Jun Qiluо rаisеd а faint smile, brеаthtаkinglу bеautiful yet рrоfoundly сold—a сhill thаt unmistаkаblу hеld unwavering rеsolve! There was а rеasоn she hаd еаrnеd the rесоgnitiоn оf merсhants from all quаrtеrs by thе age of twеnty—she рossessеd thе rеsоlutе саlmness, cоmрosurе in аdvеrsity, dеcisivеnеss, and unyiеlding dеterminаtion that her kind-hеarted fathеr lасked!
"Fаther! Unless the Jun fаmilу рroduсеs а suссеssor mоrе outstаnding than I, Qiluо will remain Jun Fеifan fоr lifе!"
"Qiluо!"
"Do I nееd tо gо to Bianjing? Shоuldn't Lord Ma still be herе in Hangzhou?" Shе handed thе slightly wаrm tеa tо her father, ending the argument, signaling that the matter was settled.
Jun Chengliu sighed once more. How he wished this daughter, who filled him with pride, were his son! The moon-white round-collared shirt and robe, woven from the newly developed kesi silk, looked even more noble, distinguished, fresh, and extraordinary on her. Her attire served as the best advertisement for kesi silk, no wonder its market price had recently surpassed that of other silk fabrics. But Qiluo should be wearing "Qiluo silk" garments! Yet she never tailored "Qiluo silk" into clothes because it was too delicate and feminine—if she were to dress in women's clothing, even the peerless beauty of her two younger sisters would pale in comparison to a tenth of hers! What a pity...
"Father, I will definitely return. You know Qiluo never makes promises she cannot keep!" she earnestly assured him repeatedly.
This girlish demeanor only appeared when she needed something from him.
Jun Chengliu shook his head. "Tomorrow, Lord Ma will come to discuss the details with you. Going to Bianjing would only draw attention! As I've said, if this matter is exposed, the court will never acknowledge it, much less admit it was the Emperor's directive! Qiluo, I agree to let you go!" He made a decision.
"Father?" His sudden compliance made her wary.
"However, once the mission is completed, I want you to marry immediately—marry Shao Tiemin! And this time, he must accompany you!"
"No!" she flatly refused. She would not marry! Not even Tiemin, who had grown up with her and taught her martial arts. Even if he wouldn't mind her capabilities, even if he would only gaze at her adoringly and stay by her side—he still wasn't the man of her ideals, no!
She would not become any man's woman!
Jun Chengliu feigned sorrow and chuckled softly. "Then I suppose I'll have to go to Western Xia myself!"
Jun Qiluo shut her eyes tightly! She hadn't expected her father to issue her an ultimatum. At twenty—past the conventional age for marriage—she had long declared her determination never to wed. From her childhood resolve to repeatedly remove her foot-binding cloth, she had always known how to live her own life.
She hadn't allowed her late mother to successfully bind her feet into three-inch golden lotuses, nor had she let her father's opposition extinguish the existence of Jun Feifan; now, she certainly wouldn't marry Shao Tiemin and take his surname! Even if he loved her madly, it was not an option!
"Does Shao Tiemin know about this?" she forced out the words.
"He doesn't! He wouldn't dare to imagine it. But only he would willingly agree to be our live-in son-in-law and not hinder you from managing the business!" Jun Chengliu had long considered Shao Tiemin the ideal candidate for his eldest daughter's husband. Social status was no longer an issue; all that mattered was finding a man who could grant Qiluo the autonomy she deserved..."At least you should consider it!" Her daughter's cold, stubborn expression made him shout out. No matter what, he had to get his daughter married.
She would not marry! However, she would wait until she returned to discuss it. If she refused outright now, her father would definitely nag endlessly. So, she decided to put him off for the time being.
"Fine! I'll consider it! But before I return, you must not say any of this to Shao Tiemin!" She knew that no man would ever be her husband—she did not need a man!
※ ※ ※
The rear courtyard of the Jun family was divided into three small buildings, with small doors opened in the tiled walls between them. This was a boudoir specially built by Master Jun for his three daughters. Since the second daughter, Jun Xiukun, had already married and moved to the Villa, only the left and right buildings were now occupied. However, most of the time, the other building was also empty—only the third daughter of the Jun family, Jun Jiangjuan, was the true mistress who greeted the dawn and dusk here every day.
