Getting drenched in winter rain was practically seeking death. The surrounding servants and martial maidservants saw the situation was wrong and quickly dragged and carried the young man and young lady into the house. Originally the Lou family servants weren’t certain, but after hearing their young master’s fervent confession in the courtyard, they very familiarly packaged Lou Yao and the Cheng family young lady together and sent them to the county yamen. Naturally the Cheng family guards and martial maidservants who also witnessed the scene wouldn’t refuse.
That evening at the county yamen’s rear courtyard where Yun Shi was checking accounts, she received two large gift packages: one dear niece soaked through with signs of catching cold, and one Young Master from Hedong Lou clan soaked through but showing no signs of catching cold.
After bathing and changing clothes, Shaoshang unsurprisingly fell ill—dizzy with a hot face and runny nose, weak limbs unable to hold even a soup bowl, dully falling into deep sleep. On the other hand, Young Master Lou who had traveled long distances continuously had a robust constitution and vigorous spirit. After drinking three bowls of ginger soup, he didn’t even sneeze. Looking around for ages without seeing Shaoshang, he shyly asked whether dinner would be eaten with the “whole family.”
Yun Shi smiled and replied: Dinner will be accompanied by me and your Uncle Cheng. Surprise? Unexpected?
One dinner hadn’t finished when Cheng Zhi and his wife thoroughly questioned Young Master Lou inside and out.
Yun Shi rested her elbow in contemplation, occasionally sizing up Lou Yao from top to bottom.
Cheng Zhi once again put on the picky father-in-law expression, drawing out his tone: “You knew our destination. Since you were in the neighboring commandery and heard Dong Commandery had chaos, why didn’t you hurry to see Shaoshang?”
Lou Yao was frightened into repeatedly waving his hands: “No, no, Uncle misunderstands me. Before the incident in Dong Commandery, Father sent me back to the capital, saying he would carefully consider this marriage. Then I slowly rode back on horseback. Half a month ago, just as I glimpsed the capital gates, I heard Dong Commandery Governor Fan the Traitor had rebelled. I, I quickly turned my horse around to find you! A few days ago on the official road, I ran into my family’s old servant and his party. They said Father had already agreed to the marriage—Father had sent them back to the capital to deliver a family letter to Mother!”
Cheng Zhi pursed his lips, considering this eighty percent satisfactory.
As a responsible guardian who considered himself noble, the next day Cheng Zhi wanted to send Lou Yao back to Shanyang Commandery or the capital. But when Lou Yao heard Shaoshang was sick in bed, he absolutely refused to leave. Anyway, the Lou family had plenty of money, so he wanted to buy a residence in the county to live in.
Hearing this, Cheng Zhi’s head swelled like a bucket. He quickly dragged Young Master Lou into the county yamen’s rear residence side room to settle him properly. That day his niece and Lou Yao had that big noisy quarrel—so many people inside and outside the medical shelter had seen it. In the brief half-day since returning from city defense work, it had already reached his ears. If Lou Yao went to live outside again with people coming and going, wouldn’t it cause a citywide storm?
Meanwhile, Yun Shi received one good and one bad piece of news.
The bad news: overwork, pent-up worries, plus getting drenched in winter rain—her niece’s cold seemed to worsen, developing a low fever at night. The good news: the medical shelter she absolutely couldn’t persuade her niece to leave could now smoothly process her resignation procedures.
Who knew Shaoshang would be sick for several days, continuously sleeping and waking, making Yun Shi increasingly worried. Fortunately, the physician repeatedly confirmed it was excessive fatigue causing cold evil to enter the body—slowly recuperating would eventually cure it. Even so, Cheng Zhi still requested from neighboring county Senior Brother Gongsun a long-renowned, powerful shaman-physician who conducted a vigorous prayer ritual at the county yamen’s rear residence.
Speaking of which, ever since Cheng Zhi and his wife took over their niece, there truly hadn’t been a single day without worry. When leaving the capital, they worried that having just been beaten, the child would get stuck in mental blocks, so they constantly changed methods to take her sightseeing, riding horses, playing flute, hosting banquets, and visiting friends.
Great—her mood brightened, she became open-minded and magnanimous. Then right off they encountered military chaos, making her witness piles and piles of dead bodies at such a young age, most missing limbs with tragic death states. Later they let her go to the medical shelter to help tide things over. Who knew she’d take this matter to heart, working both seriously and responsibly.
