mynovelonline Chapter 2 Marriage Plan
Chapter 2 Marriage Plan
Li Family Residence.
A noisy argument erupted from inside the mansion. It turned out that Li Mengxuan was arguing with her father, Li Hao, the head of the Li family, about the marriage proposal. "No, I absolutely disagree!"
Li Mengxuan stomped her feet angrily and shouted at Li Hao, "I already have someone I like, why do you have to marry me off to that poor scholar?"
Li Hao frowned and repeated his previous words of advice: "Xuan'er, why are you so stubborn? That Zhao boy you like is just a spoiled brat. How can he compare to Zhang Yunling?"
Don't underestimate this poor scholar you're talking about. Even if he was indeed a good-for-nothing before, Zhang Yunling has recently passed the imperial examinations and become an official. Can that纨绔 (wán kù, a spoiled brat) compare to him in terms of future prospects?
Ignoring her father's earnest advice, Li Mengxuan remained resolute, pouting and replying unhappily, "I don't care about any of that. I will absolutely not marry that Zhang Yunling!"
Helpless, Li Hao had no choice but to stop trying to persuade her. He waved his hand and told her to go back and calm down.
Li Mengxuan snorted and turned to walk out. She had only taken a few steps when she bumped into someone. Looking up, she saw that it was her elder brother, Li Xingjie, the eldest son of the Li family.
Without a word, Li Mengxuan immediately threw herself into the other man's arms, her eyes red-rimmed, and said, "Brother! Father always wants me to marry that poor scholar. Please go and say a few words for me!"
Li Xingjie smiled and hugged Li Mengxuan, saying gently, "It's alright, it's alright, you don't need to worry about this. I will explain it to Father myself." Upon hearing this, Li Mengxuan's face lit up with a smile, and the two siblings were overjoyed.
Before long, Li Xingjie entered the inner hall and saw Li Hao sitting in the main seat, one hand supporting his chin, the other constantly fiddling with his prayer beads, his brows always furrowed. Li Xingjie stepped forward and bowed slightly: "Greetings, Father."
When Li Hao saw his eldest son arrive, he already knew what was going on. He knew that his mischievous daughter had once again confided in her brother, which had led to Li Xingjie's visit.
Li Hao poured a cup of tea on the coffee table to his left and said in a deep voice, "Xingjie, you're not getting any younger. You should understand the reasons behind this."
Li Xingjie sat down on the chair on the left, picked up the teacup and took a sip, then replied, "Father, putting everything else aside, although the Zhang family was indeed useless before, I always thought that Zhang He was a stupid old man who only knew how to support Zhang Yunling, that scholar, to study."
But he really had turned his life around and made it through. Thinking about it carefully, Zhang Yunling was indeed quite handsome; in terms of appearance alone, he wasn't much worse off than Zhao Zhenyu. Moreover, he was now a true scholar, a true "carp leaping over the dragon gate," no longer the poor, penniless man he once was, but a government official.
Upon hearing Li Xingjie's words, Li Hao's brows immediately relaxed, and his expression improved considerably. He asked his son in a deep voice, "You're the one who thinks things through the most. I always try to teach you life lessons. So, tell me, how are you going to handle your sister's marriage?"
Li Xingjie smiled slightly upon hearing this, "Father, you can rest assured about this matter. I have a plan." Li Hao leaned closer to listen, "What, you have a plan too?"
Li Xingjie whispered, "Isn't Xuan'er fond of Zhao Zhenyu from the Zhao family? I just heard that he's been studying hard at home these past few days because he failed the imperial examination. I can use a trick to switch the prince with the raccoon dog. Father, you can say you've changed your mind and betroth Xuan'er to Zhao Zhenyu, while I secretly inform Zhang Yunling to prepare for the wedding."
Li Hao's eyes widened in disbelief. He was speechless, stunned by Li Xingjie's audacious move. It took him a while to react before he asked, "Our family is so big, why do we have to go to such lengths to come up with this terrible idea? Besides, when Zhang Yunling comes to pick up the bride, Xuan'er will recognize what he's saying and immediately expose us. If something bad happens, it will be hard to handle."
Li Xingjie stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and then looked at Li Hao with a determined gaze. "A tough approach is certainly feasible, but it's best to ensure that nothing goes wrong. Zhang Yunling has a bright future ahead of him, so it's worth the trouble."
"But after hearing what you've said, it seems the only option is to be direct. Lock Xuan'er in the bridal chamber, and then have Zhang Yunling handle everything before proceeding directly. Even if Xuan'er resists, they'll be married in name only, and it's only a matter of time before it becomes a fait accompli."
Li Hao pursed his lips and slowly nodded: "That's not impossible, but I'm a little reluctant to do it to my precious daughter..."
