Chapter 435 — The Small Betrothal

The Miao family had engaged Xie Wan, magistrate of Wanping County, and Ma Hao, the county deputy, to act as matchmakers; for the Ying Duke's household to come present the minor betrothal gifts, the two local officials would of course be in attendance.

Ma Hao had arrived early, but Xie Wan, standing on his dignity, had yet to appear though the auspicious hour drew near.

Miao Zhi's elder brother, Miao Anping, was sent by their father to fetch Xie Wan.

Miao Anping could not muster any joy at the thought that Xie Wan, sitting in his sedan chair, had accepted three hundred taels of silver from their family as a matchmaker's fee before agreeing to arrange his sister's match.

The marriage was only just beginning, and the Miao family had already spent a thousand taels.

At this rate, the wedding would surely cost no less than three thousand taels.

They had prepared only two thousand; who were they to turn to for the missing thousand?

Miao Anping was sick with worry, and his steps grew absentminded.

He ran headlong into someone emerging from the tavern next door.

With a cry of "Ai yo!" he tumbled to the ground.

The other person, however, was entirely unhurt—and did not even glance at him, walking on ahead as if nothing had happened.

This was Wanping County—who did not know the Miao family here?

And more to the point, the magistrate himself was right beside him.

Miao Anping scrambled up and seized the man's sleeve. "You knock a man down and just walk off? Not even an apology? Have you no sense of decency at all?"

Because the Ying Duke's household was coming today to present the betrothal gifts, he had worn a newly made pongee Daoist robe that had cost him nearly four taels of silver. Now it was ruined.

But before his fingers could close on the sleeve, someone darted out and seized his hand. "Where does this ruffian come from, daring to reach for our master without knowing who he is? Believe me, I'll have your thieving paws cut off this instant, and the prefectural constables will say we did rightly!"

Miao Anping looked closely: the one gripping his hand was a youth of only fifteen or sixteen, fair of face and fine of feature. Though dressed as a servant, the cloth of his garments was fine ko-hemp from Guangdong, six taels a bolt—exceedingly rich and respectable.

He knew at once he had run afoul of a servant from some great and noble house.

Wanping lay close to the capital, and the families of merit and rank often held property here; such people came and went all the time.

His spirits rallied, and he raised his voice. "A life for a life, and a debt repaid in silver! You knock a man down and don't even offer an apology, thinking to just walk away—where is the justice in that? Never mind the rest—first pay me for this robe I'm wearing. Six taels of silver. Out with it, now! Or we'll settle it at the prefectural yamen! My family's in-laws are the Duke of Ying's household—don't say I didn't warn you when we're through..."

The man ahead of him stopped at these words and glanced back at Miao Anping.

Miao Anping's heart skipped a beat.

Never had he seen a youth so exquisite and so composed; standing there at his ease, he had the air of a jade tree in the wind.

Miao Anping's bluster faltered at once.

The youth had already spoken: "You are of the Miao family of Wanping?"

Before Miao Anping could answer, Xie Wan, who had been peering out from behind his sedan curtain, came scurrying out of the chair. "Lord Song, Lord Song! This humble official is Xie Wan, magistrate of Wanping County. I was engaged by the Miao family to act as matchmaker for the marriage between your younger brother and the Miao family's sixth young lady, and was just on my way to the Miao house to discuss the wedding arrangements."

Since the marriage was bestowed by imperial favor, everything was to be kept simple. Today the minor betrothal gifts would be presented, and then the bride price and wedding date would be discussed.

Song Yan gave a cold laugh and strode off.

Miao Anping and Xie Wan stood frozen where they were.

Wu Yi hurried after him.

The guards rushed past them as well.

Xie Wan came to his senses, caught one of the guards by the arm, and said in a low voice, "Brother, what on earth is going on here?" As he spoke, he slipped a red envelope into the man's hand.

The guard glanced at his companions, now growing distant, and said quietly, "Seeing as you're on your way to the Yingguo Estate over the Second Master's business, I'll tell you. The Heir was originally accompanying the Second Master to the Miao house to deliver the betrothal gifts, but the Lord of the Estate, wanting to save face for the Second Master, meant to trade the Second Master's land worth five thousand taels for the Heir's country manor worth seven thousand taels and three shopfronts worth three thousand taels. The Heir flew into a rage and refused to go to the Miao house."

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Sisters, here is Saturday's update.

This chapter was scheduled in advance; I'm away on a business trip right now.

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