Just when Shaoshang thought this situation couldn’t possibly get more awkward, her dear fiancé came huffing and puffing up from behind, leading the horse and pulling the small carriage. He looked up, and before speaking to his fiancée, his eyes were already bright as torches as he stretched his throat and shouted loudly: “Brother Zicheng, Elder Brother, Elder Brother Ling… You’re here too…”

Shaoshang narrowed her eyes. Lou Yao’s expression was all too familiar—her roommate Blog Sister looked exactly like this when she saw the campus heartthrob from the next class!

The young man’s voice was resounding. This one shout could be heard within two li in all directions. Ling Buyi could no longer remain “absorbed in the chess game.” He finally turned around, smiling slightly: “A’Yao, you’ve come.”

Lou Yao quickly pulled Shaoshang forward, his joy overflowing: “Elder Brother, you don’t know yet. I’m betrothed! Look, it’s her—she’s your future sister-in-law…”

Shaoshang’s half-body was as stiff as a freshly molded plaster statue. Truly, she still didn’t understand why she’d turned into a plaster statue.

At this moment, a crisp “crack” of breaking wood came from behind. Everyone turned to look, only to see the square small tray in Liangqiu Fei’s hands inexplicably split at one corner. Fortunately, the young guard was quick-handed and swiftly steadied the lacquered red wooden bowl on the tray, preventing the medicinal liquid inside from spilling.

Ling Buyi’s expression didn’t change in the slightest as he said gently: “You’re not accustomed to doing these things. In the future, let the servant boys handle it.”

Liangqiu Fei’s body trembled. He quickly carried the medicine bowl into the pavilion to serve Ling Buyi his medicine. Yuan Shen, however, frowned, looking at the young guard rushing about swift as flight, then at Ling Buyi beside him, a trace of puzzlement showing between his brows.

However, hearing Ling Buyi’s tone was as warm as before, Shaoshang immediately felt relieved. Smiling, she cupped her hands: “Lord Ling, I trust you’ve been well. Last month I heard that your lordship’s old injury had flared up—the entire Cheng household was deeply worried. Now seeing your lordship as heroic and martial as ever, when I return I can tell Uncle and Auntie so they can set their minds at ease.”

Then she turned to Lou Yao and said, “You don’t know—when Auntie and I were rushing to Hua County, we were attacked by bandits on the road and nearly fell into their hands. If Lord Ling hadn’t righteously come to our rescue, you wouldn’t be seeing me now!”

Lou Yao’s heart filled with even more admiration as he repeatedly expressed his thanks.

He had loved martial arts since childhood, but the entire Lou family were scholars who neither supported his martial training nor had connections to help him befriend contemporary heroes. However, when Lou Yao was twelve, his eldest cousin was saved by Ling Buyi when he encountered danger while traveling for study. The entire Lou family was extremely grateful and thanked him profusely. Lou Yao took the opportunity to become acquainted with this young hero whose fame filled the capital—oh, and also his young cousin Lou Yi.

Ling Buyi held multiple positions at such a young age and was usually so busy he was never seen, so Lou Yao didn’t have many opportunities to seek instruction. But whenever they could meet, Ling Buyi was always willing to give guidance.

Lou Yao was filled with gratitude as he clasped his fists: “Elder Brother, you have shown kindness to my family multiple times—I truly don’t know how to express our thanks.”

After hearing her fiancé’s brief account, Shaoshang also appropriately chimed in: “Yes, Elder Brother, you are righteous and upright, your prestigious reputation is unparalleled—truly a pillar of the nation.”

As soon as these words left her mouth, there was a “crack” sound—the empty medicine bowl in Liangqiu Fei’s hand also split. Before Ling Buyi could speak, he repeatedly blamed himself: “This subordinate was careless. I’ll go down immediately, go down immediately!” Then he retreated as if fleeing.

Ling Buyi lowered his long lashes, pondering in silence, his left hand repeatedly twisting the black game piece at his fingertips.

Yuan Shen’s face was black as the bottom of a pot as he said coldly: “Miss Cheng should wait until after marriage before following Young Master Lou’s manner of address.”

Lou Yao was somewhat stunned, not knowing how to respond. Shaoshang’s heart filled with fury—wasn’t this Yuan fellow insinuating she was clinging to the Lou family to curry favor with the powerful? She immediately glared fiercely at him, her face clearly writing “what business is it of yours!”

