The Fuyou Street was bustling, with everyone watching as Chen Ji mounted a horse and left with Zhang Xia, leaving Qi Zhaoning behind in the heavy snow.

However, the two of them and the horse were stopped by a woman at the end of Fuyou Street.

When the words "foolishness" exploded on Fuyou Street, everyone fell silent for a moment before the crowd erupted: "Who is that woman? She's dressed so elegantly."

Someone in the crowd explained, "That is the wife of Zhang Zhuo, the Minister of Personnel. She is the niece of Official Xu, and the mother of the Second Miss Zhang, Xu Yihong."

A man whispered, "I've seen her at the running hall gatherings. The official wives all revolve around her."

Mrs. Zhang's upper garment was made of Kesi silk, with the patterns only visible when it moved in the daylight, revealing a symmetrical and harmonious cloud pattern. Around her waist was a crow-blue colored sash, and on it hung a white jade belt hook, pure and warm like congealed fat.

Amidst the commotion, Chen Ji observed Mrs. Zhang, noting that her warm boots and the hem of her upper garment were soaked by the snow, and there was no cloak draped over her, suggesting she had come in a hurry.

At that moment, a young maid hurried over from a distance, draped a black mink fur cloak over Mrs. Zhang, and raised an oiled paper umbrella to shield her from the heavy snow.

Standing under the oiled paper umbrella five steps away, Mrs. Zhang glared at Zhang Xia: "Am I not your mother anymore? I have to hear from others about you getting married."

Zhang Xia whispered, "Mother, let's discuss this when we get home..."

Mrs. Zhang pushed aside the umbrella, stepped onto the snowy ground, and slowly walked forward: "If you dare to have someone marry you in public, why can't I speak publicly?"

Chen Ji took a deep breath and was about to speak, but Mrs. Zhang shot him a glance as sharp as a knife: "I'm asking my daughter, it's not your turn to speak!"

Chen Ji was speechless.

Zhang Xia bowed her head: "Mother, let me decide for myself."

Mrs. Zhang stood still in front of Zaozao, looking up at Zhang Xia: "For years, matchmakers have beaten a path to the Zhang family door, from affluent families like the Yang family to noble yet poor ones, have I ever looked at them twice? I just wanted you to take your time and choose someone you like. But the one you like must also like you."

Chen Ji spoke up: "Madam, I..."

Mrs. Zhang's gaze cut across like a knife: "Did I let you speak?"

She turned to Zhang Xia: "Now that you've chosen, tell me, you secretly ran to Guyuan for him, and then secretly to Chongli Pass. You did so much for him, but what has he done for you?"

Zhang Xia lowered her head and remained silent for a long time: "Mother, during the battle at Dragon King Village, if it weren't for him, I would have died in Luocheng City."

Mrs. Zhang said sternly: "That was for Bai Li, not for you!"

Zhang Xia continued: "During Liu Family's rebellion, he donned Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry's armor and went to Prince Jing Mansion to save father. If not for him, father might have died at the hands of the Liu Family."

Mrs. Zhang was taken aback.

It was the first time she heard of this incident. On that day, Zhang Zhuo was taken by the Liu family, and everyone at Zhang Mansion was on edge, but eventually, Zhang Zhuo returned unscathed, though he never disclosed how he managed to do so.

Zhang Xia went on: "Outside Chongli Pass, people only know that I, Zhang Xia, charged through the White Tiger Festival Hall for him, but they didn't know that to protect my life, he was willing to stay as a hostage with the Jing Dynasty traitors."

She looked up at her mother: "Mother, what he has done for me is never less than what I've done for him."

Mrs. Zhang was silent for a long time: "Since you've made up your mind, I won't say much. But the marriage doesn't have to be today. A daughter of the Zhang family should not leave without being clear. Even if you disregard formalities, betrothal gifts should still be given. You should return home with me and wait for him to come with a grand betrothal procession."

A proper betrothal involved the groom's family sending high-ranking officials, ministers, and elders with grand gifts to propose marriage.

The onlooking crowd murmured: "With such a notorious reputation as Chen Family's bastard son, even the Chen family doesn't want him anymore, so who would propose for him?"

