There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 394 Proposing marriage at home

Li Shuchen glanced at the handsome and refined Cheng Zhi'an and nodded.

I like this friend very much and admire him.

"Since it's someone you like, then... congratulations, Miss Scholar!" Princess Changning smiled and bowed to Li Shuchen.

The speed at which he changed his expression left Li Shuchen speechless.

"You've been working on this big thing quietly, without me even sending a message beforehand. I've been incredibly busy today, just got off from Ziying's place. Young Master Xiao is going to propose tomorrow, and I'm going to join the fun."

"Really? Then I'll go with you and see what the marriage proposal process is like."

"And you, Scholar Cheng, when are you going to propose to Li Shuchen?"

Princess Changning crossed her arms and looked at Cheng Zhi'an.

Cheng Zhian smiled

"Naturally, we should choose an auspicious day and time to propose marriage."

"I'm not in a hurry; Ziying's matter is more important."

"Yes, let's go together tomorrow."

"become"

After Princess Changning left

Several groups of people arrived at the inn, all congratulating Li Shuchen on his happy marriage.

Li Shuchen warmly welcomes all acquaintances who genuinely wish him well.

Those unfamiliar relatives, those who were not even remotely related, were all sent away by the eighth and ninth brothers.

It's a joke. When she was down on her luck, everyone avoided her and wouldn't help her. Now that she's successful, they all want a piece of the pie.

Will she let them succeed?

More and more people came to congratulate them, and they were simply too many to handle, so Cheng Zhian was put in charge of receiving them all.

夜晚

Exhausted, the two did not sleep, but instead lit an oil lamp and sat around the desk.

What position and rank would the top scholar receive?

The top scholar in the imperial examination was typically appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, a position of the sixth rank.

"Can the laws be amended?"

"No, their main duties are to record the emperor's words and deeds and major military and political events of the country, assist in drafting the emperor's edicts and decrees, answer the emperor's questions about classics and history, examine and discuss systems, and also participate in the compilation of important documents such as the 'Collected Statutes' and local chronicles."

"If you put it that way, I feel like I'm some kind of advisor and secretary to the emperor."

"more or less"

Li Shuchen sighed, his eyes dimming.

Cheng Zhian offered words of comfort, "Just because I can't now doesn't mean I can't in the future."

Li Shuchen's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

"I have a few ideas, let me tell you about them."

"Speaking"

“I feel that some laws are unfair. Take the law about redeeming actors from their servitude, for example. It stipulates that only men can redeem actors from their servitude. I think both men and women should be able to do so.”

"Why the sudden change from redeeming actors from their servitude?"

"When we went to redeem Bingli before, the manager said that women could not redeem actors. If Yuying hadn't been there that day and used her status to pressure us, we probably wouldn't have been able to redeem Bingli."

"I remember, I'll figure something out."

"Furthermore, unequal status between husband and wife, and mutual killing between spouses, such as a wife killing her husband, will be punished with the death penalty of beheading or dismemberment, while a husband killing his wife will be punished far less severely than for ordinary murder."

"Last time, Grandpa Liu from the next street beat and verbally abused his wife, who committed suicide because she couldn't bear the torment. Grandpa Liu was acquitted, which is simply outrageous. Aunt Chen died because of him, but he gets away scot-free. Every time I think about it, my heart aches."

Cheng Zhian held the pen and wrote on the paper.

"I've noted that down. Anything else? Please continue."

"There's also the issue of inheritance; as a daughter, wife, and mother, her rights are all dependent on the man."

"A virgin only has the opportunity to inherit a portion of the property if the family line ends in extinction (there is no male heir)."

"When a woman marries, her property is completely transferred to her husband's family."

"Widows only have the right to use, not own, their husbands' estates. Their main task is to safeguard the property and arrange for an heir. I think this is very unfair. Women should have independent property rights."

"Okay, I've got it."

"besides……"

……

Liang Yuying listened silently to their conversation from under the eaves, abandoning her thoughts of going inside to question them.

