Duke of Zhenguan

After having lunch with Li Shi and Er Ya, Lin Chuan returned to the east wing and found the letter in the smelly clothes he had changed out of yesterday.

Upon opening the letter, one is greeted by neat and beautiful handwriting.

The letter was short, but it was essentially a thank you to Lin Chuan for having Er Ya deliver the gifts to her, and she had prepared a return gift in return.

Back when Lin Chuan was studying at the Yan family, he and a group of younger members of the Yan family would often gather together to discuss mathematics. Yan Liu Niangzi would occasionally join in as well, so they became quite familiar with each other.

After he became an official in the Ministry of Works, he visited the Yan family less often, but their relationship did not become distant. There was no need to write a special letter of thanks when he sent them gifts.

Lin Chuan folded the letter, sat down in the chair, frowned, and couldn't figure it out.

Seeing this, Meixiang, who was standing nearby, mustered her courage and asked softly:

"Is something troubling you, my lord?"

Lin Chuan looked at Mei Xiang, thought for a moment, and handed her the letter in his hand:

"Can you take a look at this for me?"

Meixiang took the letter, read it once, and asked softly:

"This young lady is in love with you, sir, but you don't reciprocate?"

Is Yan Liu Niangzi in love with me?

Lin Chuan stared at Mei Xiang in disbelief, and asked speechlessly:

"Are you sure you didn't see it wrong, or is there some misunderstanding?"

"My lord, this young lady has already prepared her return gift and is just waiting to see you. She has been so straightforward, how could there be any misunderstanding..." Meixiang said with a wry smile.

Holding the letter, Lin Chuan recalled Er Ya's smug expression last night and felt that things weren't so simple. He snatched the letter from Mei Xiang's hand and strode towards the door.

Arriving at the front yard, she saw Er Ya preparing to take Wang Xiao Liu out, and quickly called out to her:

"Er Ya! Wait!"

Er Ya turned to look at Lin Chuan and asked with a smile:

"Brother, I'm going to find Sixth Sister. Will you come with me?"

"Er Ya, come with me!"

Lin Chuan pulled Er Ya aside and asked softly:

"Er Ya, what exactly did you and Sixth Sister talk about?"

"He didn't say anything..." Er Ya shook her head in confusion and said softly, "Didn't my brother tell me to send some soap and perfume to Sixth Sister? So I did!"

Lin Chuan stared at Er Ya for a long time, until Er Ya looked uncomfortable, before he said softly:

"Er Ya, I meant that when you go to the Yan family to study with Sixth Sister, you should bring something as a thank-you gift, not that you should deliver something to Sixth Sister on my behalf, do you understand?"

"what?"

Er Ya thought for a long time before she understood the meaning behind Lin Chuan's words, and asked in surprise:

"Didn't my brother ask me for help because he's interested in Sixth Sister?"

"When did I say I had feelings for Sixth Sister?" Lin Chuan asked, speechless.

"My mother told me that you prefer someone as knowledgeable and reasonable as Sixth Sister!" Er Ya said with certainty.

Lin Chuan, clutching his forehead with a headache, whispered to Er Ya:

"Didn't Mother tell you that my marriage to Madam Cheng is almost finalized?"

"what?"

Er Ya stared at Lin Chuan in shock and asked incredulously:

"The eldest daughter-in-law of Master Cheng? The one who used to come to our noodle shop with her maid?"

Lin Chuan nodded.

Er Ya opened her mouth, wanting to ask her brother if he was joking. Her brother was engaged to the eldest daughter of the Cheng family. What would happen to the sixth daughter?

She's still waiting for her brother's reply!

And it seems that he himself was the one who caused all of this?

With her mind a complete mess, Er Ya finally realized the seriousness of the situation and looked at her brother with a panicked expression, asking:

"Brother, what should we do?"

Lin Chuan glared at Er Ya. He had no idea what to do. He couldn't marry two women. He didn't even have a title yet. Marrying Cheng Yaojin's daughter was already climbing the social ladder.

He even wants to marry the Yan family's daughter as a concubine?

He wouldn't even dare to dream of it.

After a headache lasted for a while, he asked softly:

"Do Yan Gong and the others know about this?"

"I think I know..." Er Ya said with a bitter face.

"Do you know or not?"

"You should know, Sixth Sister mentioned it to me!"

Lin Chuan was speechless. If the rest of the Yan family didn't know about this, he could just have Er Ya explain it to Yan Liu Niangzi and apologize. After all, it was a misunderstanding.

Ke Yan's family also knew what to do.

It seems the only thing we can do is explain it clearly, and as soon as possible.

Now that things had come to this, Lin Chuan no longer blamed Er Ya, and sighed softly:

"Go to the Yan family and explain things to Sixth Sister first, and then apologize on her behalf. I will go and apologize to Master Yan and the others after they finish their shift in the evening!"

You must make it clear to Sixth Sister that this is all a misunderstanding, understand?

He originally planned to visit Cheng Churou at the Cheng family home in the afternoon, and then take Ah Shui and Ah Lang to the Qin family home in the evening.

I can only go to the Qin family tomorrow.

After seeing Er Ya off, he took Xu Laosan to the Cheng family.

Madam Cui had already received the news that Lin Chuan had returned to Chang'an. She was discussing with Cheng Churou in the front courtyard when Lin Chuan would come to the Cheng family when the steward brought Lin Chuan in.

"Greetings, Auntie!"

Lin Chuan's gaze lingered for a moment on Cheng Churou's face, which was filled with surprise, before he bowed to Cui Shi.

Now that the two families have completed the first two steps of the marriage alliance, they have reached the stage of engagement, which is called Naji. All that is left is for Cheng Yaojin to return and exchange the marriage certificate.

"We're family, no need for formalities! Please have a seat!"

Mrs. Cui waved her hand with a smile, looking at Lin Chuan with the same respect a mother-in-law would show to her son-in-law.

After sitting for a while, Madam Cui glanced at Cheng Churou, who seemed hesitant to speak, and jokingly said with a smile:

"Some people are already finding this old woman in their way!"

"Mother!"

Cheng Churou was immediately embarrassed, her face turning as red as the evening glow.

"Alright, I know you have something to say, go ahead!" Madam Cui waved her hand with a smile.

After leaving the flower hall, Cheng Chun tactfully lagged far behind.

Cheng Churou then raised her head and looked at Lin Chuan. Seeing the layers of dead skin that hadn't completely peeled off Lin Chuan's face, she said with red eyes:

"Lin Lang has suffered!"

"I didn't suffer much, it's just that Liangzhou is too dry, and with all the riding, my butt hurts!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Shameless..."

Cheng Churou blushed, glared at Lin Chuan, and asked softly:

"When will Father come back?"

"I don't know. Uncle Cheng is going to Lingzhou, and maybe Longzhou too. It will probably take him a while..." Lin Chuan said.

"Thank goodness we're not going to war!" Cheng Churou sighed softly.

"I heard from my mother that we're just waiting for Uncle Cheng to come back and exchange the marriage certificate. Chu Rou, can't you wait?" Lin Chuan teased with a smile.

"No!"

Cheng Churou let out a low growl and subconsciously raised her hand to hit Lin Chuan, but then immediately realized it was inappropriate and quickly softened her strength, making it sound like she was being coquettish.

Lin Chuan grabbed Cheng Churou's small hand and held it in his hand without any hesitation.

Time always flies when you're with Cheng Churou, and before you know it, it's evening.

After leaving the Cheng family's house, he went home to get some things before arriving at the Yan family's house with a nervous expression.