Chapter 50: Daughter Expresses Gratitude to Father on Behalf of Mother…

Chapter 50: Daughter Expresses Gratitude to Father on Behalf of Mother...

"Follow me."

Later, the children were going to play in the east chamber, so Cheng Yixin signaled Cheng Yian to follow her to the west chamber.

Cheng Yian's sleepiness instantly disappeared; her elder sister was going to lecture her.

She followed her reluctantly into the west chamber.

Cheng Yixin sent the maids away and turned around to see Cheng Yian looking at her pleadingly, like a child who had done something wrong.

Cheng Yixin couldn't help but chuckle softly, pointing to the armchair opposite her and saying gently,

"Sit down, I just want to ask you a few things."

Cheng Yian, unsure of what her sister wanted, sat down on the edge of the chair, recalling how the Cheng sisters privately feared encountering Cheng Yixin because she was as strict as their father.

Cheng Yixin observed Cheng Yian quietly for a moment, then leaned slightly towards her,

"An An, don't worry too much, I'm just curious about how things are between you and your husband..." She bit her lip, her voice dropping even lower, and asked awkwardly, "How often do you two... you know?"

Cheng Yian was surprised, realizing it was just small talk. She moved closer to her sister, "Well..." she said with a pained expression, "My husband can indulge me in everything, but when it comes to this, I have to indulge him."

Cheng Yixin was shocked, unsure of how to respond. She swallowed hard, "How often does it happen?"

Cheng Yian leaned closer to her shoulder, sighing, "Except for the days of my period, he wants it every single day. And now that he's about to leave, it's even more frequent than before."

Meaning more than once a night sometimes.

Oh my goodness.

If Cheng Yixin hadn't had such strong self-control, she would have dug her nails into her palms.

She thought ten times a month was already quite frequent, especially since they only had it a few times a month when they were newlyweds. But now Cheng Yian was telling her that it could happen several times in one night.

The difference between men can be so vast.

Cheng Yixin's bitterness was nearly impossible to conceal.

Having lived through past and present lives, Cheng Yian quickly grasped her sister's expression and realized she might have said too much,

"Elder sister..." she gently took her hand, her brow furrowed, "You two..."

Cheng Yixin, seeing that she had guessed, shook her head in embarrassment, "We haven't had it in a long time." Cheng Yixin spoke vaguely to save He Qingyun's face.

Cheng Yian's first reaction was to comfort her, smiling bitterly, "Actually, that's quite normal. You and brother-in-law have been married for so many years, it's natural to feel less energetic. Who knows what our general will be like in a couple of years? I once knew someone whose husband was fine the first two years, but then it dwindled to just two or three times a month."

She was referring to Fan Yulin from her past life.

Cheng Yixin was fine with the first part, but upon hearing the last sentence, she almost cried.

So having it a few times a month is considered not doing well.

That means they haven't been doing well from the start.

Seeing her sister silent, Cheng Yian felt the situation was serious and held her hand tightly, anxious for her.

She began to search for reasons,

"Is it because elder sister is too reserved?"

Cheng Yian worried that Cheng Yixin might be too reserved around her husband, which could hinder their intimacy. Men usually prefer tender and affectionate women.

Cheng Yixin gave a wry smile, "How could that be? I understand this principle well. We still exchange sweet words at night."

Cheng Yian was surprised to see her elder sister's tender side in private.

Thinking of her own relationship with Lu Xusheng, she had never called him "husband" or spoken sweet words.

Yet Lu Xusheng was like a wolf, always eager to pounce on her.

He Qingyun seemed to care for Cheng Yixin, so Cheng Yian pondered, "Then maybe we should see a physician."

Cheng Yixin hesitated, "I suggested it, but he's too proud and resistant. I thought of finding a physician from out of town. If they're reliable, we'll go for a consultation."

Cheng Yian thought of another possibility.

In her past life, Fan Yulin had become less capable over time, but he still kept a mistress, maybe out of boredom or for novelty.

