“Then do you know what my ideal son-in-law looks like?” Huicun looked at Ling’ai with affectionate eyes.

Ling’ai thought about it, then shook her head.

Huicun smiled. “Whether the man is a commoner or a powerful nobleman, my only requirement for him is this: that he treats you well, and that he treats only you well for the rest of his life. A lifetime is long, and no one can say for certain what the future holds — but a person’s character can help you see into the future.”

Ling’ai raised her head, her eyes glimmering with traces of brilliant moisture.

“As long as he treats you well and has eyes only for you — that is enough. As for whether he is rich or poor, whether he holds a high post or is a farmer — none of that matters. Of course, the most important of all is that he must be someone you like.” Huicun sighed softly. “I have known for some time that you and Zheng Yun have been seeing each other, so I sent someone to investigate him — and Zheng Yun has evidently passed the test.”

“You tested him?” Ling’ai blinked.

Huicun said, “I’m sorry — I kept all of this from you while I did it. But I feel that only results obtained in this way are the most truthful. Ai-ko, now I only need you to tell me: do you like him? Is he the man you have made up your mind to marry?”

Ling’ai nodded firmly with almost no hesitation. “Father, I really do like him very much, and I want to marry him. His house is small, but it is warm and peaceful. His position is not high, but he is conscientious and responsible. He is the person I can rely on and trust for the second half of my life — I have already prepared myself to spend a lifetime with him.”

Huicun looked at her quietly. The resolve in her eyes drifted gently over his heart, and the anxiety and restlessness within him gradually settled into calm.

Having obtained the answer he sought, he could not help but smile with relief.

“Ai-ko, tomorrow arrange a meeting with Zheng Yun — say that I wish to see him. There are some things I would like to discuss with him in person.”

“You want to see Zheng Yun?” Ling’ai was surprised at first, then quickly relaxed. “All right — I’ll arrange it.”

Huicun was a good father — she had always known that. When he learned of her relationship with Zheng Yun, he had not gone to threaten him the way Nagase had. Instead, he had sent someone to test Zheng Yun’s sincerity. She did not know what Huicun had done, but the result must have satisfied him.

In one respect he was right: his standard for a future son-in-law was simply mutual affection — and most importantly, that she herself liked him.

Ling’ai did not know what Huicun intended to say to Zheng Yun, or whether what he wished to say had anything to do with Shi Guang.

She did not even dare to think: if she truly had to marry Shi Guang, what would become of her? Marrying a man she did not love was one thing — but having her world stripped of Zheng Yun entirely, never to have him in it again, would feel as though the sky had collapsed.

After Huicun left, Ling’ai lay in bed, tossing and turning.

She recalled the day of Zheng Yun’s birthday banquet. In the clear morning after the alcohol had worn off, she had seen Nagase in a small shop in an alley — and at that time, accompanying him was none other than Shi Guang.

At the time she had naively not thought too much of it, assuming the two men had some sort of business together. Looking back now, Nagase had already formed an alliance with Shi Guang at that point.

Yan Qing had told her about the matter of the Grand Marshal being controlled by Qian Lan, had mentioned the Nagase clan of Di, and had urged her to be wary of Nagase.

In Di, many people bore the name Nagase, so he was not necessarily a descendant of that particular clan. But taken together with everything that had happened, it was almost certain that Nagase was indeed a descendant of that lineage — and that his coming to Xin Guo had always been for this day. He had befriended Prince Wenren, and his true purpose was to revive his clan.

And so, for that purpose, he could sacrifice anything.

Ling’ai gently closed her eyes. Her heart was in turmoil, and she no longer wished to think about any of this. Her only worry was tomorrow — what on earth did Huicun want to say to Zheng Yun?

The meeting the next day went smoothly. Zheng Yun had recently been promoted to Director of the Military Police Bureau, and was buried in official duties, but he still managed to carve out a little time to keep the appointment.

Ling’ai had specifically chosen a teahouse nearest to the Military Police Bureau — just a few minutes’ walk away.

When Ling’ai and Huicun arrived at the teahouse together, Zheng Yun was already waiting in a private room.

He was wearing his Military Police Bureau uniform, his cap set to one side, his upright bearing bright and striking.

Yan Qing often said that the Military Police Bureau was a breeding ground for handsome men — from top to bottom, every one of them was blessed with fine looks. Ling’ai had not believed it before, but after one visit to the Military Police Bureau, she believed it.

Seeing Zheng Yun, a smile crept involuntarily onto Ling’ai’s cheeks — but thinking of the purpose of this visit, the smile stiffened somewhat. She did not want to see him looking pained or embarrassed — not even a little.

“Director Huicun.” Zheng Yun quickly rose to his feet and extended his right hand. “How do you do.”

Huicun shook his hand and smiled. “I have long heard of your reputation.”

Zheng Yun also smiled. “You flatter me.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Ling’ai, and Ling’ai blinked at him.

She had expected Huicun to put Zheng Yun on the defensive from the outset — but he did not. The atmosphere between the two men was harmonious and at ease.

Even facing Huicun, Zheng Yun’s manner was neither servile nor arrogant — a quality that greatly pleased Huicun.

