393 Yi Zilan Proposing Marriage
Yi Zilan had been waiting for Teacher Yang to give him a reply. After waiting for so many days, he finally managed to calm himself down from a state of constant anxiety. Now, hearing these words from Liu Sannang, he was simply overjoyed.
They left Liu Sanniang’s courtyard.
Xia Bingguang asked. “Can Miss Liu tell fortunes?”
Yi Zilan nodded. “Yes, Miss Liu seems to know everything.”
Xia Bingguang looked at Wu Changxian, who nodded slightly. “Miss Liu is indeed a rare master.”
Xia Bingguang smiled and said to Yi Zilan, “Zilan, you’re not young anymore. Do you have any girls you like? I’ll help you matchmake.”
Yi Zilan was a talent both good at martial arts and literature and was worthy of being put in an important position.
Yi Zilan knelt on one knee and said, “Your Majesty, I haven’t received an answer yet, so I don’t want to force her. If we’re fated, it’s naturally a good thing to be able to marry her. If she’s unwilling, I will respect her choice.”
Xia Bingguang nodded. “Alright, you’re a man. I’ll wait for your good news. It’s her loss if she refuses you.”
After escorting the emperor back to the palace, Yi Zilan said something to Wu Changxian and went back.
As soon as he returned to his mansion, the servant said, “Sir, you have some guests. Old Master and Old Madam are entertaining them now.”
Without saying anything, Yi Zilan dashed straight to the front hall.
Teacher Yang and Su Wanrou sat there quietly with Yang Xueyu.
Mr. and Mrs. Yi’s expressions were gentle. They knew that Teacher Yang and Su Wanrou were here to thank Yi Zilan, so they naturally treated them well.
Mr. Yi and Teacher Yang were like-minded and had a pleasant chat, and their wives also engaged in a chit-chat.
Yang Xueyu was obedient and listened quietly at the side. Mr. and Mrs. Yi would occasionally throw a glance at her.
Yang Xueyu blushed and sat straight up nervously.
Mr. and Mrs. Yi liked Yang Xueyu. Born to a teacher, she had a good upbringing and was not inferior to any young lady in the capital. They were satisfied no matter how they looked at her.
However…
Sigh, their son had a scar on his face. Even if he was the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, it was still a little difficult for him to be a good match.
As soon as Yi Zilan walked into the main hall, his expression softened. “Father, Mother.”
Mr. and Mrs. Yi looked at Yi Zilan. Mr. Yi said, “You’re back. Teacher Yang and his family are here to look for you. Since you’re here, I’ll leave them to you.”
Yi Zilan nodded.
Mr. and Mrs. Yi stood up. “Teacher Yang, you’re very knowledgeable. If you don’t mind, my wife and I will visit you next time. We’ll continue reciting poems.”
Mr. Yi really wanted to be on good terms with Teacher Yang. They were about the same age, and he had long resigned from the government position. He was tired from the constant conspiracy that was going on in the imperial court. It was rare to find a like-minded person.
Teacher Yang also had the same idea. He stood up and said, “Master Yi, if you don’t mind my humble house, you can visit any time.”
Mr. Yi smiled. “Okay, okay, that will be great.”
After Mr. and Mrs. Yi left, there was only Yi Zilan and the Yang family in the main hall.
Yi Zilan looked at Teacher Yang with an extremely serious expression. “Have you made up your mind?”
Yi Zilan asked bluntly. His gaze landed on Yang Xueyu and his heart thumped. It was undoubted that he liked Yang Xueyu.
Teacher Yang was stunned. He did not expect Yi Zilan to be so different from his father. His father was calm and reserved, but he was very straightforward.
Su Wanrou was a little shocked. Before they could speak, Yi Zilan got right to the point.
Teacher Yang said slowly, “Official Yi, you saved my life. Although you are not yet married, with your identity and the bright future ahead, it won’t be difficult for you to find a wife. I only have one daughter. I don’t want her to live the rest of her life worrying about being set up by concubines, so…”
Yi Zilan frowned. Why did it sound like he was saying no to this marriage?
Yi Zilan cleared his throat and interrupted Teacher Yang. “I will only marry one, and my heart is only so big as to accommodate one person. I won’t take in concubines, nor will I have any affairs.”
Teacher Yang was speechless.
Couldn’t he just let him finish?
Su Wanrou couldn’t help but smile. “Official Yi, let my husband finish first.”
Yi Zilan said apologetically, “Teacher Yang, please continue.”
Teacher Yang heaved a sigh of relief. There was no need for him to say what he wanted to say, because Yi Zilan had already given him the answer.
He looked at Yi Zilan and suddenly felt a little amused. Yi Zilan was already 32 years old, but he looked no different from those young men in their twenties, passionate and foolhardy.
He looked at Yi Zilan and said, “I agree to you marrying my daughter, but I have a request. Other than my daughter, you can’t have any other women or any illegitimate children.”
He was the victim of the fight between legitimate and illegitimate children, so he hoped that his daughter would not have to suffer what he had.
Yi Zilan smiled. “I promise. If you don’t believe me, I will write you a letter of assurance.”
Teacher Yang looked at Yi Zilan and waved his hand. “No need. In that case, please choose a date to propose marriage.”
Yi Zilan agreed readily. “Okay.”
He was not young anymore, so he naturally wanted to get married as soon as possible.
After Teacher Yang and his family left, Yi Zilan went to the main courtyard to see Mr. and Mrs. Yi.
Mr. Yi could tell that something was going on. He asked. “What’s the matter?”
Yi Zilan was used to being straightforward. “I’m going to get married.”
Mrs. Yi was stunned.
Mr. Yi was also surprised.
It took them a while to come back to their senses and ask again. “Who is she?”
Yi Zilan said, “You just met her. She’s Mr. and Mrs. Yang’s daughter, Yang Xueyu.”
Mrs. Yi found it unbelievable. Could she really live to see her son marrying such an excellent girl?
Mr. Yi was equally surprised. Yang Xueyu was good-looking and well-mannered. From his conversation with Teacher Yang, he knew that Teacher Yang was a knowledgeable person, proficient also in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. The daughter of such a person wouldn’t be bad either. It was simply a blessing if they could have such a girl as their daughter-in-law.
Yi Zilan said calmly, “What do I need to prepare for the marriage proposal?”
He thought that he would be alone for the rest of his life, but now that he had someone he wanted to marry badly, he naturally had to make sure that everything was done perfectly.
He had never married anyone before, so he didn’t know what to do.
Only then did Mr. Yi believe him.
Mrs. Yi wiped her eyes. “Leave this to me. I’ll help you arrange everything. Marriage proposal is a big matter.”