Love Like the Galaxy

A famous saying goes: children distinguish between right and wrong, while adults weigh the pros and cons.

Thus, while Shao Shang was still sulking in her room, Madam Xiao returned from the Lou Family in high spirits, escorted all the way to the gate by the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law of the second branch, who chatted and laughed with her. The second young mistress even boarded the carriage to "accompany" Madam Xiao back home. But that wasn’t enough—she was then invited into the Cheng residence for wine and conversation, where the two women talked and laughed like old friends, lamenting that they hadn’t met sooner.

Shao Shang peeked from the inner courtyard gate and saw Madam Xiao walking the second young mistress out, their gestures intimate—

"Your husband’s mother is gentle and kind, A Yao is pure and unspoiled, and with both the Lou Prefect and the second young master away, your household now relies entirely on you to hold things together..."

"Speaking with you today has been more enlightening than ten years of study. Now I see how narrow my perspective was, entangled in petty squabbles within the inner household, unaware of the vast world beyond."

As they walked and talked, perfectly in sync, they might as well have performed a tearful farewell scene. Shao Shang, hiding behind the gate, silently cursed in her heart until she was abruptly caught by Director Xiao on her way back. Dragged to Nine Dapple Hall for a lecture, she was told, "...Remember this—whether your marriage with A Yao happens or not, never turn the Lou Family into enemies."

Shao Shang sneered. "So what if we turn against each other? At worst, we’ll never see each other again."

"Childish words," Madam Xiao replied, sitting perfectly still. "You often complain about bad luck, but how do you know you won’t one day need to beg for help from those you’ve offended?"

"A Yao’s eldest aunt is a hypocritical wretch!"

"She may be a hypocritical wretch, but you don’t say it out loud. Keep it to yourself."

"I refuse to swallow my anger! A person lives for their pride!"

"Many love to say ‘a person lives for their pride,’ but often, it’s only by swallowing that pride that one survives. If in the future, [your sister] outlives you, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised. ‘Stepping back opens up new horizons’ doesn’t mean enduring humiliation—it means stepping out of a deadlock to look beyond and elsewhere."

Shao Shang abruptly stood, her feet slamming against the polished floor. "Mother, please excuse me—I must take my leave!"

"Where are you going?" Madam Xiao asked.

"—To look beyond and elsewhere!" Shao Shang declared. "To find a way to live longer!"

"You’re not going anywhere today. I’ve already arranged with the second young mistress—A Yao will visit this afternoon."

Shao Shang turned back in disbelief, staring hard at Director Xiao. "...A Yao’s leg is still broken!"

"The Lou Family has no shortage of servants. They can carry him here. If your marriage doesn’t happen, do you want your last memory of him to be you slapping his injured leg?"

"Who said that? My last words to A Yao were clearly, ‘If you don’t go back on your word, I won’t back down!’"

"You’d do well to forget those words." Supporting Madam Qing Cong, who was stifling laughter, Madam Xiao gracefully rose and glided toward the inner chambers. "If you and A Yao do marry, you’ll have plenty more vows to exchange. If not, do you plan to recite those same words to your future true son-in-law?"

Watching Director Xiao’s elegant retreating figure, Shao Shang collapsed onto the floor in frustration. She deeply felt that this verbal battle wasn’t a contest of wits but rather the crushing defeat of a young girl by a seasoned, formidable woman—a loss beyond her control.

That afternoon, Lou Yao was indeed carried in.The young couple, whose engagement was hanging by a thread, had a calm and earnest discussion, clearing all past grievances. Yet, they remained equally helpless in the face of their current predicament. Even though Shao Shang had a somewhat reckless nature, she knew she couldn’t truly disregard everything—after all, in this era, she too had a family to consider. As for Lou Yao, his father was far away in the easternmost commandery of Yanzhou, and messengers couldn’t travel back and forth in just a few days. He was even more at a loss. While Shao Shang could at least utter a few sharp words, his own threats lacked any originality.

