Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Seeing that Cui Zeyu remained motionless, Xie Yunting couldn't stand it any longer. He stood up and yawned. "Fine, if you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask. But let me tell you something: when you're alive, you have to think more about yourself. If you really have some past with the Duke of Dingguo, it might not be a bad thing."

If Cui Zeyu hadn't asked him to help stop people, and if the Duke of Dingguo hadn't been waiting for him at his residence all afternoon, he would never have connected the two of them.

Just now, when he was looking at the Duke of Dingguo, he noticed that Cui Zeyu's eyebrows and eyes were very similar to those of the Duke of Dingguo, especially his eyes, but their temperaments were completely different.

The Duke of Dingguo had eyes like an eagle, a murderous aura honed from years of fighting on the battlefield that few could possess.

Choi Taek-ok's eyes are gentle, often conveying a smile that reaches deep into his eyes, making him seem approachable.

Same eyes, different temperament.

Xie Yunting isn't stupid. Although Cui Zeyu didn't mention the past, he would use his imagination.

Xie Yunting reached the threshold before Cui Zeyu said "Thank you." He turned around with a smile, "Oh, it's nothing. We're good brothers, and I'm a man of great loyalty!"

He closed the door for Cui Zeyu and told people not to disturb him.

Xie Yunting himself had been exhausted for several days, and after going back and lying down, he fell into a deep sleep.

He was rewarded for his meritorious service in suppressing bandits, and the government granted him three days of rest. After waking up the next day, he took Shuanzi and went to visit Cui Lingrong.

Xie Yunting was the one who delivered the invitation, so Cui Lingrong met Cui Lingrong in the front hall.

Cui Lingrong was preoccupied with her younger brother's affairs, but it wasn't the right time to talk about him, so she could only say politely, "Congratulations, General Xie. With your triumphant return, the Emperor will surely value you even more."

Xie Yunting smiled and said, "The Emperor has rewarded me with land and money, which I have distributed to my brothers. I've come here today to ask Sister Cui for a favor."

As he spoke, Caixia poured tea for him and Shuanzi.

Shuanzi blushed the whole time. He only glanced at Lady Song when he entered the room, and his eyes lit up instantly. He dared not look around anymore.

Seeing a pair of fair hands holding a teacup and gently calling him "General," he felt a tingling sensation in his heart.

Cui Lingrong told Xie Yunting to speak freely.

"It's like this," Xie Yunting said. "Of the brothers who followed me out of the mountains back then, only Shuanzi is left. He's a simple man, which is a good thing, but also a bad thing. He's getting on in years, and I don't know any women around me. I was wondering if Sister Cui could help me out and see if there's anyone suitable."

Shuanzi was a centurion, and Xie Yunting had provided him with a house, so it would be easy for him to marry a girl from a respectable family.

The easiest way to handle this is to contact official media.

But Shuanzi was Xie Yunting's last brother, and he hoped that Shuanzi could find someone better before he came to find Cui Lingrong.

Cui Lingrong shifted her gaze to Shuanzi, "I do know some families of similar social standing, but I wonder what kind of girl General Xie likes?"

Xie Yunting slapped Shuanzi, "They're asking you!"

"Huh?" Shuanzi looked up nervously and blurted out, "White!"

Cui Lingrong didn't understand.

Xie Yunting punched him, saying, "I found someone to arrange a marriage for you, and you keep saying such inappropriate things, like 'giving it away for free.' Character is the most important thing, you know?"

Shuanzi covered his head and hid behind him, "Well, I wasn't wrong, was I? Good character, and... and fair skin!"

As he spoke, Shuanzi glanced at Caixia and saw the girl smiling, so he chuckled along.

Cui Lingrong didn't notice this. She said, "My third sister-in-law has a younger sister who is about the same age. If Commander Xu is willing, I can help mediate."

Xie Yunting went to check on Shuanzi, but Shuanzi remained silent. Feeling utterly humiliated, he pulled Shuanzi aside. "I'm talking to you, what are you staring at?"

"I...I don't want a rich family's daughter," Shuanzi said. "We're bandits, how can we get along with those rich girls?"

"What are you doing? What do you want?" Xie Yunting snapped. "Why didn't you say so before we came?"

