Zhu Yanyan had lied.

She hadn’t seen Young Master Lu when she went out to burn incense, and she hadn’t even met Young Master Lu at all.

The reason she was so certain that Scholar Lu was the young man who had saved her years ago and promised to marry her… was because that day, she had also been at the Golden Prosperity Tower.

Eight years ago, after Zhu Yanyan discovered that the Flying Jade Stronghold on Thousand Cliff Mountain she had always yearned for was actually a bandit stronghold, she became increasingly melancholy. She knew her mother would never allow her to marry someone of unknown origins, so she had always suppressed her feelings.

She had strung the jade pendant the young man gave her that day with gold thread and wore it daily. Perhaps by some destined fate, the gold thread had broken recently, and she pleaded with her mother to personally go to the Golden Prosperity Tower to get new gold thread.

Since she usually disliked going out, this rare request was met with almost delighted agreement from her mother.

That day, Miss Shen Tongyun of the Golden Prosperity Tower personally received her, accompanying her to sit in the elegant private room reserved for ladies. Then she heard people chatting outside.

“I heard that Scholar Lu is from Lan Province…”

“Yes, yes, I heard he came from Flying Jade Stronghold on Thousand Cliff Mountain.”

“Really? How frightening! Isn’t Flying Jade Stronghold a bandit’s den… What is he doing in Copper Gong Town? Won’t he bring bandits here?”

Exclamations came from outside, while inside the private room, Zhu Yanyan suddenly gripped her handkerchief tightly.

Scholar Lu, Flying Jade Stronghold on Thousand Cliff Mountain…

It was him! He had come!

Zhu Yanyan was so excited her hands were slightly trembling. She gripped her handkerchief tightly, afraid that the wet nurse beside her would notice something amiss.

“Oh my, our Copper Gong Town has always been peaceful. We can’t let him bring us trouble…”

“No wonder he wants to force a marriage with Miss He’s family. He’s coveting the He family’s wealth. But has anyone seen what this Scholar Lu looks like?”

“Since he’s from a bandit background, he must be a fat man with a full beard, broad shoulders, and covered in muscle. I heard all bandits look like that – so frightening.”

He’s not like that!

Zhu Yanyan thought indignantly. Young Master Lu was not that kind of person!

Then she thought bashfully… even if he really had a full beard and broad shoulders, she still wanted to marry him…

“Miss Zhu, what’s wrong? Are you frightened?” Shen Tongyun, who was accompanying her, noticed her expression and asked carefully.

Shen Tongyun was quite curious about this Miss Zhu. She had heard that she was raised in the inner chambers since childhood and rarely saw outsiders. When she came to the Golden Prosperity Tower this time, Madam Zhu had specifically sent word ahead, requesting a good-tempered young lady to accompany her. The Zhu family was a major client of the Golden Prosperity Tower, so… Miss Shen herself had come to attend to her.

Therefore, Shen Tongyun was very careful with this delicate guest.

“What are they talking about? Who is Scholar Lu? And what’s this about forcing marriage with Miss He?” Zhu Yanyan pretended to be curious, asking softly.

She was somewhat concerned about Scholar Lu forcing marriage with Miss He.

This was the first time Shen Tongyun had seen Miss Zhu actively speak since her arrival, and she was actually a bit excited… So she told her everything, sparing no details. Moreover, she originally intended to help her friend He Ketian vent her anger by spreading this matter and letting everyone know Scholar Lu’s true nature.

“Scholar Lu only moved to Copper Gong Town recently. He claims to be a scholar, but we don’t know if it’s true or false. A few days ago, the He family’s pastry shop held an event and created a publicity stunt about throwing an embroidered ball to choose a husband. That Scholar Lu caught the ball and then sent someone to propose marriage, trying to force Miss He to marry him.” Shen Tongyun spoke with some indignation, then lowered her voice mysteriously: “It’s said that Scholar Lu isn’t a scholar at all. He’s from Lan Province, and someone investigated and found he came from Flying Jade Stronghold on Thousand Cliff Mountain – he’s a bandit…”

Actually, this was half-true and half-false, and the logic didn’t make sense at all.

