After seeing her mother and sister off, Hualan changed into a slightly worn peach-colored silk-padded jacket with embroidered trim and sat by the window on the heated kang, leaning against a backrest as she began her needlework. Before long, the sound of a curtain rustling announced Yuanwenshao’s entry. He strode quickly to the kang and, seeing his wife up and about, said with a smile, "Why are you up again? You should be resting."
"I’ve been lying down all morning—any more and I’d turn into a log," Hualan retorted playfully, shooting him a mock glare. She set aside her sewing basket, stepped down from the kang, and helped him remove his outer robe and cloak, handing them to a maid nearby. Only after Yuanwenshao had changed into casual attire did he assist Hualan back onto the kang.
Yuanwenshao picked up a cup of freshly brewed tea from the kang table and took a slow sip. Just past thirty, he had grown a short mustache, which, combined with his square-jawed face, lent him an air of maturity and authority—almost like a man in his forties. Hualan glanced at her husband twice, fondly recalling the fair-faced young man he had been when they first married.
"Have your mother and sister left?"
"Has Gu Tingye gone?"
Once the maid had withdrawn, the couple spoke simultaneously. After a moment of awkward silence, they looked at each other and burst into laughter. After chuckling for a while, Hualan deliberately sighed lightly and said with a smile, "They always say ‘thick as thieves’ about couples—now I finally understand what it means!"
Yuanwenshao laughed too. "Exactly! Having a wife as an accomplice feels rather wonderful!"
"Who’s your accomplice!" Hualan’s cheeks flushed crimson as she giggled and playfully swatted him. Yuanwenshao cheerfully caught her delicate fists, and the two bantered for a while before settling down to talk seriously.
"What do you think of today’s events?" Yuanwenshao asked softly, holding his wife close.
Hualan recalled the maid’s report: though she couldn’t hear what was said from a distance, she could guess from their expressions. At first, the two had spoken politely, but then Gu Tingye must have said something that made Minglan run off in tears. After a moment’s thought, Hualan replied, "This marriage is inevitable."
"Oh? You’re sure?" Yuanwenshao pressed.
Hualan nodded firmly and said decisively, "At this point, if the marriage falls through, none of us will save face."
Yuanwenshao had always trusted Hualan’s judgment and let out a long sigh of relief. Noticing this, Hualan’s expression turned somber, tinged with guilt. "It’s all my family’s fault. Such a good match, and they’ve made such a mess of it. Now you’re caught up in the trouble."
Yuanwenshao waved his hand dismissively and comforted her, "What does this have to do with you? It’s just that the elders couldn’t come to an agreement."
Hualan placed her pale, slender hands on her husband’s chest, widening her eyes deliberately to appear helpless and pitiable. She whispered, "My father is a scholar—those who preach morality are the most stubborn. Ever since my fourth sister married into the Liang family, Father has felt guilty toward Scholar Wen and kept thinking of betrothing my fifth sister to him as a slight compensation. But Mother believed the match you proposed was better. And my sixth sister, Minglan, was raised by Grandmother since childhood—her marriage has always been Grandmother’s decision. So here we are, with three different opinions pulling in different directions, tangling everything up!"
The truth, of course, was not so simple, but Hualan could only gloss over it lightly.Yuanwenshao held Hualan's hand with a gentle expression and smiled, "Your father is a scholar, so it's natural for him to value trust and keeping promises; your mother is a mother, so her deep affection for her children is understandable; Old Madam is full of kindness, and it's understandable that she can't come around immediately. Everyone has their reasons, so why should you feel so troubled?"
Hualan still furrowed her brows, worried, "I'm just afraid of angering General Gu. What if instead of becoming in-laws, we end up making an enemy?"
"Probably not," Yuanwenshao released Hualan's hand, picked up the teacup, and took another sip. His brows relaxed as he smiled, "I was a bit worried too, but... hehe, from what I saw today, there's nothing to worry about. When Gu Erlang left, I noticed he was in excellent spirits and repeatedly urged me to act quickly, hoping to complete the betrothal ceremony within the year and hold the wedding early next year."
Hualan was slightly surprised, "Really?!"
Yuanwenshao nodded slowly with tea in his mouth.
