Chapter 16: A Marriage Proposal
The Duke of Anguo was already in a foul mood, and now that someone had come to his doorstep to pick a fight and slander him, he angrily retorted, “What utter nonsense! Zhao Xian didn’t even stay in my residence long enough to finish a cup of tea that day! Shu’er never even saw him! What happened to Shu’er afterward had nothing to do with him. So how could his beating have anything to do with my household?”
Even if such rumors existed, wasn’t Zhao Xian himself the one who knew best whether they were true or false? Unless he had been beaten into stupidity or rendered mute, shouldn’t he know what he had or hadn’t done? Couldn’t he speak for himself?
“My Lord, the Marquis of Yongchang is still making a scene outside. A crowd has already gathered. What should we do?” Yan Zhong wiped sweat from his brow (though there was none), feeling troubled. With the affairs of the Second Young Master and Young Lady still unresolved, now the Marquis of Yongchang was adding to the chaos. He wondered if their household had fallen into a streak of bad luck lately.
“That scoundrel—fine, I’ll go see what he’s up to!” Though he sensed something was off about the sudden turn of events, the Duke couldn’t just ignore someone causing a scene at his doorstep. With a flick of his sleeve, he stormed toward the main gate, his face dark with fury.
“Zhao Daoyuan, what do you take my Yan family for? How dare you act so recklessly here!” Fuming, the Duke reached the gate and saw the Marquis of Yongchang standing outside with his attendants, loudly airing grievances to the gathered onlookers. Enraged, he pointed at the Marquis and shouted, “If you keep spouting such nonsense, don’t blame me for taking this to the Emperor and charging you with slandering a court official!”
“Go ahead! You’re the one who beat my son into unconsciousness. I’d like the Emperor to give me justice too!” Convinced that the Duke was responsible for his son’s injuries, the Marquis showed no fear, roaring even louder than the Duke.
Hearing that Zhao Xian was unconscious, the Duke inwardly thought: Just as I suspected. If Zhao Xian couldn’t clarify the rumors due to his condition, then the Marquis’s actions today made some sense.
With this in mind, the Duke’s anger cooled slightly, though his expression remained stern. “Marquis of Yongchang, I deeply sympathize with your son’s injuries, but his situation truly has nothing to do with my household. That day, your son did visit my residence, but he left after delivering his congratulatory gifts—before the banquet even began. The rumors are completely baseless. Why would I send someone to attack him? If you keep harassing my family, you’re only letting the real culprit escape justice.”
But the Marquis was unmoved. “Lord Yan, as the saying goes, there’s no smoke without fire. These rumors couldn’t have appeared out of thin air, and your household is already implicated. How can your word alone prove everything you’ve said is true, and not just fabricated to absolve yourself of harming my son?”
“Every guest who attended that day can vouch for me. If you don’t believe me, go ask them.” The Duke spoke confidently, his conscience clear.
The Marquis scoffed. “Do you think I haven’t?”
Though he wasn’t the most capable man, he wasn’t reckless enough to storm the gates of a first-rank Duke and third-rank official based on mere hearsay. After hearing the rumors, he had discreetly questioned several families who had attended the banquet—families friendly with his own. Their responses were consistent: they hadn’t seen Zhao Xian at the banquet, but no one had seen him leave the Duke’s residence either.
However, someone mentioned that shortly after the banquet began, Yan Jingshu had left and disappeared. Not long after, the Duke himself had also excused himself, looking disturbed. Though the Duke later returned, Yan Jingshu never reappeared. When asked at the end of the banquet, the Duke had simply said Yan Jingshu had fallen ill.
Hearing this, the Marquis who had initially doubted his son would dare to seduce the Duke’s son, became utterly convinced. He immediately gathered his men and marched to the Duke’s residence.
After the Marquis finished speaking, the Duke felt a pang of unease. His and Yan Jingshu’s unusual behavior during the banquet, Zhao Xian’s mysterious injuries, and the rumors linking Yan Jingshu and Zhao Xian—while the Duke knew the truth, to outsiders, everything fit together seamlessly. No wonder the Marquis was so certain he was responsible for Zhao Xian’s beating.
In truth, resolving this wasn’t difficult. The root of the problem was the rumor itself, which was a complete fabrication. If Kou Shijun, who knew the truth, came forward to clarify, the matter could be settled. But doing so would drag the General’s household into the mess, and Yan Jingshu’s affair with Jiang Chenghan would likely be exposed.
