On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The late spring sunlight shines through the carved window lattices, casting mottled light and shadows on the blue bricks of the main hall of the Guo Mansion, and the air is filled with the faint fragrance of roses.

Lin Zhen sat on the rosewood armchair, his fingertips tapping the armrests unconsciously, his eyes fixed on the girl standing with her head bowed in the hall.

Guo Ran was wearing a moon-white gauze long dress with only a few sparse orchids embroidered on the hem with silver thread. The collar and cuffs were trimmed with fine white edges, and she looked very quiet and polite.

She lowered her head slightly, her black hair loosely tied up with a mutton-fat jade hairpin, revealing her slender neck. Occasionally, a few strands of hair hung down on her cheeks, trembling slightly with her breathing, as if they would be blown away by the wind at any time.

Lin Zhen looked at her quiet profile and thought to himself: She is indeed a kind and elegant girl, no wonder Hou Chun would have set his eyes on her.

"This must be Brother Guo's daughter?" Lin Zhen said with a gentle smile, his eyes turning from Guo Ran to Guo Xin beside him. "I heard that Ranran could sell her poems and essays at the age of eight. Is that true?"

Guo Ran's talent is well-known in the capital, and her poems and essays can be seen almost everywhere in the streets and alleys.

Lin Zhen remembered that he had seen the poems and essays she wrote when she was young at a friend's place. Although they seemed immature, they already showed spirit, so he was deeply impressed by this talented woman.

Upon hearing this, Guo Xin immediately showed a look of pride on his face. He stroked his goatee and straightened his back, as if he had instantly become a few years younger.

"It is my daughter Ranran. I am sorry to have embarrassed you, Your Highness." He paused, a trace of kindness flashing in his eyes. "My daughter was just a naughty child who scribbled haphazardly. How can she be worthy of the title of a talented woman?"

Although he spoke modestly, the slightly raised corners of his mouth could hardly conceal his pride. He turned to Guo Ran, his tone filled with a touch of kindness and solemnity: "Ran Ran, why don't you come over and meet His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Guo Ran responded, folded his hands in front of his stomach, and walked into the hall with small steps, each step so light that it was almost silent.

She bowed to Lin Zhen, her movements elegant and precise, her voice soft as a spring breeze across the lake: "My humble self, Guo Ran, greets His Highness the Crown Prince."

Her voice was clear and pleasant, with the sweetness unique to a young girl, but also revealed a calmness beyond her age, unlike the shy and timid women in ordinary boudoirs.

Lin Zhen noticed that when she spoke, her eyelashes fluttered gently like butterfly wings, and her eyes were clear and frank, without any evasion.

Lin Zhen looked at the girl in front of him, his smile growing wider: "She is indeed a good girl, with a calm temperament and good conversation."

He paused and said jokingly, "I heard that the number of people who come to Brother Guo to propose marriage is almost enough to knock down the door of your house, right?"

He wanted to use this to ease the atmosphere and also test Guo Xin's attitude towards his daughter's marriage.

Guo Xin subconsciously glanced at his own half-worn wooden door. The edge of the door frame was indeed a little worn. He smiled sheepishly, his cheeks slightly flushed. "Your Excellency, you are too kind. This threshold is a little worn from years of neglect, not from the matchmaker. Please don't make fun of me, Your Excellency."

He was afraid that Lin Zhen really thought that his house was so crowded that it seemed too ostentatious.

"Haha, Brother Guo, there's no need to be so formal. I was just joking." Lin Zhen laughed out loud, picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. The warm tea slid down his throat, bringing with it a faint tea fragrance.

"Brother Guo's talent and character are well-known in Beijing, and your daughter is so outstanding, so naturally there will be many people who want to marry him." His words were half sincere and half polite. He was praising Guo Xin and paving the way for the subsequent marriage proposal.

Guo Xin waved his hand modestly, then raised his voice to the inner room, "Of course, you and your mother go to the kitchen and help. Ask the servants to prepare a few more of their signature dishes."

He thought for a moment and added, "Warm up a few more pots of the best Bamboo Leaf Green Tea. His Royal Highness has a good alcohol tolerance, so we must not neglect him."

He was eager to play the role of a good host and also wanted to use this opportunity to get his daughter to temporarily leave so that he could have a deep talk with Lin Zhen.

"Yes, father." Guo Ran responded softly, bowed to Lin Zhen, and then turned around with Mrs. Guo beside him and walked towards the kitchen with light steps.

Her skirt swayed gently with her steps, like a slowly blooming white lotus.

