Duke of Zhenguan

Chapter 97 Apology

The next morning, Lin Chuan got out of bed when the sun was already high in the sky.

After washing his face and getting dressed with Cheng Chun's help, Lin Churou came out to greet him in the side hall of the front yard. She curtsied to Lin Chuan and said softly, "Lin Lang, are you hungry? I've had some rice porridge prepared!"

While Lin Chuan was eating, Cheng Churou sat beside him and served him food.

Although Cheng Churou would have meals with him in the past, she had never been as considerate as she was today.

"Did you know that Uncle Cheng went to the palace today to ask His Majesty for a marriage decree?" Lin Chuan asked.

"My mother told me this morning!" Cheng Churou nodded, blushing.

"So, will you have to change how you address me from now on?" Lin Chuan joked with a smile.

"My mother said we have to wait another two years—"

Cheng Churou whispered half of what she was saying, then turned to look at the door, then glanced at Cheng Chun standing beside her, before leaning close to Lin Chuan's ear and whispering in a barely audible voice, "Husband!"

Tsk!

Looking at the girl in front of him, her face flushed like a blush, Lin Chuan struggled to look away and said softly, "Call me that when no one's around!"

"oh!"

Cheng Churou blushed and nodded, occasionally glancing at Lin Chuan with her eyes full of tender affection.

Half an hour later, Lin Chuan waved to Cheng Churou who had seen him out. After walking a few dozen steps, he turned back to look at Cheng Churou standing at the door, and a conflicted expression appeared on his face.

When Cheng Yaojin went to ask Li Shimin to grant him a marriage, the Yan family could no longer keep it a secret.

Returning home with a heavy heart, Lin Jiu told him that Yan Lide had come earlier that morning.

It was obvious that it was because of the water-powered forging hammer created by the Gongshu family. With his mind preoccupied, Lin Chuan had no interest in dealing with these trivial matters. He listened to Lin Jiu's words and then forgot about them.

Around noon, Madam Li came to the front yard and saw Lin Chuan sitting blankly in the main hall. She asked worriedly, "Eldest son, has something happened?"

"Mother, Uncle Cheng said he's going to the palace today to ask His Majesty for a marriage decree!" Lin Chuan replied, having nothing to hide from Madam Li.

Li's worries vanished, and she said with a smile, "Isn't this a good thing? Why are you still looking so gloomy?"

"Mother, if His Majesty grants the marriage, the Yan family won't be able to keep it a secret!" Lin Chuan said awkwardly.

"...

Li had already heard about Yan Liu Niangzi from her daughter. In her heart, Li initially wanted her son to marry Liu Niangzi, but after Cheng Chu Rou came a few times, Li preferred the cheerful Cheng Chu Rou.

Moreover, she wasn't as optimistic as her son. After all, it was the Yan family. Would they agree to let their daughter marry someone as a concubine?

Seeing her son's distress, she gently comforted him, "Since you've made your decision, no matter the outcome, you should personally explain it to Lord Yan. The longer you delay, the worse it will be!"

That makes perfect sense, and we really can't delay any longer. Lin Chuan stood up from his chair and said with a smile, "Mother is right, I'll go right now!"

When they arrived at the Yan family home, Yan Shigu and Yan Xiangshi had not yet returned from their shifts, and Yan Liu Niangzi's father, Yan Wencheng, had also gone out to visit friends.

After chatting with several younger members of the Yan family of similar age in the front yard for a while, Yan Liu Niangzi's maid came in.

Amidst the teasing of others, Lin Chuan followed the maid to the small courtyard where Yan Liu Niangzi lived.

Leading Lin Chuan to a seat in the main room, Yan Liu Niangzi poured him a cup of hot tea and asked softly, "Why did you suddenly come, Lin Lang?"

Lin Chuan drank half a cup of tea before awkwardly saying to Yan Liu Niangzi, "Uncle Cheng wants to go to the palace to ask His Majesty for a marriage decree!"

Yan Liu Niangzi paused for a moment while holding the teapot, then casually refilled Lin Chuan's teacup, saying softly, "I'm sorry to have troubled you, Lin Lang."

