Chapter 74: This is Reality

With just a single glance from Dong Siping, the attendants by his side understood his meaning.
Although he also enjoys beauty, he can balance the pros and cons, and everything is insignificant compared to his own future.
After Liu Jingchu handed over the things, she followed the attendant out and suddenly a man in a black robe blocked their way.
Then, bowing deeply and holding his sword, he said, "My master said that since it is a guest's family member, they must go down the mountain together. It is not safe for a woman to be alone. Please go to another courtyard to rest for a while!"
The attendants around him had long since left, and killing small roles like them was as easy as crushing an ant.
Liu Jingchu felt that the person in front of her had impure intentions, although she had a simple mind, she knew the character of those spoiled children.
She wanted to bypass the man and leave, but the man with the sword still blocked her way: "Miss, don't make it difficult for me!"
As his voice fell, a group of strong servants behind him guarded the exit.
A maid came to her side, wanting to lead her to another courtyard to rest.
These women were all the female relatives of Dong Siping, whom he dare not touch. Naturally, he wouldn't let his coarse servants touch them. If one of them were to be harmed, it would be a small loss of life, but it would be a great loss to his own future prospects.
"Miss, please come this way."
Their postures were very low, and Liu Jingchu knew she couldn't leave. She could only follow them towards another courtyard.
However, in her heart, there was only sadness. If she lost her innocence here and returned home, based on her father's character, she wouldn't be able to enter the house again.
Think to myself that if the other party has bad intentions, I will end it here to avoid bringing trouble to my family.
The annex of the courtyard has an independent courtyard, which used to be Dong Siping's residence. This is the best place to live in the Bamboo Grove Villa.
因为能够邀请小侯爷参加宴会已经是很难得的事了，是不可能会留宿休息的。
However, things have changed and the courtyard that was originally built for one's own residence has been renovated by someone.
He replaced all the extravagant decorations he used to love with a simple and elegant style.
After a few maids escorted her into the room, they quietly waited outside and said at parting, "If the miss has any orders, please feel free to tell us."
“This girl is really lucky, she has been noticed by a nobleman. She will become a wealthy wife in the future.”
“Girls from ordinary families like this can never be married according to the proper rites by high-ranking households. If a nobleman likes to keep her in a separate courtyard, it will still be a life of wealth and prosperity.”
"Oh, we don't have such luck!"
They huddled together whispering, chewing on their tongues on the side.
Dong Siping usually favored them and the rules in the mansion were not as strict as those in noble households, so they even gossiped about their master's private affairs privately.
And Liu Jingchu, who was waiting at the doorway, listened to everything attentively, but she became wary at the slightest noise outside.
After the banquet, everyone dispersed and Cuichong was led by his servants to rest in a separate courtyard.
Liu Yuanlei saw the nobleman leaving and wanted to approach him for a conversation to gain his appreciation.
However, he was stopped by someone pulling his sleeve and speaking in a serious and stern tone: "Are you crazy? You dare to steal the limelight from Dong Dashao? Don't you value your life?"
Liuyuan Lei said, "This has something to do with it! If I am recognized by an important person, it is because of my talent and character!"
The person next to him looked at him with a foolish look and said, "The host of this banquet, Dong Dashao, is that important person. Otherwise, why would he ask us to accompany him? Don't you know that Dong Dashao hates people who study and read?"
Liu Yuanlei left Zhulin Bieyuan with some disappointment and walked down the mountain with the guidance of the attendant at the door.
Since he passed the imperial examination, he has been reluctant to fill the vacancy of the ninth grade official position outside the Liubu, hoping to one day become a Jinshi and stay in the capital city.
Or, with the appreciation of a nobleman, they could hold a position in the capital city, but after reaching too high for many years, they still have accomplished nothing.
Upon returning home, they found the entrance very lively and could hear people talking inside.
He squeezed in and found himself next to the quiet boy from Ronghezhai, his mother, and a standing matchmaker.
Although Liu's father was a scholar, he spoke awkwardly, and his wife had never encountered such a scene before.
The matchmaker held the principle of conducting transactions with money and praised the man to the skies, making him seem like an extraordinary being.
However, Liu's father, being an educated scholar, looked down upon the son of a merchant who had not achieved any official position, fearing that it would tarnish his reputation.
After Liu Yuanlei entered, he looked up and down at this boy who looked honest and dull. He shook his head and said, "Kid, my little sister has high moral character and a virtuous heart. How do you plan to marry her?"
He lowered his head with some inferiority, and his mother beside him also restrained her smile.
The matchmaker came out to smooth things over and made a promise that even Liu Yuanlei found difficult to refuse.
A large sum of money made him immediately greedy, and he laughed and said, "If I marry a little sister in the future, I cannot be unkind to her, otherwise I will never let him go!"
The two elders disagreed a bit, and Liu Yuanlei took the initiative to do the mother's work, knowing that his mother had always favored him.
