NFBE Chapter 1002: She married Leng Bingnian in January; may she be happy for the rest of her life!
Chapter 1002: She married Leng Bingnian in January; may she be happy for the rest of her life!
He took a deep breath and, under the watchful eyes of everyone who held their breath, slowly knelt down on one knee.
This iron-willed general, who commanded the respect of countless soldiers, was now as humble as a devout believer.
“In January, I was adopted by the Bai family when I was a child. I am the Bai family’s adopted son and also your elder brother. But I never dare to be just your elder brother.”
"In the five years I've been away from Beijing, I've seen the sandstorms of the north and the misty waves of the South China Sea. I've seen countless landscapes, but what I miss most is the image of you reading by the window in the academy."
"I've worked my way up from a lowly soldier to where I am today, not for fame or fortune, but simply so that... when I stand before you, I'll have enough strength to shield you from the wind and rain, and be worthy to stand shoulder to shoulder with you."
He took out a small wooden box from his pocket, opened it, and inside was not gold or silver jewelry, but a carefully polished ring inlaid with a tiny red bean.
That was the amulet he carried with him when he first went to the battlefield.
"In January, you now stand in the court, working for the well-being of all people."
"I stand on the battlefield, guarding peace for the nation."
"We were meant to be on the same path."
"Bai Yiyue, will you... marry me?"
"Let me, in the name of my husband, promise you a lifetime of peace and security, and protect your dreams without worry."
The courtyard was completely silent, with only the rustling of the wind through the leaves.
Bai Yiyue stared at him blankly, her eyes glistening with tears.
This man, who protected her like a brother and father as she grew up, harbored such deep love in his heart.
She recalled that over the years, no matter how outrageous her decisions were, he always had his silent support and covert protection behind the scenes.
It turns out that he had already tightly tied his future to her ideals.
She smiled, but tears streamed down her cheeks.
She reached out, not to take the ring, but to help him up from the ground.
"Brother Bingnian, are you stupid?" Her voice was choked with emotion. "If I didn't want to, why would I have invited only you to this victory celebration banquet?"
Leng Bingnian was stunned, then overjoyed surged into his heart.
"you mean......"
Bai Yiyue didn't answer, but instead took his hand and smiled radiantly, her beauty beyond compare.
"I agree."
Three simple words are worth more than a thousand words.
"Great! Great! That's wonderful!" Bai Lu was the first to react. She excitedly slammed her hand on the table and laughed heartily, "I agree! I agree to this marriage!"
"My daughter is more than a match for a great general like you!"
These two kids have had a strong chemistry since they were little, and now... I'm absolutely right.
Leng Bingnian looked at Bai Yiyue and laughed foolishly.
Like a child who has received candy.
He carefully placed the special ring on Bai Yiyue's ring finger.
My godmother, Bai Lu, said that in her memory, there was a very faraway country.
In that country... people wear rings when they get married. I don't think I did anything wrong, right?
......
After Bai Yiyue and Leng Bingnian's marriage was arranged, the atmosphere inside and outside the Marquis of Anguo's mansion was filled with joy.
As a mother, Bai Lu felt comforted to see her eldest, most composed daughter find a reliable home. She summoned the two to her study, dismissed everyone else, and personally served them tea.
"January, the year of ice." Bai Lu's voice was gentle, with a smile. "I have agreed to your request. The subsequent formalities must not be omitted."
"Although Bingnian is my adopted son... and I am both his mother and his mother, according to custom, I will ask your third uncle, Qingze, to formally propose marriage to the Marquis's mansion on my behalf,"
"The three letters and six rites must be carried out in a grand and glorious manner."
Leng Bingnian grew up in the Bai family and had a resolute and steady personality, but he was unusually reserved in front of Bai Lu. He stood up and bowed deeply to Bai Lu.
"Mother, I have been grateful for your nurturing since I was a child, and I have no way to repay you."
"To marry Yiyue is the greatest blessing of my life. I will leave everything to Mother's decision and will not object." He didn't say much, but every word was firm and sincere.
Bai Yiyue sat beside him, her face still calm and composed, but a faint blush crept up her ears. She reached out and gently tugged at Leng Bingnian's sleeve, gesturing for him to sit down.
“Mother, we will listen to you,” she said softly.
Bai Lu nodded with satisfaction. Just as she was about to give a few more instructions, the study door was pushed open a crack with a bang, and a small head peeked in...
"Mother, eldest sister, Brother Bingnian!" Bai Sanyue darted in with a grin, holding a small abacus in her hand. "I heard everything outside!"
"My eldest sister is getting married! This is the first happy event in our family, so we can't be stingy with the celebrations!"
