Having said this much, Huangfu Yi suddenly began gasping for breath. Yuan Shen silently poured a cup of hot water from the warming nest and knelt forward to serve his teacher, helping him drink it down. After Huangfu Yi caught his breath, he continued: “Not only that, but she, a mere young woman, had to single-handedly bear the heavy responsibility of caring for that young master’s surviving clan members. The young master’s family estates and manors were seized by local bullies. The food, clothing, and necessities for the orphans and widows all came from support that fiancée provided from various sources. She waited like this for seven years.”

Shaoshang’s mouth twitched several times as she held back from speaking. In her heart she thought: if it were her, she absolutely wouldn’t wait.

“Many things the young master only investigated and learned about later. Seven years for a man meant seven years of venturing into dragon pools and tiger dens seeking opportunities for revenge. But for a woman, it meant endless reproach from relatives, their demands and exactions, racking her brains to shield orphans and widows from wind and rain, with every trivial daily matter and each birth, aging, illness, and death requiring her to make decisions.”

Moisture gathered in Huangfu Yi’s eyes: “But at that time, the young master was too self-confident. He thought his fiancée loved him extremely deeply, and all this was only natural and proper. Only after many years of experiencing worldly affairs did the young master increasingly understand how much suffering his fiancée had endured for him, how much hardship she had borne…”

Ling Buyi, usually silent and taciturn, suddenly spoke: “Master, forgive my bluntness, but perhaps that young master should never have let his fiancée wait. If Heaven has the Way, it naturally won’t separate those who love each other. If Heaven is without the Way, then people should follow Heaven’s mandate.”

At these words, everyone in the hall was shocked. If an old man weathered by life or an incompetent, mediocre person had said this, it wouldn’t be strange at all. But for Ling Buyi—such a young minister of power who could command heaven and earth, omnipotent, who should be at the height of his vigor—to say such fatalistic words was truly strange indeed.

In the entire room, only Shaoshang clapped several times, enthusiastically praising: “Lord Ling speaks well!” Actually, she thought the same way.

Throughout history, those who suffered waiting in cold chambers never had good endings. After decades of bitter waiting, that person across the strait had already married, had children, and had grandchildren filling his house. Or else you became a titled noblewoman for one day, with a young, noble, beautiful “good sister” as a bonus who slept with your husband and beat your children. The vat of Confucian scholars would then pass down your unfortunate story through the ages to “inspire” future women to continue following suit—though in Shaoshang’s view, the story was more like a warning.

According to Shaoshang’s ethical logic, people couldn’t fight against Heaven. If Heaven made you separate, you should obediently separate, each finding your own home, each marrying separately. Blended families could also be very happy—for example, Father Yu and Mother Yu each remarried and lived well, even becoming more peaceful and optimistic people. If everyone could think so openly, there would be far fewer tragedies throughout history.

After the words left her mouth, seeing others’ shocked stares, Shaoshang dully realized she seemed to have praised the wrong thing.

Fortunately, young master Lou had an open and sunny temperament, naturally not suspicious, and spontaneously interpreted his fiancée’s words as habitual agreement with the male god’s behavior—because he himself often unconsciously agreed “Elder Brother speaks well, well, well.”

However, the remaining few people clearly heard that the girl’s words were entirely heartfelt. Huangfu Yi stroked his beard and smiled bitterly, shaking his head. Ling Buyi thought of something and actually turned his head to laugh lightly.

Yuan Shen then said: “Miss Cheng, if Young Master Lou encountered this situation, would you wait for him or not?”

Shaoshang had already mentally slapped this fellow eighteen times front and back. She knew nothing good came from this fellow’s mouth. Fortunately, she reacted quickly and put on a smiling face: “Young Master Yuan, let me ask you—if you encountered such a disaster, would you want someone to wait for you or not?”

Yuan Shen raised his eyebrows: “I asked you first.”

Shaoshang glared: “If you don’t say, I won’t say either!”

