Chapter 81 - Second Uncle Was Overthinking!
There was only one family on Vermillion Bird Street near the Imperial City, and that was Duke Zhen's residence. The huge mansion seemed deserted at night.
In a buddhist hall in the backyard, Madame Lu finished copying the buddhist scriptures and pinched her neck. She stood up to receive the goat's milk that the maid handed to her.
“Are you sure?” Madame Lu looked at the goat's milk in the cup with a bit of disgust. But her son had already told her to drink it, so she had no choice but to drink it.
“Yes, I entered the city on time. I stayed in a small inn until 15: 45 in the evening.”
“Who was it?”
“I am very sharp, and the guards don't dare to get too close. This old servant has already investigated, and only one person in the inn is suspected.”
Madame Lu handed him an empty glass, indicating that he should continue.
“Does madame still remember last year when this lord was saved by a young man?”
“Oh? Is it him?”
The steward nodded and said worriedly, “It seems that our lord has treated our little savior very differently.”
Madame Lu was silent for a long time before sighing. “Forget it. This child has suffered so much since he was young, and has no choice but to go to the battlefield at the age of eleven. Whatever he wants to do, he has gone through life and death several times.”
Madame Lu was a widower in her middle years, and she only had one son. The two of them had separated long ago, and her son was fighting on the frontlines. Other than praying in the capital, there was nothing she could do.
It was not easy for his to live without experiencing the fear of death a few times, so she really didn't have much requirements for Lu Zheng.
A letter from Lu Zheng had come in the past, telling her straightforwardly that he liked men. Ihee met someone he liked, she would never get married. If he didn't, he would take a girl from a small family.
Madame Lu had objected before, but first, Lu Zheng was in the distant Northern Frontier, so she didn't care. Secondly, Lu Zheng wasn't someone who could change her mind as she wished.
However, this Lu Family was passed down from one generation to the next, and the incense was broken in her hands, so how would she have the face to face the Lu Family's previous ancestors?
She sighed again and gloomily instructed: “Then let's start the selection. We will start from the side of Lu Family first, and age must be under five years old. If there is no suitable person, we can choose from Tong An Hall.”
“Yes.” The steward hesitated for a moment before saying sternly, “Madam, His Majesty intends for me to let Princess Shang.”
Madame Lu nonchalantly waved her hand, “As long as he can get Zheng'er to agree and let the princess live as a widow, I would be happy to have a proper wife.”
The steward thought about it and then decided to not take the news to heart.
Madame Lu closed her eyes to rest for a moment, then suddenly said, “Go and post. Give Zheng'er a welcome feast three days later. Zuo Family will be there soon, right? Let's invite them in together, let me look at them as well.”
The old housekeeper understood her intentions and immediately agreed. Afterwards, he asked, “Do we still need to invite the misses of each prefecture?”
“Please! Why not? Not only do I have to invite them, I also have to reveal that I am choosing a wife for my son!”
“This...” The old butler felt a headache coming on. If Master Lu was happy about this, it would be strange if he was. However, he didn't want this welcoming banquet to become a Hongmen feast.
“What are you afraid of?” Madame Lu opened her eyes and gave him a sidelong glance. “I must see if that child is suitable!”
“Yes, madame!” The old butler agreed with a smile on his face.
Zuo Shaoqing still didn't know the test he was about to face. After sending Lu Zheng off, he received a strange look from his second uncle.
“Second Uncle, is there anything you need at this time of the night?” It was time for him to sleep. There was still the smell of Lu Zheng on the bed, so he would definitely sleep well tonight.
Zuo Yunyang had a strange expression on his face. His fat face was twisted into the shape of an old chrysanthemum. He stuttered for a long time before asking, “Shao Qing... Just now... Just now, Second Uncle seemed to have seen... Master Lu has walked out from here...”
He stared at Zuo Shaoqing's messy clothes and flushed cheeks. He felt like there were ten thousand ants gnawing on his heart.
Zuo Shaoqing didn't have anything to hide from him, so he could be considered as admitting it.
“Wh... What?” Zuo Yunyang jumped up in shock, he kicked quite high, “He... He came here for...?”
Zuo Shaoqing calmly sat on the chair and looked at him with a smile that was not a smile, “What does second uncle think?”
“He... You… This… Did he force you?”
Zuo Shaoqing shook his head.
“Then… Then what should we do from now on?”
“What do we do?”
“Are you going to keep going on like this with Master Lu?” Zuo Yunyang felt that it was inappropriate after he finished asking. How could someone like Master Lu continue to be like this with a man?