Leaving early, returning late, personally handling everything. Watching her return from the medical shelter each day with increasingly melancholic expression, Cheng Zhi and Yun Shi wanted to slap themselves, the couple unable to help discussing who originally came up with this terrible idea!
“…Oh, I remember now. At that time I was still in the room recovering from my leg injury. The next morning when I got up, A’Zhu said Niaoniao had gone to the medical shelter. It was you, it was you who came up with this terrible idea!” Yun Shi looked at the girl sleeping unconscious on the bed, deeply worried, while turning to glare hatefully at her husband.
Cheng Zhi sat opposite the bed: “Wasn’t it you constantly saying since we encountered this great chaos, we should take advantage to earn Niaoniao some good reputation—compassion for heaven and pity for people, merciful heart and all. The county also has distinguished surnames and prominent families. When Niaoniao’s good reputation spreads back to the capital, future marriage arrangements will be easier.”
Yun Shi touched the girl’s flushed hot cheeks and said: “Did it have to be the medical shelter?”
“Where else could she go! To city defense to watch thousands of bare-chested able-bodied men working? To the military camp to hear all those big men telling dirty jokes? Or leave the city to comfort people in various townships—what if she encountered stray bandits? The medical shelter is different. It’s in the city with guards and retainers watching. You collect and send over medicine and grain materials—it’s just boiling medicinal soup and tallying accounts!”
Cheng Zhi felt very wronged. “Moreover, seeing her come through mountains of corpses and seas of blood along the way without making a big fuss, naturally a mere medical shelter would be no problem.”
“What do you know!” Yun Shi lowered her voice. “Niaoniao is exactly this temperament. If she suffers bullying or injustice, she won’t accept even a bit of grievance—she must retaliate tooth for tooth. But if her heart is wounded…” She sighed. “Niaoniao instead hides it in her heart, suppressing it so others won’t know.”
Cheng Zhi sighed long and short: “Yes. This illness must recover quickly—she’s someone about to marry.”
Yun Shi looked at her husband expressionlessly: “I think you’ve forgotten two things. First, who said Niaoniao is marrying Young Master Lou? There’s not even a hint of the character yet.”
Cheng Zhi became anxious: “Why not marry? The Lou family is the foremost aristocratic family in Hedong and Pengcheng! Moreover, Ah Yao is such a good child. Though his tongue is a bit clumsy, his heart is warm. Haven’t you seen these past days?”
Speaking of Young Master Lou’s merits, Cheng Zhi simply couldn’t stop. “Yesterday when the old master’s spirit hall was removed and the old madam wanted to take the family to escort the coffin back to their hometown, you and I were too busy to spare ourselves—there were inevitably oversights. It was all Ah Yao running in and out making arrangements, from smokeless fine charcoal to fur bedding, even riding all the way to escort them dozens of miles outside the city. The old madam said if her two eldest granddaughters hadn’t already married, she’d definitely compete with our family for this son-in-law! Now who in the county doesn’t praise our family’s good fortune—such a famous family as Hedong Lou clan being so attentive in proposing marriage!”
Yun Shi glared: “In just these few days, you’re already calling him ‘Ah Yao, Ah Yao’ constantly. If things don’t work out in the future, see how you’ll resolve this awkward situation! The second thing you forgot—Niaoniao isn’t born to you and me. She has her own father and mother to make marriage decisions!”
Cheng Zhi fell silent. After a moment, he sighed long and short: “Who says otherwise? If Niaoniao were born to us, I’d immediately slam the table and finalize this marriage! Alas, who knows if Wewei will have such a good son-in-law in the future!”
This time even Yun Shi sighed: “Yes, if it were Wewei, a son-in-law like Ah Yao I’d also求 seek eagerly! Who knows what sister-in-law is actually planning?”
“What else can be done but wait? Just hope Elder Sister-in-law Yuan Yi doesn’t muddle through this matter.” Cheng Zhi said helplessly.
—However, the couple both predicted wrong. What they received first was actually Cheng Shi’s reply.
After four days of haziness, Shaoshang finally broke her fever and completely regained consciousness. Though previously she sometimes awakened, her consciousness remained unclear, her limbs weak and unresponsive. Now though her body remained weak, her mind was clear and bright—obviously no major problem.
