Engagement

Zheng Shanci was thinking about going back to make some slippery pork and then having a big bowl of white rice to be satisfied.

He was carrying rice and pork on his way home when he reached the door and suddenly saw someone in a gray servant’s outfit standing at his door.

The person had a tall figure, a lowered head, a fair side profile, pursed lips looking a bit obedient, and seemed somewhat familiar.

Zheng Shanci didn’t recognize Yu Lanyi because, in his impression, Yu Lanyi was a vibrant and dazzling beauty. Now, with his head lowered, looking all obedient, and wearing a servant’s outfit, it couldn’t possibly be him.

Zheng Shanci took a step forward and politely asked, “Are you here to see me?”

Anyone standing at his door usually had something to discuss with him. Zheng Shanci recalled in his mind but indeed hadn’t seen this person before.

Yu Lanyi, after learning about Zheng Shanci’s life and address from Jin Yun, came directly over. He never knew there was such a remote and poor place in Shengjing. This scared the young master a bit. He went to Zheng Shanci’s door and knocked, but there was no response.

Someone then told him that Zheng Shanci had gone out.

Yu Lanyi thought that since he had finally come out, he must see the person; otherwise, who knows when he could come out again.

“Then I’ll wait here for him.”

Yu Lanyi waited for a long time. He could guess that the Marquis Mansion had already discovered he sneaked out and was secretly looking for him.

Yu Lanyi smelled a faint scent at the alley entrance, mixed with the aroma of food and the smell of gutter water.

He lowered his head, feeling out of place in this area. Yu Lanyi didn’t dare to touch the walls here, fearing that if he did, the walls would crumble and the base would fall off.

Yu Lanyi lowered his head in grievance, using his shoe to nudge the door.

After waiting for a long time, he heard Zheng Shanci’s voice. He angrily raised his head, his eyes seemingly sparking with fire.

“You’re finally back!” The young master rolled up his sleeves.

“…No, why is it you?” Zheng Shanci was slightly dazzled by Yu Lanyi’s face, which looked even more radiant due to anger. He averted his gaze, feeling a flutter in his heart.

“Who else did you think it was? You schemer!” Yu Lanyi grew more and more furious, throwing punches at Zheng Shanci.

“Who’s the schemer!” Zheng Shanci dodged left and right, not wanting to get hit. He wasn’t foolish enough to take a beating for no reason.

“Young master, be reasonable. How could I have the ability to scheme against you?” Zheng Shanci, trying to protect the food in his hands, got hit several times, his chest aching. If it weren’t for the things in his hands, Zheng Shanci would have shown Yu Lanyi his strength.

Yu Lanyi even stretched out his foot, trying to trip Zheng Shanci. Luckily, Zheng Shanci noticed Yu Lanyi’s movement in time; otherwise, he would have fallen face-first into the mud.

Such a malicious thought, this venomous husband.

“Father wants me to marry you. You’re the beneficiary. Normally, we wouldn’t even meet, and now I have to spend my whole life with you!” The more Yu Lanyi thought about it, the angrier he got.

Zheng Shanci took a few more hits. He reached out and grabbed Yu Lanyi’s wrist: “You say I’m the beneficiary. If you’re so aggrieved, you don’t have to marry me.”

Yu Lanyi’s eyes widened like a cat’s.

Stammering, he said, “You, you don’t want to marry me?”

“Who do you think you are? Who are you rejecting?”

Zheng Shanci: “…” Not a god, either way.

Seeing the young master staring intently at him, Zheng Shanci said, “I just want to say I didn’t scheme against you. If you marry me, we’ll get along peacefully, and I’ll try to make your life comfortable.”

Yu Lanyi’s legs were sore from standing for so long, so he shifted his weight.

Zheng Shanci opened the door and let the little troublemaker in.

“I’ll sit for a bit, then settle accounts with you later.” Yu Lanyi, not sparing his words, looked around Zheng Shanci’s house with his round eyes, finding it quite clean.

“You sneaked out to find me, didn’t you?” Zheng Shanci brought Yu Lanyi a cup of water.

“Father and Dad locked me up. I was too angry, so I came to settle accounts with you. You look sneaky, not like a good person.” Yu Lanyi clenched his fists.

Zheng Shanci: “…”

The original owner’s appearance was identical to his, and he was at least a handsome gentleman with a jade-like face.

He didn’t dare not marry Yu Lanyi; otherwise, the Changyang Marquis Mansion could make sure he wouldn’t see the next day’s sun. Zheng Shanci dragged over a bamboo stool and sat on it.

“This matter has caused quite a stir. We can only get married. I know you understand that after we marry, you’ll be in charge at home, and you can do whatever you want.”

Yu Lanyi found Zheng Shanci quite agreeable, but his family background was already far superior to Zheng Shanci’s, so of course, he could do whatever he wanted, and Zheng Shanci couldn’t stop him. If Zheng Shanci treated him poorly, he would complain to his family.

But hearing this from Zheng Shanci’s mouth was better than forcing him to say it.

“This is how it should be.” Yu Lanyi raised his chin, looking proud and pleased: “If you know your place, I won’t treat you poorly.”

Yu Lanyi was still too naive.

Zheng Shanci nodded: “I understand.”

Yu Lanyi didn’t drink the water on the table. He knew if he didn’t return soon, Father and Dad would be even angrier. After chatting with Zheng Shanci for a while, he hurried back.

Zheng Shanci sat down and drank the water himself. In the original story, Yu Lanyi didn’t come to find the original owner. Why did he come this time? Zheng Shanci shook his head, deciding not to think about it.