Hualan let go of her worries, lightly tapped her husband, and laughed, "What did I tell you? My sixth sister is exceptionally beautiful, a first-class beauty. If Gu Erlang saw her, he'd definitely be satisfied with this marriage! And you were still hesitant back then!"
Yuanwenshao chuckled, "Yes, yes—my wife is always right in her calculations."
Hualan laughed along for a moment, but deep down, she still felt uncertain, wondering whether Old Mrs. Sheng would ultimately agree.
...
That evening, Old Mrs. Sheng heard an unbelievable story.
She sat dumbfounded on the kang, while Minglan knelt below, softly sobbing. Old Mrs. Sheng felt her head throbbing: "You're saying... you've known him since we first arrived in the capital?" Thinking of this, she couldn't help but scold, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?!"
Minglan's little face was flushed from crying: "I... I was afraid Grandmother would scold me again... and afraid you'd worry about Minglan..."
Back then, she had just been severely punished by Old Mrs. Sheng for standing up for Yanran. After much pleading, that matter was finally put to rest, and then Gu Tingye suddenly caused trouble again. How could she dare tell Old Mrs. Sheng? She feared another round of reprimands, especially since she had no idea she would keep getting involved with Gu Tingye time and again!
It was like a child who had done something wrong and finally been forgiven by the adults, only for new consequences of her mistake to emerge. Naturally, she didn't dare bring it up, and the concealment snowballed.
Old Mrs. Sheng understood Minglan's childish worries all too well and couldn't help but sigh, "How could you be so foolish!"
In truth, Minglan wasn't foolish at all—she had concealed it very well, and no one had ever discovered her connection with Gu Tingye.
Old Mrs. Sheng's thoughts were in turmoil, and her heart ached for Minglan. She couldn't help but pull the girl up from the floor, drawing her close and patting her gently as she sighed, "...It's not entirely your fault. Who would have thought that Gu fellow would be so cunning!"
Minglan, her nose red from crying, nodded repeatedly. It wasn't that she was incompetent, but that the enemy was too sly—launching a surprise attack?!
Old Mrs. Sheng leaned back slowly, closing her eyes slightly. The room was quiet except for Minglan's intermittent sobs and the faint crackling of charcoal burning in the purple bronze brazier with longevity patterns on the floor.
Minglan slowly wiped the tears from her face. Seeing that Old Mrs. Sheng remained silent for a long time, she went over and gently tugged at her sleeve, shaking it, "...Grandmother... what should we do now?"Old Madam opened her eyes, glanced at Minglan's face, and asked softly, "Ming'er, when Gu Tingye laid everything out clearly to you, what were your thoughts?"
Minglan's face showed slight embarrassment. This time, she resolved to speak the complete truth and said with a faint blush, "...At first, I felt secretly pleased that someone would go to such lengths to pursue me. Later, the more I thought about it, the angrier I became—I almost wanted to slap him... Then, I started to worry. This man is so... formidable, what should I do?"
To be perfectly honest, marrying a formidable husband often comes with both advantages and disadvantages. When his spear is pointed outward, the world is at peace; but when it turns inward, one fears bloodshed will follow.
Old Madam nodded repeatedly at these words, finding them quite genuine. Yet after nodding, she seemed about to close her eyes and rest again. Minglan hurriedly shook her arm and pressed, "Grandmother, please say something! What are you thinking?"
Old Madam suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze sharp as lightning, and said coldly, "Go call your father. Tell him I've agreed to the marriage!"
Minglan was taken aback, uncertain and startled: "Just... like that?" Such a straightforward surrender.
"What else can we do?" Old Madam's expression was stern, but a self-mocking smile touched the corners of her lips. She let out a few cold laughs. "He's been scheming for who knows how long—deeply calculating, advancing step by step, pushing us right to the edge. What options do we have left? If word gets out, everyone will say the Sheng family gained a great advantage! Fine, let them have their way."
Minglan felt guilty, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, not daring to speak. After a pause, Old Madam gave a light, sarcastic laugh. "Well, it's better than someone who takes advantage and still acts righteous!"
Minglan looked up in surprise. She understood whom Old Madam was referring to and tentatively asked, "Then... should I go and speak with He...?"