"Sixth Sister, that's not what I meant. Although I'm afraid that Master Yan and Uncle Yan will kick me out, I'm even more afraid that you'll feel wronged!" Lin Chuan said with a wry smile.

Yan Liu Niangzi looked up at Lin Chuan and shook her head: "This servant is not wronged!"

Lin Chuan reached out and took Yan Liu Niangzi's hand in his, saying softly, "I've come today to apologize. Don't worry, Liu Niangzi, if Master Yan and Uncle Yan kick me out later, I'll shamelessly come back tomorrow and definitely marry you!"

"Then I'll wait patiently!" Yan Liu Niangzi nodded, her face flushed.

"Sixth Sister, you can't just wait here. I need your help with something else!" Lin Chuan said with a smile and shook his head.

"What is it?" Yan Liu Niangzi asked curiously.

"I have something that might change Lord Yan's mind, but he might not even let me in the door. I'll need Sixth Sister to give it to him then!" Lin Chuan said.

"What is it?"

Punctuation marks!

"Lin Lang, what are punctuation marks?"

"These punctuation marks are used to break sentences in an article. It's very simple. Let me teach you first!" Lin Chuan pulled Yan Liu Niangzi into the study and began to teach her punctuation marks.

This was something Lin Chuan thought of at home in the afternoon. Yan Shigu and Yan Xiangshi were both great historians and Confucian scholars who were well-versed in Confucianism. They would definitely be able to see the wonderful use of punctuation marks.

Even if Yan Xiangshi dislikes him, he still has to be grateful for his kindness!

It took almost half an hour to teach Yan Liu Niangzi how to use punctuation, and then the sun began to set.

Another half hour passed, and Yan Xiangshi returned home from his shift. He was very happy to see Lin Chuan and even invited Lin Chuan to drink with him during dinner.

Lin Chuan was relieved. It seemed that Li Shimin was still playing around with Cheng Yaojin and had not yet agreed to the marriage.

After dinner, Yan Xiangshi led Lin Chuan to his study and asked with a wry smile, "You seem quite relaxed, lad. Do you know that today the Director of the Imperial Workshops, Yan, submitted a memorial impeaching you?"

Lin Chuan was taken aback for a moment before asking in confusion, "Why did he impeach me?"

"Impeach you for dereliction of duty!" Yan Xiangshi said with a smile.

"I neglected my duties? This Yan Shaojian is really accusing me first!" Lin Chuan said speechlessly, then asked, "His Majesty isn't angry, is he?"

"This Junior Supervisor Yan couldn't find you at the Institute of Physics, nor at your home. He failed to complete the task His Majesty entrusted to him and is just looking for an excuse. His Majesty wouldn't be angry over something like this!" Yan Xiangshi said.

"That's good!" Lin Chuan breathed a sigh of relief.

"You seemed distracted during dinner, and you weren't even drinking properly. So, what's bothering you?" Yan Xiangshi abruptly changed the subject and asked.

Having prepared his answer for half a day, and emboldened by some wine at dinner, Lin Chuan stood up and bowed to Yan Xiangshi when asked, saying, "I acted rashly and made a grave mistake. I have come today to apologize to Lord Yan!"

Yan Xiangshi stared intently at Lin Chuan, and after a long while, asked coldly, "Did you ruin Xiao Liu's body?"

Lin Chuan was taken aback for a moment, then quickly explained, "Lord Yan, you've misunderstood! You've misunderstood!"

Yan Xiangshi's expression softened slightly, but he asked impatiently, "What exactly is it?"

"In early June, I got engaged to Madam Cheng!" Lin Chuan said nervously.

Yan Xiangshi's expression, which had just eased slightly, immediately darkened. His gaze, sharp as a knife, fixed on Lin Chuan, and he coldly asked, "Now that the engagement is arranged, why are you still bothering my granddaughter? Is this how your teachers taught you?"

"Lord Yan, please let me explain—"

Lin Chuan wanted to explain, but Yan Xiangshi interrupted him halfway through his sentence: "That's enough, there's nothing to explain, Young Master Lin, please leave!"

Seeing the indifferent expression on Yan Xiang's face, Lin Chuan could only awkwardly cup his hands in farewell and leave.