Since Li Xia agreed, Wang Yongzhu naturally wanted to fulfill the request.

Jian Huaifeng was invited, and he was full of gratitude, promptly saying he would prepare the betrothal gift and formally get married with the three matchmakers and six ceremonies.

By the time Jian Huaifeng came out, most of the people at the mansion and the county yamen already knew. When they saw him, they came forward with smiling faces to congratulate him. Some were resentful and said a few sour remarks, but Jian Huaifeng just ignored them.

Anyway, in a few days, he would have his beloved wife by his side, and no matter how much sour talk those people said, they could only watch hopelessly.

So, he didn’t mind at all and joyfully invited everyone present to be sure to come and have a cup of wedding wine on his wedding day.

Jian Huaifeng was a meticulous person and soon invited a matchmaker over while also having someone clean up a small courtyard he had bought nearby years ago; after marriage, naturally, he could no longer live at the county yamen.

News at the county yamen circulated quickly, and soon everyone knew in the back courtyard. Not only was Jian Huaifeng tidying up that small courtyard, but he also bought a few maids and grannies; once Li Xia was married, she would become the mistress of the house.

After all, Jian Huaifeng, at worst, was also a graduate; Li Xia indeed had good fortune, soon to become a graduate’s wife.

Wang Yongzhu didn’t wait for Jian Huaifeng to mention it but had someone bring out Li Xia’s contract early to the front county yamen to cancel it, showing it to Li Xia personally.

Li Xia immediately knelt down, knocked her head several times in gratitude to Wang Yongzhu, unable to hold back tears.

From then on, Wang Yongzhu wouldn’t let Li Xia serve at the front but only allowed her to stay in the back room, peacefully embroidering her dowry while waiting to get married.

Those who had good relations with her pooled together to arrange a table of drinks to congratulate her.

On the day before the wedding, Wang Yongzhu prepared a dowry for Li Xia: a set of gold headdress ornaments, fifty taels of silver, and several pieces of fine silk, more generous than most families’ daughters.

Then the people below joined in and gave gifts to add to the dowry, including hairpins, bracelets, or pouches and shoes, among other things.

These things, along with the betrothal gifts that Jian Huaifeng sent in, Wang Yongzhu delivered intact to Li Xia, all serving as the dowry.

On the day for displaying the dowry, it turned out Li Xia had sixteen loads of dowry, which looked quite presentable.

On the wedding day, Jian Huaifeng dressed up for the occasion, shaved cleanly, wore a crimson wedding robe, regaining some of his youthful charm; though not extraordinarily handsome, he was elegant and refined.

He asked Yao Da, Shitou, and some guards under Song Chongjin’s command to organize the wedding, which turned out quite lively.

A flowing feast was laid out in the courtyard all day; people from the county yamen above and below, as well as scholars and merchants, all came.

Lame Li was particularly well-dressed today, staying by Jian Huaifeng’s side to assist him in receiving guests.

As the banquet commenced, Song Chongjin came to sit for a while before returning, as he had many matters to attend to; being able to come even briefly was already quite rare.

Old Granny Zhang and Wang Yongzhu were busy entertaining the female guests in the back, returning only after half a day.

Back at the county yamen, they hadn’t rested when Song Chongjin returned from the front with an unpleasant expression, holding a letter.

Old Granny Zhang had already gone to lie down, and Wang Yongzhu hurried forward upon seeing him: "What’s wrong?"

Song Chongjin handed her the letter: "Qi Le has sent a letter!"

Wang Yongzhu raised an eyebrow, took the letter, and upon reading it, was amused.

The letter didn’t say much, only that the news of Prince Bayar’s disappearance couldn’t be concealed anymore from the grassland side and had reached Qi Le directly.

When Qi Le investigated, she found out that Bayar had secretly come to Great Chu.

There’s been no news for so many days, combined with Chicheng County’s recent strict crackdown and lockdown, presumably Qi Le’s spies couldn’t get the messages out, causing a delay.

Perhaps Chicheng County loosened a bit recently, allowing the news to reach Qi Le, who only then learned of Bayar’s injury and capture.

Between the lines in the letter, it was clear she wanted Song Chongjin to release Prince Bayar back.

After reading the letter, Wang Yongzhu laughed and said: "Our Queen Ah Lan sure has a thick skin, wishful thinking indeed! Just wants to rely on this single letter to have us release Bayar back? Dream on!"

Song Chongjin sneered: "Apparently, Bayar’s parents are heavily relied upon by Qi Le, or she wouldn’t be in such a hurry to write me! You must know, once the rebellion in the Capital City subsides and Lord Qin returns, they’ll likely discuss the first batch of trade caravans entering the grasslands."

"By then, if the grasslands bring it up, we could easily send Bayar back or use him as a bargaining chip. But Qi Le cannot wait even a bit, she must be under significant pressure!" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

From Song Chongjin’s expression, Wang Yongzhu knew he had a plan in mind, "What do you plan to do?"

Song Chongjin dismissed it: "Seems there’s still much to be extracted from Prince Bayar! I’ve already given the order to treat him well!"

"As for Qi Le, although her true intent is unclear, she ultimately has a request of me, so she shouldn’t turn hostile for now. Ignoring her is best! The more anxious she gets, the better!" Saying this, he smiled meaningfully.

Seeing Song Chongjin was assured, Wang Yongzhu didn’t inquire further.

But she recalled something; the last time she returned from Yunzhong County, she intended to discuss the strange valley map with Song Chongjin.

Yet upon returning, there were so many matters, she didn’t get the chance to discuss it thoroughly.

Currently, the mention of Qi Le reminded Wang Yongzhu of it, and she hurriedly retrieved the valley map, sharing her suspicions: "Listening to our people sent to find the gold mine describe it, remembering Ma Erbao’s words, now I suspect, is this valley the very one where Ma Erbao encountered Qi Le?"

Upon hearing this, Song Chongjin’s expression changed, he lowered his head to scrutinize the valley map again and again, pointed to the strange characters imprinted there, asking: "What are these?"

Wang Yongzhu shook her head: "I feel they resemble a kind of script but cannot be certain!"

Strangely, ever since she saw this valley map, she had been trying to contact Chen Xing, but to no avail; this had never happened before.

Uncertain if Chen Xing was facing trouble or some other reason.

If possible, having Chen Xing scan the map and those strange characters would be best; if not, she intended going to the valley herself, letting Chen Xing scan again, which might yield new discoveries.

But now unable to contact him, they had to rely on their analysis alone.

Song Chongjin studied the characters for half a day but couldn’t discern them, deciding to abandon the effort.

After pondering for a moment, he finally said: "We’ll put this aside for now; once the weather warms, we’ll find a way to visit the site and see if we uncover anything. Coincidentally, Mr. Jian is getting married, I’ve given him half a month’s leave; these days his work might be busier than usual, if I return late, you needn’t wait for me for dinner!"

Wang Yongzhu nodded and brought up Jian Huaifeng’s wedding today, after a while sighing: "Come to think of it, those who followed us, each had their outcomes, Prefect Yu was executed after autumn, Mr. Jian has avenged his great hatred. With the Duke’s Mansion falling, Yao Da and Shitou can be at peace for their deceased loved ones!"

They, as a couple, ultimately didn’t let down the expectations of these people!