Chapter 104: Marriage Arrangement
"Luo Jince!" Luo Zhaohan folded his arms, leaning against the window frame, looking at his younger brother with a half-smile, "Are you good at crawling under the window?"
"Sister!" Luo Jince's face suddenly turned red. He was so embarrassed that he wanted to find a hole to crawl into, but he was more angry and embarrassed because he was "caught".
He stiffened his neck, glanced at Pei Ji, and said in a stern tone, "Who... who is hiding under the window? My parents asked me to call you to lunch! I've been waiting for you for so long!"
The last sentence was full of obvious accusation and grievance, as if questioning why his sister had been with an outsider for so long and kept it a secret from him.
Luo Zhaohan felt a little softened when he saw his brother pretending to be fierce even though he was obviously very aggrieved.
Yes, she had always kept the affair between her and Pei Ji a secret from her closest brother. He had sensitively sensed the estrangement, so it was no wonder he felt uneasy and had secretly come to spy on her.
This cautious care made her feel a little guilty.
She didn't say anything else. She supported herself on the window sill with one hand, turned over and jumped out nimbly, landing steadily in front of Luo Jince.
This decisive action made Pei Ji inside the window and Luo Jince outside the window stunned.
Luo Zhaohan ignored Pei Ji's gaze and walked straight to Luo Jince. He reached out his hand and gently grabbed his brother's wrist which was still covering his forehead, pulling his slightly cold hand down.
She leaned forward slightly, leaning close to his ear, and lowered her voice soothingly: "Silly boy, you are quite jealous. He is Pei Ji, your future brother-in-law. I didn't tell you before because I was afraid that you would be disappointed if things were not settled, and I was also afraid that leaks would cause trouble. I didn't mean to hide it from you."
Luo Jince only felt a warmth coming from where his sister was holding his wrist, and the sourness and grievance he felt quickly deflated like a punctured balloon.
My sister took the initiative to climb out the window to look for him, took his hand, and whispered explanations...
This intimate gesture itself was enough to soothe all his little emotions.
He is actually very easy to coax, and all he wants is his sister's care.
The forced hostility on the boy's face instantly dissipated, replaced by a sense of embarrassment and satisfaction after being appeased. He quickly glanced at Pei Ji in the window, hummed awkwardly, and muttered, "Then let's go quickly, our parents are waiting anxiously."
The voice softened noticeably.
After calming his angry brother, Luo Zhaohan turned around and looked through the open window at the tall and graceful Pei Ji in the hall. His tone was natural and casual, as if the previous episode had never happened:
"Aji, let's go have lunch together."
The two words "Aji" were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, exploding in Luo Jince's ears.
The young man's eyes suddenly widened, and he looked at his sister in disbelief, then suddenly turned his head and glared at Pei Ji in the window.
His sister actually called him "Aji"? So intimate?
As he grew up, his sister often called him "Luo Jince" with his first name! What does this name mean?
The words "future brother-in-law" that his sister had whispered earlier now weighed heavily on Luo Jince's heart. This relationship wasn't just "good" anymore; it was "very, very good"!
The huge shock made his mouth open slightly, and he was completely petrified on the spot.
From inside the window, Pei Ji watched the entire process of Luo Jince's expression change. The young man's emotions were straightforward, his thoughts written all over his face, and the rapidity of this attitude change made Pei Ji quite amused.
His expression remained calm. He just nodded slightly to Luo Zhaohan and said gently, "Okay." Then he calmly walked around the screen and walked out from the main door.
Lunch is served in the flower hall.
The atmosphere was quite lively, with the main source of heat coming from Qin Wan, the wife of General Fuyuan.
The future mother-in-law's love for Pei Ji was almost overflowing. As soon as Pei Ji sat down next to Luo Zhaohan, Qin Wan, with a smile on her face, personally picked up the serving chopsticks and went straight to the fattest chicken drumsticks, the most tender fish belly, and the most crispy and fragrant spareribs on the table.
"Master Pei, try this, it's the chef's specialty!"
"This one is also good, nourishing!"
"Eat more, young man, and don't be restrained!"
Qin Wan was enthusiastic and picked up the dishes quickly and accurately. The bowls and plates in front of Pei Ji piled up into a small mountain at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Faced with such a generous gesture from his future mother-in-law, how could Pei Ji dare to refuse? He could only obediently eat the mountain of dishes while constantly expressing his gratitude.
Luo Zhaohan was watching from the side, feeling amused and helpless. He quietly touched his leg under the table, signaling him to do it according to his ability.
Pei Ji gave her a look that said "don't worry", but he was actually complaining inside.
After the meal, Pei Ji felt he had never eaten so full before. When he finally put down his bowl and chopsticks, he took a deep breath calmly, barely suppressing the feeling of fullness in his stomach.
