The moment the words "son-in-law" were uttered, the expressions of the three people present changed.
Chai Shao breathed a heavy sigh of relief. As long as Fang Er wasn't taking a concubine himself, anything was acceptable.
Wu Shiyue fell into a silent contemplation, seemingly weighing whether to agree or how to refuse if he didn't.
As for Wu Erniang, she was startled. To suddenly be betrothed to a baby still being nursed was something she simply couldn't accept.
Although she was a few years younger than Chang Le, having grown up in the marketplace with Wu Shiyue, and being a person of keen intelligence, she understood these matters far better than Chang Le.
Seeing the reactions of the three, Fang Er smiled.
"Duke of Ying, it is not that I am boasting here. My son, Fang Xin, possesses the bearing of a nation's pillar! The title of Duke of An has never been his final destination. Liuqiu and Luzon are both his fiefs. Upon reaching adulthood, it is not inconceivable that he might be enfeoffed as king in the south. At that time, your second daughter will be a princess. With the fortune I have accumulated, you need only state your price for the betrothal gifts."
These words were spoken to Wu Shiyue. After finishing, Fang Er then looked at Wu Erniang, who was clearly unhappy.
"What kind of husband do you desire?"
Wu Erniang was about to speak when Fang Er interrupted her.
"You don't need to answer me now. If this matter is agreed upon, you will need to reside at the Duke of An's mansion long-term. At that time, whatever kind of husband you wish for, you can simply mold Fang Xin into that kind of man. I can find people to teach you anything you wish to learn. Anything you wish to do, as long as it is not rebellion, even if it's just to take a look at the moon, I can achieve it!"
Chai Shao stared at him in astonishment. "My goodness, when did this brat learn to brag so much? 'Take a look at the moon,' why don't you just stand shoulder to shoulder with the sun?"
No matter how one looked at it, Wu Erniang was just a six-year-old girl. Fang Er's words were filled with affection, and after listening, her mind was completely blank.
Wu Shiyue agreed with Fang Er's words for about ninety percent of it. Thinking of Fang Er, who was not yet twenty but already held a ducal title like himself, his future achievements would undoubtedly be immeasurable. Becoming a king was not impossible. With the current foundation of the Duke of An's mansion, even if Fang Xin was subpar, how bad could he really be? Not to mention that Fang Xin was currently just a babe in arms; betrothal before birth was quite common in this era.
Having made his decision, Wu Shiyue rose and cupped his hands towards Fang Er, smiling.
"Hahahaha, since that is the case, I will thank Duke of An for his favor on behalf of my youngest daughter!"
"Hahahaha, Elder Brother Wu, you are too formal! read books."
Hearing Wu Shiyue readily agree, Fang Er immediately changed his address. Wu Shiyue also seized the opportunity, saying with a smile, "Hahahaha, good, Little Brother Fang, then this elder brother will await your family to come and formally propose marriage?"
Chai Shao, who was sitting by, saw that the two had settled the matter and said with a serious expression.
"Wait for what? I am Xin'er's maternal grandfather. Rather than choosing a day, it is better to strike while the iron is hot. Let today be considered the proposal and the betrothal!"
"An Zhi, notify the family to prepare all the necessary items and send them over."
Fang Er had no reason to disagree. He beckoned to Lai Yifa outside the door and gave the instructions.
Wu Erniang blinked her big eyes, completely bewildered. "That's it? I've been betrothed to a brat who still drinks milk?"
Alright, children have no say, and little girls don't even have human rights.
While waiting for Lai Yifa to prepare the gifts, Fang Er turned his gaze back to Wu Erniang.
"Little Wu, you are about to be betrothed. May your teacher give you a name?"
Wu Shiyue feigned anger, saying, "Elder Brother Fang, this is not right of you. After the betrothal, she will be your family's daughter-in-law. It's not as if you can call her whatever you want! What are you discussing with her!"
Wu Erniang quickly bowed, "Please, Teacher, bestow a name upon me~"
Wu Shiyue glared at her, "What are you saying? Change your address!"
"Oh~ Please, Duke, bestow a name." After being reprimanded by her father, Wu Erniang quickly changed her address.
Having lived two lives, this was the first time he was a father-in-law, and Fang Er felt incredibly pleased. He pretended to decline, "Hahahaha, no rush, no rush. The proper etiquette must be followed before calling her that. www.kanshuwu.net"
"Yuan Zhenren and Sun Zhenren stayed at my mansion before. I also learned the art of physiognomy from them. I observe that you will surely grow up to be exceptionally beautiful and exceptionally talented. How about taking the character 'Mei' (媚)? This 'Mei' is both an expectation for you and a warning."
Fang Er was terrible at naming, so he simply used the posthumous title that Li Shimin had given her historically. Of course, if he were to bestow the name 'Mei' without a reasonable explanation, then he, as her father-in-law, would be seen as vulgar.
After hearing this reason, Chai Shao stroked his beard and nodded. "To be betrothed at such a young age, it's hard to guarantee that Wu Mei won't have other thoughts in the future." He understood Fang Er's hidden meaning: 'Mei' was acceptable, but only towards Fang Xin.
However, Wu Shiyue felt a bit embarrassed. This sounded like he was implying his own daughter was promiscuous.
"Elder Brother Wu, are you interested in business matters?"
Just as Wu Shiyue was about to say something, he heard Fang Er's question. Business, originally a lowly affair, had become less something to be hidden ever since Fang Er had drawn various dukes into it, and even the Emperor had shares in the bank and the new Shenyang district. No one had a problem with money, especially officials, who always thought about having some wealth to fall back on after losing their power. Wu Shiyue was no exception, and moreover, he was originally from a merchant background.
During the Sui Dynasty, Wu Shiyue prospered in business and later became a squadron leader in the Eagle Guard. In the thirteenth year of the Daye era (617), he sponsored the Duke of Tang, Li Yuan, to raise an army in Jinyang, where he was appointed as the Armor Officer of the Grand General's Mansion and later followed Li Shimin in pacifying Chang'an. After the founding of the Tang Dynasty, he was listed as one of the "Princes of Taiyuan," and his official position reached Minister of Works, being enfeoffed as Duke of Ying. After Li Shimin ascended the throne, he served successively as the Governor of Yuzhou, Lizhou, and Jingzhou. During his tenure, he governed the populace effectively and was commended by Li Shimin. His current transfer to the Liaodong Protectorate as Sima was a clear demotion in title but an advancement in substance.
Of the sixty-four prefectures of the Great Tang, there were only nine protectorates. The Central Protectorate of Chang'an could be directly disregarded; it was the imperial family's private reserve. Those who could serve as protectors were, in essence, the elite at the pinnacle of Tang Dynasty power. Below the protector were the Simas, one responsible for military affairs and the other for civil administration. Although it was slightly less than the relationship between a chief executive and a political commissar in later generations, the nature was the same.
Hearing Fang Er inquire about business, Wu Shiyue became interested. "What makes you ask, Little Brother?"