Chapter 433: A Marriage with a Twist
County Magistrate Liu is here to propose marriage to Gu Jingzhe.
Tong Huaqiong thought that this was normal. Gu Jingzhe was the top candidate in the case and would have a bright future. I was afraid that all the wealthy families in Pingchuan County wanted to use their marriage relationship to lure Gu Jingzhe, a potential stock, into their pockets.
County Magistrate Liu was no exception.
I just don’t know which girl County Magistrate Liu is going to tell Gu Jingzhe about.
It is impossible to say that she is the daughter of his superior, because County Magistrate Liu’s superior, Prefect Yao, is also a bachelor.
As for the sister of Prefect Yao, she is from a noble family in Shengjing. If they wanted to marry someone with potential but no background, they could just pick one from the successful candidates. It would not be the turn of a little scholar from Qinghe Bay.
Could it be a girl from the Liu family?
Tong Huaqiong was almost certain, otherwise why would Lord Liu come forward in person instead of letting my mother do it, because Lord Liu's mother had a grudge against the Liu family and would definitely not want the girl from the Liu family to get away with it.
If this is really the case, Tong Huaqiong has made up her mind that she will refuse even if it offends Lord Liu.
More importantly, Gu Jingzhe's heart is filled with Lu Zhaozhao, and trying to pair up with another girl would only harm that girl.
Tong Huaqiong smiled and asked, "Lord Liu, my Jingzhe is still young and has no achievements. Even if there is a girl he likes, it is not appropriate to consider her now, so as not to delay her."
Tong Huaqiong originally rejected County Magistrate Liu's proposal, but it hurt Gu Jingzhe.
He had promised Lu Zhaozhao in the capital city that he would propose marriage to Lu Zhaozhao as the top candidate in the case.
Now my mother says he is young, young...
Gu Jingzhe gritted his teeth and said, "Lord Liu, I have a girl I like."
Tong Huaqiong: “…”
This son...said it just like that.
Gu Jingzhe was thinking that since Lord Liu asked him, he should seize the opportunity. Lord Liu was Lu Zhaozhao's cousin, and he hoped to take this opportunity to ask Lord Liu to help persuade Tong Huaqiong to arrange a marriage between him and Lu Zhaozhao.
"You little brat, you don't learn your lesson. What are you thinking about?" Tong Huaqiong frowned.
County Magistrate Liu said, "I think Jingzhe is a good guy. He doesn't mind studying when he has a girl he likes. A man with strong determination like Jingzhe should get married first and then start a career. Aunt Tong, are you like those vulgar people who think that your son will miss his studies and fame because he is engaged and married and indulges in the world of love?"
Tong Huaqiong said: "That's not the case."
At the same time, I was cursing in my heart, "Okay, County Magistrate Liu, are you flattering me or setting a trap for me?"
Gu Jingzhe defended Tong Huaqiong, "Lord Liu, my mother is mainly worried that I will be left with nothing and let the girl I love suffer with me."
Lord Liu became interested and asked, "Whose family is the girl you like? Do you need my help to propose marriage?"
At the same time, he felt a little regretful that the Lu family had lost a good son in vain.
But at the same time, he was moved by Gu Jingzhe's sincerity and was willing to help Gu Jingzhe persuade Tong Huaqiong and the girl's family.
Just settle the marriage.
Gu Jingzhe stammered, "Yes... she is Miss Lu from the prefectural city, your cousin, Lord Liu."
Tong Huaqiong sighed inwardly, still unable to escape the fate of her previous life.
Lord Liu was so excited that he almost jumped up from his chair.
I never expected that the girl Gu Jingzhe liked was actually Lu Zhaozhao.
"Jingzhe, you have a good eye. My cousin is beautiful and has a good character. I heard from my mother that she is now in charge of the family's rouge and silk business, and the shop is booming. Since Zhaoyang went to Beijing, she has been the housekeeper of the Lu family. She has handled both the inner house and the business very well."
Lord Liu was so excited that he kept praising Lu Zhaozhao.
