My wife, Wei Gui, was 1.9 meters tall and fought against the Tang dynasty for the throne.

When Li Ju arrived at the Wei residence, the sun was just beginning to set.

Wei Feng greeted him at the door. Seeing him arrive, he smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "Li Yezhe, please come in. Your uncle and father are in the main hall."

Li Ju returned the greeting and followed him through the corridor.

Inside the main hall, Wei Kuangbo sat in the main seat, while Wei Kuangzan sat to the side. Both were dressed in casual Taoist robes; since there were no guests, they did not wear official attire.

Upon entering, Li Ju bowed to Wei Kuangbo and said, "Li Ju, the Imperial Attendant of the Water Conservancy Bureau, greets Lord Wei."

He then bowed to Wei Kuangzan and said, "Greetings, Uncle Wei."

Wei Kuangbo raised his hand slightly, his expression still calm, but his tone was a bit gentler than at the last family banquet: "Li Yezhe, there's no need for such formalities, please sit."

Li Ju sat down on the west side. Wei Feng sat opposite him.

Behind the screen, there was a faint rustling sound of fabric. Li Ju didn't look over, but his heart skipped a beat.

Wei Kuangzan spoke first, and he talked about things related to officialdom.

"Lord Li, the recent changes at the Water Conservancy Bureau are quite significant. Su Huai'an was demoted, and more than a dozen people were dismissed, but you not only escaped unscathed but were also promoted. That's quite remarkable."

Li Ju bowed slightly: "Uncle Wei, you flatter me. I was merely doing my duty and was fortunate enough to escape unscathed."

"Fulfilling your duty?" Wei Kuangzan smiled. "All the officials in Luoyang are 'fulfilling their duty,' so why are you the one who stayed?"

Li Ju thought for a moment and said, "I dare not be greedy, dare not be arrogant, I will not take sides, and I will not cause trouble. I will only manage the canal transport, the river embankment, and the granaries. As for anything else, I will not know anything about it unless asked."

Wei Kuangzan nodded and exchanged a glance with Wei Kuangbo.

Wei Kuangbo picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly said, "Not being greedy is integrity. Not being arrogant is humility. Not taking sides is wisdom. Not causing trouble is stability. It's rare to have these four qualities at such a young age."

"You flatter me, Lord Wei," Li Ju said, bowing respectfully.

Wei Kuangbo put down his teacup, looked at him, and his gaze deepened.

"You've been at the Water Conservancy Bureau for less than two years, rising from the eighth rank to the sixth. You were in charge of the canal patrol team and the river embankment soldiers, totaling five or six hundred men. The docks, granaries, and ferry crossings from Luoyang to Liyang were all under your jurisdiction." He paused. "How old are you this year?"

"Seventeen."

Wei Kuangbo nodded and said nothing more.

Wei Kuangzan chimed in from the side, "The younger generation is truly formidable."

Wei Feng hadn't said much until now, when he suddenly spoke up, his tone casual.

"Is Li, the Imperial Envoy, seventeen years old and still unmarried?"

Li Ju's fingers tightened slightly, but his expression remained unchanged: "I've been busy with official duties and haven't had a chance."

Wei Feng smiled, glanced at Wei Kuangbo, then at Wei Kuangzan, and slowly said, "My cousin Gui is fifteen this year and is not yet engaged. In my humble opinion, the two are of similar age and appearance, and are a match made in heaven."

Wei Kuangzan pondered for a moment, then stroked his beard and said, "Li, the Attendant, is currently a sixth-rank official, a relatively low position. However, he is young and promising, and his future is immeasurable. If he advances several ranks in the future, there is no need to say more."

He spoke slowly and deliberately, touching on the point without using the phrase "matching social status," but the meaning was already implied.

Li Ju looked at Wei Feng, who also looked at him with a smile in his eyes, as if to say: The matter is now settled, the rest is up to you.

Li Ju opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Behind the screen, Wei Nizi lowered his voice, anxiously tugging at Wei Gui's sleeve: "Sister, why isn't he saying anything? Quickly answer him!"

Wei Gui remained silent, only clenching the handkerchief in her hand.

