Shuse Jinjia

The next day, before dawn, Xie Zhaotang was awakened by the neighing of horses in the courtyard.

Listening closely, I heard it was Xie Jianghuai and his son, along with Xu Muyuan. The imperial physician was rushing back to the city for the morning court session.

Xie Zhaotang didn't get up or feel sleepy, so he closed his eyes and thought of countermeasures for all possible accidents.

She only got up after hearing others gradually get up.

She hadn't paid attention to whether Zhang Lin had come when she left the woodshed last night.

When Xie Zhaotang saw Xie Shiyue being helped into the carriage by two old women, he knew that Zhang Lin had come.

This made her think more highly of Xie Shiyue. It seemed that Xie Shiyue did have some tricks up her sleeve, at least enough to prevent Zhang Lin from abandoning her after the miscarriage.

Madam Xie left after getting into the carriage. Xie Zhaotang was invited into the carriage by two old women. Xie Linzhu and Madam Wang were not seen when they left, so they should have stayed at the villa to observe and recuperate.

When the group returned to the Xie family home, the two old women followed Xie Zhaotang back to her bamboo courtyard.

Xie Zhaotang knew perfectly well that this was someone sent by Madam Xie to monitor him.

She pretended not to know and only said that she hadn't slept well last night and went inside to lie down.

Just as I was lying down for lunch, Aunt Xia returned from Baohua Village.

Seeing two old women in the courtyard, Aunt Xia's heart skipped a beat. She pretended to be nonchalant and said, "Fourth Miss, Madam sent someone to bring your aunt and Eighth Miss back. Your aunt twisted her ankle. I remember you have some medicated oil. Where is it? I'll take it to your aunt."

"Oh, it's in the study, I'll go get it!"

Xie Zhaotang went to the study next door, took out some medicated oil, put the letter he had secretly written into a box, and handed it to Aunt Xia.

She squeezed Aunt Xia's hand, and Aunt Xia took the medicated oil and left.

Xie Zhaotang didn't know whether Chun'er had sent the letter or not.

If nothing unexpected happens, Huo Beiyu should come to propose marriage around noon.

Xie Zhaotang was unaware that Chun'er had secretly slipped out of the Xie family and run to the Zhenyuan Marquis's residence.

But she didn't see Huo Beiyu, nor did she see Huo Jing.

The gatekeeper said that last night the old lady took Huo Jing to a neighboring county, and the young marquis escorted them along as well. They wouldn't be back until tomorrow.

When Chun'er heard this, she felt as if the sky had fallen. Tonight, the Fourth Miss was to be sent to Second Master Rong's place, and by the time the Young Marquis returned tomorrow, it would be too late.

"Young man, is there any way to send a message to the young marquis? Our young lady has something extremely urgent to discuss with him!"

Chun'er pleaded desperately.

The gatekeeper of the Huo family was a one-armed veteran. Huo Beiyu took him in as a gatekeeper because he had no children.

Seeing Chun'er's anxiety, he asked, "Miss, what's the matter? Tell me, and I'll see if I can help you!"

Chun'er didn't care about anything else, pulled him inside, and told him what had happened.

"Uncle, my fourth daughter cannot be sent to be a concubine! You must help me find a way to contact the young marquis and beg him to save her! I'll kowtow to you!"

Chun'er knelt down and kowtowed several times to the gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper quickly helped her up, and after a moment's thought, said, "Give me the letter, and I'll help you contact the young marquis. You can go back now!"

"Uncle, my daughter is counting on you!"

Chun'er handed the letter to the gatekeeper and then hurriedly went to find Madam Wu.

The gatekeeper closed the door and hurried back to the backyard, asking the pigeon handler who raised Huo Beiyu's homing pigeons to mail the letter to Huo Beiyu.

Linxian County, which is 100 miles from the capital.

Huo Beiyu accompanied his grandmother to Huo Jing's home for a fortune telling.

Huo Jing will be of marriageable age in a few months. She had been on several blind dates before, but none of them worked out. This time, it was an old friend of Huo's mother, Madam Zhang, who helped to set her up.

He was leading his own grandson, Zhang Yanqing.

Zhang Yanqing was eighteen years old and failed the imperial examination this time. Madam Zhang asked a fortune teller to tell his fortune, who said that he should get married before he could establish a career.

