Chapter 21: Betrothal Gifts
"Chenghan understands." Jiang Chenghan nodded, but he did not leave immediately. Instead, he asked Jiang Shi, "Madam, do you happen to know how much betrothal gifts are typically given by families marrying into a household of the Duke of Anguo's status?"
Jiang Shi pondered for a moment before replying, "The Duke of Anguo is a first-rank duke, and there are only a handful of families in the court of similar standing. Among them, the Duke of Yue's household recently married off their daughter. Though the groom was not from a ducal family, he was still from a noble lineage. Aside from the wedding cakes, tea, wine, livestock, seafood, jewelry, silks, and other miscellaneous items, the betrothal money alone amounted to six thousand taels."
Hearing this, Jiang Chenghan inwardly sighed in relief. Though it was still a considerable sum, he could manage it at present. With this in mind, he said to Jiang Shi, "In that case, I shall also prepare six thousand six hundred taels for the betrothal money. The rest will follow accordingly—I must not let the Second Young Master Yan suffer any indignity. Also, I thank you for your kindness, madam, but I do not wish to trouble you too much. I plan to rent another courtyard for the wedding."
The silver he had on hand was limited, and after covering the wedding expenses, little would remain. Buying a house in the capital was out of the question, but since a wedding was a significant event, he felt it improper to use someone else's residence without compensation. Moreover, Jiang Shi would surely refuse any payment, so it was better to rent a separate courtyard himself.
Jiang Shi had no objections to Jiang Chenghan renting another courtyard—after all, it was his own affair, and he could decide for himself. However, she was taken aback when he casually agreed to provide over six thousand taels for the betrothal money.
This was only the betrothal money. Adding the other gifts, the rental of the courtyard, and the expenses for the wedding and miscellaneous matters, the total would likely amount to seven or eight thousand taels.
Even for her, producing such a large sum of ready silver would require careful planning and was no easy feat. Yet Jiang Chenghan showed no sign of hesitation, as if he could produce the money effortlessly. This made Jiang Shi realize that she might have underestimated Jiang Chenghan in the past.
Jiang Chenghan and Kou Shijun both noticed Jiang Shi's surprise. While Jiang Chenghan remained silent, Kou Shijun, who had been sitting quietly, chuckled and said, "Madam, you may not know this, but though this lad usually keeps to himself, he’s actually quite wealthy."
Jiang Chenghan smiled. There were certain matters he kept private for personal reasons, but he had never hidden anything from Kou Shijun, who was well aware of his financial standing.
"Really?" Jiang Shi naturally trusted her husband's words and was somewhat curious, but she had no habit of prying into others' private affairs. She merely said, "That’s just as well. With such betrothal gifts, you’ll be able to hold your head high even among the elite of the capital. The Duke of Anguo’s household likely wouldn’t have expected this."
Jiang Chenghan said nothing. His willingness to provide such gifts was not for the sake of appearances or to earn others' respect, but simply because he did not wish to let Yan Jingshu suffer any hardship after marrying him. While he would not stretch beyond his means, he would give Yan Jingshu everything he could, at the very least to show his sincerity and reassure him.
With the two most important matters settled, the rest would be easier. Without delay, Jiang Shi decided to visit the Duke of Anguo’s household the next day to discuss the marriage between Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu with the Duchess of Anguo. Meanwhile, Jiang Chenghan would be accompanied by the general’s steward to procure the betrothal gifts and other necessary items for the wedding.
However, before setting out to make purchases, he first left the mansion alone and headed to an inn in the Western Market District. Upon inquiring with the innkeeper, he learned that the person he sought had left early in the morning and had not yet returned.
Jiang Chenghan did not leave immediately. He ordered two small dishes and decided to wait. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before the person he was waiting for arrived.
"Brother Jiang?" Xi Muyuan spotted Jiang Chenghan the moment he stepped into the dimly lit common area of the humble inn. Tall and striking, Jiang Chenghan stood out even in the shabby surroundings.
"You’re back just in time." Having finished his meal, Jiang Chenghan stood up and said to Xi Muyuan, "There’s something I need to tell you. Let’s find a quiet place."
Xi Muyuan had rented a shared dormitory in the inn. Though it wasn’t particularly clean, it was cheap. However, it wasn’t a suitable place for conversation, especially since Jiang Chenghan wanted to discuss financial matters.
"Very well. Follow me, Brother Jiang." After a moment’s thought, Xi Muyuan led Jiang Chenghan out of the inn.
A hundred paces north of the inn stood a teahouse, far more presentable than the inn, with private rooms that offered seclusion from the noisy crowds.
Once seated in the private room, Jiang Chenghan asked first, "You mentioned the other day that the furs, fabrics, medicinal herbs, and other goods you brought from Ningcheng have all been sold. These past few days, you’ve been scouting the capital for suitable goods to purchase for resale on your return trip. Have you found anything yet?"
Xi Muyuan replied, "I’ve scoured nearly every corner of the capital these past few days and found many fine goods, but the prices aren’t quite to my liking yet. I plan to keep looking. Is there something on your mind, Brother Jiang?"
Jiang Chenghan rarely inquired so closely about his business dealings, as he trusted him implicitly.
Jiang Chenghan nodded. "There is indeed something. I’m getting married."
"Married?" Xi Muyuan was first startled, then delighted. "This is wonderful news! Congratulations, Brother Jiang! May I ask which family’s daughter is the fortunate one?"
