Guan Chengheng saw that his older brother's face had turned red, which meant that the matter was true.
It seems the newspaper didn't just write this up!
"Brother, who is this woman?"
"You're being so intimate with this woman? Is she going to be my sister-in-law?"
As Guan Chengheng spoke, Guan Chengzhuo felt his face turn red.
He quickly lowered his head and started eating, while the others at the table stared wide-eyed, watching the spectacle unfold.
"Ahem, Zhuo'er, about what's in the newspaper, this..."
“Grandfather, this is what happened yesterday when I returned from the military camp in the suburbs of the capital. On the way, I encountered the carriage of the Minister of War, which had overturned.”
"I just happened to be there to help, so..."
"Oh my, it really is the Minister of War's family!" He Shilian exclaimed from the side.
Guan Chengzhuo was somewhat puzzled and looked up to ask, "Grandmother, why are you so surprised?"
"Today, the wife of the Minister of War sent a visiting card, saying she wanted to repay some life-saving grace."
Upon hearing this, Guan Chengheng, who was standing to the side, smacked his lips with a look of amusement, "Tsk tsk tsk, big brother, you should repay a life-saving debt with your body!"
"Looks like your luck with women is on the way, brother!"
"By the way, which daughter of the Minister of War is she?"
"I know of at least two."
Upon hearing this, the other three looked at Guan Chengzhuo.
Guan Chengzhuo was speechless. He had just helped her on a whim. He hadn't thought that much about it at the time.
"It seems to be the Second Miss!"
"Oh, the gentle and lovely Second Miss, I know this girl."
Upon hearing this, He Shilian's eyes sparkled with excitement. She was overjoyed; she wanted to hear the gossip too!
"Heng'er, tell me, what's this girl's temperament like? Many of you younger generation don't even recognize your grandmother anymore."
He Shilian looked at Guan Chengheng, and everyone else followed suit, turning their gazes to him as well.
Even Guan Chengzhuo stopped eating, wanting to hear about her.
Guan Chengheng cleared his throat before slowly saying, "The second young lady of the Minister of War's family..."
Her given name is Wu Linlin, she's twenty-two this year, and she's still not engaged!
"Huh? You're so old and still not engaged? Is there something wrong with you?"
The noble ladies of the capital city start looking for husbands as early as thirteen or fourteen.
She got married at fifteen; very few women got married at eighteen.
"If it weren't for Yue'er's reforms that allowed women to marry at eighteen, in earlier years they would have been married off at fifteen or sixteen."
"It's really unheard of for someone to be twenty-two and still not be engaged."
"That's right, it's because I'm sick that I didn't mention my husband's family."
Guan Hongsheng blurted out, "What illness is it? Is it serious?"
"I don't know the specifics, but it seems to be something I was born with."
"I heard that she conceived while her mother was still in her postpartum period."
Therefore, she was born weak and sickly, and her constitution was not particularly strong.
"She faints at the drop of a hat. It seems even the imperial physicians have seen her, and they all say that this kind of illness can only be treated with rest and not with any major intervention!"
Guan Chengheng recounted everything he had learned from He Jiao in one go.
She raised an eyebrow and glanced at her older brother, only to find that he seemed to be the same as usual.
Without any expression, he seemed rather listless and unsure of what to say.
"Brother, how is it? Do you feel any pity or tenderness for her?" Guan Chengheng asked.
Guan Chengzhuo: What's it to you!
Nothing was said that night.
The next day, early in the morning, the father and his two sons went out to court. Guan Tuantuan was in the palace.
He was deeply involved with Li Qishang, so he didn't live at home. Now that the father and his two sons have left, only the old couple are left at home leisurely drinking tea.
The two had only been chatting for a short while when they heard a servant say that people from the Ministry of War's residence had arrived.
He Shilian straightened her clothes and, with the help of the old nanny, headed towards the reception room in the front yard.
"Greetings to the old lady. I hope you will forgive me for this first visit."
The Minister's wife, accompanied by Wu Linlin, respectfully bowed to He Shilian.
He Shilian smiled kindly and said, "Madam, you are too polite. Please have a seat!"
The Minister's wife pulled her woman to sit down before slowly saying, "Madam, the main reason I've come today is to express my gratitude to Young Master Guan."
"If it weren't for Young Master Guan, I don't know if my daughter would have made it back alive."
He Shilian discreetly observed the woman sitting behind the Minister's wife; her appearance did indeed match her expectations.
Her face is too pale, and her figure is too slender; she's definitely not the type to have a strong physique.
