"Brother, what did the Emperor say when you returned to the capital this time?"
"The Emperor transferred me from Zhejiang to Fujian to work with Yun Zhishi to manage coastal defense and suppress Japanese pirates."
"Then, will you set off for Fujian the day after tomorrow and not return to Hangzhou?"
"Hmm. In my opinion, Chen'er is not young anymore. He has been learning martial arts at Xiaoyao Sect for several years. Why don't you come with me to Fujian? A real man should always make achievements and accomplish something. Take advantage of your youth and strength to gain some experience."
Lady Qi scolded, "Brother, I only have this one precious son. You are so heartless to send him to such a dangerous place."
“Binglong, in a wealthy family, the worst thing you can do is spoil your child, otherwise they will amount to nothing in the future. Look at Shaorong, how spoiled she is by her mother!”
Shao Rong said angrily, "Father, I knew all along that you liked my eldest and second brothers and hated girls, hmph."
“Who says I hate girls? Look at Yunmo, she’s refined, elegant, and poised, unlike you.”
I was stunned for a moment, then lowered my head in shame and remained silent.
Stepping down the Magpie Bridge, one can see the sedan chair bearers from Guiyun Manor waiting beside the sedan chair.
The road I came from, the road I'm taking, both point to Guiyun Manor. Yunzhou and I are destined to miss each other. Even the current emperor couldn't grant us this marriage, and I can finally give up completely.
I sighed and was about to get into the sedan chair when suddenly a soft voice called out from behind me: "May I ask if this young lady is Miss Yun Moyun?"
Everyone turned around to look, and saw a young nobleman walking briskly towards them.
I nodded to him, a strange tightness gripping my heart.
"Lord Yun has invited you to meet at Shuya Pavilion in Qiyue Tower tonight at 5 PM. If Miss Yun does not go, he will wait for you."
Lord Yun? I was taken aback for a moment, then remembered that Yun Zhou had just been appointed as a Lieutenant General, so he was indeed Lord Yun.
He wants to see me? What good would it do? His father's opposition is so obvious and vehement that even the Emperor couldn't persuade him to accept me. My heart was filled with bitterness and despair, and I couldn't speak.
The young man turned and left. I stood there, stunned. Jiang Chen also stood there, but he held my hand even tighter.
Once in the sedan chair, Jiang Chen remained silent. I had never seen him so taciturn since I met him. My heart was filled with mixed emotions, and I couldn't quite describe my feelings. Yun Zhou had always been upright and honest, yet tonight he had invited me, even in front of Jiang Chen. I felt an unprecedented sense of helplessness, confusion, and utter loneliness. Should I go, or not? I had no one to discuss it with.
Yunzhou has always been calm and composed, with measured manners. Today, he's gone to such lengths for me, risking everything to fight for me. If I don't go, I'll be letting him down, and I'll be letting myself down. If I go, I'll be letting Jiang Chen down, and I'll be letting down my master and Madam Qi.
Reason versus emotion, which is more important? To give up or to gain, who is right and who is wrong? I am torn apart by this internal struggle, on the verge of collapse. My mind is a jumbled mess, impossible to untangle, impossible to let go of, impossible to resolve.
Jiang Chen didn't say a word the whole way. I had a feeling that he must have guessed who Yunzhou wanted to ask for. Otherwise, why would he hold my hand so tightly, why would he have changed his playful and joking attitude to be so silent and tense?
He said he liked me, and my master and Lady Qi also indirectly said he liked me, but I didn't really believe it. But today, at this moment, I actually feel it, and I'm actually starting to believe it. So, I'm even more conflicted.
Back at Guiyun Manor, Madam Qi had a grand banquet prepared. During the meal, General Qi Chong, Shao Rong, and Shao Hua were all in high spirits, while Madam Qi seemed completely oblivious to the day's events and the Yunzhou agreement, appearing utterly unaware of the situation. Jiang Chen, preoccupied and taciturn, and I, forcing a smile, felt like I was sitting on pins and needles.
After dinner, I went back to my room and sat there blankly staring at the hourglass. Should I go? Or not?
I spent the entire afternoon agonizing in the room. As dusk fell, suddenly, Lady Qi's voice came from the doorway: "Xiao Mo, I have something I'd like to talk to you about."