Seeing the two at daggers drawn, Lou Yao carefully tried to play peacemaker: “Shaoshang, I wouldn’t make you wait…”

“Don’t speak yet!” Shaoshang shot Lou Yao a look, then turned toward the master-disciple pair at the head seats, saying word by word: “Since Young Master Yuan asked, I’ll answer one sentence. Actually it’s quite simple—if he waits for me, I’ll wait for him!”

Yuan Shen frowned: “What kind of answer is that?!”

Shaoshang smiled coldly: “If he treats me wholeheartedly, even if he falls into hardship in the jianghu or his family fortunes decline, I’m willing to wait for him.” At worst she could support the family—Salted Fish Society President’s mom earned more than his dad, didn’t they still live harmoniously and lovingly?

“But if he uses excuses about struggling outside being difficult, about having troubles and hardships, giving me one woman on the left and another on the right, living in romantic bliss, I won’t wait even half an hour!” After saying this, Shaoshang’s gaze shot directly at Huangfu Yi.

Huangfu Yi looked at the girl’s sharp, clear gaze, his heart aching as if he heard Sang Shi’s questioning from back then.

He continued: “Before the family fortunes declined, there were indeed many young women who admired that young master. If truly comparing talent, looks, and family background, any one of them was no less than the young master’s fiancée. However, the young master kept his promises and remained cold as ice toward those women. Later when the great disaster descended, those fleeting flowers naturally scattered. But… alas, the young master’s late father once had an extremely capable guard who later established himself independently in the jianghu and gained some reputation. Because he remembered the kindness the young master’s late father had shown him, he volunteered to escort the young master south. Who knew he would unfortunately perish en route…”

Shaoshang narrowed her eyes: “That guard didn’t happen to have a daughter, did he?” Such a clichéd plot?!

Huangfu Yi smiled bitterly and nodded: “Exactly. He had only one daughter. At that time she was still young and was raised by relatives. It wasn’t until several years later, when the Cruel Emperor was tyrannical and heroes everywhere raised banners in rebellion, that the government offices could no longer capture them all. The young master remembered the guard’s deathbed entrustment and found the guard’s daughter to give her generous wealth.”

“She must have suffered endless mistreatment at her relatives’ home, in unspeakable misery?” Shaoshang quickly filled in the blanks.

Huangfu Yi shook his head with a laugh: “That wasn’t the case. That guard was also a person of standing in the jianghu. The orphan daughter he left behind had people protecting her. Later… later…”

“Later that orphan daughter must have taken a fancy to that young master, clinging to him in infatuation and secret love, isn’t that so?”

Yuan Shen said with displeasure: “When Master is speaking, can you please not keep interrupting?”

“Who told your master to speak so haltingly? I’m continuing for him.” Shaoshang smiled mischievously.

Huangfu Yi waved his hand, indicating Yuan Shen shouldn’t argue with Shaoshang anymore, and continued: “Shaoshang is not wrong. However, that orphan daughter didn’t actually cling to him—she just silently followed behind the young master. Seeing that the attendants around the young master were sometimes lacking in their service, she would step forward to help with one thing or another. But even so, the young master remained cold and indifferent toward her. After two years like this, the Central Plains was ablaze with war and the Cruel Emperor couldn’t look after himself. This young master could finally return home.”

Shaoshang sneered in her heart. What excellent “cold indifference.” Wasn’t it just “not accepting, not resisting”?

“During these seven years, the young master had traveled the four seas, served as a guest under many contemporary heroes, and made quite a name for himself. The young master thought he could finally welcome his fiancée in glory and splendor. So he wrote home saying that on his future father-in-law’s birthday celebration next month, he would enter through the main gate bearing golden phoenix and vermillion robes, and in front of all the guests request to set the wedding date! Who knew, who knew…”

Shaoshang was listening intently and didn’t interrupt this time.

Huangfu Yi’s voice trembled: “That orphan daughter took poison and killed herself on the very day the young master set out to return home!”

“She died?!” Shaoshang was greatly shocked. This story took a unique turn.

Ling Buyi said calmly: “Probably didn’t die.”

