Chapter 299: A Perfect Match
When is something or someone most precious?
It is most precious the moment you realize you are about to lose it.
Does Liu Tong like Miss Dong?
He does.
The daughter of his Father’s superior, a proper young lady from a good family, well-educated, sensible, well-behaved, and pretty—almost flawless. Growing up as childhood sweethearts with such a girl, how could he not like her?
He simply knew she would be his wife in the future, like something already in his pocket. He thought it was good but never bothered to truly appreciate it, because it was already his, and there was no need to praise it every day.
Even after breaking off the engagement and having several heart-wrenching talks with Qingqing, he still didn’t feel that Miss Dong had left.
Because the world is far more unfair to women. Miss Dong was engaged to him and had grown up with him; who else would marry her?
He might not be that bad, deep down he was conflicted and hesitant. So after being scolded by his Father, he was willing to come and ask for her hand, thinking it was his responsibility.
But at this moment,
watching the tall man dismount and bow to Minister Dong, watching Miss Dong step forward to return the greeting,
watching him bow back in return,
Liu Tong had never seen Miss Dong talk to another man before. In that moment, he realized how beautiful she was. He noticed she had two dimples when she smiled, one on each cheek, and that the curve of her brows and eyes was especially lovely, like crescent moons. Her eyes were bright, her face round, her skin snow-white, and her lips rosy. He had always thought of her as an ordinary, unremarkable girl next door, but now he suddenly saw she was not ordinary.
She was beautiful all along.
She was so vibrant and lovely.
This was what she really looked like.
If there were stars, she would be one—the brightest star.
Qingqing was a cold moon, distant and unreachable.
But Miss Dong was the brightest star.
At that moment, Liu Tong suddenly understood that he could never be with Qingqing. He could not afford to lose Miss Dong; he would regret it for life.
He wanted to act like a man for once, so he stepped forward to stop them.
“Miss Dong, he is not a good match. You can know a person’s face but not their heart. He once killed a weak woman in the street without distinguishing right from wrong. Don’t be fooled by him.”
Dong E:…
Watching Liu Tong step forward and stand next to Brother Jiang, Dong E noticed that Liu Tong was half a head shorter than Brother Jiang. Brother Jiang had a higher nose bridge, longer legs—such long legs—and his lips were so pretty, his eyebrows so handsome, the flower above his brow so beautiful, and his eyes so beautiful.
Wuwu, Dong E couldn’t help reaching out to wipe the corner of her mouth, afraid she might be drooling.
As for what Liu Tong said?
What did he say?
Something about knowing a person’s face but not their heart?
No need, no need. This face is enough. No need to rush; the heart can be known slowly.
Killed a woman?
Yes, Brother Jiang’s appearance is truly lethal to weak women. Meeting him would kill them a thousand times over, wuwu.
One of today’s matchmakers, Censor He, stepped forward and cleared his throat. “Coincidentally, I went to Jingzhou to investigate and happened to know about this. That weak woman, Xiao Fengxian, had more than a dozen lives on her hands. She loved watching men torment and kill their lawful wives in front of her. Such a ‘weak woman’ deserves execution by law. Young Master Liu, you often let a woman’s beauty cloud your judgment and can’t help but pity them. That’s not good; it will eventually bring trouble to your Father and your entire family.”
Liu Tong dared to speak freely in front of Miss Dong out of arrogance, but facing Censor He, his legs turned to jelly.
He stammered that he had misremembered and fled in panic.
Vice Minister Liu also felt uneasy facing Censor He. Although he was usually careful, in Censor He’s presence, he always felt a lack of confidence. He would leave for now, but he would repay today’s humiliation in the future.
He resented Minister Dong for being indecisive. Did he think he could find a good family for his daughter? Tomorrow, they would be prisoners.
By then, even if Old Dong begged his son to marry her, he wouldn’t agree. At most, he’d take her as a concubine.
Vice Minister Liu fled back with his men and the betrothal gifts. Because of the crowd and the slippery snow, a servant slipped and spilled one of the gift boxes.
Out fell a stack of cloth.
On top, it looked like splendid silk, but underneath was a pile of dark, old-looking fabric, apparently years old. No one expected a vice minister’s betrothal gifts to be so superficial.
The onlookers couldn’t help whispering and pointing.
The Liu family fled in disgrace.
Minister Dong had been a bit worried by Vice Minister Liu’s words.
But seeing Meng Qingshe and Censor He both appear as matchmakers, he immediately felt at ease.
Old Meng might be a bit muddled, but Old He was sharp as a tack.
He warmly invited them into his home.
Watching the heavy betrothal gifts being carried in, the carriers’ poles bending under the weight but their steps steady, with no slips, he noted the sheer quantity.
Wasn’t this too much?
Minister Dong felt uncertain.
Meng Qingshe, seeing Minister Dong, was much more familiar. He quickly avoided Censor He and slapped Minister Dong on the arm with a loud smack, winking as he said, “Old Dong, you have good taste—no, your taste is almost as good as mine.”
Minister Dong didn’t know what Meng Qingshe meant, but seeing so many gifts and people, he was touched yet nervous. He asked, “Lord Jiang, isn’t this a bit too much? It’s over the top.”