Yuan Shen snorted coldly and turned his face away.

At this time, Huangfu Yi had finished drinking his medicine by the small brazier at the pavilion’s side and slowly walked over, smiling: “Alright, alright. The early spring chill hasn’t diminished—we should still go to the residence to talk.”

At this point, how could Shaoshang still be willing to go? With a cold face she said: “It’s getting late today. We won’t go to the residence after all. When we have the chance another day, we can properly reminisce with Grand Tutor Huangfu.”

Huangfu Yi frowned, about to urge her, when suddenly dark clouds gathered overhead and scattered drops of water fell. One enormous raindrop struck directly on Shaoshang’s forehead. The girl was caught off guard and made a wooden “ouch” sound.

Yuan Shen had been nursing his sullen mood, but seeing this situation he couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Shaoshang shot him a sideways glare, even more determined to leave early, and directly climbed onto the carriage. While pulling out leather gloves from her waist pouch to put on, she called to Lou Yao to quickly mount his horse.

But Huangfu Yi stared at Shaoshang’s hands, his gaze unfriendly: “Shunhua made these for you. Did she prick her fingers again?”

Shaoshang looked down. These were a pair of soft, thin sheepskin gloves. To prevent her from roughening her hands from driving the carriage all day, Sang Shi had just rushed to make them for her a few days ago. Shaoshang became even more displeased and said bluntly: “Grand Tutor, you’re overthinking. The one who pricked his fingers was my uncle, because Auntie only drew the pattern and sewed the leather cords—all the softening of the leather, puncturing holes, and polishing the shape was done by Uncle!”

Seeing his teacher being challenged, Yuan Shen couldn’t help but speak up to assist: “Since Miss Cheng is so intent on drawing clear distinctions, why not return the carriage the Master gifted—that would truly be clean and decisive!”

“You—!” Shaoshang was speechless with anger. When it came to scholars, they truly had poisonous tongues—their words were like whips. If she really returned the carriage, would she ride back to the county in the rain? She didn’t want to fall ill again.

Lou Yao couldn’t make out the specific details, only knowing that his fiancée representing the Cheng family and Yuan Shen representing his teacher were quarreling. But since he was clumsy with words and couldn’t argue well, he used practical action to support his fiancée’s decision—having the household servants dress him in a straw raincoat and bamboo hat, preparing to set out in full gear.

“I won’t return the carriage, and I won’t go to the residence. What will Young Master Yuan do about it?” Shaoshang began acting shamelessly.

“Then don’t speak so absolutely, don’t draw such clear distinctions. You’re just getting married—why act as if all past events have become passing clouds, as if we’ll never interact again until death!” Yuan Shen stood ramrod straight, his expression forcibly calm, not even knowing who he was accusing.

“I will speak absolutely, I will draw clear distinctions—what can you do to me?!” Shaoshang sat in the carriage, so angry her hands trembled.

“Do to you? I’m just angry seeing your pretentious act just now!” Yuan Shen spoke deliberately and methodically, but his heart was truly angry. What pretense at refined politeness, what fake smiling courtesy—Cheng Shaoshang was clearly sharp-tongued and domineering by nature, ready to throw punches at the slightest disagreement. What was wrong with being acerbic, domineering, and loving to fight? He thought it was fine—was she deliberately putting on this act just to marry into the Lou family?!

“Whether I’m pretending or not is none of your concern!”

“Then whether I’m angry or not is none of your concern!”

…

By this time, servant boys had already raised a huge oiled cloth umbrella. Huangfu Yi stood beneath it, continuously shaking his head. His beloved disciple, usually so proper in memorials before the emperor and so refined in court debates, was now in front of him quarreling with a young girl in the rain, and the quarrel was growing increasingly off-topic and increasingly unseemly.

Huangfu Yi was just about to carefully choose his words to continue persuading the girl to go to the residence when he suddenly saw a familiar black carriage with fine iron-cast borders approaching from the side. He couldn’t help but freeze.

At this moment, Ling Buyi in the pavilion had already put down his chess piece and risen to walk toward everyone, saying: “A’Yao, you should all go to the residence together.” Without seeming to raise his voice at all, this sentence nevertheless reached clearly into the ears of everyone outside the pavilion.

