Once Wed to the Disabled General Chapter 5

Choose a date, exchange marriage certificates, and offer betrothal gifts.

No matter what is discussed in the city, it will not affect the various matters concerning the marriage between the Nian and Gu families.

Because of Ethan Gu's situation, the April that the old lady had intended was moved forward to the sixth day of the second month of the lunar calendar. The Gu family invited the most famous master to calculate this date.

At the beginning of December, the betrothal gift from the Marquis's Mansion was delivered.

Early in the morning, on the way from the Mansion of Marquis Zhongyong to the Mansion of Marquis Jin'an, whenever you saw someone carrying a large red-mouthed box, you could see people watching. Those who were interested could count them one by one, and there were thirty-six of them.

Normally, when a mansion like this is used to propose marriage, there are usually thirty-two carriages. No one knows what the extra four carriages are for, but judging from the golden geese and jade statues placed on the boxes, they can demonstrate the nobility of the Loyal and Brave Marquis's Mansion.

An hour later, they arrived at the Marquis of Jin'an's Mansion. Lorraine was still a little dissatisfied with the boxes that were carried in. She had prepared more than double the amount for her daughter, even to the point of displaying the betrothal gifts according to the Yanjing custom.

The lipstick boxes were opened one by one, and Lorraine's expression changed when she saw the last four boxes.

The last four tables were filled to the brim with gold and silver jewellery, without any boxes to put them in. They were all placed in there all at once, with huge luminous pearls mixed in.

There was even a title deed to a farm outside the city, without even an official paper seal, mixed in with the pile of jewelry.

The old lady looked at this somewhat arrogant way of proposing marriage and laughed: "This young general is a bit like his grandfather, he is very decisive in doing things."

"Why didn't you clean it up and just send it here... I'm afraid you didn't even look at it carefully when it was given to me as a reward." Lorraine said that, but her expression no longer had the anger she had in previous days.

Although the Gu family had done unkind things before, now that they see that their future son-in-law is at least sincere, they decide to pay a generous betrothal gift to marry Ayu.

"He went to Northern Frontier at such a young age, and he has been surrounded by boys all these years. How could anyone take care of him?" The old lady took a look and found that the value of these four boxes was more expensive than the thirty-two units combined. She knew in her heart that these extra things must have been prepared by Ethan Gu himself.

"Mother, you are so open-minded." There was bitterness in Lorraine's tone. The daughter she gave birth to was not like her at all. She took on the temperaments of the two old people completely.

"I'm old enough to have no regrets. You should be more open-minded too." The old lady knew what she meant. She was still thinking about those "good sons-in-law". "Come on, invite these masters over to have some wine and dinner before leaving."

In the evening, Nian Chong came back and Lorraine told him about the marriage proposal from the Marquis' Mansion.

"Early spring isn't as cold as you say." Next to the huge table, Nian Chong was holding a measuring ruler and marking on a large piece of paper. The pictures and texts on it were complicated, as if it was some big project.

"That's no better than April. I wanted to save some more things for my daughter, but it's too late after two months. No, I have to find a few more skilled people to go with me, so that if they bully my daughter, there will be someone to protect her."

Lorraine was a person who would do what she said. She would do it immediately if she had an idea. Nian Chong looked at his wife who walked out of the door in a hurry, shook his head helplessly, and continued to concentrate on drawing the blueprint.

Lorraine spent three days searching the entire city and finally hired a dozen satisfactory bodyguards to fill the wedding team.

It happened that the Laba Festival had just ended in the city and it began to snow in Yanjing. The atmosphere of the New Year gradually filled the streets. The playful children had no intention of going to school and instead skipped classes to set off firecrackers in the alleys.

Amelia Nian took Clara Su and Toby A to Longhua Temple to pray and burn incense for their relatives.

"I heard that if you walk up the 999 steps from here, your wish will come true."

Amelia Nian was wearing a bright red cape and a satin jacket embroidered with gold flowers underneath. Even the cuffs were secretly sewn with soft and comfortable short plush. Her snow-white scarf reached up to her chin, and the plush lightly touched her cheeks, competing to see who was whiter.

She breathed, looked at the endless stairs ahead, and suggested going up.

Ah Fu at the side counted and said honestly, "Girl, there are not 999 steps here."

"Sincerity is the key to success. Nine hundred and ninety-nine also has many meanings." Clara Su knew the girl's temper very well. She handed the incense basket to Toby A and helped Amelia Nian up. "I'll have the carriage follow on the other side of the mountain road. If you feel tired, you can get off."

"That's even worse."

But after only a few hundred steps, I was already a little out of breath.

Amelia Nian's face was full of determination, but her physical strength did not allow it. The snowy mountain road was difficult to walk on in the winter, and she had to use all her strength to walk down hundreds of steps.

So she began to reflect, "I should have eaten two more pieces of the golden cakes that Cuizhu made this morning."

Ah Fu was still full of energy. She rushed up a few dozen steps and was about to reach the end when she suddenly saw a small path winding up on the side. "Girl, there is a way up this way."

Amelia Nian took a deep breath and exhaled heavily, which soon condensed into white mist in the air. After doing this three times, she lifted up her skirt and walked up.

Apart from the devout pilgrims and the monks coming down the mountain, few people usually complete the entire journey. So when she was almost at the top of the mountain, Amelia Nian's face was already flushed and she began to sweat.

At this moment, a very melodious piano sound came from not far away, matching the surrounding bamboo forest and snow scene, and the elegance of sweeping snow, brewing tea and listening to the piano music.

