The Grand Secretary has no heir? His concubine gives birth to triplets.

Lu Yunzheng suddenly stood up, the chair scraping against the floor tiles with a screeching sound.

"His surname is Gou... he has six fingers on his left hand... and he's a gambling addict!"

Lu Yunzheng was overjoyed.

"With these characteristics, things will be much easier. I'll send people to investigate along his ancestral lines and then sift through all the gambling dens in the vicinity. We'll be able to find him eventually."

"Shunshun, you actually remembered such a small thing after all these years! This will be a huge help!"

Pei Yan raised an eyebrow, a hint of undisguised pride appearing on his cold face.

He tightened his arms around Jiang Guo'er, pulling her closer to his chest, his gaze becoming even more intense.

"She was naturally intelligent."

Lu Yunzheng's lips twitched.

Now that the business was over, Lu Yunzheng should be rushing to arrange for people to investigate.

But he sat back down, picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, rubbed his knees with both hands, and stammered without saying a word for a long time.

"Is there anything else?" Pei Yan glanced at him.

Lu Yunzheng stood up, walked to the front of the hall, and bowed deeply to the two of them.

"Today, I need to ask these two 'female strategists' for advice."

Jiang Guo'er couldn't help but laugh when she heard him bring up the "female Zhuge Liang".

"What's wrong? Do you need Lingyi and me to help you figure something out?"

Seeing that he seemed hesitant to speak, Pei Yan stood up and instructed the maid outside, "Go and invite Madam over."

Before long, Xue Lingyi arrived with Lüyi.

Today she wore a vermilion-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with only a white jade hairpin in her hair, and her demeanor was elegant.

After everyone was seated in the hall, Lu Yunzheng cleared his throat and said in a low voice, "I want to cancel the marriage that my family arranged for me."

Jiang Guo'er and Xue Lingyi exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised.

"Is the woman of questionable character?" Xue Lingyi asked gently.

"No, no, no," Lu Yunzheng waved his hands repeatedly, "She is a very, very good girl, well-educated and reasonable. It's my problem."

He lowered his eyes, his expression unusually showing a hint of bitterness.

"I will never marry a woman in my entire life."

"If this marriage continues to drag on, it's like pushing the girl into a fire pit, ruining her life for nothing."

"This engagement not only needs to be called off, but it needs to be called off properly."

Jiang Guo'er rubbed her sleeves, secretly wondering to herself.

It's impossible for him to marry a woman? That sounds a bit strange.

Could it be... that Brother Lu has some hidden illness?

Could it be that he was injured in his early years, damaging his vital energy?

She silently sized up Lu Yunzheng's muscular physique and found it hard to associate him with the word "incompetent".

Lu Yunzheng sighed, "If we let my family break off the engagement, it will needlessly damage the woman's reputation. If this matter blows up, it will definitely be reported to the Censorate."

"If the charge of moral failings is brought up, I'm afraid I'll encounter obstacles if I continue to investigate the case of Marquis Dingyuan."

Pei Yan picked up the teacup that Jiang Guo'er had just used and took a sip, taking in the faint red stain on the rim.

"Since you knew that breaking off the engagement now would be troublesome, why did you agree to the marriage in the first place?"

He placed the teacup back on the table, his tone indifferent.

"The woman has done nothing wrong. Your sudden act of breaking off the engagement shows your heartlessness and ingratitude."

Lu Yunzheng looked dejected. "I was young at the time... I wasn't sure if I was... Anyway, it's all my fault, I'm the one who let them down."

Jiang Guo'er thought for a moment, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Brother Lu, why don't you just go to the red-light district and deliberately send someone to the woman's house to tip her off, so they can catch them in the act?"

Lu Yunzheng quickly shook his head.

"That girl has a fiery temper. If I really go to brothels, she might dare to come up with a knife and attack me. This will only make things worse."

Jiang Guo'er pondered for a while, then came up with another plan.

"Then there's only one way left. Find a few reputable doctors and deliberately leak the news that you suffered a severe injury that damaged your kidneys, causing 'impotence,' meaning you'll never be able to have children."