Tong Huaqiong was both amused and confused. Lord Liu was not praising Lu Zhaozhao in front of Gu Jingzhe at all. He was obviously trying to improve Lu Zhaozhao's impression in front of Tong Huaqiong.
It is estimated that County Magistrate Liu was afraid that she, the candidate for mother-in-law, would not agree.
However, County Magistrate Liu was worrying too much. Maybe he had forgotten that Lu Zhaozhao had come to Tong Huaqiong's house twice and she knew Lu Zhaozhao very well.
If Lu Zhaozhao were to be her daughter-in-law, she would naturally be willing. She was not afraid that Gu Jingzhe would repeat the mistake of her previous life. She did not dare to agree easily when Han proposed to her last time.
Seeing County Magistrate Liu's excited look, Tong Huaqiong instantly understood that the marriage he had arranged for Gu Jingzhe was with Lu Zhaozhao, and not some girl from the Liu family.
County Magistrate Liu took a long time to react, and said to Tong Huaqiong: "Aunt Tong, it's useless for me to say this, you are familiar with my cousin. Jingzhe and Zhaozhao are the same age, and you are Zhaoyang's savior. When Jingzhe goes to Shengjing, Zhaoyang can still take care of him. I think the two children are good, how about I act as a matchmaker and settle the marriage first?"
Gu Jingzhe's face was clouded with lust, and he looked at Tong Huaqiong with desire in his eyes.
Tong Huaqiong couldn't bear the pressure anymore, and finally gave in, saying, "Then please ask Lord Liu to go to the Lu family. This matter still depends on the opinions of Mr. Lu and Zhaoyang."
Gu Jingzhe's eyes lit up instantly.
County Magistrate Liu said, "They will definitely be willing to marry Jingzhe, a talent like him. I will be the matchmaker."
Tong Huaqiong said: "Thank you, Lord Liu, for being the matchmaker."
Lord Liu was very happy.
It was said that he and Aunt Tong had an indissoluble bond. Just when he was about to act as a matchmaker for Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao, Gu Jingzhe already had a girl he liked. Just when he was feeling regretful, things took a turn for the worse and it turned out that the girl Gu Jingzhe liked was Lu Zhaozhao.
Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao’s marriage in their previous lives could not be severed.
Lord Liu talked for a while before leaving Tong Huaqiong's house. He wanted to rush back to the county to report the good news of the matchmaking to his mother.
Old Master Gu was confused the whole time. He had no say at all when County Magistrate Liu and Tong Huaqiong discussed the matchmaking for Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao.
There was even no chance to help Gu Fengnian find a job as a yamen servant in the county government.
After County Magistrate Liu and his entourage left, only two outsiders, Grandpa Gu and Gu Honglian, were left in the house.
Old Man Gu coughed, put on the airs of an elder, and asked, "What kind of family is the Lu family? They arranged Jingzhe's marriage."
From County Magistrate Liu, he concluded that the Lu family was a business family, and that the girl Jingzhe loved was running a shop, which made Old Man Gu unhappy.
"I heard from County Magistrate Liu that the Lu family is doing business?"
Tong Huaqiong said: "The Lu family is not an ordinary merchant, but a royal merchant."
When Mr. Gu heard about the imperial merchant, he thought it was okay. He thought it would be great if the marriage was given to Gu Ruinian, which would help Gu Youtian turn things around. However, the Gu family already had an eldest daughter-in-law who was a businessman, and he couldn't stand having a granddaughter-in-law who was in the spotlight.
According to his idea, whether it is Gu Jingzhe or Gu Ruinian, they should be paired with a lady from an official family.
Grandpa Gu said, "Logically, children's marriage is decided by their parents and matchmakers, and I, as a grandfather, have no right to interfere. But Jingzhe's father is gone, and I should help my son take care of Jingzhe. He is only fifteen and just won the first prize. It feels unfair for him to marry a merchant girl. The other party is an imperial merchant, which means he is also a merchant. Our Jingzhe will be an official in the future, so why don't we look for a few more families?"
Tong Huaqiong thought to herself, she knows she has no right to be in charge but she still does it.