That night, the Liu residence was ablaze with light.
Liu Chengcai wearily rubbed his forehead and glanced at the still-sobbing Qi Yuzhu. He said dispassionately, “That’s how events unfolded. Her disobedience caused this mess. If you blame me for not looking after her properly, there’s nothing I can do. If you want her to marry Li Xing, I’ll find a way. If not, I’ll devise a method to cover this up. Let me know what you decide.”
Qi Changlin and Lady Pei exchanged gloomy looks, remaining silent. Lady Pei coughed and said, “Sister, what do you think about this situation…?”
Madam Qi, her face ghostly pale, lay slumped on the daybed with her eyes half-closed. She waved her hand weakly, saying, “Do as you see fit.” Nothing pleased her now. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to rage – she simply lacked the energy and will. The thought of Qinghua’s impending arrival filled her chest with a dull ache.
Liu Chengcai, preoccupied with Liu Chang who had just been brought back and confined to his room, had no patience for their deliberations. He stood, saying, “I’ll go deal with that rebellious boy first.”
Qi Changlin hastily advised, “Brother-in-law, he’s grown now. It’s best to talk things through calmly.”
Liu Chengcai made no response, simply striding toward Liu Chang’s room.
Calmly, Liu Chengcai ordered paper, brush, and ink to be placed before Liu Chang. He asked softly, “Will you write it yourself, or shall I do it for you?”
Liu Chang frowned and turned his face away sharply, causing the gash on his brow from Zhang Wulang to sting fiercely. The pain in his brow echoed the ache in his heart. He glared coldly at Xixia, who knelt rigidly in the corner despite being beaten black and blue and trembling with pain. His heart filled with hatred for Liu Chengcai.
Liu Chengcai said nothing, simply rolling up his sleeves and writing a conventional letter. Placing the brush down, he calmly said, “Will you stamp it yourself, or shall I do it for you?”
Liu Chang frowned, remaining silent while clenching his fists.
Liu Chengcai called out mildly, “Xixia, summon two people to help press the young master’s handprint. This will atone for your misdeeds.”
Xixia hesitated, then burst into tears, crawling to Liu Chang’s feet and kowtowing desperately.
As Liu Chang remained motionless, Liu Chengcai sighed. “I never wanted things to come to this. But who told you to provoke the princess? I warned you she was beyond our reach. Since you wouldn’t listen, I have no choice but to take extreme measures for the family’s sake. Xixia!”
Xixia trembled, then suddenly rolled his eyes back and fainted cleanly. He had already defied his master by warning the young master. If he followed orders now and helped force Liu Chang’s handprint, the young master would hate him too. Better to be unconscious.
Liu Chengcai was unfazed. With a cold smile, he said, “Your health is too poor to continue serving the young master. Take him to the woodshed for now. We’ll sell him tomorrow, along with his mother, brothers, and sisters.” He was the head of the family – no one could challenge him.
Xixia had no say in his fate, and Liu Chang couldn’t escape the destiny his father had planned. Vermilion cinnabar stained his fingertips, leaving a vivid mark on the divorce papers. It reminded him of the small peony Mudan had carefully painted on her forehead with rouge when she first came to see him after recovering from illness. The delicate flower, its edges traced in gold powder, had contrasted beautifully with her snow-white skin and coquettish yet shy phoenix eyes.
Liu Chang’s eyes grew hot with unshed tears.
A strange, unfamiliar feeling filled his chest, leaving him agitated and burning with humiliation. He didn’t care for her, but as a man, he couldn’t tolerate such an insult.
Liu Chengcai had no time to consider his son’s feelings, preoccupied with how to control the He family and deal with Princess Kangcheng. As Liu Chang was released, he said considerately, “You must be tired after such a long day. Let Xiansu help you wash up.”
Liu Chang remained silent. Every part of his body ached so badly he didn’t want to move a finger.
Qi Yuzhu, nestled in Lady Pei’s arms, sobbed, “He didn’t touch me. He told me to knock him unconscious. His servant dressed him afterward. I didn’t do anything improper.”
She recalled the events. After Liu Chang left, she approached Li Xing, fighting her shyness: “Lord Li, are you feeling better? Would you like some tea?”
Li Xing stared at her intently, making her blush furiously. Her hands shook uncontrollably, spilling the tea. She had liked him since first noticing him at the horse dance performance, admiring his skill at liubo when he defeated Liu Chang, and then witnessing him punch Liu Chang. She had schemed to follow him, contriving to appear wherever he might be. But he had never seemed to notice her as he did now.
