Lan Xian decided to mix truth with lies in his account. He began by explaining that several years ago, their escort agency received a commission from a young master named Zi Yu from Yangshan. This led to their acquaintance and eventual deep friendship.
Later, by coincidence, Zi Yu ventured into a mining business in the Northwest, requiring special escorts for transportation. At that time, the escort agency’s business was poor, but they had hundreds of guards to feed. For the sake of livelihood, Lan Xian, against his niece’s advice, decided to take the risk and volunteer for some quick money through smuggling.
The Shenwei Escort Agency had natural advantages for nationwide transportation, with established connections and routes. Thus, the two parties cooperated until now. However, when Lan Xian heard about his niece’s misfortune, he no longer wished to work for Yangshan and proposed a handover.
Yangshan hadn’t sent anyone to take over yet. Being an old hand, Lan Xian sensed something was amiss and arranged for the others in the Shenwei Escort Agency to evacuate. But they were a step too late. Prince Sui’s forces suddenly attacked, striking viciously. Fortunately, they had deep friendships with many from the barbarian tribes, who turned a blind eye, allowing them to escape here.
Lan Xian was severely wounded, so his subordinate Liu Kun went into town to buy medicine. He happened to see Mian Tang and decided to stay for a few days to reunite with her.
Cui Xingzhou listened impassively, then suddenly asked, “When you went to the Northwest to transport coal, did you leave Liu Mian Tang alone in Yangshan?”
Mian Tang looked up at her uncle, recalling Li Mama’s previous words about her being Zi Yu’s mistress. At the time, she found it absurd, but now… she thought it might be true.
Lan Xian gritted his teeth, knowing he couldn’t hide his niece’s relationship with Zi Yu. He decided to tell the truth, hoping to disillusion Mian Tang and prevent Zi Yu from pursuing her in the future.
“It was my negligence. Mian Tang was young then, a girl experiencing her first love. Zi Yu was a refined young master, and they developed some romantic feelings… Mian Tang was good with accounts, so she managed some daily finances for Zi Yu’s mountain stronghold. But Mian Tang is a good girl; she never discussed marriage with Zi Yu and naturally maintained proper etiquette.
However, Zi Yu was a philanderer who not only enticed my niece but also had affairs with other women, leading to their jealousy. She was planning to leave but ended up being harmed and falling into the water… Now that Yangshan has been pacified, even if Mian Tang managed accounts for him, she’s been pardoned. You can’t punish her for that, sir. As for the smuggling of ores, it was all due to my greed. It has nothing to do with others. I’m willing to face the consequences according to the law!”
Prince Huaiyang believed this part of Lan Xian’s story. After all, no one knew better than him whether Liu Mian Tang was pure or not. As for Mian Tang’s misfortune, it was indeed related to Zi Yu’s philandering. Lan Xian’s words largely matched his previous speculations.
With this confession from the Shenwei Escort Agency, and after further questioning, he now had all the leverage he needed against that old bastard Prince Sui.
If not for his earlier lies to Mian Tang being exposed so awkwardly, today’s visit to the ruined temple would have been quite fruitful.
Thinking of this, and looking at Lan Xian’s pale, haggard face, Cui Xingzhou offered him some reassurance: “Smuggling iron ore is punishable by death according to the law. However, if Mr. Lan cooperates obediently, I will treat you with courtesy and ensure you pass through this ordeal safely, without harm…”
His words were calm, and without careful consideration, one might not detect the underlying threat. He was speaking not only to Lan Xian but also to the woman who had her back turned to him.
By the time he finished his interrogation, the doctor had also completed acupuncture for pain relief and treated his wounds.
Lan Xian had been anxious and fearful throughout the journey, never able to sleep properly. Now, in the hands of the officials, he found himself sleeping in a warm tent and drinking hot soup.
The fatigue of the journey and the severity of his injuries were too much even for a man of iron. So after taking the sleeping medicine, Lan Xian fell into a deep slumber.
Mian Tang sat nearby, silent and dazed, until Lan Xian called out for water in his sleep. She then rose to leave the tent in search of water.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she exited the tent, she saw Military Officer Cui Jiu standing straight, waiting there for who knows how long.