Madam Dong saw the endless stream of gift boxes, each one weighing as much as two or three ordinary ones.
This—her in-laws really liked her daughter.
When Minister Dong received the marriage contract from Taia Temple and the betrothal letter, he was very satisfied. The Jiang Family knew their manners.
Meanwhile, Madam Dong arranged for the gifts to be stored.
To her surprise, her daughter’s room couldn’t hold them all.
Since it was snowing, they couldn’t leave them outside, so they moved some into their own room.
Each box was as big as two or three ordinary ones, and there were so many.
Feeling honored, Madam Dong didn’t count them, just thought there were a lot. She thought to herself that even if the gifts turned out to be large but worthless items, she would accept them; she appreciated the gesture.
She was afraid others would look down on her daughter for being jilted.
At least this showed respect. Unlike the Liu family, who came with a noisy procession and a few flimsy boxes—what good could be in them? If they wouldn’t even put on a show of respect, how could they expect substance?
Seeing her daughter happy, playing with her jade pendant, Madam Dong finally believed her daughter had truly been rescued, and by none other than Vice Minister Jiang’s son. What a coincidence.
Minister Dong also understood when he saw the fish pendant. It was a happy accident.
Seeing his daughter so silly, just happy, almost losing her future husband without realizing it,
Minister Dong was both happy and worried.
Dong Chichi didn’t like Liu Tong, but had always been polite to him because he might become his brother-in-law.
Now that he saw Jiang Feng, he naturally didn’t let the opportunity slip and engaged him in serious conversation.
Unexpectedly,
Jiang Feng, from remote Jingzhou, spoke with authority on construction, and they shared many views. Dong Chichi felt an instant kinship, regretting they couldn’t talk all night. Hearing that Jiang Feng had never attended school or taken the imperial exams, he was deeply disappointed.
But Brother Feng was now a sword-bearing guard with an official rank.
Dong Chichi worried that his future brother-in-law might be cultured but physically weak, so he dragged Jiang Feng to an archery contest.
He thought if Jiang Feng could just hit the target, he would praise him lavishly.
He even called his sister to watch.
Archery was too easy for Jiang Feng, especially with fixed targets. He shot six arrows in a row, each hitting the bullseye.
Dong E clapped and cheered enthusiastically.
Jiang Feng turned to Dong E and said, “There’s one arrow left. Do you want to try? I’ll teach you.”
Dong E nodded eagerly like a chick pecking rice. “Yes, yes!”
But when Brother Jiang adjusted her hand, pressing his hand over hers, even wrapping his arms around her, Dong E’s face turned red, burning hot.
She didn’t know how the arrow flew; it seemed to hit the target, but as she pulled the bow, she leaned back and bumped into Brother Jiang’s hard chest.
Dong E blushed deeply, lifted her skirt, and ran away in embarrassment.
She never expected being with someone she liked would feel like this. She had been with Liu Tong for over ten years and never blushed…
Over there, Meng Qingshe and Minister He had finished their duties as matchmakers.
They had a pleasant conversation.
The first meeting ended perfectly.
Minister Dong was quite pleased.
Vice Minister Jiang was very polite.
And very capable. Last time he expressed interest in marriage, Jiang Feng was still a commoner.
Now, when he came to propose, Jiang Feng was already a sixth-rank sword-bearing guard.
Good thing he acted quickly.
The first meeting ended perfectly.
Minister Dong was satisfied.
Madam Dong was very satisfied.
Dong E was extremely satisfied.
Dong Chichi was a bit dissatisfied; he wanted to keep them longer to talk more, but didn’t get his fill.
After they left,
Minister Dong finally relaxed, lying back on the soft couch, a cup of tea in hand, ready to look at the betrothal gift list from the Jiang Family.
Although there were many boxes, he could combine them; it didn’t matter. No one would report it. Vice Minister Jiang might not have noticed, coming from Jingzhou.
Minister Dong looked at the list to decide how much dowry to give—at least more than the betrothal gifts.
He took a sip of tea and opened the box containing the gift list.
It was a large, exquisitely made box.
When he pulled out the list, it seemed very long, unrolling endlessly. He glanced at it first.
Twenty East Sea pearls, six pairs of old coral from Bizhou, four pairs of jade ruyi, ten strings of five-blessing tourmaline, one pair of heshi bi jade, one pair of ivory…
Minister Dong started reading seriously, but as he went on, he was startled, his hand trembling so much he almost dropped the list.
His hand shook uncontrollably as he held the list.
Dong E ran to the hall and saw her Father looking at the betrothal gifts, his face stern and hand trembling.
She went up to him coquettishly, “Dad, even if they gave too little, you don’t have to be this angry. I’ve already talked to Brother Feng. I have a lot of dowry, enough for us to live well. Don’t worry. Brother Feng’s family came from Jingzhou and just settled in the capital; it’s normal for them to be short on money. He saved my life. Isn’t my life worth more than those things?”
Minister Dong was beyond words.
How could these things appear on his daughter’s betrothal gift list?
He heard Vice Minister Jiang came from the Rebels. Had he already succeeded in rebellion and looted the national treasury?
He was panicking…
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