Chapter 361 Proposal
"Thank you, Auntie."
As she spoke, Ji Shi led the group through the gate first. Gu Renjie watched Yun Yichen's back from behind and couldn't help but grit his teeth.
He had just softened because of what this person had just said, but it turns out he was scheming against them again.
"Brother, what is Brother Yun trying to do?"
Gu Yingjie finally noticed that Yun Yichen was acting strangely. Seeing that even his mother looked serious, he quickly pulled Gu Renjie aside and asked in a low voice.
"Second brother, you should go back to your wife, children, and warm bed!"
Gu Renjie still didn't understand what Yun Yichen was up to, and he didn't want to talk to him at all.
Gu Yingjie was already used to Gu Renjie's attitude towards him, so he pretended not to hear what he said and continued, "Brother Yun, could it be that you've taken a fancy to our little sister?"
Gu Yingjie's words earned him a glare from his older brother, "You've finally come to your senses! I thought that now that you're married, all you'd think about is the bedroom."
Gu Yingjie blushed after Gu Renjie's words. He had indeed been focusing all his attention on his wife and children lately and had neglected many things.
But it's not entirely his fault. Jing'er is newly pregnant, and the pregnancy is still quite unstable. He didn't even dare let her go to the General's mansion today; as her husband, he naturally took extra care of her at home.
As they spoke, the group entered the main room, and the maidservants quickly brought out tea.
On the way over, Gu Renjie's eyes were practically piercing through Yun Yichen.
Although Gu Yingjie was better, the danger in his eyes was no less than that in Gu Renjie's.
When Gu Jin came in, he saw his two sons staring intently at Yun Yichen.
After glancing at the two, Gu Jin finally walked towards Yun Yichen.
"uncle!"
Yun Yichen hurriedly stood up and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Gu Jin.
Seeing this, Gu Jin gave him a slight push, saying, "Nephew, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat."
Looking at their attitudes, Gu Renjie understood that his parents were aware of Yun Yichen and Shu'er's relationship.
Even though he knew this day would come eventually, Gu Renjie still felt a little uneasy.
"I wonder what urgent matter brings you here so late, my dear nephew?"
Although Gu Jin had a general idea of what was going on, he knew that the other party was a junior, so he should be the one to start the conversation.
Upon hearing this, Yun Yichen stood up from his seat, bowed to Gu Jin and Ji Shi, and then slowly said, "This humble one has come today to ask for the hand in marriage with your esteemed young lady."
Yun Yichen thought he wouldn't be too upset when he said those words, but when he actually faced Gu Jin and Ji Shi, his hands couldn't help but break out in a few beads of sweat.
In the imperial court, he could strategize and command with ease, dealing with civil and military officials and even the emperor. But this time, he felt completely unsure of himself.
Gu Jin had already guessed that he would say this, so he didn't make things difficult for him. He nodded, and with a wave of his hand, the butler immediately led the servants out of the room.
"Actually, there's something your aunt and I haven't dared to tell anyone. We thought that this matter would end after what happened, but since you've come to ask for Shu'er's hand in marriage, there are some things your aunt and I have to tell you."
When Gu Jin said this, his expression became somewhat heavy. He looked at the younger generation present and then slowly said, "Back then, my wife and I had a verbal marriage agreement with your mother. However, things changed in the capital later, and those who knew about this matter were no longer around. In order to avoid trouble, your aunt and I kept it a secret."
When this was mentioned, both Gu Jin and Madam Ji showed a hint of guilt. If it weren't for what happened back then, their two children probably wouldn't have encountered what happened later.
Yun Yichen clearly hadn't expected that his mother had arranged a marriage for him. He glanced back at Gu Shuyan, wondering if it was all fate.
"I am not aware of the agreement between Uncle and Aunt and Mother, but there is one thing I can guarantee: I, Yun Yichen, am only willing to marry Shushu in this lifetime. So please grant my request, Uncle and Aunt."
As Yun Yichen spoke, he knelt down in front of the two of them.
It is said that a man's knees are worth gold, so Yun Yichen, a powerful minister second only to the emperor, knelt down, which surprised everyone present.
"Nephew, what are you doing? Get up quickly."
Gu Jin quickly stepped forward to help Yun Yichen up. "Even if you hadn't come today, your uncle planned to talk to you about this matter in a couple of days. Your mother was an old friend of mine and your aunt's. Your marriage was arranged by her back then. We who are still alive should naturally fulfill her wish so that she can leave in peace."
Seeing that Gu Jin had agreed to the marriage, Yun Yichen breathed a sigh of relief and his gaze involuntarily shifted to Gu Shuyan's face.
Logically speaking, when a young lady is asked to marry someone, she should hide in her room or behind a screen to peek. However, Yun Yichen had come back with them in their carriage, and the two were already familiar with each other, so Gu Jin was exempt from these conventional rules.
"Shu'er, come with your mother to fetch some things."
Although Gu Shuyan had died once, she was still a young lady from a respectable family. When she saw Yun Yichen looking at her as if no one else was around, she couldn't help but blush.
Fortunately, Madam Ji noticed her embarrassment, stood up, and pulled her out of the room.
Once only four men remained in the room, Gu Yingjie finally asked his question, "Father, when did you and Mother become acquainted with Brother Yun's mother? And what about that verbal marriage agreement? I didn't know anything about it."
Gu Yingjie didn't think he was beyond understanding human speech, but today he couldn't understand a single word his father said.
It's not that Gu Yingjie couldn't understand; even Gu Renjie was somewhat confused, and could only look at Gu Jin and Yun Yichen with a puzzled gaze.
"What, do you expect me to know everything? Yichen and Shuer's engagement was arranged long before your older brother was even born. It would be strange if you knew about it."
"Is it a betrothal made since birth? If elder brother had been born a woman, wouldn't brother Yun have married elder brother instead?"
Gu Jin originally intended to scold his son, but Gu Yingjie seized the opportunity to mock him mercilessly.
"Are you very free?" Gu Renjie's face darkened upon hearing Gu Yingjie's words, and he shot Gu Yingjie an unfriendly glare, which startled him into shutting up immediately.
The other two, while not as unpleasant as Gu Renjie, were not much better looking.
“I suddenly remembered that my aunt asked me to bring something to Jing’er, so I’ll take it to her right away.”
Gu Yingjie chickened out and quietly slipped out of the room almost before his father could say anything.
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