Shuanzi leaned to the side, afraid that the general might hit him at any moment, so he could dodge. "I didn't understand back then."

"So now that you've figured it out, what am I supposed to say? You bastard, I've already spoken to someone, and you're only saying this now?" Xie Yunting really wanted to beat Shuanzi up.

Shuanzi chuckled, "Brother, good brother, I'm really afraid of those young ladies. You know, when we get home, we just want to take off our shoes and go to sleep, but I've heard that wealthy families are very particular about these things; we even have to wash our faces and feet. I think I'll pass. But..."

At this point, Shuanzi became a little embarrassed.

"Spit it out if you have something to say."

"However, I think I quite like the maidservant beside Lady Song." As he spoke, Shuanzi blushed.

Xie Yunting finally understood. This kid wasn't against the young lady from a wealthy family; he was simply attracted to the pretty maid.

"Don't you mind that they're of a lower social status?" Xie Yunting asked. He himself didn't care, but to prevent Shuanzi from having second thoughts, he had to find out first.

"Come on, brother, do you think I'd look down on her background? Back when we were bandits, we were like rats crossing the street, hated by everyone. She's an innocent girl who's willing to marry me, how could I possibly look down on her?" Shuanzi was very self-aware.

He is where he is today not because of his own abilities.

His former brothers were all smarter and better at martial arts than him. Only he wasn't as bright, and his fists weren't as strong as theirs, but he knew that he had joined the army with his eldest brother and had to stay by his side forever.

In the end, he was the only one who survived.

His achievements today are all thanks to his elder brother.

Without his older brother, he might still be a homeless hoodlum in the village, and might even have been beaten to death by now.

"Alright, that's enough." Xie Yunting looked at Cui Lingrong again, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He couldn't say it in front of the young lady. As he racked his brains trying to figure out what to say, he heard Sister Cui ask Caixia to add more tea. He quickly suggested that he take a look at Caixia, "Miss Caixia is someone close to Sister Cui, and I can certainly trust her character. I wonder if Miss Caixia is engaged?"

Cui Lingrong said no.

"That's wonderful." Xie Yunting pulled Shuanzi up. "Sister Cui also met Shuanzi today. You two can discuss it later. Let us know whether it works out or not. Don't be shy."

Shuanzi blushed the whole time and could only chuckle.

Cui Lingrong and Qiu's mother were both completely confused. When Caixia brought over the fresh tea, they both looked over.

Cui Lingrong asked, "Caixia, is this your first time meeting Commander Xu?"

Caixia said, "Grandma, why are you all looking at me like that?"

Cui Lingrong and Qiu's mother exchanged a glance, and only after taking Caixia back to Qiushuangzhai did they bring up the matter.

Caixia was bewildered. She had only served tea, and someone had taken a liking to her. It took her a long time to process what had happened.

Marrying Xu Baihu under Caixia's identity was a step up for Caixia. However, both Caixia and Caiyue were people close to Cui Lingrong, and she hoped they would find a good home.

"I know things happened suddenly. General Xie said that he and Shuanzi both came from humble backgrounds, so they don't care about family lineage. As for Shuanzi, he does seem simple, but the fact that he's always by General Xie's side shows he's a good person." Cui Lingrong told Caixia to think it over carefully. "Marriage isn't something to rush. Think it over carefully. If you're interested, I'll ask General Xie to help arrange a meeting so you can get to know each other better before discussing the future."

Caixia's face was as red as rouge, and Qiu's mother also told her to think it over carefully, as the opportunity was rare.

Even the more respectable maids in the mansion were assigned a manager.

After Caixia left, Cui Lingrong brought up her brother's matter again, "General Xie whispered to me that Zeyu was in his residence, but they couldn't find out who was responsible for the assassination."

"It's good that Young Master Yu is safe and sound. It's good that he's at General Xie's residence. With General Xie there, Young Master Yu is sure to be safe." Madam Qiu asked, "Should we find some time to go and check on him?"

"Let's see what Caixia thinks. If Caixia wants to see Commander Xu, then I can take this opportunity to go and see Zeyu." Cui Lingrong hoped that everyone around her would be well.