The love of my future mother-in-law is really important.
After the meal, Pei Ji stood up to say goodbye. Luo Zhaohan and Luo Jince saw him off to the second gate.
"Mr. Pei, wait a moment." General Luo Dinglian, who had always been quiet and composed, called out to him, "I have a few words to say."
Pei Ji understood what he meant, nodded to Luo Zhaohan and his sister, and followed Luo Dinglian to the secluded corridor next to him.
Luo Dinglian stopped, turned around, and his eyes fell on Pei Ji's face like an eagle, with scrutiny, but no sense of oppression.
He spoke in a deep, powerful voice: "From now on, you don't have to call me General anymore. If you respect me, just call me 'Uncle'."
Pei Ji's heart moved slightly, and he immediately bowed and said solemnly: "Yes, uncle."
Luo Dinglian nodded slightly, as a response to the title.
He changed the subject and calmly mentioned something seemingly unrelated: "I remember that when you were young, you caught the eye of the Imperial Tutor, Master Chu, because of a poem you wrote?"
Pei Ji was slightly stunned. He didn't expect Luo Dinglian to suddenly bring up this old story.
He said frankly, "Uncle, it is true. However..." He paused, his expression frank, "That poem was not written by my nephew. It was a coincidence and an accident that led to it being misunderstood by Mr. Chu."
He had always felt that he was just gaining fame in this matter, and there was no need to hide it from his future father-in-law at this moment.
When Luo Dinglian heard this, there was no surprise on his face, as if he had already understood it.
He nodded, looking at Pei Ji with a serious look: "I am just asking casually. Mr. Chu is of a very high status and is very important to your future career. Since Zhao Han is following you, it is inevitable that he will have to deal with the relationships in Mr. Chu's house in the future. It is good to have an idea of this."
His explanation was reasonable. He cared about his future son-in-law's future and also took into account the social relationships his daughter might face in the future.
However, Pei Ji keenly sensed something strange.
Luo Dinglian's tone was too flat, but when he looked up, he saw that Luo Dinglian had a frank expression and steady eyes, without any intention of testing or investigating.
Pei Ji suppressed his doubts and responded respectfully, "Uncle, I will keep this in mind."
Luo Dinglian didn't seem to intend to discuss the matter in depth and stopped there.
He raised his hand and patted Pei Ji's shoulder heavily with a strong force that carried the unique heroism of a military general and also conveyed a sense of recognition.
"Okay, that's all for today. When you return, discuss the marriage rules with your parents as soon as possible. All necessary etiquette must be followed and everything must be done according to the rules."
This was a formal statement, approving Pei Ji's proposal and agreeing to the marriage.
Pei Ji felt relieved and bowed solemnly, "I understand, nephew. I will make proper arrangements and live up to the high expectations of my uncle and aunt."
Luo Dinglian hummed, his gaze sweeping across the high courtyard wall toward the outside of the mansion. He lowered his voice, adding a hint of solemnity, "There's one more thing. You came here today to propose marriage, and you've been lingering in the mansion for half a day. This matter can't be kept secret. By now, everyone in the capital must know."
He withdrew his gaze and returned to Pei Ji's face. His eyes were sharp as a knife, carrying the warning of a veteran in the battlefield: "The Luo family is a family of military commanders, and the Pei family is also a noble family. Some people in the court may not be happy to see the two families marry. In the future, be more careful and beware of hidden attacks."
This is a clear reminder that marriage not only brings about the union of two families, but also has hidden risks.
Pei Ji's heart trembled, and he took this reminder to heart. He bowed deeply again and said, "Thank you for your teachings, uncle. I will be careful with my words and actions, and protect myself and Zhao Han."
Luo Dinglian looked at the calm and steady young man in front of him, and a hint of satisfaction finally appeared in his eyes. He waved his hand and said, "Go."
The sky was dark, and tiny snowflakes were carried by the cold wind, swirling and falling on the thin snow in front of the bluestone steps in front of the general's mansion.
A few dry grasses covered with residual snow trembled in the cold wind.
Luo Dinglian stood under the eaves, his shoulders and back straight as a pine tree.
He was not wearing a cloak, only an ordinary dark blue cotton robe. He watched calmly as the dark blue carriage slowly drove out from the mansion gate.
That was the carriage of Pei Ji, the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple.
"Sister," the young man's clear voice rang out, with the unique clarity of youth and a hint of barely perceptible nostalgia, "Are you really not going to see me off?"
Luo Zhaohan was wearing a silver-red brocade cloak trimmed with wind fur. The snow-white fox fur around her collar made her skin look whiter than snow, and there was still a hint of warmth between her eyebrows.
Hearing this, she turned to look at her younger brother, Luo Jince. The young man, half a head shorter than her, was wrapped in a thick black cloak. His handsome face was slightly red from the cold, his eyes sparkling as he gazed reluctantly in the direction of the departing carriage, yet he consciously took a step behind, allowing her to speak to Pei Ji.