Some men, after indulging outside, lose interest at home.

But this speculation could cause discord between them, so Cheng Yian hesitated.

"Does he spend more time at home or outside?"

"Before the mourning period, he spent most of his time at the Hanlin Academy, occasionally painting, so he was often away. But once home, he was almost always by my side. During the mourning year, he was with me day and night." Cheng Yixin, sharp as ever, quickly guessed Cheng Yian's suspicion. She shook her head,

"An An, I don't think there's someone else in his heart. He treats me well and would do anything for me."

Cheng Yian could only say, "Then let's see a physician first."

At this point, Cheng Yixin faced another dilemma.

The He household had staff, but involving the master might make the servants look down on him.

Her people were all from the Cheng family, risking leaks. If her father and grandmother found out, it would cause trouble.

Cheng Yian noticed her hesitation,

"Do you trust me, elder sister? If you do, leave this matter to me. Don't worry, it won't leak, and I won't tell anyone about today."

This was when the bond between sisters truly showed its value.

Cheng Yixin took a deep breath, tears finally welling up in her eyes. She couldn't help but embrace Cheng Yian,

"My dear sister, I dared not speak of this to anyone. If not for you, my closest sister, I wouldn't know who to turn to. I'm so fortunate to have your support."

"And regarding your brother-in-law, you must not reveal even a hint of this."

Cheng Yian patted her back and smiled, "Don't worry, I can keep a secret."

After venting her emotions, Cheng Yixin felt as if a heavy stone had been lifted from her heart. She stood up from Cheng Yian's embrace and looked at her with a smile,

"Just a while ago, I thought you were still young and prone to tantrums, but it turns out you are the one who can handle serious matters."

Earlier, when Cheng Yian was socializing with the noblewomen, Cheng Yixin had worried she might falter, but to her surprise, Cheng Yian handled it with ease.

She may seem gentle and soft, but she’s quite capable.

Since Cheng Yixin had asked her for a favor, Cheng Yian decided not to stay for dinner.

"Better to act sooner than later. I’ll get ready right away."

Cheng Yixin noticed Cheng Yian looked a little worn out. "Do you want to rest a bit before you go?"

Cheng Yian shook her head. "I’ll rest in the carriage."

Seeing Cheng Yian was leaving, Cheng Yiqiao decided to head back to the mansion as well.

Just as they were seeing the two sisters off at the Chuihua Gate, a matron from the Cheng family showed up unexpectedly.

"The Old Ancestor has asked the young ladies to come back home."

Cheng Yixin knew right away it had to do with Cheng Yiqiao’s marriage.

So she told the steward to take care of things at home and took her sisters back to the Cheng family.

Cheng Yiqiao’s carriage led the way, while Cheng Yixin and Cheng Yian rode together, trailing behind, to talk about hiring a doctor.

As Cheng Yiqiao’s carriage was leaving the alley in front of the He residence, someone stopped it.

"Miss Cheng..."

Wei Shuting, who had heard about what happened earlier from his mother, was waiting there, looking anxious.

Cheng Yiqiao lifted the carriage curtain, saw it was him, and immediately turned cold.

"Mr. Wei, your mother asked how much dowry our family expects. Let me be clear: even though the Cheng family isn’t high-ranking, we don’t sell our daughters, and we don’t haggle over prices. Mr. Wei, you should find a family of equal standing who’s willing to bargain with you."

Wei Shuting turned pale. "Miss Cheng, that’s not what I meant. My mother was just nervous and misspoke. She’s already realized her mistake and has been regretting it with me. Please, give me another chance..."

But Cheng Yiqiao had already dropped the curtain and told the coachman to move on.

Wei Shuting watched her carriage disappear, filled with regret.

"Ah!" He quickly got on his horse and went to talk things over with his father.

Meanwhile, the three Cheng sisters returned to the main branch of the family, where the Old Ancestor and Cheng Mingyu were waiting.

Cheng Yixin explained everything in detail, and the Old Ancestor was clearly disappointed.