Huangfu Yi sighed deeply: “Because the maidservant reported it early and induced vomiting in time, the orphan daughter didn’t die. But seeing her on the verge of death, the young master, thinking of her father who had died tragically, how could he leave her unattended? The young master knew a renowned physician from outside worldly affairs. At that moment, he could only carry the orphan daughter to seek that physician. This young master made up his mind that this would repay the guard’s debt of gratitude. After this, even if the orphan daughter died before his eyes, he would never pay her any more attention. Rushing urgently, he delivered the orphan daughter to the renowned physician on the mountain. Then the young master traveled day and night to rush back home—the birthday banquet had already dispersed many days prior.”

“The young master knew he had greatly offended his fiancée and wanted to find her to explain clearly. After begging bitterly for several days, he was finally allowed to see her. Who knew that as soon as she opened her mouth, it was to break off the engagement!” Huangfu Yi’s fingers trembled slightly. “At this time, relatives and guests all turned around to urge that fiancée to be understanding and reasonable, not to be too willful and stubborn, lest she miss this excellent marriage match and regret it later. But… but…”

Shaoshang said coldly: “That fiancée who had originally withstood everyone and refused to break the engagement could now also forge ahead alone and insist on breaking it off.” Broke it off well—absolutely gratifying!

Huangfu Yi nodded: “The young master thought the fiancée was in the heat of anger and that after some time it would be fine. So he told the fiancée’s family to follow her wishes and break the engagement for now. As long as she didn’t marry for one day, he wouldn’t marry for one day. Whichever day the fiancée changed her mind, the young master would immediately sincerely welcome her in marriage. Who knew… after waiting and waiting, what the young master waited for was news that his fiancée was going to marry someone else. The young master immediately went crazy trying to find his fiancée to ask for an explanation.”

Huangfu Yi’s face was full of pain: “But no matter how the young master explained the orphan daughter matter, and explained that he had also sent someone back to report, but the messenger encountered warfare on the road and died, and it wasn’t intentional to leave the fiancée to be embarrassed at the birthday banquet—the fiancée completely ignored it all. She only questioned whether the young master had ever put her in his heart, whether he had ever known what she truly wanted?! Then without waiting for the young master to answer, she stated clearly they would sever all ties and never meet again.”

“The young master truly didn’t understand—his fiancée could wait for him seven years, suffer so much for him, and had been magnanimous and understood righteousness since childhood. Why, when the flowering season was in sight, would she be stubborn over this last trivial matter!” Huangfu Yi held his graying head, old tears streaming down.

For a long while, the hall was so quiet a dropped needle could be heard.

After hearing this long segment, Lou Yao half-understood. Yuan Shen already knew the inside story and could only lower his head and sigh lightly. Only Shaoshang was filled with fury. If her mouth weren’t shut tight, her critiques and scoldings would likely pour out like an avalanche.

Ling Buyi glimpsed the girl who was like a round, pouty-mouthed small cauldron—the water had boiled and the steam was about to blow the lid off. He quickly spoke first: “Master, Zicheng has several questions. May I speak?”

Huangfu Yi’s face was covered in tear tracks as he raised his head: “Zicheng, please speak freely.”

“Master just said that the young master was cold as ice toward those admiring young women. Zicheng asks one thing—was the young master caring and considerate toward his fiancée?” Ling Buyi turned slightly to ask.

Huangfu Yi was stunned: “Well… this young master was cool and self-possessed from childhood and didn’t have this kind of… this kind of attentiveness…”

Shaoshang couldn’t help but say: “Treating others cold as ice, treating one’s own fiancée lukewarm—is there much difference?” What women want is differential treatment. Treating outside women and your wife the same—who would want to be with you?!

Ling Buyi suppressed a smile and continued asking: “From what Master says, this fiancée was an ice-and-snow intelligent person. Though this young master knew to marry a virtuous wife, he still secretly regretted his fiancée’s plain appearance. Master, take a guess—did the fiancée detect this long ago?”

Huangfu Yi said urgently: “I… she… though the young master had such thoughts in his youth, later on, he was moved by his fiancée’s deep affection and loyalty and no longer had such frivolous thoughts?!”

