roccoschili Chapter 135: Really let Chen Zigui be your brother-in-law?
Chapter 135: Really let Chen Zigui be your brother-in-law?
"Brother Lu, you're joking." Chen Zigui asked in a puzzled manner, frowning slightly, as if he was really confused about what Lu Menzhong said.
"I am just a scholar, without any talent or virtue. I only know how to recite poems and compose essays all day long. How can I be worthy of marriage?" He paused and smiled self-deprecatingly. He picked up the wine glass and pretended to drink, but secretly observed Lu Menzhong's reaction from the corner of his eyes.
Upon hearing this, Lu Menzhong burst into laughter and reached out to stop Chen Zigui's wine glass. "Mr. Chen, you are too modest. You are the inspector appointed by the emperor himself. Everyone knows you." He said sincerely.
Lu Menzhong lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "I heard that the emperor thinks highly of you. Master Chen has a heavy responsibility in this sacrificial ceremony!"
Chen Zigui was startled, but he put down his wine glass calmly and said calmly, "Brother Lu is really well-informed. He even knows such confidential matters." He pretended to be nonchalant, but he was secretly on high alert in his heart.
Seeing that he wasn't fooled, Lu Menzhong didn't point it out, but continued, "Besides, I see that you are a man of great bearing and excellent conversation. You are definitely not an ordinary person. You will definitely rise to prominence in the future, and your future is limitless!" He raised his glass and gestured to Chen Zigui, "Come, Master Chen, I offer you a toast. I wish you swift success and fame!"
Chen Zigui knew that Lü Menzhong was testing his strength, and he had to respond carefully, otherwise he would be exposed. He raised his glass, clinked it with Lü Menzhong, drank it all, and then said impatiently, "Brother Lü, just say what you want to say. There's no need to beat around the bush."
Seeing that he was so straightforward, Lu Menzhong stopped beating around the bush. He lowered his voice and said, "Okay, since Mr. Chen is so straightforward, then I won't hide it." He paused, looked at Chen Zigui with a sharp gaze, "To be honest, I have a younger sister who is only 28 years old. She is also a beauty, but unfortunately she comes from a humble background and has never found her ideal husband." He sighed and said regretfully.
He looked at Chen Zigui again, with a hint of hope in his eyes. "I think Mr. Chen is a handsome man, and he is a perfect match for me. What do you think, Mr. Chen?"
Chen Zigui felt awkward. Although he had long suspected that Lü Menzhong would deliberately approach him for other purposes, he never expected that Lü Menzhong would actually want to marry his sister to him.
How could Chen Zigui accept anyone other than Sister Cen Xiao? Sister Cen Xiao's voice, appearance, and smile lingered in his mind. He recalled the first time he fell in love with Sister Cen Xiao. It was a beautiful spring afternoon when he was out for a walk and happened to see Sister Cen Xiao painting by the lake.
Dressed in white, Sister Cen Xiao looked like a fairy descending to earth. Her every smile and frown was deeply engraved in his heart. They met, got to know each other, and spent many wonderful times together. He was deeply captivated by Sister Cen Xiao's gentleness, kindness, and understanding.
The gentle smile of Sister Cen Xiao emerged in his mind, and his heart became more determined. No matter what, he would not let Sister Cen Xiao down.
"This..." Chen Zigui pretended to be embarrassed, his brows furrowed, and he remained silent for a long time, as if carefully considering and responding to Lü Menzhong's proposal or test. He picked up the wine glass and took a sip, concealing the turmoil in his heart.
Seeing this, Lu Menzhong thought Chen Zigui had already fallen in love, and was secretly delighted. He hurriedly continued to persuade him, "Master Chen, don't worry. Although my sister doesn't come from a prominent family, she has been well-educated, gentle and virtuous since she was a child. She will definitely not embarrass you."
He paused, observing Chen Zigui's expression. Seeing that he didn't object, he continued, "Furthermore, as long as you agree to marry my sister, I promise that all us brothers will follow you from now on, no matter what happens!"
The others also echoed, "Yes, Master Chen, just agree! Follow Brother Lu, and we will never let you suffer any loss!"
"That's right, follow Brother Lu and I guarantee you'll have everything you need!"
Chen Zigui set down his wine glass, his movements slow and heavy, a soft click making everyone startled, their eyes fixed on him. He felt like an actor under a spotlight, about to deliver a spectacular performance. He sighed in mock resignation, a sigh tinged with a hint of melancholy, as if an invisible pressure weighed on his heart, making it difficult to breathe. He raised his head, his gaze shifting, sometimes gazing at the dark night sky outside the window, sometimes at the remaining wine in his glass, and sometimes across the eager faces of the people present, finally settling on Lü Menzhong's face, one brimming with anticipation. He hesitated to speak, his brow furrowed, as if he had something to hide, yet found it difficult to bring it to light.
"I appreciate Brother Lu's kindness. But..." He dragged out the word "but," as if buying himself more time to organize his words, to fabricate a coherent explanation. He lowered his head slightly, avoiding Lu Menzhong's scorching gaze, his fingers unconsciously caressing the rim of his wine glass. Silence stretched between them, and the atmosphere grew somewhat subtle.
Seeing his embarrassment, Lü Menzhong felt even more certain. He assumed Chen Zigui was worried about his sister's upbringing. After all, for someone from a prominent family like Chen Zigui, accepting a woman of humble origins would take some time to process. So he quickly said, "Master Chen, don't worry. Although my sister may be of humble origins, she's an absolutely good girl. She's frugal, gentle, and virtuous. Most importantly, she's a die-hard believer. Once she follows you, she'll be completely devoted!"
The others also followed suit, saying, "Yes, Master Chen, just agree to it. Miss Lu is a famous beauty in our area. It would be a pity to miss her!"
"That's right. In the future, the Lord will reward you with wealth and honor, and a beautiful woman to accompany you. Where else can you find such a good thing?"
Chen Zigui's interest piqued upon hearing them mention "Lord." He sneered inwardly, but pretended to be even more embarrassed. He was silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "Brothers, please don't know that I'm not rejecting Miss Lu. It's just that... well, it's hard to put it into words!"
"Oh? What do you mean?" Lu Menzhong was born with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and the curiosity in his eyes seemed to be about to overflow from his eye sockets. He leaned forward slightly, and wanted to put his ear close to Chen Zigui's mouth, for fear of missing a word.
Seeing his impatient look, Chen Zigui secretly laughed in his heart, but he remained expressionless. Instead, he sighed even more heavily, which seemed to drain all his strength and made him look a little depressed.
"Brother Lu, you don't know..." He paused, as if trying to organize his words, or as if recalling a painful past. There was a subtle tremor in his voice. "Back then, I, Chen Zigui, was a prominent figure in Zhaoyin Academy. I was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs. Even Sister Cen Xiao had to show me some courtesy."
Having said this, he deliberately paused, picked up the wine glass, and drank the remaining wine in the glass, as if he was drinking to drown his sorrows, or as if he was hiding the turmoil in his heart.
Lu Menzhong's curiosity was piqued by his words, and he couldn't wait to ask, "What happened next? How did it become like this?"
Chen Zigui put down his wine glass, a wry smile playing on his lips, but his eyes gradually became fierce, "All of this started with that essay test..."