As for someone investigating that Lu Chi came from Flying Jade Stronghold on Thousand Cliff Mountain, that was nothing more than rumors spreading, but Zhu Yanyan believed it.

“Miss He is truly pitiful, being forced to marry such a person of unknown origins. If you ask me, he should be arrested and thrown in jail – only then would there be peace. Don’t you think so, Miss Zhu?” Shen Tongyun spoke with emotion, looking expectantly at Zhu Yanyan, hoping for her agreement and response.

Instead, Zhu Yanyan looked at her coldly and said: “If you ask me, the He family is the one with problems. How can marriage be used as a publicity stunt? Does Miss He not care about her reputation? I’ve often heard that merchants value profit above all, and that there’s no merchant who isn’t crafty. I used to think such evaluations were unfair to merchants, but now I see it’s just bringing shame upon themselves.”

Shen Tongyun was dumbfounded. Wasn’t Miss Zhu supposed to be timid and shy? Who was this sharp-tongued and cutting young lady before her? Could she be an imposter?

Beside her, Zhu Yanyan’s wet nurse was also dumbfounded, as if she didn’t recognize her own miss.

Outside, the women continued gossiping.

“Ah… Miss He is so pitiful, being forced to marry such a person…”

“Whether this scholar is real or fake is questionable. He might be an imposter.”

“But wouldn’t impersonating a scholar mean being arrested and thrown in jail?”

“Since he’s already a bandit, would he fear such a minor crime as impersonating a scholar…”

Zhu Yanyan clenched her fists, grinding her teeth. She was angry that Young Master Lu had forgotten his promise to marry her and was actually proposing to some Miss He, yet she also felt sorry for him being insulted and mocked like this, and feared that his impersonation of being a scholar would be discovered and he would really be arrested and thrown in jail.

Just then, she suddenly heard an angry rebuke.

“How can you spread such baseless rumors! Scholar Lu rented a house in Copper Gong Town and signed a lease contract at the government office. His scholar status is registered with the authorities!”

Zhu Yanyan immediately felt relieved and was secretly grateful to this young lady who spoke up for Young Master Lu.

“You young lady, why are you so startled? We’re not magistrates in the government office who need evidence to arrest people or hold power over life and death. We’re just casually chatting.” Outside, a woman said disapprovingly.

“Who says only magistrates in government offices can hold power over life and death? Don’t you know that many mouths can melt metal, and accumulated slander can destroy bones?” That young lady seemed to laugh angrily at such irresponsible words. “Madam, rumors are fearsome and can kill!”

Zhu Yanyan nodded repeatedly, liking this young lady more and more.

Outside, the woman seemed somewhat embarrassed and angry, saying angrily: “Little girl, at such a young age you’re already so sharp-tongued. Be careful you won’t find a good family to marry into in the future.”

Then she heard the young lady call out: “I make my living as a matchmaker, so of course I need to be sharp-tongued!”

Inside the room, Zhu Yanyan was somewhat surprised. By the voice, she was a young lady about her own age – could she really be a matchmaker?

“Yes, I am a matchmaker. When Young Master Lu got the He family’s embroidered ball that day, he properly requested a matchmaker to propose marriage according to custom. That matchmaker was me! So no one knows the truth of this entire matter better than I do. The talk of forced marriage is complete nonsense. Although I was also surprised why the He family threw an embroidered ball for marriage selection and then refused to honor it afterward, Young Master Lu didn’t pester them about it afterward. Where does this talk of forced marriage come from!”

“Moreover, I have met Young Master Lu. He is a gentleman as refined as orchids and jade trees, absolutely not that kind of petty person!”

Inside the private room, Zhu Yanyan’s heart surged with emotion. She wished she could immediately get up and meet this matchmaker, but with the wet nurse watching her closely, she had to plan carefully… She couldn’t let the wet nurse become suspicious.