Gu Linchao remained silent for a moment, still hesitant, "But my eyes..."
"Master's eyes will definitely get better," Si Yi said confidently.
Wang Houde added from the side, "This servant also believes that Master's eyes will recover."
Gu Linchao understood Si Yi's intentions. After a pause, he compromised and said, "Then let's set a six-month period. If my eyes still haven't improved after six months, you don't need to wait any longer."
Si Yi was about to say something when Wang Houde stopped him, saying, "That's it. Listen to your master. Since you've decided to marry that girl, Lü Qiao, you have to give her an explanation."
Upon hearing this, Si Yi said nothing more. He took out a box from his pocket, looked at it for a moment, and then solemnly handed it to Wen Nong Nong.
"What is this?" Wen Nongnong took it.
“This is a keepsake I gave to Lü Qiao. The Princess Consort gave it to her on my behalf,” Si Yi said.
Wen Nongnong opened it and saw that it was a jade pendant. Although it was rather ordinary, the fact that he had carefully put it in the box meant that it must be of great significance. "This is..."
Si Yi clenched his fists under his sleeve and said with his eyes downcast, "When Master found me, he found this on me. It should have been left to me by my birth mother. Now give it to Lü Qiao."
Wen Nongnong felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this. She knew a little about Si Yi's background, but hearing him say it in such a calm tone still shocked her.
It turns out that Si Yi was taken in by Gu Linchao. No wonder he respects Gu Linchao so much and even wants to wait until his eyesight is restored before bringing up the wedding date.
She didn't say anything more, closed the box, nodded and said, "I understand, I'll give it to her in a bit."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Si nodded, stood up, and left with Wang Houde.
Upon seeing Lü Qiao standing by the door, Si Yi paused for a moment but said nothing, and walked away with Wang Houde.
Before long, Lü Qiao was called inside by Wen Nong Nong.
"Miss, are you looking for me?"
Wen Nongnong said helplessly, "Lüqiao, stop using the word 'servant' all the time. You are my maid, but I also treat you like a younger sister."
Greenie said obediently, "I know, I won't say it again."
Wen Nongnong nodded in satisfaction, then patted the two boxes on the table and said with a smile, "This is the betrothal money Si Yi gave me. I'll keep it here for now, and give it to you as your dowry when you get married."
Green Beauty hurriedly refused, "Miss, you don't need to give me..."
Wen Nongnong interrupted her, "Si Yi has all his assets here, which shows that he really values you. Although I am your elder, I cannot really accept this betrothal money."
Besides, I will prepare a separate dowry for you when you get married.
"Thank you, Miss." Upon hearing this, Lü Qiao did not refuse any further, because she understood Wen Nong Nong; since she had said so, she would not let her refuse.
"The jade pendant in this box belongs to Si Yisheng's mother. She asked me to give it to you as a token of your engagement. Keep it safe," Wen Nongnong said, handing the box to her.
Lü Qiao took it.
Thinking of Si Yi's heartbreaking background, Wen Nongnong paused, then couldn't help but say, "Si Yi is a reliable person. Now that you two are engaged, you are betrothed. You should support each other in the future."
Lü Qiao nodded. "I understand."
"That's good." Wen Nongnong breathed a sigh of relief. With her maid's future settled, she felt happy and relaxed.
After Lü Qiao left, Wen Nong Nong couldn't help but look at Gu Lin Chao and asked softly, "Your Highness, Si Yi... is this the one you picked up?"
Gu Linchao was silent for a moment before nodding, "Yes. When I found him, he was only a few days old and had been abandoned in the wilderness. I couldn't bear it, so I took him in."
Wen Nongnong's heart skipped a beat, "Was it when the Prince was stranded in Juezhou back then?"
"Mm." Gu Linchao nodded.
Upon hearing this, Wen Nongnong felt a complex mix of emotions.
Back then, Gu Linchao was just a child himself, and he was stranded in Juezhou, barely able to make ends meet. Yet he still managed to take in an abandoned baby. You can imagine how difficult life must have been for him.
Even so, he still resolutely picked up Si Yi and took her back.
Gu Linchao is truly a kind-hearted person, which is completely inconsistent with his cold demeanor and ruthless methods.
Thinking of something, she asked again, "Has Eunuch Wang been by your side since you were a child?"
Surprisingly, Gu Linchao shook his head, "No."
Wen Nongnong was surprised, "Then he..."
"Houde was a homeless child. When I met him, he was already wandering around Juezhou City. Because he was thin and alone, he was often bullied by groups of beggars. I helped him once, and he followed me ever since."
Later, after we returned to the capital, he became a eunuch and served me.
When the topic of their childhood came up, Gu Linchao seemed nonchalant, but Wen Nongnong could imagine how difficult those times must have been for them.
Two teenagers, struggling to get enough to eat, still had to care for a newborn baby.
Wen Nongnong found it hard to imagine how they had managed to get through it.
But through this, she finally understood why the three of them had such a good relationship.
Gu Linchao was like a father and brother to Si Yi, and he was like an older brother to Wang Houde.
Suddenly, her eyes widened as she thought of something. "Your Highness, that Eunuch Wang... he's not really a eunuch, is he?"
Gu Linchao said gently, "Of course not. It's just that back then, it was easier for a eunuch to enter and leave the inner palace, so he disguised himself as a eunuch. Over time, he probably forgot about it."
"How old is Eunuch Wang now?" Wen Nongnong asked.
“I’m not sure either. When I met him back then, he had been wandering around Juezhou City for many years. He said he didn’t remember how old he was. But I guess he was probably in his twenties,” Gu Linchao said.
Wen Nongnong thought for a moment and said, "Now that Si Yi's marriage is settled, Eunuch Wang is still single and seems quite lonely. How about I keep an eye out for him and find him a good wife if I find one?"
Gu Linchao took her hand and smiled, "If you're not tired, that's fine too, but you'll have to ask him what he thinks then."
“I know that.” Wen Nongnong nodded, paused, and brought up another matter, “Your Highness, it’s really hard to say what will happen in the future. I think we should take precautions.”
Gu Linchao paused for a moment, then asked, "What does Nongnong want to say?"
“Although private armies are not allowed in the territory, if there are really no soldiers, it will be too passive if something happens. Has Your Highness considered secretly training soldiers?” Wen Nongnong asked cautiously.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
