Li Mama had been feeling extremely awkward in the courtyard these past few days. Throughout history, spies and undercover agents rarely met good ends. She, Li Mama, who could move gracefully between the hall and the kitchen, was a first-class nanny in the prince’s mansion. How dignified she had been!
But after accepting this mission from her master, her reputation was ruined, reduced to a liar who deceived a young girl. So she couldn’t blame Mian Tang for treating her coldly.
However, she had spent a considerable amount of time with Mian Tang. Despite knowing about her humble origins, Li Mama couldn’t help but be fond of the young Miss Liu. This sudden rift with Liu Niangniang was difficult for the old nanny to bear, despite her worldly experience and iron heart.
Unexpectedly, Mian Tang suddenly came to sincerely apologize to her. This truly overwhelmed the old nanny!
She immediately said she couldn’t accept such words from the madam.
Mian Tang smiled, “Don’t call me madam anymore. I’m not married to him. Just call me Miss Liu.”
While this made sense, Li Mama found it difficult to change her way of addressing her. She fell silent, only helping Liu Mian Tang wash and cut vegetables, and thinly slice the meat.
With the extra help, Mian Tang finished cooking quickly. After stir-frying and seasoning in the wok, she plated the dish.
Li Mama had prepared other side dishes and brought them to the table first.
So when Mian Tang carried the plate into the room, Cui Xingzhou was already sitting cross-legged at the kang table with her uncle, starting to drink.
However, because Lu Xian was injured, he couldn’t drink alcohol and used hot water instead.
At first, he hadn’t expected Cui Xingzhou to actively join him for a meal, and couldn’t help but suspect he had come to gather information again.
Apart from Lu Xian and his brother Lu Mu, no one knew about the things Mian Tang had done in Yangshan under the name “Lu Wen,” not even their father at home.
So Lu Xian wasn’t worried that his escort guards would accidentally reveal anything when questioned by Officer Cui’s subordinates.
However, if Officer Cui kept probing indirectly, setting traps in his words, it would be exhausting to deal with.
But once they sat at the table, Cui Xingzhou didn’t steer the conversation towards Yangshan. He only asked Mr. Lu about the local customs, food, and interesting anecdotes of the Northwest.
Lu Xian, having been in the Northwest for a long time, was naturally very familiar with these topics.
So, as one asked and the other answered, their conversation gradually expanded. The leisurely atmosphere was no different from casual chitchat.
Seeing that he didn’t mention the Yangshan rebellion, Lu Xian gradually relaxed, though at first, he found it difficult to be as at ease as Cui Xingzhou.
But when the Prince of Huaiyang wanted to put on a humble demeanor to respect the worthy, his tone became so friendly that even those who knew him well wouldn’t recognize him. Moreover, his conversation was naturally knowledgeable, making it impossible to find chatting with him boring.
As a man of the jianghu, Lu Xian was originally fond of conversation and making connections. Sometimes, male friendships could quickly warm up after just a few words of mutual understanding.
By the time one dish was finished, Lu Xian was already thinking that if Cui Jiu had properly married his niece, they would have made such a well-matched young couple!
As Mian Tang served the dishes, she was slightly surprised to see Officer Cui getting along so well with her uncle.
Officer Cui had lived on North Street in Lingquan for so long without ever speaking more than three sentences to any neighbor. How come he was now so enthusiastic and attentive to an escort who had smuggled ore?
After serving the dishes, Mian Tang was about to leave. But Cui Xingzhou actively moved inward on the heated kang and said, “Uncle isn’t an outsider. You should come and eat at the table too. The maids can serve the other dishes.”
Previously, when people like Zhao Quan came to eat, Mian Tang would avoid suspicion by eating in the side room. So Cui Xingzhou’s invitation for Mian Tang to stay and eat together was unexpected.
Mian Tang thought for a moment and said, “No, I’ll eat next door…”
Of course, her uncle wasn’t an outsider, but since Officer Cui wasn’t her husband, eating together at the same table might seem like she was trying to cling to someone.
Liu Mian Tang felt that although she didn’t need to be cold towards Cui Jiu, she should maintain proper boundaries and avoid suspicion.
But Cui Xingzhou didn’t want her to remain at odds with him. He reached out and pulled her onto the heated kang, then instructed the maid to bring clean plates, bowls, and chopsticks for her. He even picked out the sweet and sour braised shrimp that she loved most.