"Ah, not a daughter," Jiang Chenghan paused before continuing, "It’s the Second Young Master Yan of the Duke of Anguo’s household."
Hearing that it wasn’t a daughter, Xi Muyuan was momentarily stunned, then his jaw dropped in shock: Did I hear that right? A duke’s son?
Xi Muyuan was originally from the capital, though he had left years ago to seek his fortune elsewhere. Still, the name of the Duke of Anguo’s household was not something he could forget even after all this time. He had also heard of the Second Young Master Yan, Yan Jingshu—though a shuang’er, he was said to be exceptionally intelligent and outstanding, no less impressive than his elder brother, the heir of the Duke of Anguo.
And now, Jiang Chenghan was telling him that he was to marry Yan Jingshu and become the Duke of Anguo’s son-in-law. Xi Muyuan could hardly believe it. Though Jiang Chenghan was his savior and he had never looked down on him, Jiang Chenghan and the Duke of Anguo’s household seemed worlds apart. Moreover, Jiang Chenghan had only been in the capital for a few days—how could a marriage be arranged so quickly?
Xi Muyuan couldn’t make sense of it and couldn’t help but ask.
Jiang Chenghan, however, was reluctant to explain the truth. He merely said, "It’s a long story, and there’s no time to go into it now. We’ll talk about it another day. Right now, with the wedding approaching, I need funds for the betrothal gifts and wedding preparations. So, I’m afraid you’ll have to return from this trip to the capital empty-handed."
Jiang Chenghan’s reluctance to elaborate made Xi Muyuan suspect there might be some underlying circumstances. Though curious, he tactfully refrained from pressing further and said, "That’s no problem. I can always come back another time. I’ve already scouted most of what I needed this time, so the next trip will save me a lot of effort. As for the silver, I’ve deposited all nine thousand three hundred and fifty taels at the Longxing Bank. Would you like to accompany me to withdraw it, or shall I fetch it and deliver it to you?"
Jiang Chenghan stood up. "I’ll go with you."
Xi Muyuan naturally had no objections. The two then proceeded to the Longxing Bank, though Jiang Chenghan did not withdraw the entire sum—only eight thousand taels.
Even this was no small amount. The bank had to report it through multiple levels, and finally, after the manager personally verified Xi Muyuan’s seal and voucher, he fulfilled Jiang Chenghan’s request: thirty-three gold ingots, each weighing twenty taels, from the bank’s vault, along with ten silver notes of one hundred taels each, ten silver notes of twenty taels each, and twenty silver ingots of ten taels each.
The thirty-three gold ingots were for the betrothal money, while the silver notes and ingots were for purchasing other items.
Carrying such a large sum of gold and silver made Xi Muyuan, who was habitually cautious, fear mishaps. While Jiang Chenghan waited for the manager to count the silver notes, Xi Muyuan went to hire a carriage. Later, he personally drove the carriage, escorting Jiang Chenghan and the gold and silver back to the general’s mansion, only then feeling truly at ease.
Xi Muyuan asked if Jiang Chenghan needed any further assistance, but Jiang Chenghan said the general’s household would handle everything. Considering that the general’s household was more familiar with the capital and that no one would dare deceive Jiang Chenghan under their name, Xi Muyuan said no more. He returned to the inn to ponder how to manage the remaining thousand or so taels of silver.
Back at the general’s mansion, after storing the silver in his guest quarters, Jiang Chenghan was immediately surrounded by his fellow officers, who had learned of his impending marriage. They gave him a hard time until he promised to treat each of them to three rounds of ten-tael-per-bottle Zuihuadiao wine before finally releasing him.
Finally free, Jiang Chenghan sought out the steward. After reviewing the list of betrothal gifts and other items the steward had prepared, he halved the amount of jewelry and hairpins, replacing them with scholarly implements, gold and jade ornaments, and other such items. He then handed his birth date and time, written on a red card, to Jiang Shi for the matching of horoscopes after the formal marriage proposal.
Though the imperial decree ensured the wedding would proceed regardless of the horoscope results, the customary rituals still had to be observed.
Not wishing to keep the Duke of Anguo’s household waiting, and as the next day was an auspicious date, Jiang Shi promptly set out for the Duke of Anguo’s mansion with two carriage-loads of gifts and Jiang Chenghan’s horoscope card.
Since receiving the imperial decree, the Duke of Anguo’s household had been awaiting the arrival of Jiang Chenghan’s matchmaker. They had not expected the matchmaker to arrive so soon—and that it would be General Kou’s wife, Jiang Shi.
This forced Xie Shi, who had not taken the matter too seriously and had planned to send a maid to exchange horoscope cards and return the courtesy gifts, to treat the matter with greater gravity. After freshening up her attire, she personally came out to receive Jiang Shi.
While Jiang Shi acted as matchmaker, negotiating the horoscope matching and betrothal gifts for Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu with the Duke of Anguo’s household, Jiang Chenghan, accompanied by the general’s steward, began procuring the necessary betrothal gifts in the capital.
Perishable items like wedding cakes and livestock would be purchased closer to the betrothal date, but other items such as fruit wine, tea, sugar, jewelry, silks, gold and jade ornaments, and curios could be bought in advance.
Three days later, the horoscope results came in. To both families’ surprise, the match was deemed supremely auspicious—a union made in heaven, perfectly suited for one another.
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