Seeing Jiang Ancheng’s barely concealed excitement, Jiang Si smiled and asked, “Father, do you have good news?”
“It’s not exactly good news, but there’s something I want to hear your thoughts on,” Jiang Ancheng said with restraint.
“Please tell me, Father.”
“What do you think of Uncle Zhen Shicheng?”
The question came abruptly, and Jiang Si answered honestly, “Uncle Zhen is a rare good official. I admire both his character and abilities.”
Looking at his daughter, who was as beautiful as a flower, Jiang Ancheng, though reluctant, asked, “Would you be willing to marry into his family?”
“What?” Jiang Si was completely stunned.
“Today, Lord Zhen invited me for tea. He expressed interest in proposing a marriage between you and his eldest son…”
Jiang Si listened silently, inexplicably thinking of the young man she had encountered in the mountain forest, who had recently visited her home with Lord Zhen. Now that she thought about it, that young man didn’t look like a servant at all.
Realizing this, Jiang Si’s heart skipped a beat: Could he be Lord Zhen’s eldest son?
This coincidence made her feelings complicated.
“Si’er, what do you think?” Jiang Ancheng asked, looking at Jiang Si expectantly.
Although he would feel a bit sad if his daughter agreed, he also wouldn’t be happy if she refused. The Zhen family was indeed a good match.
Jiang Si sensed Jiang Ancheng’s expectations, which suddenly made her heart feel heavy.
At her age, marriage seemed to be an unavoidable matter.
Jiang Si remained silent for a long time, to the point where Jiang Ancheng began to sense something was wrong. “Si’er, are you unwilling?”
“Daughter doesn’t want to discuss marriage at the moment,” Jiang Si said, lowering her head in embarrassment.
She knew in her heart that this was putting her father in a difficult position.
At her age, when encountering a suitable match in all aspects, she was expected to happily agree to marry. Refusing would seem willful and ungrateful. Her father’s consideration for her feelings was truly rare among elders.
“Alright, alright. If Si’er doesn’t want to get married now, then you don’t have to. It’s not like we can’t afford to keep you at home. Don’t frown like that, my little girl,” Jiang Ancheng quickly said, noticing Jiang Si’s guilt and unease.
“Father, I—” Jiang Si was moved but found herself at a loss for words.
Looking at his daughter, who increasingly resembled his late wife, Jiang Ancheng let out a long sigh. “Indeed, one shouldn’t marry carelessly.”
It’s not easy to meet someone you truly love in life, he thought. He hoped his daughter could meet such a person. Of course, that person must also genuinely care for his daughter, otherwise, he wouldn’t agree no matter how much his daughter liked him.
“I’ll explain the situation to the Zhen family later,” Jiang Ancheng comforted Jiang Si, patting her shoulder. “You can go now.”
Upon receiving Jiang Ancheng’s reply, Zhen Shicheng sighed deeply and said to Madam Zhen, “It seems Heng and Miss Jiang are not fated to be together. What a pity.”
Hearing this, Madam Zhen frowned, “The Jiang family doesn’t agree?”
Zhen Shicheng smiled bitterly, “They said that since their daughter recently broke off an engagement, she’s unwilling to discuss marriage again so soon and wants to wait a couple more years.”
“If they’re not willing, then so be it. We’re not going to beg them, are we?” Although Madam Zhen felt some regret, for a mother, someone looking down on her precious son was a big deal. The good impression she had formed of Jiang Si at the jewelry store instantly vanished.
Hmph, her son was so good, and they couldn’t see it. They must be blind.
Feeling displeased, Madam Zhen naturally didn’t have a good attitude towards Zhen Shicheng, who had initiated this matter. “If it’s not going to work out, then it won’t. Why aren’t you at the front office? What are you doing here?”
“About Heng—”
“Whoever started this should go explain it,” Madam Zhen said irritably.
Zhen Shicheng walked to Zhen Heng’s study.