There were no shrimp in the wild area of Jin Jia Pass in the Northwest. Cui Xingzhou had ordered people to buy them at a high price from distant villages and towns a few days ago.
At the time, he did this just to make Mian Tang happy, but who knew that by the time the shrimp arrived, the love between the fake couple would have come to an end.
Looking at the golden shrimp on the chopsticks, Mian Tang naturally knew that Cui Jiu had specially ordered them.
Although he had used her with impure motives, he had truly been thoughtful in daily life… Mian Tang’s mother had passed away early. Her father and brother were like decorations, never caring about Mian Tang.
This cultivated in Mian Tang a personality of repaying kindness with overwhelming gratitude once she received goodness from others.
Cui Jiu’s kindness to her, bit by bit, though there wasn’t much in the first year. But after moving to Lingquan Town, those experiences were truly unforgettable for a lifetime.
So when he picked food for her, Mian Tang silently ate it.
At that moment, looking at the young couple before him, Lu Xian thought they seemed very well-matched no matter how he looked at them.
Although his niece was open-minded and just wanted to leave, how could he as an uncle be so muddle-headed? He knew that before he exposed the deception, his niece had been so close with her husband that she couldn’t bear to hear anyone speak ill of him.
It seemed too much of a waste to let them part like this!
So when the atmosphere at the table became harmonious, Lu Xian took the initiative to ask about Cui Jiu’s intentions.
“Mian Tang previously encountered danger and was saved by the Officer, preserving her life. This life-saving grace is unforgettable for our Lu family. I use water instead of wine to offer a toast to the Officer.”
This gratitude was deserved by Cui Xingzhou, so he naturally raised his cup in return and drank with Lu Xian.
After putting down his cup, Lu Xian spoke again: “However, Mian Tang has lived with you for a year without betrothal gifts or matchmaking, which is truly unacceptable in others’ eyes… May I ask what your plans are, Officer?”
On this point, Cui Xingzhou had already thought it through. It was fortunate that this uncle was a knowledgeable and reasonable person, easier to communicate with than the childish and temperamental Mian Tang.
Since he had brought it up, Cui Xingzhou took the opportunity to say, “Of course, this needs to be rectified. However, with the current unrest in the Northwest, it’s not appropriate for me to marry at the front. Mian Tang has lost her parents, and there’s no suitable person on her father’s side. When we return to Zhen Prefecture, I would ask Uncle to take charge of the arrangements. As for the betrothal gifts, I will have people prepare them wholeheartedly, ensuring Mian Tang won’t lose face…”
After asking his question, Lu Xian had been holding his breath waiting for Cui Jiu’s answer. Upon hearing his sincere response, Lu Xian truly let out a sigh of relief.
During their conversation, Mian Tang had kept her head lowered, clearly listening to their words.
Seeing that Cui Jiu intended to marry Mian Tang, Lu Xian felt reassured to continue asking: “May I ask if you have parents above you?”
Cui Xingzhou nodded and said, “My father passed away early, but my mother is still alive and in relatively good health.”
After hearing this, Lu Xian anxiously asked again, “For such a major matter as marriage, can you make the decision alone? Shouldn’t you inform your mother?”
Cui Xingzhou said nonchalantly, “In this matter, I can certainly decide on my own.”
In the future, when Mian Tang receives the betrothal gifts and enters the family with a marriage certificate, she will be a noble concubine. Being so likable, she would surely win his mother’s heart.
Seeing Cui Xingzhou speak so confidently, Lu Xian felt somewhat relieved again. However, there was still one matter that needed to be clarified.
“Since the Officer intends to marry my niece… may I ask for your name?”
Cui Xingzhou knew that his identity could no longer be concealed, so he decided to reveal it all at once.
“My name is Xingzhou, courtesy name Qian.”
Lu Xian nodded upon hearing this, thinking the name “Cui Xingzhou” was quite elegant.
However, Liu Mian Tang, who had been keeping her head down, suddenly looked up, staring at him in disbelief, and asked, “You… are you… Cui Xingzhou, the Prince of Huaiyang from Zhen Prefecture?”
Hearing Mian Tang’s words, Lu Xian also had a belated realization – indeed! The Prince of Huaiyang from Zhen Prefecture – the ruthless prince who had nearly wiped out Yangshan’s elite forces and caused Mian Tang to flee with her people… wasn’t he named Cui Xingzhou?