I quickly opened the door, and standing outside were Madam Qi and four maids, Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju.
I find it strange. Ever since I gave them the indentures that day, Lady Qi had moved them to her room, saying she wanted to find them husbands before they were married off. Why were they sent to my room today?
Lady Qi entered with a smile, sat down, and asked Miss Mei to close the door. Then she said, "Take off your outer garments and raise your right arms."
The four girls began to undress, and I was astonished. What were they doing?
In spring and summer, their outer garments were just a thin layer. After they took them off, their inner bodices were revealed, some peach-pink, some emerald green, their curves alluring and incredibly alluring. Their shoulders and arms revealed patches of snow-white skin, so tender it seemed one could pinch water from it!
Although I am a woman, I was also a little unsure where to look. My eyelids kept twitching, so I lowered my head and wondered what Lady Qi was up to.
"Xiao Mo, look at the underside of their right arms."
I had no choice but to look up, and there, on the lower right arm of each of the four girls, was a red mark of virginity on their fair skin. Even more peculiar was that Lan'er had an orchid tattooed on her shoulder, Xiaozhu had a bamboo leaf, and Xiaoju had a daisy. Only Mei'er had nothing on her shoulder!
Lady Qi waved her hand and said, "You may all leave."
The four girls put on their outer garments and filed out, with Mei closing the door behind them.
Madam Qi smiled and looked at me: "I bought these four maids from the opera troupe when they were young, and carefully trained and instructed them. I did have a plan, intending to place them in Chen'er's room in the future. The Jiang family has few heirs, and I also wanted to hold my grandson as soon as possible. This is common in wealthy families, where many boys become fathers in their teens. However, since Chen'er went to Xiaoyao Sect, he can no longer tolerate other women. These maids have been in the manor for several years, and they are still virgins. You saw it with your own eyes just now."
I nodded awkwardly, wondering what Madam Qi was trying to say. Was she implying that Jiang Chen had remained chaste for my sake? My face involuntarily began to burn.
Lady Qi sighed and said, "Xiao Mo, I've been through this before. I can see right through the love affairs of you young people. Chen'er's personality is mostly like mine. So I can understand your situation even better."
My heart skipped a beat, and I didn't know how to respond. What had she figured out?
"Many daughters-in-law try their best to please their mothers-in-law, showing their best side to the fullest. But you deliberately show your weakness. I know what you're thinking. No one knows a child better than his mother. I'm not being biased, but I feel sorry for Chen'er. He's so devoted, but he doesn't know how to win her heart. You're tormenting him to the point of ecstasy."
Lady Qi, could you please use a more tactful word? I was so embarrassed that I could hardly lift my head.
“These past few days, I’ve been thinking about this a lot, and I think you might have a misunderstanding about Chen’er. You probably think he’s a flirtatious and unreliable man, which is why you’re unwilling to give him your heart. So, I’ve specially called these four girls here so you can see for yourself.”
I was deeply ashamed: "Madam, he has always been joking and half-joking, and I have never been able to figure out what he is thinking. He has never told me anything openly. The reason I was engaged to him was because of a misunderstanding."
“Silly child, he and you were just fellow disciples before, and you didn’t have any feelings for him. If he had seriously confessed his feelings, you would have run away faster than a rabbit, and he would have had no chance to spend all his time with you. Now that you have a formal relationship, you will see that he is definitely different from before.”
I thought about it for a moment, and it was indeed true. Ever since my master announced our engagement, his attitude towards me has been crystal clear, and some of his words and actions made me blush.
“I’m stupid and I feel I’m not good enough for him.”
Lady Qi chuckled: "Don't underestimate yourself. In matters of love, it's not a matter of who's smarter or who's more devoted. Whoever falls in love first, whoever is more infatuated, is at a disadvantage. However, if you're too concerned about who's getting the better deal or who's losing out in matters of love, then you're not truly in love."
I remained silent, feeling a deep sense of unease.
Lady Qi paused for a moment and then said, "Actually, since you know that beauty is emptiness, you should also know that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Although he appears to be a charming man, he is actually very serious and doesn't easily fall in love. But if he does fall in love, he is extremely earnest."