"I heard he has a close friendship with Zhang Zhuo..."

"Are you out of your mind, thinking Lord Zhang would propose for him, to marry his daughter into Zhang family?"

"So what you're saying is, Mrs. Zhang is deliberately making things difficult for him, buying time, and doesn't want her daughter to marry such a notorious person at all."

"Indeed, the Zhang family is respectable, how could they associate with such a person? I doubt this marriage will happen today."

Zhang Xia, hearing the murmurs, fixed her gaze on her mother: "Mother, we've been through life and death together numerous times. We no longer need worldly matters to prove ourselves to each other."

For once, Mrs. Zhang didn't look at her daughter but rather at Chen Ji: "If you're someone with responsibility, you shouldn't let the one you love suffer this grievance. Others have it, and she should too."

At that moment, a voice came from outside Fuyou Street: "Madam, I'm willing to propose for Chen Ji."

Everyone turned to look and saw, amidst the heavy snow, a figure gradually becoming clear in a bright red official robe, with a Second-Grade Official rooster patch embroidered on the chest, black boots on the feet, and an Imperial Jade Qilin Belt around the waist.

Minister of War, Wang Daosheng.

The crowd seemed to be pressed down by an invisible hand, and the murmuring ceased instantly.

Someone gasped: "Wang Daosheng... why is he here?"

"Didn't they say he went to Changping to inspect the Capital Grain Storage yesterday? Why is he back?"

"Look at the mud on his boots, and his official robe is soaked. He must have hurried back overnight."

Wang Daosheng, taught by the official Hu Da, second place in the highest level of the imperial examination, a path of civil service, skilled in both literature and martial arts.

The local chief in Yunnan rebelled, and the generals in the court were helpless. As a civil servant, he volunteered to lead the army. Within three months, he pacified Diannan and brought back the hostage Rochusaga to restrain the Esoteric Sect Gening Sect.

In the fourteenth year of Jianing, there was a mutiny among the Guyuan Border Army. He entered the camp alone, stopped the chaos in the army overnight, executed the leaders, pardoned the coerced followers, and the six thousand mutinous troops surrendered on the spot...

Over the years, Wang Daosheng has quelled six rebellions with six major victories and has quietly earned the reputation of a literary leader. No one expected he would come to propose marriage for Chen Ji, a man of notorious reputation.

At this moment, Wang Daosheng came stepping through the snow: "Lady, Chen Ji is my direct disciple. I am here to propose marriage to the Zhang Family on his behalf. I wonder if it would be appropriate?"

After speaking, he stood firmly before Mrs. Zhang and bowed deeply.

Mrs. Zhang immediately looked around, searching for someone: "Zhang Zhuo, you come out! Why don't you use your cleverness in the court and instead use it against me!"

But after searching for a long time, she did not see Zhang Zhuo's figure.

Wang Daosheng straightened up and spoke earnestly: "Chen Ji is a child I've watched over since Luocheng. I know well what kind of person he is. No one asked me to come today; it is entirely of my own will."

Mrs. Zhang said solemnly: "If it weren't for him, why would you suddenly return from Changping?"

Wang Daosheng looked troubled, unwilling to lie.

Mrs. Zhang took a deep breath: "Mr. Wang, your character is noble. Since you are proposing the match, naturally, my Zhang family has no reason to reject the courtesy. However, although the betrothal gift has been agreed upon, the bride price has not yet been received. As they say, 'Good things do not come easily.' Let's wait for Chen Ji to prepare the bride price, then propose formally and agree on a date."

Zhang Xia suddenly said, "Mother, I don't want a bride price."

Mrs. Zhang looked up at Zhang Xia, her voice angry: "Be silent! Do you think our Zhang family lacks the bride price? I can't bear to see anyone slight you. Why should he spend 540,000 taels of silver to redeem Bai Li from the Imperial Music Bureau, while you get nothing? How would the world view you?"

In the crowd, the gossip began again: "The Zhang family wants a grand wedding procession..."