After discovering one of Shu Chen's identities after another, she understood what she wanted to do.

Now, she has someone who can do what she wants to do, and someone who is willing to do it, and that's enough.

That's good...

Shu Chen, I wish you happiness.

Purple Star Dynasty, March 16th

Gu Mansion

Gu Ziying's Boudoir

"Young Master Xiao is here to propose marriage today, Ziying, you should dress up nicely."

Li Shuchen held up each piece of jewelry on Gu Ziying's head.

"He came to propose marriage but refused to see me. Why bother?"

"Who knows if he'll try to sneak a peek at you?"

Gu Ziying smiled sweetly, as if she had just thought of something, "Okay, I'll wear whatever you choose."

Princess Changning picked out earrings, shaking her head repeatedly, unable to find one she liked.

"I've seen all of these earrings before. Do you have any new ones made?"

“They’re all here,” Gu Ziying replied.

Li Shuchen selected a hair accessory and put it on Gu Ziying, then glanced at the earrings and said...

"Today, Ziying's makeup is light and radiant, and I've chosen a pearl hairpin for her hair; the earrings should also be pearls to match."

"We do have pearl earrings here, but they're too big and would be too eye-catching and out of place," Princess Changning said, taking out the earrings she had mentioned.

Li Shuchen took it and examined it carefully before saying...

"I did prepare a pair of earrings as a congratulatory gift for Ziying. Congratulations on getting what she wanted. It seems I should bring them out ahead of time."

"Quickly, let me see it," Princess Changning urged.

"Don't rush, let me look," Li Shuchen said, rummaging through his crossbody bag while opening the system shop and selecting a pair of white jade and pearl earrings to buy.

Little Jizi, please put it in my bag.

The next second, the pearl earring appeared in her palm.

She smiled and said, "How is it? Does it suit Ziying's makeup today?"

At the top of the pendant is a softly lustrous pearl, about eight millimeters in size, below which hangs a teardrop-shaped piece of white jade.

"It suits you, I'll wear it, Ziying, please put it on."

After Princess Changning finished putting the hair on Gu Ziying, she took a step back and looked her over.

After a while, she nodded in satisfaction.

"Dignified and self-possessed, yet possessing the gentle grace and elegance of a refined young lady."

"Changning, you've improved; you can even speak in such refined language now."

"Ugh, I've been to school too, you know!"

"Miss, Young Master Xiao has arrived. Master and Madam have already gone to the main hall," An Lan said happily.

Li Shuchen's eyes lit up. "So fast! I'll go check it out."

"I'll go too," Princess Changning followed.

Finally, the two appeared together on the eaves of the main hall.

"Li Shuchen, why did you bring me here?" Princess Changning asked, clutching Li Shuchen tightly, her eyes filled with excitement.

"Going to the main hall is against the rules."

"So it's in accordance with the rules for you to take me to the rooftop?"

"It doesn't suit me, but it's better than going to the main hall."

As Li Shuchen spoke, he lifted a tile and immediately saw a pair of live geese with red ribbons tied around their feet and glossy feathers.

Xiao Xiuyuan and Li Lingxiao were standing next to them.

"Huh? What's Xiao'er doing here too?"

"Let me see," Princess Changning said with a puzzled look after seeing Li Lingxiao. "Is he here to support Young Master Xiao? But what kind of support can he possibly provide?"

"Shh, the matchmaker is speaking, let's hear what she has to say."

Princess Changning held her breath instantly, crouched down, and listened intently.

"This old woman, Chen Fengshi, greets Your Excellency and Madam."

The matchmaker, dressed in a dark red jacket with a "福" (fortune) pattern, entered the hall, faced the head of the household, clasped her hands in front of her abdomen, and gave a deep bow, her movements slow and precise.

Master Gu raised his hand in a gesture of support: "Granny, you've worked hard. Please have a seat."

The maid brought over an embroidered stool and placed it in the guest area.