Chapter 181: Frequent Good News

Liu Zheng's expression changed instantly: "Sir, this absolutely must not be done!"

He was a person from a later age and had no tolerance for such political marriages. To let him use marriage to harm others—he could not do it!

Qingyang Shuo said indifferently: "Young Master, when one is in the imperial court, one is not master of one's own actions. When the name of Prefect Liu of Yinzhou spreads throughout the world, this marriage will become something that can be leveraged!"

"Moreover, Young Master has already reached adulthood; it is indeed time to consider your own marriage."

Liu Zheng was caught between laughter and tears, rubbing his temples.

Marriage again!

Liu Dahao nagged about it every day, and he never expected Qingyang Shuo to be nagging about it too.

He pondered for a moment, then sighed: "Sir, no matter what, I will not use my marriage to plot anything. Please, Sir, find another way!"

Qingyang Shuo smiled slightly.

Jiang Xuan and Qin Zhangfeng, however, did not think there was anything wrong with this matter. In the eyes of the ancients, weren't women just like clothing? According to their view of their own Young Master, having three wives and four concubines was even on the low side. It was just that they did not understand the views on love held by a person from a later age like Liu Zheng; thinking this way was, after all, normal.

With one hand, Qingyang Shuo pushed that pile of letters to the side, and then, as if performing a magic trick, he brought out another pile.

The three of them stared, dumbfounded.

There was more?

Qingyang Shuo looked at Qin Zhangfeng: "General Qin, in the battle against the Xiongnu, you beheaded the Chanyu with a single blade, your fame shaking the four corners of the land..."

Hearing such a formidable person as Qingyang Shuo praise him, Qin Zhangfeng could not help but scratch his head, but as he listened further, it felt increasingly wrong, and his eyes widened: "Military Advisor, you aren't saying that these are marriage proposals for me, are you?"

He saw Qingyang Shuo nod.

Now it was Jiang Xuan and Liu Zheng's turn to laugh until they were rolling on the floor, tears streaming down, enjoying Qin Zhangfeng's current utter embarrassment.

"No, Military Advisor..."

Qin Zhangfeng looked sheepish: "Military Advisor, Zhangfeng is still..."

Qingyang Shuo suppressed a laugh: "Zhangfeng is twenty-four this year, and you are my Yinzhou Great General, appointed by the imperial court as General Suppressing the North, with a salary of two thousand shi. If you have no family, would that not be unfilial and disloyal? How would the brothers in the army be convinced?"

This mention of being unfilial and disloyal left Qin Zhangfeng stammering, not knowing how to refuse.

For people of ancient times, a family meant stability.

Therefore, a sovereign likes people who have a stable family in their own territory—such people are truly willing to risk their lives for you, will not suddenly run away, and will not betray you.

Under such circumstances, major generals are usually granted marriages to solidify the relationship between the two parties.

If one remains without a family, it gives people a sense of instability, and one might even be suspected of being ready to rebel and run away at any time... So this remark about being "disloyal," while a bit exaggerated, was also a reminder to Qin Zhangfeng.

And as for being unfilial.

That meant that at his age, he had not left any descendants for his parents, which was naturally the greatest unfilial act.

"Sir..."

Liu Zheng looked at the sweating Qin Zhangfeng, his heart feeling for him.

Qingyang Shuo, however, said coldly: "General Qin, as a subject, one must worry about what the sovereign worries about. Moreover, the number of noble families proposing marriage this time is countless; there are talented women and beauties among them all. Among them, I am most optimistic about the talented woman from Shu, Pei Yanran, and the daughter of the Hanzhong Sima, Sikong Jing... These two women are of noble birth and are well-versed in literature and propriety..."

Liu Zheng struggled to hold back his laughter.

Jiang Xuan, however, had eyes that were shining. As a seventeen or eighteen-year-old lad, he had a great interest in women and would interject from time to time: "Sir, didn't you have any marriage proposals for me? I want a talented woman too!" This left Liu Zheng speechless.

