HomeA Cup of LoveYi Ou Chun - Chapter 78

Yi Ou Chun – Chapter 78

No matter what, she was at a disadvantage. In matters like these, young women could never match men’s advantages. He loved to make ambiguous, suggestive remarks, and Qingyuan, being modest, couldn’t argue with him too much. The finger between her teeth still carried the fragrance of tea. She opened her mouth sheepishly and moved her teeth away, saying, “Well, all the dishes are here. Let’s eat.”

Shen Run withdrew his hand, which bore faint marks of two rows of teeth. He examined them carefully, “Young lady has very good teeth.”

Qingyuan asked embarrassedly, “Did I hurt you?”

He said no, gazing at her tenderly, “I like the marks you leave on me. In the future, I hope you’ll also like what I leave on you.”

Qingyuan, still being a sheltered young lady, didn’t understand his double entendre and just looked at him puzzled. He raised his eyebrows with a smile, arranged the bowls and plates for her, and poured another cup of cherry wine, instructing her to take small sips.

“Earlier, did you see Li Congxin for who he truly is?” He said while arranging dishes with lowered eyes, “If you say the young marquis is detached, that’s not necessarily true. His feelings for you were just slightly more than for other young ladies, only slightly more, not enough to make him disregard everything to marry you. I previously thought he would be a worthy opponent, but now it seems defeating him is meaningless.”

This was the stance of a victor standing on high ground. Qingyuan said, “Love cannot withstand testing. It’s better to remain in blissful ignorance.”

Shen Run fell silent, knowing that although she didn’t elaborate, she was still hurt by the events of the past few days. He reached out and lightly touched the back of her hand, “I will never deceive you again.”

Hearing his straightforward promise without any glib words, Qingyuan believed him just because he said it. She nodded, “Given how handsome you are, I’ll trust you one more time.”

This was the first time Shen Run heard her compliment him, and such a compliment was extraordinary. He immediately became a bit elated, “I never knew being handsome had such advantages! Indeed, when you run out of money you can rob, but if you’re not good-looking, you can only wait to be reborn.”

She laughed, “Are you an official or a bandit? Why rob when you can earn money honestly?”

Shen Run was very clear about the boundaries of intimacy. This was the woman who would become his wife, so there was no need to hide too much from her. After all, any money he acquired would be managed by her, and he couldn’t hide it even if he wanted to. So he said, “This method brings money the fastest. Those dozen large wine urns from the Xie family’s invitation came from this. My robbing is never outright robbery – I make them beg me to take it. If I don’t take it, they remain anxious. So this robbery can’t be called robbery; at most, it’s doing people a favor.” After speaking, he leisurely sipped his wine, “By the way, tomorrow I’ll have sixty thousand taels of silver sent to the Chen mansion. Keep it well, use it for your dowry.”

Qingyuan was startled, “Sixty thousand taels? Why so much?”

He smiled, “Seeing how the Xie family is acting, they don’t plan to spend a single coin on you. I need to prepare early for you, so you can have a grand wedding procession when you leave your maiden home. Of those sixty thousand taels, ten thousand is their initial tribute, and the remaining fifty thousand is Madam Hu’s hush money. Using their methods against them, you’re not at a loss. I think, since the Chen family raised you, we shouldn’t touch their savings at the end. You can look into it yourself and give some appropriate compensation to your grandparents, don’t let them feel disappointed.”

His words, one after another, were full of domestic warmth. Qingyuan never knew that this man, who was known for his fierce reputation in official circles, could be so considerate and comforting.

She lowered her head, awkwardly stirring the dishes on the small plate before her, “Grandmother told me yesterday that they had already prepared a dowry…”

He secretly smiled, knowing that despite her outward resistance, she had already agreed in her heart to marry him.

Before coming to the Chen residence, looking at the carriages loaded with betrothal gifts, he had been somewhat nervous, fearing she might truly be angry and unwilling to forgive him. But upon entering Chen’s house and seeing her, that unease disappeared. She was just there, neither welcoming nor sending him away. Even when she threatened to throw him out, he felt their connection couldn’t be severed.