"Even though the Marquis of the South City is open-minded, his wife is narrow-minded and not someone we should associate with. So, this marriage is off."

Cheng Mingyu, however, stayed calm. Seeing his daughter’s frustration, he reassured her, "Marriage is about fate. If your personalities don’t align, it’s just not meant to be. You should be glad you found out about the incompatibility before the wedding, so you could stop in time. If you’d only realized after the wedding that you didn’t get along with your mother-in-law, it would’ve been too late to regret it."

Cheng Mingyu always looked on the bright side.

Hearing this, Cheng Yiqiao immediately smiled through her tears. "If Father says so, then I won’t be upset."

"Then, Father will announce publicly that you’re not ready for marriage yet, to put an end to any speculation. You should stay at home and take good care of your health."

He feared that his daughter, pressured by the marriage, would think that the family disliked her and was eager to marry her off.

Cheng Yiqiao was silent for a moment. "But Father, I can’t really not marry, can I?"

At this point, Cheng Yixin interjected, "Father, today the Governor of Sichuan’s family showed up uninvited and seemed very eager."

Cheng Mingyu was well aware of the sincerity of the Sichuan Governor's family, but Cheng Yiqiao refused to marry far away, and he couldn't bear to part with her either. He didn't want to be constantly worried, having to send people over there every month.

Moreover, having first approached the Chengnan Marquis's family and seeing that it didn't work out, they immediately arranged to meet with the Governor's family, making it seem like the girl was too eager to marry, which could easily put them in a passive position. He decisively shook his head,

"Let's hold off on Yiqiao's marriage for now."

Cheng Yiqiao was momentarily at a loss for words, hugging his arm and acting coyly,

"Daddy, I don't want to leave you..."

Cheng Mingyu looked at his daughter, who was acting spoiled, and said helplessly, "You're already a grown woman, still crying and fussing with Daddy."

As he looked up, he noticed Cheng Yian looking at him, and it suddenly struck him that his younger daughter had never been so affectionate with him. His heart ached, and he felt a deep pang of sorrow.

Cheng Yian met his gaze and thought he might be misinterpreting her as jealous. She quickly smiled and averted her gaze.

Cheng Yixin still had household duties to attend to, so she left early.

The mistress wanted Cheng Yian to stay for dinner, but Cheng Yian, thinking of Cheng Yixin's matters, declined,

"I have things to do too. I'll return to stay at my parents' home after Lu Xusheng leaves for Jiangnan."

Cheng Yian said her goodbyes and stepped over the threshold.

As she walked along a corridor inside the Chuihua Gate, she heard Cheng Mingyu's voice calling from behind her,

"An An..."

Cheng Yian turned around and saw her father approaching with a clear and bright demeanor. She smiled, "Daddy..."

The servants all bowed their heads and retreated.

Cheng Mingyu approached her with his hands clasped behind his back, looking at his obedient and gentle daughter, he felt even more uneasy. He wished Cheng Yian would throw a fit with him,

"Daddy will walk you to the gate."

Cheng Yian knew he was trying to comfort her, and she felt helpless.

After all, she hadn't been raised under his care, so there was still a gap between them. She couldn't be as free-spirited in front of him as Cheng Yiqiao was.

Not just with Cheng Mingyu, but even with Lu Xusheng, she had never been so affectionate.

She could sense her father's guilt for wanting to make amends but not knowing how.

There was no way to articulate it.

The two of them walked in silence towards the main gate.

Cheng Mingyu intentionally slowed his pace, and Cheng Yian had to slow down as well.

The sun was setting, and the cold wind grew sharper, biting at their cheeks.

Although it was already spring, the plants and flowers in the courtyard remained withered, showing no signs of spring. The red lanterns hung during New Year's Eve were still up, and the patterns on the bright corridors, once dyed by winter snow, had faded a bit.

Another year had passed.

The girl who used to sit on his lap and chew candy had already married. She was bright and generous, intelligent and gentle, and had her own strong opinions when it came to matters, handling them decisively. As a father, he hadn't even had the chance to help.

