The Capital, Eastern Palace.

Crown Prince Chu Hao frowned slightly, looking directly at Lu Guanyi: “Why? Haven’t I already explained it to you? Marrying the daughter of the Northern Garrison General would be the best way to resolve the situation.”

Lu Guanyi laughed bitterly in his heart.

In the entire Great Jin Dynasty, two armies were the strongest: one was the Shi family army controlled by Duke Ying’s manor, and the other was the Northwestern army commanded by the Northern Garrison General.

In recent years, his father, Lu Yongzhong, had been gradually undermining Duke Ying’s heir, Shi Kun, to break free from Duke Ying’s control. As expected, within two years, he would be able to push Duke Ying out of the picture and bring the Shi family army to support the Crown Prince.

If he became the son-in-law of the Northern Garrison General, then once the Crown Prince defeated the Empress Dowager and the Fourth Prince to ascend the throne, his and his father’s days would be numbered.

Any emperor played the game of balance. The current Emperor allowing Duke Ying and the Northern Garrison General to oppose each other was precisely this principle.

Through him, Chu Hao wanted to control both armies—a clever calculation indeed. But after being used, his fate as a chess piece could only be discarded, which wasn’t something Chu Hao would consider.

On the surface, the Crown Prince greatly admired him, but in reality, he merely saw value in his identity.

He said: “Since before I was old enough to understand, my stepmother had already entered our household. I have never experienced what it means to be warm and happy. I often feel that living is merely suffering, and death might not necessarily be worse.”

“But as a subject and as a son, Your Highness has treated me well, and my father, regardless of everything else, has raised me to adulthood. It would be wrong for me to abandon my life without thinking of repaying them. I often thought that even if I were to marry and have children in the future, there would be little joy to speak of.”

He smiled: “But after meeting Miss Ye, I realized that there can be warmth and care in this world. I want to live, to spend the rest of my life with her, watching the sunrise and sunset, the clouds gathering and dispersing.”

Chu Hao stared at him steadily for a long while, then suddenly smiled.

He patted Lu Guanyi’s shoulder: “I don’t just see you as a subordinate, but also as a friend. Before, you didn’t know how worried I was about you. Now seeing you finally have the vitality of a young man, I’m truly happy for you.”

He exhaled, as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart: “Fine, I’ll act as your matchmaker.”

Lu Guanyi stepped forward and bowed deeply to Chu Hao: “Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Alright, prepare the betrothal gifts. I’ll speak with Duke Ying, telling him not to be deceived by others and used as a pawn,” Chu Hao waved his hand.

Lu Guanyi’s face broke into a smile: “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Duke Ying had previously controlled significant military power, but now he was old with no competent successor, feeling the coldness of the world. He hated it most when others didn’t respect him.

With the Crown Prince’s words, Duke Ying’s family would not only refrain from extending their reach to the Ye family, but would also develop resentment toward Noble Consort Min’s faction. Noble Consort Min and the Third Princess were imperial family members whom Duke Ying wouldn’t dare to touch, but disciplining a small family like the Meng family was certainly within his power.

Meng Chengwei was no clean character, with plenty of dirt beneath him. If he found a way to pass evidence to Duke Ying, not only would Meng Chengwei be finished, but the Meng family’s position as imperial merchants would surely be lost as well.

The Meng family wanted to use Duke Ying’s household to suppress the Ye family, but now he would turn it around and use Duke Ying’s household to suppress the Meng family. Meng Chengwei could be said to have gotten exactly what he sought.

……

Ever since his grandparents passed away, Lu Guanyi had lived alone in the Lu family’s separate residence. Unless it was during festivals or holidays when his father returned from the border, he would not return to the Lu family home.

After leaving the Eastern Palace, however, he didn’t return to his separate residence but went to the home of the Lu family’s Third Old Master.

