A few days later, Madam Xu of the Xiao Mansion welcomed Nanny Bi.

"Great news! Great news, Madam! The Astronomical Bureau has calculated that the birth charts of the young master and the young lady are a perfect match, complementing each other for great prosperity! The Zhong Mansion is also overjoyed to hear this!"

Despite her age, Nanny Xue’s face bloomed into a smile, like a chrysanthemum in full bloom.

"Amitabha, truly heaven’s blessing! Thank you, Nanny, for bringing such good news."

Madam Xu’s face immediately relaxed into a relieved and satisfied smile upon hearing this.

"Congratulations, sister-in-law."

"Thank you, elder sister-in-law."

Mrs. Xu was genuinely very happy.

To have a daughter-in-law, to become a mother-in-law.

"Next, it’s time for the betrothal gifts." Madam Xu remarked, "You must pay attention."

"Yes, yes, I will."

Mrs. Xu slightly smiled.

Pay attention to what?

She just wanted to be a mother-in-law.

She didn’t realize how nice it was to have an elder sister-in-law in charge of things.

Since the elder sister-in-law insisted she had to oversee, she would report in daily to watch how the elder sister-in-law handled things.

Anyway, the elder sister-in-law was the one with experience, she had none.

On this day, Nanny Xue led two proper servants from the Xiao family, carrying a small but exquisite gift box to the door.

"Madam Zhong, the Xiao family has sent the betrothal gifts, indicating that this matter is settled, it’s an auspicious sign."

Nanny Xue eagerly opened the gift box for Madam Zhong to see.

Several pieces of fine Su silk, a pair of exquisite Jade Ruyi, and some intricate gold ornaments.

The gifts weren’t overly lavish, but each item was carefully chosen, showing thoughtfulness, signifying the regard and current situation of the Xiao family.

After all, everyone knew that the Xiao family had been through a confiscation, barely recovering in seven years. It wasn’t possible to expect any more.

In fact, the Xiao family’s betrothal gifts were considered very cautiously.

It wasn’t that the Xiao family couldn’t provide more, but that they understood modesty.

After seven years of confiscation, with the men in the Northern Desert and the women in Shu City, returning to the Capital for less than a year and offering substantial betrothal gifts, what would others think?

The experienced Xiao family members became more cautious.

"The Xiao family is very considerate, everything is in perfect order. Lan’er," Madam Zhong looked over everything carefully, nodding in satisfaction, and called over her waiting daughter nearby, "you should take a look too."

Zhong Lan stepped forward, her glance landed on the pair of Jade Ruyi, her ears flushed slightly, her eyes filled with uncovered joy and seriousness.

"Thank you, Nanny, for your efforts. Please convey to Uncle Xiao and Aunt, that Lan’er will not let them down."

She bowed to Nanny Xue.

"See, our young lady is so wonderful, truly a match made in heaven with the young master."

With Nanny Bi at task, there’s nothing that can’t be sorted out.

She was delighted.

This matter was settled.

Lately, the Xiao family had been filled with joyous events.

"Mother, Haodong has brought the betrothal gifts."

Zhu Lingling was filled with joy.

Her concubine-born younger brother was marrying the younger sister-in-law from her husband’s family.

Truly a family union.

Sometimes she thought her mother was very wise, an excellent stepmother.

Zhu Haodong was raised under her name, always treated as if his own child.

The second brother was rebellious, insisting on garrison duty, her own son followed military pursuits while the concubine-born son pursued civil service, and even had such good fortune. Ladies of high status would compliment, "Madam, what good fortune you have."

Regardless of who bore him, as long as he bore the Zhu surname, they would respectfully call her mother upon encounter.

This was unlike some families where stepmothers would harshly repress concubine-born sons to the point of retaliation if the sons caught a break!

A harmonious family life beats everything else, doesn’t it?

"Alright, call Yan’er, let’s take a look together."

