As the saying goes, good news stays indoors while bad news travels a thousand miles. Yet spreading even faster than bad news is gossip about other people’s affairs.

On the day after the small court assembly, before nightfall, General He’s dying words and Marquis Yang Ji Zun’s speech had already spread throughout the entire capital. Cheng Yong at the Imperial Academy, Cheng Song at the Tiger Guard Camp, and Cheng Shaogong studying at his tutor’s home in the city all had their ears filled with the gossip when they returned.

Then, before curfew, one of Lou Yao’s attendants came running breathlessly to deliver a message specifically to Shaoshang, saying that their young master had been detained by Grand Coachman Lou, but tomorrow he would escape no matter what to find her.

Cheng Shi’s expression lightened slightly as he said: “Ayao still has some conscience. I was worried he was eager to marry that Jun of Ancheng!”

The attendant kowtowed repeatedly and hurriedly said: “Minister Cheng sees clearly—my young master said that never mind the Jun of Ancheng, even if she were the Princess of Ancheng, the Imperial Princess of Ancheng, or the Heavenly Palace Empress of Ancheng, he wouldn’t want her!”

“Heavenly Palace Empress, how flattering.” Cheng Shi rolled his eyes, rewarded the attendant with a handful of five-zhu coins, and sent him off.

Xiao Furen was also thoroughly displeased. With a cold face, she was about to return to her room with her husband to rest.

Cheng Yong quickly called out to stop them: “Father, Mother, why don’t we discuss this matter? Niaoniao, you come too…”

“Discuss what?!” Who knew Shaoshang would stand alone beneath the corridor, her face like cold jade, her voice like ice water. “Isn’t it just breaking off the engagement with my family to marry He Zhaojun? Ayao and his mother definitely won’t agree, but their opinions don’t count. The Lou First Madam definitely agrees, but she can only beat the side drums. Grand Coachman Lou and Commandery Administrator Lou are half willing and half unwilling—this depends on how much criticism the Lou family receives and how much benefit they gain. Mother, am I correct?”

Xiao Furen’s face was somber: “Correct.”

Cheng Yong was stunned. Cheng Shi sighed. If such a matter happened to other young ladies, their parents and siblings would be too busy comforting them. Only their own daughter—there would be no secret weeping, feeling sorry for herself was impossible; rather, they had to guard against her being too extreme.

“Niaoniao, if this matter doesn’t work out, don’t be too heartbroken…”

Shaoshang said: “Father need not say more. I understand all the reasoning. Never mind the Lou family—even in our own family, Father cannot stake the entire family’s future on my marriage. I would be the first to disagree. There’s nothing absolutely impossible in this world. However, the current situation is still unclear. Let’s wait and see.”

Hearing his daughter speak so logically, Cheng Shi sighed again. Cheng Yong looked at his younger sister’s expression and asked gently: “Niaoniao, since you understand everything, why are you still angry?”

Shaoshang felt a stifling flame burning in her chest, searing her heart and lungs, her anger difficult to suppress. This anger wasn’t directed at the He family, the Lou family, or even any particular person. “…I’m not angry either. It’s just that I’ve had bad luck since childhood. I thought things had finally turned around and my marriage fate would go smoothly. As expected, Heaven just won’t let me off!”

Having said this, the girl vigorously swung her wide cloud-patterned sleeves and strode back to her own courtyard. Only father and son remained in Jiuzhui Hall, looking at each other. Xiao Furen, however, stared fixedly in the direction her daughter had gone, seemingly moved.

…

The following two days were a feast for the capital’s gossip-loving masses. For a time, all the official households, scholars, and renowned scholars in the city were discussing this matter. Our dynasty’s populace had always been able to divide into sweet and savory factions over eating a rice dumpling or drinking soy milk—naturally, this was no exception.

One faction believed the Lou and Cheng families should break the engagement to give the He family’s young lady a good marriage, thereby comforting General He’s spirit in heaven. Another faction believed that although General He’s loyalty, bravery, and righteousness were commendable, this precedent couldn’t be set, or endless troubles would follow.

Besides, wasn’t it just marriage? What’s the big deal? The capital had plenty of marriageable young men from aristocratic families. Couldn’t they ask the Emperor to select an outstanding one for the Jun of Ancheng, Lady He? Why must they force two households to break their engagement and go back on their word?

Some people also came to grind Old Master Cheng down with arguments. Cheng Shi uniformly deflected with minimal effort: “Originally it was the Lou family who came to propose marriage. If we’re to break the engagement now, it should also be the Lou family who speaks up. Our family cannot presume to act on our own.”

