In the dark room with no lamps lit, dense curtains hung down. Fortunately, light from distant fires shot in, illuminating the silhouettes of people inside.
The person wore a black cloak, standing quietly indoors.
When alone, he always liked wearing cloaks—perhaps from staying too long in that coldest place in his youth, always subconsciously seeking warmth.
He was flipping through a piece of paper in his hands. The paper was stained with pale black mud. After reading for a while, he burned the paper over a fire. The flames suddenly shot up high, illuminating his deep black eyes.
“The Yi Mountain letter recipient was killed, died from an ordinary dagger. A penetrating wound—from the position, someone should have rushed out from the slide cave, using momentum to stab straight through the heart.”
“Could it be Fei Luo?” someone in the darkness asked in alarm.
He laughed mockingly: “How would Fei Luo dare? Doesn’t she want that medicine anymore?”
He paced a few steps in the room, calculating the terrain and possible developments, suddenly closing his eyes with considerable regret.
A miscalculation—he shouldn’t have driven Jing Hengbo and Gong Yin into Heaven Split Canyon.
It seemed this time the two had again escaped death and even found the secret entrance in the waterfall.
This was simply inconceivable. When he’d originally driven the two in that direction, first he wanted to act without leaving traces—Heaven Split Canyon was high enough that falling would mean certain death. Second, he felt no one would be idle enough to charge into the waterfall’s middle section, much less risk entering the waterfall’s interior without any clues.
But there were always variables in worldly affairs. When variables occurred, they had to be remedied.
He thought silently—who was it that saw the secret?
The killer needed to borrow momentum to kill the letter recipient, indicating insufficient strength or poor condition. This matched both Gong Yin and Jing Hengbo.
But that entrance below the waterfall was extremely narrow—even he couldn’t enter. Only someone with an extremely slender figure could manage it. The people sent in before had all undergone training for some time.
Then it was Jing Hengbo.
His subordinates in the darkness dared not speak, all knowing Yi Mountain’s importance, awaiting the master’s next instructions.
“Send out First Star of the Heavenly Stems,” he said.
His subordinates shivered, not expecting the master to regard the Queen and Gong Yin so highly as to dispatch his most elite assassin.
“Yes.”
“Contact that side for help. Yi Kingdom’s disguise arts are still worth using.”
“Yes.”
“Also contact Yi Mountain’s garrison,” he added after a moment. “Let them know it’s time to move too.”
“Yes.”
…
Jing Hengbo’s group left the traveling palace, mounted their horses, shook off pursuing palace guards, and headed straight for Huan Capital.
Yelu Xun deliberately fell back a step, gesturing to the group of subordinates Yelu Qi had brought. The cleverest one, a young man called Xiao Dou’er, came over to hear her instructions. Suppressing laughter as he glanced at Jing Hengbo, he nodded and withdrew. After a while, he disappeared from the group.
Yelu Xun led Jing Hengbo through the bustling market. Horses moved slowly in crowds, but Jing Hengbo wasn’t anxious, observing street scenes while mentally preparing her negotiation script for the girl.
Yelu Tan and Master Ziwei shared one horse. No one in the world could break Master Ziwei’s restraints once applied. Since being captured, Yelu Tan hadn’t spoken a word. Master Ziwei found his face annoying, so passing a hat-selling stall, he casually grabbed a bamboo hat to put on Yelu Tan. The hat seller didn’t even notice.
Yi Kingdom was one of the Great Wilderness’s northern powers. Huan Capital was naturally much more prosperous than Shen Tie, Jade, or Daimao. On any other day, Jing Hengbo—this supposed queen who was actually quite deprived of enjoyment—would definitely jump down from her horse and stroll from street head to tail, then eat from head to tail. Today she sat on horseback with scattered gaze and unfocused eyes, muttering words. Nearby hawkers calling customers and acrobats doing somersaults nearly performed in her face without her noticing.