Shaoshang said angrily: “Did that fiancée want the young master’s gratitude? My unc…” She forcibly held back and changed her words: “At that time, who knew the Cruel Emperor would seek his own death so quickly? That fiancée waited with single-minded devotion when hope was dim—clearly she was someone who placed little value on fame and fortune. All she sought was to hope the person in her heart would also put her in his heart. Who knew she’d encounter such an arrogant and heartless bastard!”

Huangfu Yi was speechless.

This time Yuan Shen didn’t come to his teacher’s defense. He glanced at the girl’s flushed little face, her pair of bright large eyes shining brilliantly. He silently thought: if someone treated him like this, he absolutely wouldn’t be as aloof and cold as his teacher—he would treat her well.

Suppressing her anger, Shaoshang asked: “That orphan daughter followed the young master for two years—presumably many people in the hometown knew? Did the rumors reach the young master’s father-in-law’s household?”

Huangfu Yi gripped Yuan Shen’s arm and stood up urgently: “They knew, they knew. But the young master repeatedly wrote to his clan members to dispel the rumors, saying that orphan daughter was not worth mentioning!”

Shaoshang smiled mockingly: “But that fiancée couldn’t believe it!”

Huangfu Yi was struck as if by lightning. Cold sweat dripped from his wrinkled forehead, yet he still argued: “In the young master’s heart, that orphan daughter didn’t compare to even one-ten-thousandth of his fiancée! How could he abandon her for the other! It was truly the fiancée who misunderstood!”

Shaoshang was furious. Misunderstanding? What men loved to say most were these two words! “Master, you…” But she couldn’t find a satisfactory rebuttal in a moment—she couldn’t just start cursing.

Ling Buyi slowly rose and walked to that huge branched lamp, using a copper needle to brighten the lamp fire: “Master Huangfu, suppose this fiancée and orphan daughter were both on a battlefield…” He shook his head, feeling this example was inappropriate—what would two women be doing on a battlefield?

Shaoshang instantly understood his meaning and quickly added: “What if this fiancée and orphan daughter both fell into a river? Who would the young master save first?”

Huangfu Yi was about to answer when Ling Buyi added another sentence: “If that fiancée knew a little bit of swimming, could barely float on the water for a moment, while the orphan daughter couldn’t swim at all—who would this young master save first?”

Hearing this sentence, Huangfu Yi hesitated again: “This… this…” Normal thinking would be to have the one who could float persevere for a while and first save the one with no swimming ability, right?

Shaoshang felt Ling Buyi’s follow-up strike was excellent. With eyes full of admiration, she looked at him. Ling Buyi’s gaze didn’t turn aside, but the corners of his mouth curved up slightly.

Seeing his teacher’s face full of difficulty and distress, Yuan Shen said: “Lord Ling, if it were you, who would you save first?”

Ling Buyi said decisively: “Naturally I would save the fiancée first.”

Huangfu Yi’s body trembled: “But, but to watch the orphan daughter die…”

Shaoshang snorted coldly. If it were pig-trotter uncle, he would one hundred percent save Auntie! Whatever orphan daughters or widows—even if they all died, it wouldn’t compare to Sang Shi drinking one more mouthful of river water hurting Uncle’s heart!

Though Lou Yao was young and rash, contemplating this kind of situation, he also dazedly expressed his opinion: “If, if it were me, I would also save Shaoshang first.”

Shaoshang was delighted and immediately turned to throw him a big flirtatious look in approval.

Young master Lou’s face flew red, but his heart was very pleased.

Ling Buyi didn’t look at the young couple’s flirtatious exchanges and continued using the copper needle to stoke the fire: “That year when General Wu campaigned against the usurper King Chen, His Majesty held me back in reserve. I thought since I was idle anyway, I’d pretend to attack the convoy where the usurper king hid his treasures. Unexpectedly, the foolish Chen actually drew thirty percent of his forces to rescue his wealth while the battle raged fiercely. Chen’s great army collapsed like a landslide from that point.”

The branched lamp’s fire illuminated, and Shaoshang only felt his profile was beautiful as jade.

“At that time I was still young and truly didn’t understand that once you won the battle, what treasures wouldn’t you have? But that Chen usurper who loved wealth as his life didn’t think this way. To him, cities could be lost, generals and soldiers could perish, but his treasures couldn’t have the slightest mishap.”