Worth praising was Comrade Old Wan, who in these two days argued left and right, spittle flying, unstoppable in his courage.

On this day, Marquis Xiu, who had been friendly with General He, was pleading the case before the Emperor. Old Wan, who was also present, directly served him a pot of ginseng chicken soup—back when Commandery Marquis Lin’s family fell into decline, they had no choice but to sell a golden nanmu coffin worth ten thousand gold that was irreplaceable. Later, during war and chaos, your family’s old master acquired it through legitimate channels at a high price. Old Father Lin longed day and night to recover this coffin, but your family’s old master also treasured it like his lifeline. Now, if the Lin family’s descendants render great merit or even die by the numbers, will your family yield this coffin or not?!

Meat only hurts when cut from one’s own body. Marquis Xiu touched his nose and withdrew from the Northern Palace.

The Emperor, sitting behind the imperial desk, looked at the pot-bellied, righteousness-reaching-the-clouds Wan Songbai and secretly sighed.

How he wanted to say: “Minister Wan and your sworn brother really don’t need to be so reluctant. After breaking this engagement, I’ll exchange it for an even better son-in-law for you”—but unfortunately, he couldn’t say it. The Emperor felt very stifled.

At this time, Cheng Mother finally learned of this matter. She raged furiously in her room, grabbing her son’s lapels and shouting: “This engagement absolutely must not be broken! Where will we find such a good family in the future?! Niaoniao, a blind cat catching a dead mouse—it’s rare to have such luck. Break what? Absolutely not breaking it, unless the Emperor issues an edict!” The gossiping scoundrels outside have itchy lips because they’re not the ones suffering!” She quite liked the precious brocade, lacquerware, and other valuable items the Lou family had sent.

By the third day, the Lou residence finally sent someone to invite the Cheng family’s female members over for a discussion. Xiao Furen sneered: “Hmph, so little patience.” This time she didn’t bring anyone else, only leading Shaoshang and a group of household soldiers, marching imposingly straight to the Lou household.

Although angry inside, Xiao Furen had weathered great storms. She sat upright and motionless in the inner hall, her posture and demeanor beyond reproach. No matter what the Lou First Madam sitting opposite said, she only smiled without speaking. Before long, the other party lost her composure instead.

The Lou First Madam’s face was full of worry as she said: “I greatly love Shaoshang, but with such an incident occurring, our Lou family truly has no way out…”

Hearing something amiss in the meaning, Xiao Furen said directly: “May I ask, First Madam, does Grand Coachman Lou know or not know that you invited us mother and daughter here today?”

The Lou First Madam’s expression stiffened. She smiled and said: “Although this marriage was arranged by my husband and Colonel Cheng, you and I are both mistresses and female heads of household, so naturally we should also…”

Xiao Furen was greatly disappointed and immediately said: “So Grand Coachman Lou doesn’t know.” She thought so—Grand Coachman Lou was shrewd and capable; how could he be so impatient? “First Madam, to be frank with you, matters have reached this point and are no longer something you and I can decide on our own. I thought Grand Coachman Lou had words he found inconvenient to speak directly and asked you, Madam, to convey them. Since that’s not the case, we mother and daughter will take our leave first…”

The Lou First Madam became anxious and hurriedly said: “Wait, I have something to say.”

Xiao Furen rose with dignity and smiled with arrogance: “Whatever First Madam wishes to say, I already know.” She glanced at Shaoshang beside her, thinking that even my teenage daughter can guess what’s in your heart—why should I continue watching you perform? “Nothing more than how pitiful and tragic General He is, how helpless and dependent Lady He Zhaojun is, how our Cheng family should be benevolent and righteous, break the engagement and yield to the worthy. Is that it or not?”

Having said this, Xiao Furen stared at the Lou First Madam and indeed saw her face turn alternately green and white—how satisfying.

“…Is that not right?” The Lou First Madam barely suppressed her displeasure and said loudly: “Their entire family are loyal martyrs, nearly everyone dead. Don’t you feel any compassion?” As she spoke, she even covered her face and began crying. “The He and Lou families have been close for decades. Back then, General He was so heroic, the He family’s young masters were young and capable—who would have thought that overnight they’d all be gone! Zhaojun at such a young age must be suffering so much inside. If our Lou family doesn’t look after her, who will…”

“—If you want to look after her, you look after her. Don’t you dare harm my Ayao again this time!”

The Lou First Madam was crying dramatically when unexpectedly a familiar voice pierced through like tearing a curtain. Everyone looked over to see the Lou Second Madam being supported by a maid, standing at the inner hall entrance, breathing slightly heavily, her face flushed.