"What is there to say?!" Old Madam glared at her and scolded, "I'll handle this matter. You don't need to show your face! As for the He family, aside from my old sister, you'd best avoid seeing any of them from now on! ...Hmph! Now they can freely support their relatives without restraint—no one will stop them from playing the good samaritan! Do you think you must marry into the He family? Let everyone know now that the Sheng family's daughters have no shortage of suitors—plenty of people have their eyes on them!"
Minglan swallowed, watching Old Madam's proud and fierce demeanor. After a moment of surprise, she understood: deep down, Old Madam was an exceedingly proud person. Perhaps... she had long been impatient with the He family's continuous issues but had been forcing herself to endure.
Old Madam gradually eased the tension, took a breath, leaned back against the cushions, and said calmly, "First, settle Rulan's matter with the Wen family, then let that Gu fellow come and make the betrothal. Tell your mother to start preparing for the wedding promptly. This time, your grandmother will secure you a generous dowry—let no one dare say a word! ...Hmph! Life is just about living. Keep your wits about you—never wrong yourself to please others. Making yourself comfortable is what truly matters."Minglan remained silent. After instructing Cuiping to summon Sheng Hong, she quietly returned to Twilight Cang Study. She sat blankly before the desk for a while, then suddenly rose and called for Danju to prepare ink and grind the inkstone. Unfurling a large sheet of snow-white xuan paper, Minglan picked up a large calligraphy brush, dipped it fully in ink, held her breath in concentration, and with swift, forceful strokes—dripping ink and sweeping movements—wrote four characters in wild cursive script: "Rarely Be Muddled!"
"Excellent!" Xiaotao clapped enthusiastically beside her: "Young lady writes wonderfully!... Um, young lady, what does it mean?"
Minglan set down the large brush and calmly said: "It means that when you sneak-eat the almond candies Danju has hidden, I'll pretend not to have seen it."
Then Minglan casually waved her sleeve and entered the inner room, leaving Xiaotao and Danju behind—one stunned and ready to bolt, the other rolling up her sleeves with menacing intent.
(End of Volume)
Extra: Report on the Mental Journey of Wanting to Marry a Deceiver
She might not realize it herself, but there are many peculiar things about her.
At the banquet of Xiangyang Marquis Manor, she appeared gentle, humble, respectful, and refined—smiling sweetly as she spoke with the noble young ladies. A bee buzzed in through the branches reaching into the hall, causing the girls to shriek in alarm, waving their handkerchiefs and huddling together. At first, she watched with interest, but then noticing the other girls' panic, she quickly adopted a frightened expression too, throwing herself into the group of girls, lightly exclaiming in fear while patting her chest as if terrified.
I narrowed my eyes—she was pretending.
Actually, there were girls who weren't afraid of bees—standing calmly to the side or quietly hiding behind others. Only she was putting on an act; she seemed terribly afraid of standing out, always striving to blend in with the crowd.
After the opera began, I secretly followed her, hoping to find a secluded spot to ask her a few questions. But as I followed, I witnessed quite a scene: the treasured son of my clan sister, the pride of Marquis of Qi Manor, the dream lover of countless young maidens in the capital—Second Young Master Qi Heng—was desperately clutching her sleeve, pouring out his lovesick woes.
A handsome young man with jade-like features, his face full of admiration and affection, his words sweet and honeyed—nine out of ten girls would likely be unable to resist, blushing as they exchanged heartfelt feelings. The remaining one would probably put on an angry front.
But she did neither. Her first reaction—her only reaction—was to fear that Qi Heng might implicate her. She both threatened and pleaded, repeatedly sternly ordering Qi Heng not to reveal anything. Young Master Heng left dejectedly.
She always seemed to have great reservations, like a vigilant little squirrel constantly guarding against potential threats around her.
Later I learned she was a concubine-born daughter.
I suddenly appeared and asked about Man Niang; she started in surprise, then answered truthfully.
It must be said her demeanor was entirely proper, her speech clear, her questions and answers precise—not at all like the shy timidity of typical inner chamber maidens, and completely different from the cowardly selfishness she showed with Qi Heng. She both preserved the dignity of the Yu family's eldest young lady and eased my anger.
It seemed... she was a woman of courage.
That was also the first time I vaguely sensed something amiss about Man Niang.Seeing her again in the back garden of Guangji Temple, she threw a lump of mud at her sister with fierce precision, hands on her hips, radiating an imposing aura. Hidden behind the wall, I stifled my laughter, both startled and amused; the gloomy clouds that had lingered for days due to the conflict between Yanhong and Man Niang vanished instantly. Unfortunately, before I could finish laughing for even a quarter of an hour, she infuriated me so much that I stormed off in a huff.
