Feng Qinghua lost without suspense, losing even more miserably than expected. He didn't even last ten moves under Situ Yan.
Situ Yan frowned, "Your martial arts master isn't good. Where did you find him?"
Feng Qinghua was full of shame, "Uncle found him. But Uncle Yan, it's not my master's fault. It's mainly because I'm slow-witted..."
"Not at all, I think your bones are actually quite good. How about this, don't rush to leave the capital. I'll find a couple of people to guide you. I guarantee it'll be better than you training alone."
Feng Qinghua naturally had no reason to refuse, but he also felt a hint of unease. Was the Prince a little too enthusiastic?
He had to have a good talk with his sister tonight.
Lu Nianfu had already guessed Situ Yan's intentions. After Feng Qinghua left, she clicked her tongue, "You've racked your brains quite a bit to keep Xinyao here, haven't you?"
"Isn't that the truth? When this good deed is done, Ajin's matchmaker's red envelope to me should be at least twice as large as the one to Ouyang."
"Didn't Imperial Physician Ji say that he also wanted to travel out of the capital?"
"If he leaves, what about my father? He's currently the Emperor's personal imperial physician." Situ Yan was very filial. It was natural to keep the imperial physician his father was accustomed to.
Lu Nianfu added, "You even tricked Qinghua into calling you uncle. What, you want Imperial Physician Ji to follow this generation hierarchy too?"
Situ Yan chuckled a couple of times, "You know me best, my dear wife."
Lu Nianfu smiled sweetly. Indeed, men remain boys until death. Of course, having a few close friends to have fun with was also a great joy in life.
As dusk fell, Feng Xinyao arrived at the Prince Rui's mansion. The siblings hadn't seen each other for years, and they couldn't help but hug and cry.
Knowing that they had a lot to talk about, Lu Nianfu didn't have them disturbed, letting them talk privately. Situ Yan was fidgeting all evening, even drawing his calligraphy crookedly several times. Lu Nianfu teased him, "It's just being a matchmaker, why are you more nervous than the groom?"
"Nonsense, when I married you, I was much more nervous than this."
"Hmph, you're indecent."
The Feng siblings did not disappoint Situ Yan. In the end, they both chose to stay. Situ Yan, fearing they might go back on their word, immediately set about resolving their identities. After Fu Chuan took over as the Commander of Jiangnan, he worked diligently and did not allow the Japanese pirates to break into the city again.
However, some fishing villages were unfortunately located outside the defense line. Those who were lucky were not found by the Japanese pirates, while the unfortunate ones were massacred.
Situ Yan conducted an investigation, and the two became surviving siblings. They were separated during their escape, but by chance, the siblings wandered for several years and finally met in the vast capital.
This story was well-fabricated, with a beginning and an end. Their accents also matched, and with no witnesses, they were not afraid of detailed scrutiny. Thus, Feng Zhangning became the real Feng Qinghua, and Feng Xinyao retained the name of Deyilou, but with the Feng surname.
Lu Nianfu worried that her life would be constrained by this identity. However, Shenggong shook her head, "Sister Lu, Shenggong knows your concerns. But I've been in Deyilou for so long. Although I rarely showed my face, quite a few people have seen me. Rather than letting people pick at this identity and investigate, it's better to admit it frankly. It's understandable for a helpless orphan to end up in a brothel."
Situ Yan stroked his chin, "What you say makes sense. But in that case, it will be difficult for you two to be too close to my mansion. After all, openly, we have no connection. However, Shenggong, if you marry Ji Jin, it will be different. Everyone in the capital knows he's close to me. Then, if you associate with my wife, no one will suspect anything."
Shenggong was stunned, her face flushing red to her ears.
Lu Nianfu was even more speechless. This fellow was really driven crazy by wanting to be a matchmaker, how could everything be dragged into this.
Yet, he made it sound so logical and well-founded that no one could find a reason to refute him.
With the matter settled, Situ Yan smugly went to Ji Jin to claim credit. The three of them were always informal. Situ Yan had already thought of how to tease him. Unexpectedly, Ji Jin, still nursing his injuries, solemnly bowed to him, "I can't thank you enough for this great kindness, brother. If you ever need anything, just say the word."
Situ Yan almost spat out his tea, "Why are you so formal all of a sudden? I've bothered you quite a bit before."
Really, this made it awkward for him to ask Ji Jin to call him uncle.
Ji Jin remained solemn, "One matter is one matter."
"Alright, alright, then I'll give you a chance to repay me."
"You say it."
"About a day or two after Situ Jue's demise, send my father-in-law on his way." He had no choice. Someone was waiting for his mother-in-law to remarry. In his opinion, Pingning Bo's death should be as low-key as possible to avoid a large group of people always thinking about his wife observing mourning.
Dying around the same time as Situ Jue would be perfect.
Everyone's attention would be focused on Situ Jue, and who would remember a mere Pingning Bo.