Adding up both lifetimes, Shaoshang had been frightened only a few times. First, because her baseline was high—there was nothing new under the sun. Even her big sister’s previous and current boyfriends could passionately kiss in dark alleys after drinking, so what was the big deal? Second, because she knew how to pretend—even if scared to death inside, she could act as if nothing had happened.

However, this shock exceeded her professional scope. Originally she had regarded Ling Buyi in her heart as noble and radiant like a revolutionary martyr, saving people from water and fire. Today she discovered that Ling Buyi himself was the reservoir and fire pit—trapping you without discussion.

In the carriage, Ling Buyi seemed to have said two sentences about ‘Zhuangzi’s teachings on life and death.’ Shaoshang, in a daze, didn’t hear clearly and casually replied, “Oh, is Zhuangzi also going to the He family today?” Then Ling Buyi closed his mouth and said nothing more. After the carriage stopped, he directly grabbed her by the back collar and pulled her into the He family residence, which was filled with white mourning throughout.

What was comforting was that Lady He Zhao seemed also to have been frightened quite badly, staring in bewildered uncertainty. The He household steward reminded her in a low voice to personally hand over two bundles of incense sticks, but she directly presented an incense burner to Shaoshang. Shaoshang stood there woodenly, at a loss for what to do. Ling Buyi couldn’t bear watching and took the incense burner from her arms to return it to the ashen-faced He household steward, then pulled her along to light incense and offer it before the spirit tablets of Duke He and his sons, then bowed and knelt in prayer.

Only after kowtowing three times did Shaoshang come to her senses. While Ling Buyi went to the side of the mourning hall to comfort the few remaining He family retainers, she quickly said to Lady He Zhao in a low voice: “This wasn’t my idea to come—it was Ling Buyi who forced me to come!”

Lady He Zhao watched the movements of Ling Buyi and the retainers across from them, also speaking in a low voice: “Nonsense. You think I can’t tell? This fellow surnamed Ling is quite formidable. I already got a taste of it when he escorted us back to the capital. But you’ve come, so you’ve come. Why did he force you to come here?”

“Well…” Shaoshang smacked her lips and explained with difficulty: “In a few days everyone will know. That is, Lord Ling and I got engaged, yesterday.”

“What?!” Lady He Zhao nearly jumped up. Fortunately, having experienced the tragic deaths of her father and brothers, she was a ‘survivor’ and didn’t lose her composure too badly. “Didn’t you just go to the Lou family yesterday to break off the engagement?”

Shaoshang sighed: “That’s right, it was yesterday. Broke off the engagement in the morning, got engaged again in the afternoon.” Like rushing to catch trains during spring travel, leaving her no time even to be sad.

At this moment, enthusiastic congratulations rang out from across the way. Apparently Ling Buyi had also informed the He family retainers of the engagement. Those men dressed in mourning robes and the surviving family members all bowed apologetically in congratulation.

The two withdrew their gazes from across the way. Lady He Zhao stared at her for a long time, then suddenly let out a long sigh: “I’ve implicated you.”

Hearing this, Shaoshang immediately felt a sense of kindred spirits. After a long moment, she said emotionally: “I really didn’t expect you to say this. I thought you would say I picked up a great bargain—knowing I could get such a good marriage match, why did I stubbornly refuse to break the engagement back then, putting on a show…”

Lady He Zhao’s eyes showed mockery: “Though Ling Buyi’s appearance is good, he’s exceptionally black-hearted and ruthless. You haven’t seen it—when he was in Fengyi Commandery trying to force out the whereabouts of the Xiao clan’s fugitives, he tormented the Xiao Prince’s household women without the slightest softening of heart.”

Shaoshang’s mouth fell open. She couldn’t help looking across at Ling Buyi. She saw his tall and upright back, his bearing dignified and elegant. She stammered: “Then, did they catch the fugitives later?”

“…They caught them.” Lady He Zhao pursed her lips. “Ling Buyi’s expectations were correct. Because everything happened suddenly, not only was my father unprepared, the Xiao Prince’s household also didn’t expect to be defeated like a landslide within three days—the Xiao Prince and his sons either dead or captured. How could they have time to clean up properly in such a short time? It was the Xiao Princess Consort who arranged for the Xiao Prince’s youngest son to escape and hid large amounts of wealth. The remaining women also knew a bit. Ling Buyi started with several commandery princesses and within half a day forced the information out of the secondary consorts and concubines.”

Shaoshang’s mouth went dry. Not knowing what to think in her heart, she said dryly: “Then he was ruthless in the right place.”

Lady He Zhao rolled her eyes: “You think I feel sorry for the Xiao family?! Hmph, the Emperor is benevolent—the Xiao Prince’s young children weren’t killed, at most exiled. I’m saying Ling Buyi as a person… hmph hmph, I’ve seen clearly now that what use is a man being handsome and elegant? It’s better to have a soft and gentle heart!”

Shaoshang said neither warmly nor coldly: “Yes, I think so too.” You yourself suffered a loss with Ximen the official and now know Dalang’s good points—bah bah, crow’s mouth, A’Yao is nothing like Wu Dalang! Amitabha!

Only then did Lady He Zhao notice her words were improper. She glanced at Shaoshang and said awkwardly: “The household retainers all told me that when your father and mother were away campaigning, they were famously righteous and bold. The Cheng family… are all kind-hearted good people.”

“Good that you know!” Shaoshang knew she was unwilling to praise her directly and took advantage: “If not for the sake of my father and mother, fearing they would have difficulty conducting themselves outside, I would never have broken the engagement even if beaten to death!”

Lady He Zhao snorted coldly and turned aside without speaking.