Yelu Xun leaned close to listen, hearing her say: “…Miss, thank you for your kind assistance to Gong Yin, but feelings cannot be exchanged… Bah bah bah, what kind of preachy words are these? Some public intellectual moral criminal?”
“…Miss, to be honest, how much money would make you willing to break the engagement… Bah bah bah, read too many CEO novels?”
“…Miss, you two have no feelings. Forced melons aren’t sweet. How about we just forget this matter? I’ll be responsible for finding you a marriage you’ll definitely be satisfied with… Bah bah bah, what if she spits in my face?”
“…Miss, sorry about before. He won’t see you again. Whatever requirements you have in the future, feel free to mention… Bah bah bah, what if she seeks death?”
Yelu Xun covered her mouth and went aside to secretly laugh, laughing while sighing, sighing while glancing at her brother.
Yelu Qi still acted like he heard nothing. Seeing someone selling sugar stick candy, he bought one and held it to Jing Hengbo’s mouth. Jing Hengbo muttered words while taking a bite.
Seeing someone selling frost-covered sweet persimmon cakes, he bought one, wiped off the frost, and held it to Jing Hengbo’s mouth. Jing Hengbo mumbled while taking a bite.
Master Ziwei watched enviously, loudly calling “I want some too!” Yelu Qi couldn’t be bothered with him, pointing to Yelu Xun. Yelu Xun bought a bag of sugar-roasted chestnuts and threw it in his lap. Master Ziwei peeled chestnuts himself, getting shells all over Yelu Tan’s neck. After peeling a few, the old immortal cried “Ouch!”—apparently injuring his nail.
Yelu Xun ignored him. Master Ziwei waited a while for Yelu Xun’s concerned attention but got nothing. Dejectedly blowing on his nail himself, he grumbled: “Dead girl, hot and cold—ignoring me again this time.” Pouting, he suddenly felt somewhat lost.
Accustomed to Yelu Xun’s persistent pestering, when she suddenly became cold and ignored him one day, he felt empty inside.
Yelu Tan suddenly turned to look at him. That cold, indifferent gaze made Master Ziwei angry and embarrassed. He smacked him on the neck with a “crack!” “What are you looking at! Don’t covet this old man’s beauty!”
“Indeed,” Yelu Tan suddenly spoke. “Master Ziwei? Old but not dead—how can you still crave youthful passion?”
Master Ziwei’s expression changed slightly, then he laughed again, looking sideways: “You boy seem quite unconvinced?”
Yelu Tan’s gaze swept over coldly, licking the blood traces at his lip corner. Master Ziwei saw that cold expression hiding beast-like bloodthirsty killing intent and frowned slightly, instinctively disliking this boy.
In the distance at the street’s end, Xiao Dou’er from before poked his head out from the crowd, making a “ready” gesture toward them.
Yelu Xun immediately quickened her pace, pulling Jing Hengbo through the long street, pointing to a building at the alley’s end: “Right there.”
Jing Hengbo coughed once, then again, touching her face and suddenly asking Yelu Xun: “How do I look today?”
Yelu Xun said expressionlessly: “I’m blind, thank you.”
“Oh.” Jing Hengbo turned to ask Yelu Qi: “How about it?”
“I could write a book describing your radiance today,” Yelu Qi smiled charmingly, demurely, and seriously. “Just afraid you’d find me long-winded.”
“Why can’t Gong Yin speak sweet words like you…” Jing Hengbo muttered low, sighing and thinking people were truly mean. Here was also a great beauty who spoke sweet words well, cooked excellently, was gentle and considerate, attentive and caring, with a sister who matched her temperament perfectly. No complications from former queens, fiancée pouches, or unspeakable difficulties—many times better than Gong Yin, that cold and proud perfectionist. But why did she just fixate on him, crying and loving, loving and crying?
“Asking for trouble!” she muttered while walking forward, puffing out her chest.
