A Rotten Peach Blossom?

Sitting in the carriage, Xiao Lingyan recalled what Zhao Ruxi had said, comparing each point with the current situation he knew, analyzing the Third Prince's power and his current control over the court, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of his own faction, and pondering what he should do next.

"Master." Liu Mian returned shortly after. "I've investigated. General Fu is investigating a girl named Xu Xi and a girl named Zhao Ruxi."

Xiao Lingyan was startled. "Xu Xi?"

He lifted the cloth covering the car window and looked at Liu Mian: "What is his purpose?"

He sent a servant to inquire about Miss Xu's character from the Xu Family's neighbors. He also sent a woman to inquire with the old woman guarding the Women's Academy. The woman told the old woman that her master had taken a liking to Miss Zhao and wanted to propose marriage, so she wanted to find out about Miss Zhao's character.

He was still confused as he spoke. He didn't know that Xu Xi and Zhao Ruxi were the same person.

Xiao Lingyan: "..." Shocked!

He immediately gritted his teeth.

That woman must have time-traveled on the same day as him, right? He's only been here a short while, and he's already attracted a nasty romantic interest!

But then he thought about it again and found it strange. What could Xu Xi possibly have to do with Fu Yunkai? Didn't Fu Yunkai instruct Fu Yunlang to rob the estate that Xu Xi wanted to buy at the Court of Judicial Review yesterday?

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Let's go back to the capital and Cloud-Gazing Pavilion."

Cloud-Gazing Pavilion was the name Xiao Lingpu gave to his villa. The original owner named Xiao Lingyan's villa Listening to the Waves Pavilion, after his brother's villa.

Upon returning to the capital and inquiring, he discovered that Xiao Lingpu was not at the Cloud-Gazing Pavilion, but rather working at the Ministry of Revenue.

The Crown Prince, the Third Prince, and the Fourth Prince were all wary of Xiao Lingpu, so although Xiao Lingpu had secured a position in the Ministry of Revenue, it was merely a sinecure, and he could leave at any time; whether he went or not didn't matter. Xiao Lingpu wanted the Emperor to see his diligent attitude, so he diligently went to clock in every day.

Xiao Lingyan someone to summon him.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Lingpu thought something serious had happened and rushed back.

"Brother, do you know that Fu Yunkai is planning to propose marriage to the Earl of Suiping's Residence?"

Xiao Lingpu was taken aback, thinking he had misheard, "Are you sure you didn't misspoke? It's Fu Yunlang, not Fu Yunkai?"

"No, it's Fu Yunkai, Fu Da," Xiao Lingyan.

Xiao Lingpu frowned. "How is that possible? Didn't Yunkai just yesterday instruct Yunlang to seize the Earl of Suiping's Residence's estate?"

After saying that, he shook his head again. "That's not right. When he sent Yunlang there, he didn't know that the estate was wanted by the Earl of Suiping's Residence."

He turned to Xiao Lingyan: "Is the young lady from the Earl of Suiping's Residence as beautiful as a celestial being? Why are both Fu Family brothers so infatuated with her, vying to marry her? If word gets out that two brothers are fighting over one, won't people laugh at them?"

Xiao Lingyan: "..."

A sense of foreboding washed over him, and he quickly corrected him, "Brother, you're mistaken. Fu Da is marrying Fifth Miss Zhao; Fu Er is marrying Sixth Miss Zhao. They're not the same person."

"Not the same person? That's good." Xiao Lingpu breathed a sigh of relief.

Brothers fighting is no joke, especially over a woman. If word gets out, it won't just make things difficult for the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence, but also for him and the Cen Family.

He then asked, "Fifth Miss Zhao? Is she the one who was switched at birth and raised in the countryside, later created her own unique painting style, and was taken in as an apprentice by Mister Kumu?"

"... right."

Xiao Lingyan explained earnestly, "Even if Fifth Miss Zhao becomes Mister Kumu's disciple, it won't be of much use to us. The master-disciple relationship isn't even within the nine clans, let alone the senior-junior relationship. Even if Minister Lord Wu of the Ministry of Personnel becomes Fifth Miss Zhao brother, he won't stand on our side because of that relationship. So I think it's better for Fu Yunkai to marry a girl from another noble family."

He paused, then added, "Putting everything else aside, just look at the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan. This lady looks down on the daughter of the Earl of Suiping's Residence, feeling that her daughter is not good enough for Fu Yunlang. Isn't Fu Da's status higher than Fu Er's? Marrying a daughter from a prestigious family would give us an advantage."

"What do you mean by 'market rate'? Watch your mouth." Xiao Lingpu rolled his eyes at his younger brother.

Although he scolded his brother, he felt that what his brother said made a lot of sense.

"But if he takes a liking to it, we can't just forcefully stop him, can we?" he said, stroking his chin.

"Marriage isn't something he can just marry whoever he fancys; he has to consider the facts. Putting aside the fact that the Earl of Suiping's Residence isn't very good, that young girl isn't suitable either. Brother, do you know how old that girl is? Only fourteen. With Fu Da's personality, can he wait two years to get married?"

Xiao Lingpu now realized the situation was serious.

Originally, his relationship with Fu Yunkai was like that of brothers. Even if he wanted Fu Yunkai to marry into a powerful family that would greatly benefit their faction, he couldn't very well stop his brother if he really took a fancy to a woman.

He couldn't bring himself to say the reason.

However, if the girl is too young, then there are reasons to persuade her.

"You're right. But we don't have a suitable candidate for him," he said, somewhat troubled.

Fu Yunkai has been back from the border for some time now. During this time, not only has the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan been worrying about him, but Xiao Lingpu himself has also been troubled by Fu Yunkai's marriage.

There are many daughters of prominent families in the capital, but it's quite difficult to find a girl who can benefit them, help them, and also please Fu Yunkai.

Xiao Lingyan had already decided on this replacement on his way back.

He suggested, "Didn't the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan want to arrange for Fu Yunlang to marry the eighth daughter of the Mu Family the other day? I think this lady is being a bit too ambitious. With Fu Yunlang's idle ways and his entanglement with the sixth daughter of the Earl of Suiping's Residence's family, the Mu Family must be out of their minds to betroth their legitimate daughter to him. I think it would be better for Fu Yunkai to marry the Eighth Miss Mu family. The Eighth Miss Mu is the granddaughter of the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Lord Mu, and she seems to be studying at the Beining Women's Academy. If Fu Yunkai marries her, it will benefit us, and we won't be owing him anything."

Considering the Mu Family's position and power, Xiao Lingpu nodded in agreement. "You're right. I'll have someone summon Fu Yunkai."

Fu Yunkai was busy with his marriage at the moment.

He couldn't sleep for most of the night, having thought a lot about the marriage. To be on the safe side, he sent someone to Beining early this morning to further inquire about Zhao Ruxi's character.

He then instructed the steward, "Go and summon the most renowned matchmakers in the capital. I want to inquire about the most appropriate way to propose marriage."

Because he needed to prepare betrothal gifts, he told the steward about the marriage proposal last night and asked him to prepare a list of the valuable items in the mansion. That's why the steward knew about it.

The steward, who had a lot to say to Fu Yunkai, quickly said, "Young Master, you've already made up your mind about your marriage. Logically, I shouldn't interfere. But I feel it's not appropriate for you to come and propose without informing your wife."