"When this news reaches the woman's family, her parents, if they feel sorry for their daughter, will definitely take the initiative to come and break off the engagement."

Lu Yunzheng frowned as he listened.

"My dear sister! I've tried this method, but it won't work!"

"It's not so bad that I have this reputation, but I have several cousins ​​who are about to be set up with someone!"

"It's too embarrassing to say that the Lu family has produced such an elder brother."

This won't work, that won't work.

Jiang Guo'er rested her chin on her hand, truly unable to understand.

Brother Lu usually seems so decisive, so why is he so indecisive when it comes to his own marriage?

Xue Lingyi held the teacup, slowly skimmed off the foam, and took a small sip.

"The one who tied the knot must untie it; I may meet this young lady."

Everyone looked at her.

Xue Lingyi said calmly, "You've been delaying the wedding, and she's probably already harboring resentment."

"It's just that she's too proud to break off the engagement because she's holding a grudge."

"By stepping in, I can use my status as the Prime Minister's wife to sound out her opinion."

"If she truly feels wronged, I will offer her a way out. I will act as matchmaker and provide her with a better husband."

"As long as the candidate is better than Lu Yunzheng, her parents will naturally do everything they can to break off the marriage with the Lu family."

"In this way, the two families will not have to become enemies."

Jiang Guo'er clapped her hands and sighed softly, "As expected of your esteemed presence! This method is perfect, excellent!"

But then she changed the subject and frowned again.

"But among all the noble young men in the capital, it will be difficult to find a suitable husband whose family background is no less than Brother Lu's, and who also surpasses him in some aspects."

Lu Yunzheng was already quite famous among the scions of prominent families.

To outdo him is easier said than done.

Lu Yunzheng sat there deep in thought, when suddenly he slapped his thigh and his eyes lit up.

"I've got it! Uncle Xie!"

"Xie family...uncle?" Jiang Guo'er's heart skipped a beat. Could he be talking about Xie Pan's uncle?

"Xie Yuan, the younger brother of the Minister of Works and the uncle of Xie Pan!" Lu Yunzheng exclaimed excitedly, spitting as he spoke.

"He had been traveling for several years and only recently returned to Beijing."

"This man is a master of both calligraphy and painting, renowned and wealthy. Most importantly, he's witty and better looking than me!"

Upon hearing the name Xie Pan, Pei Yan's brows furrowed slightly.

Jiang Guo'er noticed his emotions, so she touched his hand under the table and inserted her fingers into his palm.

Her fingers gently scratched his palm a few times.

Pei Yan's palms felt slightly warm, and his previously tense jaw relaxed a little.

He covered her hand with his own, preventing her from moving.

"Alright, let's give it a try then." Jiang Guo'er turned to instruct Lü Yi.

"Go to Songhe Garden and find Granny Qin. Ask her to find some servants from a few aristocratic families and inquire about Xie Yuan's family background and character."

Green Ripple accepted the order and withdrew.

With the matter settled, Lu Yunzheng let out a long sigh of relief and slumped into his chair.

Jiang Guo'er rested her chin on her hand, her dark eyes fixed on Lu Yunzheng, her doubts growing ever stronger.

"Brother Lu." She drawled out her words, a hint of interest on her face.

"You just admitted that you don't suffer from a hidden illness causing impotence, but you also said that you would never marry a woman in your life..."

"Could it be... you're gay?!"

Lu Yunzheng's teacup wobbled, almost spilling the tea all over his sleeve.

He immediately lowered his head, his eyes darting away.

Seeing his reaction, Jiang Guo'er became even more certain of her guess, feeling both surprised and extremely curious.

"Since you're gay, who is your sweetheart...?"

"I know of places where two men can form a bond."

"But you were born into a prestigious family, how could he be so domineering as to not even allow you to marry and have an heir?"

Lu Yunzheng's face turned a deep purplish-red.

He, who was usually eloquent, opened his mouth but couldn't utter a single word.