“Lu Sixth Young Master, don’t be so arrogant. This king is Prince Gaoyi of Great Zhou. You neither bow when seeing this king nor show proper respect when addressing this king with such shouting. If this king were to report you to Chancellor Lu, you’d probably spend the remaining days in the ancestral hall!” Bai Jinzhi had now figured out a way to deal with Lu Yuanpeng—his grandfather was the person Lu Yuanpeng feared most. Now that his grandfather was stationed in the imperial capital… Bai Jinzhi didn’t believe Lu Yuanpeng would dare to be arrogant.

Hearing this, Lu Yuanpeng’s eyes widened. He indeed looked like a little chick caught by the neck, appearing angry but not daring to speak.

However, the wastrels following behind Lu Yuanpeng were quite perceptive, addressing Bai Jinzhi as Prince Gaoyi and bowing to him.

Bai Jinzhi raised his whip, spurred his horse, and rode away, leaving only one sentence for Sima Ping and Lu Yuanpeng to go receive their punishment rods themselves.

“That Bai Fourth Young Master, it’s clear that with the Bai sisters not in the capital, no one’s managing her!” Lu Yuanpeng said through gritted teeth.

Seeing that Prince Gaoyi had already left, these wastrels who usually had excellent relationships with Lu Yuanpeng no longer held back their tongues.

Some laughed and said, “Although His Majesty isn’t here, there’s always someone who can control Prince Gaoyi. Look… I heard that the Bai family’s Third Madam has already begun seeking a family for Prince Gaoyi.”

“Oh my! Once Prince Gaoyi marries, won’t there be someone to manage him?”

Hearing this, Lu Yuanpeng’s ears turned red, and his tone inevitably became anxious: “How… how come I’ve never heard anyone mention this? Does Third Madam have someone in mind? Which family does she want to choose?”

“According to what my mother said, it seems nothing’s been decided yet, but many people want to curry favor with Prince Gaoyi. I heard some even wanted to stage that hero-saving-beauty drama, but ended up getting whipped by our Prince Gaoyi until they couldn’t find north!”

“I heard about this, too. When my mother came back, she said that Prince Gaoyi is so fierce, it seems finding a good marriage match will be difficult!”

“Look at what you’re saying—he’s Prince Gaoyi! How many people want to climb up to imperial relatives? They’ll inevitably want to send their sons to Prince Gaoyi’s side!”

“Exactly! Even my mother said that if I weren’t so disappointing, she’d want to go before Third Madam to see if Third Madam might fancy me! She even said… it doesn’t matter that Third Miss Bai is from a concubine and has an injured face. She wants to go ask Third Madam’s opinion another day! What kind of situation is this!”

The wastrels who could play with Lu Yuanpeng mostly came from decent family backgrounds and acted according to their nature, not the type to climb dragons and attach to phoenixes.

Most of them knew they couldn’t achieve success like Lu Yuanpeng and Sima Ping now had, but they weren’t spineless enough to want to rely on nepotism to climb up to imperial relatives. So while their families were very enthusiastic about this matter, they felt embarrassed instead.

After drinking, Sima Ping’s eyes showed some intoxication as he looked toward Lu Yuanpeng. Seeing Lu Yuanpeng’s face alternating between blue and white, he stood up, hooked his arm around Lu Yuanpeng’s neck, and said with a smile: “Let’s go receive our punishment rods!”

“Are you going?” A friend asked in confusion. “Maybe Prince Gaoyi was just teasing you!”

Sima Ping turned back with a shallow smile: “The Bai Family Army’s military discipline isn’t for playing around!”

Lu Yuanpeng’s mind was now full of what his friends had just said—the Bai family’s Third Madam had already begun selecting a husband for Bai Jinzhi, and the noble families in the capital were all eager to try, wanting their sons to have a chance.

Since ancient times, marriages had been arranged by parents and matchmakers. What if the Bai family’s Third Madam took a fancy to some family’s worthless son?