On that same day, Cheng Zhi and his wife received an urgent military courier silk scroll family letter with their elder brother Cheng Shi’s military seal in fire wax. The couple were bewildered. Unrolling and reading the letter, they learned Cheng Shi was currently in Pingyuan Commandery of Qingzhou, only two days’ journey from Shanyang Commandery in Yanzhou where Father Lou was located.
Cheng Shi’s letter meaning was simple: The Lou clan is a prestigious family. For the Cheng clan to form a marriage alliance with them is great fortune. This matter only asks the girl Shang’s intention. If she agrees, the marriage can be established. If not, refuse it.
Cheng Zhi read this family letter three times and sat back: “Elder Brother really—marriage is a major matter naturally decided by elders. How can we listen to the child! What does Niaoniao know?”
“You’re the one who knows nothing.” Yun Shi gathered up the silk scroll and walked outside. “Elder Brother has great wisdom appearing foolish. Your cleverness all grew on your face. Just with Niaoniao’s temperament and capabilities, if she herself is unwilling, even if you arrange a marriage for her, she’ll make it chaotic for you! Conversely…” She smiled slightly. “It will be smooth sailing.”
Speaking thus, she turned and left. The corridor wound through several turns, directly entering Shaoshang’s room.
At this time, A’Zhu had just finished helping Shaoshang wash and dress, serving her bone porridge and honey steamed cakes. Shaoshang continuously begged A’Zhu to open the window for ventilation—otherwise the room full of sickly air and food smells was unbearably suffocating.
A’Zhu’s face was black as a pot bottom. She had exhausted herself pulling the young lady back from the King of Hell’s hands, then nourishing her white and plump. Naturally she was very displeased with anyone who didn’t cherish the fruits of her labor, including Shaoshang herself!
Shaoshang exhausted kind words, acting coquettish and unreasonable, with A’Mei assisting on the side. A’Zhu finally agreed to open the window half a grid. When Yun Shi entered the room and dismissed everyone, she quickly closed the window again.
Yun Shi watched A’Zhu’s stiff retreating back and turned with a smile: “If next time you don’t cherish your body again, I’ll tie you up and send you back to your mother. Think about me and your uncle too. Your father entrusted you to us. If something happens to you, would your uncle and I still have face to return to the capital!”
Shaoshang prostrated on the bed, weakly raising both arms in a bow, saying: “Aunt, spare me. I already know I was wrong. These days A’Zhu hasn’t given me a single good look.”
Yun Shi stepped forward to press the girl back into the bedding, took out that silk scroll and handed it to her, saying a few essential sentences.
“Why is Father in Qingzhou?” Shaoshang quickly read through once. Her first thought was actually that Old Master Cheng suited her perfectly—not only using common, easy-to-understand words, but also writing in characters she could read.
Yun Shi tucked the four corners of the bedding properly and said: “Your father keeps things tight-lipped. We also just learned. Recently hasn’t His Majesty strictly ordered Qingzhou to eliminate bandit troubles? Ordinary petty thieves and bandits all surrendered at the mere sight. Only in Pingyuan Commandery is there a fierce bandit group. Relying on deep mountains and high strongholds, they’ve consistently been difficult to eliminate.”
“The Emperor had Father go exterminate them?! How dangerous!” Shaoshang immediately became nervous. A wrongly married husband could remarry. With Old Master Cheng being so good, she didn’t want to change fathers!
“No! With His Majesty’s current military strength, what bandits can’t be eliminated?!” Yun Shi pressed the girl’s shoulders back into the bedding. “It’s that the Emperor heard they’re some kind of righteous bandits who for years protected townships during chaos, much beloved by the people. His Majesty couldn’t bear mass slaughter and wanted to offer amnesty. Your father in those years at Quling also once pacified a very large stronghold, thorough before and after, convincing inside and out. His Majesty was very satisfied, so had him go offer amnesty again. Otherwise switching to someone like Great General Wu—though valiant and invincible, he readily massacres cities and kills prisoners, making blood flow like rivers. His Majesty also dislikes this.”
Hearing no hard fighting required, Shaoshang breathed easier.
Seeing her this way, Yun Shi smiled, extending a finger to poke her: “Hey, stop worrying about your father first. I hear the amnesty is almost done now. But what about you yourself? What do you say—marry or not marry?” Her tone was teasing, deliberately teasing the young girl, just waiting to see her niece blush with shyness.