Besides, Zuo Shaoqing would always grow up. Once he matured, it was hard to say whether Master Lu would like him or not.
Zuo Yunyang obviously treated Lu Zheng as the kind of nobleman who liked young people. The young boy had a soft body and it did have a unique flavor, but the young man would one day grow up.
“Second Uncle, just pretend you didn't see this. As for the future, that will be in the future. Why are you looking for trouble?”
Zuo Yunyang stood in front of him and scolded him with a pale face, “Shao Qing, do you know that if this were to spread, your reputation would be ruined? You are a High Scholar; in another month, you might become an official and your future will be limitless.” Why walk on such a dead end?
“Second Uncle thinks that nephew is doing it for Master Lu's power?” Zuo Shaoqing asked coldly.
Isn't it? Zuo Yunyang answered in his heart, but on the surface, he said: “Second Uncle, regardless of your reason or goal, I advise you to stop here. Do you really think that two men have a future?”
Zuo Shaoqing lowered his head in silence. He did not know if the two men had a future, but since he had already fallen into a quagmire, he had no choice but to escape.
He looked at Zuo Yunyang with determination, “Second Uncle, just wait and see. Even if there is no future, your nephew will make a future for himself.”
“Why are you...” From Zuo Yunyang's point of view, Zuo Shaoqing was asking for trouble. Even if he didn't leave on a bright road, walking on a path filled with thorns was still a road of no return.
“Nephew is the only one who knows what it's like, Second Uncle doesn't have to worry about it anymore!”
“Forget it. Since Second Uncle is unable to persuade you, he can only keep it a secret for you. Also, this courtyard is extremely big. It's best for you to buy a house as soon as possible.” There were too many people talking in the inn. There was no guarantee that people would see strange men going in and out of the inn. It was too unsafe.
“Second Uncle is anxious and confused.” Zuo Shaoqing said with a smile, “Father and Mother will be in the capital the next day. It's certain that we'll be able to get a house then. Can we just go out and wait?”
Although it was inevitable for the branch family to be separated, he had yet to establish a family, and the branch family could not be proposed by him.
“Your father is your father, why would Second Uncle want to share a room with him?” As early as after the second branch family, Zuo Yunyang had been used to living a life of freedom, how could he be willing to be restricted by the main house?
That made sense, “Second Uncle, feel free to go to the house. As for the procedures, just ask Master Lu for help.” Buying a house in the capital was not just about money.
Not only did Zuo Shaoqing's words allow others to tell that he was close with the people from the Zuo Family, it also let Zuo Yunyang know that his relationship with Master Lu had reached a point where it was irrevocable.
Zuo Yunyang was half happy and half worried. “Then Second Uncle will leave you a yard, from now on... You can come and stay anytime, as long as you don't mind Second Uncle's being a merchant's background.”
“Then nephew will thank Second Uncle first!” Zuo Shaoqing stood up and bowed to him, sincerely thanking him.
He understood what Zuo Yunyang meant. If the matter between him and Lu Zheng were to be exposed in the future, the attitude of Zuo Yunwen's family would be known. At that time, it would be fortunate if there were still people willing to accept him.
Zuo Yunyang also temporarily gave up on the idea of letting his wife into the capital. He didn't know how much trouble Zuo Shaoqing's matter would cause, so he decided to stay in his hometown with his wife and children for the time being.
Zuo Shaoqing also remembered the hint he gave to Zuo Yunyang and said shyly: “At the beginning… I never thought that my nephew and Master Lu would have such an affinity. Eldest elder sister's marriage...”
Zuo Yunyang waved his hand nonchalantly, “Uncle knows about Shao Qing's good intentions, but your elder cousin can't be any better. Knowing this, Uncle still has more.”
“Then second uncle can start searching for a candidate. A nephew that can help will definitely help.”
“Cough, cough...” Zuo Yunyang was already an old man, so he was a bit embarrassed when he talked about his daughter's marriage, “There's one candidate, but I'm worried that your cousin might not be able to afford it.”
“Oh? Which family's young master is this?”
“He's the one who's on good terms with you, Young Master Qu. It's just that after today's Imperial Examinations, it wouldn't be easy for him to reach senior high.”
Zuo Shaoqing opened his mouth wide in surprise. After thinking carefully, Qu Changqing's family background was simple. As someone who advanced greatly and had a upright character, he was actually much more reliable than the Cao Family.
“Brother Qu is truly the best candidate. How about nephew go and scout him out first?”
Zuo Yunyang was overjoyed. “I'll be troubling Shao Qing then!”
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