The Xiao family's secret guard, whose name was hanging in the window of the Fengyue Tower, was unsure whether he should tell the general about this matter, mainly because the general had instructed him to only protect Miss Ruyi's safety.
To be honest, the General's efforts were in vain; any one of the martial arts masters at the brothel was better than him. But if he didn't tell Xiao Lanyi about this, it would seem like he, as a subordinate, lacked tact; if he did tell her... well, that would be disrespectful to Miss Ruyi's privacy.
Do they really think the people at the brothel haven't noticed him? These past few days, every time it's mealtime, Zhang Mama has been able to pinpoint his hiding place and then knock on his head to signal that it's time for him to eat.
Then he jumped down, ate, and went back. How should I put it? He was even considering working at the brothel.
After all, the food was delicious, the people were good-looking, and they were generous with money. Especially the kid, he had a ton of cash in his pocket, stacks of banknotes.
The man hung from a branch by the back door of the brothel, his ears twitching slightly. From the back door came the sound of armored figures walking like a fierce wind, a solemn and heavy sound of footsteps.
The General has arrived; he must be here to deliver rewards to the Huo family and the people of Fengyue Tower.
"General."
Before Xiao Lanyi arrived, he saw his own bodyguards vault down from the branches and say to him.
"I just heard that the head of the Xu family has arrived."
What's he doing here?
Before the man could even change into his civilian clothes, he went straight to the brothel upon arriving in Pingyang County. His armor shimmered like silver scales under the direct sunlight. Xiao Lanyi was tall and imposing, his imposing figure complemented by the scar between his eyebrows. He assumed Xu Zheng had come to the brothel to cause trouble, and his serious tone and the lion-like pressure made it hard for anyone to breathe.
Even the guards were at a loss for words. Perhaps the general hadn't even considered the possibility of Ruyi's involvement. If this were mentioned, would the Xu family patriarch still be able to walk out of the brothel today?
"explain."
"He...he's on the fourth floor...proposing to Miss Ruyi."
Xiao Lanyi's pupils contracted slightly, like the north wind in winter, cold and biting. The guards had never seen the general like this before.
The man was a very good superior, never losing his temper for no reason, and getting along with his bodyguards was more like being brothers. However, this time, the head of the Xu family had a bit of a knack for getting into trouble. It was like an iron tree finally blossoming, only to have a Cheng Yaojin appear out of nowhere.
Clad in silver armor, Xiao Lanyi was somewhat impatient and, following the signal from his guards, rushed up to the fourth floor.
— Clang! The door to the private room was pushed open.
The atmosphere between Xu Zheng and Ruyi was tense. Both of them were good at saying one thing to one person and another to someone else, but today they had met a tough one who wouldn't listen to either.
"Marshal Xiao?"
Upon seeing the man who kicked the door open, Xu Zheng stood up and bowed to Xiao Lanyi.
"Master Xu, you're in quite the mood. Since military rations can't be raised, you come to the Fengyue Tower to propose marriage. Are you deliberately trying to make things difficult for me, Xiao Lanyi?"
Xu Zheng was a little confused. What did his visit to the brothel have to do with military supplies? He did have the idea of marrying his daughter to Xiao Lanyi, but since it couldn't be done, so be it. Why should he make things difficult for himself when even high-ranking officials in the capital couldn't do it?
"I've heard since my hometown of a brothel in Pingyang County, where the girls are as beautiful as angels and incredibly talented. Especially Miss Ruyi, a true beauty, a woman of unparalleled charm. A graceful lady like her is sought after by gentlemen. I wonder if you know, Marshal Xiao…?"
"Give me a break! You're after my recipe, not me. You want everything? You can't have it all in your dreams."
Before the Xu family head could finish speaking, the girl in plain clothes started talking like a machine gun. She stopped pretending, since Xiao Lanyi already knew what she was like.
"..."
General Xiao entered the room and sat down, looking around. This private room at Fengyue Tower was similar to the guest rooms in the Xiao residence, with all the necessary amenities. The floor was paved with polished bluestone, reflecting the several elegantly patterned lanterns hanging from the beams.
"Master Xu, how old are you this year?"
I am thirty-six years old this year.
Thirty-six and he dares to propose to Ruyi? Huo Shuwen always says he's old enough to be Ruyi's father, and this guy really is old enough. Xiao Lanyi feels he's still not thick-skinned enough.
"Miss Ruyi is seventeen years old this year. Do you want your daughter, who is sixteen, to call her 'Mother'?"
Xu Zheng was somewhat speechless after being rebuked, but he could also see that Xiao Lanyi's jealousy was practically overflowing from the brothel. He smiled, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Xiao Lanyi, and said...
"For me, marriage is nothing more than a transaction. If the Marshal is pleased, I will not interfere in the union."
Xiao Lanyi's face turned red at a visible speed after the man exposed his feelings, like a red lantern hanging from a beam. Although he had already made his feelings clear to the girl in the letter, this was the first time he had done so in front of her.
"When will the General hold the ceremony to take a concubine? Could you please give me an invitation?"
Logically speaking, this was just polite talk. The Grand Marshal of the Great Yan Dynasty was a second-rank official with numerous military achievements; even if it were a courtesan taking a concubine, it would still be an honor. Xu Zheng's words weren't excessive; they simply reflected the low status of women in this world.
Ruyi gave a cold snort. Xiao Lanyi was glancing at the girl in plain clothes out of the corner of his eye. Seeing the girl's somewhat disdainful and unhappy expression, he quickly said...
"What concubine! My Xiao family never takes concubines! We only have legal wives."
The head of the Xu family was somewhat surprised. Why would he choose a courtesan as his wife when there were so many daughters of wealthy and powerful families in the capital and so many reliable in-laws?
Does Xiao Lanyi no longer care about the Xiao family? His sister is still in the palace; doesn't he need a capable wife to help him in the capital?
"Thank you for your kindness, Marshal, but I don't like any of them." The girl then leaned down and whispered in Xiao Lanyi's ear.
“I will not leave the brothel. Perhaps you think that taking a prostitute out of poverty is like getting out of a quagmire, but for me, the brothel is home, my home. If the Marshal truly likes me and wants to marry me, then I can marry into the family like Zhihua and Mantuo.”
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