He put down his chopsticks and said, “Their preparation is their kindness, our contribution is our filial duty.”

She softly responded, “I understand.”

That gentle, compliant “I understand” truly moved his heart.

One about to take a wife, one about to be married – when the two sat together, gentle undercurrents were flowing. He doubted she could fully comprehend his current state of mind. In earlier years when the Shen family met with misfortune and his father died unjustly, both their household and blood relations withered away. No matter how powerful money was, it couldn’t buy kinship. To restore the family’s prosperity, emotionally he could only rely on his future wife. Qingyuan shared his sorrow, but at least she still had loving grandparents. This way, he would have both a wife and elders – it was truly a profitable arrangement, giving him more and more to look forward to.

So there was no need to repeatedly ask if she would marry him. After some consideration, he said, “Once the battle at Stone Fort City is settled, I’ll request a date to be set. Take this time to prepare well, if you need anything just send word. As for the Commander’s mansion, for the things I can’t personally attend to, I’ll have to trouble you to make decisions. Everything should be according to your preferences; I’m not particular about these things.”

It felt like they were going to build a life together. Qingyuan suddenly felt her nose tingle, and afraid he would see, she lowered her head to secretly wipe away tears.

He said nothing but reached out to grip her hand tightly. In this chaotic world, this one grasp was enough.

Leaving Hong Yan Tower, he led her along the Rouge River for a stroll, taking her to foreign merchants’ stalls, and trying all sorts of strange ornaments on her. Miss Yunya was beautiful as a flower and bright as the moon – she looked lovely no matter what she wore. Finally, they brought out jewelry from Tianzhu, with one end connecting to the ear and the other attaching to the nose. He burst out laughing, “How like a cow!”

This item was originally a nose ring worn by Tianzhu women, but since people of the Central Plains didn’t favor such decorations, the nose ring had been modified into delicate patches. Qingyuan was annoyed and took it off to forcefully put it on him. After doing so, she also clapped and laughed heartily, “You’re just the same, like the Bull Demon King!”

If the guards of the Palace Command saw their commander decorated like this, who knows what they would think – Commander Shen’s dignity would be completely gone, enough to make them laugh for a year and a half.

As the two laughed and played in the bustling street, Li Congxin and Zhenglun, who had been watching from afar, couldn’t help but sigh.

Li Congxin said, “Is Fourth Sister truly happy with Shen Run? I’ve never seen her like this. She was always formal with me, when I called her Fourth Sister, she would reply with Third Young Master.”

Zhenglun couldn’t feel any sympathy for his melancholy. As a friend, he even felt somewhat disappointed in him. But thinking again, their failure had given the Xie family a chance to escape their predicament – Shen Run had helped the master in any case. It was just a pity that the Old Madam had lost sight of the bigger picture for smaller gains, falling into Shen Run’s trap and pushing the fourth miss out. In the end, Shen Run was too cunning – if not for using the Mu Prefecture Chief’s family as a cover, the Old Madam wouldn’t have miscalculated. If only they had kept her firmly in their grasp, wouldn’t this marriage have been settled?

He patted Li Congxin’s shoulder, “If it’s not meant to be, don’t force it. There are many good young ladies in the world, you can find another.”

Li Congxin shook his head dejectedly. Qingyuan had been his aspiration throughout spring and summer. The image of the young lady at the spring banquet, holding up a fan to shield from the sunlight, and that clear face beneath the fan, was still deeply imprinted in his heart.

Zhenglun had no time to accompany his melancholy, his mind focused on rushing back to report this news to the Old Madam.

“I won’t stay with you, I have urgent matters to attend to,” he said before parting ways and galloping back to the Xie mansion at full speed.

The servant at the mansion gate came forward to greet him, bowing to relay the message inside: “Second Young Master has returned.” He went straight through the hanging flower gate, heading towards the Old Madam’s chambers.