After watching their backs disappear behind the screen, Guo Xin turned back to the main seat and personally picked up the teapot to refill Lin Zhen's tea. His movements were a little awkward, but they were full of respect. "My prince, you are visiting my humble abode today. I wonder what advice you have for me?"

He rubbed his hands, his eyes filled with anticipation and anxiety, not knowing the purpose of Lin Zhen's visit.

Lin Zhen put down the teacup, leaned forward slightly, and said in a tone that was casual yet serious: "To be honest, I came here today to propose marriage to your daughter."

He decided to get straight to the point and skip the unnecessary formalities.

"Oh?" The teapot in Guo Xin's hand paused slightly, and a few drops of tea splashed on the edge of the spout. He quickly calmed himself down, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then there was an unconcealable joy.

"You've even bothered the prince to personally act as my daughter's matchmaker?" He was so excited that he was a little incoherent. "The man must be a rare talent. I wonder which family he belongs to?"

In his opinion, the person who could be proposed to by the prince personally must be from a noble family.

Lin Zhen shook his head and said calmly, "He's not some noble young man, but a bodyguard close to me, named Hou Chun."

He observed Guo Xin's reaction and prepared to deal with possible questions.

"Guard?" The smile on Guo Xin's face froze instantly, and the knuckles of his fingers holding the teapot turned slightly white. He was obviously a little surprised, and even showed a hint of hesitation.

He put down the teapot, leaned back slightly, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

After all, in his opinion, although his daughter was not rich, she came from a scholarly family, and it seemed a bit of a concession to be betroth her to a guard.

He opened his mouth, but didn't know how to respond, and the atmosphere became a little awkward for a moment.

Lin Zhen took in Guo Xin's expression, but didn't care. He continued, "I know what Brother Guo is thinking, but don't underestimate Hou Chun. This young man has a clean family background. His parents were both honest farmers. Unfortunately, they later died of illness, leaving behind only a younger sister, the daughter-in-law of Duke Xun, Lu Buting. Of course, although he is no longer a duke, you are familiar with the relationship between Lu Dehao and me. Hou Chun has been in the military since he was a child, and later followed me. He is loyal and has never made any mistakes."

He wanted to dispel Guo Xin's concerns about his character first.

After all, Duke Xunguo has married his sister, so why are you, a mere clerk, pretending to be so high and mighty?

Guo Xin pondered for a moment, his fingers unconsciously stroking his sleeves, and spoke carefully: "Since he is someone close to the prince, his character is naturally trustworthy. But..."

He hesitated for a moment, but still expressed his concerns, "He is a guard after all, and it seems a bit incompatible with my daughter's family background."

He said it very tactfully, but his meaning was very clear, that is, he felt that Hou Chun was of low status.

"Brother Guo, you're wrong. Hou Chun is no ordinary guard. He once followed me into battle, fighting bravely in the defense of Dai County and Qinghe City."

He deliberately emphasized his tone, "The battle to defend Qinghe City was extremely fierce. I was hit by an arrow, and he was hit by three swords. However, we didn't let a single enemy climb onto the city wall. We made great military achievements and have now been appointed as a seventh-rank general of the Jinwu Guard."

He paused, looking directly at Guo Xin: "In terms of rank, it is no lower than Brother Guo."

Upon hearing this, Guo Xin showed an embarrassed look on his face. He rubbed his hands and said, "It's not that I dislike General Hou's rank, but...it's just that I originally wanted to find a gentle and stable husband for Ranran. I never thought of finding a military general."

He was worried that his daughter would suffer if the generals were away fighting all year round, and he was also afraid of the dangers of war and the risk of her life.

Lin Zhen frowned slightly, feeling that Guo Xin's words were somewhat disrespectful to him.

But then he thought, it's normal for parents to be considerate of their daughters, so he patiently explained, "Brother Guo, you're wrong."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the roses blooming in the courtyard. "Now that Daqian is expanding and border wars are frequent, the status of military officers is becoming increasingly important, and they have far more prospects than civil officials. Hou Chun is a hardworking and diligent child, and he has military achievements under his belt. As long as I'm here, his future is limitless, and he will definitely not be limited to a seventh-rank lieutenant general."

He patted Guo Xin's shoulder and said, "Isn't it better for Ranran to marry him than to marry those pedantic scholars?"

"That being said, though..."

At this moment, the kitchen door curtain was lifted, and Guo Ran came out with a plate of freshly cut braised beef, and happened to hear the conversation in the hall.

She placed the plate on the table, raised her head, looked at Guo Xin with clear eyes, and said in a firm tone: "Dad, my daughter is willing to marry the Marquis."

Her voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by everyone, with unquestionable determination.

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall suddenly became quiet.