Li Xingjie grasped his father's hand, which, though somewhat aged, was still round and smooth, and said with piercing eyes, "Father, you don't need to worry about anything else. There's plenty of time. Xuan'er will understand one day that we're all doing this for her sake."
Li Hao sighed softly and looked into the distance.
Nighttime, at the Zhang residence of the county magistrate.
"Cough! Cough cough cough!" A series of rapid coughs came from inside the mansion. Zhang He was lying on the wooden bed in the room, and Zhang Yunling was washing a towel in a basin and placing it on Zhang He's forehead.
"Father, how are you feeling?" Zhang Yunling asked anxiously. Zhang He didn't speak, as he was completely powerless, but he nodded slightly, stubbornly proving that he could still live for a few more days.
Perhaps it is the hard work of most of his life that has caused this already unfortunate old man to suffer from illness now.
Zhang Yunling held Zhang He's wrinkled and calloused but still firm hands tightly and said softly, "Father, you don't need to worry about the money. Although the medical treatment has exhausted the family's savings, as long as the Li family really betroths Li Mengxuan to me, I'll accept the hardship of being a live-in son-in-law. We'll still have enough money to live on, so don't worry."
Hearing Zhang Yunling's words that pained him deeply, Zhang He felt reluctant but helpless. He gathered his strength, took a deep breath, and said to Zhang Yunling, "Ling'er, your father passed down a family heirloom from your grandfather, which is kept in the cabinet under our ancestral portrait."
"A family heirloom? You've never mentioned this to me before." Zhang Yunling walked curiously to the ancestral portrait at the back of the house. He didn't usually come to this area easily. He first bowed deeply to apologize for disturbing his great-grandfather, and then slowly opened the cabinet door. Inside was indeed a long, rectangular wooden box.
"This, this is..." Zhang Yunling took out the wooden box, examined it in her hand, and slowly walked back to Zhang He's bedside. "Father, look."
Zhang He shook his head, indicating that Zhang Yunling should open it herself.
The wooden box was quite heavy. I carefully opened it and saw that it contained a small vase that looked like it was made of ceramic. However, it was plain white without any patterns or decorations. It was simple but beautiful.
"Father, is this our family heirloom?" Zhang Yunling asked, picking up the vase. Zhang He nodded and said, "Yes. I remember your grandfather once told me that this vase has something special about it. It's just sitting at home anyway, so why not use it as a betrothal gift for the Li family? It would be quite embarrassing to go empty-handed."
Upon hearing his father's words, Zhang Yunling immediately refused: "No, you yourself said this is a family heirloom. It cannot be lost with me. Wouldn't that be letting down my Zhang family ancestors?"
Zhang He shook his head, about to offer further advice, when he was interrupted by the servant's voice outside the door. "Master, there is a woman outside who wants to see you."
"Who is it?" Zhang Yunling put the vase back in the wooden box, closed the lid, and asked with some displeasure.
The woman's voice came from outside the gate: "My lord, it is getting late. May I stay the night?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunling initially wanted to refuse, but Zhang He couldn't bear it and advised, "Ling'er, let her stay for one night. We should accumulate good karma." Zhang Yunling nodded and chose to obey her father's words.
"Let her in," Zhang Yunling instructed the maid at the door to open it. The door opened, and a young woman in a black robe walked in. The two exchanged only a glance, but Zhang Yunling immediately sensed an ethereal quality emanating from the woman. Coupled with her stunning beauty, Zhang Yunling was completely mesmerized.
After realizing what was happening, Zhang Yunling coughed lightly and said, "Since you're just looking for a place to stay for the night, please come with me, and I'll arrange a place for you to stay."
The woman was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly caught up. Her excitement was undisguised, but she tried her best to remain calm and thanked him, saying, "Thank you, sir. I will never forget your kindness."
Zhang Yunling rolled her eyes silently, thinking to herself: No need for eternal unforgettable memories, just offer yourself in marriage. All this polite talk, humph.
As soon as she entered the house and passed Zhang He's room, the woman suddenly stopped and walked towards Zhang He. Zhang Yunling, who was walking in front, glanced at her and immediately exclaimed, "Hey! What are you doing?"
Ignoring the sounds behind her, the woman walked straight to Zhang He's bedside, glanced at the wooden box on the bedside table, and immediately looked away to look at Zhang He, who was lying on the bed, breathing weakly.
"This must be your father. Judging from his condition... could he have caught a cold?" the woman said with a worried expression.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunling was startled and asked, "Young lady, are you perhaps skilled in medicine?" The woman seemed to have an idea in mind, and after thinking for a moment, she said, "I don't know medicine, but... heh heh, I know magic!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a green halo slowly condensed in her hand. With a press, the halo merged into Zhang He's abdomen.
This scene left the Zhang father and son dumbfounded. Zhang Yunling's heart was filled with shock. Could this woman be one of those immortals with extraordinary cultivation?