Who knew Shaoshang showed not a bit of coy shyness. Just like deciding whether dinner should be soup cakes or porridge, she said lightly: “Marry, of course marry. Please have Uncle quickly write a letter to Father saying I’ve agreed.”
Yun Shi was shocked: “You, you’ve decided just like that? Won’t you think more, think about others…?”
Shaoshang slowly raised her head, looking at her: “Who does Aunt want to mention?”
Yun Shi said carefully: “How about Yuan Shanjian? Don’t you have any feelings for him at all? Didn’t you tell me he specially sent you medicine before leaving? And also…” She forcibly drew back her tongue, not mentioning another name.
Shaoshang picked up that silk scroll, saying slowly: “So what? The Lou family has been a distinguished family since the previous dynasty, not declining for generations.”
“The Yuan family has also been a distinguished family since the previous dynasty, also not declining for generations!”
“Young Master Lou treats me with utmost sincerity and feelings, simple and pure.” Shaoshang’s ten slender fingers rolled the silk scroll without any disorder.
“Though Ah Yao is good, discussing talent and capabilities, official career and power, that Yuan Shen surpasses him a hundredfold!”
“Then, has Yuan Shanjian come?” Shaoshang finished rolling the silk scroll and methodically tied it with brocade cord.
Yun Shi was speechless.
Shaoshang placed the silk scroll beside her pillow, pulled Yun Shi to sit down with both hands, and said slowly: “Aunt, let me ask you. Is the Lou family name not matching reality? Appearing like flowers brocade but actually an empty bag?”
Yun Shi shook her head: “The Lou clan is prosperous. Dare not say they’re the wealthiest under heaven, but wealthiest in Hedong they certainly are. In court, their reputation is also very good.”
“Then does Young Master Lou have any bad conduct, unfit for marriage?”
Yun Shi shook her head again with a bitter smile: “Ah Yao’s previous fiancée was He Zhaojun—famously formidable and sharp-tongued. If Ah Yao had anything improper, she would’ve shouted throughout the entire city immediately.”
“Then do Young Master Lou’s parents disdain my poor reputation and undistinguished family background, therefore disliking me?”
Yun Shi laughed and shook her head again: “Seeing Commandery Assistant Lou so excitedly sending letters to both your parents, presumably he has no prejudice against you. As for Madam Lou the Second… I know somewhat…” She smiled. “She originally didn’t much like He Zhaojun, more than once hinting Madam He should properly teach her daughter. Later when the He family broke the engagement, she lost face, but also felt sorry for her son being humiliated. Right now she should be full of expectations toward you.”
Shaoshang spread open her fair small hands and smiled: “If so, why can’t I marry Young Master Lou?”
Yun Shi hesitated, not knowing how to phrase it: “Could it be… you don’t want to wait a bit longer, wait to see if there’s a better option…?”
Shaoshang smiled, leaning back against the hidden pillow: “Aunt, I don’t have much experience, but I know the most difficult thing in this world to fathom is the human heart. The heart is separated by the belly—how can you know what people are thinking inside? Since we can’t guess hearts, then observe actions. Young Master Lou indeed doesn’t compare to Yuan Shen’s outstanding talent, but he’s genuinely presented his heart before me.”
Yun Shi remained silent.
“But what Yuan Shen is thinking in his heart, I don’t know, nor does anyone know. What if he’s just teasing me without any intention to marry me, yet I rejected such a good marriage prospect for him?!” Shaoshang shook her head, seemingly talking to herself. “I definitely won’t.”
Yun Shi couldn’t help sighing.
Shaoshang looked at Yun Shi, smiling sweetly: “Aunt, you think your own child is best, always feeling I’m good here and there. But I’m not that good. I’m just the most ordinary young lady. If speaking of being different from others, probably just a more acerbic mouth, worse temper, and more scheming. Now being favored by the Lou clan is my great fortune. Having more greed would become a joke.”
Yun Shi was silent for a long time, only able to say: “…What you say also has reason.”
“Aunt?” Shaoshang suddenly raised her voice, smiling: “Just now when mentioning Yuan Shanjian, weren’t you also about to mention Ling Buyi?”
Yun Shi’s heart shook. She smiled: “What are you saying?”
“That day coming out from the hunting lodge, Elder Li spoke quietly with you for ages. Was it about how Ling Buyi cared for me?” Shaoshang looked at her aunt with great interest. “But just now you didn’t dare mention his name. Because you also know that toward someone like him with high position and great power, having even one extra thought is presumptuous. And fearing to lead me to wild thoughts, you simply didn’t mention it.”