Originally, gossip about this scandal had been growing increasingly heated. Fortunately, after the great upheaval, there were many pressing matters to attend to—how to deal with the surrendered traitors, how to confiscate property and execute the guilty, how to manage the power vacuum in Fengyi Commandery—these were tangible matters of fame and fortune, which finally diverted public attention from the marital entanglements of the Wan, Lou, and Cheng families.

By the third day, while the elders were still calmly testing each other’s patience, Lou Yao suddenly heard a piece of news and came up with what was, for him, an almost genius-level "brilliant idea." He hurried to find his fiancée.

"...He Zhaojun’s party arrived in the Capital City yesterday." At first, Shao Shang didn’t understand. "Are we going to persuade her ourselves?"

"Yes! This is called ‘pulling the firewood from under the cauldron’!" Lou Yao was so excited that sweat beaded on his forehead. "As long as she herself doesn’t want to marry me, what can others say? Then, all our troubles will disappear!"

"But will she agree?" Shao Shang was deeply skeptical. Just a few days ago, she had heard Yuan Shen explain a whole series of reasons and consequences, making it sound as though the He family was clinging tightly to Lou Yao.

"She doesn’t even like me!" Lou Yao, however, felt quite confident. "I know her temper best. If I act utterly disgusted with her, she definitely won’t be able to stand the provocation!"

Shao Shang was half-convinced but decided to try anyway—after all, desperate times called for desperate measures. Remembering Madam Xiao’s warnings, she quickly added, "We must be polite. Ancheng Jun just lost her entire family. If we go too far, people will accuse us of bullying her in her grief!"

The young couple whispered and schemed for a long while before gathering a few household guards and setting out in Shao Shang’s gold-and-red Small Chariot. Sitting side by side, they fell into silence, both uneasy about the uncertain future ahead.

Less than an hour into their journey, they spotted from afar the plain funeral banners fluttering high above the roof of the He family mansion. The two cowards exchanged glances and hesitated, too afraid to approach. Before long, however, they suddenly saw a Comfort carriage draped in heavy mourning veils emerge from the He residence, heading straight in their direction. Shao Shang quickly moved the Small Chariot aside to make way, but to their surprise, the Comfort carriage stopped right beside them.

As everyone looked on in confusion, a pale, gaunt face peered out from the carriage. Shao Shang and Lou Yao both shrank back—it was none other than He Zhaojun, whom they hadn’t seen in a long time!

"...So it’s you two." He Zhaojun’s expression was calm, her once-chubby cheeks now sunken, her eyes large and bright, gleaming with a cold light.

For some reason, the Lou-Cheng pair felt a sudden pang of guilt, as if they’d been caught red-handed in a theft. Shao Shang let out an awkward chuckle. "Heh, well, uh... A Yao and I were just coming to see you..."

"What for?"

They both faltered, unable to utter a single word of the script they’d prepared earlier.Seeing their hesitant and troubled expressions, He Zhaojun seemed to understand something and gave a cold smile. "I was just about to attend to a matter. I wonder if Young Lady Cheng would be willing to ride with me in my carriage?"

Shao Shang immediately scrutinized the He family's comfort carriage with suspicion. Lou Yao valiantly stepped in front of her, puffing out his chest as he declared loudly, "Ride together? You and Shao Shang aren’t even close. If you have something to say, say it to me!"

He Zhaojun glanced at the delicate and graceful Shao Shang and smiled self-deprecatingly. "A Yao, didn’t you always want a fine steed with Ferghana blood? My father managed to acquire one for you from a northwestern merchant caravan. He originally intended for Fifth Brother to bring it back, but then... the incident happened..." Her voice grew quieter as she spoke. "I’ll have someone deliver it to you later."

Lou Yao deflated like a balloon pricked by a needle.

He Zhaojun continued, "I won’t harm Cheng Niangzi. If you don’t believe me, I can swear by my late father’s name?"

Lou Yao remained silent, his lips pressed tightly together.

