That night, after Cheng Zhi returned to the government office, Sang Shi immediately relayed to her husband everything Shaoshang had said.

Cheng Zhi was speechless for a long while. He had originally been the one most in favor of this marriage, yet now his emotions were inexplicably gloomy. He sat alone facing the window in silence for a long time, until the second night watch sounded, before he finally spread out silk and dipped his brush in ink to write a reply to his elder brother.

Military riders moved swift as wind, and the three locations were not far apart. After only seven or eight days, Cheng Zhi received his elder brother’s handwritten letter, which stated: “Exchanged tokens with County Magistrate Lou, the marriage engagement is set. After returning to the capital, we shall complete the proper rites.” As for the betrothal tokens, the former offered a mutton-fat jade pendant, the latter presented a golden tiger paperweight. The two men even agreed to ride urgently to the border between Qing and Yan provinces, drink three bowls of wine, and clap hands to seal the agreement.

People of this era valued trustworthiness—such a marriage agreement was thus considered settled.

Cheng Zhi raised the letter in his hand and sighed: “Elder brother says that County Magistrate Lou, though a scholar, has a straightforward temperament and is an honest person. He greatly enjoyed associating with him.”

Sang Shi didn’t even bother to lift her eyelids: “In all these years, has elder brother ever not enjoyed associating with anyone?” With Cheng Shi’s simple appearance concealing a calculating heart, even if he thought someone had forgotten to bring their brain when they were reincarnated, he could still appear extremely warm and friendly on the surface.

Cheng Zhi sighed again: “What about Niaoniao and A’Yao?”

Sang Shi also began sighing: “Either inside the city or outside it.”

The couple stared at each other in mutual silence.

In fact, as early as seven or eight days ago, young master Lou had already considered himself the son-in-law of the Cheng household, coming and going with such joy, head held high and chest out. Whichever servant in the government office dared to call him “son-in-law young master” would receive rewards of coins that flowed like water.

Originally, Cheng Zhi had worried that being young and hot-blooded with loose purse strings, and now without elders nearby to supervise him, he might be led astray by the city’s frivolous young masters. Who knew that in these days since Shaoshang had regained consciousness, Lou Yao had barely left the house a few times.

Whenever the city’s noble families sent calling cards, when Lou Yao mentioned to Shaoshang his plans to go out and attend banquets, she would shrink into her bed with a lonely, joyless appearance: “Oh, you’re going out…”

Then Lou Yao’s heart would soften to complete mush, feeling that his young fiancée had struggled so hard to escape from the clutches of illness, and was now at her most fragile, helpless, and afraid of loneliness—how could he go out alone to enjoy himself? After declining the invitations, he would continue teaching Shaoshang to read and write, talking and laughing through another day. In any case, back in the capital, because his mother and former fiancée He Zhaojun supervised him strictly, he’d never had much opportunity from childhood to associate with that dissolute crowd, nor did he find those pleasure-seeking activities particularly interesting.

“My learning is shallow—won’t your family look down on me?” the frail young girl worried.

Lou Yao’s heart was more than soft—even his whole person and voice softened, gently saying: “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. I’m also the one with the shallowest learning in my family.” The Lou clan’s main branch had two households, each producing several sons and daughters. Among this entire sequence, Lou Yao ranked second from last, with only his elder household cousin Lou Yi below him. The older siblings, whether legitimate or concubine-born, all had reputations for literary talent and wisdom. Only he seemed to have been born into the wrong body—he loved swords over literature and refused to even attend the Imperial Academy.

“Teaching me to write and read every day must trouble you so,” Shaoshang said with a grateful smile.

Lou Yao shook his head like a windmill. He didn’t feel troubled at all—he was overjoyed, in fact! Since childhood, he’d never been able to hold his head up high before his older siblings. Now to be looked at by his beloved with such admiring eyes, asking him questions word by word in that delicate, humble voice—his heart was blooming with joy!

To meet the teaching demands, young master Lou, who usually avoided books and ink like floods and savage beasts, became unprecedentedly diligent. He not only had his attendants fetch scrolls from his father’s study in Shanyang Commandery to use as teaching materials, but also reviewed every night the contents of books he had memorized in childhood.

After the attendants who went to fetch the books explained the full circumstances, County Magistrate Lou, who had originally wanted to call his son back, immediately abandoned the idea. He quickly sent over a dozen bamboo scroll tubes, and also packed many clothing items and gold ingots, instructing his son to “stay there for a while and learn some social graces from Uncle Cheng—no need to rush back to the capital.”