The Lou Second Madam no longer had her previous gentle and innocent air. As she walked in, she said emotionally: “…I’ve disliked He Zhaojun since she was little! Arrogant and rude, imperious and overbearing—poor Ayao has been bullied by her for so many years!”

The Lou First Madam glanced at the Cheng family’s mother and daughter, extremely embarrassed: “Sister-in-law, what are you saying! General He was kind to our family, which is why Ayao yielded to Zhaojun so much. Besides, Zhaojun is still young—once she’s married in, we can slowly teach her…”

“If you want to teach her, you teach her yourself! Sister-in-law is so capable—I’m useless and can’t endure such a bad-tempered daughter-in-law.” The Lou Second Madam cried like a child.

Shaoshang silently rose, helped the sobbing Lou Second Madam come sit down, then said to the Lou First Madam: “First Madam, you should still dismiss those around us. Do you want the maids to hear everything?”

The Lou First Madam’s old face reddened. She quickly had her eldest daughter-in-law send all the servants and maids around them out, commanding them to retreat far away, before continuing: “Sister-in-law, I know you’ve never liked Zhaojun. This way—when Zhaojun marries in this time, I’ll teach her, and you just enjoy your blessings…”

“What blessings?! If my Ayao isn’t happy, what blessings can I enjoy!” Although the Lou Second Madam had little capability, her love for her son was earnest. “Since Ayao became engaged to Shaoshang, he’s been happy every day. Think about it—when he was with Zhaojun before, when was he ever happy!”

“Sister-in-law!” Seeing that soft tactics didn’t work, the Lou First Madam’s face darkened. “You must focus on the big picture! General He previously showed kindness to our family, and afterward there’s the Emperor’s grace in His Majesty’s heart. Welcoming Zhaojun to marry in—whether to repay kindness or to relieve the Emperor’s concerns—both are greatly beneficial!”

“Since it’s so important, you might as well marry her yourself as a daughter-in-law! Back when you were in such a hurry to arrange an engagement for Seventh Son, you think I didn’t know your intention? Actually, you also couldn’t bear for your son to suffer He Zhaojun’s hardship, so you came to harm my Ayao…”

“Sister-in-law, don’t speak recklessly!” The Lou First Madam slammed the table, her anger overflowing.

After all, she’d been the elder sister-in-law for decades—her authority remained. The Lou Second Madam jumped in fright and lowered her head, weeping continuously.

Xiao Furen gave a cold laugh, about to open her mouth when Shaoshang suddenly spoke: “First Madam, have you heard the story of the Eastern Neighbor and Western Household?”

All four people in the room were stunned. Shaoshang continued directly: “In a village there were two households. The eastern household had good luck—their house was located upstream of a creek, the western household downstream. Later, for farming matters, they needed to divert water and dig an irrigation ditch, so the two families worked together to dig one. But every time they released water, the eastern household intercepted more than half, leaving only a little for the western household. Several years later, the irrigation ditch needed repairs. The eastern household came to find the western household to work together again. The western household wasn’t willing. The eastern household was full of grand principles and great righteousness, speaking so splendidly!” At this point, she smiled. “First Madam, have you heard this story?”

The Lou First Madam’s face was extremely ugly. She said nothing.

The Lou First Young Madam beside her pondered a few times and also understood, lowering her head with a reddened face.

The Lou First Madam’s chest heaved, her gaze sharp. Word by word, she said: “Our family shares blood ties—we make no distinctions. Miss Cheng, please don’t sow discord and estrange siblings.”

How could Shaoshang, a little troublemaker on the verge of full reformation, be frightened by such a look? It wasn’t as impressive as when Director Xiao slammed the table back then. She said calmly: “First Madam’s words are mistaken. In this world, there must first be discord before it can be sown. Also, whether others make distinctions or not, I don’t know, but First Madam, you distinguish very clearly. Anything good or beautiful gets allocated to your own branch, anything terrible or rotten gets pushed to the second branch. Back then, General He’s kindness wasn’t only received by Ayao’s parents. How is it that when Grand Coachman Lou inherited the title, he remembered he was the eldest son of the primary branch, but when it’s time to shoulder responsibility, he doesn’t remember he’s the eldest son of the primary branch?”

“You little wretch!” The Lou First Madam trembled all over with anger, her eyes seeming to split. “You, you…”

Both the Lou Second Madam and the Lou First Young Madam were shocked. The former forgot to cry, the latter forgot to lower her head. Xiao Furen had wanted to stop her daughter, but then thought this was fine too—either the marriage wouldn’t happen and they’d part ways completely, or if the marriage could still happen, the Lou Second Madam probably wouldn’t mind her daughter’s fierce temperament anymore.

