Jokes aside, the next day Zhou Weizhao truly found an opportunity to visit Ye Jingchuan. Although Ye Jingchuan could now openly return to the capital, he still couldn’t settle down, nearly attempting to leave on his own several times. His father’s fate in Xibei remained unknown—how could he possibly sit still? Every day felt like being fried in a pan of oil. Originally, upon seeing Zhou Weizhao, he wanted to ask him to persuade Ye Jingkuan to let him go, but he never expected Zhou Weizhao to bring up the matter of his marriage instead. He froze on the spot, staring at Zhou Weizhao for a long while without reacting. Once he came to his senses, he couldn’t help but glare at him: “You’re talking to me about this right now?!”

His father’s life or death was currently unknown, Xibei was in complete chaos, and yet Zhou Weizhao came to discuss marriage with him—had he gone mad?!

He was not in good humor, but Zhou Weizhao pressed down on his shoulder: “Don’t be anxious. It’s not like I’m asking you to get married immediately. I know what you’re thinking—you want to go to Xibei, don’t you? But think about it—your father went there, and look how frightened your mother consort became! I heard from Aunt that Princess Zhennan can’t sleep properly night after night now. She’s consulted physician after physician, but nothing helps. If you go now, won’t you be putting her life at risk?”

At the mention of his mother consort, Ye Jingchuan’s shoulders sagged halfway. His gaze drifted toward the distant, undulating shadows of mountains, feeling rather uncomfortable inside: “But if I just wait in the capital for news, I can’t stand it.”

How could Zhou Weizhao not understand his thoughts? He reached out to pour him a bowl of wine and handed it over, standing beside him and following his gaze into the distance. After a long while, he let out a soft sigh: “That’s exactly why I’m asking if you have any intention of getting engaged. If you had such an arrangement, your mother could divert some of her attention and not worry so much.”

Ye Jingchuan understood his meaning and hesitated somewhat. Princess Zhennan wasn’t particularly bold to begin with, and Prince Zhennan’s situation already had her so worried she couldn’t eat or sleep. If he also ran off without a word, it might truly frighten her into illness as Zhou Weizhao said. But if he were to marry…

He didn’t have anyone he liked. There had been someone he once desperately wanted to marry, but unfortunately, his affections were unrequited. Besides, if the target was Cui Hualuan… he didn’t like Miss Cui. If he truly proposed marriage just to set his mother’s mind at ease, wouldn’t that be deceiving Miss Cui?

Moreover, he still intended to go to Xibei. If he died in Xibei, wouldn’t Miss Cui become a widow before even entering the family? He frowned, and without thinking, immediately shook his head in refusal: “That won’t work.”

Zhou Weizhao stood with his hands behind his back. He didn’t immediately try to persuade him with a long speech just because he said those two words “won’t work.” After a pause, he followed up by asking: “Is this what won’t work, or is marriage what won’t work? If it’s this that won’t work, and you have a girl you like, you could also take this opportunity to settle things with her.”

Is this what won’t work, or is marriage what won’t work?

Ye Jingchuan was momentarily stumped by Zhou Weizhao’s question, taking a long time to react. Once he did, his eyes widened, but he found he couldn’t immediately say that marriage itself wouldn’t work.

This left him feeling somewhat panicked. He had once sworn to love Song Chuyi for his entire life…

Zhou Weizhao observed his expression, then suddenly reached out once more to press his shoulder, bringing him to sit by the window and looking at him earnestly: “You used to say ‘for a lifetime’ because you were still young and had experienced too little. You didn’t know just how long a lifetime truly is. A lifetime is so very long—throughout all of history, has anyone truly been able to devote their entire life to just one person? Even the great scholar Su Dongpo, who wrote ‘At the small window, just combing her hair,’ didn’t he also have many concubines to add fragrance to his studies? Didn’t he maintain friendships with beautiful women?”

“Jingchuan, not every promise must be painstakingly kept.” Zhou Weizhao filled his wine bowl again, lowering his eyes: “Besides, this promise isn’t even fair. Would Xiaoyi and I be happy because you kept this promise? If you didn’t have anyone you liked, that would be one thing, but if you truly have someone you like, yet you give up that person because of some rigid vow, wouldn’t that be too foolish?”

Ye Jingchuan was left somewhat flustered by his words. His mind involuntarily flashed to Lu Chonghua’s pale, delicate face on the fishing boat in Huizhou, and those bright, sparkling eyes of hers. At that time, by the seaside, a bright sun was just rising, and the azure sea reflected the sunlight—beautiful scenery and a beautiful person complementing each other perfectly, making one forget even to blink. It was the first time since seeing Song Chuyi in the forest outside the capital that he didn’t dare look directly into a girl’s eyes…

His mind was in chaos. He stood up with his head lowered, mumbled something about thinking it over more, then rushed out the door. He wandered aimlessly for half a day, finally stopping in front of the Lu residence. After hesitating for a while, he ultimately returned home.

Princess Zhennan had just heard from Princess Rongcheng about Old Madam Cui’s intentions. Seeing him return, she beckoned him over somewhat happily, and after thinking for a moment, told him about the matter: “I’ve observed Miss Hualuan several times—her appearance and character are both first-rate.”

In terms of background, Cui Hualuan was in no way inferior to Song Chuyi. The eldest legitimate daughter of the Cui family’s direct line, her status would be sufficient even to become the Crown Prince’s consort, not to mention that she studied under Madam Qin and was the biological daughter of Cui Yingshu and Princess Duanhui. She herself was extremely capable and straightforward. Princess Zhennan had thought Ye Jingchuan would never be able to find anyone better than Song Chuyi, but she never expected the Cui family to proactively indicate their intention to form a marriage alliance. For a moment, even her worry about Prince Zhennan was somewhat diluted, and she showed her first smile in days.

Princess Rongcheng also smiled from the side: “What does Little Uncle think? Although it’s not proper to discuss someone else’s daughter privately, you did spend time together in Jinzhong, so you know each other’s character and background well. If you think it’s good, then our two families can first exchange betrothal cards.”

Ye Jingchuan lowered his head, staring blankly at Princess Zhennan for a while, feeling his mind in terrible disarray. Instead of answering her question, he asked where Ye Jingkuan was. After finding out, he headed straight for Ye Jingkuan’s quarters.

Princess Zhennan couldn’t stop him at all and couldn’t help but complain: “That child—the least worry-free of them all!”

Ye Jingkuan spoke to him similarly: “What’s the matter now? When men come of age they should marry, when women come of age they should wed. Marriage isn’t like being fed to tigers—why are you so frightened? What’s wrong with Miss Cui?”

Although Ye Jingchuan feared his older brother, at this moment only his brother could discuss this with him. He lowered his head and let out a breath: “It’s not that she’s not good, it’s just…”

Ye Jingkuan was holding a book in his hand. Upon hearing this, he looked up at him: “It’s just that you don’t like her, right?”

Ye Jingchuan felt greatly relieved. Now that it had been spoken aloud, everything that followed became much smoother, and he honestly nodded in acknowledgment.