Chapter 867 – Northern Overlord (Part Four)
Li Yun was clueless, still smiling brightly.
“My father has already consulted with the Lord about this, and it’s just a matter of personally going over now. However, Yun…” Li Yun’s cheerful smile made Wei Ci feel incredibly irritated, “I still feel there’s something more we need to prepare. You two gentlemen are well-informed, why don’t you give me some advice?”
“Heh… is that so?”
Wei Ci let out a light chuckle, and for some unknown reason, Li Yun felt a shiver run down his spine.
The chill came quickly and vanished just as fast, leaving no trace behind.
Feng Zhen was quick-witted and sensed that Wei Ci’s emotions were a bit off, but the daft young man Li Yun had failed to notice.
He shifted his weight and playfully rested his foot on Li Yun’s shoulder, teasing, “Han Mei is already in his early twenties; it’s high time he settles down. This is a rare joyous occasion in Wanzhou, we must celebrate it greatly, throw a big lively feast, and fill it with happiness.”
Wei Ci momentarily got distracted, but Feng Zhen wouldn’t misunderstand.
Indeed, there were quite a few bachelors in Wanzhou, and now that Li Yun was looking to tie the knot, that was truly a cause for celebration.
“Come, come, let me, a seasoned veteran, give you some tips. Asking Zixiao will be useless; he’s still single himself.”
Feng Zhen chummily threw his arm around Li Yun’s shoulder, wearing a mischievous grin.
Li Yun instinctively thought Feng Zhen was unreliable, but alas, he wasn’t wrong.
Though Feng Zhen was quite the rogue, he was at least a married man with a cute and sensible son.
As for Wei Ci?
While he was indeed gentle and humble, he was still a bachelor; consulting him about such matters was quite imprudent.
“I’d like to seek Mr. Feng’s guidance,” Li Yun said obediently.
Feng Zhen stole a glance at Wei Ci, who lay his brows flat, bearing signs of suppression and restraint, causing him to chuckle inwardly.
“When a man reaches adulthood, he should marry; when a woman matures, she should wed. You and her share feelings for each other—it’s truly a match made in heaven.” Feng Zhen exaggeratedly postured, practically wanting to elevate the pairing of Li Yun and Shangguan Wan to celestial heights, causing Li Yun to blush and fidget, not knowing where to put his hands. Feng Zhen added, “Han Mei, listen to me, you just need to go before the Lord and express your passionate feelings to your love… Trust me, no woman in the world can resist such fervent declarations of love.”
Li Yun was so embarrassed his head felt like it might smoke. He had whispered sweet nothings to Shangguan Wan before, but he had never been so straightforward.
Unexpectedly, Mr. Feng, while appearing frivolous, turned out to be someone bursting with emotion beneath that small frame.
Li Yun hesitantly mumbled, “Wouldn’t… wouldn’t that be too presumptuous? I’m afraid the Lord would disapprove and think I’m disturbing the lady…”
Feng Zhen laughed, “What’s to fear? A fiery woman fears not to be pursued! While she may claim you’re being rude, deep down she might be shyly pleased.”
Just as Li Yun was about to nod in agreement, he heard Wei Ci’s suppressed fury rise up.
“Such impropriety is absolutely outrageous!”
Li Yun was taken aback, turning to see Wei Ci just as he was walking away, his broad sleeves fluttering in the breeze.
“This, this… what’s up with Mr. Wei…?”
When a gentle person loses their temper, the scene can be quite terrifying.
Even though Li Yun was valiant and full of courage, he was startled at that moment, unsure of what had triggered the man’s ire.
Feng Zhen stifled the emotions in his eyes, a slight smile turning up the corners of his lips, revealing a profound expression.
Li Yun murmured, “Mr. Wei is usually so disciplined and polite; it must have been something Mr. Feng said that upset him.”
Indeed, proposing marriage was a grand affair that should follow proper etiquette; one couldn’t heed Feng Zhen’s wild suggestions.
Hearing Li Yun’s murmurs, Feng Zhen scoffed lightly, saying, “Being overly concerned leads to chaos; even Wei Zixiao cannot escape that.”
Li Yun remained confused, not grasping Feng Zhen’s meaning.
Looking at his dazed expression, Feng Zhen gave him a sympathetic look, as if observing his own adorably clueless son.
“Don’t overthink it; even if you figure it out, it won’t help. Since the Lord has already agreed to your marriage with Wan, and Wan has feelings for you, just follow the traditional practices step by step. Just wait for the happy wine to be served!”
Li Yun felt disheartened; after all this, Feng Zhen hadn’t really offered any good suggestions.
Feeling a bit lost, Feng Zhen worried and turned in circles three times.
Feng Zhen knew that with Wei Ci’s intellect, even if he momentarily lacked clarity, given time to calm down, he would undoubtedly realize he had misunderstood. With this thought, Feng Zhen hurried to catch up with Wei Ci’s departing figure, shamelessly making his way to his home.
“Can you believe it, can you believe it…”
Before Feng Zhen even entered the main hall, he was brimming with excitement as if he had discovered a new continent.
“What can’t you believe?”
Wei Ci had returned some time ago, kneeling beside the table, coldly gazing at the simmering tea pot.
He had long anticipated Feng Zhen would come over, yet felt mildly irritated at himself for losing his composure and creating such a foolish misunderstanding.
“I can’t believe it; you, Wei Zixiao, harbor such feelings for your Lord!”
Feng Zhen lightly slapped the table, his voice soft yet startling.
Wei Ci, hearing this, abruptly looked up, his dark eyes containing an unmasked sharpness.
“Zishi, food may be randomly consumed, but words must not be spoken carelessly. When has Ci ever harbored disrespectful thoughts towards our Lord?”
Feng Zhen wore a smile as he sat beside Wei Ci.
“Merely ‘disrespectful thoughts’?” Feng Zhen wouldn’t let this chance slip away, delighted to finally see Wei Ci cornered. He pressed, “Regardless of context, anyone hearing Han Mei say he wishes to propose to the Lord would immediately think he meant to marry Shangguan Wan. Yet your first thought was of Han Mei wanting to propose to the Lord! If you claim you harbor no other thoughts towards the Lord, are you telling me that’s plausible?”
Wei Ci opened his mouth, having been exposed, left momentarily speechless.
Typically eloquent and glib, he found himself at a loss.
“Absurd!”
All he could manage was to spit out those two words.
The moment before, Feng Zhen had been full of bravado, and in the next second, he was wrapping his arm around Wei Ci’s shoulder like a good buddy.
“It’s normal to have such feelings when the Lord is unmarried and you are too, right? Why be so secretive about it?”
Look at that; he almost scared the little angel Han Mei!
Wei Ci brushed Feng Zhen’s arm away, his expression somber and heavy, which only seemed to energize Feng Zhen even more, “Such a person as the Lord cannot be easily desecrated! Words like these should not cross your lips again; Ci and the Lord remain innocent!”
Feng Zhen narrowed his eyes slightly, replying, “Zixiao, that’s not fair. There are far more exceptional men in the world than you—countless, really! If you consider loving the Lord a desecration, are you intending to leave the Lord helpless and alone for the rest of her life?”
