Chapter 1733 – The Marriage Proposal
Yang Si naturally couldn’t keep these matters hidden from Jiang Pengji.
After all, Nong Qin was her number one fan, nearly leaving no secrets to be kept!
As soon as Yang Si received the family letter, Jiang Pengji got a follow-up greeting letter from her biggest fan, which was twice as thick and felt quite substantial in her hands. Nong Qin more or less revealed her little plan and subtly sought advice.
Regardless of Yang Tao’s current status, he was once a lord, and while a marriage to a common noble family could be dismissed, it was a whole different story when it involved two of Jiang Pengji’s important military and civil confidants. In a way, this engagement carried political implications.
If a marriage is to be arranged, approval from their lord must be sought.
Once the leader gave the nod, the engagement would be set in motion.
Jiang Pengji teased Yang Si, “In this world, who would dare treat Zheng Ze’s son as a childhood betrothed—except for you two lovebirds?”
Yang Si’s eyes lit up at the word “couple,” clearly thrilled but pretending to be reserved.
“There have always been childhood brides; where are childhood grooms to be found…” Yang Si remarked, “If this word reaches General Yang’s ears, it may turn a match into hostility. But… upon reflection, it is indeed a good match; it seems Zheng Ze is the one at a disadvantage.”
“What do you mean disadvantage?”
Jiang Pengji laughed, “With you and Nong Qin, could he really be any worse off than you two?”
“In my view, it seems he is benefiting,” Yang Si countered.
Based on the perspectives of this era, the engagement was undoubtedly Yang Si climbing the social ladder.
If one were to analyze it carefully, the results could be interpreted differently.
Yang Tao’s advantages were evident, as were his shortcomings, the biggest of which was his identity.
Even if Jiang Pengji didn’t mind his past and was intent on utilizing him, others would still approach Yang Tao with caution, discreetly undermining him, while Yang Tao himself would have to temper his ambitions. He could command troops but could never be the top general, perpetually overshadowed by a more formidable military general above him.
For instance, in the past life’s military ranking, bolstered by backing from the noble families, Yang Tao was highly regarded as a top general.
But the results left many baffled.
Yang Tao ranked fifth, with the top spot going to the low-born, infamous Fu Wang.
This outcome not only relieved several court officials but also eased Yang Tao and his circle of companions.
Showing off must be done at the right time and in the right context; some shows of brilliance could not only be fruitless but even fatal.
Ranking fifth on the military general list was a decent position—not too noticeable, with a guarantee of safety, and there was still some consolation behind the scenes.
The same situation applied this time around.
Jiang Pengji was unbothered, yet Yang Tao had to take notice.
If Yang Tao was a specialized student, then Nong Qin and Yang Si were well-rounded in their development.
Yang Si was Jiang Pengji’s trusted strategist, destined for a prominent position, at the very least securing a noble title.
Nong Qin needed no further mention; the current scale and influence of the female troops could be traced back to her painstaking efforts.
As the top officer among the female soldiers, in terms of military authority and influence, she only fell second to the commander Fu Wang, dominating other generals. She could easily shine on the frontlines and excel in logistics, with the wounded camps being her domain—did the connections she amassed come from nowhere?
Over the years, there had been no less than two hundred thousand female soldiers joining and retiring.
Among these two hundred thousand soldiers, the one they revered first was their lord Jiang Pengji, and second was General Nong Qin, the top brass.
This couple, combining civil and military spheres, had political influence far beyond simple addition.
As for their backgrounds…
Yang Si and Nong Qin both came from humble beginnings, surely not comparable to Yang Tao’s noble heritage.
However—
Given enough time, Jiang Pengji would completely shift the era’s values, which judged a person’s worth based on lineage and family status. By the time that happened, without the halo of noble birth, facing this couple, it would be hard to determine who was trying to climb the social ladder.
Yang Si laughed, “I am certainly on par with General Jiang.”
Jiang Pengji casually flipped through the documents on the table, seemingly nonchalantly asking, “What’s Zheng Ze’s stance on this marriage proposal?”
After pondering for a moment, Yang Si sighed, “General Yang doesn’t have any particular thoughts, just somewhat envious of the ties between Ziyu and Huaiyu’s families, and impulsively decided on this marriage. But that Yan Shaoyang, he sure has a lot of convoluted thoughts…”
Jiang Pengji couldn’t help but tease, “You and Shaoyang are overthinking it.”
Yang Si looked a bit awkward.
This was a case of profession-related paranoia; no wonder they were like that.
Jiang Pengji added, “Zheng Ze is straightforward, but Shaoyang isn’t someone easy to deal with; his mind twists and turns like a serpentine path. His lack of opposition and active support probably comes down to his admiration for Nong Qin’s standing in the military and mine here—”
To sum it up in one line:
“Haha, it looks like only Nong Qin and Zheng Ze see this engagement as childhood betrothed.”
If the two families did become in-laws, as long as Yang Tao didn’t act recklessly, it would essentially come with a get-out-of-jail-free card.
Yang Tao’s connection with Nong Qin as family would indirectly signal his position to Jiang Pengji, putting her at ease.
That was the core essence of this politically motivated childhood engagement.
Pity that while Yang Si and Yan Lin were racking their brains, Yang Tao and Nong Qin were being straightforward, going all in.
The former thrilled at gaining a daughter-in-law, knowing he wouldn’t have to worry about his son’s marriage in the future, while the latter was pleased with her daughter having a childhood betrothed, dreaming of nurturing a romance that would suit her heart’s desire.
【The poor path looks at you with suspicion】: Only Rong’er and Shaoyang are seriously plotting; the rest of the teammates are just grazing through.
【Moonshadow Wandering】: I also want a partner who lets me easily win, a golden leg to lean on.
“The lord has no objections, so this marriage proposal is settled.”
“In my view, it’s most important for both children to be smitten with each other, or they might turn into a resentful couple later.”
Yang Si gave Jiang Pengji an odd glance, seeming surprised that she could have such a sentimental and naive side.
“At this time, blind marriages are rampant; to know your groom or bride before marriage is quite rare. If the children grow up together, their childhood affection surpasses that of ordinary couples, so how could they become resentful?”
Yang Si’s and Jiang Pengji’s thinking was on different planes.
Jiang Pengji snorted, “Times are changing, and so will ideas. Your thoughts may well become outdated in twenty to thirty years.”
Yang Si replied, “Relevance to the times is most important.”
Advanced concepts in an irrelevant context are bound to fail.
No matter what the future holds, Yang Si’s current ideas align with the trends; there’s nothing wrong with that.
“What about Zixiao?”
Yang Si answered, “Don’t you recall, Lord? You agreed to his request and reassigned him to Wanzhou?”
Jiang Pengji paused, exasperated, “I only agreed yesterday, and he’s already itching to escape today?”
One can escape the first of the month, but not the fifteenth.
Did he really think the affairs in Wanzhou were any easier than here in Nansheng?
