Xuanqing Guard

Chapter 248: Chapter 248: Gesture of Goodwill

"Cough, cough, cough..." Shen Hao nearly choked on his drink. He never expected Tang Qingyuan to suddenly drop such a bombshell.

Is he trying to set me up with someone?

"Heh, Lord Tang, look at me, busy as hell—how could I have the mind to...to get engaged right now? But I appreciate your kindness." Shen Hao refused without a second thought. He had his cultivation, not even thirty yet, and even at fifty, getting married wouldn’t be too late; body in top shape. Look at Bai Changqing, in his seventies, still planning to take a concubine—why rush?

Besides, there are so many flowers in the Flower House; when the need comes, spend some money, isn’t that fragrant?

Worst case, swing by the brokerage, customized female slave? Worth considering.

So, "getting married"—this energy-sapping and careful matter—is not on Shen Hao’s radar for now. And Tang Qingyuan isn’t the first to play matchmaker for him. Back in Li City, Chen Tianwen had already tried. Later, after moving to Fengri City, Zhang Qian and Gan Lin brought it up a few times too. All rejected.

"Don’t rush to say no, just listen, won’t hurt, right? Or do you really plan to stay single forever?" Tang Qingyuan poured Shen Hao another drink, clearly not giving up.

What else could Shen Hao say? Listening was the least he could do.

Seeing Shen Hao drink, Tang Qingyuan grinned even wider and continued: "Governor Feng Wanli’s granddaughter from the Jingnan Army—are you interested or not?"

"Pff!" Half the wine in his mouth sprayed out. Shen Hao apologized for the slip, half disbelieving what he’d just heard. "Who did you just say—whose granddaughter?"

"Jingnan Army Governor Feng Wanli’s granddaughter."

"Heh, Lord Tang, are you pulling my leg?"

"How could I joke about a lifelong matter like this?

Feng Wanli’s eldest son, Feng Chengying, is an old friend of mine. Not long ago he wrote to say his daughter’s almost sixteen and still hasn’t found a suitable match. He specifically said he’d heard that here in Fengri City there’s an outstanding young talent—cultivation, rank, ability, literary skill, all top notch—wants to check if things might work for his daughter to marry. Well, you realize that’s about you, right?" frёeωebɳovel.com

Tang Qingyuan and Governor Feng Wanli’s eldest son are old friends?!

"Surprised, huh? Actually, Feng Chengying and I both cultivated at Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute—same sect, you might say. He was lucky, made it through the outer sect and returned home smoothly, while I got schemed against in the inner sect and was expelled, nearly crippled for life.

So my starting point was actually higher than Feng Chengying’s, but as you see now, his family lets him look down on little Deputy Thousand Households like me. I haven’t been in touch with him in nearly twenty years.

Still, since he asked me to sound you out, I ought to help. You know, this is one of the top high-ranking families in the Dynasty, and you’d be marrying his eldest granddaughter. They’d never treat you badly. Not tempted?"

Tang Qingyuan left one thing unsaid: if this marriage worked out, Shen Hao could save at least twenty years of struggle, maybe even double his potential.

Plus, by Tang Qingyuan’s tone, Shen Hao wouldn’t need to marry in—just a proper match, bright and official.

Being honest, if true, this was a pie dropping from heaven.

Pies don’t drop from heaven. Keep dreaming!

Tang Qingyuan watched Shen Hao’s face go through stunned, then confused, then back to normal, never showing any dizzy excitement or thrill.

"Lord Tang, I might be a backwater bumpkin, but I know the importance of being well-matched. So the Governor Feng’s Mansion looking at me honestly makes me feel flattered."

"And what’s your thought?"

"I’ll have to pass. You know what kind of person I am; living with one of those high-ranking families, I’d have no peace every other day. And I truly don’t want to get married right now. Please help me decline."

Tang Qingyuan burst out laughing, clinked glasses with Shen Hao, and said: "Good lad, just as I guessed, you’re not looking to climb the ladder. Hahaha, a real man should fight for honor and fortune himself. Using marriage for connections is woman’s trick—not honorable."

The sudden change in tone left Shen Hao unsure how to respond. Wasn’t Tang Qingyuan just pitching a marriage? Now he’s suddenly looking down on them?

Three more drinks, Tang Qingyuan finally sighed out his wine breath, still with a big grin, and continued: "Feng Chengying and I had grudges in our youth. I was in the inner sect, he the outer; in secular status, he outranked me, but in the sect, I was way above him—I was above, he below.

Maybe out of pride, I always challenged him, which built up the animosity. When I had trouble in the inner sect, he kicked me when I was down; my family’s business was ruined by just one word from him, and my father retired early thanks to their connections. If I hadn’t been lucky enough to keep a scrap of talent and had a bit of my father’s network, I wouldn’t have gotten into Xuanqing Guard at all.

I don’t hold it against him; the grudge was mine, so the bitter fruit’s mine to swallow. Decades passed, hardly remembered. But Feng Chengying suddenly writes to rekindle old ties—if it were you, wouldn’t you wonder? Definitely needs something, right?

Still, the Feng family’s reputation is huge, so I had to pass the message. But you’re right, most likely they’re coming to you because they need something."

Shen Hao understood. Tang Qingyuan had no fondness for the Feng family and was just begrudgingly relaying the words. Now he’d done his duty, so there’s no reason for pleasantries. Of course, if Shen Hao had shown interest in the match, Tang Qingyuan wouldn’t have said any of this, and it’d be a very different conversation.

Shen Hao took the chance to chat deeper with Tang Qingyuan. Both from Li City, roots close, and they’d risked their lives together before.

"That’s what’s odd. Governor Feng is such a big figure; his eldest granddaughter should be marrying an imperial relative at least, or another high-ranking family. You say they’re coming to me because they need something, but I’m broke, what could I possibly have that’s worth their attention?"

"Heh, the Feng family’s the army’s top player, controlling the Jingnan Army for years. Even though the Court rotates commands, their roots run deep—the Feng family’s the only force with real clout in the Jingnan Army.

But the military’s been hammered by civil servants these years, their influence nothing like before. If they want to stay powerful, they have to borrow outside forces."

"Outside force? You mean they want to use Xuanqing Guard to shore up their reputation?" ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

"Exactly; you’re sharp."

"But, I’m just a Senior Sixth Grade Hundred Households Officer—why would they spend so much on me?"

"Maybe not in the past, but now the whole Jingxi civil administration has been overhauled by Xuanqing Guard, and Black Banner Battalion played a huge role. You can’t be unaware of your own reputation in Jingxi—it’s deadly famous."