When Sang Shi heard about this, she was so angry she laughed: “Master Lou is a county magistrate of many years, yet he tells his son to learn ‘social graces’ from you, a mere county magistrate?” This was truly the funniest joke she’d heard all year.

“I’m now a county governor,” Cheng Zhi hastily corrected his wife.

“‘Acting’!”

Regardless of what the elders calculated in their hearts, Lou Yao lived at the county office with increasing peace of mind.

Shaoshang was also very satisfied with this situation. Currently, she faced two difficult matters. First, she hadn’t expected to be claimed so quickly, and by such an excellent family at that. Thus, merely being able to read and process government documents was clearly insufficient—she must learn those pictographic characters and advanced books. Second, whether or not it was for future marital happiness, she’d better hold onto Lou Yao tightly and quickly cultivate their relationship.

Shaoshang made a comprehensive plan and simply kept Lou Yao by her side, conveniently solving both difficulties at once. And Lou Yao was like a beast that had crashed into a millstone made of honey candy—willingly putting on a halter and pulling the millstone. Every night he diligently reviewed his studies, then during the day fed them back to his semi-illiterate fiancée. Coming and going like this, he was so busy all day that he had no time to go out and socialize.

Thus in just a few short days, rumors spread throughout the entire city that “Young Master Cheng maintains a strict household manner—his niece manages her husband severely.”

Sang Shi caught a stray arrow out of nowhere—truly both angry and amused. She pulled her husband’s ear and scolded with a laugh: “Back then when they wanted to gift you dancing girls, I was the one who told you to accept them! Those people—it’s been so many years, and they still remember!”

Cheng Zhi begged for mercy repeatedly: “If we’re really going to talk about household manner, it wouldn’t be your turn—above you there’s still Elder Sister Yuan Yi! Later we’ll settle this account with her! Come, come, sit down, sit here with me… Let’s sort this out first…”

Before the couple could finish settling accounts in the room with deep affection and tender feelings, Shaoshang finally recovered enough to go out and walk on the ground.

It was now late February of early spring. As the earth renewed itself, the ice and snow on the fields and branches melted together. From the moist soil emerged fine, fuzzy tips of green grass. Although riding horseback still meant cold wind striking the face, it wasn’t like the harsh killing cold of deep winter—instead it carried a somewhat negotiable temperament. Thus Lou Yao wanted to take Shaoshang out for a tour every day.

Sometimes they would wander through the various market districts in the city, selecting a few interesting items. Sometimes they would ride horses all the way out of the city, roaming freely through the neighboring countryside. The bandits who had caused trouble the previous month had long been thoroughly cleared out, and with the household guards of both families following behind, there was no fear of encountering danger.

Sometimes they went far, often returning to the city only when the sky was growing dark. Cheng Zhi was like an annoying gatekeeper uncle, every day putting on a stern face to reiterate to this pair of youngsters the city gate closing time.

Lou Yao and Shaoshang would lower their heads, like two little moles secretly exchanging glances and smiling below, then when raising their heads would put on honest, obedient appearances, nodding repeatedly in agreement. Yet the next day they would still run off into the deep countryside as before.

What made Shaoshang even more delighted was that her pig-trotter uncle, who usually traded barbs with her constantly, had actually gifted her an extremely light and exquisite carriage—a small vehicle that could seat two people side by side. Open on all four sides, entirely lacquered red with gold detailing, as fresh and lively as a young girl, with a round, graceful, light canopy on top. The axle curved like a neck, and the two wheels were not only sturdy and solid, but wrapped in several layers of some kind of animal hide for shock absorption.

“Uncle, is this really for me?” Shaoshang couldn’t bear to let it go, continuously stroking the glossy lacquered wall of the carriage. She still remembered when she’d been accepted to university, how her uncle had given her a super cute and powerful electric bike that saved her so much effort getting around campus.

Cheng Zhi smiled with complete benevolence: “I didn’t give it—your aunt did.”

“Thank you so much, Auntie!” Shaoshang was so happy she nearly jumped up, thinking in her heart that Auntie was truly the very best person in this world. Not caring that they were right there in the back courtyard stable, she jumped up and planted a kiss on Sang Shi’s face. Though she could ride horses, prolonged bouncing was ultimately unsuitable. Now that she had this small carriage, going anywhere would be convenient.

Sang Shi couldn’t help but laugh, while secretly reaching out to pinch her husband’s waist.