Yun Shi looked at the girl’s clear eyes, unexpectedly unable to say a word.
“Lord Ling has fierce spirit and kind benevolence. Bearing serious injury, he still came to save our lives, yet must endure baseless romantic fancies. Presumably he encounters this too often, which is why he always has that cold icy appearance.” Shaoshang happily mocked herself. “Ten birds in the forest aren’t as good as one bird in hand—I’ve long understood this principle.”
Yun Shi patted the girl’s hand and sighed: “Alright, then I’ll tell your uncle right now. Have him write to your father.”
—Other people raising children always worry children can’t distinguish clearly or see明, having too high self-regard. But raising this child, they worried their niece saw too clearly and thought too plainly, making people’s hearts ache for no reason.
Before sighing a few more breaths, suddenly heavy footsteps sounded in the outdoor courtyard, then the youth’s clear urgent voice: “Nanny Fu, is your young lady better today…?”
Then came A’Zhu’s low voice, unclear from inside the room.
Shaoshang smiled: “Aunt doesn’t know. Nanny Fu told me every day at this time, Young Master Lou always comes to ask after my health, then stands in the courtyard awhile before leaving.” Speaking thus, she suddenly raised her voice forcefully: “Nanny Fu, I’m much better—please have Young Master Lou come in!”
The girl’s crisp voice carried outside the room. After a short while, only hurried sounds of removing boots were heard. A’Zhu slowly pushed open the door, carefully preventing cold wind from blowing into the room. The martial and agile tight-clothed youth strode inside with large steps.
That day in the rain they hadn’t seen clearly. Not having met for two months, Lou Yao seemed to have grown several more inches. His face slightly darkened, gradually shedding the boy’s youthful stubbornness—now looking like an upstanding man.
Lou Yao first bowed respectfully to greet Yun Shi sitting beside the bed. Seeing Yun Shi nod and raise her hand inviting him to sit, only then did he sit on the fluffy cushion on the floor.
Shaoshang smiled at him: “Young Master Lou, I hear from the maidservants these days you’ve been busy inside and outside. You’ve worked hard.”
Lou Yao raised his eyes to look. He saw the girl on the bed, after prolonged illness, had skin white to almost crystalline transparency. Her lips showed only a faint pink trace. Her pitch-black eyes appeared even larger. Her frail frame supported the wide sleeping robe—extremely pitiful and lonely.
But he found the girl extremely beautiful, like a butterfly breaking from its cocoon, painfully shedding that layer of roundly protected infant-like plump quality, metamorphosing into a heart-stoppingly lonely beauty.
Lou Yao only looked once, then didn’t dare look again. His face reddened, mouth randomly speaking polite phrases, consistently avoiding eye contact.
Shaoshang picked up that silk scroll and shook it: “Young Master Lou, Father sent a letter today. He agreed to this marriage.”
Lou Yao suddenly raised his head, joy impossible to suppress: “Really, really…?!”
Shaoshang found it amusing and couldn’t help saying: “People have always impersonated military reports and official appointment documents, but never heard of anyone counterfeiting marriage permission family letters.” She suddenly changed tone, saying softly: “You don’t yet have a courtesy name. I hear Uncle and Aunt call you Ah Yao. Is it good if I also call you Ah Yao?”
Lou Yao looked at the girl’s gentle beautiful expression. Heat surged in his heart, becoming even more stuttering: “Good! Then, can I call you, call you… Shaoshang…?”
“Naturally you can.” Shaoshang smiled gently like a lotus bud. “I hear Uncle say you want to serve as local magistrate in the future. Even if remote and barren is fine—you want to rely on your own capabilities to establish yourself. I can do accounting, review documents, also understand agriculture, mulberry, and farming. When the time comes, will you take me along?”
Lou Yao’s eye sockets warmed. Unexpectedly moved to tears, he was inexpressibly happy, saying loudly: “Good! We’ll go together—not afraid even of starting from scratch!”
Yun Shi said not a word. Glancing sideways, she watched her niece speaking weakly and listlessly, striving to smile her most beautiful appearance, bewitching that youth until his soul didn’t keep to his body, his heart surging with emotion—this was the most natural law of heaven and earth. The young female beast had finally grown up, understanding how to use her beautiful fur to achieve her desires.