The door was slightly ajar, and through the gap, he could see Zhen Heng sitting at his desk, intently looking at something.
“Ahem,” Zhen Shicheng coughed loudly.
Zhen Heng quickly stuffed the scroll into a hidden compartment and stood up, walking towards the door. “Father, why are you here?”
Thinking of a certain possibility, the young man’s heart began to race, and his ears slowly turned red.
Zhen Shicheng saw this, and his heart, tempered by countless experiences, actually felt a bit painful.
He seemed to have let his son down.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, “About the Jiang family matter, you should forget about it.”
Zhen Heng was stunned.
Zhen Shicheng patted Zhen Heng’s shoulder firmly, “You’ll meet someone more suitable in the future. Ahem, your father isn’t good at these things. Let your mother handle it from now on.”
His first attempt at matchmaking had ended up hurting his son. He’d better stick to solving cases; indeed, one should focus on their expertise.
The color gradually drained from Zhen Heng’s face, and his pale lips curved slightly, “I understand, Father.”
“Heng—”
Zhen Heng smiled, “Don’t worry, Father. I’m fine.”
Zhen Shicheng wanted to say more but felt it unnecessary. In the end, he stroked his beard and quickly walked away with his hands behind his back.
Well, the boy is tough. A little setback won’t hurt him.
Zhen Heng silently watched Zhen Shicheng leave until he was out of sight. Only then did he close the study door, quietly walk back to his desk, and take out the painting.
The girl in the painting looked lifelike. Looking at her like this, he could almost smell the scent of fresh grass in the mountain forest.
Zhen Heng suddenly felt a bit of pain. It wasn’t heartbreaking, but it was a real, tangible ache.
He reached out, his fingertips brushing over the delicate eyebrows and eyes of the girl in the painting. Zhen Heng smiled bitterly without a sound.
It seemed he wasn’t good enough to catch the young lady’s eye.
Well, if that’s the case, he wouldn’t force it.
Zhen Heng picked up the painting, ready to tear it to pieces, but stopped just as he was about to do so.
After looking at the scroll for a while, Zhen Heng couldn’t bring himself to tear it. He silently hid the painting in the deepest part of the hidden compartment.
Soon, it was time for the birthday celebration of Jiang Si’s maternal grandmother, the Old Madam of Marquis Yining.
On this day, Jiang Ancheng got ready and took Jiang Si and her brother to the Marquis Yining’s residence.
The title of Marquis Yining was hereditary, and Jiang Si’s maternal grandfather held some weight in Emperor Jingming’s heart. Their glory was naturally different from that of the Earl of Dongping’s household. Today, the entrance of the Marquis Yining’s residence was bustling with activity. The carriages of those coming to congratulate the Old Madam of Marquis Yining on her birthday stretched out onto the street.
Jiang Si used to often stay at the Marquis Yining’s residence.
Back then, she had disdained the declining status of the Earl’s household and envied the glory of the Marquis’s family. She had even wished she were a young lady of the Marquis Yining’s household.
Because of her yearning, she had often lingered there.
But since her rebirth, Jiang Si no longer had such feelings.
Although her maternal grandmother still cared for her, she, no longer an innocent young girl, had long understood the true intentions of others.
As they were about to get out of the carriage, Jiang Zhan said softly, “Fourth Sister, our eldest sister will be here today. I don’t know if I’ll have a chance to talk to her. Remember to give her my regards first.”
“Don’t worry, Second Brother. I will.”
“Alright then, I’ll go with Father. If you need anything, have Aman find a way to send a message.”
“Go on, Second Brother. Don’t worry about me.”
The carriage drove directly to the second gate. When it stopped, Jiang Si got off and was immediately led inside by the Marquis’s maids, joining the other young ladies of her generation.
“Fourth Sister.” A gentle voice, unable to hide its delight, called out.
Jiang Si looked toward the voice and immediately saw her eldest sister, Jiang Yi, whom she hadn’t seen for a long time.