Chapter 6: Proposing Marriage with Money

When Bai Shao posed this question, he answered nervously with eyes as red as two lanterns: "Orange lamp shellfish."

However, which of these three dishes is her favorite? He was troubled for an entire night and drew lots just before leaving.

"Step back." A melodious voice, reminiscent of a nightingale, emerged from behind the beaded curtain, as if Miss Yun was not at all angry. Young Master Du quickly covered his head, drenched in cold sweat, and retreated in fear and trepidation, filled with lingering dread

Before long, she took out a piece of paper and handed it to the steward, Yun Qi

Wrong

The leader Wan leaned against the wall, walking out of the room with a heavy heart.

But...! How could he know?! He is neither the cook of the governor's mansion nor someone close to Miss Yun

The butler Yunqi appeared and recounted the seemingly rumor-like message in front of everyone, and then the voting began

The leader Wan twitched his mouth and, supporting himself on the table, asked: "What has changed? What question has been changed?"

At this moment, a delicate hand holding a Xue Tao note emerged from behind the beaded curtain

However, the truth of this news remains uncertain, and the public is still skeptical.

He asked with a mournful expression: "Can we change the topic"

five thousand taels

At that moment, a delicate jade hand emerged from behind the beaded curtain, with the fingertips playfully lifting a piece of Xue Tao paper adorned with an orchid painting. Wan Jingliu felt a tightness in his throat; he had never seen such a beautiful hand before

Yun Fei playfully laughed: "I never intended to find a husband among these people. I would never marry a man who seeks power and influence"

The next day, the entrance of the provincial governor's office was still crowded with people, but there were significantly fewer individuals depositing silver notes into the mailbox. This was because the issue from the previous day had quickly spread throughout Jingzhou. After much discussion and analysis, it was determined that the problem was indeed quite tricky. As a result, many individuals of lesser strength chose to merely watch the spectacle, while those with substantial resources were eager to take on the challenge, such as Wan Jingliu, the leader of the Cang Gang, who had rushed in from afar overnight.

Bai Shao sighed, "If the young lady poses such a question that could make one vomit blood and die, I fear that she will not find a suitable husband even next year"

Suddenly, the crowd became agitated; this matter was indeed true

Bai Shao took the Xue Tao note, unfolded it and glanced at it, then said to Du Tianyou: "If my young lady and your esteemed mother both fell into the water at the same time, which one would you save first?"

Fuling gracefully walked to the table, lifted the red cloth covering the golden silk nanmu box, revealing several hundred envelopes, each containing varying amounts of silver notes. She picked up the box and walked into the governor's residence.

Goodness. Fuling's eyes widened in astonishment, her mouth agape. If she had known that there were a total of seventy-four thousand six hundred taels of silver notes in this box, she would probably have dropped her two eyeballs in shock

Seeing the faces of those who desire power yet are reluctant to part with their wealth, Yun Fei, behind the beaded curtain, felt a sense of boredom and wanted to yawn

The anxious Meng Jingwei hurriedly squeezed in, beaming with a smile, and said: "My mother has passed away, so this issue does not exist."

Yan Qingshao and others were taken aback, but Bai Shao remained completely still, not even blinking an eye

At the hour of Chen, the main gate of the governor's residence slowly opened, and first came out a group of soldiers armed with swords and blades, standing in a neat line along the governor's gate

Bai Shao's complexion was so cold it seemed about to freeze: "I am sorry, I cannot."

He felt inexplicably nervous, uncertain whether today's gamble would bring him good fortune

Fuling looked at the golden silk nanmu box and curiously asked, "Miss, how many silver notes did the first place winner, Young Master Du, actually bid?"

In the dimly lit room, a subtle fragrance wafted through the air. In front of a sandalwood coffee table stood a tall and upright young man, with handsome brows and bright eyes, exuding a heroic demeanor. He was Song Jingyu, the lieutenant of the Zhao Wu Academy, who specialized in teaching Yun Cong martial arts.

Doctor Li, in a state of distress, clutched his heart and liver as he exited the living room

This seemingly rumor-like news was directly stated by the steward Yun Qi of the provincial governor's office, and it certainly cannot be dismissed as baseless. Consequently, within just one day, the entire city of Jingzhou, including women, children, and the elderly, was almost universally aware of it. All the tea houses, taverns, and inns along the streets were nearly all discussing this topic.

Outside the main gate, there was a sea of people, creating a cacophony of noise, with two main topics of discussion. One was speculating on how much silver might be in the golden silk nanmu box, while the other topic was whether these three gentlemen would be able to answer Miss Yun's questions this time.

