Lu Cheng drank tea to calm his traumatized mind.

However, he didn't know that while he was diligently chasing the thief, his own uncle didn't see him. But when he climbed over the wall from the backyard into the Elephant Maiden's House, his uncle saw him.

The uncle was heartbroken to see his nephew, on whom he had placed such high hopes, going to such a sordid place. To prevent his nephew from going astray, Lu Cheng's uncle, Master Cui, disregarded his official duties and immediately turned to go to the Xuanping Marquis's residence.

Master Cui rarely visited the Marquis of Xuanping's residence, so his sudden visit delighted the Marquis's wife.

Seeing Master Cui's gloomy face, Lady Xuanping's heart skipped a beat. Fearing that something had happened to her family, she hurriedly asked, "Brother, why do you look so worried? Has something happened at home?"

Master Cui shook his head. "Nothing happened in the manor. I came for Cheng'er."

For riding?

The thought of her son copying Buddhist scriptures without fail weighed heavily on Lady Xuanping's heart.

Lady Xuanping asked, "Has Cheng'er done something wrong?"

Master Cui remained silent, his gaze falling upon the maidservant following behind the Lady of Xuanping Marquis.

This is not the place to talk. Lady Xuanping invites Master Cui to the main hall to speak.

After dismissing the maids and leaving only her most trusted headmistress by her side, Lady Xuanping asked, "Has Cheng'er gotten into trouble?"

This is going to cause trouble. Her uncle knows about it, so how could her mother not know?

Lady Xuanping was extremely anxious.

Master Cui sighed, "I just went out of the city and saw Cheng'er climb over the wall and enter the Elephant Maiden's Pavilion..."

Lady Xuanping's expression changed drastically.

She was so shocked that she stood up abruptly.

As a result, I stood up too fast, and my vision went black for a moment, and I could barely stand.

Is Cheng'er going to the Elephant Maiden's Pavilion?

How is that possible?!

Lady Xuanping turned deathly pale.

Liu Mama helped her up and said, "The Duke of Du's son hosted a banquet. Didn't the young master go to Deyuelou for drinks? Why would he go to Xianggu Pavilion? Could it be that Uncle made a mistake?"

Liu's mother's voice grew softer and softer.

An uncle wouldn't mistake his own nephew for someone else.

How could the young master enter the Xianggu Pavilion? Not to mention Lady Xuanping and Master Cui, even she, the head housekeeper, couldn't accept it. She had watched the young master grow up.

Lady Xuanping slumped back into her chair, her eyes red-rimmed, and said distraughtly, "I knew Cheng'er didn't copy Buddhist scriptures for no reason..."

Master Cui frowned, "Cheng'er is copying Buddhist scriptures?"

Lady Xuanping choked up as she said, "Ever since Cheng'er injured his head a few days ago, he has been copying Buddhist scriptures every day, even while staying at the city patrol post. Cheng'er usually doesn't even like reading books, and Buddhist scriptures are so dry. If he didn't have something on his mind, why would he do this..."

In the eyes of Lady Xuanping, copying Buddhist scriptures was her son struggling with his peculiar hobby, afraid of bringing shame to the Xuanping Marquis's mansion and disgracing her and the Marquis, and he had already considered becoming a monk.

Master Cui told Lady Xuanping that he wanted her and the Marquis of Xuanping to discipline Lu Cheng more strictly. Now that he heard that Lu Cheng was copying Buddhist scriptures and going to Huguo Temple whenever he had free time, he had realized his mistake, but he just couldn't control himself. If he were to be disciplined more strictly, it might just be the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Master Cui said, "Don't tell your brother-in-law about this yet. Let's try to get Cheng'er back on the right track."

Lady Xuanping nodded repeatedly.

Master Cui left with a sigh.

Lady Xuanping was even more heartbroken. Liu Mama said, "The young master is of marriageable age. It's time to find him a wife. Maybe things will be better once the young master's wife enters the family."

Lady Xuanping looked at Liu Mama and said, "But what if Cheng'er really... wouldn't I be harming that girl?"

Madam Liu knew that her mistress was kind-hearted. If the young master truly disliked women, marrying the young master's wife would indeed be a disaster for other girls.

But--

"The Marquis only has one son, the Heir Apparent. If the Heir Apparent doesn't marry and have a son, won't the Marquis of Xuanping's family line end?"

Lady Xuanping clutched her chest and said, "What sins have I committed to give birth to such a scoundrel? I have failed the ancestors of the Lu family..."

While Lady Xuanping was heartbroken and blaming herself, Lu Cheng and the Prince of Yanping were playing drinking games.

Just as he was about to drink, his nose suddenly started to itch. Lu Cheng turned his head and sneezed so hard that tears almost welled up in his eyes.

"Who is it that's talking about me?" he asked, rubbing his nose.

"Come on, let's drink, let's drink."

"We won't leave until we're drunk tonight."

The meal lasted for more than an hour, and the wine jars were piled up into a small mountain before everyone was satisfied.

However, they were all good drinkers and only got slightly tipsy. As they left the private room, the heir of the Duke of Maoguo also came out. Tang Ze was avoiding the waiter who was serving dishes when he accidentally bumped into his arm.

Normally, this would have caused trouble, but knowing that Du Cheng'an was hosting today, the heir of the Duke of Maoguo was filled with anger, but he still managed to hold back.

Even the heir of the Duke of Maoguo couldn't believe he could be so pathetic; he was so engrossed in crushing the folding fan that he almost broke the ribs.

After leaving Deyue Tower, Xie Jingyan and his group went their separate ways home.

Lu Cheng, Tang Ze, and Cheng Yishun had just ridden their horses to the street when their servant rode up and said, "Young Master, something terrible has happened!"

He shouted from afar, and people all around turned to look when they heard him.

Lu Cheng tapped it with his folding fan, "What's all the fuss about? What's wrong?"

The servant lowered his voice and said, "Someone went to the Yun family to ask for the hand in marriage with Miss Yun the Second..."

Lu Cheng's face stiffened, and he asked urgently, "Has the Yun family agreed?"

The servant shook his head. "I haven't agreed yet."

It's good that you didn't agree.

Lu Cheng breathed a sigh of relief, then remembered to ask, "Who went to the Yun family to propose marriage?"

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