After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 508 Accepting the Marriage Proposal
Su Tai almost couldn't keep up with the Crown Prince of Huai'an's erratic train of thought. After a pause, she respectfully replied, "It's a dahlia. This flower is cultivated in a greenhouse. It looks festive when it blooms during the New Year. If the princess likes it, I will prepare two pots for you to take back."

"There's more?" Princess Huai'an asked in surprise.

Su Tai nodded, "There's a greenhouse at home, and we grow some vegetables there."

Originally, the Su family didn't have these things, but after buying servants, many things needed to be properly handled, so the couple actually built a greenhouse.

Shen Yi was born with a natural affinity for plants and animals, so cultivating them would be twice as effective with half the effort.

Nowadays, there are several servants in the family who are skilled at cultivating greenhouse crops, and the dahlias are one of the crops they developed.

Princess Huai'an readily accepted, and even had Su Tai take her for a walk around the greenhouse.

Standing in the greenhouse, Princess Huai'an felt as if spring had returned to the earth, and her mood brightened accordingly. She turned to look at Su Tai and asked again, "Have you thought about what I told you?"

As she spoke, Princess Huai'an approached a pot of orchids, her eyes filled with admiration.

Su Tai smiled respectfully and said, "It is a blessing for Yue Zhang and a good fortune for my Shen family that the princess is so kind to you. I would naturally agree."

"Good! Madam Shen is indeed a straightforward person! In that case, I will send an official matchmaker to propose marriage as soon as I get back. Rest assured, we will follow the rules exactly! We will absolutely not wrong Miss Shen."

Princess Huai'an was in a very good mood.

After returning to the Shen family ancestral home from the greenhouse, he immediately had someone summon Murong Jue.

"The Shen family has agreed to the marriage! We will return to Zhaohua County early tomorrow morning. Mother will arrange the matchmaker's affairs. However, I left in too much of a hurry and did not bring many things with me. I'm afraid the betrothal will have to be postponed."

Murong Jue hurriedly said, "Mother, there's no need for that trouble. All the things you sent me from the capital over the years are still here. In addition, I've also accumulated quite a bit of wealth myself. I'll have Amber go to the storeroom to check in a bit, and you can see if it's enough. If anything is missing, just replenish it."

Official media should ideally be sourced from the prefectural capital; the official media in Zhaohua County simply aren't as sophisticated as those in the prefectural capital.

Princess Huai'an smiled when she saw that her son had arranged everything so quickly, which showed that he had planned it all out in advance. "Then I'll listen to you. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Follow the wedding customs of Zhaohua County. Better to be elaborate than simple."

She only has one son, so naturally she wants to make his wedding as grand as possible.

If it weren't for the unpredictable changes in the court situation, she would have wanted her son to return to the capital to get married.

"Thank you, Mother!" Murong Jue left the courtyard overjoyed.

Amber whispered from the side, "Princess, I haven't seen the young master so happy in a long time!"

She had always felt that her young master was being wronged by marrying Miss Shen, but now that she saw how happy Murong Jue was, her opinion had changed quite a bit.

Princess Huai'an smiled and pondered, "When it comes to important matters in life, if you can do as you please, you will naturally be happy! Send a letter to the capital to tell the Empress Dowager, the Emperor and the Empress about this. First, we will present the betrothal gifts, and the wedding will probably have to wait until the end of the year."

"But can the princess stay in Zhaohua County for that long?" Amber asked with some concern.

Princess Huai'an sighed and shook her head, "After the two families are engaged, I will return to the capital. As for whether we can attend A-Jue's wedding, we'll discuss that later."

The next morning, Su Tai and Shen Yi personally escorted Princess Huai'an and her entourage out of the village.

Shen Yi is now the county magistrate of Zhaohua County, and his every move is being watched. It is no secret that a distinguished guest has come to his house.

But it was unusual for such distinguished guests to stay at the Shen family's house for two or three days in a row.

Sure enough, Princess Huai'an had barely left when Lu Tong and Madam Tang arrived with Lu Xiang. Shen Yi chuckled upon seeing them, "Lord Lu, if I remember correctly, we're supposed to meet at the yamen the day after tomorrow. You've brought your whole family to Shen Family Village to see me; does it feel like a day has passed in an instant?"

"Go away, go away, what nonsense are you spouting!" Lu Tong was speechless. He glared angrily at Shen Yi and stepped into the main room.

Tang explained to Su Tai, "Didn't I tell you before that I'm looking for a husband for my Xiangxiang? Today we're planning to go to Dahe Town and visit the Pu family while we're there. Xiangxiang can't come along, so she'll have to stay at your house with Yuezhang for now. Is that alright?"

Su Tai suddenly realized and smiled broadly, "No problem, no problem. We can go together later. It's the New Year, so let's visit each other!"

"That's wonderful!" Mrs. Tang was even happier than Su Tai.

After handing Lu Xiang over to Shen Yuezhang, the Lu couple went out with Shen Yi and Su Tai.

On the carriage, Tang said without any hesitation, "We originally came yesterday, but we heard that you had distinguished guests and stayed for a few days. We were afraid of disturbing your distinguished guests, so we insisted on staying an extra night in Moshi Town."

Su Tai suddenly coughed violently, her expression strange.

Mrs. Tang was startled. "What happened? Has something happened?"

Su Tai nodded, "It made Lu Tong and his wife very nervous."

Lu Tong angrily kicked Shen Yi, "Look at you, you didn't even think of coming to me when something happened, which shows you don't consider me a brother!"

Shen Yi was both amused and exasperated. "It's a misunderstanding! They came to my house to propose marriage. Why would they need you for something like this?"

"A marriage proposal?" Lu Tong and his wife were both surprised.

Lu Tong knew what Tang's sister-in-law meant, but he hadn't dared to reveal his thoughts to the Shen family yet. Now that the Tang family hadn't made any moves, the Shen family was already arranging a marriage for their daughter. That was too fast!
"How come there's not a single word about it?" It took Tang a while to regain her composure, her heart filled with curiosity and confusion.

Before the New Year, she talked to Su Tai about having a child, but Su Tai wasn't in a hurry.

Su Tai sighed again, "We can't afford to offend them, and Yue Zhang doesn't object either, so it's settled! But they haven't formally offered their betrothal gifts yet, so I won't say anything more to avoid any complications."

Mrs. Tang nodded knowingly and wisely refrained from asking any further questions.

The group arrived at the Pu family's house.

Mr. and Mrs. Pu were shocked by their arrival, and the entire Pu family was in an uproar.

Master Pu hurriedly ordered his servants to bring his sons, daughters-in-law, grandsons, and granddaughters to pay their respects.

Pu Tianci was even arranged to stay by Master Pu's side.

Lu Tong taught Pu Tianci some knowledge and asked him some questions. Pu Tianci accepted all of them and performed admirably. Lu Tong and his wife nodded in approval.

Shen Yi asked, "Are you confident about the outcome in April?"

Pu Tianci smiled modestly, "Uncle Shen, don't worry, I have made thorough preparations and will definitely strive to achieve top results so that I can go to the capital to meet with Cong Rongxiong Feng!"

"Good ambition!" Shen Yi patted Pu Tianci on the shoulder, looking pleased.

Su Tai added, "If you pass the exam, you should wait until the beginning of summer to go to the emperor and travel with my family's caravan to ensure everything goes smoothly."

"Yes! I'll listen to you, Auntie!" Pu Tianci's smile grew even brighter.