"I am also entrusted by someone, you should know how many sons Commandant Luâs family has. Speaking of Lu Yuanpeng... although he was quite a playboy in the Capital before, since joining the Bai family army, he has repeatedly earned military honors and even gained the emperorâs favor!" Lu Jin praised Lu Yuanpeng with a smile, "I heard that the third wife of Commandant Luâs family... Lu Yuanpengâs mother, saw your eldest daughter at Master Tanâs birthday banquet and found her very composed. She thought she would complement the lively grandson of Commandant Luâs family. So... Commandant Lu noticed that we can exchange a few words daily and sent me to sound you out."
Wei Bugongâs daughter is the legitimate eldest daughter of the family, and she will have her coming-of-age ceremony in a month. Just as the third wife of the Lu family said, the eldest young lady of their family is indeed very composed and steady in temperament, probably due to being the legitimate eldest sister, she holds a certain authority among her siblings.
Though Lu Yuanpeng is a playboy, he is, after all, Commandant Luâs legitimate grandson, the sixth young master of the Lu family!
This Chief of Staff, Wei Bugong, was specially promoted by their emperor. To be honest... the family background compared to the Lu family is simply worlds apart, definitely not a match for the Lu family!
Seeing Wei Bugong not fully gathered his thoughts yet, Lu Jin could guess what Wei Bugong was thinking. After all, Wei Bugong never liked to aim high, which is why Commandant Lu valued him.
"After you return, discuss it with your wife properly. Iâll send my wife to visit your wife on a later day. Regardless of what decision you both make, itâs not a big deal. Commandant Lu said... aware of his little grandsonâs previous poor reputation, he also wants to know the childâs thoughts. He doesnât want to create a resentful couple due to parental orders or matchmaking words; that would be his fault!" Lu Jin chuckled, delivering the whole message.
Actually, the meaning of Commandant Lu is very clear. This marriage requires not only Wei Bugongâs consent but also that of Wei Bugongâs legitimate eldest daughter to be valid.
"But this... Iâve heard in Prime Minister Luâs family, the fourth and fifth young masters havenât even been proposed to yet. Why jump over these two young masters to plan a marriage for the youngest?" Wei Bugong, recalling the most outstanding Lu fourth young master, Lu Yuanqing, quickly added to prevent misunderstandings with Lu Jin, "I have no intention of aiming high for Lu Yuanqing, itâs just... a bit curious."
"I know your nature!" Lu Jin adjusted his large cloak, sighed, and said, "That Lu Yuanqing is without a doubt, while the fifth young master, although an illegitimate son, never stands out or causes trouble in Dadu City, only this Lu Yuanpeng... troubles Commandant Lu! Naturally, Commandant Lu is more concerned about him!"
Wei Bugong nodded: "Honored that Commandant Lu does not look down on our familyâs lower status, Iâll go back and ask my wife and daughter what they think."
Upon hearing this, Lu Jin smiled broadly, cupped his hands towards Wei Bugong, and said in a lower voice, "If this matter is settled, donât forget to invite this humble one to thank me with matchmakerâs wine, Master Wei!"
Ever since Gaoyi Wang Bai Jinzhi returned with the Bai family army, the third wife of the Bai family, Mrs. Li, began secretly arranging the marriage of Gaoyi Wang Bai Jinzhi, prompting other families to start arranging their own childrenâs marriages.
Commandant Lu knew his son Lu Yuanqing wouldnât worry about marriage, and thereâs news about the illegitimate sonâs marriage as well. Naturally, Commandant Lu would be biased towards his youngest legitimate grandson, Lu Yuanpeng, since little six has yet to find anyone interested, and compared to his elder brother Lu Yuanqing, the gap is indeed pitifully wide.
Unaware that his grandfather had arranged a lifelong commitment for him, Lu Yuanpeng was drinking and bragging with his old pals in the restaurant, boasting about his exploits on the battlefield and how weak the Dongyi were, swinging his sword until his arm was tired.
Naturally, Lu Yuanpeng did not forget to boast about how valiant and strategic their emperor was.
Sima Ping, with a cup in hand, sat haphazardly against the open window, watching Lu Yuanpeng inside speak eloquently like a story-teller, seemingly slightly tipsy, inevitably recalling his own motherâs talks of arranging a marriage...
Sima Ping said that, given the Sima familyâs current situation, it wasnât suitable to discuss marriage. The high-ranking families might not consider the Sima family, and his mother wouldnât be willing for low-ranking ones either.
But his mother suggested to seek the legitimate second daughter of his uncleâs family.
Although the uncleâs family was not better than the current Sima family, their legitimate son achieved well in studies, reportedly nearly becoming the provincial champion, so his future seemed promising.
Sima Ping, pushing further, saw his mother starting the tearful and troubling tactics, talking about filial piety...
Feeling annoyed, Sima Ping drank a bit more today.
"Sima Ping, what do you say about what this little sixth from the Lu family saidâis it true?"
"Yes, we trust Sima Ping, this Lu Yuanpeng most loves to boast..."
"Okay, okay!" Lu Yuanpeng, with one foot on the chair, yelled at Sima Ping, "Sima Ping, tell us! Was there any falsehood in what I said?"
"Youâre absolutely right!" Sima Ping smiled with both indulgence and resignation...
After all, he couldnât be with Bai Jinzhi, but with Lu Yuanpengâs personality being with Bai Jinzhi, life wouldnât be boring.
"Sima Ping!"
Hearing someone calling from downstairs, Sima Ping turned his head, and saw Bai Jinzhi, wrapped in a cloak and sitting on a fine horse, looking up and smiling at him.
Maybe because he had really drunk too much, Sima Ping lazily leaned against the red lacquer railings, watching Bai Jinzhiâs radiant smile like a galaxy, not moving his gaze or bowing immediately, but instead supported his head with his hand and looked at Bai Jinzhi: "Did you go up the mountain to see the third young lady of the Bai family?"
The Bai family claimed that the third young lady of the Bai family went into Qing Temple to pray for the Bai family after her grandmother passed away and was on the mountain to heal her facial injury.
Thus, the Bai family would send someone to the mountain to deliver essentials on the first and fifteenth of each month, and Sima Ping calculated that Bai Jinzhi must have gone to deliver something to the third young lady of the Bai family on the mountain.
"Yes, I got a lot of good things returning from the Dongyi, to give to the third sister!" Bai Jinzhi, seeing Sima Ping slightly drunk, smiled even more joyfully and gleefully said, "Is Lu Yuanpeng here too! General Cheng gave you all a leave day to drink, but the Bai family army rules are strict, the two of you wonât escape some army beatings!"
Lu Yuanpeng and Sima Ping were inseparable, with Sima Ping present, Lu Yuanpeng would certainly be there too. They definitely wouldnât escape the punishment! The thought of their behinds getting whipped again made Bai Jinzhi gleeful!
Hearing Bai Jinzhiâs voice, Lu Yuanpeng was about to greet him with delight but saw Bai Jinzhiâs schadenfreude, and his face fell: "Bai family little fourth, donât go too far!"