When the male god spoke, Lou Yao immediately stopped putting on the straw raincoat and bamboo hat, looking at his fiancée with difficulty.

That lacquered black carriage slowly drove up to the vermilion small carriage. Sitting in the driver’s position was none other than the long-unseen Liangqiu Qi, with two sword-bearing, dagger-wearing martial maidservants in close-fitting garments striding alongside the carriage.

Ling Buyi’s expression was gentle as he walked and spoke: “Though this carriage has a canopy, with rain carried by wind, it can’t block much. I hear Miss Cheng has only recently recovered from illness—wouldn’t it be regrettable if she fell ill again? Arguing with others is one thing, but you must never argue with yourself.”

Hearing these words, Shaoshang temporarily suspended her verbal battle with Yuan Shen, both wanting to agree yet unwilling to be laughed at by that Yuan fellow.

Lou Yao quickly helped: “Shaoshang, Elder Brother speaks reasonably!”

Seeing the girl waver slightly, Huangfu Yi feared his disciple would bungle things, so he quickly pulled the person aside. Yuan Shen remained stubbornly silent, unwilling to speak.

Ling Buyi, tall with long legs, reached the carriage in just a few steps and personally opened the door of the black carriage beside it, looking up at the girl in the vehicle with a slight smile. It was only early March of early spring, and with the scattered raindrops falling, hazy cold mist settled on his plain-colored robe like light gauze shrouding fog. Set against the pitch-black carriage behind him, it inexplicably carried a somewhat unfathomable meaning, like the northern landscape—magnificent and handsome.

Shaoshang first inwardly praised Lord Ling’s beauty, then glared angrily at Yuan Shen beside her, and finally cupped her hands: “In that case, Shaoshang will follow Elder Broth… ah…”

Before the words “er’s instructions” could leave her mouth, Ling Buyi nodded slightly backward. The two martial maidservants simultaneously moved swiftly, supporting and lifting Shaoshang into the carriage compartment. Shaoshang leaned against the carriage door, wanting to call to her fiancé: “A’Yao, why don’t you also…” Still unable to finish her words, the two thick carriage doors were shut! Then the interior suddenly darkened.

—Shaoshang was speechless. Lord Ling was truly, truly quite a good person, she truly, truly had not one bit of complaint—but could he control his need for control just a little?

This carriage was probably Ling Buyi’s own. The interior was tall and spacious. Shaoshang’s figure was petite, yet she could actually stand upright inside the compartment. The furnishings were simple and dignified. On both sides of the lacquered wooden walls hung sheepskin oil lamps, illuminating the black fox fur spread on the floor, glossy and shining. In the center was a square table with attached small cabinets. Beyond this, there was no brazier, no warm water nest, and certainly no incense.

Inside the compartment lingered a faint scent of bowstring oil and a hint of blood, along with the scent of an adult male. However, it made Shaoshang feel as if she were in a demon beast’s den, somewhat unsettled.

At this time she heard Ling Buyi’s gentle yet non-negotiable voice outside: “…A’Yao, even if the rain stops shortly, you probably won’t make it in time before the city gates close. Better to set out early tomorrow morning. I’ll send someone back to the county to report—you needn’t worry at all… The rain seems to be intensifying. Let’s ride back to the residence quickly.”

What else could Lou Yao say? Shaoshang didn’t even need to look to know that besides nodding, he would say “Elder Brother is right, right, right.”

Shut inside the carriage compartment, Shaoshang sighed with great emotion: Lord Ling was truly modest and courteous, so considerate and thoughtful in his dealings with people—if his need for control was a bit strong, so be it. Speaking of which, this marriage match of hers was quite good. With all this back and forth, she’d even established a connection with Lord Ling. Not bad, not bad.

This carriage looked tall and heavy, yet when it moved it was remarkably swift and agile. Shaoshang had just removed her leather boots and placed them by the carriage door when someone at the driver’s position knocked on the carriage wall. She heard Liangqiu Qi say: “Young lady, we’ve arrived at the residence.” The two martial maidservants once again slowly opened the carriage doors and helped her down together.

When Shaoshang’s feet touched the ground and she turned to look back, she saw an expanse of white walls and black tiles. The walls were high and the courtyard deep, with flying phoenixes and carved beasts under the eaves. Especially striking were the two heavy purple-gold beast-head door knockers on the vermilion main gate, each inlaid with four gleaming green jade pieces serving as the beasts’ eyes.