Shaoshang looked across. Really not wanting to go to Ling Buyi’s side, after looking around for a long while, she saw a delicate and frail middle-aged woman kneeling in the corner. Her expression was haggard, her sick body emaciated, surrounded by a group of servants and maids asking after her well-being. She was completely out of place in this mourning hall thick with military atmosphere. Shaoshang made conversation: “Who is this lady?”

Lady He Zhao said indifferently: “That’s my stepmother. Today is the last day of the wake. The weather is so warm, the bodies can’t wait any longer. My stepmother’s health isn’t good. I told her she didn’t need to come, but she insisted on coming out.”

Shaoshang observed from afar Lady He’s sickly face a few times, thinking no wonder General He entrusted this large household to his daughter. Suddenly thinking of something: “The last day of the wake—you’ll hold the funeral procession tomorrow. Then, then A’Yao…”

Lady He Zhao stared at her, seeming to understand what was in her heart: “Yesterday after your family came to break the engagement, A’Yao fell ill. But he still had his attendants come to pass word that he’ll definitely come early tomorrow for the funeral procession.”

Shaoshang felt a wave of sadness in her heart: “A’Yao is just this kind of honest gentleman. As long as he’s made up his mind, he’ll treat you well. Rest assured.”

Lady He Zhao said coldly: “Someone else’s fiancé—please Lady Cheng watch your words and avoid calling him ‘A’Yao’ with every breath. I don’t like hearing it.”

“I’ll call him if I want. What can you do to me?!” Shaoshang was hardly the type to submit to threats. “Hmph, let me tell you, you’d better put away that rotten temper. A’Yao doesn’t owe you anything. He’s prepared to live a good life with you. If you bully him again or make unreasonable trouble, I’ll take him back!” See who dares bully someone she’s protecting!

Who knew Lady He Zhao would calmly say: “No, you won’t. You and I are the same kind of person. As long as it keeps your father and brothers safe and your whole family reunited, you wouldn’t trade it for eighteen Lou Yaos.”

Shaoshang truly hadn’t expected Lady He Zhao to say such words. She looked at her for a long time without speaking.

After using the noon meal at the He residence and chatting idly with the women for a while, Shaoshang finally got in the carriage with Ling Buyi to return home. As the carriage wheels leisurely turned, she said: “I really didn’t expect you to speak so kindly and patiently with those He family retainers missing arms and legs.”

Ling Buyi leaned sideways by the window lattice. In the daylight penetrating from the side, his upright eyebrows were like distant mountains, ethereal and handsome. He looked at the girl’s translucent, delicate white face and said softly: “Military generals may seem to have glorious households, but death can also come in an instant. If I treat them better, I think that if something happens to me in the future, someone will also treat my surviving family generously.”

Shaoshang sighed casually: “Yes, if something happened to you, I wonder if anyone would give their fiancé to me.”

A period of quiet fell inside the carriage. Outside, the sound of turning wheel hubs could be heard—

Ling Buyi slowly turned his head, staring fixedly at the girl.

Shaoshang was stared at until her whole body felt creepy. Suddenly inspiration flashed and she said loudly: “Oh, I misspoke, I misspoke! If something happened to you, I’d be your widow. Even if giving someone away, it should be to your and my daughter!”

Ling Buyi continued looking at her. Shaoshang kept smiling apologetically: “I was confused just now—I got it wrong!”

“Actually, you’re overthinking it.” Shaoshang continued coaxing: “They say daughters resemble their fathers. Just based on your appearance, could your and my daughter be lacking? Would we need others to give theirs away? More likely people would be crying and begging!”

Ling Buyi shook his head with a smile. Whether he truly believed Shaoshang’s coaxing or found her appearance amusing was unclear.

Arriving at the Cheng residence gate, Ling Buyi supported Shaoshang down from the carriage and smiled: “Your parents were worn out today. I won’t enter the residence to visit. Rest well these two days. Once news of our engagement spreads, I’m afraid your household won’t have any peace.”

“What worn out—more like frightened.” Shaoshang smiled and glared at him, seeming both reproachful and pleased.

Ling Buyi couldn’t help reaching out to touch the soft silk ribbon tied in her hair, inexplicably feeling warmth rise in his chest.

Shaoshang cheerfully walked toward the Cheng residence main gate. After not even two steps, Ling Buyi called out to stop her: “Shaoshang, there are still pastries in the box in the carriage. Do you want to take some?”

Shaoshang smiled and shook her head in refusal.

After not even two steps, Ling Buyi called out to stop her again: “It’s already getting late. Don’t skip and jump. Watch for stones under your feet.”

Shaoshang nodded.

In such a short distance, Ling Buyi called out to stop her a full three or four times. Like breaking through enemy fire lines, Shaoshang finally made it to her own gate with great difficulty. Old Steward Cheng Shun hiding by the gate smiled until his face was full of chrysanthemum wrinkles, obsequiously welcoming his young lady inside.

Cheng Shaogong stood humming and hawing in the front courtyard, waiting for his youngest sister who had left early this morning and was only now returning: “You’re willing to come back? Father and Mother returned long ago.”

Shaoshang shot him a look: “Third brother, you finally have the brother-in-law with the most spirit and opinions in the entire capital. Don’t just stand there—go outside and look. Maybe he hasn’t left yet. Just hope you can handle it!”

Cheng Shaogong smiled unconcernedly: “As long as you can handle it, I naturally can too. He’s not the one living a lifetime with me. At most I’ll grunt in acknowledgment during festivals and holidays. What can he do to me?”

Shaoshang glared at him, turned and walked forward: “By the way, where are Father and Mother?”

“They’ve retired to rest.”

Shaoshang stopped, saying strangely: “So early? The evening meal hasn’t even been served.”

“They said they’re too tired. Don’t wait for them for the evening meal.”

Shaoshang turned back, looking at her twin brother. Actually, she was also very tired. Mentally tired.