Who would put a green hat on themselves? - Chapter 20

Xiao Si reached the bedroom door.

Under the red lantern, the wooden door seemed to exude a chilling atmosphere.

Xiao Si knocked firmly with his fist, and since the door wasn’t latched, it immediately bounced open upon impact.

The wooden door creaked as it slowly opened, as if the person inside had been waiting for him.

He pushed the door wide open and stepped inside, securing it behind him.

The front room was dimly lit by a single lamp, and looking around, it was clear that the furnishings were quite valuable, showcasing the wealth of the Yun Duke’s residence.

In the dim space, the inner room was illuminated by flickering lights. The beaded curtain made a crisp sound as it was pulled aside, deliberately announcing his arrival.

As he entered the inner room, he saw Yun Yue lying on the large bed, with Yun Qing sitting beside her. Yun Qing’s gaze was heavy, like a bottomless abyss, cold and dangerous.

“You’re here.”

The two men, like brothers who grew up wearing the same pants, understood each other’s thoughts completely.

Xiao Si knew that Yun Qing was seriously considering his proposal.

“Liang Han, marrying Yun Yue to me is a win-win situation. You know I can’t be humane, but I need a wife. Yun Yue is of marriageable age, but she is already yours. No matter who she marries, it won’t be as good as marrying me.” He could keep secrets, and he had to keep them.

As early as last year, Xiao Si had noticed the ongoing connection between Yun Qing and Yun Yue. He took the opportunity to propose a marriage alliance with Yun Yue.

At that time, Yun Qing had not yet given up on marrying Yun Yue. Xiao Si began investigating Yun Yue’s background but was unable to find her biological father.

An invisible hand was obstructing his investigation, so he sought assistance from the Princess Chang.

Yun Qing believed that as long as he could persuade Princess Chang, they could give Yun Yue a different identity and make their union legitimate.

However, there was a fatal flaw in his plan.

Princess Chang did not approve of him and thought he was unworthy of Yun Yue.

Princess Chang genuinely cared for Yun Yue and did not want her to marry him. After he approached Princess Chang for help, she actively sought a match for Yun Yue and used the Emperor’s authority to push him out of the capital, reducing the time he could spend with Yun Yue.

“Yue’er has endured many hardships since childhood and has faced numerous setbacks. What she needs is a smooth life and to marry a gentleman.” Princess Chang even warned him not to interfere in Yun Yue’s marriage.

How could he possibly give up?

Every line Princess Chang pulled, he cut through.

This time, Princess Chang was adamant about promoting a marriage alliance between the Yun and Lu families.

The marriage between the Yun and Lu families also had political significance, being a union between new nobility and old families, and was what the Emperor desired.

The Emperor had facilitated several such alliances between new and old families, and if successful, it would indeed be a notable achievement.

Marrying Gu Cheng was absolutely out of the question.

Gu Cheng was a young man, full of vigor, and genuinely cared for Yun Yue. When Xiao Si saw Yun Yue with Gu Cheng at the Xieyu Pavilion, Yun Qing’s resolve wavered.

If Yun Yue were to marry Gu Cheng, it would be better for her to marry Xiao Si.

Xiao Si, at least, was known and reliable.

Besides being well-known, Xiao Si also met the criteria set by Princess Chang for Yun Yue’s suitor.

Xiao Si came from the distinguished Duke’s residence of Chang’an, a founding family of the Huiguo with hereditary titles.

Xiao Si was the heir to the Duke’s estate. If Yun Yue were to marry him, it would indeed be considered a significant match. Xiao Si was the type of young gentleman most admired by the young ladies in the capital, having been a top scholar alongside Lu Jin in the imperial examinations two years ago.

Xiao Si was a prodigy; his fame had grown since he started his education at the age of five. He should have lived a smooth life, but unfortunately, his birth mother, Lady Bai, was a criminal, causing him to be demoted from the legitimate eldest son to a bastard. Had it not been for the current Emperor’s attempt to make amends, the position of heir would not have been his.

Lady Bai’s family was promoted by the late Empress, with her father being the Minister of the Interior and her elder brother serving as the Vice Minister of Rites. Her second elder brother was devoted to medicine, serving as the Chief Physician in the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Due to the impact of the Crown Prince’s rebellion, the Bai family was accused of poisoning the consort, with the elder brother being sentenced before trial, resulting in the family being executed and the women being sent to the brothel.

Fortunately, Lady Bai had been married for three months at that time, so the crime did not extend to her. However, to win over the late Emperor, the Duke of Chang’an was forced to demote his wife to a concubine and marry Xiao Si’s current mother, Lady Zhai.

The Zhai family, which made its fortune as royal merchants, was aligned with the former Empress’s faction. When the current Emperor ascended, the Zhai family actively supported him, preserving their family’s wealth.

Relying on her family’s influence, Lady Zhai was often unreasonable and domineering. When Xiao Si was fifteen, she administered strong medicine to him to secure his position as heir. After that, Xiao Si became impotent.

AN –

Xiao Si: Little Xiao Si, Little Xiao Si, can you get better? (Shouting at his unresponsive friend)