Walking along the road, Amelia Nian soon saw a pavilion with two men sitting inside. One was dressed in gorgeous clothes and looked very noble, while the other was dressed in a green robe with long hair draped over his shoulders. He was concentrating on playing the piano, like a person from otherworldly world.

Amelia Nian's passing naturally attracted the attention of the man in brocade clothes in the pavilion. He looked at Amelia Nian with interest.

"Isn't this the girl from the Nian family?"

Amelia Nian bowed slightly, but she had no impression of him. The man in brocade clothes did not make things difficult for her. "Your elder brother and I are familiar with each other. I have met you several times before, but you just didn't notice. My last name is Zhao."

Zhao Ke is the royal surname, but he did not reveal his identity.

"Mr. Zhao."

"You walked up from the foot of the mountain?" Zhao Yi glanced at the basket of incense and candles in Toby A's hand and chuckled, "If you are praying for blessings, it would be good to pray for Ming Yuan's safety."

Amelia Nian then raised her head and looked at him, her eyes seemed particularly straightforward. When he mentioned the major general, she became interested.

Zhao Yi laughed. He was just as naive as the rumors said. "Half a year ago, he came back injured. I was worried that the Nian family would cancel the engagement. Now that your wedding is approaching, it couldn't be better."

Amelia Nian particularly agreed with his words, so she said politely, "Don't nag Mr. Zhao."

After saying that, he turned around and left with Toby A and Clara Su.

Zhao Yi was stunned for a moment. Did he finish what he was saying? He didn't finish it!

So he looked at the person playing the piano beside him: "Do I look so bad to her? That's too silly."

"Everyone says that Miss Nian is simple-minded, so she can only care about one person." Xi Zhu said calmly, "Your Highness, the time for appreciating the zither has come today."

"People like you are too conservative. You say one hour means one hour?" Zhao Yi leaned back, not caring whether there was snow on the railing, looking particularly unrestrained. "What do you think of this marriage?"

Xizhu raised his eyelids lazily, "The marriage was decided by the two families a long time ago." What can I say about it.

Zhao Yi stood up suddenly, his eyes full of evil amusement, "Ethan Gu will continue to be like this, I should do something for him."

The music stopped abruptly, Xizhu looked at him, "What do you want to do?"

"Of course, it's to make them a perfect match."

Amelia Nian, who had already walked far away, heard the piano music and felt a little regretful because it was quite nice.

By this time she had seen the eaves of the hall, so she quickened her pace.

All the exhaustion she had endured before felt like it was all worth it when she reached the summit and entered the main hall to pray. Amelia Nian knelt on the cushion, looking at the kind-looking Bodhisattva, and prayed earnestly for the health of her family and for the major general to be able to stand up.

Afterwards, Amelia Nian went to find the master in the temple and spent a lot of money to light an eternal lamp for Ethan Gu, praying that he would live a long and healthy life.

It was already noon when we came out of the temple.

The sun rises high in the sky, and its golden light shines on the white snow, giving off a crystal clear luster.

On the way to Pingdi to take the carriage, Amelia Nian suddenly had an idea: "Toby A, do you know how to make a birthday gift?"

Toby A was using a branch to poke a snowball hanging on a branch. After hearing what Amelia Nian said, he used too much force and the falling snowball hit her in the face.

A crisp laugh was heard, and Ah Fu wiped the snow off his face and said dryly, "Girl, it's too difficult to be the birthday god. Didn't you like rabbits in previous years?" Who can make a snowman or a birthday god?

"Good luck!" Amelia Nian walked up to her, wiped the remaining snow particles on her cheeks, and coaxed her softly, "Then let's try to pinch the gourd on the cane of the birthday star first?"

Toby A's eyes lit up. That's fine.

So the master and servant squatted down and dug the snow by the roadside.

... Clara Su was used to such scenes. She calmly walked towards the carriage parked on the ground not far away. She thought that her hands would get cold later, so she brought a hand warmer.

Just as she took the hand warmer, she heard children laughing, followed by screams. When Clara Su turned around, she saw a figure rushing towards Amelia Nian. He was running so fast that he couldn't stop, and his face was full of panic.

In front of Amelia Nian and Toby A was a hillside.

The road is so narrow that it will knock people off the mountain in the next moment.

"Girl, be careful!" Clara Su was so frightened that she threw the hand warmer and rushed over, but she was too late.

Just when the young man was about to bump into Amelia Nian, Toby A, who was concentrating on pinching the snow, quickly grabbed Amelia Nian, stood up, used himself as a cushion, and pulled Amelia Nian heavily against a cypress tree beside him.

The moment the snow fell, a figure flashed before their eyes and rushed down the hillside. After rolling a few times, he crashed into a tree below and lost consciousness.

After Clara Su cleaned the snow off Amelia Nian, she slowly came back to her senses and looked at the tiny figure at the bottom of the hill. "Clara Su, go to the temple and find someone to save him."

"Someone has already gone to look for it. It's cold outside. Please get in the carriage first, young lady."

At this time, Toby A came over and spread out his hands to show Amelia Nian with a very aggrieved look. The snow gourd he had just made was cracked.

"No pity, we'll do it when we get home."

"Um!"

The master and servant got on the carriage heartlessly. Clara Su sighed slightly and looked at the place where the young man had just rushed down. The slope was a bit steep, but it wasn't so steep that it was hard to control.

But the girl never left the house and had never offended anyone.