The Third Old Master was the younger brother of Lu Guanyi’s grandfather, Lu Min. As descendants of military officials, Lu Min and his second brother, Lu Zhi, both joined the army after coming of age. The third brother, Lu Bin, was premature at birth and had always been weak, constantly taking medicine as food, and thus never joined the army.

As a result, by now, the second brother, Lu Zhi, had long since died on the battlefield, and the eldest, Lu Min, had also passed away from illness. Only the third brother, Lu Bin, who had always been in poor health, was still alive.

The three Lu brothers had good feelings for each other. Before Lu Min died, he entrusted his grandson to his third brother’s care. Therefore, Lu Guanyi rarely returned to the Marquis of Xuanwu’s mansion but frequently visited Lu Bin’s residence.

“What? You want to marry a merchant family’s daughter as your wife?” Lu Bin became anxious as soon as he heard this. “Did your stepmother arrange this marriage? Let me tell you, Yi’er, you mustn’t let her manipulate you. Don’t agree to this, I’ll write to your father.”

Lu Bin was impulsive and began rolling up his sleeves to write a letter before hearing the full story.

Lu Bin’s wife, Madam Liu, quickly stopped him: “Listen to Yi’er explain clearly, don’t jump to conclusions.”

Lu Guanyi also hurriedly said: “Grand Uncle, it’s not like that.”

Lu Bin then sat back in his place: “Then what is it? Tell me properly.”

“Didn’t I go to Jiangnan? I collaborated with Qi Ji to find a tea merchant to produce tea, which I’ve told you about. Miss Ye, the Third Miss, is from the Ye family,” Lu Guanyi said.

“Yi’er,” Lu Bin wore a serious expression, “you are the son of an aristocratic family, and you’re of good age and appearance. Aren’t there enough young ladies in the capital who admire your family background and looks, flirting with you? You mustn’t be blinded by someone. Your family’s situation cannot afford for you to be willful in matters of marriage.”

“Yes, Yi’er, you should think carefully about this marriage,” Madam Liu said.

“I have already spoken with the Crown Prince, and His Highness strongly approves of this marriage,” Lu Guanyi said.

“What?” Lu Bin was stunned, “Why is that?”

“We have our considerations from various aspects,” Lu Guanyi said.

Lu Bin had poor health and had spent his entire life taking care of his body, not concerning himself with worldly affairs. The political intrigue and the ever-changing dynamics of the capital had nothing to do with him.

Lu Guanyi knew that if he said he liked Ye Yaming, Lu Bin would disapprove of the marriage. But as long as he brought up the Crown Prince, no matter how reluctant Lu Bin might be, he would have to accept this marriage.

Madam Liu, however, thought more broadly: “Is it because marrying a merchant family’s daughter means your stepmother won’t obstruct it?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Lu Bin immediately became indignant and cursed Madam Shi at length.

“I don’t plan to let Madam Shi know about this marriage yet,” Lu Guanyi said. “I’m about to leave for the border, and I’m concerned that Madam Shi might take the opportunity to cause trouble for the Ye family, or create some issues that would prevent me from staying at the border with peace of mind.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Bin became anxious: “Yes, yes, we can’t let her know.”

“So I’ve come today to ask you both to arrange this marriage for me. The Crown Prince will write to Master Zhineng, and Master Zhineng, along with him, will act as matchmakers. I’ve prepared some betrothal gifts, and I would like to ask Second Cousin to deliver them to Jiangnan for me.”

The Second Cousin was Lu Bin’s second son. His eldest son managed the family business, while the second son was much less occupied and could leave the capital for some time.

“Alright, no problem,” Lu Bin said. “Your marriage was entrusted to me and your grand aunt by your grandfather on his deathbed, and your father agreed in front of your grandfather. It’s perfectly justified for us to arrange your marriage, and even Madam Shi cannot say anything against it.”

“Rest assured, only the three of us know about this. I will instruct your Second Cousin not to mention it even to his wife.”

Lu Guanyi was overjoyed and stood up to bow deeply: “Thank you, Grand Uncle and Grand Aunt.”