"Mother, this boy may be quiet, but he will treat our daughter well in the future. Plus, with this money, I can use it to make connections and improve our family's reputation!"
The woman was also swayed by his words, after all, their daughter had to eventually marry someone from outside the family.
He came to his father again and said, "If I succeed this time, I will turn over a new leaf and listen to my elders in the future!"
Liu's father did not answer directly and asked, "Why didn't Youchu come back with you? Didn't your mother say she went to bring you writing materials?"
Liu Yuanlei was also puzzled and said: "After delivering the goods, little sister left alone."
He thought that little sister would be too shy to meet people after such a scene, but he didn't expect her not to come back.
At this moment, a knocking sound was heard outside, and Liu Yuanlei used this as an excuse to avoid being questioned and went to open the door.
A young man in brocade clothes was standing at the door, and Liu Yuanlei's expression was like he had seen a ghost when he saw him.
Immediately they went to close the door, but unexpectedly the other person had already entered.
He was the companion who took Liu Yuanlei to Zhulin Bieyuan, and the people inside were inquiring about this matter. How could he not be frightened?
Liu's father saw this person and was very familiar with him, asking, "Why did Jiang come to visit suddenly today?"
"To pay respect to our ancestor," he replied.
Liu always looked down upon his father's close friend, finding him rigid and unable to navigate the rules of officialdom.
Seeing the arrangement in the courtyard, he couldn't help but ask, "Is this for Liu Yuanlei's marriage?"
The matchmaker was standing here, so he naturally assumed they were discussing Liu Yuanlei's wedding.
That matchmaker had a keen eye and could tell from this young man's attire that he was not an ordinary person.
Therefore, her tone was respectful: "This is for Liu's daughter's marriage proposal."
His smile froze on his face and he looked at Liu Yuanlei seriously, saying, "I came here today to tell you some good news, don't turn it into bad news!"
Upon hearing good news, Liu Yuanlei immediately perked up and asked, "Brother, please tell me quickly."
"Today, when we went to visit the Bamboo Grove Villa, my younger sister's beauty caught the eye of an important person. If all goes well, tomorrow we could be elevated to success and fame by his side!"
"What is the identity of that distinguished person?"
Liu Yuanlei naturally knew that the only person who could be called a distinguished person at today's banquet was the noble son that Dong Siping had welcomed.
"This is not something that you and I can inquire about."
Liu's father's face immediately turned pale: "This is clearly a case of kidnapping a girl. I will go to the official to file a complaint."
The dull young man also had a face of anger and indignation, saying: "Jingchu sister was taken away like this, we can't just let it go."
His mother pulled at his arm and said, "We commoners won't stand a chance, it's a dead-end waiting for another matchmaker to find you."
The young man in luxurious clothing bowed and said, "Sir, do you know the fable of the mantis trying to stop a carriage?"
Liu's father's eyes widened in anger, despite his respectful tone, he was very intimidating.
Liu Yuanlei's face showed no resentment, but instead he was thinking about how his little sister being chosen by the nobleman was more beneficial to his future than being a vendor.
Thoughts in my heart turned to Cui Chenghong, thinking that even without your Hou Mansion, there are still other nobles to rely on.
Without any hesitation, he knelt down: "Father, please consider this family. If we offend that nobleman, our whole family will suffer. If you want to hit someone, hit me to vent your anger! It's my fault for letting down my younger sister."
He raised his hands and slapped himself in the face, first with his left hand and then with his right hand.
The woman beside him immediately pulled him up and said, "My lord, Yu Lei has not yet started a family. If he offends the powerful, our whole family may not be safe!"
But the marriage broker was also tactful and said to the woman next to the awkward young man, "I won't get involved in this marriage, and I will refund your money."
With that, she ran out. This was not something an ordinary matchmaker could get involved in.
The taciturn young man didn't want to leave. The thought of the beautiful woman being abused by the powerful filled him with anger, but then he felt powerless.
As if his soul had been extracted, he looked lost and despairing.
His mother pulled him out of the courtyard, looking at her son with some regret.
Liu's father paused for a moment and said, "Cheng Hong is the son of the Marquis of Shunyi. If we can find him, we can surely rescue Yu Chu."
When Liu Yuanlei heard the name of Cui Chenghong, a look of malice came into his eyes as he said, "Father, don't you remember how he drove me out with the help of the household servants before?"
The well-dressed young man's eyes flashed with surprise, he never expected that Mr. Shi, whom he always looked down upon, would actually know the young lord of the Shunyi Marquisate.
He was unaware that the Shunyi Marquis had two sons, and this widely circulated news among the upper class was not something that their low-level government officials' children could know about.
Dong Siping naturally handled both the beginning and ending matters well in order to cater to the upper management's will, without causing any disputes.
There may be negative voices emerging, but everything was handled properly.