Wei Kuangbo picked up his teacup, gently blew away the foam, took a sip, and set it down. He looked at Li Ju and slowly asked, "What does Attendant Li think?"

Li Ju took a deep breath, stood up, and bowed deeply to Wei Kuangbo and Wei Kuangzan.

"I dare not not speak frankly about the kindness shown to me by Lord Wei and Uncle Wei."

He straightened up, his voice steady, but his ears were slightly red.

"Madam Wei is a woman of noble character, beautiful and talented, and I have admired her for a long time. However—" He paused, "I am currently only a sixth-rank official, and I am born of a concubine. If I were to propose marriage now, outsiders would surely gossip, saying that the legitimate daughter of the Wei family is marrying a concubine's son, and that Madam Wei is being wronged. People like Li Zixiong would take this opportunity to cause trouble."

He raised his eyes and looked at Wei Kuangbo.

"Ju wants to wait a little longer. Once Ju has reached the fifth rank, he will come to propose marriage with the six rites, in a dignified and proper manner, so that Lady Wei will not suffer any grievances and no one will have a single word of gossip."

The main hall was quiet for a moment.

Wei Kuangbo looked at him, and the scrutiny in his eyes slowly turned into satisfaction.

He nodded, his voice still not loud, but with a touch more seriousness in his tone.

"You are willing to consider Gui'er's reputation, not in a hurry, and not seeking fleeting pleasure. This composure is rare."

Wei Kuangzan nodded, exchanged a glance with Wei Kuangbo, and both smiled slightly.

Behind the screen, Wei Ni Zi stamped her foot anxiously: "Sister, he said he has to wait! Why aren't you worried?"

Wei Gui did not answer. She lowered her head, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

She understands him.

It's not that he doesn't want to marry her, it's that he can't marry her at this time. He wants to do it openly and honestly, to make sure she's respected and respected, so that no one will gossip about her behind her back.

Wei Kuangbo picked up his teacup, took a sip, and put it down.

"Gui'er, come out and serve tea."

There was a moment of silence behind the screen, followed by the rustling of clothes.

Wei Gui carried the tea tray and walked out slowly.

Today she wore a light purple spring dress, with a plain white half-sleeved outer garment. Her black hair was styled in a high bun, adorned with a white jade hairpin. Her face was lightly powdered, her features were exquisite, and she appeared dignified and serene.

She first went to Wei Kuangbo, curtsied, and offered him tea: "Uncle, please have some tea."

Wei Kuangbo accepted it and nodded.

He then walked up to Wei Kuangzan, curtsied, and said, "Uncle, please have some tea."

Finally, she walked up to Li Ju, knelt down, lowered her eyes, and offered the teacup with both hands.

"Attendant Li, please have some tea."

The voice was soft and steady, but the fingertips trembled slightly.

Li Ju stood up and accepted the teacup with both hands.

He looked up and glanced at her.

She also looked up and glanced at him.

In just a moment.

His eyes held hers, and her eyes held him. A thousand words were contained in that one glance.

"Thank you, Madam Wei," he said.

Wei Gui lowered his eyes, took a step back, and turned back behind the screen.

Wei Kuangbo and Wei Kuangzan whispered a few words to each other, and then both laughed. Wei Kuangzan shook his head, while Wei Kuangbo stroked his beard.

"Master Li," said Wei Kuangbo, "the weather is fine today. Although the magnolias in the courtyard have faded, the osmanthus is in full bloom. If you're not in a hurry to leave, let Gui'er show you around."

Li Ju's heart skipped a beat, and he stood up, cupping his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Lord Wei."

Behind the screen, Wei Nizi gave Wei Gui a push and whispered, "Hurry up!"

Wei Gui straightened his clothes, stepped out from behind the screen, and said with his eyes lowered, "Attendant Li, this way please."

The two left the main hall and walked along the corridor to the backyard.

Wei Feng watched their retreating figures, picked up his wine glass, drank it all in one gulp, and smiled without saying a word.

Wei Kuangzan looked at Wei Kuangbo and whispered, "Second Brother, what do you think of this young man?"

Wei Kuangbo stroked his beard and said slowly, "He is steady, ambitious, and responsible. Entrusting Gui'er to him would not be a mistake."