Realizing this, Lu Xian looked at Cui Xingzhou with uncertainty, hoping he would say he just happened to share the same name as the Prince of Huaiyang.
But Cui Xingzhou calmly replied, “…That is indeed me.”
For a moment, Lu Xian understood everything. No wonder he, facing the serious crime of privately selling barbarian ore, could effortlessly release him from the main camp and arrange for him to come to Wu Ning Pass without needing to consult anyone.
He was the supreme commander of the entire Northwestern Da Yan military camp. To release a prisoner, who did he need to consult?
Lu Xian was speechless for a long time. He could never have imagined that the one who had deceived and taken advantage of his niece… was her mortal enemy, Cui Xingzhou!
Back then, when Mian Tang was commanding her followers in guerrilla warfare, she had outflanked the Prince of Huaiyang’s subordinates several times, beating the Zhen Prefecture troops badly.
Later, perhaps angered by the consecutive defeats of the Zhen Prefecture troops, the Prince of Huaiyang personally took to the field, leading troops, setting traps, and strategizing step by step, luring the momentarily careless Mian Tang into his trap.
It was precisely that crushing defeat of Mian Tang, with significant troop losses, that sparked dissatisfaction among the old Eastern Palace faction, who began to use it as an opportunity to attack Mian Tang…
On the Prince of Huaiyang’s side, although they had won a victory, that prince seemed utterly unsatisfied, still offering a high reward for the capture of Lu Wen, dead or alive!
Good heavens!
Lu Xian belatedly realized that these two mortal enemies, once irreconcilable and at each other’s throats, had been living together as husband and wife for nearly two years!
At that moment, when Lu Xian looked up at the couple opposite him again, he no longer saw a well-matched pair of talented youth and a beautiful maiden. He only wished Mian Tang could stay far away from Cui Xingzhou, hoping he wouldn’t discover her true identity!
Liu Mian Tang’s focus was different from her adoptive father’s. After seeing Cui Jiu finally nod and admit without hesitation, she fell silent for a moment before asking directly, “When you promised my uncle to send betrothal gifts, did you mean to marry me as your principal wife or as a concubine?”
This was an easy question to answer. But Cui Xingzhou lowered his head and remained silent, looking at her.
He was a hereditary prince of a different surname. Even if he didn’t want to rely on nepotism, marrying a noblewoman from a powerful family to bring glory to his lineage, he should at least marry a daughter from a clean, upright family.
This was also why he had initially agreed to the marriage with his cousin – his uncle’s official career wasn’t particularly successful, just an ordinary official, so his future wife wouldn’t use her family to pressure him. In all aspects, his cousin was very suitable. If she hadn’t developed thoughts of delay and observation during his troubles in the Northwest, Cui Xingzhou wouldn’t have torn up the marriage contract.
Mian Tang’s father had been executed for his crimes, and her elder brother was still in exile. Her maternal grandfather’s family were mere caravan guards, and her uncle had recently been involved in smuggling minerals.
Even if he were truly blinded by lust and determined to make a criminal’s daughter his primary wife, the elders of the Cui family and his mother would never accept Mian Tang. Who could protect her from his mother’s wrath, especially if others incited her while he was away?
When virtue doesn’t match one’s position, tragedy is inevitable no matter where one goes.
Therefore, it would be better for Mian Tang to enter the household as a favored concubine, avoiding rejection from his mother and other relatives. If he doted on her wholeheartedly, how would her position differ from that of the primary wife?
His willingness to offer a betrothal gift and marry her as a favored concubine was proof enough of his affection and regard for her. Why couldn’t this woman see his concessions and instead keep pushing for the impossible?
Before he could speak, Mian Tang confidently provided his answer: “You say you can make decisions without informing your mother. Surely the Prince of Huaiyang wouldn’t disregard filial piety, but for taking a concubine, such a minor matter indeed doesn’t require bothering the Empress Dowager. Mian Tang was foolish earlier and hopes the Prince will forgive any offense.”
With that, she swiftly got off the heated kang bed and knelt on the ground, bowing deeply to the Prince of Huaiyang.
Lu Xian, belatedly realizing the situation, hurriedly followed his niece’s lead and prostrated himself before the Prince.
