Chapter 1532: 1527: Kowtow

Capítulo 1532: Chapter 1527: Kowtow

“Lu family’s sixth son, don’t get too cocky. I am the Gaoyi King of the Zhou dynasty. Seeing me, you neither greet me nor show respect. If I report this to Commandant Lu, you’re likely to spend the rest of the holiday in the ancestral hall!” Bai Jinzhi had figured out a way to deal with Lu Yuanpeng. His family’s elder was the one Lu Yuanpeng feared the most, and with his elder overseeing things in the Imperial City, Bai Jinzhi didn’t believe Lu Yuanpeng would dare to be arrogant.

Lu Yuanpeng widened his eyes at this, looking like a little chick whose neck had been pinched, angry yet having to hold it in.

However, the spoiled heirs behind Lu Yuanpeng were sharp-eyed enough to greet Bai Jinzhi as Gaoyi King and saluted him.

Bai Jinzhi cracked his whip, riding off, leaving them with the words telling Sima Ping and Lu Yuanpeng to fetch their punishment sticks themselves.

“That Bai family’s fourth child, surely she acts out since her elder sister is not in Dadu City to keep an eye on her,” Lu Yuanpeng gritted his teeth.

Seeing the Gaoyi King had gone, the spoiled heirs who usually had a close relationship with Lu Yuanpeng couldn’t help but speak more freely.

One laughed and said, “Though our Majesty is not here, there’s always someone to keep the Gaoyi King in check. Haven’t you heard… the Bai family’s third wife is already looking for a husband for the Gaoyi King?”

“Oh, once the Gaoyi King marries, there will surely be someone to reign her in!”

Hearing this, Lu Yuanpeng’s ears turned red, and he asked anxiously, “Why… why haven’t I heard anything about it? Does the third wife have someone in mind? Whose family are they considering?”

“From what my mother said, it seems there’s no decision yet. But many want to curry favor with the Gaoyi King. I’ve heard some even tried to play the hero saving the beauty, only to be whipped by our Gaoyi King until they couldn’t tell which way was north!”

“I’ve heard about that too. My mother mentioned that the Gaoyi King is so fierce, it might be hard for her to find a good marriage alliance!”

“Oh, come on! She’s the Gaoyi King! Many want to become royal relatives, enough that they’re eager to send their sons to her!”

“Exactly! Even my mother said if I weren’t so disappointing, she would have visited the third wife herself to see if she could approve of me! She even said… It doesn’t matter if the Bai family’s third daughter is illegitimate and has a scarred face, she’ll go ask the third wife directly someday! Can you believe this?”

These spoiled heirs playing with Lu Yuanpeng mostly came from good families, acting at will rather than trying to climb the social ranks.

Most of them knew they couldn’t aspire to be as successful as Lu Yuanpeng or Sima Ping. Still, they weren’t so spineless as to rely on family connections to become royalty. So while their families were enthusiastic about these matters, the heirs found it embarrassing.

After drinking, Sima Ping cast an expressive gaze towards Lu Yuanpeng. Noticing his pale face, he stood up and hooked his arm around Lu Yuanpeng’s neck, chuckling, “Let’s go and receive our punishment!”

“Are you really going?” A friend asked, confused. “Gaoyi King might just be messing with you!”

Sima Ping turned back with a faint smile, “The Bai family’s military rules aren’t something to be joked with!”

Lu Yuanpeng had his mind occupied with what his friends just said, about the Bai family’s third wife starting to choose a husband for Bai Jinzhi, and how the noble families in Dadu City were eager for their sons to try.

Historically, marriages followed parental mandates and matchmakers’ arrangements. What if the Bai family’s third wife truly fancied some brat from another family then?

Descending the stairs, Sima Ping whispered into Lu Yuanpeng’s ear, seeing his worried face, “As soon as you’re out the door, ride fast back to your Lu Mansion and find your elder. Say that you love the Gaoyi King and beg him to make it happen! Otherwise… Bai family’s fourth child might belong to someone else!”

Hearing this, Lu Yuanpeng’s eyes lit up. It turned out that Sima Ping wasn’t dragging him to be punished but was giving him time to plead with his elder!

But… would their elder allow it?

Even though Lu Yuanpeng was somewhat thoughtless, he understood that their family was currently in high favor with the Bai family’s elder sister, and seeking to marry the Gaoyi King might make others think they’re overreaching, yet unsatisfied.

Even his brother, Lu Yuanqing, who was so outstanding, had been told by their elder and father that their family held too much favor, fearing a peak would lead to a downfall, so they were extra cautious. His brother could only marry someone of lower status, not considering anyone above the fourth rank in court.

Lu Yuanpeng overheard this, thinking his brother didn’t need any familial support, so he didn’t take it seriously and left.

If even his excellent brother had to marry low, if he were to say he wanted to marry Bai family’s fourth child, it would likely scare their elder to death!

Noticing Lu Yuanpeng’s hesitation, Sima Ping tightened his hold around Lu Yuanpeng’s neck, surprisingly serious, “If you cannot marry anyone but Bai family’s fourth child, hurry back and settle this! If… she’s not the one, don’t regret it in the future.”

Lu Yuanpeng gritted his teeth, solemnly bowed deeply to Sima Ping, “You’re my best brother! I know you mean well! I can’t live without her! I’ll go back now to plea with my elder. If he doesn’t allow it, I’ll kneel until I die in front of him! If it works out… I’ll treat you to drinks!”

With that, Lu Yuanpeng rushed outside, calling loudly for the servants waiting outside to bring his horse.

Sima Ping stood at the staircase, watching Lu Yuanpeng mount his horse and gallop away, his fist tightly clenched. A smile appeared on his face after a while…

“Young Master!” Sima Ping’s servant, seeing his master looking as if drunk, quickly stepped forward to support him, “Shall we go back?”

“Let’s go back,” Sima Ping replied calmly.

The servant happily agreed and supported Sima Ping out.

·

Lu Yuanpeng galloped back to the mansion, dismounted swiftly, threw his whip to the servant, and asked, “Where’s elder?”

“Master Six, the Commandant is in the study…”

Lu Yuanpeng rushed to his elder’s study like the wind, burst in, and saw his elder engrossed in some books, then kneeled and kowtowed.

This gave Commandant Lu quite a scare, his hands trembling. It had been a long time since he had seen Lu Yuanpeng in such a grand manner. Usually, the more swiftly Lu Yuanpeng knelt, the greater the mistake he had made!

Lu Yuanpeng had just returned, and Commandant Lu didn’t know what grave mistake he might have committed this time, but he knelt and kowtowed thrice, knocking his head so hard the sound bounced loudly, making Commandant Lu’s heart race. This grand ceremony… his old heart couldn’t take it!

“Elder!” Lu Yuanpeng solemnly spoke after kowtowing, “I’ve fallen for a girl, please grant my wish and propose marriage on my behalf!”