Entering and looking around, she saw high beams and long rafters, spacious rooms with open ceilings. Though not particularly opulent, everywhere exuded grandeur and dignity.

Shaoshang was led by maidservants into an exquisite guest room, then received meticulous service as she washed and changed clothes. When noble women of this era went out, they naturally wouldn’t bring only a water bottle and cell phone. To guard against emergencies, changes of clothing and grooming boxes were all prepared, wrapped in oiled cloth and stored in the compartment beneath the carriage.

By the time Shaoshang finished dressing, the sky had darkened. She was soon led to a side hall.

Men always dressed and tidied faster than women. When she stepped inside, she saw Ling Buyi and Huangfu Yi already seated on the left and right of the head positions respectively. Below them on both sides were arranged seating mats. Lou Yao was leaning close to Ling Buyi’s seat, smiling and chatting. Yuan Shen stood before a huge half-person-height standing branched lamp. The lamplight was brilliant, and he wore a treasured blue curved-hem robe woven with silver thread. The young master stood tall and jade-like—if not for his extremely sour expression, he would truly be like the lover from a boudoir maiden’s dreams.

Shaoshang first bowed respectfully to the two men at the head positions, then looked at the seating arrangement below—one position on the right, two on the left. She intended to sit in the second position on the left to leave the first position for Lou Yao. Who knew Yuan Shen would glance over and with one long stride of his legs directly sit in the first position on the left.

Yuan Shen even smiled and beckoned to Lou Yao: “Young Master Lou, please be seated.” He swept his sleeve, indicating the secondary seat beside himself, then said to Shaoshang, “Miss Cheng, please take the seat of honor,” pointing to the seat opposite.

Lou Yao was somewhat dumbfounded. In this situation, shouldn’t the engaged couple sit together? But offering Shaoshang the seat of honor on the right seemed quite courteous too. Finally, amid Shaoshang’s smile that wasn’t really a smile and her teeth grinding, this tragic engaged couple had no choice but to be seated as that certain Yuan person directed.

The dishes on the food tables were quite abundant: tender roasted pine chicken, clear stewed pork bone soup, sauce-roasted river fish, plus two dishes made from vegetables and fruits just picked from the early spring mountains, and even a pot of rice wine. After maidservants poured the wine, everyone raised their cups together in a toast. Toast to what?

Ling Buyi’s expression was indifferent: “May warfare cease and favorable weather prevail.”

Huangfu Yi was rather melancholic: “May years bring no regret, past days no sorrow.”

Lou Yao didn’t understand. Yuan Shen understood but pretended not to. Shaoshang inwardly scoffed, then the three silently drank it all down.

During the meal, no one spoke.

Yuan Shen ate refined and elegant, not deliberately affected, yet even his chewing sounds were barely audible—this was a habit of restraint and self-examination cultivated from the moment he left his mother’s womb. Lou Yao ate quite efficiently—after all, the Lou family upbringing was there—but compared to Yuan Shen, he seemed slightly louder.

Huangfu Yi barely ate, continuously drinking cup after cup of wine.

Shaoshang still couldn’t get used to this kind of large chunks of food. She had to use her knife to cut the fish meat into small pieces before putting down the knife and taking up chopsticks to eat. When she looked up, she found Ling Buyi had already soundlessly finished his food.

When she was sixty or seventy percent full, she put down her jade chopsticks and said clearly: “Grand Tutor Huangfu, please stop drinking so much. Before it rained, didn’t you say you wanted to talk with this young woman?”

“Call me Master.” Huangfu Yi smiled desolately. “This old body has already resigned from office. I plan to retire to the countryside, write some philosophical treatises, and teach a few not-too-stupid disciples.”

Shaoshang was slightly surprised but said nothing.

Ling Buyi glanced at Huangfu Yi: “His Majesty values you highly, Master. Why must you do this?”

Huangfu Yi shook his head: “Over twenty years! Ever since the Cruel Emperor harmed my uncles, I had no choice but to leave home and travel the world—it’s been over twenty years. This old man is tired and weary.”

Yuan Shen was quite calm: “It’s good for Master to rest. You’re only just past forty, yet now you look almost as aged as my father.”