Some of them are sickly, but judging from their appearance, their manners and etiquette are still quite proper.
This is He Shilian's first impression based on her observations!
"Madam Minister, you are too kind. My eldest grandson already explained this when he returned home yesterday."
Besides, he is a soldier, and these things are simply his duty; Madam Minister, you need not worry about it.”
"Yes, yes, the old lady is right, but how can we not repay this life-saving grace?"
"Please accept these things, Madam. Only in this way can the sentiments of the Minister's Mansion be fully expressed."
He Shilian looked at the pile of things, big and small, colorful, and her lips twitched slightly. Was this a show-off or a thank you?
"In that case, I will accept the gift. I'm sorry for the expense, Madam Minister."
The Minister's wife quickly waved her hand and said, "What's the big deal about spending money? We should be thanking the old lady for raising such good children and grandchildren."
"If I may be so bold as to ask, is this young master Guan married?"
"The blessings of children and grandchildren are only found in the homes of the elderly. My two grandsons are both still unmarried, but I'm getting old..."
We won't interfere in their next generation's romantic relationships; it's entirely up to them to decide what makes them happy.
He Shilian quickly stopped talking. Although she felt that her first impression of the girl was good, it didn't mean that her grandson liked this type.
The Minister's wife was now embarrassed, and quickly tried to smooth things over with a chuckle, "Hehe, yes, the children should be able to make their own decisions about their own affairs."
"This humble woman has matters to attend to at home, so I will not disturb you any longer, Madam. I will take my leave now and visit you another day!"
He Shilian picked up her teacup and nodded. "Then please take care, Madam."
The Minister's wife nodded to Wu Linlin and then helped her leave.
"Phew! The old lady of the Duke's mansion is really oppressive!"
After the Minister's wife got into her carriage, she slowly exhaled; she was a little nervous.
Wu Linlin, however, was somewhat absent-minded; she couldn't help but think of the young hero who had saved her the other day.
She could still recall the aura emanating from him; it was so captivating and alluring, so irresistible.
"Linlin, let's go back to the manor."
"Yes, I will follow Mother's arrangements."
Guan Chengzhuo, back in the military camp, was also completely distracted; he felt as if he were possessed.
The scent of the woman's hair always lingered around my nose, even though she had looked so disheveled the day before.
But he still thought the smell on her head was pleasant, and it even gave him a feeling of tightness in his lower abdomen.
He didn't know what was wrong with him, but he just felt like he might be infatuated with this girl.
That night, when Guan Chengzhuo returned home, he announced something to his family that shocked them to no end.
"What?"
"Am I mistaken?"
"Zhuo'er, are you serious?"
"Brother, that's too explosive!"
The whole family turned to look at Guan Chengzhuo, all of them showing shock.
"I'm serious, I just want to take responsibility for that girl. (This was mentioned in the Beijing Daily these past two days.)"
Everyone's publishing articles about that mysterious woman; I don't want her reputation to be tarnished.
After hearing Guan Chengzhuo's words, Guan Shang simply asked, "Are you only considering taking responsibility for her because of the newspaper matter, or because you like her?"
"My child shouldn't have to bear responsibilities that aren't his for something?"
"You acted this way to save someone, so why should you be responsible for that person for life just because you saved them?"
"Then I'll be the first to object to you marrying her. If that's the case, won't you have to take responsibility for everyone you save in the future?"
"As a soldier, saving lives is your duty."
If this means jeopardizing your lifelong happiness, then I do not agree with this approach.
Guan Hongsheng nodded repeatedly in agreement!
Guan Chengzhuo understood, but he harbored different feelings for her, perhaps because it was his first time interacting with a woman.
It's also possible that he genuinely has special feelings for her. He nodded solemnly.
"I want to marry her because I think she deserves it."
"She is my ideal woman, and she is also worthy of the title of Duchess of our country, so I beg my grandparents and father to grant my request!"
Guan Chengzhuo has already said all that, so what is there to disagree with?
He Shilian said she understood and would personally send out invitations and bring a matchmaker to propose marriage.
"Thank you, Grandma, for taking care of your grandson at your age."
He Shilian waved her hand, then glanced at Guan Hongsheng, but said nothing. And so, Guan Chengzhuo's marriage was settled.
Guan Chengheng was already chuckling to himself; he needed to hurry back to his room to write a letter to his third sister.
Let's continue. He said back then that this woman was suitable to be the eldest sister-in-law!
See? That's fate! When it comes, you can't stop it, and he didn't even have to introduce us!
The two of them just bumped into each other on their own.
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