Zhou Liu-lang hesitated in the courtyard for a moment.
Last time, he had already delivered the pastries from Xuan-miao Temple — he didn’t know if she had understood the meaning behind it.
At this thought, he snorted.
That lady is as cunning as they come — how could she not know!
“Prepare the horse!” he shouted, lifting his head while striding out the door.
“Why are you here again? My mistress is asleep!”
At the residence by Yudai Bridge, Jin Ge’er pushed against the door as he spoke.
“Asleep? What for!” Zhou Liu-lang barked, then simply lifted his foot and kicked the door.
The loud thudding sounds drew out the maid and Ban Qin came running.
“What are you doing here again?” the maid demanded, hands on hips, brows raised.
“I’m here to ask whether the pastries I brought suited your tastes or not!” Zhou Liu-lang snapped back, clearly in a foul mood.
What a lousy excuse!
“Go call the authorities,” the maid shouted bluntly.
“It’s fine. If someone’s come with a question, I’ll give an answer.”
Cheng Jiao-niang’s voice came from inside. The maid turned to look and saw her —
at some point, she had already knelt in the main hall, calmly combing her hair.
Zhou Liu-lang didn’t enter the room but stood under the eaves, looking at Cheng Jiao-niang inside.
“Your father has already arranged a marriage for you,” he said bluntly.
As soon as the words left his mouth, both the maid and Ban Qin looked stunned.
“And your father?” Cheng Jiao-niang’s expression remained calm as she set down the comb in her hand and asked.
The meaning was clear — the Zhou family would never allow the Cheng family to make such a decision on their own…
“My father hasn’t found anyone yet,” Zhou Liu-lang replied, face tense.
“I’m sure he’ll find someone soon,” Cheng Jiao-niang said smoothly.
No matter when or what she said, Zhou Liu-lang always felt a biting undercurrent of mockery and sarcasm.
Qin Shi’san said it was all in his head — he was imagining things.
But listen to that! That was clearly sarcasm and ridicule!
As if the Zhou family was desperately clinging to her, craving something they couldn’t have!
“Seems we were meddling too much, spoiling the fine match your good father found for you,” Zhou Liu-lang said, letting out a cold laugh before turning on his heel and sweeping his sleeve as he walked away.
The door slammed with a loud bang, and the three of them in the courtyard exchanged looks.
Well, that boy never acts proper anyway.
They stopped paying him any attention. One motioned for Jin Ge’er to shut the door, while another hurried to sit down in front of Cheng Jiao-niang.
“Miss, what should we do?” she asked anxiously.
Cheng Jiao-niang calmly continued combing her hair.
“Do about what?” she asked.
“Your engagement, of course!” the maid said urgently, glancing back toward the door. “We didn’t even think to ask which family he was talking about.”
“It’s fine. No rush. They’ll come and tell me eventually,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
That must be…
But — that’s not what she meant right now.
“Miss, aren’t you worried?” The maid took a few steps forward, looking at Cheng Jiao-niang and asking.
It was impossible to read her emotions from this lady’s face, or perhaps she simply had no emotions at all?
Cheng Jiao-niang had a large dowry, and the maid knew it. For a woman, a large dowry was a powerful asset in securing a marriage. But Cheng Jiao-niang’s own shortcomings made that dowry seem more like a potential source of trouble.
“Carrying a treasure is a crime,” especially for someone who had once been a fool.
Marriage — it couldn’t possibly be that simple. Surely the Cheng family had made some calculations with the dowry in mind.
In matters of marriage, it’s always the matchmaker’s words and the parents’ will. What would they do now?
Cheng Jiao-niang gestured for Ban Qin to come and help her tie up her hair while watching the maid.
“What’s the rush?” she said.
The maid froze for a moment.
“Miss, you… you’re not angry? Your father has arranged a marriage for you,” she asked.
She emphasized the word “father” with a stronger tone.
