Volume Two: Adults and Children Chapter 85: Matchmaking (Part 1)

Xu Xingzhi had not been feeling particularly well these days.

Although Zhu Chen and his associates were promptly taken down and the case was once again handed back to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he—despite being a crucial contributor to the resolution of these numerous cases—seemed to have been completely forgotten.

Not only were there no promotions or rewards in sight for him, but even the suspension previously imposed by Zhu Chen had not been lifted by the Town Guard Bureau. Instead, he was simply left at home to reflect upon his actions indefinitely.

This made him increasingly uneasy and anxious. Could it be that there were still twists and turns in the matter? Was he truly going to be sacrificed as a scapegoat?

Because of this, he had been pondering over the past two days: where exactly did the problem lie?

Had he offended some major figure in his usual affairs?

Surely not. Whether it was Liu Botao or Wan Jingdao, he had always gotten along well and cooperated smoothly with them.

As for the subordinates beneath him, he had consistently been generous with rewards, making it even less likely that he would have made enemies among them. Whenever there was credit to be claimed, he was always willing to share it.

After much deliberation, only two possibilities remained: either his younger sister and brother were victims of this kidnapping case, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard had deliberately kept him out of the investigation to avoid leaving any flaws; or it was simply because he lacked a genuine backing!

Although Xu Xingzhi could technically be considered a descendant of the Duke of Dingguo, as a collateral branch, their relationship had long since grown distant. They would only pay formal visits during festive seasons, and usually, they wouldn't even get to see the Duke himself.

On the contrary, his younger sister, Xu Yunzhi, was rather valued and favored by the Duke, and she actually held some weight when speaking before him.

Perhaps he should...

"Yunzhi, there is a matter I would like to ask your help with." Acting on his thought immediately, Xu Xingzhi went to the backyard to see his sister. Upon pushing the door open, however, he found her sitting somewhat dazedly in front of her vanity, her thoughts drifting who knows where.

"Yunzhi, Yunzhi..." Seeing this, Xu Xingzhi hurriedly stepped forward and waved his hand repeatedly in front of his sister's eyes, finally pulling her back to her senses. "Brother, why are you here?"

"What on earth were you thinking about?"

"N—nothing at all."

With just these few words, Xu Yunzhi's pretty face flushed crimson. She lowered her head like a thief caught in the act, not daring to meet her elder brother's gaze.

Could this possibly be called "nothing at all"?

Xu Xingzhi's curiosity was truly piqued. "If you have anything on your mind, just speak up, and we can discuss a solution together. Anyway, I am currently free and can go anywhere."

"I... I was just thinking about some things from earlier." Her reply was vague, but the flush on her cheeks deepened.

Xu Xingzhi was startled once more, and then a smile broke across his face. "I understand! So Yunzhi, you have finally lost your heart to someone!"

"Brother... Stop talking nonsense. What do you mean by losing my heart..." Xu Yunzhi protested with a coy rebuke, but her burning red face completely betrayed her.

Xu Xingzhi smiled even more brightly. "That is simply wonderful! Yunzhi, you are indeed no longer a child; you will turn eighteen after the new year. As your elder brother, I must find a good match for you."

"Elder Brother..."

"What? Still refusing to say who it is? If you won't tell me, I'll have no choice but to ask someone to look for a young man of matching social standing in the capital. Don't go regretting it later!"

"Please don't... Shall I tell you then?" Unable to withstand his continuous prodding, Xu Yunzhi finally relented. With a blushing face, she murmured softly, "You are quite familiar with him as well. He just saved Qingzhi and me not long ago."

Her voice was as faint as the buzzing of a mosquito, so quiet that even standing right beside her made it difficult to catch clearly.

A look of astonishment instantly appeared on Xu Xingzhi's face. "Could it be that you've taken a fancy to Huang Bingkun? That won't do; he is already over thirty and has long since married and had children..."

"Elder Brother, stop talking nonsense. I am talking about Young Master Huang Ming..." This time, Xu Yunzhi was genuinely flustered. Not only did she blurt out her beloved's name, but her voice was also quite loud.

Then, she saw her brother wearing a teasing, knowing smile. "I knew it. Back then, I noticed your expression toward him was somewhat unusual."

Pausing for a moment, his expression turned serious. "As for Huang Ming, I have worked alongside him on quite a few matters and understand him to a certain extent. His character is indeed very good. According to Qingzhi, he is also exceptionally disciplined. When he managed that courtesan ranking list earlier, countless beauties desired his favor; had he merely crooked his finger, those women would have lined up to enter his chambers.

"Yet what did he do? He treated all those women equally, focusing solely on instructing them on how to showcase their talents, without ever laying a single finger on any of them. In this regard, even I must bow in admiration."

Xu Yunzhi had never paid attention to affairs within the pleasure quarters. Hearing her brother speak thus, she felt an even greater sense of wonder. "He is actually such a person?"

"In my view, his character and conduct are both excellent. He is certainly qualified to be my brother-in-law. Moreover, given his ability and resourcefulness, he is bound to achieve great things within a few years."

After recounting many of Huang Ming's virtues, Xu Xingzhi furrowed his brow slightly. "However, there is one crucial point that concerns me: his background."

"Elder Brother, are you referring to the fact that he is the son of a eunuch?" Xu Yunzhi asked with a frown as well.

"We are not some prestigious scholarly family; how could we look down upon him on such grounds? He is the son of a eunuch, and we are a collateral branch of the nobility; on the surface, we seem rather well-matched.

"What I am worried about is whether he might look down upon our background."

"Ah?" Xu Yunzhi was utterly stunned.

She had anticipated that her brother might object due to looking down on Huang Ming's origins, but she never expected the reality to be the exact opposite.

"I am not joking. His father, Eunuch Huang Jin, is an immensely trusted confidant of the Emperor. Right now, he may not seem to wield much actual power, but in days to come, he might well become another Liu Jin... By then, what kind of existence will Huang Ming be at court?

"Furthermore, he is so intelligent and capable. Even if he fails to attain a position of supreme authority, his status is bound to far surpass mine as a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

At this, he offered a self-deprecating smile. "It is also my own incompetence; after all these years, the thousand-man commander post left by our father remains merely a thousand-man commander post..."

"Brother, you have already done very well. It is simply that the right timing has not yet arrived," Xu Yunzhi hastily comforted him.

"I hope so." Xu Xingzhi smiled. "Let us return to the matter of Huang Ming. By that time, the extent to which our two families might unite in marriage is truly difficult to predict."

"Then... perhaps we should simply let it go." Xu Yunzhi sighed. As a daughter of the Xu family, she knew very well that some things could not be forced nor entirely left to one's own impulses.

Xu Xingzhi, however, shook his head. "Yunzhi, since you have already chosen someone to set your heart upon, how could I let you down? Everything I just said was merely to ensure you have a more comprehensive understanding of your future husband.

"As for the worry that our background might not truly match his, I have a solution—I will petition the Duke of Dingguo to step forward and propose the marriage. In this way, your status will no longer be merely that of a sister to a thousand-man commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but a daughter of the Duke of Dingguo's household.

"At that time, no matter how high Huang Ming's status climbs, he will still be obliged to take you as his lawful primary wife!"

Upon hearing these words, Xu Yunzhi was stunned into silence for a moment before her eyes welled up with grateful tears. "Brother..."

"Why are you crying? This is a joyous occasion. There is no time to lose; I am going to request an audience with the Duke right now!" Having said this, Xu Xingzhi turned and strode away.