Not long after the Lei family's second daughter departed, the marriage proposal delegation from Youzhou also set out from Luoyang. This trip to Yuzhou was to deliver the auspicious news (reporting a favorable divination outcome). If the woman's family also favored the match, both sides would exchange Geng Tie—cards inscribed with the young gentleman's and the young lady's birth dates and times (eight characters). With this, the first step of the process, "presenting the eight characters," would be completed, followed by waiting for the man's family to send the betrothal gifts.
Huo Tingshan's parents had already passed away, so when he married Pei Ying back then, he handled the betrothal gifts himself. Now, for Huo Mingji's grand wedding, with both parents present, the task of preparing the betrothal gifts naturally fell to them.
The next thing to busy themselves with was precisely the betrothal gift list.
...
This Provincial Governor's mansion was originally used by Li Xiaotian. After Sizhou was captured and Luoyang seized, the mansion underwent minor renovations. For instance, the study originally had only one main long desk, but now a new one had been added, placed side-by-side with the old one.
At this moment, inside the study.
Pei Ying sat behind the newly added long desk, looking at the piles of booklets covering the table, feeling utterly overwhelmed.
She was not from this era. There were subtle rules, considered common knowledge by many women of the time, that she was completely unaware of.
Even ordering people to collect betrothal gift lists from aristocratic families' marriages for reference wasn't much help.
In ancient times, marriages for imperial clan members and officials followed set regulations: emperors had their standards, provincial governors had theirs, minor officials likewise—wedding ceremonies and rites were not to be overstepped. However, times were different now. The dynasty had collapsed, fragmentation was complete, and warlords like Huo Tingshan, who occupied several provinces alone, had transcended the category of ordinary provincial governors.
Following the standard for a provincial governor's son's marriage now seemed inappropriate and could easily invite ridicule from others.
Unable to handle it alone, Pei Ying called for reinforcements: "Huo Tingshan, are you finished? If you are, come over and help."
The man sat at the adjacent long desk, having just finished writing a letter and sealing it with clay. "Mm, I'm done."
Summoning the guard at the door, Huo Tingshan handed over the letter, then rose from his desk and went to sit beside Pei Ying. He casually picked up several scattered gift lists from her desk.
As he looked them over, Huo Tingshan asked, "In your homeland, what is generally required for betrothal gifts?"
Pei Ying: "It depends on the circumstances. Normally, it's a new marital home and a car. The man's side gives the betrothal gifts—what you'd call the bride price—and the woman's side brings the dowry. For those with better conditions, the parents provide more money, property, and vehicles for the new family. For those with poorer conditions, where parents can't offer much support, the young couple might rent a place to get married, with neither bride price nor dowry, just the two individuals themselves."
Pei Ying vaguely remembered a TV drama with the theme of "naked marriage" that sparked a wave of such weddings—young people with little savings hastily marrying and raising the next generation in cramped rental apartments.
It wasn't her place to judge others' actions, but she had thought to herself back then that she would never let her daughter enter a marriage with no material foundation whatsoever.
Now...
Material worries were gone; other worries remained.
Unaware that Pei Ying's thoughts had drifted far away, Huo Tingshan asked, "When you got married back then, what did that former husband of yours prepare?"
His gaze remained on the list, as if the question was casual.
Pei Ying was still lost in thought. It was only moments after he finished speaking that she belatedly realized he had said something.
But she hadn't caught what exactly it was.
"What?" Pei Ying asked.
Huo Tingshan looked up, studying her intently for a moment. Then, with a touch of helplessness, he realized she genuinely looked confused, her eyes holding sincere bewilderment. She truly hadn't heard him clearly earlier, not that she was trying to evade the question.
The man paused only briefly before repeating his words, adding at the end, "Is this perhaps something that cannot be spoken of?"
Pei Ying heard it clearly this time but was left speechless by his question. She instinctively lowered her gaze, her eyes falling on the beaded bracelet on her right wrist, the one with the crystal chubby rabbit he had personally carved for her.
When he had given her the crystal bracelet before, he had briefly mentioned the gifts Qiao Wen gave. However, back then he had asked if the other man had ever made jewelry for her.
In her later era, wedding gold jewelry was mostly bought from jewelry stores, rarely DIY. She had said no back then, and the topic of gifts was temporarily dropped.