Shao Shang sneered inwardly. Playing the victim card, huh? Did they think she was naive? Sweetly, she asked, "A Yao, has she ever harmed anyone before?"

Lou Yao perked up instantly. "Yes! Early last year, she pushed Third Sister-in-law’s cousin into a pond—there was still thin ice on the water!"

Shao Shang was taken aback, but hearing this level of pettiness actually reassured her.

He Zhaojun said, "Young Lady Cheng, you’re trying to steal my son-in-law, yet you don’t dare to ride in my carriage?"

Shao Shang stopped Lou Yao before he could retort, handing him the reins and bamboo whip from the small chariot. She stepped down and looked up at He Zhaojun. "No need to provoke me. I was already planning to talk to you."

Lou Yao anxiously tried to stop her, but Shao Shang pretended to smack his injured leg again, making him hastily retreat in fear.

Shao Shang couldn’t help but laugh. "Stop fussing. I have my household guards with me. Besides, if anything really happens to me, no one will force you to marry her—consider it a favor to you!"

Lou Yao thought for a moment. "Fine. I’ll take the sedan chair back. You take the light carriage. If things go wrong, just jump in and escape."

Shao Shang glanced at He Zhaojun’s darkening expression and deliberately teased, "Don’t worry. No matter how formidable Ancheng Jun is, she’s not a monster. But I’ll take the light carriage—I’ll need it to ride home later." With that, she nimbly climbed into the He family’s comfort carriage. The Cheng Residence guards immediately gathered behind it, vigilant.

He Zhaojun still held the carriage curtain, watching as Lou Yao struggled to dismount with the help of his servants. Suddenly, she said, "Isn’t she more formidable than me? After all your picking and choosing, this is who you settled on."

Lou Yao shook his head. "Shao Shang isn’t like you. She can be fierce sometimes, but she’s reasonable. No matter how much she dislikes something, if the reasoning is sound, she’ll accept it. I can discuss anything with her—even foolish thoughts I wouldn’t dare share with my parents or siblings, I’m willing to tell her."

Seeing He Zhaojun’s pale face and trembling fingers clutching the curtain, Lou Yao continued, "I’ve always hated cockfighting. But that year, just to spite someone, you forced me to participate. When I refused, you threw a tantrum. I had no choice but to buy an expensive rooster, but we still lost. Then you blamed me for humiliating you and called me useless. How many times has this happened between us since we were children?" He looked up at her. "I don’t understand. If you think so little of me, why do you still want to marry me?"He Zhaojun trembled all over: "...I did it for you! They said you were neither accomplished in literature nor martial arts, the most useless one in the Lou Family. I wanted you to improve, to earn reputation! If cockfighting and dog racing weren't to your liking, I specially arranged banquets for you to compete in archery, horse racing, swordsmanship, and pitch-pot..."

"But I simply couldn't rank among the top," Lou Yao said calmly. "I'm just of average talent. Yet whenever I failed to meet your expectations, you'd quarrel with me endlessly. This kind of 'for your own good'—I don't like it."

He Zhaojun looked at the boy she'd grown up with—taller now, with broad, strong shoulders, speaking not with his former impetuous anger but methodically and unhurriedly. Though they'd parted for only a few months, it felt like years had passed.

She closed her eyes, let the curtain fall, and slumped back weakly.

Lou Yao watched the closed carriage window with mild surprise. In the past, his former fiancée would have argued obstinately and scolded him endlessly, forcing him to admit his mistakes. Why now...?!

The wheels turned, and the He Family's comfort carriage gradually moved away, yet Lou Yao remained standing there, gazing after it.

Peering through a crack in the window, He Zhaojun turned to her guest inside the carriage: "A Yao certainly cares for you. A few months with you outweighs over a decade with me."

"Time alone doesn't measure affection—there are also grudges that fester for years," Shao Shang shook her head. This woman clearly didn't understand the universal truth that "childhood sweethearts can never defeat the destined one."

