Duke Pingning spoke with heartfelt sincerity. Seeing Lu Nianfu still hesitant, he bowed to Madam Fang again: "Madam of Marquis Guangling, why don't you say something for us?"
Madam Fang was quite displeased, having not expected this merchant's daughter to have such fortune. She half-heartedly advised, "Nianfu, look at how sincere your father and sister are. Don't be so reserved. Isn't the status of a duke's daughter more respectable than that of a merchant's daughter?"
Duke Pingning wiped away tears: "It's all my fault that you've been ridiculed because of your status."
Lu Nianfu felt her father's emotions were perhaps a bit excessive, but she was still touched. "Your Grace, please don't say that. Over the years, Father has treated me very well, and I haven't suffered any hardships. As for status, it's not the previous dynasty anymore, where they valued scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants in order. The Emperor has even decreed the ennoblement of many imperial merchants, and the status of merchants has long been greatly elevated. It's only in the capital that people make a fuss about this; in Jiangnan, no one really cares."
In the end, it all came down to a lack of money.
The current dynasty had been plagued by frequent wars, and the national treasury was perpetually empty. Relying solely on taxes from sericulture and farming would have long impoverished the court. To raise funds, the court had always encouraged commerce, and taxes from merchants had become a significant source of revenue.
In the previous dynasty, the offspring of merchant families were not even qualified to take the imperial examinations. However, in this dynasty, there were far more officials in the court who hailed from merchant backgrounds than from farming families.
Duke Pingning was momentarily stunned: "It's good that Xixi didn't suffer."
Madam Fang, while examining her fingernails, said dismissively, "Since she didn't suffer much, then this recognition of kinship should be made. My Marquis Guangling's household cannot have a daughter-in-law who is unfilial and lacks fraternity."
Duke Pingning and Zeng Weiyang looked over expectantly. Only Madam Pingning kept her head down, her fingernails digging into her palms within her wide sleeves.
Lu Nianfu finally nodded.
Duke Pingning was overjoyed: "Excellent, excellent! I will return immediately to choose a date. We'll host a three-day feast at the gate, ensuring everyone in the capital knows that Zeng Guangyi's daughter has been found."
Lu Nianfu said, "There's no need to be so ostentatious. Recognition of kinship is enough."
"That won't do. You've already suffered for so many years; we can't just bring you home quietly. Besides, rumors are rampant outside. A grand banquet will also serve to silence those gossips."
"Father is right, sister. Please agree to his wishes. You've just arrived in the capital, and this is a good opportunity for everyone to get to know you. It will prevent people from constantly using your merchant background to say you are not worthy of your brother-in-law."
These words sounded rather odd. Lu Nianfu felt a pang of suspicion, but when she looked up, she met Zeng Weiyang's eyes, which were full of sincerity.
After all, they had had little interaction in the previous life, so Lu Nianfu dismissed her thoughts as overthinking. "Since that's the case, please make the arrangements. Inform me when the date is chosen."
Zeng Weiyang nodded with delight: "Then I'll ask Father to send an eight-bearer sedan chair to pick up sister."
"Don't be silly. The imperial court has regulations. Only imperial consorts and princesses, and the bride on her wedding day, can ride in an eight-bearer sedan chair. But don't worry, Xixi, your father will certainly not mistreat you then."
The matter was thus settled, and Duke Pingning's family left joyfully.
Or perhaps not entirely. Duke Pingning's wife's smile was too forced. Lu Nianfu even felt a flicker of satisfaction. Didn't you not want me to acknowledge my kin? Then I will.
In the evening, Lu Nianfu spoke to Gu Yanchen about recognizing her family. Gu Yanchen scoffed at the notion of status. "Don't you know a wife follows her husband? Even if you were the daughter of a slave, you are now the wife of a third-rank official. Just wait, I'll go to the Ministry of Rites tomorrow. I've been a third-rank official for so long, and your noble title hasn't been bestowed yet. What's going on? However, it's good that you're acknowledging them. You have no relatives in the capital, so consider it another family to visit. Ultimately, they are your birth parents; they won't harm you."
Lu Nianfu nodded. "I think so too."