Chasing My Husband! The "Crown Prince" of the Beijing Circle Is Wildly Unruly! - Chapter 100

Autumn faded into winter, and the New Year arrived once more.

At the ancestral estate of the Lu family, the clan gathered at the ancestral temple for the sacrificial rites. With Old Master Lu at the center, elderly men dressed in custom-made Kesi silk Chinese attire knelt to his left and right, each holding three sticks of incense.

Behind the Old Master stood the generation of Lu Jingze’s father and uncles. They knelt in the second and third rows, their heads bowed in pious prayer. The fourth row was centered around Lu Jingze, flanked by cold, handsome young men in their twenties and thirties. The fifth row consisted of Lu Jingze’s peers, followed by the sixth row of the family’s juniors and other collateral relatives.

Starting from the seventh row were those with different surnames who had been entered into the Lu family register and permitted to join the rites—both men and women.

Wang Xinghe was positioned at the very center of the ninth row.

Inside the vast Ming and Qing-style temple, constructed with intricate mortise-and-tenon joints, a rhythmic sound echoed. A high-ranking monk gently shook a pure-toned bell.

“Kneel—”

Everyone knelt, holding their incense. Wang Xinghe knelt with them, his heart full of reverence.

“Second kowtow—”

“Third kowtow—”

After the triple kowtow, everyone followed Old Master Lu in order of seniority to offer their incense into a massive, solid gold burner.

As they stepped out of the ancestral temple, Lu Jingze took Wang Xinghe’s hand, squeezed it to ease his nerves, and began introducing him to the elders.

“Great-Uncle, Third Grand-Uncle, this is Xinghe—my husband.”

The Great-Uncle had a kind, elderly face, while the Third Grand-Uncle had a piercing gaze that spoke of a veteran soldier’s background. Both were slightly surprised when they looked at Wang Xinghe. It wasn’t because he was a man, but because of the sheer “purity” reflecting in his eyes.

“Clear-eyed innocence” is a blessing often reserved for those who have never suffered. But true “purity” belongs to those who have weathered storms and witnessed the malice of the world, yet still choose to remain kind. It was a rare quality indeed.

Lu Jingze tugged at Xinghe’s hand and smiled. “Xinghe, greet Great-Uncle and Third Grand-Uncle.”

“Greetings, Great-Uncle. Greetings, Third Grand-Uncle,” Wang Xinghe said with a graceful smile.

The two elders nodded in approval. “Xinghe… a fine name. A-Ze has found himself a wonderful spouse.”

Wang Xinghe’s cheeks flushed. Knowing he wasn’t much of a talker, he chose to remain quiet and let Lu Jingze handle the socializing.

“We’ll pay you a private visit another day,” Lu Jingze said brightly. “My Grandfather actually has Xinghe’s paintings hanging in his main drawing room!~”

Behind them, Old Master Lu watched his grandson’s playful bragging with a glint of amusement in his eyes. The two other elders were genuinely surprised, and their gazes toward Wang Xinghe softened even further.

“So that painting was done by this child? You old rascal, Lu Zhengguo, keeping it all to yourself!” Great-Uncle turned to mock-scold Old Master Lu.

The Old Master said nothing, but his white beard twitched slightly in pride.

“Good child, could you gift a painting to your Great-Uncle? I am fond of landscapes,” the elder asked. Men of their age and status cherished things that were “clean,” especially such works of art.

“Third Grand-Uncle is also thick-skinned enough to ask for one,” the veteran added with a chuckle. “I want a ‘Dawn’ just like your Grandfather’s.”

Hearing ‘Dawn’, Wang Xinghe realized they had actually seen his work and weren’t just being polite. A spark of pride in his own talent lit up his eyes. “Of course. Once they are finished, A-Ze and I will deliver them in person.”

“Good, good… this child is truly excellent.” Great-Uncle patted Old Master Lu on the back. “Your youngest grandson’s eye for people is a hundred times better than his father’s.”

Third Grand-Uncle chimed in, “Well, he was raised by our Second Brother personally. How could he be anything less than extraordinary?”

Lu Jingze continued leading Wang Xinghe to meet several other uncles, and the reception was overwhelmingly positive. At their level of status, they no longer needed political marriages to sustain the clan. For the younger generation, character and integrity were far more important than family background.

After the rites, the high-ranking elders departed for the National Banquet. Men of their seniority were often unable to dine at home on New Year’s Eve. The elders who remained would host the family banquet at the Lu estate. It was a time when juniors who had made mistakes over the past year would be criticized, and those who had done well would be praised.

As Great-Uncle was staying behind to preside this year, Lu Lixing—as the only father-figure not attending the National Banquet—acted as the primary coordinator for the family feast.

Inside the Rolls-Royce, Wang Xinghe sat in the back, clutching Lu Jingze’s hand with emotion.

“You… when did you put me on the family register?” Before coming this morning, Lu Jingze had mysteriously told him there would be a surprise. He never imagined it would be this.

He looked into Lu Jingze’s smiling phoenix eyes, his heart overflowing.

Lu Jingze pulled him into an embrace. “So, will Brother put me on his family register too? Give me a formal title?”

“In your heart’s register, can I be ‘Mrs. Wang’?”

Wang Xinghe held him tightly. “A-Ze… you really are… too good to me.”

A relationship that the state and society might not yet fully recognize was being acknowledged by his clan, to be passed down and remembered for generations. He had truly never expected this level of commitment.

Lu Jingze stroked his soft hair. “Brother, our beginning wasn’t beautiful. But for the rest of our lives, I can give you everything I own. I can give you a stable, happy, prosperous, and clean life.”

“In this life, I, Lu Jingze, will only ever love you.”

“Others fear me, and they will respect you even more.”

“You will always stand on my shoulders.”

“Brother… marry me. Or let me marry into your family. Will you?”

Wang Xinghe’s eyes grew red, and tears began to fall. Lu Jingze’s love was deafening; he could hear it and feel it with every fiber of his being.

“Lu Jingze, I am willing to marry you.”

“For the rest of my life, I will only love you. I will stay by your side through the storms, stand with you at the peak, see the world’s mountains and rivers with you, grow old with you, and walk with you until the very end. I will never leave you. My heart is full of love for you alone.”

With every word Xinghe spoke, Lu Jingze’s heart beat faster. Finally, his own eyes grew red as he leaned in to kiss the man whose voice was gentle yet full of strength.

In the front seat, besides the driver, sat He Zheng.

The driver was a consummate professional—effectively “deaf” and maintaining a cold, stoic expression. But Assistant He was already losing his mind.

He Zheng: “…”

He Zheng pulled out his phone and messaged Zhao Yan.

[He Zheng]: So moving. President Lu successfully proposed~ I wonder when my ‘Sugar Daddy’ will propose to me~ [He Zheng]: ??? (Feeling aggrieved) [He Zheng]: It’s New Year’s Eve. Not only do I have to work overtime, but I have to eat ‘dog food’ (watch a couple be affectionate) too. [He Zheng]: Hubby, talk to me.

[Zhao Yan]: … [Zhao Yan]: [Meme: Slapping a dog’s head.jpg] [Zhao Yan]: You said it yourself, I’m the ‘Sugar Daddy.’ Heh. Propose my ass.

Watching Zhao Yan’s reply and the accompanying meme, He Zheng’s professional composure shattered. His smile widened until it nearly reached his ears.

[He Zheng]: Hubby is so cute~

[Zhao Yan]: … [Zhao Yan]: [Meme: Heh.jpg]