The next day, before dawn, a long queue had already formed in front of the governor's office. By the time it was nearly the hour of Chen, almost half of the unmarried men in Jingzhou had gathered here, surrounding the four streets around the governor's office so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through, as solid as a fortress

If both your father and the young lady fell into the water at the same time, whom would you save first

The butler approached with a worried expression and said, "Miss, I beg you not to set up a stall tomorrow." If the master finds out about this matter, will he be so furious as to resort to violence? Of course, he wouldn't harm his own daughter, but it is uncertain whether he might take it out on others to vent his anger. He had spent the entire night worrying and unable to sleep, but once the governor left, the estate was under the control of this young lady. Whatever she wished to do, the servants had no choice but to comply.

Song Jingyu, with a cold expression and an aura of menace, crushed the cup in his hand with a bang. Then, with a flick of his fingertips, like the wind blowing through the night snow, the white porcelain powder drifted down from the gaps between his fingers, settling on the gleaming floor tiles like a layer of white frost

The second person to enter was Dr. Li. Last night, he spent one hundred taels of silver to buy an envelope from Uncle Qi, which contained the question Miss Yun wanted to ask. He immediately set out to inquire about who the chef of the governor's residence was, and spent more silver to bribe the chef's family. After much effort and with great difficulty, he managed to find out the three dishes that Yun Fei most frequently ate, which were orange shell clam meat, matsutake pigeon, and crab roe tofu

The two answers just given were both incorrect, and Lord Meng truly did not know how to respond. In the end, he walked away, holding his head in pain against the wall, his heart aching as if it were about to shatter. The three thousand taels of silver in that envelope had thus been wasted in vain, without even a splash to be seen.

Everyone was eagerly waiting, and then two soldiers brought out a table smaller than a fortune teller's stall, on which there was nothing but a smooth, empty surface with a golden silk nanmu wooden box placed on it

Yun Fei chuckled and said: "Seventh Uncle, the question for tomorrow is, what dish do I like to eat the most? Hurry up and sell the question, seal it in an envelope, one hundred taels of silver each, and then we will split the money later"

Du Tianyou did not expect the problem to be so simple, and he felt a sense of relief. Without a moment's hesitation, he replied: "Of course, it is Miss Yun."

Clearly, behind the beaded curtain, the owner of this jade hand is Miss Yun. The Xue Tao note she handed over contains the question she wishes to ask

"No, you can rest assured," Yun Fei said with a smile, "The chefs in the kitchen can also make a little extra money on the side, yes, that's good, everyone can earn some money."

Bai Shao took the Xue Tao note, glanced at the question, and coldly asked him: "Do you know what dish my young lady likes to eat the most?"

Bai Shao looked at him coldly, suddenly revealing a mocking sneer: "Your esteemed mother has raised you with great difficulty, yet you stand by and do nothing in the face of death. A person who is heartless, soulless, and ungrateful like you is absolutely not someone my young lady would marry. Please leave."

Who knows that the governor only has this one daughter. It is said that her beauty is exceptional and her intelligence surpasses that of others. Moreover, the most crucial point is that Yun Dingquan currently holds significant military power and is the overlord of Chu. Marrying the governor's daughter would be a meteoric rise to prominence.

Yun Fei opened her mouth and forcefully swallowed the yawn back.

At this moment, the last participant of the day walked in from outside

He secured the top position with five thousand taels of silver and was the first to enter the side hall

At this moment, a young girl, around sixteen or seventeen years old, gracefully stepped out from the main entrance.

In his despair, he ordered a dish: "Steamed Mandarin Fish?" The waters of Jingzhou are abundant, and Miss Yun should enjoy eating fish

Standing at the forefront, Du Tianyou has the clearest view

The chaotic crowd suddenly fell silent

Yan Qingshao wanted to say a few more words, but he was met with a cold, sharp gaze from Song Jingyu, which forced him to leave dejectedly.

Miss, Uncle Qi wore a painful expression as if he were suffering from constipation, hesitating to speak.

Bai Shao coldly asked: "Is your esteemed father still alive?"

The Du family is almost considered the richest in Jingzhou, and no one has ever dared to speak to the young master Du Tianyou in such a manner, especially not a maid. The proud and arrogant Du Tianyou was infuriated and, in a fit of impulsiveness, picked up a celadon cup from the tea table and threw it at Bai Shao's face

The delicate little hand, pure and flawless, with fingertips as white as snow and as beautiful as jade, and the light pink nails resembling early spring cherry blossoms, was unlike any hand he had ever seen—so beautiful and exquisite. Even the Xue Tao paper appeared more elegant and refined when placed upon this slender jade hand, as if it emanated a faint, subtle fragrance

Indeed not, she is Fuling, the maid beside Su Qingmei

Yun Fei held a small box and sighed softly: "What problem should arise tomorrow?"

Du Tianyou, Yan Qingshao, and Meng Jingwei entered the governor's office in succession

Just as the cup was about to hit her head, a hand suddenly reached out from the side and firmly caught the cup

This small box is like a magic box that serves as a catalyst for inspiration; it appears ordinary and unremarkable, yet it instantly becomes the focal point of everyone's attention

Bai Shao shot him a cold glance and said, "I apologize, let's change the topic."

