I've Got This Cannon Fodder Trope Covered!

Chapter 60

"Ranran, do you know the heir of Duke Chen's family?" Madam Jiang held her daughter's hand. "It seems like he's looking at you."

"..." Remembering the rejected ointment, Wei Hanzhang paused briefly and replied, "We've met once."

Wei Heng was taken aback, falling silent for a few moments, lost in thought before saying calmly, "We're colleagues; since we've run into each other, I'll go over to greet him."

From the looks of it, Chen Zishu himself had overseen the release, allowing the Jiang family members to leave prison with dignity. This likely required his approval, so exchanging a few polite words seemed appropriate.

Just as Wei Heng was about to approach, he was surprised to see that Chen Zishu was already coming over.

Dressed in the attire of a third-ranked official, Chen Zishu greeted Wei Heng and Madam Jiang with a respectful bow, as a junior would, and offered warm greetings.

When his gaze swept over Wei Hanzhang's face, he paused briefly, giving her a small smile.

Wei Hanzhang: "..."

She clearly felt Madam Jiang's grip on her arm tighten slightly.

Internally, she couldn't help but wonder, Why is he smiling at me like that? We aren't that familiar, are we?

Both Madam Jiang and Wei Heng noticed Chen Zishu's unusual demeanor and exchanged subtle glances, mentally sizing him up.

However, with the Jiang family members fresh out of prison and waiting in the carriage to be settled, this wasn't the place for a prolonged conversation.

After a few polite exchanges, Wei Heng said, "Thank you, young sir, for your assistance with my wife's family. I regret that we're pressed for time today; otherwise, I'd surely invite you to join us at the estate for a drink."

"You're too kind, Uncle. It was a minor task, hardly worthy of being called assistance."

Chen Zishu responded humbly, bowing once more and smiling. "But I'll gladly accept the invitation for that drink and will be sure to visit soon."

Wei Heng's remark was merely polite, so he was surprised when Chen Zishu actually accepted the invitation. Observing how the Duke Chen family heir's gaze seemed to linger on his daughter, Wei Heng finally understood his intentions.

It was obvious now—his interest wasn't in the drink at all.

Not only did Wei Heng notice, but Madam Jiang and even Wei Hanzhang herself also picked up on it.

Madam Jiang, in particular, was both surprised and delighted. She hadn't expected that her youngest daughter, only recently returned to the capital, would already catch the eye of Duke Chen's heir. Chen Zishu was exceptional in every aspect—background, ability, character, and appearance—making him the most eligible bachelor among noble families.

He was a third-rank official, holding real power at a young age, and had yet to arrange a marriage, making him the top choice for marriage among the noble circles in the capital.

Such a man showing interest in her daughter made Madam Jiang feel that any previous ties with the Gu family were unnecessary.

For the first time in months, she felt as though something truly good had happened. If her daughter had to endure a broken engagement to gain a match like this, then she finally understood the saying, "A blessing in disguise."

Excitement aside, her family was still waiting to settle in, and this wasn't the place to discuss such matters. After bidding Chen Zishu a brief farewell with a nod, she and her husband led their daughter into the carriage.