After two steps she suddenly stopped again, looking back at Yelu Tan: “This person’s mask hasn’t been removed yet.”
“What’s the rush? Is it appropriate to remove it on the street?” Yelu Xun said. “With him in the old immortal’s hands, are you afraid he’ll escape?”
Jing Hengbo thought that made sense and nodded to continue forward. She actually didn’t want to know who Yelu Tan was right now—she was just feeling timid, deliberately delaying.
She wasn’t afraid of that confrontation, but this was somewhat unjustified. The person was allegedly Gong Yin’s life-saving benefactor. If truly devoted, some words would be very awkward to say.
Yelu Xun secretly beckoned to Xiao Dou’er. He circled around to approach stealthily. Yelu Xun fell behind everyone, quietly asking: “How are the arrangements?”
“Complete top-tier ensemble!” Xiao Dou’er pressed down three fingers in succession. “Huan Capital’s Wancai Building’s most popular girl Ji Lian’er, Huan Capital’s Shangchun Troupe’s most popular actress Huang Mama, and Huan Capital’s most difficult person known as ‘Ghost’s Dread’—the down-and-out sour scholar Wen Xiansheng! All set!”
“Well done!” Yelu Xun praised. “How did you manage it?”
“Threw money!” Xiao Dou’er triumphantly raised five fingers. “Big gold bars! Came immediately, will act whatever we want, guaranteed improvisation!”
“Just don’t overdo it,” Yelu Xun instructed. “I just need to delay past tonight, delay her from caring about anything else.”
“With that acting skill, if you want to delay three months, it’s possible!”
…
“You can disguise me as anyone you want.” Princess Yi Cheng had changed from her ornate court dress and personally followed behind Gong Yin, also walking on this street, distantly watching Jing Hengbo’s group ahead.
Gong Yin remained noncommittal. He’d already asked Princess Yi Cheng about her acquaintance with Yelu Tan. Princess Yi Cheng herself wasn’t clear how she’d attracted Yelu Tan’s attention, thinking it was her beauty. But Gong Yin understood Heavenly Gate disciples well—how could proud Heavenly Gate disciples humble themselves to be a princess’s companion?
There must be some purpose.
After several hints, Princess Yi Cheng finally remembered that jar of mud, but she hadn’t brought it with her. Gong Yin frowned, thinking he might have to accompany this woman to her palace. That mud was dug from Yi Mountain and given to the princess by Yi Mountain’s commander. Jing Hengbo had also emerged from Yi Mountain. From timing, she’d emerged extremely quickly, indicating Yi Mountain’s interior must have some peculiarities. Moreover, it involved Yi Kingdom’s military officers—he couldn’t help being vigilant.
In the Great Wilderness structure, six kingdoms were stronger than eight tribes. Yi Kingdom, skilled in disguise and producing many strange assassins, had always been one of Dige’s political nightmares. During the founding empress era a hundred years ago, Yi Kingdom, unwilling to submit, had sent ten batches of assassins to kill the empress. Those assassins disguised as various identities—sometimes directly as the empress’s royal consorts and children. Simply impossible to guard against. So Yi Kingdom had always been a key monitoring target for Gong Yin’s Spider Web Bee Sting organization.
A year ago, Gong Yin had received news that Yi Kingdom was searching for their Imperial Uncle, but their movements were small and seemed peaceful, so he hadn’t intervened much. Now, to conceal his tracks, he’d deliberately severed contact with all subordinates, but this didn’t mean he completely couldn’t receive various news from kingdoms and tribes.
His gaze fell on a street corner where a beggar was picking lice, crunching them in his mouth, occasionally wiping his hands on the wall, leaving blurred smears.
Gong Yin’s gaze swept over the smears as he passed the beggar without looking back.
Dige was peaceful.
Ah Shan had disappeared.
Ming City and the false State Preceptor were each stable.
The court had heard rumors of the State Preceptor abroad and seemed restless, requesting the State Preceptor’s swift return or strategic guidance.
