Xue Jin had passed her marriageable age. As the legitimate daughter of the Minister's Office, there were only a few people who came to propose marriage. This was because the incident with the Tenth Princess three years ago had caused too much commotion. Not many families did not know about it.
The Tenth Princess was the daughter of the Empress and was also the most favored daughter of Emperor Zhao Qing. As the culprit who was rumored to have killed the Tenth Princess, it did require courage to marry the third daughter of the Xue family.
However, Zhou Yede betrothed his youngest son to the daughter of the Xue family not entirely because of his courage. The other half of the reason was because of his own son.
As for the third young master of Assistant Minister Yin's fu, Yin Yuanbo's reputation was bad enough. This Zhou Nie, compared to him, was even worse. In short, he ate, drank, gambled, and had all five poisons.
Yu Shu had not heard of this person for the time being, but she knew that his father, Zhou Yede, was the commander-in-chief of the Jin Wu Guards. What kind of position was this?
First of all, there were two groups of guards inside and outside Anling. One group was the Gyeonggi Army. They usually guarded the capital and could be deployed in times of war. The other group was the imperial guards, including the Yulin Royal Guards and the Twelve Guards. The Yulin Royal Guards were the personal guards of the Emperor, while the Jin Wu Guards were the head of the Twelve Guards. For example, guarding the city gates, patrolling the city borders, and managing the city's public security were all from the Jin Wu Guards. Zhou Yede, as the commander-in-chief, was equivalent to a minister a few hundred years later.
Even Yu Shu's two bodyguards, Lu Hong and Xu Qing, used to be part of the Chambord Guards.
Just looking at the family background of General Zhou, it was worthy of Xue Jin's birth. However, after seeing Xue Rui's expression, Yu Shu knew that he did not approve of this marriage.
"What is wrong?" She asked.
"Zhou Nie's character is bad." Xue Rui's words were concise.
Yu Shu looked at Xue Rui's disgusted expression when he mentioned Master Zhou as if he was talking about a pile of shit. She slowly frowned and said hesitantly, "Since the marriage invitation has been sent to Kun Ling Ju, it must have been approved by your grandfather. Does he not know that Zhou Nie is unbearable? Why did he agree to marry him?"
Xue Rui shook his head. His grandfather knew Zhou Nie's character better than he did. However, the reason he agreed to this marriage was not because of his grandson-in-law's character, but because of the power behind him.
In the past, when Xue Lingnan was leading the army. Zhou Yede was once a general under his command, and he was indebted to Zhou Yede for his guidance. It was also because of this old friendship that the Zhou family took the initiative to propose marriage.
Xue Lingnan thought that with the friendship between the two families, no matter how much of a bastard Zhou Nie was, Xue Jinxun wouldn't lose out by marrying him. However, Xue Rui didn't think so.
He hoped that his sister, who was timid and mentally deficient, could have a good partner who truly loved and cared for her.
Otherwise, he would rather she remain a naive and ignorant child for the rest of her life. As an elder brother, he was very grateful. He could look after her for the rest of her life.
This was a debt he owed. He should be the one to repay it.
He didn't explain. Yu Shu was slightly anxious. As expected, Zhou Nie was a pile of shit. How could she watch as Xue Jinxun married such a thing?
"How about this. I will hold back this marriage invitation. Why don't you go back and persuade Old Master Xue? "
Xue Rui laughed coldly to himself. "Grandfather has always been stubborn. Once he has made up his mind, no one can persuade him."
Yu Shu's face turned fierce. "If that's the case, then I won't approve the marriage invitation. Without the Kun Ling Bureau's official marriage certificate, can they get married on their own?"
There was a law in Da An. All marriages between the children of officials had to be approved by the Celestial Commissioner. If they were married, then an official marriage certificate would be issued. If there was no such certificate, then the marriage of the man and the woman would be considered an illicit union without a matchmaker.
What both parties sent to the Kun Ling Bureau were the 'Eight Characters Invitation' of both the man and the woman, in duplicate. After the Kun Ling Bureau approved the Eight Characters Invitation, the 'Eight Characters Invitation' would be sent back. One copy would be received by the man.
Xue Rui was amused by her arrogant words. He stared at her and said, "It's easy for you to say. If you really do this, you will offend the two families. At that time, they will accuse you of neglecting your duties. The Emperor can't be partial to you. If it's a light punishment, you will be suspended from your post. If it's a heavy punishment, you will lose your official position. How can you do that?"
"Is it that serious?" Yu Shu wasn't frightened. Even though she was splashed with cold water by him, she didn't give up. She kept saying,
"What's the big deal? Delay it as long as possible. If they really pursue the matter, then we can talk about other things."
It was as if Xue Rui treated Yu Xiaoxiu as his own younger brother. To her, Little Sister Xue was also one of her family. For the sake of her sister's marriage, what was there to be afraid of even losing her official position?
Which was more important? Was there a need to consider?
Xue Rui saw that someone as smart as her only cared about Jinxun and didn't consider the consequences. He was touched and held her hand, saying, "I know your intention, but you can't be so reckless. If you are really willing to help, I have another idea. Listen to it and see if it works."
"Okay, then tell me what to do."
"What I mean is that not only do you have to approve this Horoscope, you have to do it as soon as possible. However, when you do it, you have to do something. Everyone knows that you and I are sworn siblings, so it's no surprise that Jinxun is interested in Jinxun's marriage. You have the Death Divination Art, so you can determine that Jinxun and Zhou Nie's Horoscope contradict each other. If Jinxun marries into the Zhou Clan, then one of them will die on the wedding day. Therefore, this marriage is inauspicious and unsuitable.