Why was it coming back now?
Their eyes met, and Pei Ying saw a hint of stubbornness in his gaze.
He genuinely wanted to know.
Pei Ying said helplessly, "It's not that it can't be said. It's just that, compared to now, it would seem insignificant to you."
Qiao Wen was a doctor, and his parents were also medical workers. She was a university lecturer; her family was in business. While not wildly successful, the business allowed the family to live comfortably. Such a match wasn't considered poor by any means.
But...
Pei Ying looked up at the man before her.
If placed in the early modern era, this man would be a full-fledged warlord. If moved further forward to modern times, he'd be the Governor, Provincial Party Secretary, and Provincial Military District Commander of four provinces combined.
Since ancient times, commoners didn't contend with officials. There was no comparison.
But Huo Tingshan said, "Whether it's insignificant or not is not for you to decide."
Pei Ying: "..."
Unable to win against his stubbornness, Pei Ying could only say, "Two houses, two carriages, five gold ornaments, plus..." She mentally converted the prices, "...plus ten taels of silver."
As soon as the "ten taels of silver" left her lips, she saw the corner of his mouth lift in a slight curl—a mix of light mockery and disdain. Then he had to add a comment: "That former husband of yours was quite stingy."
Pei Ying: "..."
She had originally intended to say that in her past life, she was just an ordinary commoner, and such betrothal gifts were considered quite good for an average family. But remembering how petty this man could be at times, Pei Ying silently swallowed her words.
Fine, let it be.
Let this topic end here quickly, with no further expansion.
After that, she clearly sensed his mood had improved considerably. Even the speed at which he organized the betrothal gift list quickened. The list that had given Pei Ying a headache earlier was now completed by Huo Tingshan in less than half an hour.
"Prepare according to this standard. I'll trouble you with the arrangements, my lady," Huo Tingshan said, handing the booklet to Pei Ying.
The booklet wasn't exactly light; it felt quite thick in hand. But Pei Ying had previously held and carefully examined the betrothal gift list Huo Tingshan had prepared for her. Comparing the two, this one was much lighter.
Pei Ying couldn't help but murmur, "Isn't this a bit too light?"
Huo Tingshan gave a soft, derisive snort. "How can a son compare to his father? If he wants to marry a wife like that, he can wait another dozen years and slowly accumulate the capital himself."
Pei Ying was left speechless by his retort.
Marriage was usually a once-in-a-lifetime event; how could one skimp on the essentials?
Just as she was gathering the scattered reference booklets on the desk, the man beside her suddenly said, "I recall you had a classmate boyfriend before your marriage, and you were quite fond of each other. Why did you end up marrying that Qiao fellow instead?"
Pei Ying hadn't expected him to circle back to the topic this way. Her head instantly throbbed as if splitting. "Huo Tingshan, didn't we agree before not to bring up old accounts?"
Compared with the last time when he frowned tightly and his gloomy face was intimidating, Huo Tingshan was now calm and tranquil, with not a trace of displeasure on his face. "This isn't bringing up old scores. I just want to have a casual chat with you. I'll ask my lady, and my lady can also ask me. I'll surely tell you everything I know."
A casual chat? Pei Ying didn't believe a word of it.
"One should look forward. Let bygones be bygones. There's nothing worth chatting about," Pei Ying said in a low voice.
Huo Tingshan raised an eyebrow. "I don't mind talking about the past. Could it be that my lady minds?"
Pei Ying: "..."
"Not really. I just think it's unnecessary," Pei Ying said, choosing her words carefully.
Huo Tingshan selectively listened to only half of what she said. "Since my lady doesn't mind, then let's have a chat."
Pei Ying suddenly regretted coming to the study with him today.
She could have sorted out the betrothal gift list anywhere. Why on earth did she follow him to the study?
"Why did my lady abandon the old lover and choose to marry that man named Qiao?" he asked straightforwardly.
Pei Ying carefully observed his expression. He really didn't seem angry, just like he was having a casual chat. So she said, "It was a different choice. After he finished his undergraduate studies, well, that is, after completing a course of study under a tutor, he was going to study in a place far away. You can understand it as going to the northern regions, to a foreign land. I didn't want to go abroad, so we broke up."