Guo Xin looked at his daughter in surprise, his mouth slightly open, as if he didn't expect her to express her opinion so directly.

Lin Zhen smiled with satisfaction, and looked at Guo Ran with a bit more appreciation in his eyes, thinking: She is indeed a girl with her own opinions.

But unexpectedly, Guo Xin became furious. "How dare you express your opinion on matters concerning your children's marriage? Besides, the Crown Prince is here, so you have no right to speak. Have you forgotten the propriety and honor that I taught you during playtime?"

Guo Ran met her father's gaze, her cheeks flushed slightly, but her eyes were resolute. "I once met Master Hou at the silk shop. He is an upright and humble man, not a rough and violent one."

She paused, as if mustering up the courage: "And."

Her voice softened. "My daughter feels that a hero who can defend his country on the battlefield is far more admirable than a scholar who can only write."

Guo Xin looked at the light flashing in his daughter's eyes, which was a look he had never seen before, and then looked at Lin Zhen who was smiling beside him.

I thought it was misfortune for my family.

Ugh.

Lin Zhen said, "Old Guo, you should also consider your child's happiness. You are quite talented in literature, but you have been stuck as a clerk for many years because you lack sufficient judgment. Just imagine, what would happen if Ranran married Hou Chun?"

Guo Xin looked at him in confusion.

I was slept with, what else can I do?

Lin Zhen said, "Your status will rise, because Hou Chun is my good brother. If I treat him well, I will naturally treat Ranran well. And Ranran will become a close relative of the palace, which will bring him even more glory. You are about to retire, and whether your retirement life will be good or poor is actually up to you. Don't blindly exercise your power as a father. This will affect the happiness of Ranran and your entire family. After all, as a person, you can't be too selfish."

Guo Xin looked at his daughter and felt mixed emotions for a moment.

He was just thinking of finding a suitable match for his daughter, but he didn't expect such bad news to come out of the blue.

It was hard for him to accept that his daughter was marrying a guard who seemed promising but actually did not hold a high position.

But what Lin Zhen said makes sense. Hou Chun is indeed much more promising than he seems.

Since ancient times, whether it was an official's guard or a servant, as long as they were on the payroll, the officials would make arrangements for them.

It's a favor.

Just like the boss's driver and secretary, who has a lower position? When they go out to talk and do things, the one they wear is the boss, so who wouldn't look up to them?

We always say that the eunuchs around the emperor are more powerful than the governor.

Why is he higher than the governor? Because he follows the emperor.

Hou Chun, if it weren't for Lin Zhen, he might have always been an ordinary soldier, but now he follows Lin Zhen, which is equivalent to a bodyguard and driver, and he is also within the system. How could such a person have a low rank in the future?

Guo Xin seemed to understand in an instant, and the hesitation in his heart gradually disappeared.

In addition to the above, he knew that his daughter had a calm temperament, but once she made up her mind about something, she would not change it easily.

What's more, the other party was recommended by the prince himself and had such great military achievements. He was indeed a good candidate, much better than those sons of merchants or petty officials.

He sighed, a smile returning to his face. He turned to Lin Zhen and bowed, saying, "Since Ranran is willing, then I'll trouble the prince to make the decision. General Hou is young and promising, and he is also a close confidant of the prince. It is a blessing for my daughter to marry him."

Seeing this, Lin Zhen felt relieved and laughed heartily: "Brother Guo, it's good that you can think positively. It's also his good fortune that Hou Chun can marry a good girl like Ranran."

He stood up and straightened his clothes. "In that case, the marriage is settled. Don't worry, the palace will provide Hou Chun's betrothal gifts, and we will find a suitable day for Hou Chun to propose marriage."

Guo Xin quickly bowed and said, "Your Excellency, your words are too kind. I am trying to climb above my station."

Now that the matter was settled, Lin Zhen prepared to go back.

Guoqin accompanied Lin Zhen all the way to the door, exchanged a few words with him, and then left Guo's house.

Sitting in the carriage, Lin Zhen looked at the street scenes passing by outside the window, with a faint smile on his lips.

He knew that this marriage not only fulfilled Hou Chun's wish, but also left him with a good impression in the heart of Guo Xin, an official with a good reputation. It was a two-pronged approach.

However, when he thought of Lai Fu's abnormal behavior in the mansion and the camels sent by Murong Yan, his smile gradually faded.

He leaned against the wall of the car, closed his eyes and thought.

It seems that these peaceful days will not last long.

Murong Yan's move was obviously to test her bottom line. Lai Fu's incident was by no means accidental, and the truth behind it must be found out as soon as possible, otherwise there would be endless troubles.