Chapter 259: I’m Going to Propose
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Xu Yi Ting was utterly baffled.
He had been nursing a cold recently and was sipping some herbal medicine, avoiding alcohol altogether. He was only present to accompany his friends. Now, he watched as Rong Che, one drink after another, seemed to drown in his emotions and become increasingly vocal about his feelings.
And at this moment…
He could clearly hear Lu Chao Chao’s thoughts.
Xu Yi Ting raised a hand to his nose, hiding a small smirk. He sneaked a glance at his sister, who was struggling to hide her own amusement at the scene.
His eyebrows arched as he observed General Rong’s antics.
“Shi Yun… Can I come to your house?” Rong Che asked, his voice tinged with a pleading tone.
He had never paid much attention to his appearance, always believing that looks weren’t crucial for a man. But now, in his desire to impress Shi Yun, he had shaved off his beard and combed his hair neatly, resembling a peacock at full display.
Xu Yi Ting exchanged a knowing look with his sister.
Madam Xu gave a slight nod in response to her brother’s gaze.
“Then come and propose,” Xu Yi Ting suggested quietly.
The words hit the drunken Rong Che like a splash of cold water, making him halt in his tracks.
He didn’t want to offend Shi Yun, so naturally, her brother was his next best ally.
“Really? Really?” Rong Che perked up, his eyes suddenly clearing, showing a spark of sobriety.
Madam Xu couldn’t contain herself any longer: “Yes.”
Elated, Rong Che turned to Lu Chao Chao, who was sitting by the table: “Chao Chao, did you hear that? Your mom said I can propose!” He was in disbelief. Shi Yun had actually agreed!
“Fwom now on, I’ll be your daddy!”
“No, no, fwom now on, I’ll be your papa…” Rong Che corrected himself with a laugh, his eyes moist. Shi Yun had been deeply wounded by Lu Yuan Ze, and he had resigned himself to a solitary life. Yet now, Shi Yun had surprised him with her consent.
Xu Yi Ting watched Rong Che’s jubilation with a touch of confusion: “It’s late, you should head back and get ready.”
Madam Xu longed to spend more time with Shi Yun, but she knew that without an official status, staying overnight could cause issues for Shi Yun.
With a rosy flush on her cheeks, she left reluctantly, looking back three times before disappearing through the door.
Lu Chao Chao, sprawled on the table, mumbled, “Oops, forgot…”
[I poured clear water into the wine pot and pretended it was wine…]
[Then… how did Uncle Rong get so drunk?]
Xu Yi Ting lifted Chao Chao up with a smile: “Your Uncle Rong was pretending to be drunk to show his feelings.” He was truly smitten with Shi Yun.
Lu Chao Chao didn’t quite grasp the concept.
Meanwhile, Rong Che was beside himself with joy.
He felt an unstoppable surge of happiness bubbling up inside him.
“General Rong, why are you not heading back to your manor at this hour?” A colleague called out from a passing carriage.
“Yes, yes, how did you know I’m getting married?” Rong Che responded with a loud laugh.
Colleague?
“She agreed to let me stay with her as her son-in-law!” Rong Che was ecstatic.
“Do you know this feeling? The feeling of ‘it’s her or no one,’ the feeling of true love? Have you ever truly loved someone?”
“Hey, hey, why are you leaving?” Rong Che called after the retreating figure, but his colleague had already turned away, disinterested.
Feeling too excited to keep still, Rong Che approached a street vendor: “Did you know I’m getting married?”
Street vendor?
Is he out of his mind?
Rong Che even gave a nearby dog a couple of playful kicks: “I’m getting married, aren’t you thrilled?”
With his chest puffed out and a radiant expression, Rong Che proudly made his way back to the Protectorate Duke’s Mansion.
He hammered on the door with enthusiasm.
“Easy there! Who’s knocking like it’s the end of the world?” The doorkeeper hurried to open the door.
As soon as the door swung open.
“General, why are you back so early? And why the vigorous knocking?” The doorkeeper eyed him suspiciously.