Her palms were sweaty, and though she wanted to ask why he was staring, her throat tightened, leaving her unable to speak. She could only turn her face away stiffly, allowing him to look his fill. The moment seemed to stretch endlessly yet pass in an instant. Just as she thought she might suffocate, he finally spoke: “You’re the Qi family’s second daughter, aren’t you?”
She turned back, delighted that he knew who she was.
His face was flushed, hands gripping his sleeves tightly, gaze slightly unfocused. But he wore a faint, gentle smile. Her eyes swept over his exposed chest, making her blush even more deeply.
In a hoarse voice, with a tender, pleading tone she had never heard before, he asked, “May I request that you knock me unconscious?”
She was bewildered. She knew something was amiss and recognized what would happen if she followed her cousin’s instructions. But his request to be knocked out – what did that mean? He feared what was about to occur; he was unwilling.
He looked disappointed: “If you’re unwilling, never mind. I thought you seemed like a good person. Though I can’t agree with how your cousin’s family conducts themselves, you truly seem different from them…”
Although he was criticizing her relatives, at that moment she felt truly happy. In the briefest terms, he had tactfully expressed his preference for kind-hearted, generous girls and his disdain for those with ill intentions, like Princess Qinghua.
She finally nodded, agreeing to knock him unconscious with the porcelain pillow. Her hands shook, but she felt she was doing the right thing. She knew her parents intended to marry her to him, and now he needed her help. By assisting him, she could openly get close to him in the future, rather than becoming the kind of ill-intentioned woman he despised. There was no need to rush – it would happen eventually.
Gazing at his sleeping face, she felt uneasy. Had her choice been correct? It seemed right, but she felt unsettled. Though her cousin hadn’t said it outright, she sensed he had some feelings for his wife. But he had clearly stated he would never divorce her… She covered her face in embarrassment.
When her uncle burst in with others and saw her there, the terrifying expression on his face was unlike anything she had ever seen. Even now, she wasn’t sure if she had done the right thing.
Neither of these Liu men was any good – one scheming against his cousin, the other using his niece to forge connections. Not one of them considered whether Yuzhu could have a good life afterward. Lady Pei was furious but comforted her daughter, saying firmly, “You did the right thing. There’s nothing wrong with liking him and wanting to marry him. But if you had followed your cousin’s wishes, you would have debased yourself. Even if you married him afterward, you’d always be at a disadvantage and never earn his respect. What would be the point of that? Don’t worry, your father and I have our plans.”
Reassured by her mother’s support, Yuzhu felt much better. With tear-filled eyes, she asked, “What should we do?”
Lady Pei smiled, “Of course we’ll try to arrange this marriage, but not using their methods or taking advantage of their position.” They thought everyone else was stupid and only they were clever? She wouldn’t play into their hands!
By daybreak, Liu Chengcai had finally learned who had humiliated him, beaten his servants, and taken Li Xing away. It was the eight sons of Li Mansheng, Li Yuan’s eldest sister who had married a common soldier. That soldier had distinguished himself in battle over the years and risen to the rank of Zhechong Duwei. All eight sons served in the military and were known troublemakers.
This news somewhat cheered Liu Chengcai, who was angry and resentful upon learning that the Qi family refused to follow his lead and forcibly connect with Li Xing. He couldn’t help but laugh coldly – so what if they had many sons? How dare they bully him! He summoned his steward and instructed him to request leave from the government office, claiming he had been beaten by ruffians and was too shocked and injured to leave his bed.
While the Liu and Qi families argued through the night, the He family also stayed up until the early hours. Mudan felt as if her entire body had been broken apart, aching too much to sleep. She had just dozed off as dawn approached when Mama Lin roused her. Yuhe, Kuan’er, Shu’er, and Si’er busily prepared Mudan. Then, accompanied by Madam Xue, He Zhizhong, and Dalang, they hurried to Princess Kangcheng’s residence.
After the all-night revelry, most people were just going to bed. Apart from servants cleaning up viewing platforms at wealthy households, the streets were unusually empty. Dalang joked, “I wonder if anyone at the princess’s residence is even awake. What if no one answers when we arrive?”
Madam Xue clicked her tongue, laughing, “Such nonsense! Given her status, how could she not keep her word? I’m sure someone’s already waiting for us.”
Dalang smiled, and everyone quickened their pace.
Arriving at Princess Kangcheng’s residence in Anxing Ward, Dalang stepped forward to knock, slipping money into the gatekeeper’s sleeve as he explained their purpose. The man glanced at the group and said cheerfully, “We’ve been expecting you.” He had received instructions in advance.