MYUFPC CHAPTER 6
Not everyone is eligible to get married
Zhan Yanqing had entered the Jinwu Guard at fifteen and had become its commander at twenty-two. He was a true prodigy, high-ranking at a young age.
His temperament was aloof and unyielding, much like his mother, Fu Shiyu. In nearly twenty years of raising him, this was the first time Old Madam Wen saw him bow his head.
Just for a marriage?
Old Madam Wen pursed her lips, silently observing him.
Mama Sheng, sensing the awkward tension, interjected with a smile, "Madam, why not grant the Fourth Master’s wish? Even if the eldest young master is to marry the princess, preparations will take at least half a year. We can still propose to Miss Feng then."
"Miss Feng..." Afraid that she had been already betrothed to someone else.
Old Madam Wen’s unfinished sentence hung in the air as she noted Zhan Yue’s unwavering posture—he was truly pleading.
"Fine, fine," Old Madam Wen sighed, turning away. "Go and rest."
Zhan Yue responded with a respectful "Yes."
As he was leaving, Old Madam Wen added, "In your absence, Ah Li has often asked about you. Take the opportunity to spend more time with him while you’re here."
Zhan Yue nodded. After paying his respects, his tall figure gradually disappeared from sight. For a long while, the room was so quiet that almost no sound could be heard. Eventually, Old Madam Wen spoke again, her voice deep and steady like a still well, carrying a hint of stubbornness: "Was it a mistake to let him serve in the Jinwu Guard?"
Mama Sheng considered for a moment before responding softly, "Fourth Master is not someone to be confined. Even if you hadn't secured this position for him, with his abilities, he would surely rise to prominence one day."
Mama Sheng paused and continued gently, "After all, Fourth Master carries the blood of the late Marquis Yongding."
Old Madam Wen's face showed signs of weariness. She closed her eyes and slowly turned the prayer beads in her hand, "This family will eventually fall into chaos."
"Each generation has its own destiny. When the time comes, it won't be up to the ancestors to worry," Mama Sheng said with a smile. She supported Old Madam Wen's hand and slowly helped her into the inner hall to rest.
After leaving Old Madam Wen's room, Zhan Yue didn't leave the courtyard but walked to another room within the courtyard.
The Ah Li mentioned by his grandmother was the son of Zhan Yue's second brother. Ah Li was his nickname, and his formal name was Zhan Shaoheng.
Zhan Yue's second brother, Zhan Song, was the elder brother who had been sickly and died young. Zhan Song was born to the concubine of the Marquis of An Guo. He was not well nourished during the postpartum period and had been sickly since childhood, barely surviving on medicine for twenty years.
Because of his frail body, no prominent family was willing to marry their daughter to him. Old Madam Wen simply married him to a girl from a humble family, just to continue the bloodline.
Ah Li was eight years old this year. Having lost his father at a young age, Old Madam Wen couldn't bear to let him grow up alone, so she took him into her own courtyard to raise.
Because he had been by Old Madam Wen's side since childhood, Ah Li had a good relationship with Zhan Yue. After all, Zhan Yue had also lived under Old Madam Wen's care for many years.
"Fourth Uncle!" Ah Li was leaning on the window sill. When he saw Zhan Yue approaching from a distance, he excitedly waved his little hand.
Zhan Yue walked into the room and gently stroked his black hair, "Have you been good?"
"Yes, I have," Ah Li said, running over to tightly hold Zhan Yue's hand. He grinned, revealing small rice-like teeth, and asked, "Where's the Guandong candy that Fourth Uncle promised to bring me?"
Zhan Yue was momentarily at a loss for words. Behind him, Liu Qi stifled a laugh.
Maintaining his composure, Zhan Yue said, "I'll buy it for you next time I return to the mansion."
Ah Li didn't look too happy, puffing out his round little face. He first glanced at Zhan Yue gloomily, seeing that Zhan Yue seemed deep in thought about something else.
Carefully, Ah Li shook Zhan Yue's hand and asked, "Fourth Uncle, did you have a fight with Great-Grandmother?"
Zhan Yue found Ah Li's precocious manner somewhat amusing and stopped maintaining a stern face. He lifted Ah Li onto his knee.
"I didn't fight with Grandmother," Zhan Yue said.
But Ah Li was not convinced. He mumbled, "I heard it all."
"Did Great-Grandmother pressure you to get married?" Ah Li stretched his head, his crescent-moon-like eyes filled with curiosity.
Zhan Yue frowned, "Do you even understand what getting married means?"
Ah Li nodded vigorously, "That day, Grandfather called me over to test my lessons, and I heard him talking to Eldest Aunt about arranging a marriage for Eldest Brother."
Ah Li's elder brother was Zhan Shaoying.