At this thought, the Duke felt deeply conflicted.
Unexpectedly, the Marquis’s expression softened. “Ah, Lord Yan, our families have been allies for years. I never wanted things to come to this, damaging our relationship. But my son is suffering, and as a father, I can’t just stand by and do nothing. Surely you understand my feelings…”
The Duke remained silent, waiting for the Marquis to continue.
Sure enough, the Marquis went on, “...But since things have come to this, rather than letting rumors ruin our friendship, I have a proposal that might turn our conflict into harmony.”
When the Duke still didn’t respond, the Marquis grew slightly awkward. But having come this far, he had to speak his mind—otherwise, this whole spectacle would be for nothing. After a pause, he said, “...I wish to propose, on behalf of my worthless son, a marriage alliance with your second son, Young Master Yan Jingshu, as his principal wife…”
“You’re dreaming!” Before the Marquis could finish, the Duke cut him off, unable to contain his fury.
He had suspected the Marquis had ulterior motives. If he truly only wanted justice for his son, he could have gone straight to the authorities or even the Emperor—instead of wasting time here.
But since the matter had already become public, it had to be resolved quickly, for Yan Jingshu’s sake. The Duke had been willing to hear him out, ready to concede if the demands were reasonable. After all, this mess was his daughter’s doing, and if it could be settled without involving Kou Shijun, all the better.
But he never expected the Marquis to set his sights on Yan Jingshu! Even if he were willing to let Yan Jingshu marry out, he would never allow him to wed a debauched, incompetent wastrel like Zhao Xian.
“I’ve already told you, your son’s situation has nothing to do with my household. Believe me or not, take it to the authorities or the Emperor if you wish. I, Yan Zhongkun, will face you anywhere. Close the gates!” With that, the Duke turned and stormed off.
The gates of the Duke’s residence slammed shut, cutting off the Marquis and the murmurs of the gathered crowd.
Back at Canglan Courtyard, Xie Shi, seeing the Duke’s dark expression, naturally inquired. Suppressing his anger, the Duke explained the Marquis’s visit.
Xie Shi was equally incensed. “That Zhao Xian provoked someone, now they’re trying to pin it on us and even dare to covet Shu’er? The Marquis has some nerve! But…”
Her expression then turned worried. “...But if the Marquis truly believes we harmed Zhao Xian, that’s one thing. Once the real culprit is found, our innocence will be proven. What I fear is… what if the Marquis came specifically for Shu’er? If so, the person who hurt Zhao Xian may never be found. What then?”
The Duke sighed. “...I’ve considered that too. There is a solution, asking General Kou to step in and clarify the truth. But doing so would drag too many parties into this, likely making the situation worse. And Shu’er’s secret might not stay hidden.” He shook his head, feeling as though he had sighed more in these past few days than in decades prior.
Xie Shi opened her mouth but ultimately had no solution. All she could do was sigh as well.
Frustrated, the Duke thought of the one who had caused all this and asked, “How is Yu’er? Has she improved?”
Xie Shi’s face grew even more troubled. “The same as before. She’s fine during the day, but once night falls, she’s terrified. She needs calming medicine to sleep, and even then, she wakes from nightmares constantly. She can’t bear to be alone for even a moment.”
“...Then take good care of her. If it doesn’t improve, find another physician.” The Duke frowned. With the mess Yan Jingyu had created still unresolved, he had little patience to deal with her.
Hearing his indifference, Xie Shi’s eyes dimmed, but she could only agree.
The Duke added, “I’ll go see Mother. She should know about this. She’s experienced, perhaps she’ll have a solution.” Without waiting for Xie Shi’s response, he stood and left.
Meanwhile, in Mingxuan Courtyard, Yan Jingshu had also learned of the commotion at the main gate from the servants.
“Young Master, what should we do? That second son of the Marquis of Yongchang never even saw you that day, how could the rumors possibly…? This is outright slander!” Chuntao exclaimed indignantly.
Yan Jingshu had long expected Xie Shi to make a move and had been waiting for it. The Marquis’s outburst today was undoubtedly her doing.
Unsurprised, Yan Jingshu remained calm. “I know. You may leave.”
Chuntao wanted to say more, but recalling how Yan Jingshu’s temperament had grown colder and more unpredictable lately—unlike his former gentle self, she didn’t dare press further. After a bow, she withdrew.
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