Chapter 2: Marriage Proposal

Chu Huaiyu was startled and widened her eyes in surprise. "What? You can solve it? Who exactly are you?"

Just then, faint, disorderly footsteps could be heard in the distance. The man's face turned solemn, and he leaped onto the roof in an instant. Looking down at Chu Huaiyu, he said, "Miss Chu, please trust me. Just because you saved my life, I won't harm you. You'll know everything tomorrow!"

With that, he disappeared into the night with a few quick leaps.

"Hey, explain yourself!" Chu Huaiyu shouted futilely on the ground. The footsteps were getting closer, and she couldn't stay there any longer. She could only grit her teeth in frustration and climb back over the wall into the Deputy Minister's mansion.

Fine, she would trust him this once. If he couldn't solve the problem tomorrow, she would search heaven and earth to find this jerk and make him pay!

The man in black twisted and turned, sneaking into the mansion of the Duke Shao. He knocked on the door of a side room with a special technique.

The door was quickly opened, and an old butler, loyal to the core, was stunned to see him, his eyes widening in shock. "Duke Shao, you... you're not dead!"

The candlelight in the room illuminated the man's exceptionally handsome face. It was none other than Gu Yunteng, the youngest Duke Shao of the Great Yan Dynasty!

The previous Duke Shao had died in battle. The Duchess Shao, pregnant at the time, was so shocked that she went into premature labor. She left behind a premature baby girl and two sons, aged seven and three, respectively. The older child was Gu Yunteng, who inherited the title of Duke Shao at the age of seven. With the help of loyal subordinates, he struggled to uphold the family name.

Gu Yunteng was exceptionally talented. Eleven years had passed, and not only had he not tarnished the reputation of Duke Shao, but he had also gained the favor of the emperor. Recently, he was specifically named to investigate a corruption case in Jiangnan with the third prince.

The case was handled extremely well, and the emperor was delighted. He was waiting to bestow great rewards upon their return to the capital. However, news of Gu Yunteng's unexpected death reached the capital. The old butler was shocked to see him standing there alive.

"Let's talk inside," Gu Yunteng nodded and quickly walked into the house, taking off the bloodstained night clothes as he walked.

The old butler's face changed drastically. "Are you injured?"

"It's just some flesh wounds. They've been bandaged, so it's fine. How is the situation in the capital?" Gu Yunteng asked.

"The third prince returned from Jiangnan with your personal jade pendant. He said that the two of you encountered assassins. You were forced off a cliff, and there was no sign of life or death. The third prince was also severely injured at the time, but he still ordered people to search for you in the cliff for several days. However, the searchers found that below the cliff was a turbulent cold river. With your severe injuries, falling into the river from a hundred-foot cliff left almost no hope of survival. So, everyone in the capital thought you..." The old butler trailed off.

"I haven't figured out the details yet, so I plan to play along with their assumption for now and pretend to be dead. Let's see who shows up. That person will be the mastermind behind all this!" Gu Yunteng said.

After saying this, he looked at the old butler. "In the coming days, I'll be staying in the secret room in the mansion. Please take care of delivering my meals and passing on messages, Uncle Zhong."

"Yes!" The old butler replied solemnly.

After giving a few more instructions, Gu Yunteng turned to walk towards the secret room. Halfway there, he suddenly turned back and said, "By the way, Uncle Zhong, there's something important I need you to do tomorrow."

"Your Highness, please instruct," the old butler smiled.

"Early tomorrow morning, choose a batch of fine silk, rare playthings, and precious jade from the warehouse, according to the standards of the Duchess Shao. Go to the Ministry of Rites, Deputy Minister Chu's house, and propose marriage on my behalf. I want to marry their eldest daughter." Gu Yunteng said.

"What?" The old butler almost stumbled and fell to the ground.

You see, their Duke Shao, although exceptionally handsome, had never shown any interest in any young ladies, even those from prestigious families or princesses who wanted to marry him. He had broken countless hearts. So, why was he suddenly proposing marriage to a young lady?

"Today, Miss Chu saved my life, and I find her interesting. I think she's suitable to be the Duchess Shao. Besides, she's about to be married off by her father to a man in his sixties as a concubine. I promised to help her solve this problem. If you go to propose on my behalf, it would kill two birds with one stone, wouldn't it?" Gu Yunteng smiled.

Only then did the old butler understand the situation. He remained silent for a moment before hesitantly saying, "But, Your Highness, everyone in the capital believes you are dead. In the eyes of young ladies, marrying you now would be like living as a widow. It's not much better than marrying an old man. Are you sure Miss Chu will agree?"

Gu Yunteng froze, his face turning slightly pale. After a long pause, he gritted his teeth and said, "Then let's show them the style of the Duke Shao's mansion. Even if we have to use our status to pressure them, we must get this marriage settled! Anyway, after I 'come back to life,' everything will be resolved!"

After saying this, he turned and entered the secret room without looking back, leaving the old butler stroking his beard and smiling thoughtfully in the room:

"It seems that Duke Shao has truly taken a liking to this Miss Chu!"

So, the old butler didn't even sleep that night. He immediately ordered people to open the warehouse and prepare the betrothal gifts. They took out the rarest and most valuable items, with only one purpose:

Even if Miss Chu was unwilling to live as a widow, they would shower her with riches until she was moved!

Early the next morning, the matchmaker sent by the Minister of Household Affairs arrived at the Deputy Minister Chu's mansion with the betrothal gifts.

Not only did no one from the Minister of Household Affairs' mansion show up, but the betrothal gifts were also meager, indicating that they didn't take this marriage proposal seriously.

Chu Huaiyu's half-sister, Chu Mingyu, found out about this and, eager to stir up trouble, came to Chu Huaiyu's courtyard with her maid. She said with glee, "Sister, the matchmaker sent by the Minister of Household Affairs is here. After today, you will officially be part of their family. Remember to speak highly of our father in front of the Minister so that he can have a better future. Your little sister will benefit from it too. Thank you, sister!"

Chu Huaiyu secretly cursed the man from last night in her heart for not keeping his promise to solve the problem. However, she still trusted that he wouldn't break his word. So, she remained calm and retorted, "Sister, you're thanking me too soon. It's not certain yet who will be marrying into the Minister of Household Affairs' family."

Chu Mingyu covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed, as if she had heard the funniest joke. "Oh dear, sister, what nonsense are you talking about? The matchmaker from the Minister's mansion is here. If it's not you, then who else could it be?"

Chu Huaiyu smiled but didn't say anything.

If the man from last night kept his word, she wouldn't have to marry at all. However, her despicable father couldn't afford to offend the Minister of Household Affairs, so he would definitely marry off one of his daughters. When that time came, wouldn't it be Chu Mingyu's turn?

She hoped that her dear sister would still be as happy then as she was now!

Chapter end