As soon as they went downstairs, Sima Ping whispered in the ear of the troubled-looking Lu Yuanpeng, who was lost in wild thoughts: “Once we leave, ride quickly back to your Lu mansion to find your grandfather. Tell him you’re smitten with Prince Gaoyi and beg your grandfather to fulfill your wish! If you’re late… Bai Fourth Young Master might belong to someone else!”

Hearing this, Lu Yuanpeng’s eyes lit up. So all along, Sima Ping wasn’t leading him to receive punishment, but pulling him out to give him time to go back and plead with their grandfather!

But… would their grandfather agree?

Although Lu Yuanpeng didn’t use his brain much, he understood that their Lu family currently had the trust of the Bai sisters and could be said to be at the height of power. At this time, if they sought to marry Prince Gaoyi, it would inevitably make people think the Lu family was pushing their luck and being insatiably greedy.

Even when his excellent elder brother Lu Yuanqing’s marriage was discussed, their grandfather and father said that the Lu family currently enjoyed too much imperial favor and feared that extreme prosperity would lead to decline, so they had to be increasingly careful. Even his brother could only marry below his station—they wouldn’t consider any high-ranking officials above the fourth rank in court.

Lu Yuanpeng had overheard this while eavesdropping by the window. Thinking that his brother didn’t need any in-law support anyway, he hadn’t taken it seriously and left.

If even his excellent brother had to marry below his station, if he said he wanted to marry Bai Fourth Young Master, wouldn’t grandfather be scared to death!

Seeing Lu Yuanpeng’s hesitation, Sima Ping forcefully hooked his arm around Lu Yuanpeng’s neck, his tone rarely serious: “If you must have Bai Fourth Young Master and no other, go back quickly and settle this matter! If… you’re not set on her, you might regret it in the future.”

Lu Yuanpeng bit his teeth and, rarely serious, gave Sima Ping a deep bow, saying: “You’re my best brother! I know everything you’re saying is for my good! I must have her in this lifetime! I’ll go back right now to plead with my grandfather. If grandfather won’t allow it, I’ll kneel to death before grandfather! If this succeeds… I’ll treat you to drinks!”

After speaking, Lu Yuanpeng rushed outside in great haste, calling loudly for the attendant waiting outside the door to bring his horse.

Sima Ping stood at the stairway entrance, watching Lu Yuanpeng mount his horse in one fluid motion and ride away with raised whip. His fists clenched tightly, and only after a long while did a smile appear in his eyes…

“Young Master!” Sima Ping’s attendant, seeing his master appearing intoxicated, quickly stepped forward to support him. “Young Master, shall we return home?”

“Let’s go back!” Sima Ping said indifferently.

The servant happily responded and helped Sima Ping walk outside.

·

Lu Yuanpeng rode his horse quickly back to the mansion. As soon as he dismounted at the mansion gates, he threw his riding whip to a servant and asked: “Where is Grandfather?”

“Replying to Sixth Young Master, Chancellor is in the study…”

Lu Yuanpeng rushed toward his grandfather’s study like a whirlwind. Bursting in and seeing his grandfather reading something unknown, he immediately knelt and kowtowed.

This startled Chancellor Lu so much that his hands trembled. It had been a long time since he’d seen Lu Yuanpeng make such a grand gesture. Usually, the more decisively Lu Yuanpeng knelt, the bigger the mistake he had committed!

Lu Yuanpeng had just returned, and not knowing what great error he’d committed again, he knelt and performed three kowtows, his head hitting the ground with loud thumping sounds. Chancellor Lu’s heart also pounded—such a grand ceremony… this old man’s heart couldn’t take it!

“Grandfather!” After Lu Yuanpeng solemnly finished kowtowing, he spoke: “I have found a woman who has captured my heart. I beg Grandfather to fulfill my wish and go propose marriage on Yuanpeng’s behalf!”