Li Guangwen raised his eyebrows, about to say something, but forcibly held back.

He wouldn’t argue with a pregnant woman!

In the silence of Old Madam Deng and Li Guangwen, Lady He belatedly realized: “Wait, Zhaozhao isn’t even fourteen yet. Which family came to propose marriage?”

Second Madam Liu was equally curious.

She had gone out to attend a banquet two days ago and overheard gossip. Though people were talking about Third Miss, as a daughter-in-law of the Li family, she felt equally disgraced.

Moreover, her two daughters were growing up, especially Yan’er, who was only a few months younger than Third Miss. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t worried. Now, all the respectable families in the capital were laughing at Third Miss, claiming she had improper conduct. When it came time for Yan’er’s marriage discussions, she would surely be affected.

Previously, Old Madam had hinted that she hadn’t expected Third Miss to marry out, and it wouldn’t be impossible for her to remain an old maid in the Li family for life. But once Marquis Liuxing’s residence held that flower-viewing banquet, if Third Miss truly couldn’t marry, she would drag down the other sisters in the family.

Sigh, today a matchmaker came to propose marriage—this was truly wonderful news. Too bad First Brother-in-law had sent her away. Could it be that the man’s family was too poor?

Liu secretly speculated, feeling somewhat regretful.

“Marquis Jing’an’s residence.” Seeing Li Guangwen about to explode again at this topic, Old Madam Deng coughed and spoke.

Lady He looked confused: “Marquis Jing’an’s residence?”

Which family was that?

Lady He had never been good with social connections. Seeing her completely bewildered expression, Old Madam Deng wasn’t angry at all.

Mainly because she had been angry too many times over the years and had become numb! Old Madam Deng thought to herself.

The old lady glanced at Liu, who indeed gave face by reacting appropriately: “Marquis Jing’an’s residence? Heavens, Sister-in-law, don’t you know? That’s the Marquis Jing’an’s residence with ‘two marquises in one family’!”

“Two marquises in one family?”

“Yes! The second young master of Marquis Jing’an’s residence is our Great Liang’s famous ever-victorious general, Marquis Guanjun!”

“Oh, I know now!”

She had no impression of Marquis Jing’an, but she certainly remembered Marquis Guanjun—wasn’t he their neighbor?

Liu was extremely excited: “Old Madam, is Marquis Jing’an’s residence proposing for their third young master? I’ve heard others mention that their third young master is one year older than our Third Miss—quite a suitable age match.”

Heavens, if Third Miss married into Marquis Jing’an’s residence, it would be wonderful! Although the third young master wasn’t the heir, as long as the family didn’t split up, Third Miss’s children would be noble young masters and ladies of a marquis household, and having such a respectable in-law family in the future was certain.

What could be more joyful than one’s descendants living well?

If Third Miss could join a marquis household, marriage discussions for her two daughters would go much more smoothly.

“It’s not the third young master.” Before Old Madam Deng could speak, Lady He denied it.

She had seen that big-tailed hawk long ago. Although he had refined features, he wasn’t just fourteen years old. Which fourteen-year-old looked so world-weary?

“Not the third young master?” Liu was startled, then smiled somewhat reluctantly. “The heir of Marquis Jing’an has already married.”

Could it be that the heir wanted to take the Third Miss as a concubine?

That would be terrible—First Brother-in-law must have been angry about this and chased the matchmaker away!

This was too excessive. No matter how bad Third Miss’s reputation, she was still the daughter of a Hanlin Scholar. How could she become someone’s concubine?

If that were the case, she, as an aunt, wouldn’t be able to hold her head up when going out!

Lady He’s delicate brows furrowed in confusion: “What does Marquis Jing’an’s residence coming to propose marriage have to do with their heir already being married? They came to seek marriage for their second young master.”

At Lady He’s words, everyone in the hall was stunned.

Old Madam Deng’s eyes narrowed slightly: “How are you so certain it’s the second young master?”

This daughter-in-law of hers couldn’t have suddenly become clever—could there be something she didn’t know about?

Qiao Zhao’s heart leaped.

She had no confidence in her mother’s wisdom. If Mother mentioned that Shao Mingyuan had bought the residence next to the Li mansion, that would truly be the end.

“Sister-in-law, the second young master of Marquis Jing’an’s residence is Marquis Guanjun.” Liu couldn’t help but remind her.

That was Marquis Guanjun, who was ennobled as a marquis just after reaching adulthood! How many high ministers and nobles in the capital wanted to marry their daughters to him? They were only temporarily holding back because Marquis Guanjun had requested a year’s leave from His Majesty to observe mourning for his deceased wife.

How could such a person possibly seek to marry the daughter of a mere Hanlin Scholar?

“I know.” Lady He found everyone’s reactions somewhat baffling and asked righteously: “If it’s not Marquis Guanjun seeking to marry Zhaozhao, who else could it be? Even if that heir weren’t married, he’s too old. Zhaozhao absolutely cannot marry him.”

If the son-in-law were much older than Zhaozhao, what if he left Zhaozhao alone too early in the future? Of course, such words were inauspicious, so she wouldn’t voice them.

Hearing Lady He disdain for the age of Marquis Jing’an’s heir, Old Madam Deng and Liu both rolled their eyes.

What nonsense—a marquis’ household young master in his twenties marrying a teenage girl was perfectly normal!

“Then why couldn’t it be the third young master?” Old Madam Deng asked.

Lady He pursed her lips and smiled: “The third young master is even more impossible. At fourteen, he’s still a child attending school, unable to carry loads or lift things, without any capabilities at all. What right does he have to marry my Zhaozhao? If Zhaozhao married him, surely she couldn’t be expected to use her dowry to support him?”

Seeing Lady He’s disdainful expression, Old Madam Deng and Liu no longer knew what to say.

Lady He concluded: “So naturally, the one seeking to marry Zhaozhao is the second young master, Marquis Guanjun.”

Such an obvious matter—why did everyone keep asking about it?

Qiao Zhao quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

“Old Madam—” Liu couldn’t help but seek confirmation from Old Madam Deng.

Old Madam Deng nodded with a complex expression: “It is indeed Marquis Guanjun.”

Liu held her forehead.

Wait, she felt a bit dizzy.

After recovering for quite a while, Liu looked at Li Guangwen: “Elder Brother didn’t agree because he felt Marquis Guanjun’s status was too high?”

Li Guangwen looked at Liu with surprise and emphasized, “It’s because my daughter is too young.”

Why ask such a stupid question? He suddenly felt that Lady He was quite intelligent after all.

Liu’s expression went blank as she murmured: “The one who came to propose was Marquis Guanjun—”

“Even if it’s Marquis Guanjun, he can’t make Zhaozhao magically grow two years older. In any case, anyone who has designs on Zhaozhao at this time is a scoundrel!” Li Guangwen said through gritted teeth.

Meanwhile, Princess Zhenzhen and Jiang Shiran, who had excused themselves and left, sat in their return carriage. Jiang Shiran said incredulously, “After I came out of the washroom, I pretended to be lost and struck up a conversation with a maid. Guess what I found out? A matchmaker came to the door to propose marriage for Li Zhao!”

Princess Zhenzhen’s heart inexplicably sank: “Which residence?”

Jiang Shiran said regretfully: “I didn’t have time to find out before that maid with the brick came over. But the Li residence chased the matchmaker away, which shows the proposing family was beneath their notice.”