Mian Tang didn’t want to deal with the liar full of deceit, so she lowered her eyelids, avoided his gaze, and tried to circle him.
But Cui Jiu had had enough of Liu Mian Tang’s cold shoulder. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto the carriage.
“Let go! What are you doing? I need to go back and take care of my uncle!” Mian Tang protested.
Cui Xingzhou remained unmoved, not releasing his grip. “He has military doctors and my assigned servants to care for him. As a young lady, are you going to help him urinate or wipe his body? What’s the point of staying there?”
Mian Tang had fully believed her uncle’s words earlier. His account of her past infatuation with Young Master Zi Yu aligned with the dream-like memories she had of intimate interactions with Zi Yu.
But the fact that someone had cruelly severed the tendons in her hands and feet left her with many questions. Who could be so heartless? Mian Tang still had many questions she wanted to ask her uncle.
Now, she didn’t want to dwell on Cui Xingzhou’s deception of using her as bait, nor did she want to say another word to him.
However, Cui Xingzhou was determined to have everything out in the open.
He reasoned that her previous mistakes, due to her young age and poor judgment in aiding evil, could be overlooked. But now that she had given herself to him, even without a formal ceremony, she was his woman.
She was almost nineteen now, no longer a child, and should understand some of the ways of the world. Although in the ruined temple, he had deliberately not dodged her slap to let her vent her anger, she should realize that she couldn’t always act like a shrew, indulging her temper. How could they live together in the future if she did?
So when the carriage entered Wuning Gate and arrived at the residence where Mian Tang was staying temporarily, Cui Xingzhou dragged her down, ignoring Li Mama and the maids who came to greet them.
Li Mama had been worried sick about Mian Tang leaving the city alone, fearing she might have encountered some misfortune. She was surprised to see the Prince dragging Mian Tang back to the room with a grim expression.
Although she had long known that Mian Tang’s identity was not simple and that the Prince was merely using Miss Liu, when the deception was finally exposed, Li Mama still felt a pang of regret.
These days, she had witnessed every detail of the Prince and Miss Liu’s relationship—it was as loving as any truly married couple could be.
But alas, it was all an illusion, a fleeting dream. Now the mirror was shattered, the moon hidden, and the Prince’s deception had finally come to an end.
She only hoped that the Prince, in remembrance of their recent love, would spare Miss Liu’s life.
After entering the room, Cui Xingzhou tightly closed the door.
Mian Tang wondered how she had never noticed before how crude Cui Xingzhou could be. How could he possibly be a refined gentleman? Rubbing her sore wrist, she laughed bitterly in her anger, looking at Cui Xingzhou mockingly.
Gone was Liu Niangniang’s attentiveness in serving tea and removing his clothes. The Prince of Huaiyang poured two cups of water himself, drank one, and offered the other to Mian Tang.
But Mian Tang didn’t accept it, coldly averting her gaze from Cui Jiu.
Cui Xingzhou thought her slightly puffed cheeks made her look like a sulking child. He held her tightly in his arms, his nose touching hers, and asked in a low voice, “Still angry?”
Mian Tang admired his ability to trivialize such a serious matter. How thick-skinned must one be to feel no shame after impersonating someone’s husband?
She turned her beautiful eyes to look at him sideways and said, “Would the esteemed Officer Cui care to teach me how a young woman who has been deceived and lost her reputation and purity should calm down and not be upset?”
Cui Xingzhou felt he should carefully explain the reasoning to her, so he said thoughtfully, “… When you were severely injured, I ordered people to fish you out of the water and took great care in treating you. Surely I deserve the title of life-saving benefactor, don’t I?”
Liu Mian Tang remained silent, but her eyes gradually reddened and misted over.
Cui Xingzhou looked down at her silent form and continued, “Think carefully. Initially, I never deceived you into calling me a husband. It was you who mistakenly recognized me and willingly called me that!”
“You… you…” Liu Mian Tang was so angry she could barely speak, only pointing her finger at his nose.
Cui Xingzhou grasped her hand and went on, “At first, I did intend to use you to draw out the Yangshan sect members, but later I discovered someone on Yangshan mountain meant you harm. I couldn’t bear to leave you, so I kept you by my side to protect you… Later, when I went on the campaign, I was worried you would wait for me in vain, so I intended to let you live your own life. I even wrote a divorce letter… My identity might have been false, but how was my care and affection for you fake?”