The Zhu family’s betrothal gifts were neatly piled in the corner of the main hall: a gold-painted box containing betrothal silver, sets of gold jewelry, silk fabrics, tea leaves, wedding cakes, a pair of live geese, sacrificial offerings...

"Yan, you personally go through the gift list."

Mrs. Xu said, "Mother, you should also help confirm it."

With one as a younger brother from the father’s side and one as a sister-in-law’s family member, she decided not to participate to keep neutrality.

After reviewing the betrothal gifts, Madam Xu along with her daughter and daughter-in-law re-checked the dowry again.

"Mother, is there anything on the dowry list that needs to be added? Although it doesn’t match the family’s past grandeur, Yan’s status shouldn’t be compromised."

Madam Xu looked at the generous betrothal gifts, feeling both content and emotional.

"It’s already quite good. My son is considerate, and the Zhu family will surely appreciate our sincerity. Yan, it’s your life to live, sentiments matter more than displays."

She carefully placed the gift list into a red envelope and handed it to her daughter-in-law.

"Make sure to manage things well on Nanny Xue’s side."

The next day, the Zhu Mansion came with wedding procession, everything in full blow, with eight-carrier sedan chair welcoming the Xiao Mansion’s young lady.

"Yan’er, bow farewell to father and mother."

Under the veil, Xiao Chunyan’s tears flowed.

She was getting married, marrying Mr. Zhu.

At the age when she, a girl of fifteen-sixteen, started to think about spring, she had her reservations in Changzhou.

She feared her mother would really arrange a marriage for her in Changzhou, marrying her off there.

If the Xiao family couldn’t return, with her family in Changzhou, everyone together was still not bad.

What she feared most was marrying off to Changzhou, her family returning to the Capital, leaving her alone in that place...

She had waited anxiously, year after year, yet there was never a suitable match and she felt a bit uneasy.

What she feared the most was becoming an old maid, having to end up as someone’s second wife.

Upon returning to the Capital, she was filled with both joy and apprehension.

She didn’t aspire for a higher match, nor did she want to marry lower.

Since she lived bitter days in Changzhou, marrying and continuing to live a bitter life would mean soaking in bitterness for a lifetime.

Unexpectedly, she was marrying into the family of her elder sister-in-law, and her husband was talented and graceful, a second-class successful candidate. She was particularly satisfied with this marriage.

"The groom is coming, the groom is coming."

"Yan, your elder brother will carry you to the sedan chair."

"Thank you, elder brother."

Leaning on her elder brother’s broad shoulders, Xiao Chunyu cried again, her warm tears soaking his shoulder.

"Yan, no matter when, the gate of this home is always open to you. If wronged, remember to come home, the family has elder brother!"

"Yes, Yan will remember!"

Chunyan got onto the sedan chair, Zhu Haodong didn’t have the carriers set immediately, instead, turned and entered the Xiao Mansion, kneeling in front of Madam Xu and her husband.

"Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, this son-in-law will sincerely treat Yan’er and won’t let her suffer any grievances."

Upon finishing, he kowtowed deeply, then stood up and left through the gate.

"This child, this child..."

Never had she seen a son-in-law so sincere, Madam Xu joyously cried.

"With Yan’er entrusted to him, I am also at ease."

Old Master Xiao nodded: "This son-in-law has been chosen well."

Yan’er had found her happiness, truly wonderful!

In a principal room of the third household, Mrs. Huang paced back and forth.

"Has the sedan chair departed?"

"Yes, it has set off."

"She’s marrying into the Zhu family, is it the concubine-born son?"

"Yes, it is the concubine-born son."

"Heh, that’s all Madam Xu is capable of."

Mrs. Huang showed a mocking expression.

The maid lowered her head: The third master instructed that whatever the third madam says, she must comply and not provoke her.

The third madam only knew that Mr. Zhu was concubine-born, not realizing he was a second-class successful candidate!