Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 1204 Postscript 60·You also need to give a bride price when marrying a princess

Local officials cannot leave their jurisdiction at will.

The imperial court sent an official telegram to the Chief Secretary of Hubei Province and specially gave Xie Yiqin a two-and-a-half-month holiday. He first went to the Chief Secretary of Hubei to go through the formalities. The first thing he did when he arrived in Beijing was to report to the Ministry of Personnel.

"Back again!"

Xie Yiqin took a carriage and watched the streets of Luoyang all the way.

The last time he came here was to return to Beijing to report on his work. At that time, the coup had just ended and Luoyang City was in turmoil. The cabinet ministers have been replaced, and many officials even have vacancies, or they have not returned halfway.

At that time, he came and went in a hurry and did not dare to stay in Luoyang longer.

Showing his official badge, Xie Yiqin went straight to the Department of Inspection and Honors of the Ministry of Personnel. This department is responsible for civil servants’ rank, name, system, final care, etc.

For example, if a civil servant observes filial piety to his parents, he will report to the Ji Xunsi after returning to Beijing. When local civil servants come to Beijing for some reason, they also come to Jixunsi to report.

The person who received Xie Yiqin was a senior civil servant: "Why did you come to Beijing for your business?"

Xie Yiqin took out the paperwork from the Chief Secretary of Hubei Province: "On vacation."

"On vacation?" The clerk was quite surprised.

Officials on vacation generally return to their hometowns and return to their post before the end of the vacation. Even if their native place is in the capital, they do not need to report to the Ministry of Personnel.

He checked the paperwork carefully and felt that Xie Yiqin's name sounded familiar.

Huangzhou Prefecture's general judge?

Your surname is Xie?

The literary official stood up and bowed respectfully: "Are you the father of Bachelor Xie?"

Xie Yiqin was stunned: "My son is so famous in Luoyang?"

He hooked up with the eldest princess and often visited the princess's mansion. He was even taken by the princess to meet the queen mother and the emperor. How can this not be famous?

Maybe some people don't pay attention to these, but they certainly don't include officials in the Ministry of Personnel, especially the Ji Xunsi who is in charge of civil servant files!

The clerk was enthusiastic and said with a smile: "Xie Tongpan, please sit down quickly."

He found a booklet, registered Xie Yiqin's visit to Beijing, and stamped the Hubei Chief Secretary's document.

While the clerk was busy, he inquired: "Is Xie Tongpan coming to Beijing to visit your son?"

"Yes." Xie Yiqin didn't dare to show off in Luoyang.

The civil servant basically guessed what was going on, so he gave his name to make him look familiar: "I am the official of Ji Xun Division, Ding Ang, with the courtesy name Fenzhi. If Xie Tongpan comes to the Ministry of Civil Affairs in the future, please let me know if you have any orders." "

"Remember, thank you, Your Excellency." Xie Yiqin responded quickly.

Although he is just a civil servant, he is a civil servant in the Ministry of Personnel. There may be no use in making friends with him, but if he offends him, something might happen.

The clerk deliberately delayed the conversation and chatted for a while to deepen his impression on Xie Yiqin.

After leaving the official department, Xie Yiqin felt a little unreal.

He never thought that one day he would be called "the father of Xiao Xie's Bachelor" in Luoyang.

Moreover, his son’s name is too big, right? Any civil servant would be able to think that he was Xie Yan's father just by looking at his position and name.

After feeling dizzy for a while, Xie Yiqin became happy again.

My son is so awesome!

Back at the inn, Xie Yiqin told his wife what he had just experienced.

Wang Yitong was also extremely happy: "This is how you become famous in the capital, and every official you meet will know it!"

Xie Yiqin said: "I usually teach well."

"When did you teach him to read? Liulang practiced calligraphy when he was a child, and you seemed impatient even if he couldn't write after a few more exercises." Wang Yitong started to settle old scores again.

Xie Yiqin said: "What I teach him is not to teach him to read, but to teach him how to behave."

"I'm too lazy to argue with you." Wang Yitong thought it was because he was born well.

The couple left the inn and headed to Li's house in the southern suburbs.

Xie Yan was teaching two little girls to read the "Three Character Classic". He was an innocent little puppy in the princess's house. He turned around and became very affectionate with his maid.

Scumbag!

When he heard that his parents were coming, Xie Yan hurried out to greet them.

Xie Yiqin took out the letter of appointment: "I have changed it for you. When are you going to visit the old president?"

Xie Yan said: "I have sent Wang Xing to the old president's house to pay my respects. I will know when the time is right when he comes back."

"Where are the gifts?" Xie Yiqin asked, "The gift is too expensive, and the old president may not accept it. The gift is too ordinary, and it makes us look shabby and rude."

Xie Yan took out a gift box: "It's ready. The princess just sent someone to deliver it."

Wang Yitong felt it was inappropriate: "How can the woman come out with the gift that the man gave to the matchmaker? After you get married, you will not be able to hold your head high in front of the princess."

Xie Yan smiled and said: "The old president is not only the matchmaker for the man, but also the matchmaker for the woman. By the way, the princess also said that she would invite you two to her manor as guests."

"Isn't this bad?" Xie Yiqin said.

Xie Yan said: "I'm just going to a manor in the suburbs, not a guest at the princess' house."

The couple said no more.

But Wang Yitong was murmuring, the princess is anxious to see us, is she trying to intimidate her?

Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are born potential enemies!

In the afternoon, Wang Xing came back to report that he could visit the old president tomorrow.

The next day, the family of three went to Jiangzuo Village, fifty miles away.

The old president was in poor health, so his youngest son Zhu Changbai went out to meet him.