Liu Mian Tang was at a loss for words. As Cui Xingzhou said, although he had deceived her, he had also saved her life. It was a complex ledger of debts and favors that couldn’t be easily settled.
But the way this fake Cui Jiu spoke so matter-of-factly was truly infuriating. She stared directly into his eyes and said, “So you’re saying that I chased after you for thousands of miles, throwing myself at you, and in the end, after sleeping with you for several nights, it was me who lusted after you and tarnished your purity, Officer?”
Cui Xingzhou held her hand and slowly said, “On this point, you shouldn’t wrongly accuse me either. If I hadn’t also drunk the wine you prepared, I wouldn’t have… Who could resist that wine’s potency? Do you take me for a eunuch, able to remain unmoved?”
Liu Mian Tang, having reached the peak of her anger, suddenly calmed her tone. She broke free from Cui Jiu’s embrace and knelt, making a deep formal bow. “If that’s the case, the ancients said that a life-saving debt should be repaid with one’s body. This humble woman has already repaid it, and I’m grateful that the Officer didn’t despise me and made full use of it. Let’s consider our debts settled and part ways here. I won’t bear the title of the Officer’s wife anymore, lest it harm your reputation!”
After speaking, Mian Tang rose and opened a trunk to retrieve a bundle of clothes, intending to pack some clothes to take to the military camp. Her uncle’s smuggling of iron ore was an inescapable crime, and as a member of the Lu family, she naturally wanted to stand by him.
Cui Xingzhou had never been patient when it came to coaxing women, but today he had exhausted all his kind words. Yet Liu Niangniang seemed completely unreceptive, still intent on packing her belongings to leave. She was truly stubborn!
He strode over and with a swift pull, scattered the contents of the bundled cloth!
Mian Tang reached out to grab it, but she inadvertently strained her old injury, causing her to wince in pain and curl up.
Cui Xingzhou knew about her old ailment. He immediately dropped the bundled cloth and, frowning, skillfully began massaging the acupoints on her hands to alleviate the pain.
Since arriving in the Northwest, Cui Xingzhou had earnestly learned some massage techniques from Zhao Quan. On rainy days when Mian Tang was in unbearable pain, he would always “coincidentally” return to massage her hands and feet…
Just as he had said, there was indeed some truth in his affection…
The sweetness of their time together was still fresh in their minds. How could one forget so easily?
Mian Tang’s tears finally spilled over, large droplets falling onto Cui Xingzhou’s hand as he massaged her.
Cui Xingzhou had never realized before how tormenting silent crying could be. He embraced her, saying tenderly, “Don’t cry. I’m not abandoning you. Be good…”
But Mian Tang pushed him away: “What’s your real name? Do you have a wife and concubines at home?”
This was something Liu Mian Tang had suddenly thought of. Given his age, it was the time when men typically established their families and careers. Moreover, his manners and speech, including Li Mama’s, didn’t seem to come from an ordinary household.
If he had a wife, what was she? Wouldn’t that make her a mistress?
Cui Xingzhou avoided answering about his name, only addressing Mian Tang’s most pressing concern: “I’m not married…”
Truthfully, he didn’t know why, but he suddenly felt immensely grateful that he had broken off his engagement with his cousin before the campaign. However, if he were to reveal now that he was the Prince of Huaiyang, that statement of “not being married” might seem somewhat weak…
When he said this, Mian Tang slowly let out a breath, only then realizing she had been holding it. She waited a while longer, expecting him to reveal his name. But he didn’t speak further, clearly not intending to tell her, which made her heart sink again.
After a good while, when the pain in her hand had subsided, he spoke again: “Although it’s spring now, Jin Jia Pass is in a valley and is much colder than Wu Ning Pass. In a few days, when your uncle’s condition stabilizes, I’ll have someone escort him to Wu Ning Pass to recover. You should stay at home obediently these days. Your uncle knows Prince Sui’s weakness of colluding with the enemy, and he certainly won’t let it go easily. With me protecting you, I absolutely won’t let anyone harm you in the slightest.”
