Chapter 243 - 242: Betrothal
Returning to Rose Courtyard, Chen Afu took off the golden hairpin of the spread-winged phoenix with hanging pearls that Mrs. Chu had given her. The golden hairpin was really beautiful, about the size of a small sparrow, with delicate thin wings that quivered with the slightest movement. A few pearls were rosy white and round, about the size of a fingertip.
Yu Zhuo looked at it and said, "Ah, this hairpin is so pretty, it’s made by the Imperial Household Department."
"What makes you say that?" Chen Afu asked.
Yu Zhuo pointed to an almost invisible character on the hairpin and said, "Miss Chen, please look here, this is the character ’nei’."
Chen Afu saw it, indeed it was true. She then said, "So Mrs. Chu is a princess. She seems affable in disposition and forthright, quite an easygoing person."
Yu Zhuo agreed proudly, "Indeed, our Lady Chu is nothing but kind-hearted, even treating us servants very well. However, for those who incur her displeasure..." She suddenly panicked, realizing she was discussing her master, especially the formidable Lady Chu, and hastily shut her mouth, her face flushing red.
That night, hearing that the men in the outer courtyard were having a very good time, Chen Shiying gladly accepted Commander Fu’s matchmaking. The next day, Chen Shiying continued to play host to the official matchmaker the Chus invited over for a formal proposal. After that, the birthdates of both families matched perfectly, a match made in heaven. Since both parties were not young anymore, they set the date of marriage to the tenth day of the second month next year.
Chen Shiying also told Chen Afu that the Chens would not keep any of the betrothal gifts from the Chus, they would all be given to her as a dowry, and Mrs. Jiang would prepare an additional generous dowry for her... It was also decided that the wedding would still take place in the Chens’ Mansion next year.