"Did you forget what father said just now? Just walk slowly and follow behind." Luo Zhaohan reached out and adjusted the hood of his cloak for him, brushing off a bit of melting snow with his fingertips. "Master Pei has something important to do."
Luo Jince said "Oh", lowered his head slightly, and muttered something softly, probably a complaint like "Who's slow?", but he didn't insist anymore and consciously took another half step back.
But his eyes were still glued to the window where the dark blue curtains were swaying.
Pei Ji was walking to the second gate when he paused and looked back sideways when he heard the words.
The wind blew the hem of his dark blue official robe, revealing the hem of his dark blue uniform underneath. His gaze passed through the gradually rising curtain of thin snowflakes and landed precisely on Luo Zhaohan, who was standing under the eaves.
Their eyes met, and they both saw the warmth and deeper meaning in each other's eyes that had not yet faded.
Luo Zhaohan took two steps forward and stopped a few steps away from him. The white air he exhaled hung between them.
"What was Lord Pei talking about with my father just now..." Her voice was clear and inquiring, but she stopped at the right time.
Pei Ji nodded slightly, his face expressionless, his tone as calm as usual: "General Luo has already accepted the teacher's request. The general also made some suggestions, which I will definitely keep in mind."
When Luo Zhaohan heard this, a hint of understanding flashed across his eyes. He said "hmm" softly and stopped asking questions.
My father's attitude was made clear when he agreed to this marriage.
"As for the reason behind what the teacher said," Pei Ji lowered his voice so that only the two of them could hear, "it concerns an old secret. It's not that I intend to conceal it, but this isn't the place for a long discussion, and the implications are very deep. Wait..." He paused slightly, as if considering the right time, "after the Lantern Festival, perhaps we can find another opportunity to discuss it with Zhao Zhao in detail."
An ancient secret? Deeply involved? Luo Zhaohan's heart moved slightly, thinking of the thick file in his father's study and the unusual teacher-student relationship between Master Chu and Pei Ji.
She met Pei Ji's frank and clear eyes, which contained no evasion, only trust.
"Okay." Without any hesitation, she looked back at him with the same clear eyes, said only one word, and said nothing more.
A faint smile flashed in the depths of Pei Ji's eyes, like a warm current quietly melting under the ice.
He glanced at his father, who was whispering something with his younger brother under the eaves, then turned to Luo Zhaohan, his voice returning to its usual clear and gentle tone: "General Luo is so kind and has kept me here for so long. I, Pei, have troubled you for so long. Now, I'll take my leave."
He bowed and gestured in the direction of Luo Dinglian and Luo Jince, nodded to Luo Zhaohan, turned around and was about to leave.
"Lord Pei." Luo Zhaohan suddenly spoke.
Pei Ji stopped again and turned around to look at her.
Tiny snow particles stuck to her thick eyelashes and were then melted by the warmth, making her eyes look even more moist and clear.
The corners of her lips curved up in a gentle arc. "The Lantern Festival is approaching, and the capital will surely be decorated with lanterns and colorful lights, more grand than in previous years. I heard that the lanterns in Changlefang are very exquisite this year. If Lord Pei has nothing else to do, why not..."
Before she could finish her words, Luo Jince, who had been eavesdropping with his ears perked up, darted over like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, squeezing in between the two of them, his face flushed with excitement. "Lantern Festival! I want to go too! Sister, don't leave me! Brother Pei, take me too!"
He subconsciously wanted to call him Lord Pei, but then he remembered what his father had just told him, and changed his words awkwardly and anxiously. He tilted his head, his eyes as bright as stars, looking at Pei Ji eagerly.
Pei Ji laughed and looked at the young man in front of him, and a part of his heart was softened.
He raised his hand and gently rubbed the top of Luo Jince's head naturally. His tone was gentle and a little indulgent: "Okay. I'll take you with me."
"Look, sister! Brother Pei agreed!" Luo Jince immediately turned around and proudly showed off to Luo Zhaohan. Then he thought of something, and his face instantly fell. He muttered softly, "It's over, it's over..."
Seeing his expression suddenly change from cheerful to gloomy, Luo Zhaohan couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips, and stretched out her hand to gently push him to Pei Ji's side: "It's just right that you agreed. Your report card for the annual examination of the Imperial College at the end of the year shows the word "average". Your father couldn't bear to look at it carefully. In the days before the Lantern Festival, your homework..." She paused deliberately, her clear eyes swept across Pei Ji's face with a hint of mischief, "I'll trouble you, Lord Pei, to take care of it."
The smug look on Luo Jince's face instantly froze, and his eyes widened.
He turned his head stiffly and looked at Pei Ji.
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