A woman dressed in a light silk robe of white on top and jade green below quietly slipped through the side arched gate into the "Qiluo Garden." Her jet-black hair was styled in a high bun, adorned with plum blossoms made of hawksbill turtle shell, elegantly accentuating her beautiful silhouette.
The sixteen-year-old third daughter of the Jun family quietly approached the half-closed door of the study. Just as she was about to call out to startle someone, the person inside had already preempted her.
"Jiang Juan, come in if you want to. Don’t play tricks."
It was Jun Qiluo’s calm voice. She was currently taking stock of the goods to bring on the Silk Road journey. The Western Xia people were most interested in Central Plains porcelain and fabrics. Perhaps this time, she wouldn’t need to reach the Western Regions to return fully loaded. It was said that many ancient treasures from the Tang Dynasty had ended up in Western Xia. If possible, she could bring some back this time...
"Sister! Even the most capable person needs to rest! I’ve grown tired of looking at the account books, so I came to chat with you! I know you’re about to set off, and this trip might take three months or even half a year. I’ll be so lonely! What’s even more pitiful is that I’ll have to take over your work!" Jun Jiangjuan placed her delicate, jade-like hands over the documents spread out before Jun Qiluo. Her beautiful face, like a spring flower in bloom, was filled with a playful and clever innocence that made it impossible for anyone to stay angry with her.
"Don’t be mischievous. I still have a lot of work to do!" Jun Qiluo lifted her stern face, but upon seeing her younger sister’s thin clothing, she couldn’t help but express concern: "Why didn’t you wear an extra robe? The weather is turning cold."
"Why isn’t that blockhead Shao Tiemin guarding downstairs?" Jun Jiangjuan took a moon-white brocade robe from her elder sister’s wardrobe and draped it over herself, asking her first question.
"He’s probably with Father. Are you looking for him?" She pushed aside her younger sister’s hands, which were about to cover the documents again, and returned to her work. At the same time, she chatted with her sister, knowing how lonely the younger girl felt.
Jun Jiangjuan’s petite figure nestled into the Grand Preceptor’s chair, her suspended three-inch golden lotus feet gently swinging back and forth—these small feet had caused her great trouble, leaving her no chance to disguise herself as a man. Having lived for sixteen years, she had never seen the outside world, only occasionally glimpsing the sky beyond when visiting temples or touring the family’s businesses. Unlike her elder sister, who was fortunate enough to have two identities and could travel the world freely without drawing attention."I'm just curious! He seems quite happy these days. He probably sees protecting you as his duty, after all, apart from family, he's the only outsider who knows your identity."
Jun Qiluo showed no expression and offered no comment.
"To be honest, if you were to marry him, it would be such a pity! He's not worthy of you. Setting aside the differences in family background and education, he's just a military man—he can't recite poetry with you under the moonlight, nor can he share your workload. Most importantly, he can't control you! Since he can't control you, he lacks the authority to make you feel secure and reliant. In the end, he'd be frustrated and unfulfilled, and that would become a burden for you. You need a man who can make you feel dependent." Jun Jiangjuan shook her head, speaking in the tone of a pedantic scholar, yet her words were resolute, as if she were a fortune-teller making an unshakable prediction.
"Is that so? Do you have someone in mind, then? Little matchmaker!"
"No! But I just feel he isn't right for you." Jun Jiangjuan picked up a sheepskin scroll and examined it closely, raising her delicate crescent-shaped eyebrows. "Oh, Prince Zhaoping is marrying off his daughter? When did this happen? And you're to accompany her?" Though naive, she was not ignorant, and she immediately sensed something unusual.
Jun Qiluo replied in a casual tone, "They're marrying the princess in Bianjing; how would we know the details all the way here in Hangzhou? You know Prince Zhaoping came to our trading house and jewelry shop last month to purchase a large dowry for the princess. As for accompanying the princess to Western Xia, it's partly for safety and partly because it's on the way. Bandits have been rampant lately, so having official protection is better."
"The princess is marrying far off to Western Xia? To whom? The ruler? Rather than trying to win over Western Xia, it would be better to form a marriage alliance with Great Liao. This strategy isn't good."
"We commoners have no say in whether the strategy is good or not. Once we reach Western Xia territory, we'll part ways with the wedding procession."
"Is that all? Why do I feel so uneasy about this?" Jun Jiangjuan pressed a hand to her chest, growing more anxious the more she thought about it.
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