Indeed, Madam Du was intimidated by her bluff and dared not make a sound. Just then, Du Ruhui hurried out and said in a low voice, “Mother, what are you doing here?”

Madam Du was already holding back a stomach full of anger with nowhere to vent. Seeing him come over, she immediately glared at him, “You still have the nerve to ask! What did I tell you before? Why did you go find this wild girl again and give her such a hairpin? Is this how you’re supposed to use our Du family’s money?”

Her words made Du Ruhui frown deeply. He said helplessly, “Mother, Meixue has a name and surname. Please don’t call her a wild girl every time you speak. Besides, I truly like her. Why won’t you just…”

Madam Du interrupted without allowing him to finish, “In any case, when I say no, it means no. Give up on this idea completely!”

Du Ruhui argued dissatisfiedly, “But this is my marriage—I should decide for myself!”

Madam Du snorted coldly, “Since ancient times, marriage has always been decided by parents’ orders and matchmakers’ words. There has never been any self-decision.”

Du Ruhui looked at Yunyi beside him, his eyes filled with struggling emotions. After a long while, he steeled his heart and said, “What if your son insists on marrying her?!”

“Impossible!” Madam Du’s face darkened, “As long as I live, this wild girl will never step foot through my Du family’s door, and you are not allowed to see her again!”

Faced with Madam Du’s refusal, Du Ruhui was torn, not knowing what to say. Just then, Yunyi walked up to him, stared at him and said, “Listen carefully—I, Wu Meixue, will never marry you in this lifetime. Everything… ends here!”

Du Ruhui was shocked and quickly grabbed Yunyi’s arm as she was about to leave, saying, “Meixue, don’t be angry. I… I will marry you, I definitely will!”

Yunyi pulled her hand free and shook her head, “I’ve made myself very clear. From now on, you take your broad path, I’ll cross my narrow bridge. We have no relationship anymore.” Meixue was already dead—rather than continue this endless entanglement, it was better to take this opportunity to sever ties completely.

Her words brought a pained expression to Du Ruhui’s eyes, “I’m sorry, Meixue. I know my mother was wrong, but…”

Before he could continue, Yunyi said, “I came today just to return the hairpin to you. From now on, don’t come looking for me again.” With that, she helped Wu Laosan leave. Du Ruhui wanted to chase after them but was firmly held back by the steward, only able to watch helplessly as they walked further and further away.

After the Wu father and daughter had disappeared from sight, Madam Du finally signaled the steward to let go. She smoothed the wrinkles on Du Ruhui’s clothes and said, “Ruhui, Mother knows you’re unhappy right now, but everything Mother does is for your own good. That wild girl has no upbringing or manners—she’s completely unworthy of you. After you go to the capital and pass the imperial examination, Mother will find you a young lady from a prestigious family, who will be thousands of times better than that wild girl.”

“I won’t marry anyone except Meixue!” After saying this, he quickly chased in the direction Meixue and her father had gone, leaving Madam Du shouting angrily behind him.

Meanwhile, after walking some distance, Wu Laosan said worriedly, “Girl, treating Madam Du like that—will there really be no trouble? What if she actually takes it to the magistrate? Father doesn’t know anyone in the government office.”

Yunyi comforted him, “Don’t worry, Father. As I said just now, it’s just a fingernail. The magistrate won’t accept such a case.”

“That’s good then.” Wu Laosan sighed with relief, then looked at Yunyi, “Girl, can you really let go of Ruhui?”

“Of course.” Yunyi answered without hesitation. She had no feelings for Du Ruhui whatsoever, so how could there be any question of “letting go”? But this thought could never be known to Wu Laosan.

“Father, you saw how Madam Du despises me. Even if I forced myself to marry into the Du family, I wouldn’t have good days ahead. I might even implicate you in suffering. Since that’s the case, why force it? Besides, I believe I’ll definitely find a husband better than Du Ruhui in the future.”

Wu Laosan nodded repeatedly, “Right, my daughter is so beautiful, filial, and well-behaved. I don’t know how many people like her. Just like what I heard the storyteller say in the teahouse last time about wanting peach women, good… good what was it? I can’t remember right now.”

Yunyi asked puzzledly, “Wanting peach women—what is that?”

Wu Laosan twisted his neck thinking for a long time, finally remembering, “Right, there was another line after it: gentlemen seek well.”

“Wanting peach women, gentlemen seek well…” Yunyi murmured this several times, then smiled with pursed lips, “It’s ‘graceful and beautiful lady, gentleman seeks to woo,’ isn’t it?”

Wu Laosan nodded repeatedly, “Yes, yes, yes, those are the words. Look at Father’s head—fortunately it’s you, otherwise I’d be laughed at again.” As he spoke, he stroked Yunyi’s long hair hanging behind her and said with feeling, “Perhaps as you said, not marrying Ruhui is also a good thing. After all…” He shook his head and waved his hand, “Let’s not talk about this anymore. Come, Father will escort you to the Governor’s mansion.”

“Meixue! Meixue!” This voice made Yunyi pause in her steps, then she pulled Wu Laosan to quicken their pace forward. But after just a few steps, they were intercepted by Du Ruhui who had caught up.

Yunyi looked at him indifferently, “I’ve said everything I needed to say. What are you chasing after me for?”

Du Ruhui caught his breath and said, “Meixue, I know the things Mother said made you very sad. I apologize to you on her behalf. Please don’t be angry anymore, alright?”

“Today you can apologize on her behalf, but what about in the future?” Faced with her words, Du Ruhui said urgently, “I will keep my word. We’ve known each other for so many years—don’t you understand my feelings?”

Yunyi was silent for a while, then said to Wu Laosan, “Father, please go back first. I want to speak with him alone.”

Wu Laosan nodded, “Alright then, be careful. Next time you come back, Father will cook something delicious for you.”

After Wu Laosan left, Yunyi said, “Even now, you still don’t understand—it’s impossible between you and me.”

Du Ruhui said anxiously, “I know you’re worried about my mother. Don’t worry, I will…”

“You’ll persuade her, right? But have you thought about this—your mother simply doesn’t like me. Even if you force me through the door, she’ll nitpick and mock me in every way afterward, even force you to take concubines and side wives. What then? Will you apologize on her behalf like you do now and ask me to swallow all the resentment?”

“I…” Du Ruhui was rendered speechless by her questions. After a long while, he stammered, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. I believe that after spending time together, Mother will discover your good qualities and sincerely accept you as her daughter-in-law…”

“What if your mother can’t figure it out for ten or twenty years? What then?” Faced with Yunyi’s words, Du Ruhui shook his head, “That won’t happen. My mother isn’t bad-hearted, she’s just…”