As for whether they believe it or not, it's not up to the two families. After all, within the capital, there's only Yu Shu, the Art of Determining Death. With her reputation, who can verify the authenticity of her divination?
Even if they don't believe it, there's no evidence. Plus, there's always one family that can't bear to risk their children. With Yu Shu's approval, this marriage can be considered to be annulled.
"That's a good idea!" Yu Shu smiled and patted the back of Xue Rui's hand. She hurriedly said, "I'll go and approve it tomorrow morning. It'll be sent out in the middle of the month. There won't be any delays."
Xue Rui wasn't as optimistic as her. He sighed and said, "If there's no other choice, I'm not willing to use this method. This method can only be used once, it can't be used once."
Yu Shu thought about it and understood what he meant. Old Minister Xue was determined to find a 'suitable' marriage for his granddaughter. If it doesn't work this time, there's always a next time.
The siblings in the Xue family don't have a father. The marriage will be decided by Xue Lingnan. As for the other elders …
Yu Shu's heart skipped a beat. She asked, "What does your mother think about Jin Xun's marriage?"
"… My mother, she can't make the decision." Xue Rui found it hard to say. When his mother was sober, she didn't recognize Jin Xun at all. She only knew that he was her eldest son. Whenever she saw Jin Xun, her illness would act up.
"Oh." This time, Yu Shu had nothing to say. She very rarely heard Xue Rui mention his mother, and her impression of Madam Xue, who she had never met, was limited to the fact that she was frail and sickly, and that she spent most of her time recuperating.
Xue Rui didn't seem to want to talk about his mother. She didn't ask more. However, as a mother, she couldn't interfere with her daughter's marriage. It was obvious that she didn't have much status in the Xue family.
"There are only two ways to solve this problem once and for all. One is to find a good husband for Jin before your grandfather decides." Yu Shu poked Xue Rui.
"Do you have a suitable candidate in mind?"
Xue Rui looked helpless. "Do you think I haven't thought about it? But those with good character, future, and family background won't enter my grandfather's eyes. Those with good character and family background won't be willing to attach themselves to our Xue family. Those with good character and family background won't even consider Jin Xun."
Yu Shu sighed and said, "It's easy to get a priceless treasure, but it's hard to find a lover."
Xue Rui waved his hand. "Let's not talk about this. Tell me about the other one."
Yu Shu said, "The other one is the worst plan. It's not good to use it unless it's a last resort. You reminded me. I'm the Celestial Commissioner. I can approve a marriage card, and I can also approve a marriage card for Jin Xun. I only need to approve her fortune as not to marry early. Otherwise, it will bring bad luck to her husband and children. In this way, no one will dare to come to your residence to propose marriage. In the next few years, you won't have to worry about Jin Xun's marriage. But if it ruins her reputation, she won't be able to get married in the future."
Ordinary people didn't need to go through the Celestial Commissioner to marry their wives and daughters. However, there were also people who went to the barter shop to ask for a "identification card". It was used to predict a woman's fate. If it was a woman from an official's family, the Celestial Commissioner's approval would be called a "fate card".
Thinking back, Zhao Hui's first in-laws went to the Yi Yang Ji family's barter shop to make a fake identification card. They framed Zhao Hui for cursing her husband's fate, so they embezzled her dowry and caused Zhao Hui to live on the streets.
Yu Shu now also wanted to make a fake fate card. However, she had the Death Judgment Technique. It was difficult for others to expose her.
Xue Rui was silent for a long time. Then, he said in a low voice, "It can be considered a solution. But as you said, it can't be used unless it's a last resort. "
In the end, Xue Rui decided to first ruin the marriage between the Xue family and the Zhou family with Yu Shu. As for the future, they would wait until the future.
***
The next day, Yu Shu came to the Kun Ling Bureau. The first thing she did was to find the marriage card of Xue Jinxun and Zhou Nie. She carefully worded it, and in the name of the Death Judgment Technique, she made a divination. The signature was not stamped with an official seal, but her small ivory seal. This meant that she had personally approved this marriage. The result was bad, so the Kun Ling Bureau rejected the marriage.
The fifteenth of September was the day that official marriage documents were issued every month. Usually, the marriage card sent to the Kun Ling Bureau would receive the documents the following month at the latest, unless it was accidentally lost.
However, this month, there were destined to be some families who would not be able to wait for the Kun Ling Bureau's official marriage documents.
"Shao 'an, take these two marriage cards. Together with the official marriage documents I approved, send them to the various manors as soon as possible."
Wen Shao 'an had already prepared everything. He took the marriage card from her hands and opened it in front of her. Originally, he wanted to confirm that there were no mistakes, but when he saw the woman's family, he was slightly stunned.
The young lady of the Right Minister's Xue residence.
He hesitated and did not go. Holding the two cards, he said to Yu Shu, "Daren, will you get into trouble by doing this?"
She could forget about the families whose official marriage documents she had burned before. But this was the daughter of the Left Prime Minister, and there was also the General Fu. If they pursued the matter, could she afford to offend them?
Yu Shu stretched and twisted her neck. She said to him, "What trouble can there be? Their destinies are like this, and it is not suitable for marriage. Do you want me to go against my conscience and approve it? You know that the eldest son of the Xue family is my sworn brother. If something happens to his sister after she gets married, how can I face him? Don't worry, have someone send it. "
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