Indeed. Yun Fei smiled charmingly and walked out of the living room

Bai Shao had not yet spoken when he could no longer contain his excitement and said: "All of us in the family can swim, including the servants and the cook, even the dog can swim. If Miss Yun unfortunately falls into the water, at least fifty people will jump in simultaneously to rescue her, ensuring absolute safety! Hahaha..."

Du Tianyou suddenly realized that this was the governor's mansion, and even as a mere maid, he could not afford to offend her. Even if he were the wealthiest man in Jingzhou, if the governor decided to annihilate his entire family, it would merely take a command to accomplish it

At.

The leader Wan slapped his thigh

The residence in Jingzhou City, which is heavily guarded, is silent upon entry, and the tall trees add to its solemnity. The three individuals entered the side hall on the west side. It remained as quiet as if no one were present.

Setting up a stall! Yunfei, holding a small box, laughed so hard that she could hardly catch her breath. After finishing her laughter, she supported her waist and asked seriously, "Uncle Qi, do you want to get rich?"

Bai Shao turned her face, revealing a countenance as beautiful as peach and plum blossoms, yet as cold as frost

Uncle Qi was almost in tears: "Miss, the master will surely kill someone when he returns"

Thus, he hurriedly knelt down to plead for forgiveness, trembling as he slapped himself twice on the face

After laughing, he looked at Fu Ling and then at Bai Shao, these two beauties, which one is Miss Yun? It doesn't matter which one, as long as she is the daughter of the governor, even Zhu Bajie could take her home

At the hour of Chen tomorrow, a wooden box will be placed in front of the governor's office. Any unmarried man may place a banknote sealed in an envelope into the box. Based on the denomination of the banknotes, the top three men will qualify to answer a question from the governor's eldest daughter. As long as they can provide the correct answer, regardless of their appearance, age, or family background, Miss Yun will marry that person.

The result was that Bai Shao, cold and unfeeling, replied with just one word: "Wrong"

Even the maids are so beautiful, yet one cannot help but wonder how extraordinary Miss Yun must be, possessing a beauty that could topple nations and cities. Thus, everyone could not help but feel a deeper sense of admiration and curiosity towards this young lady of the governor's residence.

Behind the tea table, there sat a woman dressed in a light golden garment, turned sideways towards the half-draped pearl curtain. Her face was not visible, but the silhouette of her cloud-like black hair, delicate shoulders, and slender waist was exceedingly graceful and beautiful

Yun Qinian mentioned three names: Du Tianyou, the young master of the Chang'an Bank; Yan Qingshao, the owner of the silk shop; and Meng Jingwei, the salt merchant

This question is simply too easy

The timid Yan Qingshao stepped forward trembling and said, "I will save my mother first"

Of course, the more silver, the better, since her father won't be back for a few days. Every time her mother takes out money, it is when her father smiles at her most gently. Therefore, Yun Fei is absolutely certain that when she places one hundred thousand taels of silver in front of him, no matter how angry he is, it will all dissipate.

Du Tianyou stepped forward two paces, clasped his hands in salute, and said: "I am Du Tianyou from the Chang'an Bank."

Certainly not, how could Miss Yun possibly show her face

Although the preliminary selection has concluded, the onlookers have not dispersed. The crowd watches as the three selected men follow the beautiful girl named Fuling into the governor's mansion, filled with both envy and jealousy

I ... ... I ... ...

Bai Shao nodded slightly, but immediately added: "My young lady is looking for a husband who is utterly devoted to her, a man who would not save her even when she is drowning. I apologize, but I cannot see you off."

She wore a light grass-green spring gown, resembling spring flowers, with a figure like a soft willow. A pair of bright, water-like eyes turned gently, as if they had seen everyone, yet seemed to have seen no one, like a hint of spring light that is clear yet cloudy.

Yun Fei emerged from behind the beaded curtain, holding a small wooden box made of golden silk nanmu.

The next day, the entire city of Jingzhou was in an uproar. This was due to a shocking piece of news that had emerged from the governor's office.

There are whispers: "Is this divine figure Miss Yun?"

Fuling was taken aback: "Miss, do you have an exam tomorrow?"

With hearts racing like in a gamble, the crowd formed a long line, each person dropping their prepared envelopes into the wooden box to take a chance at luck. Finally, the last envelope was placed into the golden silk nanmu box, and the soldier standing by the table covered the box with a red cloth

It is indeed strange that the originally vibrant and beautiful Poria and white peony, upon her arrival, unknowingly and quietly lost their luster. When her eyes shifted, it seemed as if all the fragrance of the room was concentrated in her gaze

No one was selected, and I began to feel the pain of losing the money I had spent. Dr. Li from the Xinglin Medical Clinic placed a 500 tael silver note in the envelope, thinking victory was assured. However, to my surprise, I didn't even touch the edge of third place, and I regretted it so much that I felt like my insides were turning blue.