Back then, that man's family insisted on sending him abroad for postgraduate studies because his aunt and uncle were abroad and could take care of him during his studies, and the major he was studying had a higher value in foreign universities.
At first, he refused and fought against his family, not wanting to separate from her. But later, his aunt abroad had health problems. His aunt and uncle had no children, and his uncle needed to accompany his aunt to seek medical treatment. The business left by the couple needed someone to take over. If he went abroad, he would probably settle there in the future.
On one side were his relatives who had loved him dearly since childhood, better academic achievements, and a brighter future; on the other side was his girlfriend of many years, as well as the constant pressure and persuasion from his family.
He finally chose the former.
Before leaving, he had asked her to go abroad with him, but she had never planned to study abroad and couldn't bear to leave her hometown and family, so she refused.
Thus, they went their separate ways, a somewhat peaceful breakup.
Hearing the words "going to the northern regions" and "a foreign land", Huo Tingshan immediately frowned. "The culture of our Great Central Plains is extensive and profound. How could one still need to go to a remote and backward place to study? Isn't this putting the cart before the horse?"
Pei Ying: "..."
"It's just a metaphor for a long - distance. And later, all regions have developed. Not all of them are remote and backward. There are still some valuable essences in certain cultures and knowledge."
Huo Tingshan nodded. "I see. It's indeed easy to be bullied when marrying far away. It was the right choice for my lady not to go abroad."
Hearing his ordinary tone, Pei Ying thought that his mood was still stable. She might as well change the topic at this moment. But the next second, she heard him ask, "How long had my lady known your boyfriend?"
Pei Ying's eyebrows twitched, and she asked him in return, "Don't just talk about me. What about you?"
Huo Tingshan's eyes were full of meaning. "It seems to have been a long time."
Pei Ying: "..."
Huo Tingshan: "I had never met the Daughter of the Ning family before our marriage. How about my lady?"
Pei Ying averted her eyes. "A few years."
He pressed on. "Exactly how many years?"
Pei Ying coughed lightly. "Huo Tingshan, I think the study is a place to discuss important matters. Ming Ji's marriage is not yet settled..."
"My lady, don't try to evade the question. Exactly how many years is 'a few years'?" Huo Tingshan interrupted her. Seeing that she pursed her lips and looked a bit worried, he added, "It's just a casual chat. They're all things of the past. You and I are husband and wife now. Just tell me. I won't get angry."
Pei Ying whispered, "Five years."
Actually, she and that man had known each other since high school. They were in neighboring classes, but they didn't start dating then. After entering university, they met on the campus on the day of registration, and that's how their relationship began.
So they had known each other for five years and been in a relationship for four years.
A vein on Huo Tingshan's forehead twitched slightly.
Five years.
She hadn't even been with him for five years.
When Pei Ying saw his expression, her heart skipped a beat.
But just then, someone rushed to the study.
"General, urgent news!"
Pei Ying let out a sigh of relief. Suddenly, she felt that even all the troublesome students she had ever taught together were not as difficult as Huo Tingshan.
Seeing the relaxed look on the person beside him, Huo Tingshan coldly asked the guard, "What's the matter?"
Guard: "General, Wei of Yizhou suddenly died a few days ago. There are rumors that he was poisoned. After Wei of Yizhou's death, the allied forces of Yizhou and Yongzhou stationed at Huangu Pass withdrew overnight and headed west into Yizhou. One of Wei of Yizhou's three former subordinates died, another was seriously injured, and the remaining one, He Zheng, joined forces with Wei of Yizhou's legitimate son, Wei Qinghua, to take over the power. Wei Qinghua ordered to open all the checkpoints in Yizhou and open the city gates to welcome the allied forces of Yongzhou and Yizhou."
Pei Ying was shocked.
There was too much information in these words, but at the end, a piece of information popped into Pei Ying's mind.
Open the city gates to welcome the allied forces?
Were Yizhou and Yongzhou allying?
No, perhaps it couldn't be called an alliance.
There was a young emperor in Yongzhou. Except for those who had rebelled, the others were still courtiers for the time being. At this time, opening the city gates to welcome the allied forces was no different from surrendering to the court.
Yizhou was clearly and truly submitting to the court.
