Unexpectedly, Liu Miantang replied seriously, “I still have some money left from my dowry. I’ve been thinking of buying a small courtyard these past few days—a simple, modest place, just enough to live in. If you feel you can’t tolerate me, I can go live there… It’ll save you from smashing bowls. Though our family sells porcelain, at this rate, we won’t have enough stock to sell.”
Cui Xingzhou was displeased by this. This woman was too headstrong! He had only smashed one bowl, and she was already thinking of buying a house and leaving. With such a temperament, how could she maintain a long-term relationship with anyone?
However, remembering her past abduction to the mountains and lack of experience as a proper wife, he felt he needed to teach her, and thus found some patience. Cui Jiu frowned and said, “Which married couple doesn’t argue? Look at the households on North Street—which one is always peaceful? If everyone followed your example, buying a house whenever they had extra money, there wouldn’t be enough houses in Lingquan Town to sell, and property prices would skyrocket.”
He hadn’t been exposed to mundane matters before and didn’t fully understand marital dynamics. But after living on North Street for a while, he had witnessed the tumultuous relationships in each household. Those ordinary couples were unbearably vulgar; compared to those men, he was much better.
He had only smashed a bowl—was that such a big deal?
Miantang found his words reasonable but had previously believed their household would be above such common squabbles. Realizing they weren’t immune, her eyes reddened again as she said, “In other households, women argue confidently, feeling justified. But before you, my lord, I always fall short by three parts of reason. How can I argue with any satisfaction?”
Cui Xingzhou raised an eyebrow and said, “Nonsense! Would buying a house allow you to argue more satisfactorily?”
Miantang thought seriously and replied, “Not satisfactorily, but it would allow us each to take a step back, without either having to compromise…”
Seeing her earnest expression with clear, wide eyes, Cui Xingzhou felt like smashing another bowl. He said irritably, “In the future, refrain from discussing local officials with the likes of He Zhen, and I won’t smash bowls or scold you, forcing you to use your dowry to buy a house!”
Miantang had spent the night wondering why her husband was angry, never imagining that her criticism of the Prince of Huaiyang was the root cause. She stared at Cui Jiu in confusion.
Having said this much, Cui Xingzhou had to continue his grand fabrication: “The Prince of Huaiyang has always valued public opinion and has informants everywhere. If your loud criticism of a high-ranking official that day were to reach official ears, wouldn’t it cause discomfort?”
Hearing this, Miantang finally understood why her usually gentle husband had been so angry that day.
Her father and brother had been implicated in a bribery case, partly due to their greed but also because of betrayal by those around them. She had heard that her husband had expended considerable effort and money to help her family, nearly becoming implicated himself, and could no longer intervene.
Once bitten, twice shy—her husband had worried and pleaded with unsavory officials on her behalf. Yet she had been so careless with her words, criticizing the Prince of Zhen Prefecture in their courtyard. She indeed deserved to be scolded!
Recognizing her mistake, Miantang’s demeanor immediately softened, and she began to reflect on her earlier negligence in not properly welcoming her husband.
She bit her lip, abandoning her pretense of writing, and hurried behind the screen to prepare warm water and a towel for her husband to wash his face and change clothes.
Cui Xingzhou hadn’t expected Liu Niangniang to be so easily appeased. A mere show of official authority had immediately dispelled her sullenness.
He accepted the towel, wiped his face, and allowed her to help him change, except for his shoes and socks, into comfortable indoor footwear. His mood lightened considerably.
He was busy at the military camp and couldn’t afford to come to North Street and placate her every time. His initial decision to keep this woman stemmed from her rare compassionate nature and his desire to protect her from falling into the hands of the Yangshan bandits again.
He hoped this little woman would continue to be so understanding, and when she learned the truth in the future, she would appreciate his life-saving kindness and care…
Miantang now understood that a married couple was like lips and teeth—how could they not clash at times? As long as her husband wasn’t smashing bowls and cursing in the street out of disdain for her, other issues could be resolved through communication.
However, her husband still seemed somewhat displeased, glancing at the table and asking why she wasn’t using the calligraphy copybook he had given her.
Miantang couldn’t admit that she had been sulking earlier and feared losing face by using her husband’s writing. So she sat close to Cui Jiu, pretending to measure his shoulder width while saying, “The copybook you wrote in your precious free time is so valuable! I couldn’t bear to use it. I thought I’d practice with the one Bicao bought from the shop, and once my handwriting improves, I’ll copy your beautiful characters.”
Cui Xingzhou found Liu Niangniang amusing. She had criticized others for flattering him too blatantly, yet her flattery was even more obvious and fawning.
He listened absent-mindedly, distracted by the hand wandering over his shoulder. He grabbed her delicate wrist, pulled her into his embrace, and asked softly, “After writing for so long, does your wrist hurt?”
