Chapter 813: 342 An Zhichen’s Marriage
Xiang Wei, recalling Yueyao’s request to look further into An Zhichen’s background, voiced the question that had long troubled her heart, "Miss, can you tell me why you are interested in An Zhichen? I think he harbors ill intentions. Every time he sees you, his eyes seem glued, clearly a lecher!" Xiang Wei felt awkward about this. Yueyao had shown no interest before and was now anxious. Now that Yueyao found An Zhichen acceptable, Xiang Wei felt he was utterly unsuitable for Yueyao, especially with his lecherous demeanor, which made Xiang Wei disdain him even more.
Yueyao shook her head, "Actually, it’s precisely the way he looked at me that made me think well of him."
Upon hearing this, Xiang Wei nearly lost her mind. What did she mean by thinking well of him just because An Zhichen gazed steadily at her that flirtatious way? At that moment, Xiang Wei had wanted nothing more than to capture An Zhichen and beat him up. Exasperated, Xiang Wei said, "Miss, can you give me a reliable explanation?"
Yueyao couldn’t help but smile faintly, "The way he looks at me, it bears no ill intent." The way An Zhichen looked at her was different from Zhou Shu. Zhou Shu’s gaze expressed a strong possessiveness, as if he wanted to devour her. But An Zhichen’s gaze was like how she would admire a treasured painting, filled with affection, curiosity, and a careful desire to cherish, which made her feel comfortable.
Xiang Wei pursed her lips but did not retort. She knew that An Zhichen looked at her lady with affection and without violation, or else she would have shown him in no uncertain terms. Thinking this over, Xiang Wei deliberately asked, "Miss, if An Zhichen cannot be adopted out, would you still choose him?" If An Zhichen couldn’t be adopted, she would definitely be the first to rule him out.
Yueyao did not hesitate and said, "No." Although she thought An Zhichen was decent, she had no interest in entangling herself with the murky waters of Marquis Weiyuan’s Mansion.
Xiang Wei shook her head helplessly, "Miss is truly ruthless!" Rather than call it ruthless, it was more appropriate to call it rational, extremely rational. Otherwise, she wouldn’t rule out those literati and scholars first, preferring a military general instead.
Yueyao jerked her eyebrows, "Wonder who told me that if a man does not advance his own interests, he will suffer ultimate ruin?"
Xiang Wei said somberly, "A student starving her teacher!" Her playful demeanor made Yueyao nearly laugh.
Yueyao paused for a moment before asking uncontrollably, "Is it really impossible for An Zhichen to be adopted out?" It wasn’t that Yueyao insisted on An Zhichen alone, but after considering everything, she felt he was currently the best choice. If he could be adopted out, Yueyao was not opposed.
Xiang Wei scornfully said, "Forget about Lady of Marquis Weiyuan disagreeing, even if Marquis Weiyuan doesn’t agree, what of it? As long as the clan agrees, they would have to accept it."
Yueyao laughed, "The clan agrees?"
Xiang Wei nodded, "The highest-ranking official in the An Family right now is An Zhichen’s great grandfather, the current Haikou Commander. He’s a man of great influence, and without him, An Zhichen wouldn’t have reached a Fifth Rank position at the age of eighteen. The great grandfather sees An Zhichen almost like his own grandson, he wouldn’t let the Lady of Marquis Weiyuan ruin him. In fact, before An Zhichen returned, the great grandfather had already suggested that An Zhichen be adopted out, but An Zhichen himself was reluctant, probably unwilling."
Yueyao impulsively asked, "Then why is he now willing to be adopted out?" As soon as she finished, she realized she should not have asked.
Xiang Wei glanced slyly at Yueyao and, seeing Yueyao’s face turn crimson, she said with a smile, "The Marquis told him that the miss was determined not to marry into Marquis Weiyuan’s household. He also said that he was too dark, which you would surely find unlikeable, and suggested he make himself appear a bit fairer."
Yueyao did not believe this at all, "Just make things up! Let’s leave it, hurry and check again, don’t miss anything. As long as An Zhichen isn’t adopted out, anything said is futile."
Xiang Wei thought it was good for Yueyao to consider An Zhichen as an option, yet she shouldn’t be emotionally involved.
Inside, Xiang Wei chuckled. Even if her lady had a favorable impression of An Zhichen, if An Zhichen wished to marry her lady, it wouldn’t be right not to give him a hard time!
When An Zhichen returned to the Marquis’ household, a maid came to tell him, "Third Young Master, Madam calls for you." She dared not look at An Zhichen.
Since the time An Zhichen had asserted his power by having two talkative maids killed, and personally executing two audacious servants, followed by crippling the second steward’s son, he had become an object of fear in the Marquis’ household.