Although Yu Lanyi was noble, he was surprisingly easy to appease.

This would make life easier in the future, except that the person liked to use his hands. For the sake of his own life, he could endure Yu Lanyi. Besides, Yu Lanyi wasn’t anyone special to him. Would he really get furious over something related to Yu Lanyi?

What a joke.

Changyang Marquis Mansion

The Changyang Marquis was furious: “Where did you go?! You never let anyone rest easy. I should lock you in the ancestral hall!”

“I didn’t do anything. I’m going back to my room.” Yu Lanyi didn’t dare tell the truth. If he did, the Changyang Marquis would be furious. He quickly ran to the corridor, ignoring the Marquis’s roars, and slipped back to his room.

Changyang Marquis: “You unfilial son! Someone, keep a close watch on the second young master’s room. No one is allowed in or out without my orders.”

Yu Fulang: “Marquis, calm down. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the Zheng family and have them send a matchmaker to set the engagement, then choose a good day.”

“Too much kindness spoils the child.” The Changyang Marquis took a deep breath, suppressing his anger: “He’s so reckless, who knows what trouble he’ll cause. It’s better to marry him off early. Shiyan is much more obedient and sensible.”

“Lanyi and Changxing are both my children, and Yu Shiyan is your child. I don’t like hearing you say my children aren’t as good as others.”

The Changyang Marquis realized he misspoke, his expression awkward.

“Zheng Shanci doesn’t have an official position yet. Marquis, you should visit the Ministry of Personnel more often to secure a good future for your future son-in-law.” 

Yu Fulang was a Ge’er from the Duke’s Mansion, childhood sweethearts with the Changyang Marquis. But once, when the Marquis got drunk, someone took advantage and climbed into his bed. This matter had always been a thorn in Yu Fulang’s heart.

Changyang Marquis: “Don’t worry, Fulang. I’ll visit the Ministry of Personnel tomorrow after court.”

Zheng Shanci cut the pork into long strips, marinated it, and then coated it with starch. He boiled water in a pot, threw in small slices of ginger, and slowly put the meat in, stirring it with a spatula, and finally added a few pieces of greens.

The aroma of meat soup wafted from the pot.

After starting work, Zheng Shanci learned to cook for himself, living a flavorful life alone.

To be honest, the thought of marrying Yu Lanyi made Zheng Shanci a bit hesitant. He was used to living alone, and adding another person might bring unforeseen changes.

Yu Lanyi was too energetic, and his temper didn’t seem great.

He was also picky and meticulous.

Even if they were both unwilling, they still had to spend some time together.

Could they live well together? Zheng Shanci wasn’t confident.

He hadn’t lived with anyone else before.

He hadn’t even held anyone’s hand, and now, after a private meeting, being caught in public, and getting hit, he was about to become a married man.

He was confused, at a loss, and decided to eat first.

Yu Lanyi’s punches really hurt. Maybe he should wear a piece of iron on his chest in the future.

Become an iron-headed kid.

The scholar, who couldn’t even truss a chicken, had to continue copying books after eating. While copying, Zheng Shanci thought he remembered there was a vacant County Magistrate position in Xinfeng County. 

Xinfeng County was located in the northwest wilderness, and the previous magistrate had died suddenly from an illness while in office. 

The County Deputy’s report had been delayed, and the successful candidates had already been assigned positions, leaving only the Xinfeng County Magistrate position.

This position had now fallen to the Ministry of Personnel. Many candidates without positions, who had connections, knew about this and were eagerly waiting. 

The Ministry of Personnel, to be fair, would have those recommended by high officials undergo tests in body, speech, writing, and judgment to determine the final candidate.

Zheng Shanci hadn’t relaxed yet, waiting for the dust to settle after being appointed to a position before he could ease up a bit.

In ancient times, it was better to have an official position.

The next day, just as Zheng Shanci got up and ate a piece of cake, someone knocked on the door.

So early in the morning, Zheng Shanci opened the door to see Yu Fulang, whom he had seen at the Pei Mansion banquet, standing at the front, along with a woman in her forties, with kind eyes and a gentle smile.

“Zheng Gongzi, I hope I’m not disturbing you by coming so early?”

Zheng Shanci shook his head and stepped aside to let them in.

Yu Fulang had brought about five or six people with him. He glanced around at Zheng Shanci’s living environment, noting its simplicity but cleanliness. Looking up, he saw Zheng Shanci in a gray robe, his figure tall and straight like bamboo, with eyes as dark as lacquer.

“There’s no tea here, please have some water.” Zheng Shanci stood politely to the side, feeling a bit at a loss.

What to do when encountering a seasoned noble Fulang after time-traveling.

Yu Fulang responded with a good, “Zheng Gongzi, I’m here for your and Lanyi’s marriage. This matter needs to be resolved soon, so let’s get engaged first. I know your family situation isn’t good, so the Changyang Marquis Mansion will provide the betrothal gifts. You just need to be present, and after marriage, treat Lanyi well. The Marquis Mansion will also be your home. Of course, we won’t make you a live-in son-in-law, but this matter can’t be delayed and needs to be handled promptly.”

Zheng Shanci: “I have no objections.”

“This is the date I’ve chosen. If you think there’s a better date, we can change it.”

The matchmaker handed the calendar to Zheng Shanci. Seeing the date, he was dumbfounded; it was already the nearest date.

“If you want it sooner, it could be in three days. If you prefer this date, the Marquis Mansion will make it perfect.”

Zheng Shanci: “…No need, this date is fine.”