Tianliangyuan

Chapter 272 Marriage

A pearl on the grassland?

If Xie Zheng still can't figure out what's going on, then he's really stupid.

It must be that bastard Xu Junfeng talking badly about him behind his back.

Just wait, I won't let him get away with this!

“Zhao Zhao, don’t listen to their nonsense, I really didn’t! That Shana is the daughter of the chief of the Suhar tribe. Xu Junfeng and I defeated them first, then attacked their camp. In the end, the Suhar tribe had no choice but to surrender, and then led us to the two nearest tribes.”

If that's the case, then they've redeemed themselves through meritorious service. But it has nothing to do with me! I just went into battle; as for whether that one is the Pearl of the Grasslands, I genuinely don't know. Anyway, I've seen that Shana a few times; she's a bit dark-skinned, but I really didn't get a clear look at her."

"Is that so? I wonder how the young general intends to observe this clearly? Will it be a conversation under the same tent, a drink at the same table, or perhaps..."

Before she could finish speaking, Xu Zhaozhao was grabbed and hugged by Xie Zheng, who rushed forward.

This is why Xu Zhaozhao knew he was harmless to her; otherwise, she would have made sure to knock him unconscious no matter what.

Xu Zhaozhao was annoyed when she was interrupted. She looked up to continue lecturing him, but her mouth was covered.

Xu Zhaozhao was completely terrified.

What kind of cool operation is this?

Xie Zheng was satisfied.

I've long wanted to taste what that eloquent little mouth tastes like.

My wish has finally come true!

Xu Zhaozhao's eyes were still wide open. Xie Zheng forced himself to separate himself from her by less than half an inch, and then said forcefully, "Close your eyes!"

Xu Zhaozhao seemed to be numb, and then she indeed closed her eyes.

Xie Zheng was satisfied; now that's how a dutiful wife should act.

Then, he immediately kissed her again.

When Xu Zhaozhao realized what this scoundrel had done to her, she tried to break free from his hold, but found that she had no strength left.

"what did you do to me?"

Xie Zheng chuckled, then loosened his embrace slightly to avoid his wife getting angry and kicking him out again.

"Zhaozhao, I've wanted to kiss you for so long. We'll get married as soon as I get back this time. I can't wait a moment longer."

Xu Zhaozhao glared at him: "What's your hurry? My third brother isn't even married yet!"

"Now that they're all back, why don't we get married on the same day?"

That's a good idea, but Xu Zhaozhao felt like he was dreaming!

One is the heir of a Duke's mansion, and the other is the second son of a Marquis's mansion. If they get married on the same day, where will all the civil and military officials go for their wedding banquet?

It seems like going to just one place isn't appropriate!

Xie Zheng hugged her and said nice things for a long time before he finally calmed her down.

“These things are just the tip of the iceberg. I’ve seized so much more. I’ll give it all to you to manage later.”

"Get out of the way! Who cares!"

Looking at her blushing face, Xie Zheng couldn't help but think that his little wife was just so beautiful!

"Alright, hurry up and go. You've deserted the group, be careful you'll be punished."

Xie Zheng chuckled, kissed her on the cheek again, and then ran away.

Xu Zhaozhao wiped her face with a handkerchief and muttered under her breath, "You dog of a man!"

A blush appeared on her face, which she couldn't wipe off no matter what she did.

Xie Zheng and Xu Junfeng really stole the show this time!

Of course, it wasn't just the two of them; there were also Cui Xuanming, Fang Dazhuang, Fang Liang, and others. Everyone who went was entitled to credit this time.

The Emperor was very generous with his rewards, bestowing titles upon those who deserved them and awarding them money as appropriate.

Xu Junfeng was the second son in his family, and he had indeed made great contributions this time, so the emperor was generous and directly granted him the title of baron!

Now, it can be said that everyone in the next generation of the Marquis's mansion is a nobleman.

Fang Dazhuang was overjoyed when the court session ended; his smile stretched from ear to ear.

"My lord, I told you, you can only earn merit by fighting. Now I don't have to worry anymore. My eldest son is a good fighter. From now on, he can earn his own merits and let those incompetent bastards be jealous!"

The "elder brother" that Fang Dazhuang mentioned is Fang Liang, who made contributions by following Xu Junfeng this time.

When Fang Liang went on this expedition, he was just a common soldier. Because he was chosen by Xu Junfeng to be his personal guard, he killed more than a hundred enemies when the three tribes were subdued. He also killed two of their generals. Therefore, his name was naturally on the list of merits.

Fang Liang has rendered meritorious service, and Xu Junfeng has strongly recommended him, so the Emperor will naturally bestow favors upon him.

Fang Liang was appointed as a Senior Zhaowu Colonel, a sixth-rank official, and was also given a fifth-rank honorary title: Guerrilla General!

At first glance, it doesn't seem like a high-ranking position, but the problem is that Fang Liang is still young.

Fang Liang is only a teenager and has already made such contributions. If he is even braver on the battlefield in the future, he will surely be promoted again.

Military generals earn their merits by killing enemies.

When Fang Dazhuang brought his wife, children, and elderly parents to the capital, many people were waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

Fang Dazhuang was a rough man. Xu Han had nagged him several times, but he still refused to settle down and study. He just relied on brute force.

Therefore, many powerful and influential people in the capital looked down on Fang Dazhuang's family, always thinking that they were just uncultured people and that if their children and grandchildren did not achieve anything, the Fang family would at most prosper only in Fang Dazhuang's generation.

Fang Dazhuang had no noble title, so if he were to die, the Fang family would be reduced to commoners.

That's why, in the past two years, when Fang Dazhuang's wife, Fan, was looking for girls for Fang Liang, girls from respectable families avoided her like the plague.

On the other hand, the second branch of the Marquis's family had already shown their intention to arrange a marriage last year.

The Marquis's mansion did not split into two branches; the second branch meant that the Marquis intended to have the second branch.

Although Xu Wanwan was a concubine's daughter, the Xu family had few daughters. Of the two legitimate daughters, one was married off early, and the other was engaged to Xie Sanlang. Moreover, Madam Fan was close to the Xu family and knew that the two concubine's daughters of the Xu family had always been raised by the mistress. In all aspects, they still thought she was quite good.

Now that Fang Liang has made contributions, and the Xu sisters, Tingting and Wanwan, have reached marriageable age, Xu Han called his younger brother, Xu Wen, to the study for a talk.

"Their marriages won't be until next year at the earliest. You only have three daughters in total. Although these two are born out of wedlock, they have always been raised by their younger siblings. Tingting has been betrothed to Fu Pei, and Wanwan may marry into the Fang family, and into the eldest son of the main wife. What are your plans?"

Xu Wen immediately understood what his elder brother meant.

He had never really thought about this before.

However, when Xu Tingting and Fu Pei got engaged, his wife, Li, mentioned that she felt it was an insult to a top scholar to marry a concubine's daughter. Scholars value their reputation and have high moral character, and she was worried that this might cause resentment in the future.

"Does my brother mean that they should be married off as legitimate daughters?"

"It depends on what you and your husband think. From a broader perspective, the status of the legitimate daughter is naturally the best. But all of this depends on your and your sister-in-law's attitude. If your sister-in-law is unwilling, then pretend that I never mentioned this matter, and you must not hold a grudge against your sister-in-law because of this."