That little girl was a jinx, and later, everything she said came true one by one.
Not long after, I left my hometown far behind. Then, my father passed away, Yanhong died suddenly, and I no longer wished to hear Man Niang's tearful pleas and excuses. I drifted alone across the north and south, meeting many people—peddlers and porters, gallants of the martial world, and even unlucky, neglected noble princes. I was bullied, looked down upon, and learned the fickleness of human relationships and the harshness of the world. Thrown hard to the ground, I still had to straighten my spine and stand up.
The first silver I earned with my own hands, I sent to Man Niang in the capital. The mistakes I made, I would atone for myself.
I would support them, ensuring the mother and child never went hungry or cold, but I refused to see her again. Having seen through her character and her step-by-step scheming, I felt a chill down my spine. When she led the child everywhere to beg and plead with me, I grew even more wary and alarmed.
Those who wander the martial world age prematurely. In the depths of midnight dreams, I often thought of that little mud-throwing girl.
During a upheaval in the capital, when heaven and earth seemed overturned, I entered the city early on behalf of the Eighth Prince to gather information. Unexpectedly, I encountered Yuanwenshao. He was a decent man—not looking down on my shabby appearance—and even invited me to his son's full-month celebration.
A thought struck me: wasn't Yuanwenshao's wife also a daughter of the Sheng family?
I deliberately waited in the courtyard near the banquet hall entrance for a long while. Turning my head, I caught sight of her. In the fleeting passage of seasons, the mud-throwing girl had transformed into a clear and radiant young woman. Under the crabapple tree, amidst the spring scenery of the courtyard, she seemed to outshine the entire season's brilliance. I stared for a long moment before speaking.
I nodded inwardly—that lad Qi Heng had quite an eye, spotting her potential early on.
She clearly had no desire to converse with me, so no matter what I said, she merely played along.
When I mentioned my late father, she put on a sorrowful expression and earnestly urged me to accept condolences. When I expressed regret toward Lord Yu and offered compensation, she feigned deep understanding and admiration. When I indicated I’d assist her if she faced difficulties, her large eyes brimmed with disbelief, yet she pretended gratitude, nearly clapping her hands in applause.
I was exasperated.
Finally, I adopted a paternal tone to admonish her a few words and strode away with dignified composure amid her astonished expression.
—Qi Heng was right, she was a smooth-tongued little liar! I concluded bluntly. …Then, I couldn’t resist turning back for one more secret glance. In these times, most liars are quite good-looking, I suppose.
Later, this liar encountered water bandits.
I fished her out of the water. She shivered violently, gasping for air, her small head turning anxiously as she scanned her surroundings. Among everyone on the boat, she spotted me instantly, her face blossoming into a radiant smile. Suddenly, my heart softened.
Amid the shimmering lake and chilly night wind, only her eyes shone bright as stars. I thought, I would never see such beautiful eyes again in my lifetime.
…Then, she asked me to save her maids. I sighed and closed my eyes.I knew it—this little liar wouldn’t be nice to someone for no reason. Calling me so affectionately must mean she wants something. I glared at her fiercely, but couldn’t stop the corners of my mouth from curling upward. I felt like I was sick, getting so happy even when being used.
After finally rescuing all her maids and servants, before I could even go and claim credit, I overheard her talking about me behind the door. I’d been tricked by the Peng family, and she actually said it was “understandable”? Then she even suggested I just marry Man Niang?! I firmly stated that Man Niang was no longer an option, and she actually secretly threw two mocking little eye-rolls at me?!
That wasn’t all. Next, she smugly concluded something about me being “deep down, the most proper person”? I’ve always been proper—to this day, I haven’t even touched a single strand of her hair! Besides, after what happened with Man Niang, I won’t casually get close to women anymore.
I really wanted to strangle her to death right then and there!
But her neck was so beautiful, like the candied lotus root from Jiangnan I ate as a child—moist and sweet. Suddenly, I felt my lips go a little dry… Better not strangle her.
In a daze, I actually let this liar figure out that Yanhong’s death wasn’t simple. Well, these days, liars are often quite clever. Though she didn’t hit the mark, she wasn’t far off.
