“The third young master need not worry,” Ye Xiu saw that Luo Wei wasn’t speaking, so she cut to the point instead, “I won’t bother your eldest brother.”

Luo Wei smiled immediately, “Miss, you’re mistaken, I don’t want to break the two of you up.”

“Really?” Ye Xiu didn’t believe him. To be honest, she felt uncomfortable all over with Luo Wei sitting opposite staring at her.

Luo Wei replied, “My older brother isn’t someone who does anything casually. Once he likes someone, it’s going to be for a lifetime. I wouldn’t even have the power to separate you two if I wanted to.”

Ye Xiu’s gaze turned joyful as soon as the words left Luo Wei’s mouth, but she quickly followed, “I won’t get in his way. If he gets married with a girl who fits his status, I won’t begrudge him. I just want to be with him.”

Luo Wei nodded, “I have a plan that will let the two of you get properly married, but I don’t know if Miss Ye would trust me.”

Ye Xiu asked, “What does the young master have in mind?”

Luo Wei answered, “It’s only a matter of status and identity, not terribly difficult to solve with a little handiwork here and there.”

As soon as Ye Xiu heard Luo Wei mention “handiwork”, she quickly shook her head, “No, your big brother won’t allow it.”

Luo Wei shook his head too with a smile. Luo Qi was too honest and upright. It’s what made his miss his chance at this marriage in the last life, “Miss Ye, I extend my full promise to you that I will not do anything that goes against the laws of our nation.”

Ye Xiu looked at Luo Wei suspiciously.

“This battle has already come to an end,” Luo Wei said, “Miss Ye can come and find me at Yun Guan. I will take you back to the capital with me. My oldest brother will return in a few days as well to report to His Imperial Majesty. This is the only chance we have left, I will make Miss Ye my sister-in-law.”

That “sister-in-law” got Ye Xiu blushing. The women who didn’t want proper status with their lover are ones who knew it was clearly impossible. Now that Luo Wei promised to her that this status was something she can get, Ye Xiu was honestly intrigued. “Go back to the capital with you?” At this point, Ye Xiu looked back at her band of make-shift brothers behind her. If she left, what would this bunch of headstrong robbers do?

“Miss, would you resign them to a life of robbery and crime?” Luo Wei asked.

“Of course not,” Ye Xiu answered quickly.

“Then give them to me,” Luo Wei said without mincing words.

“What?” Ye Xiu was struck dumb again. What did the young master of the chancellor’s estate want with a bunch of robbers?

“Historically, there’s been little difference between soldiers and bandits,” Luo Wei grinned, “They may be bandits today, but tomorrow, they can become soldiers.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ye Xiu said, honestly.

Luo Wei explained, “This is the border lands, and a part of the trade route between our Greater Zhou and Northern Yan. When we’re not at war, countless merchant caravans pass this barren land everyday. That’s why there are so many bandits, and not only the ones under Miss Ye’s control.”

“So?” Ye Xiu asked.

“So, why do they have to be bandits? Why not become armed escorts for merchants?” Luo Wei said.

Ye Xiu’s eyes shone, “You’re saying that we should open a security escort business?”

“I have the money, Miss Ye has the people. With both money and people in hand, how hard could it be to open this business?” Luo Wei smiled.

“But you’re going to be in the capital, how are you going to manage things from there?” Ye Xiu followed up with another question.

Luo Wei answered, “Naturally I’ll have someone take care of it. How about it, future sister-in-law, do you want to do business with me?”

“Future sister-in-law?” Ye Xiu’s face went completely red now.

Luo Wei laughed openly. He’s never encountered a girl quite like Ye Xiu before, but since she’s the one his big brother likes, then he was sure he’d also end up accepting her.

“Miss,” An old man dressed in all grey approached the stone pavilion.

“This is Uncle Hong,” Ye Xiu introduced the old man to Luo Wei, “He’s the one who manages everything in our camp.”

Luo Wei regarded this Uncle Hong. The man looked rather mediocre, but his small eyes shone with intelligence and cunning. Looks like this Uncle Hong was the tactician who came up with all the ideas in Ye Xiu’s camp of bandits. “Uncle Hong,” Luo Wei smiled as he rose from his seat, “Please, come in and sit down.”

Uncle Hong didn’t waste time on courtesy, and entered the stone pavilion to seat himself directly next to Ye Xiu.