Huangfu Yi laughed despite himself, pointing at Yuan Shen with a laughing scold: “I took you on too early. With you as my eldest disciple, it makes all the other children seem either stupid or pedantic!”

Yuan Shen said: “Eldest disciple? Master, have you taken on other disciples?” Big and small, they were all his, weren’t they!

Huangfu Yi looked slightly embarrassed: “Not… not yet.”

Both Shaoshang and Lou Yao couldn’t help but smile lightly.

Huangfu Yi felt the wine rising, and his gaze fell on Shaoshang. He suddenly said: “Miss Cheng, today I’ll presume on my age—may I follow your aunt and call you Shaoshang?”

Probably because she’d also drunk several cups of rice wine, Shaoshang, with her flushed cheeks, cheerfully agreed.

Huangfu Yi, taking advantage of his slight drunkenness, said loudly: “Meeting is fate. Today I’ll tell you all a story. Remember, this is only a story! Don’t go connecting it to other people!”

Shaoshang’s ears perked up, her spirits soaring, knowing that the “it’s a long story” Sang Shi had always refused to tell could finally be known today.

Yuan Shen sighed weakly, looking at the somewhat confused Lou Yao beside him, then sighed again.

Ling Buyi frowned, waving his hand to dismiss all the maidservants in the hall and having Liangqiu Qi clear away everyone in the vicinity.

“Many years ago, when the Last Emperor was still alive and the Cruel Emperor had not yet usurped the throne, in a certain place there was a young master from a prominent family…” Huangfu Yi’s drunken eyes were hazy as he began, “Though his father died early, because he was exceptionally talented from childhood, he was highly valued by his uncles. Whether in the clan, at school, or in the prefecture and commandery, his reputation was illustrious everywhere, receiving praise from all sides. This young master had a fiancée he’d been betrothed to since childhood, but unfortunately, he always felt this fiancée wasn’t worthy of him…”

“What did this fiancée look like?” Shaoshang suddenly interrupted, her tone unmistakably sarcastic.

Both Ling Buyi and Yuan Shen looked at her, their expressions different.

Huangfu Yi froze for a moment, then smiled bitterly: “You, a small young woman, are too sharp. That’s right. Alas, this fiancée had ordinary looks. And that young master was not only brilliantly talented with a bright future, but also had the appearance of ‘Song Yu.’ Actually, thinking about it, this fiancée’s learning and character were both of the highest caliber. The young master was truly shallow, very shallow…”

Shaoshang pursed her lips and continued listening to the story.

“In youth, who hasn’t thought about marrying a talented beauty? This young master couldn’t escape convention either. In books there were the beautiful and devoted Ehuang and Nüying, the kingdom-toppling Baosi and Daji, and countless moving poems… This fiancée’s appearance was lacking, her temperament plain. This always remained somewhat of a regret in the young master’s heart, but he also knew this fiancée was truly the best possible woman. So the two grew up together as childhood sweethearts. The youth thought that in the future, after marrying her, treating her with propriety would suffice.”

“Who knew that in the young master’s seventeenth year, his clan uncles accused and cursed the Cruel Emperor in court. Overnight, all adult males in the young master’s clan lost their heads, leaving only a house full of elderly, weak, women, and children. Because this young master was studying at his teacher’s mountain retreat, he escaped the disaster and afterward could only flee far away. With the young master’s family ruined, the elders in his fiancée’s family all urged her to break off the engagement to avoid disaster. That year, she was only fourteen…”

Hearing this, Shaoshang felt she’d basically guessed the ending and smiled: “Master speaks truly—meeting is fate. This young master and his fiancée seem to have had no fate after all!”

Who told you to look down on her appearance from the start? Serves you right that it benefited pig-trotter uncle. Hmph, deserved! But… the ages don’t seem right. She remembered that when Uncle married Auntie, they were both already over twenty…

“What do you know? If it were truly like this, this young master wouldn’t have spent his later years in sorrowful regret.” Huangfu Yi’s eyes held infinite tenderness, yet his voice contained bitter pain. “At this very moment, this usually unassuming fiancée defied all opposition and absolutely refused to break the engagement no matter what. Whether her father beat her or her mother wept and begged, she was iron-set on waiting for that young master…”

Shaoshang was greatly shocked. Ah, could it be that pig-trotter uncle became the other man?!