Ling Buyi held his left hand behind his back, smiling with seeming modesty: “Master, was the fiancée, to that young master, a person who couldn’t have the slightest mishap? Anyone who has swum knows that riverbeds have heights and depths, the water’s depth is unknown. If there are water plants tangling the feet or whirlpools passing by, the consequences are unthinkable. Did the young master ever think that in the moment he went to save the orphan daughter first, the fiancée might have perished? If the young master truly put his fiancée at the top of his heart, how could he allow even half a chance of mishap?”

Yuan Shen couldn’t help but speak up for his teacher again: “That fiancée didn’t fall into a river.”

“That orphan daughter didn’t fall into a river either. She took poison of her own accord.”

Ling Buyi’s tone was cold: “Such a person—if she dies, she dies. Then adopt an heir for that guard, ensure his promotion and wealth in the future, descendants continuing endlessly, letting that guard’s incense burn eternally.” Hearing this simple and brutal operation left the master and disciple dumbfounded, and made Lou Yao and Shaoshang struggle to suppress their laughter.

Yuan Shen said: “That would be somewhat unfair to that guard who died tragically.”

“Unfair is unfair. Living in this world, how can one be fair to everyone?” Ling Buyi finished stoking the last lamp and put down the copper needle. “If he had known early on that the guard’s life-risking protection was to be exchanged for a marriage match, that young master might as well have found other jianghu heroes to escort him—others might not be unable to sacrifice their lives and forget death.”

Shaoshang said mockingly: “My father is a military general. On the battlefield, to protect him as commander, many generals and soldiers died. Properly providing for their families and promoting their children is sufficient—I haven’t seen every one of them having daughters or sisters wanting to marry my father!”

—Most annoying was this life-sacrificing gratitude repayment theory. According to this logic, those generals and marshals and such—this lieutenant general died for him so marry his sister, that lieutenant general was crippled for him so marry his daughter. Who knows if this is repaying gratitude or enjoying romantic fortune! If an army of a hundred thousand was lost, you’d need kidneys growing all over your body!

Huangfu Yi was completely silenced. Yuan Shen supported his teacher, feeling half his body was ice-cold and trembling.

Lou Yao also quickly followed the male god’s praise, sighing: “Elder Brother speaks truly. That orphan daughter, just to delay the young master’s return home, so lightly regarded her parents’ nurturing grace—she truly didn’t value herself enough.”

Yuan Shen argued: “Perhaps it wasn’t entirely to delay him, but because the orphan daughter knew the young master was going to marry upon his return, and in her despair and heartbreak took the poison.”

Shaoshang loudly retorted: “What’s important is not the intent but the result! The result was that seeking medical treatment for her delayed the young master’s return home, so she took poison to delay the young master’s return home!”

Yuan Shen sighed. Teacher, I tried my best.

“Speaking of which, that young master should have sent the orphan daughter away earlier…” Huangfu Yi sighed mournfully.

Ling Buyi raised his elegant eyebrows: “That orphan daughter was merely a jumping clown, not worth mentioning.” He suddenly raised his voice: “Miss Cheng, if your uncle were traveling far away and rumors were rife saying he had another woman, would your aunt believe it?”

Shaoshang smiled: “Absolutely not.” She smiled again: “Auntie would also find someone to quickly go rescue him, afraid that my uncle with his lack of strength to truss a chicken would be spotted by a passing bandit queen and kidnapped back to her mountain!” If it were Old Cheng, Director Xiao would also worry that the bandit queen would be swindled out of her entire fortune by her husband’s inside-outside cooperation.

Ling Buyi couldn’t suppress his smile. Huangfu Yi’s heart was full of loss, yet he knew the girl spoke the truth.

Ling Buyi then said: “This fiancée couldn’t believe that though the young master appeared cold on the surface he actually had feelings for her, nor could she believe the young master truly had no romantic feelings for that orphan daughter. How could two people who couldn’t trust each other become husband and wife?! She probably thought this through clearly, which is why she resolutely broke off the engagement.”