Anything he said would be superfluous. As he walked Cheng Yian to the gate, he suddenly asked,

"Did you visit your mother's grave before the New Year?"

Cheng Yian paused for a moment, then turned to him and replied, "On the 28th of the previous month, I visited the cenotaph to clean the grave. On New Year's Eve, Lu Xusheng and I went to the villa to honor her memory."

Cheng Mingyu nodded, "You mentioned earlier that you wanted to move your mother's cenotaph out of the Cheng family cemetery. I have an idea; would you like to hear it?"

"Please go ahead."

Cheng Mingyu pondered, "I don't want to disturb your mother's resting place, so I plan to move the wall in that area and enclose your mother's grave separately, creating a separate memorial garden. What do you think?"

Cheng Yian smiled gently, "That would be ideal. I thank you on my mother's behalf!"

She curtsied to him again.

This expression of gratitude left Cheng Mingyu feeling uneasy.

It was as if he had no ties to Xia Fu at all.

He had never told her that before Cheng Mingyou came back to the capital, his and Xia Fu's joint inheritance was recorded in the family genealogy. It was only after Xia Fu's sudden death and Cheng Mingyou's recovery that everything was erased to protect her reputation.

"When will you be free? I can accompany you to handle this matter."

Moving the graves would affect the feng shui, so he needed to be personally involved.

Cheng Yian thought for a moment, "How about during the Tomb-Sweeping Festival?"

Cheng Mingyu nodded.

Cheng Yian still remembered that she needed to attend to Cheng Yixin's matters, so she didn't stay long.

"Then I will take my leave."

Cheng Mingyu had already watched her go down the steps but couldn't help calling out to her.

"An An,"

Cheng Yian turned back in surprise, only to see her father standing tall and elegant on the steps, the clarity in his eyes seemingly within reach.

"An An, no matter how old you get or where you marry, in my eyes, you will always be my child."

Being a child means you can still be spoiled by your father.

Cheng Yian understood the implication behind his words. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, revealing two shallow dimples, and she waved at him with a smile.

After leaving the Cheng residence, Cheng Yian told Qiu Qing to drive the carriage to the West Market. In her past life, Cheng Yian had been involved in the medicinal herb trade and was quite familiar with the industry. If anyone knew about physicians, it would be the shopkeepers who traveled far and wide dealing in medicinal herbs. They not only knew which mountains in the Great Jin Dynasty produced rare herbs but also which physicians were famous and specialized in treating certain illnesses.

The biggest medicinal herb shop in the capital was in the West Market, where there was a street dedicated to medicinal herbs. Herbs from all over the land were sold here. Cheng Yian told Qiu Qing to park the carriage in a quiet alley, then changed into an old garment that Cheng Yixin had found for her. She put on a hood and told all the female servants and maids to wait there, taking only Qiu Qing with her.

Qiu Qing turned his clothes inside out, covered his face, and followed her, putting on a tough demeanor.

Cheng Yian found the first shop and pretended to be there to purchase goods. The manager chatted with her, and seeing that she spoke the trade's jargon, he realized she was an expert and didn't dare to deceive her. He led her upstairs to meet the shopkeeper. There, Cheng Yian handed over a silver ingot and explained her purpose. At first, the shopkeeper seemed impatient and unwilling to reveal much to a stranger, but when he noticed a burly guard standing at the door, glaring fiercely, he mentioned a few names.

Cheng Yian, fearing he might hold back, asked, "How do they compare to the Divine Physician Li from Wolonggang?"

In her past life, Cheng Yian had once used the Cheng family's invitation to seek out the Divine Physician Li from Wolonggang to save Fan Yulin. The Divine Physician Li had some connection with the Cheng family, and with just a letter from her father, he would surely come to the capital to treat He Qingyun. However, He Qingyun was concerned about his reputation, so naturally, they couldn't alarm him.