…
Chang An Inn was at the very end of Deng Cao Alley, a separate courtyard. Hard to imagine how an inn in such a remote location could have business.
But Jing Hengbo was celebrating—remote was good! No one would watch when crying started.
Entering the door, the innkeeper and waiters were behind the counter calculating accounts, abacuses crackling. Seeing Xiao Dou’er leading the way, the innkeeper didn’t even lift his eyelids.
The front hall was a restaurant with some scattered customers drinking. Fortunately, the back courtyard was quite far away.
Jing Hengbo straightened her expression, cleared her throat, and said seriously: “I’ll go take a look myself.” Then rushed toward the back courtyard like a whirlwind.
Looking back, not one had stayed behind—all followed. She secretly sighed about making bad friends.
In the back courtyard, some workers were repairing walls, sitting on top working. Seeing a large group enter, they all curiously stopped.
Jing Hengbo turned through a moon gate, when suddenly a fat woman dressed as a peasant with a sallow red face and body full of fat came rushing out breathlessly.
“Miss Yelu!” She looked only at Yelu Xun, ignoring everyone else. “You’re back! Did you find my son-in-law?”
Jing Hengbo rolled her eyes—what was this about? Already calling him son-in-law.
“Huang Mama,” Yelu Xun looked troubled, hemming and hawing: “That… your son-in-law… this matter probably won’t work out. Look, this is your son-in-law’s legitimate fiancée…” She pushed Jing Hengbo forward while giving Xiao Dou’er a “well done” look.
“What?” The woman suddenly stopped, whipping around to stare at Jing Hengbo. Her whole body of fat instantly trembled, creating several rippling waves.
“What? Fiancée? Her?” The woman’s fat, short finger pointed at Jing Hengbo, suddenly giggling: “Miss Yelu, stop joking. This is just a delicate boy—dirty, ragged, flat-chested, and short-legged. Coming to play fiancée? Trying to blackmail us? Let me tell you, we’re poor people with nothing for you to extort! Kneel down and kowtow three times, and mama will spare you. When my daughter becomes an official’s wife later, there’ll be silver to reward you. Now,” she pointed to the door, “get lost!”
“Fine! Get lost it is!” Jing Hengbo stepped forward three paces and kicked the fat woman down with a “crack!” Her boot kicked her forward: “Roll! Quick! Quick, roll for me to see!”
Yelu Xun “pfft!” Yelu Qi’s jaw nearly dropped, Yelu Tan disdainfully turned his head, Master Ziwei’s eyes brightened as he cheered: “Good disciple!”
“Ahhhhh you worthless beggar, shameless slut, lowly scoundrel!” The fat woman rolled out in a ball, shrieking curses: “You dare hit me! You dare hit me! Help! Murder! There are thugs killing people and robbing women in broad daylight!”
Jing Hengbo stepped on her bottom: “Thug your sister! Rob your sister! Look clearly! Sister is here to break the engagement! Take your daughter and get lost! Taking advantage of others’ danger, forcing marriage—what kind of behavior is that? Don’t you know forced melons aren’t sweet? Roll back now and I’ll compensate you. Keep acting crazy, and I’ll kick you to Spain!”
“You’re really my son-in-law’s fiancée?” The woman stopped wailing, opened her eyes wide to look at her carefully, then suddenly raged: “What are you? Dare yell at me? With your pathetic appearance, you’re my great official son-in-law’s fiancée? Do you deserve it?”
“I don’t deserve it?” Jing Hengbo wiped her face: “Look clearly at sister’s face!”
“Ordinary!” The woman’s voice was louder than hers: “My daughter is beautiful as a flower with fair skin and big chest!”
Jing Hengbo had originally planned to speak nicely, but this old woman started with shrewishness. Immediately fired up, she threw off her outer clothing with a “whoosh!” and thrust out her chest: “This lady also has D38!”
Yelu Xun tumbled over with a “thud.”