“But, but I don’t know how to drive a carriage!” Shaoshang was so happy she’d almost forgotten about this.

Cheng Zhi was so amiable he didn’t seem like his usual self: “Have A’Yao teach you.”

Lou Yao naturally took on the task with enthusiasm.

Just as someone who can ride a bicycle quickly learns to ride an electric bike, someone who can ride a horse actually doesn’t find learning to drive a carriage difficult. In just two days, Shaoshang could already crack the bamboo whip with forceful whistling sounds. Without even needing to let the whip touch the horse’s haunches, she could drive the carriage with just light taps of the bamboo tip and the sound of the whip. In the following days, she couldn’t wait to drive this crimson little carriage around the whole city. After feeling her hand was practiced enough, she and Lou Yao left the city heading east to have a look.

Early spring winds were brisk, young hoofbeats urgent.

Shaoshang held the reins with one hand and the bamboo whip with the other, lightly and skillfully driving the carriage at a gentle pace. Her beautiful eyes looked all around—everywhere she looked were the busy sounds and shadows of country folk and farm women. Some burning fields, some plowing land, some fertilizing. From time to time, leisurely farm songs would rise from the fields. It didn’t matter who started first—those who heard would laugh and join in for a few lines. From near to far, rising and falling one after another, the singing continued endlessly…

Having been here for so long, she felt as if only these recent days had she truly come to know this world that was both familiar and strange. In this scene, except for the unmarked gravesites in the wilderness still touched by cold winds and waning moon, the bloody slaughter of the previous month seemed never to have happened. Whether or not they had lost relatives or dear friends, the people—as trampled upon as dirt yet eternally enduring as dirt—always looked forward with hope.

Shaoshang brought the carriage to a stop, and after a long moment said: “A’Yao, in the future when we serve as local officials, we must do well in our duties.”

Lou Yao stood by the carriage gazing for a long while, then also said: “Mm. I dare not speak of achieving prosperity and abundance, but at the very least we must educate the people to understand propriety.”

Shaoshang turned her head to retort: “When granaries are full, people know honor and disgrace. Making sure they have full bellies is the first priority!”

Lou Yao smiled: “That’s natural! My father often says the same—as long as the common people can have enough food and clothing, they won’t create any disturbances. But, but… I think that if officials support them to warmth and fullness, it’s only a temporary solution. What happens when officials change later? Better to let them understand principles themselves, seek progress, know how to find ways to achieve sufficient food and clothing…”

Shaoshang immediately looked at him with new respect, praising repeatedly: “Yes, yes, A’Yao, you speak so well! Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. This is the path to lasting success!” She immediately launched into a string of compliments, praising the young man until his entire face turned red.

During this period, the two got along very harmoniously.

Shaoshang deliberately restrained her sharp temperament, bringing out the good temper she’d used with Wan Qiqi—discussing everything together. Lou Yao had a personality that responded to softness but not hardness. Meeting Shaoshang’s gentle and soft manner, he was naturally patient in all things. Shaoshang felt this developmental momentum was very promising. Love or no love was too ethereal—at least they could now like each other, which was the successful first step.

Shaoshang raised her whip to set off again. Behind them rode a team of guards, and the whole group proceeded eastward in grand fashion.

Lou Yao rode his horse alongside, smiling as he watched his young and beautiful fiancée skillfully drive the small carriage. The more he looked, the more satisfied he felt. Seeing they’d reached a particularly beautiful hillside with a pond beside it, he suddenly said: “With such fine scenery, why don’t you play a tune on the flute?”

Shaoshang looked around and cheerfully agreed. She then had Lou Yao sit beside her, passed the reins and bamboo whip to him, freed her hands, and brought the horizontal flute to her side to begin playing.

The flute’s sound carried on the wind, the melody light and pleasant, filled with vibrant, hopeful meaning—spring warmth and blooming flowers, reversal of misfortune to good fortune. Receiving heaven’s protection, praying for favorable weather and rain, ensuring warmth and abundance—from the accompanying guards to the farmers by the fields, all wore smiles on their faces.

“Excellent! Excellent flute, excellent tune!”

A full, powerful voice suddenly rang out from the hillside’s edge, startling everyone. The guards behind the carriage all became alert. Shaoshang quickly lowered her flute, and Lou Yao also reined in. The two looked around in all directions.

