After the pale-faced scholar left, Bai Luochen bowed to Master Liu at the head of the table and said, "It was my own idea to marry Miss Zhou as my principal wife. However, this important matter still requires the consent of my parents in Yuzhou City!"

The implication was that it wasn't enough for him to decide to marry Zhou Yu as his legal wife; he also needed to get his parents' approval. If his parents disagreed, there was nothing he could do.

Having been in business for many years, how could Mr. Liu not understand the implied meaning? He was so angry that he almost had a heart attack on the spot, but Bai Luochen's words did not state the matter directly, so he could only maintain his smile: "My daughter's innocence is the most important thing. I hope this matter can be settled as soon as possible."

After leaving the Liu residence, Bai Luochen looked grim. It was the first time he had ever been caught naked and beaten on the bed.

Fortunately, he spoke up in time and said he would marry Zhou Yu as his legal wife; otherwise, he would have been beaten naked.

Since Zhou Yu ran away, he had wandered around the Liu residence for a long time but had not encountered her.

I wonder if Zhou Yu was secretly overjoyed to hear that she could become his legal wife, or...

hiss……

His neck was burning with pain; Zhou Yu's bite was truly ruthless, and at that moment, the ferocity was so great that he really wanted to bite his throat off.

If Zhou Yu really plotted against her, he shouldn't have given her that vicious look. So who was plotting against him?

The Zhou family? The Crown Prince? Or perhaps Lu Yanzhao…

Thinking of Lu Yanzhao, Bai Luochen shook his head. Now the two of them were in the same boat, and he had no reason to scheme against him.

Thinking of Gu Nanjiao, Bai Luochen smiled. He had heard that she loved lotus seed cakes from the east end of the street, so he thought he might as well buy some and send them over, and also discuss the matter with Lu Yanzhao.

Lu Yanzhao was massaging Gu Nanjiao's swollen calves when he heard that Bai Luochen had arrived. A cryptic look flashed in his eyes: "How come he has time to come?"

Shouldn't this be the time for the couple to be in each other's arms, discussing marriage arrangements, and choosing a date for the wedding?

"What?" Gu Nanjiao opened her eyes and sat up.

"Bai Luochen is here!"

"Oh!" Gu Nanjiao looked uninterested, lay back on the soft couch and swung her legs, signaling Lu Yanzhao to continue massaging.

The gatekeeper of the Lu residence couldn't stop Bai Luochen, who entered with an air of nonchalance, carrying a box of pastries and waving a jade fan.

"Nan Jiao, you said you love the lotus cake from the east end of the street, so I bought it for you. Also, I'd like to discuss the profit sharing of the kudzu root with you separately."

Before you see him, you hear his voice.

Lu Yanzhao's face turned cold, and his movements unconsciously became more forceful, causing Gu Nanjiao to kick him in pain.

"What are you doing? You're going to break my leg!"

Seeing Lu Yanzhao kneeling and massaging his legs, Bai Luochen rubbed his eyes and widened them in disbelief: "The dignified Lord Lu is so doting on his wife. My Nan Jiao is so lucky."

"Your home?" Lu Yanzhao emphasized the two words, his cold eyes startling Bai Luochen.

Bai Luochen looked embarrassed and placed the snacks on the stone table beside him.

Gu Nanjiao narrowed her eyes, a teasing smile playing on her lips: "Bai Luochen, where did you come from? Why do you look so radiant?"

Bai Luochen choked for a moment, then laughed and said, "Which eye of yours saw my face beaming with joy? It was clearly a face full of coldness."

Gu Nanjiao pointed at Bai Luochen's neck: "These spots on your neck, and the teeth marks on your throat..."

Thinking of Zhou Yu's fierce bite, Bai Luochen was furious: "I encountered a mad dog, biting my throat tightly. If I didn't know some kung fu, I would have died in its mouth."

“Dogs are intelligent; if you don’t provoke them, why would they bite you?” Lu Yanzhao said coldly.

Bai Luochen choked, pursed his lips, and remained silent.

After a long pause, he said to Lu Yanzhao, "I've been set up. This person knows me very well, knows I know martial arts, and specifically targets me when I'm at my weakest. In your opinion, who could have set me up?"

Lu Yanzhao poured a cup of tea and handed it to Bai Luochen, his eyes flashing slightly: "Who have you offended?"

Stroking the teacup in his hand, Bai Luochen frowned: "Since entering the capital, I have always acted cautiously and have not offended anyone. If we're talking about offending someone, would the Crown Prince count?"

Previously, Chu Luoxun asked Bai Luochen to fund an underground guard team composed of beggar children, but Bai Luochen refused. Later, Chu Luoxun ordered the Bai family to hand over the saltpeter mine to him, but Bai Luochen refused again.

After pondering for a long time, Bai Luochen downed the tea in his cup and said angrily, "The person who plotted against me used despicable methods, which is not like Chu Luoxun's style. If I catch him, I will definitely sleep with his wife to vent my anger."

Suddenly feeling the air around him freeze, Bai Luochen looked up and saw Lu Yanzhao smiling calmly as he poured a cup of tea and handed it to him.

Bai Luochen took the tea and absentmindedly drank it. Was it just his imagination?

I could clearly feel the low air pressure around me, making it hard to breathe, and the temperature was freezing cold.

Gu Nanjiao was a little sleepy and yawned: "You guys chat, I'm going to take a nap."

After Gu Nanjiao left, Lu Yanzhao slammed the teacup he was holding onto the stone table, making a crisp clinking sound.

Bai Luochen froze, looking at Lu Yanzhao in confusion: "What?"

"I'm furious. Who dared to scheme against Young Master Bai?" Lu Yanzhao narrowed his eyes, his gaze lingering on the bite mark on Bai Luochen's throat. "In this scheme, it seems like you're the one who benefited!"

Isn't it true that he got the better deal? He even slept with Zhou Yu.

Bai Luochen pursed his lips, not wanting to continue the topic, and said, "I heard that my grandfather has come to the capital and has been placed in a separate courtyard by Chu Luoxun. My grandfather does not know the truth of the matter, and since he personally taught the Crown Prince, I'm afraid... our future path will not be too smooth."

Gripping the teacup tightly, Lu Yanzhao frowned: "Then let's just pay lip service to it."

The air fell silent for a moment, then Bai Luochen broke the silence: "Do as you say, but you must not harm my grandfather in the slightest."

"I don't need you to explain. The headmaster has been incredibly kind to me and has shown his intention to mentor me. I will naturally put the headmaster's safety first."

After Bai Luochen left, Lu Yanzhao sat alone in the pavilion for a long time, until the tea in the kettle was completely finished, before getting up and leaving.

Lu Yanzhao never considered himself a good person, nor did Bai Luochen, or perhaps no one in the world is a good person. People have selfish desires and are compelled to plan for themselves.

All he wanted was to protect his family. He had served Chu Luoxun faithfully and had even thought of spending his whole life assisting him to the best of his ability.

However, Chu Luoxun shouldn't have schemed against him, shouldn't have schemed against his family. The countless times he had escaped death left Lu Yanzhao with lingering fear.

Looking up at the azure sky, Lu Yanzhao felt that the sky over the capital was about to change, and so was he.

The following day, Zheng Shiyi sent word that Headmaster Zheng wanted to see him.

After court, without even going home, Lu Yanzhao hurriedly went to Zheng Shanzhang's residence.