As Cui Xingzhou was about to rise and help them up, Mian Tang continued: “However, this humble woman knows she is too coarse and shallow to deserve the Prince’s favor. My late mother left a family precept, instructing me that ‘though poor, never be another’s concubine; though destitute, never be a second wife.’ With this precept, I cannot accept the Prince’s kind intentions. Please, Your Highness, pay no mind to my uncle’s earlier words. He didn’t know your noble status and rashly troubled you…”
Her mother had become her father’s second wife, only to be constantly scorned and compared unfavorably to his first wife. Thus, her mother’s dying words were a lesson learned through blood and tears. Mian Tang spoke firmly and resolutely.
Lu Xian was mentally kicking himself. Had he known Cui Jiu was Mian Tang’s nemesis, he would never have suggested Cui Xingzhou take responsibility.
Thankfully, his niece had pride and refused to be the Prince’s concubine. He quickly followed her lead: “This lowly one didn’t know the Prince’s noble status and spoke out of turn. Please forgive me, and consider my words unsaid…”
Cui Xingzhou’s earlier courteous demeanor had all but vanished, his face now as dark as a thundercloud.
Liu Mian Tang! You’ve done it now!
What is the mother’s last wish? What feeling unworthy? All excuses for her ingratitude!
Did she think the Prince’s manor was like the house on North Street in Lingquan Town? Did she think she could become the mistress just because she wanted to? He had considered her at every turn, conceding concession, yet she showed no appreciation. Her tone even suggested he had somehow wronged her!
Cui Xingzhou had always been proud, with clear boundaries in everything he did. Now, he had retreated again and again for Mian Tang’s sake, only to have his efforts go unappreciated.
He would not continue to face such cold rejection. So he let the two remain kneeling and after a long moment, said coolly to Liu Mian Tang: “You’ve thought it through completely? You won’t regret this later?”
Without raising her head, Mian Tang replied with unwavering determination: “Please don’t worry, Your Highness. I will never regret it!”
Cui Xingzhou clenched his fists tightly and said, “Very well… I had already transferred the ownership of the shops and houses in Lingquan Town to your name long ago. The deed to the pharmacy in Wuning Pass is also in your name. Tomorrow, I’ll have Madam Li bring you those deeds, along with some farmland. With this financial security, you’ll have more freedom in the future…”
With that, Cui Xingzhou extended his long legs, got off the kang bed, swept his robe aside, and strode out of the room.
Seeing him leave, Liu Mian Tang rose to help her uncle up. Just then, they heard the neighing of horses outside the courtyard – Cui Xingzhou had mounted his horse and left.
Lu Xian was still shaken: “He… was he telling the truth? Is he the Prince of Huaiyang?”
Mian Tang’s heart was far more conflicted than her uncle’s. She finally understood why Cui Jiu had become furious and stormed off during their casual conversation in Lingquan Town.
It turned out she had spoken ill of him right to his face.
The fact that he hadn’t had her arrested then and there was already quite magnanimous of him.
Although their marriage was a sham, Liu Mian Tang believed she understood Cui Jiu’s temperament. He was proud to his very core, and after her clear rejection today, he would have no intention of trying to win her back.
From now on, they would go their separate ways and wish each other well.
The next day, Madam Li brought a box full of property deeds and an astonishing amount of bank notes. However, Mian Tang didn’t accept them, simply instructing that they be set aside.
Mian Tang didn’t know if the Prince of Huaiyang had kept mistresses before, but if this was how he treated them after parting ways, he certainly thought of everything.
Remembering their time in Lingquan Town, the Prince of Huaiyang certainly had the means to be generous. No wonder Miss He Zhen couldn’t forget him.
Besides his good looks, his generosity was undoubtedly an attractive quality. Even a brief encounter with the Prince would leave one feeling satisfied and without complaint.
After that day, the Prince of Huaiyang never returned. He only left word that once Lu Xian had fully recovered, guards from Jin Jia Pass would come to escort Liu Mian Tang and her uncle back to the Lu family in Xizhou.
During the day, Mian Tang carried on as usual, preparing for their departure from Wuning Pass.
She didn’t need to worry about the Prince’s high-ranking servants like Madam Li and Fan Hu, but whether Bicao and Fangxie would be allowed into the Prince’s household was uncertain.
Madam Li said that according to the Prince, the two maids were too coarse to enter the royal household. However, since they were good at manual labor, their contracts were given to Liu Mian Tang.
Liu Mian Tang hesitated slightly. Fangxie and Bicao knelt before her, crying and begging their mistress to show mercy and take them along. If they entered the Prince’s household, wouldn’t there be hundreds of Madam Lis to supervise them? How could that compare to the freedom of a small residence?