Leaning against the carriage wall, He Zhaojun said slowly, "But he's better off with you than he was with me. He speaks and acts with more restraint now... He's grown up."

This was what made Shao Shang most exasperated. The current Lou Yao was far better than when he used to quarrel with He Zhaojun in the Yin Family's backyard—all thanks to her painstaking efforts in teaching, coaxing, and nurturing him! And now someone wanted to swoop in and reap the rewards—where was the justice in that?

He Zhaojun seemed to share her thoughts, her expression weary as she said, "When I first met you, you stumbled upon A Yao and me arguing. I never imagined things would turn out like this."

Shao Shang snorted, her tone half-mocking: "My first meeting with Ancheng Jun was quite impressive. You even said to me, 'What are you looking at? I'll gouge your eyes out.'"

At this, He Zhaojun suddenly burst into laughter, tears streaming down her face: "...Eyes, haha, eyes... I did love saying that... My Mother Fu pushed me and my younger brother into a hidden chamber. The Xiao Family's rebel soldiers tortured her for our whereabouts. She refused to speak, so they gouged out her eyes and severed her limbs! I watched it all but didn't dare move... Haha, I lost my mother young—Mother Fu raised me with care, yet I watched her die in agony... Haha... What retribution, what retribution!"

Shao Shang fell silent, leaning back quietly. Only when He Zhaojun's laughter subsided did she ask softly, "Where exactly are you taking me?"

Wiping her tears with a plain handkerchief, He Zhaojun replied coldly, "We're here. Look outside yourself."

The carriage stopped, and she stepped out without another word. Following her, Shao Shang looked up in surprise—she recognized this place from when her three brothers had taken her around the Capital City. This was the Court of Justice?!

An official was already waiting at the entrance. Seeing He Zhaojun, he clasped his hands and said, "Ancheng Jun, General Wu has given his orders. Everything inside is prepared."He Zhaojun nodded and led the group forward. Shao Shang followed behind, shaking her head repeatedly. The young mistress was indeed the young mistress. If it were her, she would definitely slip some silver coins to the guards and say a few words of gratitude like "Thank you for your hard work." It's easier to deal with the King of Hell than his minions—it never hurts to foster goodwill.

Shao Shang had expected to visit a dark, damp, and terrifying prison, but instead, they headed straight to the execution ground in the backyard, covered with yellow sand. Several executioners in vermilion and black official robes were already standing there. In the center of the ground was a wooden platform about a foot high, on which knelt a man dressed only in moon-white underwear.

At the sight of this man, Shao Shang immediately noticed that He Zhaojun, walking ahead, was trembling slightly. As they drew closer, she realized he was a tall, strikingly handsome young man. Though he appeared disheveled at the moment, his demeanor and bearing still exuded nobility and pride.

When he saw He Zhaojun, he smiled faintly and said, "You've come. Are you here to see me off?"

He Zhaojun laughed mockingly. "No, I'm here to collect your head and take it back to mourn my father and brothers."

The young man's expression darkened. "I have wronged you."

He Zhaojun replied, "Since when is the Heir Apparent so polite? Do you need another favor from me?"

Shao Shang had been inwardly lamenting, "Such a handsome man, why be a villain?" But upon hearing this, she sensed something odd about this soon-to-be-divorced couple.

The Heir Apparent Xiao said softly, "If you still cherish the bond we once shared as husband and wife, please find out what happened to Shan Ji and ensure she is taken care of..."

Before he could finish, He Zhaojun burst into bitter, furious laughter and snapped, "Bond? What bond? The bond where you impaled my eldest and fourth brothers' heads on spears to taunt my father? Or the bond where my fifth brother was trampled into pulp by your horses? Or perhaps the bond where you stabbed my pregnant sister-in-law to death?!"

The Heir Apparent Xiao's lips trembled. "I... I didn't do those things."