With the master’s matter still unresolved, the whole family had been in gloom these past few days. Even at the dining table, no one spoke, all keeping their heads down, attending only to the rice in their bowls. Zhenglun entered quickly, his footsteps too loud, disturbing those dining in the flower hall. The Old Madam was displeased and raised her eyes, saying, “How can you have no manners at all, rushing about in such panic! What kind of deportment is this!”

Zhenglun said, “Grandmother, never mind propriety now. I just met two people outside with Chunzhi. Grandmother, guess who?”

The Old Madam looked impatient, “Just say it, who has the mood to play guessing games with you!”

Zhenglun took a breath and announced loudly, “It was Fourth Sister and Shen Run! They were also dining at Hong Yan Tower, holding hands, as intimate as could be.”

The Old Madam was somewhat shocked, and others at the table all put down their chopsticks. Madam Hu smiled sarcastically, “It seems our Fourth Miss is quite favored by Commander Shen.”

Qingru pursed her lips, “Look at how high and mighty she was, but in the end, she’s just becoming someone’s concubine.”

The Old Madam frowned, “You’re a young lady, how can you keep talking about concubines? Is that proper for others to hear?”

Qinghe, already dissatisfied with the Old Madam’s actions and now hearing Qingru speak this way, gave her a cold glance and said, “Second Sister, Fourth Sister is in this situation because of our family. Watch your words and accumulate some virtue – if not for this life, then for the next.”

Qingru, having lost her virginity, was already feeling guilty and had become increasingly perverse, unable to take even the slightest criticism, often crying and complaining that the whole family looked down on her. Just as she was about to throw down her chopsticks and make a scene, Zhenglun quickly interjected, “How is she becoming anyone’s concubine? Shen Run said himself he wanted to make her his primary wife! Grandmother, we’ve all been deceived by Shen Run. His engagement to the Mu family was just a front – all those preparations at the mansion were meant for Fourth Sister. Grandmother doesn’t know yet, but the two elderly ones from the Chen family have come to Youzhou. Fourth Sister has returned to the Chen family, just waiting for the Commander’s mansion to send the betrothal gifts before she marries in as the Commander’s wife.”

The whole family was thoroughly stunned this time. The Old Madam was dazed for a long while before clutching her head and wailing, “Heavens above, we’ve been thoroughly duped!”

In the Xie family’s view, how could this not be a bottomless pit? With the fourth miss returning to the Chen family and eventually marrying from there, the Xie family would become the laughingstock of all Youzhou. People would say even their daughter looked down on them – the Xie family had fallen from grace. The Old Madam developed a splitting headache. When things go wrong, there’s always the “if only we had known.” The only blame was that Shen Run was too cunning – she had lived to this age, yet was outmaneuvered by this twenty-something youth, which was truly hard to accept.

Such a great treasure, handed over to others just like that – even Madam Jiang and Madam Pei couldn’t help but feel regret. Madam Jiang said, “What a pity, I said this matter was handled too hastily. The circle of nobles in Youzhou isn’t large – the future newly appointed Commander’s wife will surely attract everyone’s favor. How will we face it then? Won’t our family’s face be completely lost!”

Though crude, her words held truth. Zhenglun said, “Second Aunt speaks well. Seeing them today made me uneasy too. If Fourth Sister had simply become a concubine, we wouldn’t have to worry about all this…”

Qinghe frowned deeply, “Second Brother’s words are unsettling. Fourth Sister is our flesh and blood – how can you not wish her well, instead hoping she becomes a concubine!”

As Zhenglun stammered, Madam Ming quickly said, “Elder Sister, that’s not what your Second Brother meant, it’s just that… the situation is awkward now.”

Qingru snorted a laugh, “I think Second Brother isn’t wrong. If she became a concubine, we wouldn’t have these troubles now. She was born of a concubine anyway – isn’t becoming the primary wife raising her too high?”

Qinghe was greatly shocked. This sister hadn’t learned from her lesson and still spoke so carelessly. She stood up and said, “Second Sister, what do you mean by that? I’m also born of a concubine, yet the eldest son of the founding Earl has betrothed me.”