As she spoke, she sat down at the table, her little abacus clicking away: "I've done a preliminary estimate, from the proposal to the betrothal gifts to the wedding, the banquet, guests, wedding dress, jewelry..."
"All things considered, it should amount to at least this much!"
She held up five fingers.
Bai Liuyue, who strolled in slowly behind her, suddenly brightened up. With a piece of osmanthus cake still in her mouth, she asked indistinctly, "Fifty thousand taels? That's a lot!"
"Then, could the wedding banquet include Eight Treasure Duck, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, and the newly imported grape wine from the Western Regions?"
Bai Sanyue rolled her eyes at her: "Eat, eat, all you know is eating! I'm talking about a minimum of 500,000 taels!"
"Five hundred thousand taels!" Even the usually composed Bai Qiyue couldn't help but widen her eyes slightly. She was the last to enter, closing the door behind her and glancing helplessly at her two older sisters.
"Third sister, are you trying to empty the Marquis's mansion's storeroom?"
She knew that she didn't actually need the money; she mainly wanted to give Yiyue a larger dowry so that she could move many of her family's assets and properties there.
“How can this be called emptying the place!” Bai Sanyue said righteously. “My eldest sister is the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Anguo’s family and will inherit her mother’s title in the future!”
"Her wedding represents the honor of the Bai family!"
"Besides, my family isn't short of money. The profits from my shops have increased by 20% in the past two months, which is more than enough!"
Bai Lu looked at her lively daughters and smiled helplessly: "Alright, March, don't scare your eldest sister."
"The wedding should be held, but it doesn't need to be so extravagant."
After all, she had seven daughters... Bai Lu thought for a moment and said, "These properties and shops, if they can be converted into cash, I'll give you cash to make a good dowry. If they can't be converted into cash, I'll put them in the land deeds for you to manage slowly on your own."
"But since you're an official in the court, you probably won't have that much free time. I'll have your younger sisters help you with the preparations later."
"Your mother will not mistreat you. You are my firstborn daughter, so you should at least have a million in assets to rely on. I have struggled all my life to leave you some money... so that you can live comfortably."
"Mother," Bai Yiyue, who had been silent all along, finally spoke. She looked at her sisters with gentle eyes, "My marriage should be kept simple."
"Being together as a family is the best thing."
"That won't do!"
"Absolutely not!"
The younger sisters all objected in unison.
In the end, Bai Lu made the decision: "How about... we do as March suggested?"
"Money is small; what matters most is the sentiment of you sisters."
"However, this matter still requires the grace of the palace. I will personally submit a memorial to request an imperial decree to grant you marriage."
"Only then will it be legitimate."
Leng Bingnian felt a warmth in his heart. He knew that Bai Lu was thinking of him. Although he was the adopted son of a marquis, his background was ultimately a disadvantage. If the emperor granted him a marriage, it would elevate his status.
"Thank you, Mother." He stood up again and bowed solemnly.
The matter was quickly settled. Bai Lu helped to provide 500,000 taels of silver and bought land and shops throughout Dawu, ensuring that she would have a place to stay when she went to work in other places after her marriage in January. There were also many properties in the Western Regions and business routes. All of this added up to more than the million taels on the surface. The annual output... net profit would also be tens of thousands of taels.
Upon hearing the news at the Hanlin Academy, Su Jinyu immediately rushed back to the Marquis's residence.
At that time, he had been the top scholar in the imperial examination for two years and was serving as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. He was becoming more and more composed and capable. As soon as he entered the room, he first greeted Bailu.
“Mother, I have heard about Bingnian and Sister Yiyue’s marriage. I have already made arrangements with the Ministry of Rites and submitted the memorial. I expect to hear back soon. His Majesty has always valued you highly, and he will certainly not reject the imperial decree of marriage.”
Bai Lu looked at him approvingly: "Jinyu, you are now an official of the imperial court, so you must be even more cautious in your actions. You have worked hard these past years."
"Mother, you flatter me. This is all my duty." Su Jinyu smiled gently, like a spring breeze. "Besides, this is not only a joyous occasion for the Marquis's mansion, but also a family matter. I am happy to do my part for Bingnian and Sister Yiyue."
Things turned out exactly as Su Jinyu had predicted.
Three days later, people from the palace arrived.
The head eunuch was Li Gonggong, a favorite of Emperor Jingming. He held a bright yellow imperial edict in his hands and stood in the main hall of the Marquis's residence with a beaming smile.