The shopkeeper realized this woman had significant connections and didn't dare to deceive her further. He accepted the silver and provided a few more names.

"The one closest to the capital who can treat this kind of illness and is best at acupuncture is Mr. Ba from Taihang Mountain. Then there is Liu Buxing based in Tong Pass, but Liu Buxing has a strange temper and doesn't treat just anyone. I recommend Mr. Ba. If Mr. Ba can't help, then you can go look for Liu Buxing."

After visiting three large shops, the information received was quite similar, confirming the shopkeeper's words. The person wrote it down and tucked it into her clothes, then instructed Ru Lan to make a trip to the He residence.

Wei Shuting returned to his residence and waited until evening for the Southern City Marquis to return. He accompanied him to the backyard and told him about the day's events.

"Mother was too confused. She actually asked the wife of the He family's heir about the betrothal gifts and was rebuffed."

The Marquess's wife sat in a chair, wiping her tears.

"I was just confused for a moment and asked without thinking. My lord, I didn't mean to..."

The Southern City Marquis glanced at his wife. After many years of marriage, he understood her temperament well. He sat down beside her and sighed.

"You think too much and overthink the details. You need to look at the bigger picture. Speaking selfishly, even if we gave all our family fortune to her, she would still be our daughter-in-law, and it would all go to our grandchildren in the future. Could it be passed on to outsiders?"

"Even if we take a step back, what kind of person is Cheng Mingyu? Has he ever taken advantage of any son-in-law? The more generous and careful we are, the more he will value his son-in-law. With a father-in-law like him, how could our son's prospects not be promising?"

"Once the marriage is finalized, Lu Xusheng will be his brother-in-law. In the Military Governor's Office, who would dare not show our son respect? Even though I oversee the Armory for His Majesty, the Armory is still under the Military Governor's Office, under Lu Xusheng's jurisdiction."

"Considering all these benefits, you shouldn't be so concerned about the betrothal gifts."

Unfortunately, his wife had already revealed her intentions in front of the Cheng family, likely displeasing Cheng Mingyu.

The Marquess's wife felt wronged. She had only asked one question and ended up being scolded. If this was how it was before the marriage, she couldn't imagine how much worse it might become after the marriage. But she kept these thoughts to herself, silently wiping her tears.

Seeing his son's anxious, red eyes, the Marquis massaged his forehead and said, "I will personally go to apologize to Cheng Mingyu."

Wei Shuting finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Father."

Unfortunately, as soon as the father and son stepped out, the steward rushed in, flustered.

"My lord, my lord, the Cheng family has just sent back the gifts you sent last time. They said that the family head was not present that day, and the Second Master hastily accepted the gifts. They are very sorry and ask for your forgiveness."

Wei Shuting almost stumbled, his face as pale as paper.

At the same time, the Military Governor's Office in Sichuan was also concerned about this issue. The family of four, unable to eat dinner, sat in the warm pavilion, looking at each other.

Marriage alliances are all for the family's prestige. As a border official, one most hopes to have connections in the court. If they could have Cheng Mingyu as a relative, the Meng family would be secure. Moreover, the Cheng family does not participate in factional struggles and has stood firm for hundreds of years. Being related to the Cheng family means that no matter how the dynasty changes, the Meng family would not fall.

In the public's eyes, a marriage with the Cheng family is a protective charm.

Cheng Mingyu relies on not participating in factional struggles to maintain an unassailable position in the court, thus forming a vast network of loyal officials, enhancing the Cheng family's influence, and achieving a mutually beneficial relationship.

Both Madam Meng and Governor Meng are wise. After some deliberation, they made a decision.

"Ruchuan, I think you should stay in the capital."

Meng Ruchuan stood straight in the hall, momentarily confused. "What do you mean?"

Meng Rushuang stood up and explained with a smile, "What Mother means is that if you marry Qiao Qiao, you should stay in the capital and not return to Yizhou."

Meng Ruchuan jumped up and took a few steps back. "How can that be? I grew up in Yizhou. All my friends and relatives are there. I have no one in the capital."

