Shang Huai was so overjoyed that his eyebrows and eyes practically flew off in laughter.
The father couldn't help but sigh, "You've grown up, and you have a girl you like. Your mother would be very happy if she knew."
Then the merchant's father remembered something else, "Did you talk to the empress in the palace about it?"
Shang's father knew that the Empress had put a lot of effort into Shang Huai.
If Shang Huai has a girl he likes but doesn't tell the Empress, she might be heartbroken.
"Father, don't worry. I already told Auntie. I was just afraid that you wouldn't agree, so I wanted to ask for your permission first."
Mr. Shang pointed at Shang Huai and said, "You brat, even if I disagree, the empress in the palace will probably help you."
Shang Huai said with a grin, "Father is so wise and understanding, why would he disagree?"
"Whose daughter is she? I'm going to the capital tomorrow, I'll go and ask her."
"Pei Zhi, daughter of Duke Pei."
Shang Huai suddenly remembered something: "However, Father, please let me ask for her opinion first, and then you can go to propose marriage, so as not to scare her away."
Pei Zhi was unaware of his identity. Shang Huai thought he had to hurry and see Pei Zhi so he could ask her if she was willing to marry Shang Huai, the son of the General of the North.
Shang Huai was injured and returned to Mr. Yuan's residence that night.
It's not convenient to recuperate in the military, so it's better to go to Mr. Yuan's residence for quiet rest.
With Shang Huai's aunt there, Shang's father felt at ease.
When Madam Yuan saw that Shang Huai was bandaged again, she felt so sorry for him that she burst into tears.
First, he gave the General of the Northern Garrison a severe scolding, saying things like he was willing to take his only son to the battlefield.
He scolded Shang Huai for not being careful, saying that if the injury had been any more serious, his hand would have been ruined.
Shang Huai kept smiling despite his aunt's nagging, which made Madam Yuan unable to continue scolding him.
Shang Huai stayed at Mr. Yuan's residence for several days, but did not see Pei Zhi.
Shang Huai couldn't stand it any longer, so he used the same trick as before and took a carriage to the Duke's mansion to pick up the people.
Pei Zhi was looking at a chess manual when she heard the gatekeeper come to report that a carriage from Mr. Yuan's residence had come to pick her up.
Pei Zhi has now figured things out.
The person who picked her up to go to the bookstore was Xiao Chengci.
The carriage from Mr. Yuan's residence came to pick her up; it was Shang Huai.
As was customary, Liu Niang waited outside the carriage, took the things from Afu's hands, and told Afu that he didn't need to go and could rest at home.
Liu Niang helped Pei Zhi into the carriage, and Pei Zhi then realized that Shang Huai was also in the carriage today.
Pei Zhi subconsciously looked back and saw that Liu Niang had already lowered the curtain, so that the people outside the carriage could not see that there was a man inside.
Why did you come to pick me up in person today?
After Pei Zhi finished speaking, she noticed that Shang Huai's wrist was wrapped in bandages.
How did you get hurt?
Shang Huai patted the injured area, "It's nothing, just a minor injury."
After Liu Niang settled Pei Zhi's things, she went outside and sat with the coachman, giving the two of them some space.
"Zhizhi, I've come to see you today because I have something important to discuss with you."
Pei Zhi adopted a listening posture and said, "Okay, go ahead."
"Actually, I'm not a nurse."
Pei Zhi had already guessed it, but she still pretended to be very surprised.
Pei Zhi asked, "Then who are you?"
“I am the son of the General Who Guards the North. Since I was a child, my family and I have been guarding the frontier in the north and rarely returned to the capital, so it is normal that you do not recognize me.”
Pei Zhi thought to herself, Shang Huai really overestimates her.
She didn't know Shang Huai at all; she didn't even know the Crown Prince's name or the imperial surname.
There was nothing she could do; that's how it is for young women confined to their homes, rarely venturing beyond their own quarters. Pei Zhi didn't dare inquire about the names of men outside her family.
"The Empress is my aunt, and my deceased mother is the Empress's younger sister."
Shang Huai wasn't showing off; he just wanted to tell Pei Zhi about his identity.
"Therefore, Her Majesty the Empress treats me very well, like her own child."
Pei Zhi raised an eyebrow. If that's the case, then Shang Huai is... Xiao Chengci's cousin?
“Madam Yuan is my aunt, so I can always have the Yuan family’s carriage come to pick you up.”
Pei Zhi nodded slightly, "It sounds like you have a very important background."
Ever since Pei Zhi learned that Xiao Chengci was the Crown Prince, she had a rough idea that Shang Huai was definitely not the son of an ordinary military officer.
However, Shang Huai's status was even more prestigious than she had imagined.
"Are you telling me all this to tell me that I'm not good enough for you?"
Otherwise, Pei Zhi really couldn't understand why Shang Huai would do the same thing as her listing family trees.
Shang Huai quickly shook his head, "No, I absolutely didn't mean that."
"Ever since you told me to marry you, I went to the palace to see the Empress and told her about us."
Pei Zhi's face instantly turned ugly.
Shang Huai actually told the Empress, but did Xiao Chengci know?
Xiao Chengci should not know this now, otherwise he would have gone mad long ago.
“I just came back from suppressing the bandits and confessed to my father that I wanted to marry you, and he agreed.”
Shang Huai stared intently at Pei Zhi, "But I want to ask you myself, are you willing to marry me?"
"As long as you nod, I'll immediately have my father go to your house to propose marriage."
Pei Zhi truly hadn't expected Shang Huai to be such an honest child.
The Empress in the palace knows, and so does his own father. Why doesn't Shang Huai announce it to the world?
Pei Zhi was still entangled with Xiao Chengci, so how could she dare to let Shang's father come to propose marriage?
Isn't she just asking for trouble?
"There's something I need to tell you in advance. My family has been stationed in the north for generations. After we get married, you will need to come and live with me in the north."
Shang Huai said slowly, "There is no prosperity over there, and the winters are long and cold. You should think about it in advance."
Pei Zhi's heart stirred. If she married Shang Huai and went to live with him in the north, it wouldn't be a bad idea.
Pei Zhi shook her head again, no.
Xiao Chengci is now the Crown Prince; perhaps he will back down.
Once Xiao Chengci becomes emperor, the entire world will belong to him.
Pei Zhi finally understood the reason for the world's collapse last time.
Pei Zhi was also somewhat flustered. "Let me think about it. I'll be going to Mr. Yuan's residence to take classes in a few days. I'll get back to you then, okay?"
"Of course." Shang Huai immediately nodded in agreement.
Shang Huai instructed, "This is a life-changing event, you must think it through carefully. I will wait for your reply."
Pei Zhi sighed inwardly; she was completely at a loss in the current situation.
Otherwise, marrying Shang Huai would be a really good choice.
From the time she had spent with Shang Huai, Pei Zhi knew that Shang Huai was a very honest and sincere person.
Shang Huai took Pei Zhi fishing in the villa for a while, but didn't keep her any longer. He then had someone send Pei Zhi back to the Duke of Pei's mansion.
Pei Zhi was restless the whole way.
Even the Empress in the palace knew that Shang Huai wanted to marry her.
If the Empress in the palace knew that she still had ties with Xiao Chengci, would she have any chance of survival?
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