Yelu Qi turned to get a better view but was blocked by Master Ziwei, who leaned over himself but was viciously grabbed by his robe by Yelu Xun.
“My daughter is gentle and virtuous, good for home and family!” the fat woman shouted.
Jing Hengbo kicked her into a somersault: “This miss loves eating and sleeping, kills like hemp!”
“My daughter has virtue in appearance, words, and work—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting!”
“This miss is easy to fool and deceive—lots of money, person’s stupid!”
“My daughter takes her husband as heaven, diligent and thrifty in managing the house!”
“This miss is a lioness from Hedong, calls herself king and overlord!”
The fat woman gasped “eh eh,” still thinking of her next line when Jing Hengbo had already shoveled her all the way into the garden path: “Tried to discuss nicely with you but you wouldn’t listen, insisting on competing in shrewishness with sister. Compete in arrogance? Two words: stupid!”
The fat woman slapped her thighs wailing in the mud. Jing Hengbo strode over her mountain-like body, marching forward proudly, leaving behind a ground of dropped jaws.
The workers repairing the wall dropped their mud buckets from their hands. Yelu Qi was coughing, coughing and laughing. Yelu Xun also laughed, leisurely keeping time: “Even rhymed! Good eye!” Then muttered: “Let’s see how she handles the next challenge…”
Master Ziwei was delighted, clapping in praise: “Refreshing! Really will accept this disciple later!” Turning to see the shop owner and a group of waiters also stretching their necks to watch the excitement, he glared: “Go away, go away! What’s so interesting? Go! Go!”
The innkeeper chuckled and reluctantly left. Such good theater—how many times in life could one witness this?
Jing Hengbo finished the fat woman monster and rushed to the back courtyard, suddenly seeing a man in scholar’s robes with a serious expression, solemnly standing under the eaves, his double-character eyebrows tightly furrowed, gazing at her gravely.
Seeing this appearance, Jing Hengbo slowed her steps. She’d expected the fat woman’s other family members to be equally shrewish, rude, and vulgar, planning to deal with them all together. But this person looked like a scholar. Ah, only scholars and petty people are difficult to nurture.
Before thinking how to respond, the scholar had already flicked his sleeves, saying somberly: “Miss, why did you chase and beat my wife outside the moon gate?”
“Because if I don’t chase and beat her, she’ll chase and beat me,” Jing Hengbo replied equally seriously. “Confucius said: Those who beat people will always be beaten.”
“Confucius said?” The scholar indeed began pondering: “Which great sage used this title? Also, I haven’t heard this saying before.”
“Frog in a well, insufficient learning—not hearing it is normal,” Jing Hengbo nodded with a smile. “May I ask if you are Miss Ji’s family elder?”
“Naturally,” the scholar said coldly. “Miss, I’ve already heard your intention. I have three questions for you to answer.”
Jing Hengbo secretly gathered her qi: “Please speak.”
“First,” the scholar said methodically, “you claim to be my future son-in-law’s fiancée, coming here to break the engagement for your fiancé. Since ancient times, marriage contracts have required parents’ orders and matchmakers’ words. Even to break engagements, the man’s parents should come forward, asking matchmakers to return the birth charts to show respect. Even if my future son-in-law has no parents, he should ask matchmakers himself. Where’s the logic of you, a concubine of unclear status, showing your face to discuss breaking engagements with the woman’s family? This behavior is laughable and improper!”
Jing Hengbo chuckled: “What’s the second point?”
“Second,” the scholar looked disdainful, “your coming today is already improper and immoral, making everything afterward lack righteous support. You should know your own misconduct. Meeting the woman’s elders, you should humbly apologize and speak kindly. When actions are wrong, they should be补足 with propriety. You erred first, then were rude after, actually chasing and beating the woman’s mother in public, showing no respect for elders or propriety. How can such a rebellious woman deserve to stand here!”
