Li Guangshu paused while holding his teacup and looked at Qiao Zhao with surprise.

If he remembered correctly, this niece hadn’t even had her coming-of-age ceremony yet; wasn’t it too early to arrange her marriage? And to bypass the eligible eldest daughter and arrange a marriage for the second daughter seemed somewhat strange.

Could it be that this niece had caused some trouble, which made them rush to settle her engagement?

Li Guangshu set down his teacup and smiled faintly, “I wonder which family Third Miss is engaged to. A child’s marriage is a lifelong matter and cannot be taken lightly.”

This was a veiled mockery of Li Guangwen and his wife being irresponsible about their children’s marriages.

Li Guangwen looked at Li Guangshu with surprise, thinking: What business is it of yours who my daughter is engaged to? You haven’t even sorted out your concubine situation!

“Third Miss is engaged to the Marquis Jing’an’s residence.” Although Old Madam Deng was angry that Li Guangshu had brought back a concubine, he was still her biological son. Her anger was real, but her heartache and longing were also real.

“Marquis Jing’an’s residence?” Li Guangshu was quite shocked and suddenly understood his eldest cousin’s attitude at the East Residence.

No wonder his eldest cousin, who usually put on airs, had been so kind to him this time. It turned out that the West Residence had connected with the Marquis Jing’an’s residence.

Big Brother was just a minor Hanlin Academy editor, obviously without prospects. How did he manage to arrange a marriage with a marquis’s family?

Li Guangshu felt a bewildering sense of losing control, which he greatly disliked. He drank several sips of tea and said, “Marquis Guanjun is from the Marquis Jing’an residence, right? Is Third Miss engaged to Marquis Guanjun’s younger brother?”

He had been away from the capital too long and could no longer clearly remember the relationships between various families in the capital. It seemed he needed to find time to catch up.

“How would a little boy be suitable for my daughter? Zhaozhao is engaged to Marquis Guanjun himself.” Li Guangwen said impatiently.

As an uncle, being so concerned about his niece’s marriage was simply bizarre.

“Marquis Guanjun?” Li Guangshu’s tone changed, and he shook his head with a smile, “Big Brother, don’t joke with your younger brother.”

Li Guangwen’s face darkened. “Second Brother, you should know that I’ve always been serious and never joke.”

Li Guangshu resisted the urge to roll his eyes and looked toward Old Madam Deng.

Old Madam Deng nodded, “Your big brother isn’t deceiving you. Third Miss is indeed engaged to Marquis Guanjun.”

Li Guangshu raised his hand to his forehead.

He understood now—all of this was fake. He should still be in the carriage, dreaming.

No wonder his wife, whom he hadn’t seen for years, had scratched his face upon meeting. No wonder his mother had decisively confiscated the twenty thousand taels of silver he had worked hard to accumulate. No wonder his eldest cousin at the East Residence had been so humble toward him. No wonder—

Li Guangshu secretly pinched his thigh hard. The sudden pain made his expression change slightly, and only then did he come to his senses.

He wasn’t dreaming—all of this was real!

“Congratulations, Big Brother.” Li Guangshu opened his mouth and squeezed out these words.

He had been too hasty. He should have privately investigated the changes in the residence over these years before saying anything. The feeling of being completely in the dark was truly uncomfortable.

Li Guangwen directly threw him a look, “What’s there to congratulate? My daughter is still young.” She’s already being snatched away by another boy!

However—

Li Guangwen thought for a moment and smiled, “But my son-in-law is quite good at making money. His annual salary is two thousand shi, equivalent to what we’d earn in a lifetime.”

Li Guangshu nearly fell backward in anger.

Not only was he acting smug after getting a good deal, but he was also taking the opportunity to belittle him. Did he think everyone was like this fool Big Brother, who had nothing beyond his monthly salary of eight shi?

Seeing the maids beginning to serve dishes, Li Guangwen added with a grin, “My son-in-law also makes an extremely delicious dish of green pepper and pork belly strips. Just this alone makes me extremely satisfied. Otherwise, I would have had to carefully consider this marriage proposal.”