Qingru’s eyes blazed as she shouted, “Elder Sister, don’t take it personally. When did I ever talk about you? Besides, I’m not making anything up – she is born of a concubine, am I wronging anyone?”

Qinghe hated most when she brought up the matter of legitimate versus concubine-born children, and being less eloquent, couldn’t argue with her. She trembled with anger. Madam Jiang, an expert at stirring trouble, interjected unhelpfully, “Second Miss, no need to take it out on First Miss. She’s just a good girl, how could she understand your grievances…”

Madam Hu finally couldn’t take it anymore and slapped the table, saying to Madam Jiang, “Second Madam, have you sorted out your own family’s dirty business? I heard Young Master Yuan offended Youzhou’s biggest salt merchant by messing with his kept woman, and now they’re looking all over to break his legs. Your own house is in chaos, so please don’t concern yourself with our affairs.”

So it was truly a household in shambles. Sometimes when the Old Madam looked on coldly, she also felt it was unbearable. Exhausted, she cried out, “Ancestors, please give us some peace!”

Madam Bai shook her head to the side, “When a family is about to fall, demons appear.”

The Old Madam stopped managing them and moved to the next room, glancing at Qinghe as she left, “Eldest girl, come with me.”

Qinghe had wanted to leave, but since the Old Madam called, she couldn’t refuse and had to follow.

The voices from the flower hall gradually quieted, presumably as people dispersed. The Old Madam asked her to sit and sighed, “You’ve seen the family’s situation. This current predicament is all my fault – I was foolish. At the time, it was all to save your father, and Shen Run insisted on having your Fourth Sister involved. What could I do? We were truly forced… Look, you and your Fourth Sister are close, and of everyone in the family, she might still listen to you. Tomorrow, go to the Chen family and try to persuade her. If you can convince her to return, that would be best…”

Qinghe had always been obedient, but since her wedding date had been set, she wasn’t as timid as before. When she had something to say, she dared to speak directly to the Old Madam.

“Grandmother, do you think Fourth Sister would still want to return?” she said coldly. “She grew up in the Chen family until she was fourteen – she knows how they treated her. We’re supposed to be her closest family, but we… wronged her. Now Commander Shen wants to make her his primary wife – if we go to acknowledge her now, she might misunderstand our intentions. Besides, asking me to go… I don’t have the face to enter the Chen family’s door.”

The Old Madam’s expression grew darker as she stared at the incense burner on the table until her eyes stung. After a while, she said, “It’s not about her misunderstanding. It’s about seeing she’s made a good marriage and thinking of your father and brothers. Good child, I have no face to see her anymore, so you must go. The fourth girl is clever – if she’s to receive an official title in the future, people will say she values her adoptive family over her birth family, that she got a high official husband and doesn’t recognize her father anymore. That wouldn’t be good.”

Hearing this, Qinghe was truly rendered speechless by such reasoning. Now she understood Qingyuan’s situation and feelings at that time. She had her birth mother’s protection, shielding her from many storms, while Qingyuan was alone. The various experiences of these past six months – hadn’t they made her sick enough to vomit several bowls of blood?

Seeing her silence, the Old Madam lifted her eyelids to look at her, “Eldest girl, you’re about to be married and won’t stay in this family much longer, but your mother still has to live in the Xie family. When the Xie family prospers, everyone benefits – even when you’re in your husband’s family, if your maiden home is honored, they won’t dare look down on you. Right now, I’m just asking you sisters to have a good talk – it’s not difficult. If you help Grandmother persuade Fourth Girl to return, I’ll prepare a grand dowry for you in the future, ensure you’re properly respected, alright?”

By the end, Qinghe’s heart had turned to wood, not for the promised dowry, but for her mother. The Old Madam was truly skilled at manipulation – a soft knife against the throat may not take your life, but it still makes you bleed.

Later, after taking leave from the Old Madam, Xinyu looked at her sadly and asked, “Miss, are we going tomorrow?”

Qinghe sighed heavily, “What face do I have to go!” Then she burst into tears, “What sin did I commit in my previous life to be born into such an absurd family!”

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