Mian Tang understood that Cui Xingzhou wasn’t trying to scare her. The Prince Sui of Huizhou was indeed troublesome. Her uncle only had a few people around him, and if surrounded by Prince Sui’s assassins, his life would be in danger.
So after thinking for a while, she slowly nodded.
Just then, Li Mama carefully said from outside the door: “Master, Madam, dinner is ready. Would you like to eat?”
Cui Xingzhou and Liu Mian Tang had been through quite an ordeal and hadn’t eaten, so Cui Xingzhou called for Li Mama to bring in the food.
The meal was prepared with great care, with finely sprouted bean sprouts and thinly sliced, cooled mung bean jelly. All the dishes seemed to be cooling and detoxifying.
Mian Tang couldn’t eat much, so Cui Xingzhou silently added dishes and soup to her bowl.
After eating, Mian Tang sensed that Cui Xingzhou intended to stay the night. She quietly got up, carrying her bedding and pillow, intending to squeeze into the maid’s room.
Seeing her still at odds with him, Cui Xingzhou felt a surge of anger. He said in a deep voice, “You stay here to sleep. I’ll leave.”
With that, he rose and left the room, mounted his horse outside the courtyard, and returned to Jin Jia Pass.
For the next few days, Cui Xingzhou didn’t return to Wu Ning Pass.
True to his word, once Lu Xian’s condition stabilized, he was sent to Wu Ning Pass.
Now, in the small courtyard of Wu Ning Pass, the factions were divided.
Li Mama and Fan Hu, having exposed their roles as monitors, saw their status in the small courtyard plummet.
Fang Xie and Bi Cao, after swearing to heaven that they were merely sold by slave traders and knew nothing of Master Cui’s true identity, barely managed to maintain their loyalty in the mistress’s eyes, occasionally earning a smile from her.
The rest were uniformly ignored by the mistress.
Lu Xian had now regained some strength and could have heart-to-heart talks with his niece.
However, he was determined not to tell Mian Tang about her identity in Yangshan. Such an identity was too frightening; if others knew, Mian Tang would never be able to marry and have children like an ordinary woman, living a peaceful life.
After all, what man would dare marry the female bandit leader who had raised the flag of rebellion in Yangshan? Even though he was Liu Mian Tang’s uncle, he was still occasionally shocked by his niece’s past audacity.
To be honest, carrying such memories, his niece could never truly integrate into any household. How could one expect a female bandit leader who dared to lead rebels to live a peaceful life of serving her husband and educating her children?
But Liu Mian Tang had lost her memory. That thrilling, heart-pounding period in Yangshan had been completely erased from her mind.
As her elder, Lu Xian felt that this was perhaps heaven’s mercy on Mian Tang.
However, she had now been deceived into being a wife for nearly two years. As her uncle, he sighed deeply, feeling that he had failed his deceased sister by not taking good care of his niece, allowing her to make one misstep and then another.
“Mian Tang, has he told you his name and identity?” Lu Xian probed as his niece was feeding him medicine.
Mian Tang’s hand paused, and she said with lowered eyes, “It doesn’t matter whether he says it or not. Judging by the manners of the mama he assigned to me, he probably comes from a high-ranking family, likely an official household… I understand that he and I are not in the same class. Once Prince Sui’s matter is resolved, if he keeps his promise, we’ll leave the Northwest and return to find Grandfather…”
Lu Xian hadn’t expected his niece to be so decisive, having already made up her mind. In this aspect, Mian Tang’s personality was just like before she lost her memory.
“But… you and he… if word spreads…”
Not wanting her uncle to worry too much, Mian Tang tried to sound lighthearted: “I’m not some famous scholar that everyone in the world would recognize. Once we leave the Northwest, where can’t we make a living? These things are just about getting by when times are tough. In the countryside during times of fleeing disaster, how many temporary couples were there? Once they settled down, these dew-drop marriages would naturally dissolve. I’ve never seen anyone demanding lifelong responsibility!”
What Mian Tang said was true. In rural areas, during life-and-death situations, people just try to survive. Chastity and reputation were luxuries for ladies of high-ranking families. For the humble commoners struggling in the mud, two liang of steamed buns were more useful than a thousand gold pieces of chastity!
So Mian Tang didn’t place too much importance on her virginity. Besides… she hadn’t slept with some fat, greasy man.