"Who says you have no one? I'm in the capital. If you stay, I can take care of you." Meng Rushuang strongly encouraged her brother to stay. "Besides, friends are made. Didn't you meet quite a few young gentlemen after playing a few polo matches?"

Meng Ruchuan suddenly felt as if his own parents had sold him off. He felt both wronged and resentful.

"Won't you worry if I'm not by your side?"

Madam Meng shrugged, "Having Cheng Mingyu take charge of your discipline is a great fortune for you. I am overjoyed, so what is there to fret about?"

The Military Governor also laughed,

"Son, if Cheng Mingyu agrees to take you in, even as a live-in son-in-law, I would be fine with that."

Meng Ruchuan was so angry that he laughed, stiffening his neck and saying,

"A true man stands his ground; I refuse to be a live-in son-in-law."

Seeing her son so stubborn, the Military Governor's wife stood up anxiously,

"With that temper of yours, what girl would ever want to marry you? Listen, if you marry Qiaoqiao, from now on, you'll have to follow her lead in everything, got it?"

Meng Ruchuan, still young at heart, stared at his mother in confusion, "Why? Do I not have any self-respect?"

"Besides, isn't it the wife's duty to follow her husband? Shouldn't she obey me?"

The Military Governor's wife thought her son was beyond help. She glanced at her husband, sat back down, and signaled him with her eyes,

"I'm parched, get me some tea."

"Coming right up!"

The Military Governor quickly grabbed his wife's beloved blue-and-white porcelain cup, poured her a cup of tea, and placed it beside her. He carefully tested the water's temperature on the back of his hand, "Madam, the tea is just the right temperature, please enjoy."

Madam Meng sipped the tea, her expression unreadable, then, feeling a sore back, she lazily gestured behind her, "Give me a massage..."

The Military Governor obediently moved behind his wife and expertly started massaging her shoulders.

Once everything was done, Madam Meng turned to her son and inquired,

"Look, your father, a respected second-rank Military Governor, waits on me at home. Why should a young upstart like you defy your wife?"

The young man, his face stern, was at a loss for words.

Madam Meng ordered, "Go on, give your prized bird to Qiaoqiao as a plaything. If you fail to deliver it, don't bother coming back."

Thus, Meng Ruchuan was unceremoniously kicked out by his parents.

The lanky youth stood silently at the gate of the Military Governor's mansion, clutching an exquisitely carved crystal box,

Could he truly be their own flesh and blood?

Despite his resistance, Meng Ruchuan accepted his fate and rode off to the Cheng household.

By chance, he encountered Cheng Yiyan and his spouse coming back from a feast.

Meng Ruchuan immediately bowed respectfully to Cheng Yiyan,

"Master Cheng, I recently caught a Nine-Spirit Sparrow, a very rare bird with human-like intelligence. I wanted to give it to Miss Qiao to play with. Could you help me deliver it?"

The young master had a vibrant face, with a black band tied around his forehead, adding to his heroic aura. His eyes were dark and bright, making him a favorite among elders.

But Cheng Yiyan stood on the steps and clasped his hands, firmly refusing,

"Brother Ruchuan, my sister has been unwell recently and has been declining visitors. I am grateful for your kind intentions, but the hour is late. Please return."

Meng Ruchuan, sensing an opportunity, took a step up the stairs, "Second Young Master Cheng, I was in a great hurry that I haven't eaten or had tea. Would you invite me in for a cup of tea?"

Cheng Yiyan looked at the straightforward young man with a helpless expression, stepped down, and spoke gently to him,

"Brother Ruchuan, I understand your intentions, but my father has already made it clear that we are not entertaining marriage proposals for my second sister. So, please return."

Meng Ruchuan was momentarily stunned.

If Cheng Yiqiao was not being considered for marriage, did that mean the proposal from the Marquis of the Southern City had also been rejected?

This was excellent news.

