Wei Zhao could keenly sense Yu Tingwan’s stiff body gradually relaxing.

He warmed the young lady’s hands.

"But Heir Xiao insisted on saying I was idle, so I had to accept it."

These words weren’t spoken in a lowered voice.

Shen Zhiyi looked puzzled: "The Heir is coming, why blame it on the General?"

Yu Tingwan no longer thought about the noise she had heard and was feeling better: "There is indeed something strange about this."

Xiao Huaian’s eyelid twitched.

Shen Zhiyi: "I understand now."

Shen Zhiyi squinted, probing, "Heir Xiao, could he be coming for a certain young lady?"

No wonder he’s being so secretive.

Xiao Huaian is a regular at brothels and taverns.

"Is the Heir planning to settle down and start a family?"

Xiao Huaian tightened his throat: "I’m not that young anymore."

"It seems it won’t be long before we can drink at a wedding banquet. I wonder whose daughter it is. Could it be..."

Yu Tingwan listened expectantly.

"The Ninth Princess perhaps."

Yu Tingwan: ...

Xiao Huaian laughed angrily.

"Have I ever been friendly to Ying Changyi?"

Shen Zhiyi thought for a moment.

That makes sense too.

"From what I know, today the Minister of the Ministry of Justice’s second daughter from the Yao Family has secured a private room, along with the Miss Chao from the Guanglu Temple Mansion, and..."

Yu Tingwan saw Xiao Huaian’s face grow increasingly unpleasant, she even felt sorry for him.

She decided to help divert him from this fatal topic.

She spoke softly: "Is it possible he is also here for the young entertainer downstairs."

After all, the music is delightful.

Even she found herself savoring it.

Shen Zhiyi was astonished, and then suddenly enlightened.

Her gaze toward Xiao Huaian changed subtly.

"No wonder when I mentioned wanting to recruit a son-in-law, Heir Xiao you seemed quite agitated, turns out you fancy him as well?"

"You even like men?"

"Don’t worry, I won’t compete with you."

Yu Tingwan suddenly raised her head: ???

What’s going on!

How did they come to this conclusion?

Xiao Huaian crushed the wine cup.

Yu Tingwan was about to question whether her good intentions led to bad deeds?

But she was never one to dwell on such things.

Yu Tingwan chose to console Xiao Huaian: "Don’t worry, I managed to pass over it for you."

Xiao Huaian: ...

Thank you!

————

In a turn of days, it was soon the auspicious day for a banquet at Marquis Ning Mansion.

The sun’s radiance was splendid, the weather harmonious and bright. The tender green brushed gently, with weeping willows swaying gracefully.

The servants of the mansion tidied up in an orderly manner.

Marchioness Ning finished her breakfast in haste and went to inspect for any oversights.

The guests were to be entertained at the West Garden, where cherry blossoms were in their prime bloom.

"Madam, the kitchen’s purchases have been completed. I just checked, there will be no mistakes, and the vegetables are the freshest."

A housekeeper reported respectfully.

The dishes were decided on early, carefully verified by Marchioness Ning.

She nodded and continued walking forward without stopping: "Madam Dong will likely accompany her daughter today, she has always been devout and will not eat meat."

The housekeeper quickly responded: "Please rest assured, Madam, the vegetarian meals are definitely prepared with vegetable oil without confusion."

Marchioness Ning then asked: "Has the old lady’s headache improved from the other day?"

"The maid from the old lady’s courtyard just delivered a message that the old lady is happy thinking about finding a bride for the heir today and is in good spirits. She even had half a bowl more of porridge this morning."

Marchioness Ning smiled.

"It seems even the old ancestor of the house worries over that rascal."

"I don’t ask for him to achieve great things, but if he could make me worry as little as Gui Zhi does, I would kneel from Shangjing all the way to Changdu Temple."

Just as she spoke, she saw the housekeeper looking troubled, and Marchioness Ning squinted her eyes.

"What is it?"

"Well... it’s just that the heir is in his room, and the servants can’t manage him."

The hesitation revealed the delicacy.

Marchioness Ning suddenly stopped.

"That scoundrel! What mischief now?"

She ignored everything else, with a stern face, directly heading towards Ning Yunling’s courtyard.

Ning Yunling’s room was locked, and the servants outside were all talking in appeasing tones through the door. Upon seeing her approach, they breathed a sigh of relief and tactfully stepped aside.

Marchioness Ning gestured with her eyes.

With a bang, the door was kicked open by the servants.

Ning Yunling, dressed only in an inner garment, sat on the bed with disheveled hair, clearly just waking up, cursing: "Which blind servant dares..."

Recognizing the visitor, he fell silent. Unwillingly, he turned his head aside, giving Marchioness Ning his back.

Marchioness Ning approached.

"Who are you sulking with?"

Her tone carried resignation.

"Who upset you?"

Ning Yunling sulked: "I won’t participate in the matchmaking anymore."

"I see, you’re asking for a beating again."

Marchioness Ning frowned tightly, angrily tapping Ning Yunling’s head with her fingertip.

"You may vex me, but I won’t let you upset your grandmother!"

She sat on the edge of the bed.

"Come on, tell me, what is it this time?"

"Yesterday everything was fine, and you even agreed to the matchmaking early on, didn’t you? Now those female guests are on their way. Not to mention meeting them at the door, do you plan on not showing up? Get up!"

Ning Yunling suddenly jumped up from the bed.

"But Mother, you didn’t say you found a bunch of shrews!"

Marchioness Ning’s gaze flickered, and her expression turned unnatural.

Ning Yunling saw her expression and felt a chill in his heart.

"If I hadn’t specifically asked the steward this morning who was coming, I’d still be in the dark."

"Mother, you only have me as your son!"

"When cousin wasn’t married, you helped aunt look for well-educated, gentle, and elegant girls daily! How come when it comes to me, they’re all fierce women!"

Ning Yunling was truly upset!

Marchioness Ning: "And you dare compare yourself to your cousin?"

She seemed amused.

"Gui Zhi doesn’t need anyone to arrange for him; many officials at the Court are eager to have him as a son-in-law."

"I do want to find you the best, but you also have to see if they are willing to give their daughter to you. Don’t you have any sense given the trouble you cause all day?"

Ning Yunling: ...

Even more upset.

"Your father and I have discussed it, your improper conduct needs a strong-minded wife to deal with."

"Otherwise, if a gentle and soft-tempered girl entered our mansion, she wouldn’t be able to handle you and would sooner or later fall ill from anger!"

Ning Yunling: "Then can I..."

A word about change stuck in his throat.

Oh, it seems he cannot.

The peak of his distress had been reached.

"Enough, change your clothes and freshen up."

"The girls your mother has meticulously chosen, even if they are a bit fiery, are not lacking in other aspects. Having one as your wife is indeed a blessing for you."

Besides, it’s not as though Ning Yunling had to pick a match.

If nothing clicked, could he be forced?

"Madam."

At this moment, a housekeeper hurriedly ran in from outside.

Marchioness Ning: "Has a distinguished guest arrived?"

"Madam Lu has brought her daughter from the Lu Family raised in Tongcheng."

Ning Yunling: "Which Lu Family?"

The steward didn’t mention this to him?

Marchioness Ning prepared to head out to greet them: "She’s unrelated to you, just here as a guest. Seizing the opportunity to make an appearance before several ladies today."

Ning Yunling: "Hmph."

He was disdainful.

"Randomly appearing, like I care."