CHAPTER 431: CHAPTER 431: URGING MARRIAGE (PART 1)

Sun Zelan wasn’t exaggerating one bit. At that time, Sun Guangbai was beaten to a pulp by his own father, yet stubbornly straightened his back and said those words.

Doctor Sun’s expression was quite a spectacle. In a fit of rage, he gave Sun Guangbai another beating.

After the beatings, the marriage was still necessary. They couldn’t really let it get to the point where the son had to become a eunuch.

Jiang Shaohua was surprised but amused, and Chen Jinyu laughed non-stop: "I really didn’t expect Sun Guangbai to have such a trick up his sleeve."

Sun Zelan also laughed: "Isn’t it so? At the time, I was beside him and was shocked by my big brother too."

"Big brother didn’t want to get married for so many years, but once he was moved, it was like an old house catching fire—impossible to control."

Jiang Shaohua smiled softly: "No matter what, Doctor Sun has already agreed, and your big brother got his wish. Tell him to treat Shanxing well in the future."

Sun Zelan laughed and said: "There’s no need for me to say that. You, Commandery Princess, haven’t seen how glued my big brother and Shanxing are. In my view, it’s better to get married sooner than later, to avoid the joke of getting pregnant before marriage."

When it came to matters between men and women, Sun Zelan was at ease and showed no shyness.

Jiang Shaohua also remained unfazed: "Let them get married after New Year when the first month is over."

Originally, Chen Jinyu was a bit shy, but seeing how open they were, she became open too: "Next spring, my big brother is also getting married. By then, the Prince Mansion will have celebration after celebration, very lively."

Chen Haoran and Miss Xue Liu had long been engaged. This year, Chen Haoran passed the Imperial Examination with honors, obtaining the scholar title. The snobbish Old Madam Xue immediately saw her future grandson-in-law in a new light and finally set the wedding date for next March.

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said: "With joyful events lining up in the Prince Mansion, I’m truly happy. Divine Doctor Sun and Chen Sheren have also reached the age for marriage. If there’s a young man you like, just speak up. I’ll matchmake for you."

At the mention of marriage, Sun Zelan immediately made her excuse to leave, slipping away swiftly.

...

Jiang Shaohua laughed and said to Chen Jinyu: "Sun Zelan has decided not to marry, and Qin Hu’s affection seems wasted. What about you? You’ll be eighteen after the year. Your mother has been urging you to marry. What do you plan to do?"

Since last year, Mrs. Yao had been actively searching for a suitable husband for her daughter. Luckily, with Chief Historian Chen and County Magistrate Chen stalling, and Chen Jinyu rarely returning to Bowan County, it had been delayed until now.

Now all county magistrates were at the Nanyang Prince Mansion, naturally including County Magistrate Chen and his wife.

Chen Jinyu, worn out from dealing with her mother urging marriage every day, sighed heavily after hearing that: "My mother gave me an ultimatum yesterday. After the year, a marriage must be set. If I don’t find someone myself, she’ll handle it."

Nowadays, it’s common for girls to marry at sixteen. Being engaged at eighteen was indeed considered late. So no wonder Mrs. Yao was anxious.

"Young men with good family backgrounds, looks, and talent have long married. Who would wait indefinitely for you, Sheren Chen? Your grandfather and father spoil you, and the Commandery Princess supports you. While you’re young and beautiful, it’s best to secure a good match. Don’t delay until you’re old and perhaps unable to marry."

These were Mrs. Yao’s exact words.

Chen Jinyu mimicked it angrily. Jiang Shaohua was amused: "She’s not wrong. You’re different from Sun Zelan, who decided not to marry and pursue medicine, becoming a female divine doctor of Da Liang. If you’re willing to marry, you might as well start thinking about the groom now."

Chen Jinyu fell silent, her face slightly red, as something crossed her mind.

Jiang Shaohua noticed a hint of it and asked with a soft smile: "It seems our Chen Sheren already has a suitable candidate in her heart?"

Chen Jinyu twisted her fingers, hesitating a moment.

Jiang Shaohua had already guessed and looked at Chen Jinyu with a cheerful smile.

Unable to hold it in, Chen Jinyu blushed and whispered, "What does the Commandery Princess think of Ma Sheren?"

Indeed, it was Ma Yaosong.

Jiang Shaohua suppressed her laughter and, with a serious face, said: "Ma Sheren is two years older than you, turning twenty next year. Age-wise, it’s just right. Family-wise, the Ma Family is notably inferior to the Chen Family. If the Ma Family proposes marriage, are you sure your mother will agree?"

In the past, Mrs. Yao sought a noble young man for Chen Jinyu.

The Ma Family isn’t bad. County Magistrate Ma has been running horse farms in Biyang County for decades and secretly operates a brokerage, amassing wealth, making them the richest household in Nanyang County. Yet, no scholars were in the Ma Family. Compared to the scholarly Chen Family, they seemed like mere upstarts.

Would Mrs. Yao allow her daughter to marry beneath her station?

Chen Jinyu was well aware of her mother’s snobbishness: "My mother certainly wouldn’t agree. Since my big brother got engaged to the Xue Family, she’s been strutting around, constantly talking about the Inspector Mansion. She’s hoping I’ll marry high, bringing future benefits to my big brother."

That said, she expressed some discontent: "How can people be so snobbish? Ma Sheren might come from ordinary beginnings, but he’s capable and resourceful. He’ll have a great future, certainly not inferior to those noble offspring!"

Look, her heart was already leaning towards Ma Sheren.

Jiang Shaohua looked at Chen Jinyu with interest: "Seems like Ma Sheren has already expressed his feelings to you."

Chen Jinyu blushed a bit, lowering her voice: "Actually, last year, Ma Sheren quietly confessed his feelings to me, but I didn’t respond then."

Both were Commandery Princess Attendants, working closely around the Commandery Princess. Each year during the Commandery Princess’s county tours, they traveled together. Being around each other day and night, feelings naturally developed.

As the eldest grandson of the Ma Family, Ma Yaosong was handsome and worked around the Commandery Princess, attracting plenty of interest. Starting three years ago, prospective families frequently approached the Ma Family, hoping to matchmake. County Magistrate Ma, knowing his grandson’s feelings, courteously refused them all.

Ma Yaosong marrying Chen Jinyu was indeed challenging. He had to win over the Commandery Princess first, then get Chief Historian Chen’s and County Magistrate Chen’s approval, not to mention his prospective mother-in-law, who was hard to please!

Jiang Shaohua didn’t mind all that and simply asked Chen Jinyu: "What do you think? Are you looking for someone acceptable just for marriage’s sake, or do you have genuine feelings for Ma Yaosong?"

Chen Jinyu understood the Commandery Princess’s intent behind the question. Ignoring her blush and shyness, she seriously thought and replied, "To be honest with you, Commandery Princess, it’s a mix of both."

"If my mother weren’t urging me to get engaged, I actually wouldn’t want to marry yet. Being around the Commandery Princess, I’ve seen a lot of the world, and quite a few men. After looking around, no one seems more suitable as my husband than Ma Yaosong."

"If I have to get married, then it would be to him. At least, after marriage, I can continue working."

Human emotions are the most complex, and even Chen Jinyu couldn’t distinguish how much of her feelings were genuine and how much were based on "suitability."