"I heard Chen Ji spent all his silver at the Imperial Music Bureau, and the newspaper and salt permit businesses were seized by the court. How can he afford such a grand wedding gift?"

"But what Mrs. Zhang says makes sense. A mother loves her daughter. If Second Miss Zhang were to marry like this, how could Mrs. Zhang be at ease?"

"They say intentions are priceless, but when you accompany your beloved to a jewelry store or a rouge store, you'll find that intentions do indeed have a price tag."

Mrs. Zhang looked toward Chen Ji and said softly, "If you truly care for her, don't let the world look down on her."

However, at that moment, there were shadowy figures approaching from the snowy curtain in the east, seemingly carrying something.

As they approached, it was clear that seventy-two men were coming through the snow, using red shoulder poles to carry large red lacquered boxes. The poles were decorated with red silk, adding a festive touch.

Chen Ji saw Shi San from Lamp Fire stand before Mrs. Zhang, smiling and clasping his hands in salute: "Lady, my master once owed Mr. Chen a great favor. Today, this betrothal gift is covered by my master. Men, read the list."

A person stepped out from behind Shi San, and it was none other than Little Nine from Lamp Fire.

He unfurled a scroll of red silk, his voice clear and articulate: "Gold Department: A set of red gold inlaid with red ruby headpiece, one top hairpin, one pick heart, one separating heart, one pair of bun hairpins, four small hairpins, weighing a total of 360 taels. A pair of red gold cat's eye bracelets, with the cat's eyes as large as a thumb, surrounded by three rings of light, originating from the Western Regions. A pair of red gold filigree phoenix hairpins, with phoenix tails inlaid with 108 tiny tourmalines. A pair of red gold lotus bracelets, carved with openwork flowers, exquisitely delicate."

Someone in the crowd murmured: "How much silver would this cost? Surely not less than tens of thousands of taels?"

An old pawnbroker next to them scoffed: "Tens of thousands? Just that set of red ruby headpiece alone would cost no less than 30,000 taels. And I've never heard of a thumb-sized cat's eye bracelet in all my 60 years."

Little Nine continued to read: "Silverware Department: A set of silver inlaid flower tableware, including twelve pieces each of bowls, plates, dishes, chopsticks, and spoons, engraved with intertwined peony patterns. A set of silver gilt tea set, with one pot, eight cups, and eight saucers, modeled after the Zhen De Period style. A set of silver inlaid with tortoiseshell combs, twelve in total, with tortoiseshell sourced from the Southern Ocean."

"Silks and Fabrics Department: Twenty bolts of Shu brocade, twenty bolts of Yun Jin, twenty bolts of Song brocade, twenty bolts of brocade satin, twenty bolts of Lu silk, and twenty bolts of Zhang velvet. Additionally, ten lengths of Kesi from the Suzhou Weaving Bureau, each measuring four zhang and two chi."

The crowd exclaimed: "Kesi from the Suzhou Weaving Bureau? Isn't that only available in the palace?"

Little Nine's expression remained unchanged: "Furs Department: Ten Xuan fox furs, twenty purple mink furs, one hundred gray mouse furs, and one hundred silver mouse furs. The Xuan fox furs are from Changbai Mountain, with deep black fur tips, each pelt a whole tube without any seams."

"Medicinal Materials Department: Twenty racks of deer antlers, thirty taels of musk, five taels of ox gallstone, and one jin of ambergris."

Someone in the crowd gasped: "Ambergris... that's something found in the bellies of large sea fish. A whole jin? Even if all the drugstores in the capital were combined, they wouldn't have that much."

At this point, Little Nine's voice suddenly rose: "Real Estate Department: Eight hundred mu of fertile land on the outskirts of the capital, continuous and unbroken. A courtyard beside the government office in Jinling, with three entrances and exits, a garden included, and the house deed is ready..."

Fuyou Street fell completely silent.

Eight hundred mu of fertile land on the outskirts of the capital is a lifetime of wealth that many officials could never accumulate. A courtyard beside the government office in Jinling is the most precious location there, impossible to buy even with money.

The thirty-six carriagefuls of betrothal gifts, each one heavy and substantial, were more impressive than a grand wedding procession.