Bai Lu, along with her entire family, knelt down to receive the imperial decree.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: It is hereby learned that Bai Yiyue, the eldest daughter of Marquis Anguo Bailu, is virtuous and dignified, with outstanding character and appearance, possessing the bearing of a noble family. Her adopted son, Leng Bingnian, is loyal, brave, reliable, and skilled in both literature and martial arts, making him a worthy match for her. The two are deeply in love and their union is truly a match made in heaven. I am greatly pleased and hereby issue this decree to grant them marriage, and an auspicious day shall be chosen for the wedding. All ceremonies shall be handled by the Ministry of Rites. This is my decree!"
"Your Majesty, I accept the decree and thank you for your great favor! Long live the Emperor!"
With shouts of "Long live the Emperor!", the marriage became a done deal, a testament to the Emperor's boundless grace.
Eunuch Li personally helped Bai Lu up, smiling as he offered his congratulations: "Congratulations, Your Excellency! Congratulations, Your Excellency!"
"His Majesty said that Marquis Anguo has made great contributions, and your daughter's dowry must be as magnificent as a ten-mile-long red procession. You must not be wronged."
"His Majesty will be adding a dowry for his own niece at that time!"
Bai Lu smiled faintly and handed over a silver note: "Thank you for making this trip, Eunuch, and thank you for Your Majesty's kindness."
With the emperor's decree in place, preparations for the wedding officially began.
The entire Anguo Marquis's residence was bustling with activity.
Before they knew it, their wedding day arrived.
Before dawn, Bai Yiyue's courtyard was already brightly lit.
She sat gracefully before the mirror, letting the wedding attendant do her makeup. The woman in the mirror wore an elaborate phoenix coronet and wedding gown; her usually aloof features were now adorned with a captivating charm under the embellishment of her exquisite makeup.
"My goodness, big sister, you look so beautiful today!" Bai Liuyue exclaimed indistinctly, her eyes wide open, with a piece of jujube cake stuffed in her mouth.
Bai Sanyue walked in carrying a thick gift list, checking it as she went. Without looking up, she said, "Of course, this wedding dress was made by the best embroiderer in the capital for three months with gold and silver thread. How could it not be beautiful?"
"And this phoenix crown, each of the pearls on it is worth a thousand pieces of gold!"
After she finished speaking, she finally looked up from the ledger and was stunned when she saw Bai Yiyue's appearance.
"Tsk tsk, Brother Bingnian has really struck gold this time."
"Third sister, today is a joyous occasion, why do you keep talking about money?" Bai Qiyue walked in carrying a bowl of lotus seed soup, glanced at her helplessly, and handed the bowl to Bai Yiyue, "Eldest sister, have something to eat to fill your stomach, we'll have a tough day ahead."
Bai Yiyue took the bowl and looked at her chattering sisters in the mirror. A faint smile finally appeared on her usually cool face.
Just then, Bailu walked in.
The moment she appeared, the once lively room fell silent.
"Mother." The daughters bowed in unison.
Bai Lu waved her hand, signaling them to leave first, and walked alone to Bai Yiyue's side. She took out a magpie-on-plum blossom bracelet from her sleeve and personally put it on her daughter's wrist.
"January... This is the bracelet you wore when you were little. Your mother asked a craftsman to help you attach a piece. Do you remember it?"
Looking at the familiar bracelet, January's eyes welled up with tears. "Mother... I remember..."
"Back then, we were living in a dilapidated thatched hut, and life was tough..."
"We all have a good memory, so luckily I was able to help you a lot when your younger sisters were little..."
"Now that our family is rich, we have so many bracelets, gold and jade ones, we can wear them all... but... it's not as joyful as when we had bracelets as when we were kids..."
Seeing this bracelet reminded January of her childhood.
Bai Lu laughed and said, "If this bracelet were just for ordinary makeup... it would really be embarrassing to present."
“But I specifically brought these seven small bracelets with me to the palace to plead with Emperor Jingming, and I also went to the Huguo Temple to plead with the retired emperor, and I even brought out the letters from the two deceased elders of the retired emperor…”
"If you ever face the calamity of your entire family being wiped out in the future, take out this bracelet, and Emperor Jingming will surely save your lives."
"This is our dowry for you."
Looking at her daughter in the mirror, who bore a striking resemblance to herself, she said softly, "After you get married, you will no longer just be my daughter, but also Bingnian's wife. Husband and wife are one, sharing both honor and disgrace, supporting each other."
"Bingnian is a good boy, he will treat you well."
Bai Lu didn't say anything about always putting her husband first and being filial to her parents-in-law; that's all nonsense. Her daughter didn't marry to serve others; she married for happiness. It was to have companionship in old age, and to avoid loneliness.