How could she expect a father who had abandoned her as a child to truly care about finding a good match for her?
“Should I be angry?” Cheng Jiao-niang blinked and asked, looking at her.
Their eyes met for a brief moment.
Well, marriage is a matter of the parents’ will, isn’t it? It’s only natural…
What else could be done? A helpless person facing a helpless situation…
“That’s what should be worrying. What if he’s not a good match? Then how are you supposed to live?” The maid sighed.
Cheng Jiao-niang looked at her and smiled faintly.
“How can you know whether life is good or bad if you haven’t lived it yet?” she said.
Behind her, Ban Qin gathered Cheng Jiao-niang’s long black hair into a neat updo, inserting a small silver comb. Upon hearing these words, Ban Qin also smiled faintly.
How is life lived?
Her father was gone, the temple had been burned, there was no money or possessions, and how was a lonely girl with only a weak maid supposed to live?
She lived on, eventually returning home.
Her family scorned her, sent her to the temple, and from then on, weeds were forgotten — how could she live?
She lived on, and eventually found herself in the capital.
Good days, bad days, how they were lived, whether they were good or bad, it had always been her to control it.
What’s more, this lady had never known what good days were like, and when it came to marriage, thinking it over carefully, it didn’t seem that important after all.
“Miss, should I go inquire about which family your father has arranged the match with?” the maid couldn’t help but ask.
“No rush,” Cheng Jiao-niang said with a faint smile. “We can wait until Master Cheng and Master Zhou have made their decision. It won’t be too late to ask then.”
The maid let out a breath, sat back down, and watched the calm demeanor of both the mistress and the maid, finally unable to hold back a smile.
“No wonder Miss wants to call us Ban Qin,” she laughed.
Ban Qin, however, didn’t understand.
“Why’s that?” she asked as she tied up the last strand of Cheng Jiao-niang’s hair.
The maid sighed as she looked at Ban Qin.
“Because Ban Qin, you’re clever, and we’re too slow-witted. Miss wants us to learn from you,” she said.
Ban Qin covered her mouth and giggled.
“You’re joking again,” she said.
“I’m not joking,” the maid replied. “I used to think I was pretty clever, and others said so too. But the longer I’ve been with Miss, the more I feel like I’m getting dumber. So many things, I just can’t figure out anymore.”
“Well, then don’t think about them,” Ban Qin said, adjusting Cheng Jiao-niang’s outer garment and stepping back a few paces with a smile. “Life’s not about overthinking.”
“But we’re born with minds, aren’t we? Not to think, is that even possible?” the maid sighed.
As soon as they saw Cheng Jiao-niang pick up a book, the two of them stepped back to the eaves. Jin Ge’er, standing in the courtyard, heard her words and chuckled.
“Well, just ask then. If you don’t understand, ask,” he said with a grin.
The maid nodded.
“Right, if I don’t understand, I’ll ask until I do,” she said, reaching out to pull Ban Qin. Just as she was about to speak, two loud knocks echoed through the air.
Could it be?
Someone else has come again?
The maid turned around, and Jin Ge’er also turned to listen for the sound.
The sound of two knocks rang out again.
“Here, here.”
A male voice followed.
The maid and Jin Ge’er both looked over, and in the glow of the sunset, a young man’s head peeked out from the top of the wall.
“Is your mistress home?” he asked, resting his hand on the wall with a smile.
Him again!
The maid’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“She’s not here,” she replied.
Duke Jin’an furrowed his brows.
“You can’t even tell a proper lie,” he said. “A guest just came by. How could the mistress not be home?”
“What does that have to do with you? You’re not a guest.” The maid snapped angrily, spitting as she lifted her foot to head inside.
“I am a guest visiting as well,” Duke Jin’an called out loudly. “It’s just… I can’t use the front door.”
As he spoke, he lowered his head to look behind him and made a gesture.
The sound of two more knocks echoed.
“See? I’ve knocked on the door,” he said.