Seeing Bicao cry until her nose was running, Mian Tang slowly said, “If you follow me, life may not be as good as before. There will likely be hardships. Are you still willing?”
The two nodded eagerly, and Mian Tang finally said, “Alright then. But one thing – don’t call me ‘mistress’ anymore. Just call me Miss Liu.”
The two maids, having been trained by Madam Li for half a year, were reluctant to use such a casual form of address. In the end, they compromised by calling Liu Mian Tang “Young Miss.”
Although Lu Xian’s injuries were severe, he had received timely treatment.
During this time, there were indeed people of unknown identity who seemed to want to infiltrate Wuning Pass and harm Lu Xian. However, with heavy guards surrounding the residence, these miscreants were captured before they could get close.
Perhaps to give the persistently ambitious Prince of Sui some peace of mind, in April, the Prince of Huaiyang submitted a memorial to the imperial court, exposing certain individuals colluding with A Gu Shan to privately sell iron ore.
Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Wu, who ruled from behind the curtain, was furious and ordered a thorough investigation. Unfortunately, the leads provided in the Prince of Huaiyang’s memorial were limited. Countless local officials were implicated, but the mastermind behind it all remained elusive.
For a time, numerous officials in the Northwest were executed as a warning to others. The iron ore smuggling case seemed to have been settled inconclusively.
Soon after, it was time for the annual allocation and accounting of military provisions and supplies. The Northwestern Army, which usually received the short end of the stick, suddenly found favor with the Ministry of Revenue this year. Not only did they receive the lion’s share, but local princes like the Prince of Sui even took the lead in making voluntary donations.
The court was puzzled – since when had the Prince of Sui become so friendly with the Prince of Huaiyang?
Provisions and supplies from Huizhou were transported directly to the Northwest, bypassing the usual layers of corruption by officials. The Northwestern army’s resources were secured for the year.
However, local officials along the trade routes from the Northwestern barbarian territories to Da Yan kept being beheaded. The civilians in Wuning Pass heard about this and often discussed the sensational iron ore smuggling case when they had nothing better to do.
When the case first broke, Liu Mian Tang was genuinely worried for her uncle, and Lu Xian himself was anxious day and night.
After all, this smuggling operation was intricately linked. As one who had laid the groundwork for the trade route, how could he come out clean? If just one official implicated him, the entire Lu family would be affected…
Considering the worst-case scenario, Lu Xian once again regretted not heeding Mian Tang’s advice to stay out of this mess. He also cursed his injury, which prevented him from immediately fleeing with his niece from the Prince of Huaiyang’s control…
However, as the iron ore smuggling case gradually quieted down, no one mentioned the name of Lu Xian from Shenwei Escort Agency.
Liu Mian Tang knew that Cui Xingzhou’s earlier promise to protect her uncle had not been a lie. But only the Prince of Huaiyang himself knew what painstaking arrangements he had made behind the scenes.
Because… he never returned to this residence in Wuning Pass.
Although Liu Mian Tang kept busy during the day, preparing for their journey home, in the depths of night, half-asleep and half-awake, she would habitually reach out to the other side of the bed. Each time her hand met cold emptiness, it would take a while to remember that she was no longer Madam Cui and that no one would be lying beside her anymore…
For the remainder of those nights, sleep often eluded her, though she forced herself not to dwell on the reasons for her insomnia. Sometimes she would simply get up, light an oil lamp, and practice her long-neglected calligraphy by the flickering flame. For some reason, her usually loose handwriting began to show some improvement…
Meanwhile, the important border town in the Northwest returned to calm after the turmoil of the official reshuffling.
Occasionally, Mian Tang would hear news about the Prince of Huaiyang from the military families around her. It was said that the troops at Jin Jia Pass had abandoned their usual defensive stance and begun a full-scale counterattack, reclaiming important towns occupied by the barbarians.
The command skills honed during the bandit suppression in Zhenzhou found even greater expression in the vast landscape of the Northwest.
It was said that the troops trained by the Prince of Huaiyang were as fierce as tigers and wolves. After all, how many commanders in all of Da Yan would eat and live with their soldiers daily, training together under the scorching sun and pouring rain? Yet the Prince of Huaiyang, despite his hereditary title, did exactly that.
However, the soldiers privately complained that the Prince seemed tireless lately, training the troops relentlessly. Not only was his face cold and his words few, but there was also a frightening intensity about him…
Didn’t he ever get tired?