"I know," He Zhaojun wiped away her tears with a sneer. "You've always prided yourself on benevolence and magnanimity—of course you wouldn't do such things. It was your brothers, eager for merit, who did them, and your father who turned a blind eye. But since they all died in the chaos of battle, I can only seek repayment from you! Let me tell you the truth: His Majesty, in his mercy, originally intended to spare you a mutilated death out of respect for the Xiao family's generations of nobility. It was I who petitioned to have you beheaded!"

The Heir Apparent Xiao turned deathly pale, disbelief in his eyes. "You... you vile woman, how dare you—"

"And as for those children born to your concubines, let's see how many survive the exile." He Zhaojun's expression turned ruthless. She glanced at the sky and bowed to the executioners. "The hour has come. Proceed with the execution."

The official in vermilion robes nodded and signaled the executioner to step forward—burning yellow paper to appease the spirits, offering sacrifices to the gods, two Shamans dancing beside the platform. Finally, the executioner sprayed liquor on the blade, raised the heavy-backed broadsword high, and swung it down with force...

Shao Shang quickly shut her eyes and turned her head away. When she opened them again, she saw He Zhaojun step forward herself to pick up the bloodied head that had rolled off the platform. Two attendants helped her wrap it in oilcloth.

Clad in mourning white, He Zhaojun walked slowly toward them, cradling the head, her face streaked with tears, her expression resolute. The dripping blood from the head spread across her snow-white robes, a stark and ghastly crimson, eerie and unsettling.

Shao Shang felt as though she couldn't breathe. Her heart pounded violently, her chest on the verge of bursting.The remaining officials were still tidying up the execution grounds. Shao Shang followed He Zhaojun out in a daze, only snapping back to her senses when they stepped outside the Court of Justice. Suddenly murmuring, "I can't leave A Yao to you. You always bullied and humiliated him..."

"Do you think I'd dare do such things anymore?" He Zhaojun whirled around, her expression caught between laughter and tears. "Before my father passed, he called me to his side. He kowtowed to me, saying he'd failed me, then struck me twice—each slap accompanied by words. The first: 'No one will shield you from storms anymore. From now on, you must face them alone!' The second: 'The He family and your younger brother will depend on you!' Do you think I'd dare offend or bully anyone now? Would I dare?!"

Tears streamed down her face as she recalled how, no matter whom she offended or what trouble she caused, her father and brothers had always patiently smoothed things over for her. But now they were gone—no one would ever dote on her like that again. She shrieked, "Don't think I enjoy opposing you! If my father and brothers could come back to life, I wouldn't take eighteen Lou families in exchange!"

Still young after all, He Zhaojun could no longer maintain her cold, ruthless facade. She crouched on the ground, weeping uncontrollably. The severed head in her hands rolled aside, its oilcloth wrapping loosening to reveal the ghastly, contorted face of the dead.

Shao Shang's limbs turned icy. She moved forward slowly, about to pick up the head, when a familiar, reassuring voice called from behind—"Shao Shang, what are you doing here? I saw your light carriage!"

Shao Shang whirled around to see Ling Buyi galloping toward her on horseback. Backlit, he looked like a radiant young deity, and she immediately felt tears welling up.

Seeing her pale and fragile state, Ling Buyi leaped from his horse and strode over in a few steps to seize her. Spotting the head on the ground, he grabbed it along with the oilcloth and tossed it to a He family servant nearby. "Ancheng Jun needn't frighten her with such things. The Lou and Cheng families were already planning to annul the engagement."

He Zhaojun slowly wiped her tears and stood up, sneering, "I've never seen Eleventh Master so tender toward a lady. Miss Cheng, since you already have such a—"

"You just said you wouldn't dare offend anyone anymore," Shao Shang abruptly interrupted. "What are you doing now? A leopard can't change its spots—how can I believe you'll treat A Yao well in the future?" She turned to leave but found Ling Buyi still gripping her firmly.

"You're covered in cold sweat. You mustn't catch a chill—ride back in my carriage." Ling Buyi's strong, slender hand clasped her delicate arm as he gently but firmly guided the girl toward a nearby black comfort carriage.