“First Madam, as the Lou clan’s matriarch, do you know what it means to be the head of a family and leader of a clan? It means you can’t just care about your own one-third of an acre but must also look after seven aunts, eight great-aunts, thirteen uncles and brothers, plus twenty-eight clan relatives and grandchildren!”

Shaoshang had been holding in anger for several days and decided to let it all out at once. “First Madam is wonderful—your own children are treasures while nephews and nieces are grass! You don’t consider Ayao’s unhappiness important, but the benefits obtained by exchanging Ayao, those you enjoy with a clear conscience! I’ll advise First Madam one thing: behind closed doors at home, suppressing the outstanding ones makes the mediocre ones stand out, but the outside world doesn’t revolve around you alone. If your household can’t produce capable descendants, naturally others will stand up in court!”

“You dare humiliate me like this! Someone, someone…” The Lou First Madam’s face swelled purple like an eggplant, then she was about to call people loudly.

“First Madam, I’m doing this for your own good.”

Shaoshang smiled falsely, then her face turned harsh as she said in a heavy voice: “If you want to call people, go ahead and call them. I dare say these things in front of everyone! You’re so benevolent and righteous, you pity the He family’s loneliness—then show some action! Don’t just talk! Who can’t talk about righteousness? I can walk around the marketplace and find you eighty-one people, each singing better than you! Just now First Madam’s speech about the He family’s kindness, loyalty, and bravery—this young lady admires and is moved. How about this: you have four sons under your knee. Have one of them divorce and marry He Zhaojun instead. Then you can fully comfort the He family’s orphans, and I guarantee tomorrow the entire capital will praise your great benevolence and righteousness, First Madam! How about it?”

The Lou First Madam was so angry she nearly spat blood, pointing at Shaoshang and trembling: “You, you…”

The Lou First Young Madam quickly stepped forward to rub her mother-in-law’s back, rubbing while turning her head: “Miss Cheng, how can you be so unreasonable and domineering? Aren’t you afraid of a bad reputation spreading?”

“What did I say? I didn’t say anything.” Shaoshang changed her expression again, sitting upright and arranging her sleeves, saying methodically: “If First Madam and First Young Madam go outside and speak recklessly, I know nothing about it, and I’ll definitely cry everywhere, saying you two did such base things to force my family to break the engagement. First Madam, tell me—how many people will believe this?”

—This was a world without recording devices. Indeed, technological backwardness had its advantages.

The Lou First Madam turned away angrily and questioned loudly: “Sister-in-law, you’re just going to watch this little shrew humiliate me like this?”

The Lou Second Madam’s mouth gaped wide, tears still hanging on her face as she stammered: “Sister-in-law… I, I’m not… this, what Shaoshang said isn’t wrong either…” Her voice grew lower and lower.

Over these years, whenever the second branch had friction with the primary branch, it was always her eldest son’s wife who stepped forward. So the Lou Second Madam wasn’t averse to a strong daughter-in-law. She disliked He Zhaojun more because her son Lou Yao had always been oppressed. If it were like her eldest son and his wife with mutual affection, a somewhat fierce daughter-in-law wouldn’t matter. Just as she was thinking about her eldest daughter-in-law, a voice suddenly came from outside—

“What did Shaoshang say? I didn’t hear anything. Right, Ayao, Shanjian.”

Everyone started in surprise then quickly turned their heads. They saw the side door open with three people standing in the center: the Lou Second Young Madam, Lou Yao, and Yuan Shen supporting Lou Yao—the Lou Second Young Madam had her usual cold and stern expression, Lou Yao was leaning to one side with his left leg bent, while Yuan Shen supported Lou Yao with both arms while lowering his head and turning his face sideways, his body trembling slightly.

The Lou Second Young Madam strode in and sat directly beside her mother-in-law, saying gently: “Mother-in-law, you’re mistaken. Just now Shaoshang didn’t say anything—everyone was just chatting idly.”

Seeing her support had arrived, the Lou Second Madam was delighted and about to cry again: “Right, right, you’re correct—Shaoshang didn’t say anything.”

Seeing the Cheng family’s mother and daughter’s surprised and suspicious gazes shooting over, Yuan Shen quickly said: “Lou Second Young Master and I once studied together under Teacher Ouyang. The other day, our senior schoolmate conveniently had a fellow student deliver a letter to our teacher, with his family letter enclosed. The teacher ordered me to deliver it to the residence. I happened to encounter… happened to encounter…” He quickly glanced at Shaoshang, suppressing a smile.