They saw a middle-aged man wearing a straw raincoat with a bamboo hat on his back slowly approaching from the pond’s direction. Though he held a fishing rod in one hand and carried a fish basket in the other, dressed as a fisherman, behind him followed a group of respectful servants.

The middle-aged man had originally come out only because he’d heard the flute’s sound. Who knew that upon seeing the carriage Shaoshang sat in, his brows immediately furrowed, and his expression toward Shaoshang held some consideration. He slowly said: “Are you the niece of Cheng Ziguo of Hua County?”

Shaoshang was no longer like when she’d first met Yuan Shen, confronting everyone she saw. Seeing this middle-aged man had an extraordinary bearing and no small entourage, and had revealed her origins in one breath, she quickly pulled Lou Yao down from the carriage. At the same time, she waved for the guards to move farther away, bowing in salute: “This young woman greets you, sir. What you say is correct. Might you have a past connection with the Cheng family?”

Lou Yao had felt this middle-aged man looked familiar from the moment he saw him. Now hearing him speak, he suddenly cried out: “Ah, you are Grand Tutor Huangfu! This youngster greets you respectfully.” He had once been dragged by his elder brother to audit this man’s lectures.

Shaoshang understood nothing about court matters, only knowing this middle-aged man was clearly an official of no small rank. She then very “womanly” shrank behind Lou Yao, letting him handle the situation.

Who knew Huangfu Yi wouldn’t pay attention to Lou Yao, but instead stared directly at Shaoshang, saying with a laugh: “Miss Cheng, since you’re named Shaoshang, why don’t you play a tune on the zither instead of blowing on a flute?”

Seeing she couldn’t avoid it, Shaoshang laughed dryly: “…I, I don’t know how to play the zither. Even this horizontal flute—my aunt at home only just taught me recently…” How did this fellow know her name?!

Looking up, only then did Shaoshang clearly see this middle-aged man’s appearance.

This man named Huangfu Yi was quite old, and didn’t maintain himself well. Though his features were refined and elegant, his bearing dignified, his face was full of weathering, fine wrinkles covering his countenance. Thus Shaoshang didn’t dare guess his specific age.

Hearing these words, Huangfu Yi inexplicably became melancholic. He handed the fishing rod and fish basket to a servant beside him, waved his hand to have them also move farther away, then said: “Your aunt didn’t like playing the zither when she was young—said it hurt her fingers. However, she later still learned the zither and played it very well.”

Shaoshang put away her smile and remained silent for a long while before saying: “Does the Grand Tutor have a past connection with the Sang family?” She already knew what kind of person this Huangfu fellow was. However, was it really okay to discuss someone’s wife in this tone?

“Naturally there is one. I studied at White Deer Mountain since childhood. When I left the mountain, your uncle hadn’t even entered yet.” Huangfu Yi slowly removed the bamboo hat from his back. “I never expected that in the end, it would be him who married Shunhua.”

Shaoshang’s face darkened as she cupped her hands: “If the Grand Tutor has no other business, this young woman will take her leave now.” With that, she turned to board the carriage. Lou Yao on the side stood dumbly, completely unaware of what was happening.

“Wait!” Huangfu Yi suddenly raised his voice, stroking his beard with a smile: “Do you know this carriage was a gift from me to your aunt?”

Shaoshang said coldly: “So what?!” In her heart, she cursed her pig-trotter uncle ten thousand times—truly setting up his niece without discussion, and doing it again and again after the first time!

Huangfu Yi stepped forward several paces, slowly stroking the beautifully curved axle: “I heard her leg was injured. To spare her difficulty when traveling, I specially had this carriage crafted and sent it to her. Who knew your uncle would give it to you instead?”

Shaoshang was displeased: “The Grand Tutor is mistaken. This carriage was not a gift from Uncle—it was a gift from Auntie to me!” Although Third Uncle’s brain wasn’t very good, he had high appearance value, good physique, and a pure and sincere temperament. Auntie loved him beyond measure. Times had changed—what did this dead old man still want?! Why didn’t he count the wrinkles on his face!

“As for Auntie’s leg injury, the Grand Tutor need not worry. From bandaging to changing dressings, even sucking out the pus and contaminated blood from the wound—Uncle handled everything personally without relying on anyone else.” Such words, even if every sentence was true, would normally be difficult for a young woman to speak aloud. But Shaoshang was hard-hearted and thick-skinned, and now for the sake of her pig-trotter uncle’s face, she was going all out.