Distraught, her mind filled with the horrific image of the severed head, Shao Shang nodded in agreement.

Unexpectedly, Ling Buyi's carriage had no stepping stool. As Shao Shang prepared to climb in awkwardly, Ling Buyi placed one hand on the carriage frame and lightly lifted her by the waist with the other, effortlessly depositing her inside.Ling Buyi turned his head and looked at the stiff-faced He Zhaojun, saying coldly, "Ancheng Jun, I told you on the way escorting the rebels and sending you back to the city—don’t think the whole world owes your family. It is true that General He was loyal and brave, but it is also true that he was careless and negligent. The Xiao father and son used sweet words and pretended to be weak, coaxing your father into lowering his guard and neglecting precautions. Don’t you understand?! Otherwise, even if the rebellion had erupted suddenly, with His Majesty’s arrangements, the outcome wouldn’t have been so tragic. Ancheng Jun, now everyone pities you and your younger brother for being orphaned and vulnerable, but there is a long future ahead. Whether you choose to be kind to others or make enemies everywhere depends entirely on your own thoughts. I hope you will act wisely."

After saying this, he threw the horsewhip hanging at his waist to Liang Qiu Fei standing nearby and turned to board the carriage.

"Lord Ling..." Shao Shang sat in the carriage with her head lowered, hands resting on her knees. Though still trembling slightly, she stubbornly insisted, "I won't call off the engagement. Her pity is her own business—what does it have to do with me! There are countless pitiful people in this world—how could I possibly yield to every single one? Once I've made up my mind, I won't change it!"

Ignoring the girl's defiant words, Ling Buyi smiled faintly and said something seemingly unrelated: "Don't worry, Fengyi wasn't like Hua County."

Shao Shang suddenly raised her head, her pale face flushing with a sickly red hue as she stared at him in shock and suspicion.

"Though General He was negligent in his duties, he courageously made amends by sending all five of his sons and his most trusted men into battle, without even time to consider his own family. That night, he first secured the city with a small group of loyal followers while gathering the main forces. By the next day, they had surrounded Xiao Shi's rebel army and completely annihilated the traitors within three days."

Shao Shang looked up, her pale little face glistening—whether with sweat or tears was unclear.

"Thus, there were no large groups of scattered soldiers turning to banditry. Even for small groups of stragglers, General He sent flying cavalry in advance to warn the villages and counties, allowing them to prepare defenses early." Ling Buyi watched as the girl's large eyes filled with tears and said gently, "Rest assured, everyone is safe. There's no mass burial ground like outside Hua County's walls, and you won't need to keep mourning souls on that desolate hillside anymore..."

Before Shao Shang's eyes flashed images—the little girl in the medical hut who had suffered endless humiliation and was barely alive, struggling in agony only to die coldly in her arms; the maidservant with dimples who loved listening to her play the flute; the groups of widows and orphans wailing in grief after losing their families; the raging flames consuming the piled corpses outside the hunting lodge... She could bear it no longer, covering her face with both hands as she bent forward and wept bitterly.

Ling Buyi sat perfectly still, not even touching the hem of the girl's clothes, patiently waiting for her to cry her fill.

...

Shao Shang cried until her head spun and her mind grew hazy. In her dazed state, she seemed to be carried out of the carriage by Ling Buyi. Seeing her return, old steward Cheng Shun appeared so agitated he nearly stumbled—though it was unclear how hard he fell.

Mumbling a vague farewell to Ling Buyi, she wiped away her tears and walked step by step toward the main house. There, she bowed respectfully to Cheng Shi and Madam Xiao, kowtowing before stating firmly: "Father, Mother, tomorrow we will go to the Lou family to break off the engagement."

Author's Note:

Apologies for missing the last update, but this chapter's word count makes up for it.

The female lead isn't a traditionally kind and virtuous girl—she might do some bizarre and ridiculous things in the future. This is just how I've written her, so please don't criticize me for it.

Next update will be on the 15th, the day after tomorrow.