Miantang, now close to him, looked at his ink-black eyebrows and eyes, her face flushing and heart racing. She nestled obediently in his arms and said, “It’s a bit sore…”
Cui Xingzhou gazed at her shy, wide eyes and blushing cheeks, suddenly feeling frustrated. He wondered when the Yangshan situation would finally be resolved. Then, he could be open with the young woman and officially make her his, allowing them to do more things together…
Cui Xingzhou’s thoughts began to wander into indescribable territory, momentarily losing focus. However, Miantang still had another concern on her mind. She sniffled and asked, “Husband, is the sound of my drinking soup really that loud?”
Cui Xingzhou massaged her wrist to ease the pain, feeling obliged to return her flattery by praising her “lady-like and elegant dining manners.”
For the time being, the discord in the North Street residence was resolved, transforming into tender affection between the couple.
Outside the room, Mama Li held her breath, waiting for the sounds of an argument. She was surprised that the prince, initially angered by the inconsiderate young woman and ready to leave, had somehow stayed. After returning to the room in a huff and exchanging a few words, they fell silent.
When the couple emerged, it was nearly dinnertime. The prince… was holding Liu Niangniang’s hand as they left the room. Liu Niangniang gazed at the prince lovingly, no longer appearing angry.
Mama Li wondered what method the prince had used to appease her, as the scene resembled the saying “fight at the head of the bed, makeup at the foot.”
Shaking her head, Mama Li vigorously waved her spatula. She felt she was overthinking things—Liu Niangniang and the prince… that couldn’t be a perfect match. She decided to add another scroll of scriptures to her altar tomorrow, accumulating merit for herself while also praying for some blessings for Liu Niangniang!
Meanwhile, the He family’s third Miss, who had been busy socializing recently and rarely seen, had now become idle but no longer visited Zhen Prefecture for tea.
Perhaps she had grown too accustomed to the high-society tea circles, and the sudden lack of invitations left her feeling unsettled. As a result, He Zhen fell ill.
When Miantang received the news, she delayed visiting for a while. The He family had many connections, and as He San Niangniang managed the household for He Er Ye, there would be no shortage of visitors. She decided not to join the crowd immediately.
However, as the He family was a prominent force in Lingquan Town, Miantang couldn’t avoid paying a social call entirely.
So, on a clear early autumn day, she packed two bags of fruits and asked Mama Li to choose an appropriate ginseng from the large box of supplements her husband had bought. She placed it in a brocade box and set out to visit the patient.
He Zhen’s illness had surprisingly lasted over ten days. When Miantang entered the inner chamber to see her, she was startled. The once healthy young lady had lost so much weight that her jade bracelet was barely clinging to her wrist.
He San Niangniang greeted Miantang with a kind expression. After chatting briefly about brewing ginseng for health and other nourishing topics, they ran out of things to say.
Feeling the awkward silence in the room, Miantang made an excuse to leave. However, He Zhen sighed deeply and began to pour out her troubles to Miantang.
“Mrs. Cui, I know you have a perceptive heart and understand the situation. So I can only confide in you about this matter.”
Somehow, she had taken a liking to Liu Miantang, feeling she was someone who could be trusted with her concerns. She began to tell Liu Niangniang about her recent frustrations, unable to share them with others.
“I don’t know why, but Miss Lian has become upset with me. She no longer replies to my letters or invites me over. It’s as if all those things she said to me earlier were just a dream.”
Perhaps fearing that Miantang might think her previous boasting was false, He Zhen even produced the private letters Miss Lian had written to her earlier.
Miantang unfolded the fragrant letter paper and saw that Miss Lian must be a talented lady, with such beautiful handwriting.
Examining the content, it indeed expressed great admiration for He Zhen, with a closeness that seemed like long-lost sisters.
Miantang skimmed through the letter, mindful of her husband’s warning not to carelessly discuss the family members of high-ranking officials.
She smiled slightly and said, “Miss He, for you to have gained Miss Lian’s favor is truly a blessing cultivated over several lifetimes. Others are envious. However, Miss Lian is about to get married and must have many things to attend to. Normally, she can’t spare the energy to continue corresponding and socializing with you. We merchant families should maintain a proper distance when interacting with official families, neither too humble nor too proud. Miss He, why worry so much?”
He Zhen sighed softly: “You were right that day. Miss Lian wouldn’t have been kind to me without reason. In such a grand household, the prince will surely have many concubines in the future. A merchant’s daughter like me would be of lower status and easily manipulated once inside. I was still hesitating whether to accept her offer. Perhaps Miss Lian felt my attitude wasn’t enthusiastic enough and sought out someone else…”
Miantang thought it was for the best that Miss Lian had found someone else. She took the opportunity to advise Miss He that it would be better to find a good man and become a proper wife herself.