After a few casual exchanges, Ling’ai grew somewhat restless. Because she did not know Huicun’s true purpose in coming, she had been speculating back and forth in her mind, and the longer this went on, the more uneasy she became, her heart beating rapidly without stop.

“Zheng Yun.” Huicun cradled his warm teacup in his hands. “I can tell you are a straightforward person — why don’t we get straight to the point.”

“Please speak, Director Huicun.” Zheng Yun was also pondering Huicun’s meaning. He had even already steeled himself for Huicun to ask him to leave Ling’ai.

The difference in nationality between him and Ling’ai, and the gap in their social standing — everyone who knew of their relationship, aside from Shi Ting and the others, had expressed little optimism.

They all believed that Huicun would not possibly let his only daughter marry an ordinary man.

Huicun said, “Do you intend to marry Ling’ai?”

Zheng Yun was briefly stunned, then answered with unwavering conviction, “I like Ling’ai. I want to take her as my wife. As long as she is willing — from this day forward, one life, one lifetime, one match.”

Huicun nodded approvingly. “And when do you plan to come and take her?”

This time it was not only Zheng Yun who was stunned — Ling’ai was as well. She blinked, still unable to process what had just happened.

Seeing Zheng Yun frozen in place, Huicun repeated himself once more. “I have very simple conditions for giving my daughter away in marriage. I do not require you to have a generous bride price, or a magnificent mansion with three layers of gates and courtyards. All I ask is for a sincere heart and the resolve to grow old together with her. In my life, I have taken only one wife. From the time she fell ill and passed away until now, years have gone by, and I still miss her. And so I will never marry again — for the place in my heart and in my home has been firmly claimed by her, even though she is no longer here.”

Moved despite himself, Zheng Yun replied with some emotion, “If Director Huicun is willing, I will make some preparations and have someone come to ask for her hand in marriage. In our Xin Guo, the proper way to marry a wife is to observe all six betrothal rites in full — that is the greatest form of respect a man can show toward his wife.”

As he spoke, he looked over at Ling’ai, his eyes unable to conceal his joy and surprise. And Ling’ai looked back at him, the astonishment on her face still not entirely faded.

She would never have imagined that Huicun had come to see Zheng Yun in order to urge him to propose marriage as soon as possible.

But if Zheng Yun was to propose to her — how was she to account for this to His Highness the Prince? The command for her to marry Shi Guang had been issued by His Highness the Prince himself.

And so, at this moment, knowing the truth, Ling’ai did not feel the joy that Zheng Yun felt. On the contrary, a great question mark took shape in her heart.

Huicun smiled. “I know something of your customs in Xin Guo. You wish to observe all six rites in full as a mark of respect to Ai-ko — I have no objection, but you must act quickly.”

Before, Zheng Yun had been unable to fully read Huicun’s intentions. Now that Huicun had said this, he found it strange.

Huicun had not summoned him here to persuade him to leave Ling’ai — he had come to urge him to marry her, and not only to marry her, but to do so quickly.

Huicun had previously had someone probe him — of that he was fully aware, though he had not told Ling’ai.

From Huicun’s behavior, he could sense that Huicun was a good father who had his daughter’s interests entirely at heart. Yet his urgency — he didn’t know whether something had occurred.

The look Zheng Yun cast toward Ling’ai clearly carried an undertone of inquiry, but Ling’ai herself was bewildered, and faced with his puzzlement, she too had no answer to give.

“All right — I still have some affairs to attend to, and you have just taken up your post as Director and must be very busy as well. As for the wedding arrangements, get started on them — I will be at home waiting for your good news.” Huicun rose to his feet. “Good lad — may your future be bright. I am entrusting Ling’ai to your care from now on.”

Zheng Yun quickly bowed deeply toward Huicun. “I will take good care of Ling’ai and let nothing bring her sorrow.”

“Good.” Huicun smiled, then turned to Ling’ai. “Let us go.”

Ling’ai turned to look at Zheng Yun. Zheng Yun gave her a small nod, and only then did she reluctantly follow Huicun out of the teahouse.

After the two of them had left, Zheng Yun did not rush to return. Instead, he turned toward the window. On the roadside by the teahouse, Ling’ai was helping Huicun into a car. After the door closed, the car swiftly sped away into the distance.

“Ling’ai — what on earth has happened?” Zheng Yun pressed his hand against the window frame, his grip gradually tightening.

Whether by observation or by instinct, something was telling him that there must be a serious development on Ling’ai’s side — and that whatever it was, it was no trivial matter.

What could it be that would make Huicun rush to marry off his daughter?

He thought of the news he had just received: Nagase, who had disappeared for a long time, had suddenly returned to Shun Cheng.

Was Nagase or was he not a member of the Nagase clan? Did he or did he not have a connection with Shi Guang?

If Nagase truly had a tie to Shi Guang, then might Nagase’s sudden return also be connected to Shi Guang? And might Huicun’s strange behavior also be related to Shi Guang?

Zheng Yun knew that he urgently needed an answer — and that this answer was bound up with his and Ling’ai’s future.

Ling’ai’s reaction just now had also surprised him. When she had heard him say he would marry her, her anxiety had outweighed her joy. Her eyes had told him that she was carrying something heavy on her heart.