Chapter 154 Marriage

Chapter 154: Getting Married

Just as everyone was looking confused, the sound of quick, light footsteps came from the courtyard gate.

Lin Nanshu, dressed in a cream-colored robe, strolled in unhurriedly carrying an exquisite food box in his hand.

"Muyu," Lin Nanshu called softly, his voice clear as a jade chime.

Cheng Ge, who had been bristling like an angry rooster, perked up his ears immediately upon hearing this voice.

He turned his head abruptly, his eyes brightened instantly at the sight of the food box, and without a second thought, he rushed toward him.

"Yuli! Why are you here?"

Lin Nanshu placed the food box on the stone table and reached out to adjusted his robe a couple of times.

"Last time I mentioned that my family's chef makes good tonic food, so I brought some for you to try."

Cheng Ge immediately leaned in, his nose almost touching the food box.

Inside were neatly arranged: stewed pigeon with goji berries and red dates, yam, poria, and fox nut congee, and several small pastries.

His eyes went wide, and he almost drooled, now completely ignoring Lü Rou.

Lin Nanshu's gaze swept over the empty bowls and plates on the table that hadn't been cleared away yet, and he asked softly, "Have you already eaten?"

Noticing his gaze, Cheng Ge subtly turned sideways to block his view.

"I did eat a bit earlier, but it wasn't to my taste..."

Everyone turned in unison to look at the three neatly stacked empty plates on the table, even the sauce had been scraped clean.

A flicker of amusement passed through Lin Nanshu's eyes, but he didn't say anything.

His slender fingers picked up the white jade soup spoon and ladled out just half a bowl of the fox nut congee: "Try this first, it's good for the stomach."

Cheng Ge immediately took the bowl and began sipping it in small mouthfuls like a contented cat.

Lin Nanshu then picked up a piece of the tender stewed pigeon meat, carefully removed the bones, and put it in his bowl.

"Slow down," seeing Cheng Ge eating hurriedly, Lin Nanshu gently pressed his wrist, "Watch out for indigestion."

This gentle and meticulous care made the veins on Zhou Zhan's forehead bulge.

He stood up abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor.

Cheng Ge lifted his head from the bowl, with grains of rice still on his lips, looking a bit confused.

Glancing at the congee in his bowl, he opened his mouth hesitantly: "Does Your Highness also want some?"

Just as Zhou Zhan was about to explode, Zhou Mingqi suddenly turned his gaze toward him, his eyes carrying a hint of sharpness.

Zhou Zhan, cowed by Zhou Mingqi's glare, swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue, and could only sit down heavily, his chest heaving violently.

Lin Nanshu looked straight ahead, reached out and wiped the corner of Cheng Ge's mouth, his movements as natural as if he'd done it a thousand times.

Cheng Ge saw him looking hesitant and guessed he needed to use the restroom but was too embarrassed to ask.

Subconsciously licking the corner of his mouth, he said, "This congee is good, it would be even better with some goji berries."

Having said that, he buried his head back in his congee, completely unaware of the sudden chill in the air.

Yun Xunyu held up his hand, fiddling with Star Frost, his eyes slightly hazy, the jade pendant caught by a serpent's tail.

A white gauze bandage was wrapped around his wrist, with a trace of red seeping out, continuously seeping and staining the white cloth.

Zhou Yinyun stared at the carefully deboned pigeon meat in Cheng Ge's bowl and suddenly felt his throat tighten.

"Muyu," Lin Nanshu said, ladling another half-bowl of goji berry soup, "Drink this and that's enough."

Cheng Ge obediently nodded, sipping from the bowl in small sips, looking so docile that he didn't seem like the usual arrogant little rascal.

Dappled sunlight fell through the tree shadows onto his hair, and Lin Nanshu naturally reached out to brush off a withered leaf that had landed on his shoulder.

Zhou Mingqi's fingertips lightly traced the edge of his teacup as he suddenly spoke: "The other day I heard Grand Tutor Lin mention that Master Lin was discussing marriage with the eldest daughter of the Minister of Rites. I wonder when the wedding date is set?"

Cheng Ge was biting into half a piece of jujube cake when he heard this. He raised his head abruptly and asked indistinctly, "Yuli, you're getting married?"