Realizing she might have lost her chance with the Prince of Huaiyang, He Zhen couldn’t help but shed tears of regret. She felt that if she had expressed interest then, she might already be carried in a sedan chair into the prince’s manor, living a romantic life with the otherworldly prince…
But even the most painful emotions subside after ten days.
Miantang, impatient with such sentimentality, took advantage of He Zhen wiping her tears to abruptly mention some business orders. She also casually brought up He San Niangniang’s two half-brothers, who had recently been running errands for her and seemed quite capable, apparently earning He Er Ye’s approval.
This immediately caught He Zhen’s attention, her tone becoming slightly tense as she inquired about the daily activities of these emerging half-brothers.
Miantang smiled and said, “Third Miss needn’t worry. From what I’ve seen, your two brothers are managing things quite well. For us women, it’s best if we have someone to help so we don’t have to be in the public eye. You should rest easy at home. After all, He Er Ye has people to assist him…”
When Miantang left the He residence, He San Niangniang had almost shaken off her sorrow. Her eyes were now gleaming with renewed energy, ready to return to the shop and deal with the half-brothers who dared to encroach on the business.
Most of the He family’s business had been passed down from the first wife. He San Niangniang’s mother was the first wife, and she had a younger brother who was the only legitimate son. As the elder sister, she had to look after the family assets for her underage brother!
So as Miantang boarded her carriage, she felt a twinge of sympathy for the Prince of Huaiyang.
It wasn’t entirely the prince’s fault that his charm had delayed the third miss’s marriage. From Miantang’s perspective, it was also due to He San Niangniang’s passion for power and her desire to protect her brother’s inheritance, making her reluctant to marry.
However, these matters were not her concern. Her focus now was on managing her own business and living a peaceful life.
Fortunately, the craftsmen and painters employed in the shop were capable. In recent days, Mr. Chen has produced several exquisite pieces that sold for considerable sums.
With more money at her disposal, Miantang began to consider buying a new, larger residence.
When she shared this plan with her husband, he hesitated.
“The current residence is still fine. Let’s stay there for now. In the future, I’ll naturally get you a better one.”
After the incident where Yangshan sent people to kidnap Miantang, Cui Xingzhou ordered his secret guards to increase surveillance. If they were to sell the house, there would inevitably be craftsmen and strangers coming and going daily, which could lead to vulnerabilities. It was better to wait.
Miantang always deferred to her husband on such matters. Since he liked living on North Street, she also found the small courtyard house pleasant, though it lacked a training area for her husband.
After discussing with Mama Li, she decided to fill in and level the flower bed on one side of the courtyard, then purchase a weapons rack to create a space for her husband to practice martial arts.
Having made this decision, Miantang had Mo Ru remove the flower bed and pave it with stone slabs, creating an open area.
The next step was to choose a suitable weapons rack for the training ground. Miantang had asked her husband and knew he was also skilled with swords.
Eager to see her husband’s heroic demeanor, Miantang took advantage of his absence one day to visit the weaponry and ironware shops in town.
Unfortunately, there weren’t many martial arts enthusiasts in the area, so the ironware shops had limited styles to choose from.
Miantang didn’t need to spend much time selecting; she simply decided to buy all the available styles.
After paying, she bumped into a plump young lady accompanied by three to five attendants.
“Are you blind? How dare you collide with our young miss!” shouted one of the servants, who appeared to be from a wealthy family.
Bicao, following behind Miantang, was not one to back down. She glared back and retorted, “It was your young miss who bumped into our madam. How dare you ask if others are blind? You should check if your brain is intact!”
As the argument was about to escalate, the plump young lady impatiently said, “Enough, what’s there to argue about? It’s not like anyone was hurt.” With that, she entered the shop without even glancing at Liu Miantang.
However, a beautiful young lady following behind her kept staring at Miantang and then curtsied, saying, “Sister Liu, it’s been a long time…”
Miantang was surprised; she didn’t recognize this young lady, yet she called her “Sister Liu” with such familiarity.
So she returned the curtsy and politely asked, “May I ask who you are?”
The young lady seemed taken aback by Miantang’s polite yet distant response and hesitantly said, “Sister, don’t you recognize me?”
Miantang was stunned by the question. She looked carefully at the pretty young lady before her, finding her gentle and pleasant-looking, but still unrecognizable.
During Miantang’s hesitation, tears had welled up in the young lady’s eyes, and she asked with a trembling voice, “How can you not recognize me, sister?”
Miantang felt she might have encountered an old acquaintance but had completely forgotten. After looking her up and down, she asked, “Did you know me in the capital? I was ill for a while, and after I woke up, I couldn’t remember much from before. If I can’t recall, please forgive me…”
This pretty young lady was none other than Sun Yuniang! With Yangshan’s surrender imminent, many of the mountain’s leaders frequently visited Qingzhou. She had taken the opportunity to come down the mountain and had become quite close with Shi Xueji, the illegitimate daughter of General Shi, calling each other sisters within days.