Li Guangshu: “…” Where’s a knife? Someone give him a knife!

“Eh, when has Master ever eaten our son-in-law’s green pepper and pork belly strips?” He Shi’s surprised voice rang out.

Li Guangwen’s smile froze at the corners of his mouth.

Damn, he had accidentally let something slip.

“A test, this was a test.” Li Guangwen said with a straight face.

Li Guangshu maintained his composure on the surface but was furious inside. He ate the entire meal in a daze, unable to taste anything.

When the maids served clear tea, Old Madam Deng took a sip before slowly saying, “Second son, about Hao Ge’er—”

Li Guangshu’s expression changed. “Mother, Hao Ge’er is too young, and having suddenly left his familiar environment to come to the capital, forcibly separating him from his birth mother would be too much for him.”

“Being young, he’ll adapt quickly.” Old Madam Deng said indifferently.

Li Guangshu couldn’t help but look at Liu Shi.

Could it be that while he was at the East Residence, Liu Shi had said something to Mother?

He knew it—Liu Shi saying she didn’t want to raise Hao Ge’er was just for his benefit. Liu Shi had injured her body giving birth to her second daughter and would find it difficult to conceive again in the future. How could she not want to take Hao Ge’er to raise?

Liu Shi was stung by Li Guangshu’s gaze and sneered coldly, “Master needn’t look at me. I have no interest in raising a child who crawled out of someone else’s belly.”

Li Guangshu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, “Mother, you see what Liu Shi said—”

The old lady lowered her eyes to drink tea, not even lifting her eyelids, “Mm, your wife doesn’t want to raise him. I understand.”

Li Guangshu showed a relaxed smile and picked up his teacup for a sip, then heard Old Madam Deng add, “I’ll raise him.”

With a “poof,” Li Guangshu directly sprayed out the tea in his mouth.

Old Madam Deng frowned, “Second son, where are your manners and etiquette?”

Li Guangshu covered his mouth and coughed. After a while, he recovered and said embarrassedly under the juniors’ gazes, “Mother, what did you just say? Your son didn’t hear clearly.”

“I said that now the grandchildren are all grown up, and I’m quite bored every day. While I’m still healthy, taking care of Hao Ge’er for two years would be perfect. Second son, what do you think?”

Under Old Madam Deng’s penetrating gaze, Li Guangshu felt a breath stuck in his chest with nowhere to release it.

“What, do I need to beg you just to raise my grandson?” Old Madam Deng placed her teacup on the tea table with a “thunk,” the crisp sound making everyone’s hearts jump. “Or are you saying that after being away for a few years, you don’t even regard your mother as important anymore?”

“Your son wouldn’t dare—”

“Wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare. I see you say you wouldn’t dare, but you’re quite bold in your heart.” Old Madam Deng’s expression grew increasingly ugly.

This little brat was truly turning the world upside down, confronting his mother for the sake of a concubine. It seemed he had been away too long and forgotten the taste of being beaten with a walking stick.

Li Guangshu really couldn’t sit still anymore and stood up awkwardly, “Mother, please don’t be angry. Your son will go tell Bing Niang.”

“Do you still need to discuss it with her?” Old Madam Deng asked irritably.

Li Guangshu forced a smile. “No, your son just wants to inform her.”

Bing Niang, who had just been settled in the west side courtyard of Jinrong Courtyard, was gently patting the sleeping Hao Ge’er when Li Guangshu arrived. She quietly followed him to the outer room.

Facing his beautiful concubine, Li Guangshu struggled to speak. After hearing him, Bing Niang remained silent for a long time.

“Bing Niang, I’ve wronged you. I spoke carelessly.”

Bing Niang shook her head, “Master, don’t say that. The old madam’s willingness to raise Hao Ge’er is Hao Ge’er’s blessing—”

At this point, her voice choked slightly, “Could you just let Hao Ge’er sleep with me for one more night?”

Li Guangshu relayed Bing Niang’s request, and Old Madam Deng nodded in agreement.

The next day, Hao Ge’er was brought to Qingsong Hall, but after only three days, he fell ill.