Chapter 006

Zhan Yanqing joined the Jinwu Guard at the age of 15 and became the commander of the Jinwu Guard at the age of 22. He was truly young and in a high position.

He has an indifferent personality, is rebellious and stubborn. Both his face and his temper are very similar to his mother, Fu Shiyu.

Old Lady Wen had raised him for nearly twenty years, but this was the first time she saw him bow his head to her.

Just for a marriage?

Mrs. Wen pursed her lips and looked at him quietly without saying a word.

On the other hand, Mama Sheng who was standing by saw how awkward the atmosphere between her ancestors and grandson was, and said with a smile: "Old ancestors, just obey the fourth master. Even if the eldest son is lucky enough to be the master, it will take half a year to prepare for the princess's wedding. When the time comes, it will not be too late for us to go to the Feng family to recruit."

"That Feng..." I'm afraid she has already been engaged to someone else.

The second half of Wen Lao Taijun's sentence was reflected on Zhan Yue's motionless waist - he was really begging her.

"That's enough." Wen Lao Taijun turned her head away and stopped looking at him. She waved her thin and dry hands and said, "Go down and rest."

Zhan Yue responded with “Yes”.

Wen Lao Taijun then said, "During the past two days when you were away, Ah Li has been missing you a lot. While you are at home, spend more time with him."

Zhan Yue nodded, and after he paid his respects to Old Lady Wen, his slender figure gradually faded from everyone's sight.

For a long time afterwards, the room was almost silent and no sound could be heard.

Until Wen Lao Taijun spoke again, her tone was as deep as an ancient well, and with a hint of stubbornness: "Is it my fault that I let him serve in Jinwuwei?"

Mother Sheng thought about it for a while, then said slowly: "The Fourth Master is not an ordinary person. Even if you don't plan for this job for him, with the Fourth Master's ability, he will definitely rise to prominence one day."

Mother Sheng paused, and then she said softly, "Fourth Master has the blood of the Yongding Marquis in his body."

There was a look of fatigue on the face of the old lady. She closed her eyes and slowly turned the Buddhist beads in her hand: "This family will be in turmoil sooner or later."

"Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. When the time comes, the ancestors won't have to worry about it anymore." Mother Sheng said with a smile.

She held the hand of Old Lady Wen and slowly helped her into the inner hall to rest.

After leaving Old Lady Wen's chamber, Zhan Yue did not leave the yard. Instead, he went to another room in the yard.

The A-Li mentioned by my grandmother was the son of Zhan Yue's second brother, a posthumous child. A-Li was his childhood name, and his full name was Zhan Shaoheng.

Zhan Yue's second brother, Zhan Song, was the elder brother who died early due to poor health. Zhan Song was born to the concubine of Duke Anguo. He did not take good care of himself during the confinement period. He was sick since childhood and lived for twenty years by relying on medicine bottles.

Because of his rotten body, no good family was willing to marry their daughter to him. So Old Lady Wen simply married him to a girl from a low-class family, just to continue the bloodline.

Zhan A'li is eight years old this year. As he lost his father at a young age, Old Lady Wen was worried about him growing up alone, so she took him in and raised him in her own yard.

It was also because Zhan A-li and Zhan Yue had a good relationship since they were young in front of Old Lady Wen. After all, Zhan Yue had also lived under Old Lady Wen's wing for so many years.

"Fourth Uncle!" Zhan A'li was lying on the window frame. When he saw Zhan Yue walking towards him from a distance, he excitedly waved his little hand to Zhan Yue.

Zhan Yue opened his legs and walked into the house, gently stroking his dark hair: "Are you obedient?"

"I'll listen to you." Zhan A'li ran over and held Zhan Yue's hand tightly. He smiled, revealing his small porcelain teeth like rice grains. He raised his little face and said, "Where is the Guandong candy that Fourth Uncle promised to bring me?"

Zhan Yue choked for a rare moment. Behind him, Liu Qi covered his mouth and began to laugh.

Zhan Yue said calmly, "I'll buy it for you next time I come back home."

Zhan A-li looked unhappy, and he puffed up his round face. He first glanced at Zhan Yue gloomily, and saw that Zhan Yue's eyes were deep, as if he was thinking about something else.

Zhan A'li then carefully shook Zhan Yue's hand, blinking his big eyes and saying, "Fourth Uncle, did you have a fight with Grandma?"

Zhan Yue thought Zhan A-li's smart little appearance was somewhat funny, so he stopped looking stern. He picked up Zhan A-li's small body and placed it on his lap.

"I didn't quarrel with my great-grandmother," said Zhan Yue.

Zhan A-li refused to give in. He murmured, "I heard it all."

"Did grandma force fourth uncle to get married?" Zhan A'li stretched his head, his crescent-shaped eyes full of inquiry.

Zhan Yue frowned and looked at him: "Do you know how to marry a wife?"

