Courtyard House: I Have Countless Bodyguards

Shock, weighing options, fervent hope, and apprehension about the unknown...

A torrent of emotions surged within Earl Arthur's heart.

Ultimately, the allure of a "century of prosperity" blazed like the most intense flame.

This completely suppressed his anger, which had been fueled by the "scandal," and even burned it to ashes.

Compared to the enormous benefits the family might gain, the "loss of face" caused by a daughter's premarital pregnancy is...

It seems to have suddenly become... open to discussion, and could even be seen as a kind of "closely connected" link.

He squeezed his eyes shut, and when he opened them again, his eyes revealed a deep, calculating look that he had forced to suppress.

He stopped looking at Isabel's belly and instead looked into her eyes, his voice regaining the composure of a patriarch.

It even carried a hint of discussion, something that hadn't been there before, as it said:

"It seems... I really need to get to know Mr. Liu Jianguo properly again."

This statement is tantamount to indirectly acknowledging Isabel's suggestion.

Then, he changed the subject, returning to the original point, but with a completely different tone and implication:

"So, back to the original question. What are your plans regarding this child?"

After the baby is born, how... should it be named?

Isabel secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the bargaining chip she had thrown out had worked.

Her father's change of attitude was faster and more thorough than she had expected.

This is certainly due to the immense allure of "a century of prosperity," but it also indirectly confirms the father's deep anxiety about the current state of the family.

She answered truthfully, her tone calm, yet with an undeniable bottom line:

"I have already spoken with Liu Jianguo about the child."

His stance was clear: if it was a boy, he must take his surname. This was a non-negotiable principle.

She saw her father's brow furrow slightly, but he didn't immediately react, so she continued:

"If it's a girl... we can discuss the surname issue later."

She didn't rule out any possibility of a definitive answer, leaving room for possible negotiations.

However, it also clearly points out the core contradiction—the attribution of the male heir's surname.

Count Arthur remained silent.

Silence fell in the study once again, broken only by the occasional crackling of the fireplace.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the smooth wooden armrest, a habitual gesture he made when thinking rapidly.

Things took a turn for the better than he had initially anticipated.

The "trouble" from the East, which was initially thought to be easy to handle, has suddenly become an "important collaborator" that requires careful consideration and may even concern the fate of the family.

How to compare the strengths of both sides?

The known "Eight-Party Alliance" alone is enough to draw attention, not to mention the deeper, unfathomable background implied by the daughter.

On my side, besides an increasingly hollow noble title, some old connections that need to be carefully maintained, and shrinking businesses, what absolute advantages do I have?

Moreover, the daughter is already pregnant with the other party's child, which is a fait accompli and the strongest, unbreakable bond.

"The boy's surname is Liu..."

Earl Arthur repeated in a low voice. This undoubtedly touched upon the core interests of the nobility: surname and bloodline inheritance.

However, the other party did not completely block the path to negotiation, and compared to the possibility of "a century of prosperity,"

The ownership of a surname does not seem to be entirely unacceptable as a bargaining chip.

The key question is, what is the other party willing to give up for the condition that "the boy's surname is Liu"?

What else can it provide for the Cavendish family's "century of prosperity"?

"He didn't explicitly refuse to discuss it, but he did state his conditions..."

Earl Arthur's mind raced.

The absence of a refusal means there is room for negotiation.

Negotiation requires bargaining chips and exchanges.

Now, it seems he needs to reassess his own resources and... the price the other party might be interested in.

He looked up and glanced at his daughter with a complex expression, a look that contained scrutiny, assessment, and a hint of indescribable emotion.

This daughter, who had been unruly and a headache since childhood, might... have truly brought an unimaginable change to the family.

Arthur Cavendish's gaze lingered on his daughter's face for a long time, a gaze that contained careful consideration, calculations for the future, and a hint of the complex emotions of a father.

Ultimately, it all boils down to the decision made by the head of the household when faced with a major choice.

"it is good."

He finally spoke, his voice regaining its usual composure, but with a completely different meaning, and continued:

"For now, let's set the tone for your matter. As for the specific details and arrangements..."

Then, he emphasized slightly as he said:

"I need to have a detailed talk with Mr. Liu in person."

"Whether it's a mule or a horse, we have to put it to the test and let me personally assess its capabilities."

He stood up, straightened his impeccably tailored suit jacket, as if the revolutionary conversation he had just had was merely a routine family discussion.

"Let's go. Keeping our guests waiting is not the Cavendish family's way of hospitality."

He walked first to the study door, his steps no longer heavy and repressed as when he came in, but instead revealing a calm and slightly anxious sense of regaining control of the situation.

Isabel followed behind him, gently patting her lower abdomen, finally feeling much relieved.

She knew that the most difficult hurdle of "acknowledgment" was over.

What follows will be a power struggle between two men, or rather, between representatives of two families.

When the heavy mahogany door to the study opened again,

As Count Arthur and Isabelle walked out one after the other, Countess Margaret, who had been restless and trying to ease the atmosphere with small talk while dealing with Emily and Liu Jianguo in the living room, almost immediately looked up.

She nervously observed her husband's expression—

Contrary to expectations, he wasn't ashen-faced or still angry. Although he remained serious, the heavy gloom between his brows seemed to have dissipated considerably. Even when he whispered his last words to Isabel, the lines of his profile appeared slightly relaxed.

Isabel, though her eyes seemed slightly red, looked relaxed and even gave her mother a reassuring look.

Margaret's heart, which had been hanging in mid-air, finally settled down a little.

What she feared most was her husband making an irreversible decision in a fit of rage, or her father and daughter having a heated argument.

In retrospect, although it is unclear what was specifically discussed, at least the communication was effective and the atmosphere did not deteriorate further.

She couldn't help but cast a more complex glance at the young man from the East who sat upright and composed throughout—

How could she have managed to soften her stubborn and headstrong husband's attitude in such a short time?

Earl Arthur walked straight to the old butler, who had been standing silently to the side as if he were invisible, and spoke in his usual instructive tone:

"Notify the kitchen that dinner can be prepared. Prepare it according to the protocol for... important guests."

He deliberately paused almost imperceptibly on the phrase "important guest".

After giving his instructions, he turned to Liu Jianguo, even managing to force a smile that could only be described as "amiable"—

Although the smile appeared somewhat stiff on his usually serious face.