Meng Ruchuan immediately turned his horse around and hurried back to his residence. He leaped from his horse onto the roof, climbed over the walls, and landed in the backyard's main hall. In his excitement, he rushed to his parents,

"Father, Mother, the Cheng family had rejected the Marquis of the Southern City's proposal."

Upon hearing this, the Military Governor's wife was elated and even forgot about her meal. She quickly stood up, "Really? Then... did Qiaoqiao receive you?"

Meng Ruchuan shook his head, "No, they rejected me too."

The Military Governor's wife: "...."

"Next time, could you finish your sentence properly? You got my hopes up for nothing."

Meng Ruchuan scratched the back of his head and chuckled sheepishly.

The Military Governor's wife was astute. After some careful consideration, she guessed that the Marquis of the Southern City had likely offended the Cheng family, hence the rejection of the marriage proposal. This meant an opportunity had arisen for the Military Governor's residence.

The next morning, the Military Governor exerted great effort to find out Cheng Mingyu's whereabouts. Upon learning that Cheng Mingyu had been summoned by the emperor on the ninth day, he took his son and waited outside the Donghua Gate.

After waiting for about two hours, they saw Cheng Mingyu leaving the palace. The Military Governor immediately approached him with his son, with a broad smile, he bowed,

"Lord Cheng, I offer you my respects."

Cheng Mingyu was not entirely surprised by his appearance and slowly returned the bow, "Military Governor, I hope you are well."

The Military Governor was not one to beat around the bush. Pointing to his son, he said,

"Lord Cheng, my son, though not particularly talented, is deeply fond of your second daughter. I hope you will not look down on him and give him a chance."

Cheng Mingyu first scrutinized Meng Ruchuan. He was a straight-backed, honest, and straightforward young man. Cheng Mingyu had also heard about the incident at the polo field and had naturally paid close attention to this potential son-in-law. From what he had seen, Meng Ruchuan's character was commendable.

"Military Governor, your kind intentions are deeply appreciated. However, my daughter does not wish to marry far away. I hope you can understand."

"That's easy to handle," the Military Governor kicked his son's knee, forcing him to kneel, and then bowed heartily,

"Our family has thoroughly discussed the matter. Should Second Young Lady consent to marry into our family, she and Ruchuan can live in the capital. At the end of the year, my wife and I will come to the capital for a reunion. If Second Young Lady ever wishes to visit Yizhou, she is welcome to do so at any time, but we will never impose on her as in-laws. What do you think, Lord Cheng?"

Cheng Mingyu was genuinely surprised. After a moment of silence, he laughed, "Military Governor, are you sure you're willing to part with your son?"

"You're being too modest," in the Military Governor's eyes, his son was a hot potato he was eager to get rid of, "If Lord Cheng is willing to discipline him, it would be a blessing for our Meng family."

With that, he kicked his stiff son again, "Quick, show Lord Cheng your sincerity!"

Meng Ruchuan's knees were sore, and he dared not move. He cursed his father inwardly but outwardly, he obediently kowtowed to Cheng Mingyu.

"I humbly request Cheng Mingyu, the head of the Censorate, to accept your humble nephew as your son-in-law."

Cheng Mingyu slowly clasped his hands behind his back and began to consider carefully.

Their family backgrounds were well-matched, and his character was commendable.

Since both parents were open-minded, getting along in the future wouldn’t be a problem.

Impressed by the Governor’s sincerity, Cheng Mingyu replied without hesitation,

"Although marriage is often arranged by parents and matchmakers, my daughter has always had a mind of her own. She must approve of the match. If your son wins her favor, I’ll gladly accept him as my son-in-law."

The Governor, overjoyed that his son had passed Cheng Mingyu’s test, enthusiastically patted his son’s shoulder,

"Son, the ball’s in your court now."

On the afternoon of the tenth, Meng Ruchuan arrived with gifts, and Cheng Mingyu sent him straight to meet the family matriarch.

The matriarch was immediately struck by the young man’s presence.