Shi Xueji had fallen for Young Master Ziyu after just one meeting. Although their marriage was only hinted at and not openly discussed, Miss Shi was eager to marry him as soon as he became her father’s subordinate.
They had come to Lingshui Town today because they heard the ironware shop here had uniquely designed hand warmer molds. She planned to order one for Young Master Ziyu as a token of her affection.
So this pair of newly acquainted “sisters” encountered Liu Miantang here.
Sun Yuniang had encouraged Miss Shi to come to Lingshui Town to find Miantang.
The young master had forbidden her from causing trouble for Miantang. She couldn’t openly send people to look for her. However, the whereabouts of the money from Yangshan remained unknown. She suspected the young master was protecting Miantang, covering up her embezzlement scandal.
Moreover, Ziyu had been increasingly cold towards her recently. She couldn’t extract any hidden information from him, so she felt she needed to confront Miantang face-to-face to uncover the truth.
But she never expected that this Liu Miantang would act as if she didn’t recognize her at all, only politely and distantly mentioning her memory loss.
Yuniang was both shocked and suspicious. She stared intently at Miantang’s eyes and asked, “You don’t remember anything?”
Miantang didn’t want to be rude to an old acquaintance, and her illness wasn’t something to be ashamed of, so she explained honestly, “I only remember things before leaving for the capital to get married. I can’t recall much after that… May I ask who you are?”
Yuniang knew Liu Miantang well. Although she was clever and cunning, she wasn’t the type to be hypocritical or overly accommodating.
Before her memory loss, they had already fallen out. If Miantang wasn’t truly amnesiac, she would have coldly pretended not to know Yuniang, not be this polite.
This meant that Liu Miantang had indeed forgotten everything about her journey to Yangshan halfway through her wedding trip, as well as her relationship with Ziyu.
Realizing this, Yuniang felt a surge of wild joy.
Instead of answering, she asked, “If Sister Liu has forgotten everything, how have you been managing?”
Miantang looked at her quizzically and said, “Of course, my husband has been taking care of me. Why… why do you ask?”
At that moment, Yuniang understood everything. How could someone as beautiful as Liu Miantang be left alone? Now that she had lost her martial arts skills and her sharp edges, she was like a delicious piece of meat without protection. If someone with ill intentions wanted to deceive her, wouldn’t it be easy?
She must have hit her head when she was thrown off the boat, then rescued by someone who, seeing her beauty, harbored evil intentions and deceived her into believing she was his wife, thus taking possession of her!
Thinking this, Yuniang didn’t want to arouse Miantang’s suspicions. She simply smiled and said, following Miantang’s earlier words, “We met briefly in the capital before, but I never got to know your husband. I had hoped to get better acquainted with you, but unfortunately, I returned home with my father and lost the opportunity…”
Hearing this, Miantang smiled slightly. Since they weren’t close friends or relatives, she didn’t wish to continue the conversation and politely bid farewell.
As she left, Yuniang kept staring at her retreating figure.
Miss Shi, who had finished buying the hand warmer, also watched Liu Miantang’s back and asked, “How is it, Miss Sun? Is she an old acquaintance? Which family is she from? She’s truly beautiful!”
Yuniang carefully concealed the contempt in her eyes and smiled warmly at Miss Shi, “Yes, she is indeed a rare beauty, but alas, she’s just a merchant’s wife. There’s no chance for her to rise high now.”
Miss Shi found her words amusing and giggled, “Listen to you! It’s as if she could have risen high if she hadn’t married. Could she have entered the palace and become a consort based on her beauty alone?”
Yuniang didn’t reply, only smiling mysteriously, with a hint of relief…
However, news of this chance encounter at the ironware shop quickly reached the ears of the Prince of Huaiyang.
Cui Xingzhou was setting up a chessboard in the military camp when he heard the spy’s report. He asked calmly, “Are you certain that the woman accompanying Miss Shi was Sun Yuniang?”
The spy confidently replied, “Miss Shi called her name several times. I’m sure she was indeed called Sun Yuniang. However, whether she’s the same Sun Yuniang mentioned by the bandits who attacked Liu Miantang, I can’t be certain.”
Cui Xingzhou, arranging the chess pieces, said, “Didn’t she claim to be an old acquaintance of Liu Miantang from the capital? That must be her. Apart from old acquaintances from Yangshan, what other old acquaintances could Liu Miantang have in the capital, where she never left her sickbed? Go, keep a close watch. When the time is right, capture Yuniang and interrogate her privately. I want to see just who this Young Master Ziyu is!”