The old president had six sons. The eldest son and the second son were tortured to death by him. The third, fourth and fifth sons all work as officials or teach in other places.

Only the youngest son, Zhu Changbai, is responsible for managing the manor and taking care of his father.

This time, it was Zhu Changbai who was responsible for running back and forth as a matchmaker. The old president was in poor health and couldn't stand the trouble.

"Meet the old gentleman (old president)!" A family of three entered the house and saluted.

The old president was sitting on a chair, teasing several great-grandchildren, and said with a smile: "Please sit down. I am sorry that I am not able to stand up to greet the guests."

"I dare not." Xie Yiqin said hurriedly.

The old president said: "Although the late emperor and I are of different generations, we grew up together and are as close as brothers. To be presumptuous, the daughter of the late emperor is my daughter. I am also responsible for the princess's previous marriage, and I have long wanted to find a suitable husband for her. You have taught your son very well, and he is both a good person and a good scholar, so I am relying on my age to be the matchmaker."

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

Xie Yiqin said: "Thank you for your trouble, old sir."

The old president said again: "I have already contacted the Zongzheng Temple, and His Majesty will grant the marriage soon. You should prepare the betrothal gifts. If the money you bring is not enough, you can wait for the 10,000 strings after the marriage is granted."

The Song Dynasty gave the son-in-law 10,000 strings of money after the marriage was granted, so as to avoid encountering a poor son-in-law who could not afford the betrothal gifts.

At the beginning of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Taizu and Taizong advocated frugality and called on officials not to spend lavishly when marrying their daughters and daughters-in-law. The royal family naturally set an example.

At that time, even the prince's wedding did not cost much money. And the cash given to the son-in-law was directly reduced from 10,000 strings of coins in the Song Dynasty to only 2,000 strings of coins.

After several emperors, various expenses were rising, and finally returned to the amount of the Song Dynasty.

Even if Xie Yiqin and his wife did not bring a penny, they could prepare a gift list first, then go to the market to purchase, and wait for the 10,000 strings of coins to arrive before paying.

Marrying a princess also requires a betrothal gift, but the betrothal gift money is paid by the royal family in disguise. Hehe!

However, the son-in-law of a wealthy family generally prepares a betrothal gift in excess. First, to show their strength, and second, to improve their status after marriage.

After having lunch at the old chairman's house and chatting for a while, the three members of the Xie family bowed and said goodbye.

Halfway, in the carriage, they began to discuss the betrothal gift.

Wang Yitong said: "We can't just use the 10,000 guan to prepare the betrothal gift. First, it will not sound good if it gets out, and second, Liu Lang will be easily offended."

"Mom, I won't be offended." Xie Yan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Wang Yitong said: "You are still young and don't understand these social customs. The royal family gave you 10,000 guan as a guarantee. But if you only give 10,000 guan as a betrothal gift, what will the princess think? She will think that we don't spend a penny and everything in the house belongs to her."

Xie Yiqin said: "Your mother is right. I didn't give enough betrothal gifts at the beginning..."

"Hmm?" Wang Yitong looked at her husband.

Xie Yiqin quickly explained: "I am just talking about the facts, don't make random associations."

Wang Yitong said unhappily: "Do I need to make associations? You have already said it clearly! Liu Lang, please judge, have I made your father angry?"

Xie Yan said seriously: "No. You two are usually very loving, and your father has never been angry. You are a role model for couples in the world."

Wang Yitong was happy: "Did you hear that? You said I was unreasonable, but my son always speaks fairly, right?"

"Fair, especially fair." Xie Yiqin sighed secretly.

Xie Yan blinked at his father, indicating that he was powerless.

Xie Yiqin had to change the subject: "Let's not talk about this. I brought 5,000 strings of banknotes with me when I came to Beijing this time. Your grandfather is also on his way here, with 8,000 strings of banknotes. Together with the 10,000 strings awarded by the emperor, we will use 23,000 strings to prepare the betrothal gifts this time."

Xie Yan thought, you, a man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, are actually a corrupt official. You can take out 5,000 strings without making any noise!

Xie Yiqin was indeed corrupt, but compared with the power in his hands, he was considered relatively honest in the Ming officialdom.

Alas, in the corrupt officialdom, there are few truly honest officials.

Xie Yan had to explain: "There is really no need to make such a big show. I don't need so many betrothal gifts to save face, and the princess is not that kind of person. The Xie family can pay 2,000 guan, a total of 12,000 guan betrothal gifts."

"People like to save face," Xie Yiqin said, "Our Xie family only pays 2,000 guan, and the princess may not say anything. But if the Xie family pays 13,000 guan, the princess will definitely be happier and respect you more in the future."

Wang Yitong said: "What your father said makes sense. What's more, your betrothal gifts are to be moved into the royal treasury. If they are too shabby, what will the royal family think? What will the clan members think?"

Xie Yan felt very tired.

Forget it, it's up to you.

Xie Yiqin added: "I didn't know you were in such a hurry to get married. I'm not prepared at all. I'm not familiar with Luoyang either, so I have to find out the situation quickly. Mr. Li is a local and has a rich family background. It should be appropriate to ask him to help with the betrothal gifts."

"Don't bother the Li family. The princess will send someone to help." Xie Yan said.

Wang Yitong was angry: "We haven't even gotten married yet, and you listen to the princess in everything. Won't she have the final say after marriage?"

Xie Yan asked: "Mom, don't you have the final say at home?"

"I'm different. I'm reasonable." Wang Yitong said.

Xie Yiqin turned his head away and rolled his eyes quietly.

Xie Yan smiled and said: "Tomorrow when you meet the princess, you will know that the princess is as reasonable as your mother."

Hearing this, Xie Yiqin began to worry instead.