Wanting to Take a Wife

"Heng'er, your Imperial Father and Empress are here again!"

Zhao Jingyi handed the letter written by the Empress to Qi Lingheng.

Qi Lingheng took it without looking at it; he could guess what was written on it.

Zhao Jingyi sighed, "Don't make things difficult for your maternal uncle. Half the year has already passed. Don't forget what you said to your Imperial Father and Empress in the Capital."

He had promised his Imperial Father that he would finalize the marriage within this year.

"Maternal uncle, I haven't forgotten."

Qi Lingheng's voice was low as he said, "Give me some more time."

Zhao Jingyi nodded. A servant standing on the veranda outside said, "Master, Lord Lin has arrived."

"You're here at this time?"

Zhao Jingyi glanced at the sky. It was almost mealtime; what were they doing here?

However, given their relationship, he couldn't simply dismiss them even if he wanted to avoid seeing them. So he stood up and instructed, "Please invite Lord Lin to..."

Qi Lingheng stood up as well. "maternal uncle, why don't you listen to what he has to say first?"

Zhao Jingyi immediately thought of his nominal daughter and muttered, "Could something have happened to my girl?"

He had seen that girl in person and had a very good impression of her.

He changed his words and instructed the maid, "Take Lord Lin to the front hall to wait for me, and tell him I'm going to change my clothes."

Actually, he didn't want to change his clothes; instead, he wanted to discuss it with Qi Lingheng: "Heng'er, what about your Empress's letter? How should I... how should I reply?"

Qi Lingheng: "maternal uncle, please tell me the truth."

How so?

Qi Lingheng smiled slightly, "Just say... say that I'm thinking of getting married."

"... Um?!"

He wants to get married? He's never heard of that.

Zhao Jingyi considered many reasons, but what kind of reasons were these? If it wasn't deceiving the emperor, then it was serious?

He rushed over to Qi Lingheng and asked, "Who do you want to marry? Which family's girl have you set your sights on?"

Qi Lingheng felt his maternal uncle was standing too close, so he took a step back and said, "Uncle, you have guests. Please greet them first."

Zhao Jingyi scratched his head and said, "Now that you've said that, I'm not in the mood to see guests at all!"

If he finds out the details, he can then relay the information to his sister, and she and her husband won't scold him anymore, right?

Qi Lingheng was already leaving, and before he left, he specifically reminded Zhao Jingyi: "If Lin Huabin comes to talk about that girl's marriage, maternal uncle, don't be fooled by him. That girl... she's not someone an ordinary person can be worthy of."

"She has her own ideas about what to do."

Zhao Jingyi said, "I understand."

Since she is his daughter in name only, her marriage is not something Lin Huabin can decide.

After finishing speaking, he went to the front hall to see Lin Huabin. As soon as he arrived, he saw that Lin Huabin already had a smile on his face. Of course, he has always been a person who likes to smile, but unlike now, his smile was full of scheming.

"Brother, have you eaten yet?"

Zhao Jingyi wasn't in a hurry to say anything more. He knew he was shallow and his thoughts were always written on his face, making it easy for others to guess his thoughts.

Let's see what Lin Huabin has to say first!

If, as the Prince said, Lin Huabin comes to talk to him about his daughter's marriage, then he'll have to be on his guard.

"Brother Zhao, it's like this. I'm here because of Yun Wan. As you know, my own daughter is not young anymore, and Yun Wan looks about twenty years old from the outside."

"I'm thinking about her marriage; it really can't be delayed any longer. I also have a young daughter at home who's of marriageable age, and Brother Zhao, you..."

Lin Huabin glanced tentatively at Zhao Jingyi and said helplessly, "You haven't mentioned Yun Wan's matter at all, and my wife has been urging me to come today, so I had no choice but to swallow my pride and come to your door. Brother Zhao, please don't blame me for being nosy."

My nephew was right; he came for Yun Wan's marriage.

Zhao Jingyi became secretly wary, but still spoke politely, "How could that be?"

He said guiltily, "It's my fault for delaying your youngest daughter's marriage."

It was indeed his fault; he never imagined that Lin Huabin had a daughter of his own.

Zhao Jingyi said, "Here's what we'll do: you go ahead and talk to your Niece about the marriage. As for Yun Wan... I'll give you an answer later. I promise I won't delay your Niece's marriage. Once your daughter's marriage is on track, I'll give you my final word on Yun Wan's matter. Is that alright?"

I haven't heard anything about Lin Huabin's daughter getting married. From the engagement to the six betrothal rites, it will take at least half a year.

Six months isn't enough for his fake daughter to talk about getting engaged?

Lin Huabin smiled, unsure what to say.