Jing Hengbo scratched her face: “Quickly state the third point.”
“Third,” the scholar’s beard flew as he angrily pointed at Jing Hengbo’s nose, “regardless of whether you claiming to be my son-in-law’s fiancée is true or false, even if true, my daughter risked her life to save your fiancé—she has life-saving grace. Life and death are serious matters. You and your fiancé should be grateful. Your fiancé should joyfully marry my daughter, and you should voluntarily step aside to honor her. This is proper human conduct. Yet you two—one ungratefully avoiding without showing face, hiding behind a woman, instigating a woman to come make trouble breaking the engagement; the other shameless, brazen, an unmarried woman publicly causing trouble over marriage. Your conduct is despicably arrogant, your hearts filthy and immoral. I’ve never seen such behavior in my life—it’s outrageous!”
“Ah,” Jing Hengbo looked admiringly, sincerely saying: “Your words are really numerous, piled up so well.”
“Don’t think flattering me will make me change my view!” the scholar heavily flicked his sleeves. “This concerns great righteousness, great propriety, great principles. I stand without shame before heaven and earth. Bah! You quickly leave me. I’ll forgive your previous immoral behavior. If you continue pestering, don’t blame me for taking you to court for judgment by drowning!”
“Hehehe,” Jing Hengbo looked sideways. “Give you three points of color and you want to open a dye shop. Originally respected you as a scholar, thinking though your words were harsh, you could at least reason. Now it seems your Chinese was definitely taught by that little slut Ming City—seeming high-class but actually sophistry. You want to discuss three points with me? I’ll also discuss three points with you. If you can answer these three points, I’ll leave. How about that?”
“How can a dog’s mouth produce ivory!” the scholar snorted angrily. “Let me witness your shameless arguments!”
“First,” Jing Hengbo smiled, “you’re full of classical language and moral propriety—must be from a scholarly family that values conduct and propriety? Since you so value human principles and propriety defense, surely your daughter also reads extensively and carefully guards propriety?”
“Naturally!”
“Then the problem comes,” Jing Hengbo smiled. “Who told me a woman strictly controlled by family education would go out at night? Fine, even if she can wander out at night, helping in crisis is human duty, right? Showing kindness without seeking reward is human principle, right? Disdaining to take advantage of others’ danger, right? But your daughter, knowing my fiancé has a fiancée, still forced him, threatening with her life, forcing him to hand over his personal pouch, compelling him to seek marriage. Hey, please tell me—does this count as virtuous, proper, and carefully guarding propriety?”
The scholar choked. Workers on the wall roared with laughter. Someone loudly said: “We don’t understand propriety, but good daughters from respectable families probably couldn’t do such things. This is clearly a story from brothel storybooks.”
At the courtyard entrance, the innkeeper, waiters, and a crowd of customers were again poking their heads to watch.
The scholar was furious, waving his sleeves: “A bunch of rough men! What do you understand? Shut up!”
Without waiting for his answer, Jing Hengbo continued: “Fine, forcing a married man to agree to engagement under crisis circumstances—maybe your daughter is just more shameless. Shameless is shameless—courageously pursuing what she likes. Though the methods aren’t honorable, it’s still understandable. Just don’t stand on moral high ground constantly spraying others while blind to your own virtue. Now the second problem comes, still discussing the propriety you boast about until death. Since your family so practices propriety and emphasizes virtuous gentleness, you should understand everything has proper order—respecting marriage contracts means both sides should respect them. This side already has a fiancée, then your side squeezes in—this isn’t marriage discussion, this is called being a mistress, called wall-digging, called second wife, understand? Want to squeeze in? Your daughter should be a concubine, understand? And I, the main wife, must agree, understand? First wife, then concubine, understand? A concubine clamoring at the main wife, demanding the legal wife step aside—you think this is a YY palace intrigue novel? Which sage book told you this was acceptable?”
“You…” the scholar stepped back, his face purple.