However, Liu Zheng was actually quite surprised as well.

Because hearing Qingyang Shuo introduce several daughters of noble families, it actually didn't sound bad at all. Setting aside the schemes and plots that might be hidden within, if he could really find a noble daughter or a refined young lady for Qin Zhangfeng, who was once a Knight-errant, Liu Zheng would also be very happy.

He had a feeling that now that he had made it, the brothers who followed him were also doing better.

These noble families proposing marriage were all daughters of ministers of various Feudatory Kings; in terms of status, they were a match for Qin Zhangfeng. This also represented the recognition of Yinzhou Prefecture by the Feudatory Kings of the world—they had already placed their attitude toward Yinzhou on par with their own status. To be honest, this was already giving Yinzhou a great deal of face.

Liu Zheng listened from the side and did not try to dissuade him.

Then, he began to admire Qingyang Shuo's eloquence.

By the end, Qin Zhangfeng was actually tempted.

He said this one was too short, that one's skin was a bit dark, that one was too far from Yinzhou...

Liu Zheng watched, stunned.

So this kid had been wanting to get a wife all along? He slapped his own forehead, suddenly feeling that he, as a brother, had been a bit unfair.

It was one thing for him to be a monk, but to let his good brother be a monk along with him?

Too much!

And so...

He also joined in.

"I think this Sikong Jing is good! Look, Zhangfeng, look, long legs!"

He pointed at the portrait.

"Young Master, is this Pei Yanran lacking? She has been praised by the literary giants of Shu, a piece of unpolished jade from Shu, the spiritual elegance of Longyan, gentle and lovely..."

"I, Shuo, think that judging by Zhangfeng's criteria for a spouse, this woman from Qingzhou is also not bad..."

The four of them started discussing it just like that.

The more they talked, the more excited they became.

Just then, Zheng Yue Ru pushed the door open and saw the four of them tearing at things, spit flying everywhere, and she was completely stunned.

Jinghua.

On the way home, the Prince of Qin, Xie Zhao, had a gloomy face.

"That old thief Zhu Zhen, he moved fast. How unreasonable, how unreasonable!"

Those around him said: "Prince of Qin, this fellow passed the so-called Patent Law in his memorial this time; he really has no shame! To think he would spend so much capital on a mere son of a wealthy merchant!"

Xie Zhao said coldly: "You don't know a damn thing!"

"Western Regions Commissioner, that is the Western Regions Commissioner!"

"Even if this Western Regions Commissioner is a title in name only, whichever side it leans toward will be enough to draw mockery from the other. If it were truly pulled over by that old thief Zhu Zhen, wouldn't he be looking down his nose at us every single day?"

The attendants immediately dared not speak.

A cold light flashed in Xie Zhao's eyes: "Since that old thief Zhu has no shame, we cannot sit idly by and wait for death."

"Have the matters I entrusted to you been settled?"

"Prince Qin is far-sighted; those marriage proposals were sent to Yinzhou as soon as the Xiongnu were repelled!"

"Haha, in this matter, we have already seized the initiative!"

"If that old thief finds out, wouldn't he be furious to death!"

Only then did Prince Qin Xie Zhao smile with satisfaction: "Although this was done out of expediency, the thought that our side's County Princess must marry a prefect born of commoner stock is, after all, a blessing he has cultivated over several lifetimes. That boy will certainly have no reason to refuse."

The attendants nodded in agreement, their tones filled with envy.

Zheng Yue Ru was stunned: "What are you all doing?"

Qingyang Shuo coughed and sat upright once more.

Qin Zhangfeng wore a miserable expression.

Liu Zheng laughed: "Selecting a wife of equal social status for Qin Zhangfeng."

Zheng Yue Ru rolled her eyes and then laughed: "It seems we have indeed had many happy events in Yinzhou lately; the one hundred thousand slaves you have been thinking about day and night, Liu, will arrive by noon!"

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Zheng was immediately overjoyed.

【Author's Note】

I have modified the name of the Minister of Personnel.