Zhan A-li nodded vigorously: "My grandfather asked me to come over to test my homework that day, and I also heard him talking to my aunt about getting my elder brother married."

Zhan Ali’s older brother is Zhan Shaoying.

Zhan Yue's tone faded immediately. He lowered his eyelashes and smiled calmly: "Really?"

"Ali, tell Fourth Uncle what was said." Zhan Yue lowered his eyes, his pupils were as dark as the thick night.

Zhan A-li pursed his face, scratched his ears and cheeks and recalled: "I don't remember so much. At that time, my mind was full of homework. I only remember that my grandfather and my aunt said, 'Don't arrange another marriage for my elder brother for the time being.'"

Zhan Yue didn't react at all when he heard this, and even the smile on his face became a little softer. He picked up the teacup and drank a sip of tea quietly.

Zhan A-li immediately shouted in surprise, "Uncle Si, this is freshly soaked, the water is very hot!"

"Yeah." Zhan Yue's expression was calm. After a moment, he said, "It's a little hot."

Liu Qi, who was standing behind Zhan Yue, couldn't help but said anxiously, "I'll go get some ointment for the burn, sir."

Zhan Yue said, "No need."

His eyes were calm and cool, and he said, "I can't feel anything either."

Zhan A-li refused to give in. He stretched out his two round little hands and pried open Zhan Yue's lips. Seeing that his tongue had not been burned to form bubbles, Zhan A-li heaved a sigh of relief and said, "No wonder my great-grandmother always wanted my fourth uncle to get married. You really make me worry."

Liu Qi couldn't help but chuckle behind the two of them.

Zhan Yue lowered his eyes and looked at Zhan Ali's white hands without saying a word.

Zhan A-li raised his head and looked at him, his dark eyes full of shrewdness: "Fourth Uncle, why don't you want to find a wife? Tell me in secret, I won't tell anyone else."

Zhan A'li's pupils were distinctly black and white, and his small face bore many similarities with the men of the Zhan family.

Zhan Yue looked at Zhan Ali silently without saying a word.

After a moment, he finally opened his mouth. His voice was low and light as the wind: "When you grow up a little bit, you will know. Not everyone in this world is qualified to get married."

Zhan A'li opened his eyes wide in confusion, frowned, and seemed to be thinking about something.

"I don't quite understand." Zhan A'li pouted and said in a childish voice, "Fourth Uncle, are you afraid that your wife doesn't like you?"

Zhan Yue's heavy heart suddenly became lighter because of Zhan A'li's words.

His brows relaxed slightly, a dry smile appeared on his face, and Zhan Yuerao asked with interest: "If this is the reason, then tell me, what should I do?"

Zhan A-li shook his head proudly: "This is not easy."

"Come here!" Zhan A-li danced with joy and took out a book called "How to Become a Bandit Leader" from his pocket. He held it in his hand and shook it proudly, "Look, this is what the book says."

Zhan Yue glanced at the title of the book and finally couldn't help but curl his lips.

He took the book from Zhan A-li, his clear eyes looking far-sighted, Zhan Yue said seriously: "I'll think about it."

Zhan A-li nodded like a little adult: "That's right."

"Next time, Fourth Uncle, please don't quarrel with Grandma about this matter." Zhan A-li said naively, "I will tell Grandma that Fourth Uncle will snatch back the wife he wants to marry."

Zhan Yue couldn't help but pinch Zhan A'li's chubby little face. He said, "I just said I'll think about it."

"But this book is out of place—" Zhan Yue's eyes flashed, he took the book from Zhan A'li's hand, and handed it to Liu Qi behind him, "I confiscate it."

Zhan A'li opened his eyes wide in astonishment, and the look in his eyes when he looked at Zhan Yue suddenly became different.

Zhan Yue was completely unaware. He glanced at the servants in Zhan A'li's room and asked, "How do you usually serve the young master?"

Zhan Yue's tone was calm, and there was no anger on his face, but the remaining servants shuddered in vain. Some of the timid ones almost knelt down because their legs were weak.

Zhan A-li jumped off Zhan Yue's lap and said defensively, "My cousin secretly gave it to me when he came to our house. It has nothing to do with them!"

"Oh." Zhan Yue nodded, and said calmly, "Then tell your cousin too. Tell him that if he dares to give you this kind of junk to read again, I will hit his palm with a ruler."

Zhan A'li's face turned red with anger at Zhan Yue's unreasonableness.

He hugged his little shoulders and stood in front of Zhan Yue. After thinking for a while, Zhan A-li said unconvincedly: "I know. Fourth uncle wanted to take the book back and read it secretly, so he confiscated it from me."

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that what he said made sense. He made a face at Zhan Yue: "Humph, hypocritical!"

Zhan Yue did not comment.

On the contrary, Liu Qi's shoulders shook with laughter. He didn't stop until Zhan Yue glanced at him.