Zhan Yue's tone became indifferent. He lowered his eyelashes and smiled peacefully, "Is that so?"
"Tell Fourth Uncle what you heard," Zhan Yue said, his eyes as dark as the night.
Scratching his face and trying to recall, Ah Li said, "I don't remember much. At that time, my mind was full of my lessons. I just remember Grandfather and Eldest Aunt saying, 'Don't arrange any other marriages for Eldest Brother for now.'"
Zhan Yue showed no reaction to these words. If anything, the smile in his eyes grew softer. He picked up a tea cup and quietly took a sip.
Ah Li exclaimed in alarm, "Fourth Uncle, the tea is freshly brewed and very hot!"
"Yes," Zhan Yue said calmly after a moment, "It is quite hot."
Liu Qi, who was standing behind Zhan Yue, quickly said, "I'll fetch some ointment for the burn."
Zhan Yue replied, "No need."
His gaze was calm and cool, "I can't feel anything anyway."
Ah Li was not satisfied. He reached out with his chubby little hands to open Zhan Yue's lips, checking that his tongue hadn't blistered from the heat. Only then did Ah Li breathe a sigh of relief, saying, "No wonder Great-Grandmother keeps urging you to get married, Fourth Uncle. You really don't make things easy for others."
Liu Qi couldn't help but chuckle softly behind them.
Zhan Yue lowered his gaze, looking at Zhan Ah Li's small, fair hand, without saying a word. Ah Li lifted his head to look at him, his dark eyes full of curiosity, "Fourth Uncle, why don't you want to find a wife? Tell me secretly, I won't tell anyone."
Zhan Ah Li's eyes were bright and clear, and his little face already bore some resemblance to the men of the Zhan family. Zhan Yue silently looked at Zhan Ah Li without speaking.
After a moment, he finally spoke in a low voice, his tone as light as a breeze, "When you grow a bit older, you'll understand. Not everyone in this world has the right to get married."
Zhan Ah Li's eyes widened in confusion, his small brows furrowing in thought. "I don't quite understand," Zhan Ah Li pouted, speaking in his childish voice, "Fourth Uncle, are you afraid that your wife won't like you?"
Zhan Yue's heavy heart felt inexplicably lighter because of Zhan Ah Li's words. He gently relaxed his brows and a dry smile appeared on his face. Zhan Yue asked with interest, "If that's the reason, then what do you think I should do?"
Zhan Ah Li shook his head proudly, "That's simple."
"Just take her!" Zhan Ah Li said, waving his arms around as he pulled out a book titled "How to Become a Bandit Leader" from his chest. He brandished it triumphantly, "Look, that's what the book says."
Zhan Yue glanced at the title and couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile. He took the book from Zhan Ah Li's hands, his clear eyes thoughtful. Zhan Yue said seriously, "I'll think about it."
Zhan A Li nodded like a little adult, "That's right."
"Next time, Fourth Uncle, don't argue with Great-Grandmother about this," Zhan Ah Li said innocently, "I'll tell Great-Grandmother that Fourth Uncle will take the wife he wants."
Zhan Yue couldn't help but pinch Zhan Ah Li's chubby little face, "I only said I'll think about it."
"But this book is inappropriate," Zhan Yue's eyes flashed as he took the book from Zhan Ah Li and handed it to Liu Qi behind him, "It's confiscated."
Zhan Ah Li's eyes widened in surprise, and his expression towards Zhan Yue changed immediately.
Zhan Yue seemed oblivious. He slowly scanned the servants in Zhan Ah Li's room and asked calmly, "How do you all usually serve the young master?"
Although Zhan Yue's tone was calm and he showed no anger, the remaining servants shivered. The more timid ones nearly fell to their knees. Zhan Ah Li jumped off Zhan Yue's lap and defended them, "This book was given to me secretly by my cousin when he visited. It has nothing to do with them!"
"Oh," Zhan Yue nodded, his tone light and breezy, "Then you can tell your cousin that if he dares to give you such books again, I will use a ruler to hit his palm."
Zhan Ah Li's face turned red with anger at Zhan Yue's unreasonable behaviour. He crossed his small arms in front of Zhan Yue, thinking for a moment before saying defiantly, "I get it. Fourth Uncle wants to take the book for himself to read secretly, that's why you're confiscating it." The more he thought about it, the more he felt he was right. He made a face at Zhan Yue, "Hmph, hypocrite!"
Zhan Yue said nothing.
Instead, Liu Qi, who had been stifling laughter, couldn't hold it back any longer and started to laugh openly until Zhan Yue gave him a look, making him stop immediately.
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Author has something to say:
Zhan Ah Li: I know all about fourth uncle's small heart.