Sure enough, Huangfu Yi’s complexion changed drastically upon hearing this. However, in just a moment, he recovered his elegant and composed appearance, only smiling bitterly and shaking his head repeatedly. He pondered for a moment, then said: “By seniority, I can also be considered half an elder to you. Over this hillside is an estate where His Majesty once stayed. Young lady, why not come along for a talk.”

Shaoshang laughed coldly again and again: “Auntie told me that she once had you promise that in the future, neither you nor anyone around you should seek her out, write to her, or send her things. Therefore, there’s no need to talk.” This master-disciple pair had the same manner—making demands with perfect confidence, completely disregarding whether others could accept them or not.

Huangfu Yi smiled slightly: “Your aunt is indeed deeply affectionate toward you—she tells you everything. However, after Shangjian had you relay that message last time, your uncle wrote saying that old friends may meet without hindrance.”

Shaoshang ground her teeth, wishing she could drag her pig-trotter uncle over and beat him violently a hundred times, oh a hundred times!

Seeing this small girl’s expression changing so variously and finding it quite interesting, Huangfu Yi spoke with sincere warmth: “This old man has no other intention. It’s just that… alas, I want to see your aunt, but I think she doesn’t wish for me to appear before her eyes again. You are someone close to her. Speaking with you is like seeing her.”

Hearing his words were earnest and his attitude appropriately humble, Shaoshang thought this person was one of Yuan Shen’s teachers and most likely had some standing. If possible, it would be best not to offend him. Thus she could only suppress her anger and nod.

The hillside was gentle. Huangfu Yi walked ahead with hands clasped behind his back. Shaoshang silently followed. Lou Yao, who still didn’t quite understand the situation, led the horses about ten zhang behind them, followed by a large group of guards and servants.

Who knew that before they’d even crossed the hillside, they saw atop the hill a tall and spacious pavilion. Its eaves were topped with bronze qilin, below which were six-sided columns extending outward in eight directions.

Inside the pavilion were two young men. The one wearing a light blue scholar’s robe held a roll of bamboo slips, standing facing the eastern mountain range. The other wore plain white facing-lapel brocade with subtle patterns, his form like a crane or mantis, his profile still handsome. He sat quietly before the stone table’s chess board, one hand resting on his knee, the other wrist propped on the stone table, pale fingertips pinching a piece of lacquer black.

—The moment Shaoshang saw these two, her legs immediately felt filled with lead, her brain like surging magma. No matter what, she could no longer walk forward.

It was Yuan Shen who saw them first. With elegant bearing, he bowed respectfully to Huangfu Yi: “Master, you should take your medicine.”

Though Shaoshang stood right beside his teacher, his gaze refused to sweep over even once, acting as if he didn’t see her at all. As for that gentleman playing chess, he didn’t even move a corner of his robe.

Huangfu Yi smiled as he explained to the girl: “Some days ago, His Majesty completed his tour of Qing Province and returned to the capital. But my body doesn’t cooperate—I can’t endure the hardship of more travel. So His Majesty sent me here to recuperate. You’ve met Shangjian before. He came to keep me company. And Master Zi… oh, Lord Ling… he and I only arrived two days ago. His Majesty instructed him to recover from his injuries properly.”

Shaoshang nodded awkwardly. Truly, deep in her heart she felt this awkwardness came without reason, because she didn’t think she had anything to be awkward about. Yet truly the atmosphere was inexplicably awkward.

Huangfu Yi walked to the brazier on the side, supported by a servant boy as he sat down to take his medicine.

Shaoshang felt she needed to break this awkwardness, so she stepped forward two paces and bowed: “Young Master Yuan, it’s been quite a while. I trust you’ve been well?”

The ice-cold Young Master Yuan finally shifted his gaze a tiny bit in her direction, his voice even colder than his expression: “Two months without meeting—I hear Miss Cheng is already betrothed. I offer my congratulations.”

An extremely elegant sentence, yet the two words “two months” were bitten down heavily, carrying quite a bit of teeth-grinding meaning.

Shaoshang swallowed. Before she could respond, a youth carrying a tray came around from the other side. Upon seeing Shaoshang, he cried out in shock: “…Miss Cheng…?”

Shaoshang smiled: “Guard Liangqiu, so you’re here too.”

Liangqiu Fei’s expression inexplicably darkened as he said with strange sarcasm: “‘Only’ one month without meeting—I hear Miss Cheng is already betrothed. A’Fei offers his congratulations!”

Shaoshang was mortified.

Why are you saying the exact same thing as Yuan Shen?