in the morning, Bai Shan and the others also traveled by carriage. After a yawn, Bai Shan glanced outside briefly, then closed his eyes again, leaning against the carriage wall, rocking gently.