Does Zhao Jingyi really not know what he's thinking? Why won't his Yun Jiao marry? Why won't any other eligible young women in Jiangqian marry? Doesn't Zhao Jingyi have any idea?

What's the meaning behind urging his daughter to get married so quickly?

"No rush. Yun Jiao's marriage is still a long way off. I came today to talk to you, Brother Zhao, about Yun Wan."

Lin Huabin hadn't forgotten his main purpose. He nervously clenched his fist and said, "It's like this, I've taken a liking to a very good young man. Brother Zhao, if you don't mind, I'd like to propose to Yun Wan."

"That way you'll have one less thing to worry about, won't you?"

Zhao Jingyi was about to drink his tea when he put down his teacup and looked over curiously. "How good is this young man? Tell me."

His dear nephew said that Yun Wan is not good enough for most people, but if Lin Huabin really has his eye on someone good, why not?

Lin Huabin perked up immediately upon hearing this, and said happily, "He's a scholar with official rank, very ambitious, and good-looking too."

He explained carefully, "He's one of my wife's nephews. I know this child very well. He's been upright since he was a child. I'm not bragging, Brother Zhao, you'll see for yourself. This child... he even has seven-tenths of the character of my grandfather."

"Given time, he will undoubtedly surpass me in ability."

That sounds good. Lin Huabin's grandfather was a prominent figure in Jiangqian back in the day. Otherwise, the Lin family wouldn't be what it is today.

Zhao Jingyi then asked, "Has he passed the Provincial Graduate or the Presented Scholar?"

Lin Huabin's lips twitched, and he said, "... Brother Zhao, my nephew is only eighteen years old."

"Oh, so he's just a scholar?"

Lin Huabin paused for a moment, then nodded.

Zhao Jingyi curled his lip and said, "Scholars are everywhere. What's so great about that!"

Lin Huabin then said, "He'll be participating in the scientific expedition next year, who knows..."

Zhao Jingyi said, "Isn't that something for next year? Let's wait until he gets his official title next year!"

Lin Huabin gave an awkward laugh.

Why can't Zhao Jingyi understand good and bad advice?

Is it because you're dissatisfied with Wenhai?

It shouldn't be. If Zhao Jingyi were dissatisfied, he would have said so on the spot. The fact that Zhao Jingyi didn't directly say it was bad shows that he still approves of Wenhai's conditions.

Lin Huabin decided to try persuading him again. "If we wait until next year, it might be too late. My nephew is not young anymore; if he passes the Provincial Graduate..."

That's a hot commodity!

Zhao Jingyi suddenly frowned and said, "You're making him sound so good, as if my daughter wouldn't even have a chance to get one without any effort. Why don't you say it's for your own daughter then?"

Lin Huabin: "..."

The Zhao Jingyi thought about it, the more convinced he became that he was right.

That's right! That's exactly the point.

"Brother Lin, I'm not trying to be mean, but what's wrong with you these days? You're always trying to take advantage of my daughter."

Fortunately, Heng'er reminded him, otherwise he wouldn't have thought to suspect Lin Huabin.

Zhao Jingyi stood up angrily and said, "What, your Lin Residence can no longer afford to support an unmarried girl?"

"Why didn't you say so earlier! I was willing to risk being scolded by my wife and raise the child myself!"

"You might as well give the distillery back to me."

Lin Huabin quickly stood up to comfort Zhao Jingyi: "Brother Zhao, don't be angry. You've really worried about me. How could I bear to wrong my Niece? I wouldn't treat my own Niece this well."

"Sigh! To tell you the truth, my Jiao'er is a bit slow-witted. She only thinks my nephew Wenhai is her Cousin. Yun Wan... she seems to care a lot about Wenhai."

"It's not something a young woman should easily bring up, but I'm both her uncle and her nominal father. How can I not stand up for her?"

Zhao Jingyi stared wide-eyed and remained silent.

"Really?"

Lin Huabin said, "Why don't you just ask him yourself and you'll know?"

He added, "Girls are shy; if she doesn't angrily refuse, she's most likely agreeing."

Zhao Jingyi sat down quietly, thought for a long time, and then said, "Alright. Let me see her first."

If it's true, he can't force the couple to separate.

"You should make arrangements as soon as possible! If the girl is truly interested, I, as her father, won't hold her back."

Zhao Jingyi was so anxious he had a headache. He said, "Alas, you don't know, the Prince is also preparing to get married. How did these two things happen at the same time?"

Lin Huabin hurried forward. "Is the Prince going to take a wife?"

How come he's never heard of it!

Zhao Jingyi hadn't mentioned it to him at all. Had he never thought about his daughter Yun Jiao?

What a waste of their years of friendship!