"When the Lantern Festival arrives, envoys from various countries will come to offer congratulations. If anyone brings up the matter of marriage alliances, it will be troublesome. His Majesty has no princesses of marriageable age among his daughters. The choice will inevitably fall upon suitable candidates from the princely households. Although Siruo is only a county princess, given her age and background, she is highly likely to be chosen. If her marriage is not settled early, I fear..."
So that was it. No wonder Princess Wenyi had been so insistent on arranging this matter recently. It was for this very reason.
This time, Madam Lin did not try to dissuade her further. Her heart firm, she looked at her and said, "Your worries are not unfounded. If Siruo is betrothed to Prince Kang's household, and Muqian is serving in the Capital Garrison, he will at least remain in Dongdu City, making it convenient for us to see each other. But if it's a marriage alliance, wouldn't that mean being separated by thousands of mountains and rivers? No, absolutely not!"
Princess Wenyi nodded. This was indeed a consideration.
"You should wash your face and rest here for a while. I will go and speak with Siruo. Although that child is a bit boisterous, if the reasons are explained to her clearly, I believe she will understand."
"In that case, thank you, sister-in-law. The family on my side has already agreed. As long as Siruo consents, the marriage can be settled in the next few days!"
"Good!"
With that, she rose and headed towards Shou Kang Yuan.
When Madam Lin lifted the curtain and entered, Bai Siruo stopped crying. Seeing her walk in, she rose to bow, her voice tinged with tears, "Greetings, Eldest Aunt."
"Sit down quickly. I've just pacified your mother. She was just being difficult. Mother and daughter don't hold grudges overnight. Let it pass."
Bai Siruo nodded. She didn't truly resent her mother, but in a moment of anger, she had spoken rashly.
After Madam Lin explained the matter of the marriage alliance to Old Madam Bai, Bai Siruo listened with a pounding heart.
Compared to a marriage alliance, marrying this cousin she had never met seemed slightly better.
However, to agree to it immediately, she couldn't get over that hurdle.
"Grandmother, Eldest Aunt, please excuse me. My head is a bit sore, so I will go back and rest."
With tear stains still on her face, her tone lacked its usual cheerfulness, and she spoke listlessly.
"Go, go. Haitang, go back and get a hot towel to apply to your young lady's eyes. Don't let them swell," Eldest Aunt Lin reminded her.
After Bai Siruo left, Madam Lin comforted Old Madam Bai, "Siruo will come around. Mother, don't worry."
Alas, Old Madam Bai sighed. At times like these, she felt her age more keenly. The momentous occasion of her own granddaughter's marriage was entangled with so many complexities. A perfectly good marriage prospect had become a matter of helplessness.
In contrast to the somber mood at the Bai residence, the Kang Prince's mansion, several streets away, was filled with joy.
In Ling Feng Yuan, Xiao Muqian was skillfully wielding a silver spear.
The muscles in his strong arms tensed, veins bulging on his hands. The whistling sound of the silver spear cutting through the air could be heard.
Mama Liu, who served the Crown Princess, happened to witness this scene as she arrived.
A smile graced her face, filled with a sense of relief.
"Second Young Master, the Crown Princess requests your presence to discuss matters."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Muqian stopped his spearplay and turned. He stood tall in the courtyard, his lips tightly closed as if carved by a knife. Beads of sweat dotted his face, yet he exuded a subtle chill that dared not be approached.
"What urgent matter does Mother have to discuss with me?"
"This old servant does not know. You will find out when you see the Crown Princess,"
Xiao Muqian frowned. The end of the year was approaching, and his mother had been very busy. How could she have time to speak with him? What matter could they be discussing? He had no idea.
He casually wiped the sweat from his face with a handkerchief and followed Mama Liu towards his mother's courtyard.
With the Old Prince Kang still alive, the eldest son had only inherited the title of Crown Prince. The Old Princess had been devoutly Buddhist for many years, and all household management matters were entrusted to the Crown Princess.
She hailed from the Liu family, a scholarly and upright official clan. While her disposition was usually gentle, it did not mean she lacked ambition or shrewdness.
She had two sons. The eldest, Xiao Mu'an, was destined to uphold the Kang Prince's mansion's legacy, hence his wife was chosen to be the steady and capable Miss Luo.
The second son, Xiao Muqian, did not require such considerations. Fearing potential conflicts between sisters-in-law over power, Bai Siruo was chosen because her temperament was not that of an ambitious schemer.
The Kang Prince's mansion doted on their grandson's daughter and cherished their granddaughter. Thus, the engagement had been arranged long ago.
Xiao Muqian's brow remained furrowed as he listened to his mother speak of this marriage, never relaxing.
He had no impression of his cousin from the Bai family.
They were four or five years apart in age. When his Bai cousin was old enough to remember things, he had already gone to Liangzhou with his second uncle, not for any other reason than his childhood yearning for military life.
At the Kang Prince's mansion, his elder brother was destined to inherit the title of Crown Prince, so he had been disciplined more strictly since childhood. In contrast, as the second grandson of the main lineage, he was treated with more leniency, which suited his wishes.
"Mother, I have never even met my cousin. Is it appropriate to be engaged so quickly? Does the Bai family agree?"
"Why wouldn't they agree? Your aunt came last time specifically to discuss this with us. Siruo is a fine child, cheerful and generous, not at all reserved. I hear she also loves archery and riding from a young age, just like you. Aren't you a perfect match?"
The current Crown Princess praised Bai Siruo like a hawker selling her wares, doing her utmost to facilitate this marriage.
Seeing that her son had not yet agreed, she brought up the matter of offspring again, as she often did.
Her eldest son had married early, and his eldest son was already three years old. But he had not even settled on a marriage. Moreover, he was over twenty. If he delayed any longer, his elder brother's legitimate son might already be attending academy, and he still had no heir.
For this reason, he had been nagged by his family countless times.
He had been hiding in Liangzhou some days ago, only to receive a few nagging remarks in letters. Now that he had returned to Dongdu City, the matter was constantly brought up.
Xiao Muqian had no woman he admired in his heart. After a moment of thought, he nodded in agreement.
Seeing that he had agreed, the Crown Princess's face bloomed with joy. She turned and instructed the mama beside her to fetch the betrothal gift list and consider adding a few more items.
When the news reached the Bai residence, Princess Wenyi pondered for a moment and then went to Bai Siruo's courtyard.
Mother and daughter spoke for a while. First, there were sounds of crying, and then laughter. Haitang, waiting outside the door, alternated between worry and joy. When the two emerged after their conversation, she knew the marriage was settled.
On the third day, the news of the engagement between Xiao Muqian, the second grandson of the Kang Prince's mansion, and Bai Siruo, the eldest daughter of the Bai family, spread through the noble circles of Dongdu City.
The Old Prince Kang, the Old Princess, the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess, accompanied by the second son Xiao Muqian and a host of servants, personally visited the Bai residence to present gifts. The grand occasion made it clear how much importance was placed on Bai Siruo, the daughter of the Bai family.
The entire Bai residence was filled with smiles, witnessing the happy occasion.