He hastily swallowed the cake, excitedly grabbing Lin Nanshu's sleeve, "Why didn't you tell me earlier! I'll prepare a big gift for you then!"

Lin Nanshu's hand holding the spoon paused almost imperceptibly, the white jade spoon lightly clinking against the bowl.

The people around exchanged obscure expressions upon hearing this.

Lin Nanshu looked down at Cheng Ge's fingers gripping his sleeve, his lips slowly tightening into a thin line.

Then he slowly raised his head, looking into Cheng Ge's eyes, his voice calm without a ripple: "That's not true."

"Huh?" Cheng Ge blinked in confusion, turning to look at Zhou Mingqi, thinking, even the emperor spreads rumors?

Lin Nanshu gently placed the spoon back into the bowl, the porcelain spoon and bowl rim making a very soft "ding."

He looked up at Zhou Mingqi, a habitual gentle smile on his lips, but his eyes darkened a little.

"I heard that Princess Wuya of the Southern Kingdom is on her way to Great Zhou, coming for a marriage alliance.

It is said that Princess Wuya is beautiful and most skilled in socializing. Your Majesty is fortunate."

Zhou Mingqi: "..."

Zhou Mingqi rubbed his brow, not expecting Lin Nanshu to turn the topic back to him.

He took a light sip of tea and said unhurriedly, "It's merely diplomatic relations between the two countries; there is no intention of a marriage alliance."

Zhou Zhan chimed in abruptly, "Master Lin is not young anymore. He should consider getting married."

Lin Nanshu didn't look up, instead taking a piece of pastry and handing it to Cheng Ge.

"Marriage is a matter of mutual affection and lifelong commitment.

If one hastily settles, it would only disappoint both parties and waste someone else's time for nothing."

Having said that, Lin Nanshu suddenly changed the subject, "But the late emperor, at Your Highness's age, had already married the Crown Princess..."

The corners of his lips curled into a just-right arc, "I heard the Ministry of Rites has already drafted a list?"

Seeing this, Zhou Yinyun suddenly cleared his throat and interjected, "With Master Lin's character and appearance, I imagine the ladies seeking marriage must have worn down his doorstep..."

"Speaking of which," Lin Nanshu suddenly interrupted, turning his gaze to Zhou Yinyun with a meaningful look, "I heard that Prince Jing is considering the eldest daughter of Marquis Weiyuan's residence as a match for his heir?"

He tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "I've heard the birth charts have already been matched?"

Zhou Yinyun's teacup suddenly shook, spilling tea onto his moon-white sleeve.

Yun Xunyu suddenly let out a soft laugh. The Star Frost on his wrist slithered over his fingertips, flicking its tongue.

As soon as Cheng Ge heard gossip, his eyes lit up, turning his head to look at Lin Nanshu, then at Zhou Mingqi.

He shoved the pastry into his mouth and chewed quickly.

Lin Nanshu quietly watched his bulging cheeks, then suddenly reached out to brush away the pastry crumbs from his lips.

Just as everyone was locked in a tense, sword-drawn standoff, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the courtyard gate.

The steward hurried in holding a letter, bowed, and said, "Young master, a letter arrived from the south."

Cheng Ge's eyes lit up—the original host's family had written again. He quickly wiped his hands and took the letter.

He tore open the wax seal in a few quick motions, his eyes swiftly scanning the letter.

After reading the letter, Cheng Ge's cheeks flushed slightly. He tried hard to suppress a smile, but the corners of his mouth kept turning up anyway.

He tugged Lin Nanshu's sleeve and whispered, "Yuli, can you lend me some silver? I'll pay you back next month when I get my salary."

Lin Nanshu was about to respond, but Zhou Zhan spoke first. "What does Muyu need silver for? If you need something, I'll have someone buy it for you."

Cheng Ge suddenly became hesitant, his ears reddening, and looked away. "Ah... it's actually not a big deal..."

As he spoke, he subtly puffed out his chest. "Well... it's just that my father said he has found a match for me..."

He clutched the letter in his hand, his heart racing, his tone unusually bashful.

"It's the daughter of the county registrar in the neighboring county. I've heard she is gentle and virtuous..."

Everyone: "!!!"