Zhang Yanqing was forced by her to go on a blind date.

Although Old Madam Huo believed that her old friend would not lie to her, she still believed in seeing for herself, so she brought Huo Beiyu and Huo Jing over without informing Old Madam Zhang.

At this moment, the three of them were in the carriage opposite the Zhang family's residence, waiting for Zhang Yanqing to come out.

After lunch, Zhang Yanqing still hadn't come out, and Huo Beiyu lost his patience, saying in a deep voice.

"Grandmother, why don't we go directly to the Zhang family for a visit? Zhang Yanqing always has to receive guests, and we can get a better understanding of him from his actions and words!"

The old lady shook her head: "Some people are good at pretending in front of others, but you can only see their true colors in the details they inadvertently reveal in private. Why are you in such a hurry? Just wait a little longer, he'll definitely come out!"

Huo Jing was actually very reluctant to come for a matchmaking meeting. She had someone in her heart and didn't want to marry anyone else except that person.

However, her father died in battle and her mother passed away early, so her grandmother had to worry about her marriage. She didn't dare to tell her that she had someone she liked, so she could only find fault with the people she went to meet.

Huo Jing sat with her head down, secretly hoping that Zhang Yanqing wouldn't go out today, so there would be no need for a matchmaking.

After waiting for another two hours, Huo Beiyu even took a nap in the carriage, but Zhang Yanqing still didn't come out. Huo Beiyu lost patience and tried to persuade him.

"Grandmother, I only took two days off, and I have official business tomorrow. If you insist on having the fortune told for Xiaojing today, we'll go directly to her door. Otherwise, we should go back first. I'll have Fengshi stay and thoroughly investigate Zhang Yanqing. If there are no problems, we'll come again next time!"

Upon hearing this, Huo Jing quickly said, "Grandmother, eldest brother is right. Waiting like this isn't a solution. Let's go back to the capital first!"

The old lady thought for a moment and said, "Then Beiyu, you go back first. Xiaojing and I will stay. My old arms and legs have already suffered enough coming all this way; I don't want to go through the trouble of going back and forth!"

Huo Jing grew anxious: "Grandmother, your health isn't good. If something happens to you while we're both here, my eldest brother won't feel at ease. Let's go back together!"

"Big brother..."

Huo Jing winked at Huo Beiyu, who was puzzled. Although his grandmother's health was not as good as before, staying one night wouldn't make her much worse.

Why did Huo Jing not want her grandmother to stay?

"Young Master... there's a message from the Marquis's residence sent by carrier pigeon!"

Outside the carriage, Huo Beiyu's servant Feng Shi took the letter from the carrier pigeon's feet and reported it.

Huo Beiyu lifted the carriage curtain and took the letter.

Upon seeing that the envelope bore Xie Zhaotang's handwriting, he quickly opened it and began reading it at a glance.

After reading it again, his brows furrowed.

"Big brother, is there some urgent military business? Let's hurry back!" Huo Jing was secretly pleased.

"When the time is right, go back!"

Huo Beiyu gave the order, and Feng Shi quickly got into the carriage and turned it around.

"Hey, Xiaoyu, if you have something urgent, you should go back first. Xiaojing and I will stay!"

The old lady hurriedly stopped her.

Huo Beiyu pressed down on her shoulders, took a deep breath, and said, "Grandmother, weren't you looking forward to my marriage? If you don't go back today, your granddaughter-in-law will belong to someone else..."

Upon hearing this, both the old lady and Huo Jing were stunned and looked at Huo Beiyu.

"Granddaughter-in-law?"

After a moment of stunned silence, the old matriarch looked at the letter in his hand, frowned, and asked, "Which young lady wrote this letter to you? Your grandmother is hoping you'll get married, but you can't steal someone else's wife!"

Huo Beiyu curled his lips into a smile: "Grandmother, what if we absolutely have to snatch it?"

After a moment's thought, the old lady readily agreed, "If you really like it, then go ahead and take it!"

She knew her grandson; he wasn't the type to bully others. If he really wanted to take something, there must be a reason why he had to. She wouldn't hold him back...

Huo Beiyu's smile faded, and he asked cautiously, "Grandmother, what if we were to compete with Prince Rong's Mansion? Would you still support me?"

The old lady and Huo Jing's expressions immediately changed...