Compared to Wei Shuting, who had felt like a mismatch, the Governor’s son exuded an irresistible youthful energy that delighted her.

As was customary, the matriarch gave him a gift and directed him to meet Cheng Yiqiao.

Cheng Yiqiao was surprised to learn that the Governor’s family planned for their son to stay in the capital, letting the couple settle there permanently. Touched by their sincerity, she agreed to meet Meng Ruchuan.

Despite his stubbornness with his parents, Meng Ruchuan turned as red as a tomato in front of Cheng Yiqiao.

Cheng Yiqiao, amused, leaned against the pillar and asked, "Is this your first time meeting a potential match?"

Meng Ruchuan glanced at her secretly and nodded seriously, "Yes, I grew up in a military camp, and at eighteen, I’ve barely interacted with any girls outside the household staff."

Cheng Yiqiao, hearing him mention the maids, asked, "So, do you have a companion or concubine?"

Meng Ruchuan tilted his head and asked, "What do you mean by a concubine?"

Cheng Yiqiao: "..."

He’s still so young and naive...

Cheng Yiqiao looked into the young man’s bright eyes and asked, "Does it bother you that I’m older?"

She was more than a year older than Meng Ruchuan.

Meng Ruchuan countered, "Does it bother you that I’m younger?"

Cheng Yiqiao was left speechless by his question.

Somehow, his answer left her feeling satisfied.

"Is your family really committed to this? I refuse to live in Yizhou permanently, so you’d better be sure about this. If you regret it later, I won’t hesitate to end the marriage."

Meng Ruchuan was actually most troubled by this point, and he said with a pained expression,

"Miss Qiao, I share your concerns, but my parents insist on me staying here as a live-in son-in-law rather than returning to Yizhou."

He was honest, refusing to say anything insincere just to win her over.

Cheng Yiqiao nearly laughed aloud, picturing Meng Ruchuan being scolded by his parents. She found the whole family oddly endearing.

If she didn’t have to go to Yizhou and there were no mother-in-law issues, distance might foster harmony, and perhaps she could get along quite well with the Military Governor’s wife.

"I hope you mean what you say."

Since Meng Ruchuan had decided to propose, he had no intention of backing out.

"If Miss Qiao is not convinced, we can write it in the marriage contract." Verbal promises aren’t as binding as putting it in writing.

Cheng Yiqiao’s affection for him was slowly growing, and the young lady straightened her posture with pride.

"But Mr. Meng, there’s one thing I need to insist on. After marriage, are you willing to follow my lead? Will you always do as I say?"

Unfortunately, Meng Ruchuan was a very principled young man and honestly said,

"Why should I always do as you say? If you’re right, I’ll follow you, but if you’re wrong, I can’t just go along with it," he said, spreading his hands, "Spoiling you wouldn’t do you any good."

Cheng Yiqiao looked at the honest young man, torn between amusement and frustration.

"But if I have a disagreement with another woman out there, even if I’m wrong, would you still help her?"

Meng Ruchuan was caught off guard by her question, mulling it over before feeling deeply conflicted, "Then I can’t help another woman either!"

"Exactly!" Cheng Yiqiao had him cornered.

The man who had vowed at home to discipline his wife was thus won over, and after thinking seriously, he said,

"Then I must still help my own wife."

The young man was quick to learn.

Only then did Cheng Yiqiao reach out to take the sparrow he offered, admiring the intricately carved crystal box. Cheng Yiqiao had an eye for quality; being able to use crystal and carve it into such a crystal-clear form showed that the Military Governor’s wife was a person of great taste and refinement. This way, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law could bond over shared interests, avoiding clashes over differing opinions.

"By the way, why do you call me Miss Qiao?"

This question caught the young man off guard.

Actually, when Wei Shuting asked him last time, he had lied.

A blush spread from his cheeks to his ears, and he stared straight at the bright spring sun, saying,

"I don’t know who Miss Cheng the Second is, but I know Miss Qiao is you."

Cheng Yiqiao felt a gentle flutter in her heart.