Normally, Rong Che returned home stealthily.
But tonight…
Something was different.
He was all smiles, almost like he was wagging an imaginary tail.
Rong Che tilted his head up: “Where are my parents?”
“They’ve just gone to bed, quiet down. If you wake them, you’ll be in trouble,” the doorkeeper cautioned.
Rong Che dismissed the warning with a wave, his voice booming with newfound confidence.
He strode boldly inside, his presence startling the maids and servants.
“Father… Father… are you asleep?”
“Mother, Mother, wake up…” Rong Che called out by their bedside.
The Protectorate Duke and his wife shot up, startled by the sudden intrusion. “Unfilial son! Are you trying to give us a heart attack?”
“If you don’t have a good reason for this, I’ll make sure you regret it!” The Protectorate Duke threatened, his voice stern.
Unfilial son, indeed!
“What’s all this noise about in the middle of the night?” The old lady scowled at him.
But Rong Che stood his ground, no longer intimidated.
The elderly couple exchanged worried glances: “Have you lost your mind because you can’t find a wife?” The Protectorate Duke inquired.
Rong Che cleared his throat with importance.
“I! Am getting a wife!”
“Shi Yun agreed, she’s allowed me to come over!” Rong Che lifted his chin proudly.
The Protectorate Duke and his wife were momentarily stunned.
Then, joy lit up their faces: “Really? She actually agreed to let you come over?”
“Oh, my son is remarkable!!”
“Remember how you just threatened to send me to meet our ancestors?” Rong Che teased.
“You’re the ancestor now, okay? By the way, did you ask Shi Yun if you can bring your parents along when you move in?” The Protectorate Duke asked eagerly.
“Father, we shouldn’t push our luck. I haven’t even proposed yet.”
“Yes, yes, let’s not rush things.”
The Protectorate Duke immediately rose from the bed.
“Where are you going, Father?”
“To tally up our family assets, of course. We need to know what we’re bringing over when you move,” he explained, his eyes twinkling with the possibility of joining their son.
That night, the entire mansion buzzed as they counted their assets, preparing for the significant change ahead.
Early the next morning.
The Protectorate Duke’s family was up at dawn, ready to attend the palace banquet in honor of the Queen Mother’s birthday.
As Rong Che entered the palace gates, Minister Jiang approached with a smile: “General Rong, I hear you’re becoming a son-in-law at the Xu family’s home?”
Minister Jiang was Jiang Yun Jin’s father.
Rong Che had never been fond of Minister Jiang.
Jiang Yun Jin had broken her engagement to save her fiancé, and Minister Jiang had been instrumental in that decision.
But in court, one had to maintain appearances.
“General Rong, you are confused! You are the sole heir of the Protectorate Duke’s Mansion, and the queen is your sister. How can you marry Madam Xu, a divorced woman with three sons and a daughter?” Minister Jiang sighed, shaking his head.
“People will mock you if word gets out.”
Minister Jiang had a sister-in-law named Jiang Yuan, who was twenty-eight and still single.
In her younger days, she had been smitten with Rong Che.
She had vowed to marry no one but him.
The previous night, upon hearing Rong Che’s intentions to marry Madam Xu, she had reportedly shattered several pieces of fine china in a fit of rage.
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Rong Che eyed him warily.
“Minister Jiang, what are you talking about? Shi Yun is incomparable, she’s wonderful!” Rong Che retorted, his tone heated.
“And who’s been spreading rumors that I’m marrying her?” he demanded, clearly annoyed.
“Stay out of my business!”
“I knew it, Brother Che, you wouldn’t settle for Madam Xu. You are the War God of North Zhao, feared by neighboring nations, how could you marry her?” Jiang Yuan interjected, looking at him longingly, her voice soft.
Rong Che recoiled slightly. “Stay back, your perfume is suffocating me.”
“I’m not just marrying Shi Yun.”
“I’m going to propose!” he declared, his resolve firm.