Huangfu Yi murmured: “…But… but his heart truly only had the fiancée!”

“Seven years entrusting life and death, an ocean of bitterness without end—everyone in the hometown knew the fiancée’s devotion. But this young master couldn’t make his fiancée trust him, showing his extreme arrogance and reserve.” Ling Buyi’s words were like military formations, leaving no room whatsoever.

“This fiancée used seven years to prove her devotion to the young master, then resolutely broke off the engagement to tell the young master that though her appearance was plain, her devotion could not be lightly insulted.”

Shaoshang, thinking that such an excellent woman as Aunt Sang Shi had once suffered such great insult, couldn’t help but shed tears.

Ling Buyi looked at her and said gently: “Zicheng believes this fiancée was truly a woman of great wisdom and intelligence, who could take up and let go. Once she thought clearly, she wouldn’t cling even a fraction.”

Huangfu Yi collapsed dejectedly to the floor, covering his face with his sleeve, no longer making a sound. Yuan Shen’s heart ached for his teacher and could only silently attend him at his side.

Shaoshang’s heart was full of gratitude, feeling that in the future she could follow her husband and together with Lou Yao admire the male god—that wouldn’t be unacceptable either.

Ling Buyi bowed with cupped hands toward the head seat: “I beg Master’s pardon—Zicheng has overstepped and spoken too much.”

Huangfu Yi sat on the floor, weakly waving his sleeve: “What offense have you committed? This old man should thank Zicheng instead. The doubt that has been lodged in my heart for many years has finally been resolved today. It was this old man’s fault, this old man’s fault…”

All these years, though he harbored apology and gratitude toward Sang Shi, in the middle of the night when he woke from dreams, he couldn’t help but blame Sang Shi for breaking off the engagement and severing ties over that small matter—it was really making a mountain out of a molehill. Now thinking back, his mistake wasn’t missing Grandfather Sang’s birthday banquet, but from childhood to adulthood always being arrogant and reserved, never reciprocating Sang Shi’s devotion. Afterward, year by year, bit by bit, time like sand, youth wasted away, finally grinding away all of Sang Shi’s ardor.

The wine cold, the banquet remnants scattered, the music ended, the people dispersed.

Yuan Shen helped the drunken Huangfu Yi back. Ling Buyi was about to say something when Liangqiu Qi entered the hall from the side, his expression grave as he presented a black scroll. Shaoshang and Lou Yao then took their leave first.

The early spring night air was still densely cold. Fortunately, having drunk some rice wine earlier, the two walked slowly along the corridor back to their rooms without feeling cold.

Lou Yao exhaled a puff of white breath and sighed: “Master Huangfu’s story was actually about him and Auntie, wasn’t it?” Even someone as dull as him could hear it.

“Obviously.” Shaoshang lightly snorted.

Lou Yao sighed again: “Speaking of it, if Auntie had seen clearly earlier, she wouldn’t have suffered so much. Fortunately, your admiring feelings for Elder Brother don’t compare to even one-ten-thousandth of Auntie’s, otherwise the suffering would be even greater.” Brother Zicheng isn’t someone who cherishes and pities the tender like Master Huangfu.

Shaoshang scoffed: “If Auntie had broken the engagement earlier, it probably wouldn’t have been my uncle’s turn! This is all Heaven’s will, Heaven’s will! Eh…” She suddenly froze. What, what—what did Lou Yao just say?

“When did I ever have admiring feelings for Lord Ling?!” Shaoshang grabbed Lou Yao’s sleeve, her eyes fierce. You can eat the wrong food, but you can’t speak carelessly—even if she were an ugly toad, you can’t randomly accuse her of wanting to eat swan meat!

Lou Yao was startled and stammered: “Didn’t you, didn’t you quarrel with Wang Xi that day… right?”

Shaoshang sorted through her thoughts, puzzled: “Wang Xi said I admired Eleventh Lang?” Though she didn’t know who Eleventh Lang was.

“Elder, Elder Brother… is… is Eleventh Lang?” Lou Yao was somewhat dumbfounded.