Although she knew Cui Jiu was a liar, she couldn’t deny that he was incredibly handsome. No matter how she looked at him, she couldn’t find any fault with his appearance. With such a handsome face, even when he was deceiving people, he could still appear lovable and endearing.
These past few days, Mian Tang had been honest with herself. She felt that she hadn’t lost out. Although in her memory, she couldn’t pick out any man to compare with Cui Xingzhou, his appearance was truly rare in this world. Moreover, apart from his outstanding looks, a man who was also good in bed was even harder to find.
Fortunately, Cui Jiu had both… Thinking this way, Mian Tang’s mind became clearer, feeling that even if she had misplaced her affections, she hadn’t lost out.
However, not everyone could think as openly as she did.
After feeding her uncle his medicine, Mian Tang was just going out to get food when she lifted the door curtain and saw Cui Xingzhou, whom she hadn’t seen for days, standing stiffly at the door. She didn’t know how much of her conversation with her uncle he had overheard.
Over the past few days, Mian Tang has done some self-reflection. She felt that her harsh words with him a few days ago were rather imprudent. As the naive girl’s sensitivity and stubbornness faded away, the slick Liu Niangniang made her debut.
“Officer Cui, you’re back? Why are you standing at the door? It’s windy out here, come in and sit… Have you eaten? I’ll ask Li Mama to make the braised meat you like.” Mian Tang smiled slightly, warmly welcoming him.
There was no choice; she and her uncle had to live under the officer’s nose, so they had to maintain a good face. Being polite and courteous was the way of the world.
How could Cui Xingzhou not see that she was just being perfunctory? Look at that face full of smiles and eagerness! It was the same as when she encountered rich and foolish customers in her porcelain shop in Lingquan Town!
Moreover, from what she had just said, he was nothing more than a bowl of thin porridge to satisfy her hunger. Once she had other food, she could forget about him… Women are like small men, naturally fickle and difficult to please. He had thoroughly learned the wisdom of the ancients.
However, after being apart for so many days, she still looked rosy-cheeked and bright-eyed, as if she hadn’t been too lovesick or sorrowful.
Looking at her smiling cherry-red lips, Cui Xingzhou felt hot blood surging uncontrollably through his veins like a wild snake…
Cui Xingzhou hadn’t been doing well these past few days. His “old ailment” had resurfaced, and he had started suffering from insomnia again every night.
His servant Mo Ruyue had a harder time too. When the master practiced martial arts under the moon, he had to stand by with a water kettle and towel. After several days like this, both master and servant had bloodshot eyes.
Mo Ruyue felt that this couldn’t go on, so he tried to gauge his master’s thoughts and tentatively asked if the prince wanted to go back to the pharmacy in Wu Ning Pass to get some medicine.
The prince didn’t respond at the time, just focusing on writing official documents. After a long while, he ordered him to prepare a horse to go to Wu Ning Pass. It seemed he had accepted his suggestion.
But now Mo Ruyue realized that the medicine that could cure the prince wasn’t in the drawers of the pharmacy, but standing at the door of this small courtyard.
However, that “medicine” was so slippery that it was hard to swallow, truly not a good thing!
But one shouldn’t hit a smiling face. At least Mian Tang was no longer angry with him, which was some progress. Cui Xingzhou tried to soften his expression and said, “I want to eat your spicy stir-fry…”
Mian Tang was not only good at making spicy stir-fried crab but also spicy stir-fried meat slices.
Hearing the officer’s order, Mian Tang immediately nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll make two dishes for you, Officer.”
Her calm response was as if they hadn’t had a heated argument and torn apart their relationship a few days ago.
It was just that the word “Officer” was too jarring! Cui Xingzhou never imagined that he would miss that soft, sweet “husband” so much…
Having taken Cui Xingzhou’s food order, Mian Tang went to the kitchen to prepare the meal.
A few days ago, when she was in a bad mood, she had been cold towards Li Mama. Now that she had come to terms with things, she felt she had been a bit excessive.
No matter what, Li Mama had never mistreated her in daily life. Her menstrual cramps had even improved significantly after Li Mama’s herbal soups and attentive care.
So while tying her apron in the small kitchen, Mian Tang sincerely apologized to Li Mama, saying “I’m sorry.”