Because there was an outsider like Yuan Shen present, the Lou First Madam couldn’t pursue Shaoshang’s earlier ‘harsh words’ and could only forcibly suppress her anger: “So Shanjian has come. Please sit.”

Shaoshang didn’t care what Yuan Shen had heard—after all, she and he had exchanged ‘harsh words’ face to face before. She noticed Lou Yao’s limping appearance and exclaimed: “They broke your leg!” Damn it, she was going to get even!

Lou Yao sat down with difficulty, his face red: “No, no, it’s… it’s that I climbed the wall to go see you two days ago and fell…”

“You broke your leg climbing a wall?!” Shaoshang cursed inwardly about his uselessness. Back in her day, she’d climbed between the academic building and dormitory building countless times without incident—truly a pampered young master. She’d teach him properly in the future.

Lou Yao didn’t know his fiancée was criticizing him internally and still considerately said: “Shaoshang, don’t worry—I didn’t hear a single word you said just now.”

Everyone: …

However, the Lou Second Young Madam found Shaoshang’s earlier speech extremely satisfying. Many things she couldn’t say herself, but the Lou First Madam’s hypocritical facade had been torn off today by Miss Cheng. Especially that line “If your household can’t produce capable descendants, naturally others will stand up in court”—truly delightful!

“These days I’ve constantly heard First Aunt at home going on about how pitiful the He family is. Why not have Auntie order one daughter-in-law to be divorced to fulfill Sister Zhaojun’s wish? After all, General He’s dying words were ‘to enter the Lou clan’—he didn’t specify it had to be Ayao.” The Lou Second Young Madam spoke these sarcastic words cheerfully.

“You, you’re also angering me?!” The Lou First Madam shouted angrily. “I’ll accuse you of being unfilial…”

The Lou Second Young Madam paid no attention: “You’re not my mother-in-law.”

The Lou First Madam turned toward her sister-in-law and grabbed her arm, screeching: “Are you trying to force me to death?!”

The Lou Second Madam was frightened into confusion when suddenly inspiration struck: “No, why not… why not have flowers bloom on twin stems—let Zhaojun and Shaoshang both marry Ayao, neither primary nor secondary, calling each other sisters. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” Afterward, her son just wouldn’t pay attention to He Zhaojun.

Everyone in the hall was startled. The Lou First Madam’s eyes flashed, and she immediately became quiet and said nothing. Yuan Shen, who had been keeping his head down to avoid this conversation, suddenly turned back, his eyes revealing an excited smile.

“Ayao, Ayao, tell me if that’s good or not…” The Lou Second Madam frantically grabbed her son. “General He was so good to you before. Otherwise, with so many people inside and out unwilling to let our family go…”

Lou Yao thought of General He and his heart softened. He said hesitantly: “It’s not impossible, but afterward I won’t pay attention to her…”

“Good for what?!” Shaoshang forcefully slapped Lou Yao’s injured leg and said sternly: “If you dare do this, I’d rather change to someone else to marry!”

“…Right, right, right! Marry together what? I absolutely don’t want to marry He Zhaojun! Absolutely not!” Lou Yao was somewhat dizzy. Although he didn’t know the reason, his fiancée was always right—he’d long been accustomed to agreeing completely.

Seeing Shaoshang assert her authority, the Lou Second Madam also wilted back, saying repeatedly: “Never mind, never mind—Ayao absolutely won’t marry He Zhaojun!”

Seeing this situation, Xiao Furen secretly shook her head and sighed.

“Ayao, tell me clearly—do you or do you not want to break the engagement with me!” Shaoshang grabbed Lou Yao’s sleeve and demanded.

Lou Yao’s blood boiled as he declared resoundingly: “Absolutely will not break the engagement!”

“Good! As long as you don’t go back on your word, I absolutely won’t retreat either!” Shaoshang stood up, her eyes fixed on the Lou First Madam, speaking each word for her to hear. Whether they would marry or not was another matter, but she absolutely wouldn’t swallow this anger!

The Lou First Madam gripped her sleeves tightly, angry beyond words.

Seeing that conversation with the Lou First Madam couldn’t continue, the second branch mother-in-law and daughter-in-law quickly invited Xiao Furen and her daughter to speak in their courtyard. Shaoshang felt extremely stifled here and couldn’t stay any longer, so she told Lou Yao to recuperate well, then took her leave first and returned home.