Shaoshang stood stunned for a long moment, her expression like she’d been slashed. Her mind was in chaos: “…Then why is he called Eleventh Lang?”

“His Majesty has ten princes. Elder Brother and Marquis Ling have a distant father-son relationship, so he was raised by the Emperor and Empress from childhood. Whether entering the palace quarters to reside or leaving to accompany the imperial carriage, His Majesty said Elder Brother was his eleventh son.”

Shaoshang’s complexion turned green then white, feeling thunder rumbling overhead, roaring continuously.

For a moment she was glad it was Lou Yao who told her this, otherwise if the truth came out elsewhere it wouldn’t be easy to gloss over. For another moment she recalled all the various interactions with Ling Buyi these days and vaguely felt things weren’t quite right.

“You actually didn’t know Elder Brother was Eleventh Lang?” Lou Yao said oddly.

Shaoshang quickly yanked her wildly galloping thoughts forcefully back and laughed awkwardly: “That, A’Yao… what if I said that ever since I got engaged to you, I completely forgot about Eleventh Lang—would you believe it…”

“Of course not!” Lou Yao’s face turned red from holding his breath. He wasn’t that stupid, okay?!

Shaoshang herself felt this excuse was too terrible, so she let go of Lou Yao’s sleeve and said weakly: “Actually, there’s something I’ve never felt quite comfortable saying. Second Aunt and my mother have always had friction. From childhood, she confined me to the inner quarters and I couldn’t leave the house. I had neither close female friends nor any knowledge of the prominent families and figures outside. At one banquet, when the sisters talked about Eleventh Lang, each one was animated and excited beyond measure. Ahem… you know, when everyone else likes something and you don’t, it makes you seem different and quite strange… Actually I didn’t even know who Eleventh Lang was!” After saying all this, she carefully observed Lou Yao’s expression, secretly hoping this excuse would work.

Who knew Lou Yao would actually completely buy it, even grabbing his head with a laugh and shared feeling: “What you say makes sense. I don’t love cockfighting, but all the young masters in the market are deeply versed in it, so I had no choice but to raise several colorful roosters. Actually, what’s so interesting about cockfighting? I can’t see it at all.”

Shaoshang breathed a sigh of relief. She knew choosing to marry Lou Yao was the right choice! Then she thought of another even more troublesome matter.

From that first encounter at the Wan family martial arts ground to the rescue at the hunting lodge, she had vaguely felt Ling Buyi treated her especially politely. When he smiled, he was so gentle and handsome. When he spoke, he was so courteous and modest. Perhaps she’d even taken all his various attentive courtesies as secret love.

Since Ling Buyi was Eleventh Lang, he must think she was one of the secret admiration group sisters and probably also thought she sabotaged the bridge and harmed people falling into water for his sake, because unlike Lou Yao, he hadn’t seen her quarreling with Wang Xi and the others!

And then… and then she got engaged… What would Ling Buyi think of her! Scumbag woman, fickle? The previous moment still laughing with him in the hunting lodge like a flower, the next moment happily calling him “Elder Brother” together with her newly appointed fiancé?!

Even someone like Shaoshang who belonged to the Tyrannosaurus genus felt she seemed rather lacking in integrity.

Going in a full circle with her thoughts, Shaoshang couldn’t help but ask Lou Yao: “Since you thought I admired Eleventh Lang, why did you still want to marry me?” She felt she couldn’t understand Lou Yao’s thinking.

“Because Brother Zicheng has no romantic interest in you!”

Lou Yao answered as if it were obvious: “In the capital, there are at least eight hundred if not a thousand women who admire him, yet they still marry when it’s time to marry and have children when it’s time! Little cousin Lou Yi will also be discussing marriage next year.

Shaoshang’s mouth fell open. The thunder overhead stopped, the clouds scattered, seeing daylight again.

She vigorously patted Lou Yao’s shoulder, overjoyed: “A’Yao, you’re right! Brother Zicheng has no romantic interest in me!”

—Maybe in Ling Buyi’s heart, there was no difference between her and Wang Xi or Lou Yi. So what was she overthinking all this for? Truly worrying about nothing!