“Third point,” Jing Hengbo stepped forward, waving her finger. “What you said before about losing propriety first makes all subsequent actions lose righteous support—absolutely correct, returning it to you. You failed to teach a reasonable, proper daughter, failed to teach a virtuous, dignified wife. One openly robs others’ fiancés taking advantage of others’ danger, crying and shouting to squeeze out someone’s legal wife to become the main wife; one acts shrew, bullies using power, not yet a mother-in-law but already acts as official relative. Sage books teach you to cultivate self, regulate family, govern country, pacify world, right? You couldn’t teach your wife and daughter well—that’s your problem, you don’t cultivate yourself; your wife is shrewish, your daughter thick-skinned, you appear righteous but are actually a spineless henpecked husband who can’t regulate family. Can’t do the first two, no need to discuss the latter two with you. Tell me, unable to cultivate self or regulate family, incompetent and immoral, indulging wife and daughter to create such a mess—how do you still have face to stand here discussing human principles and moral propriety with me?”
“Bang!” The scholar fell backward on the steps. Though still wanting to struggle up and argue back, his momentum finally weakened. Jing Hengbo held up her middle finger at him, chuckling: “Compete in reasoning? One word: asking for abuse!”
She raised her head and strode away proudly, stepping on the scholar’s robe before leaving. Workers all over the wall shivered, a crowd of onlookers was dumbfounded. Yelu Xun’s face paled as she murmured: “One word, asking for abuse…”
Yelu Qi’s smile lines deepened as he glanced at his sister, really not wanting to gloat, but truly couldn’t help it. Every word was scolding Xun, yet poor Xun couldn’t respond to a single one…
This could only blame everyone being deceived by Jing Hengbo’s lazy, carefree appearance. No one expected she also had such an eloquent sharp tongue—just that ordinary matters couldn’t arouse her interest in verbal combat. Only defending love…
Yelu Qi suddenly restrained his smile, his heart slightly aching.
All of Jing Hengbo’s brilliant and unique qualities had truly always been born only from love.
Only for Gong Yin and her inner persistence could others see her fierce defense.
How fortunate you are, Gong Yin…
A crowd of onlookers discussed.
Someone said: “This girl is too formidable.”
Someone said: “Seems a bit unreasonable. After all, the person saved her fiancé. I’d say each should compromise—the latter shouldn’t demand to be the main wife, just accept being secondary. The former should be more magnanimous and accept her, avoiding being called jealous. Spreading word would be a good story too. Just benefits that fiancé.”
Everyone chuckled, mostly agreeing with the latter view.
But someone said: “With pearls and jade already present, why settle for fish eyes and fireflies?”
Everyone was stunned hearing this, looking back but not finding who spoke. Someone disagreed: “Pearls and jade present? What does that mean? Saying this girl is beautiful? Her face is good, but this messy hair, and this temper—what kind of temper? Fighting men and hitting people in public. And those words—too fierce! Really marry her home, chaos and no peace. I say the latter girl who saved people, though the mother is terrible, the father seems decent. If the person herself is prettier, the latter might be better.”
Everyone again gossiped in agreement. Someone else said quietly: “I say neither works. One has bad temper, one has bad family background. These two so compete for the fiancé—Miss Ji as an unmarried woman not hesitating to force marriage, this woman not hesitating to show her face defending her fiancé. That man must be extremely outstanding. Such an outstanding man shouldn’t match such ordinary women—should match women first-class in family background, status, wealth, and position.”
Hearing this, the men were uncomfortable. Someone snorted coldly: “Why should all good women go to that person? Maybe that person is crooked-mouthed and cross-eyed?”
But someone said lightly: “What use are family background, status, wealth, and position? Two hearts knowing each other is most important.”
Someone mocked: “Sounds very transcendent. Ask yourself—if it were you, which of these three types of women would you choose?”
After slight silence, that person said: “Whoever defends affection for me, I’ll dedicate my life to her.”
…