Great, Gu Tingye, you’re regressing more and more. I left a couple of harsh words and stormed off again.
Then, she headed south to Jinling, while I went north to the capital.
In a rural cottage in the southern suburbs of the capital, I washed away the dust and exhaustion of half a year and lay down in bed. The elderly Mama Chang brought a hot water bottle to warm the bedding for me. As I lay on the kang, listening to her soft, rambling Suzhou accent and her fussy concern, I felt as if I’d returned to my childhood, back when my mother was still alive.
“…Young master, look how tired you are. Business out there isn’t easy, so don’t run around recklessly anymore. I have some silver here—later, you can buy some land and live a stable life.” Mama Chang looked at me with heartache, still believing I was out doing business.
I said, “Once this business deal is over, I’ll settle down.” If I don’t die on the battlefield, that is.
Mama Chang’s withered face showed indignation. “It’s all because of those black-hearted villains! The grandson of the Bai family from Haining actually has to go out and earn such hard money! Back then, our Bai family had mountains and seas of silver, but now…”
Mama Chang would always go on about the good old days of the Bai family from Haining. I’d long grown numb to it and simply replied calmly, “It’s fine. I can earn the silver back myself. I’ll take back everything that’s rightfully mine.”
Mama Chang stared at me blankly and sighed. “You’re just like the eldest young lady—fiery and stubborn, swallowing all your bitterness and keeping it inside. If she had been willing to endure back then, maybe she wouldn’t have…”
“Mama, don’t say anymore,” I interrupted her solemnly.
Mama Chang sighed softly again and then gently added, “Once you settle down, hurry up and get married. Have a few children, so I can go burn incense for the eldest young lady and share the good news.”
I laughed. “Don’t I already have two children?”
Mama Chang immediately stiffened her expression. “What does that count for? You still need to properly marry a wife. That woman doesn’t count.”
I suddenly sat up and asked, puzzled, “Mama, you never liked Man Niang from the start. Why is that?”At that time, Man Niang appeared utterly pitiful from head to toe, flawless in every way. She treated Mama Chang with respectful courtesy, often shedding tears before even speaking. Yet, for some reason, Mama Chang found everything about her disagreeable. After I left home, Mama Chang even moved away just to avoid Man Niang's persistent questioning and clinging.
Mama Chang maintained a stern expression and declared, "That woman is a calamity, a spider spirit reborn! Once she entangles you, your life is ruined. Thankfully, young master, you've finally come to understand! It's not too late!"
I pressed further, "There must be some explanation."
Mama Chang fumed for a long while before saying, "This old woman doesn't understand grand principles and isn't eloquent enough to explain clearly. But I have eyes—if she were a decent person, she wouldn't have encouraged you to act recklessly. Just look at yourself! Since she latched onto you, has anything good ever happened? Now you've even left the marquis' estate, drifting without roots—all because of her!"
I fell silent. Though Mama Chang never received much schooling, she possessed sharp judgment of character.
Mama Chang continued, "Young master, once you marry this time, you mustn't let that woman act recklessly anymore. She comes from an opera background, skilled in singing, reciting, acting, and fighting—be careful not to let your new wife develop resentment! That woman is deeply cunning; back when you left, she immediately abandoned Rong Jie'er at the Marquis's residence but kept Chang Ge'er by her side, searching for you everywhere! She can be ruthless yet humble herself—ordinary women are no match for her!"
I said grimly, "How could I allow her to act so presumptuously again!"
Mama Chang rose cheerfully and helped me fold my clothes neatly on the table. After a while, she seemed to grasp something and turned back to gently probe, "Young master, could it be... you have someone in your heart?"
I turned away, pretending to be fast asleep. Mama Chang had no choice but to leave.
Inside the bed curtains, I lay quietly, my body weary but my mind unusually active. I resolved to list all her faults:
First, she's a liar—duplicitous, two-faced, and expert at putting on acts;
Second, she dared to confront river pirates on the great river—truly brave but foolish;
Moreover, she's a daughter of a concubine, while I'm meant to marry a legitimate daughter;
Most importantly, she's blind and actually dares to look down on me...
Ah—but how can I marry her? This requires careful planning.
I began pondering with great energy, unaware that my thoughts had already strayed from their original course.
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