The maid stomped her foot, about to step into the hall, but then saw Cheng Jiao-niang walking out.
“Miss, it’s him again.” The maid hurriedly said.
Cheng Jiao-niang looked up. Duke Jin’an flashed her a smile.
“I just wanted to ask,” he said, “Did you enjoy the pastries? Are they to your liking?”
The maid’s eyes widened. What’s going on today? Has small talk in the capital turned into asking about pastries now?
“They’re fine,” Cheng Jiao-niang nodded and replied.
“Do you like them?” Duke Jin’an asked with a grin. “I can bring you more.”
“No need to go out of your way,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Duke Jin’an made a small sound of acknowledgment.
“It’s just food, really. If there’s more, it adds flavor, but if not, it’s fine,” he nodded, smiling at Cheng Jiao-niang. “By the way, that young man just now, who is he to you?”
Oh, this shameless man, who does he think he is? Are they that familiar? How could he even ask such a thing!
The maid glared at him.
“He’s my uncle’s son.” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
Duke Jin’an nodded.
“Sounds like you’re upset. Did you two have a quarrel?” he asked.
The maid once again widened her eyes at the question.
“No, he just came to tell me something.” Cheng Jiao-niang answered.
“What’s that?” Duke Jin’an asked curiously, resting his arm on the wall.
“A marriage proposal.” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
The maid turned her head and glared at Cheng Jiao-niang.
Are they really that familiar? How could she just answer like that?
“Really? Which family?” Duke Jin’an leaned against the wall, his eyes sparkling as he asked.
“I don’t know yet. I’m not sure which family has been chosen.” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
Duke Jin’an laughed heartily.
“You’re quite impressive, having so many families proposing to you!” he said with a smile.
“It’s just because I’ve reached the right age.” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Duke Jin’an shook his head.
“That’s not always the case,” he said. “I’ve reached the right age too, but there hasn’t been any proposal for me.”
As he spoke, he laughed again. This time, his smile was different from his earlier bright and hearty one—it was softer, but this softness, combined with his words, gave a sense of quiet melancholy.
The maid noticed his expression was somewhat strange.
Could it be true?
A man who looked like that, and no one had proposed to him?
Looking at his clothes and demeanor, he certainly wasn’t poor and unable to afford a wife.
“Having a choice doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good, and not having a choice doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad,” Cheng Jiao-niang said. “As for whether there’s a choice or not, we have no say. As for whether it’s good or not, that’s something we can decide for ourselves.”
Duke Jin’an laughed and patted the wall.
“Are you overwhelmed by so many choices?” he asked. “Would you like me to help you? I know a lot of families in the capital.”
Looking at the young woman standing in the eaves and the young man on the wall, speaking comfortably with one another, the maid couldn’t help but sigh again.
Ban Qin, who had already moved to the eaves to fold clothes, looked over with a questioning glance.
The maid looked at her relaxed expression and couldn’t help but force a smile.
“I feel like I’m really getting more and more confused the older I get,” she muttered.
Duke Jin’an thought his idea was excellent, his eyes lighting up as he leaned against the wall again.
“If you can’t make up your mind, or if it’s hard to inquire about things, come to me. I’ll find out everything for you and make sure those matchmakers can’t fool you,” he said.
“Alright,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied. “Thank you.”
Duke Jin’an waved his hand.
“It’s too early to thank me. Wait until I help you find a good match, then you can thank me,” he said.
Cheng Jiao-niang looked at him and smiled faintly.
Duke Jin’an lowered his head, listening to what the people below were saying, and his brows furrowed slightly.
At this moment, the sunset in the courtyard had faded, and the night slowly descended, shrouding everything in a hazy gloom.
“I should be going now,” he said to Cheng Jiao-niang.
Jin Ge’er was in the process of lighting the lanterns in the courtyard, and the light from the lanterns only made the courtyard seem even dimmer. The figure of the lady standing under the eaves was somewhat blurred, her face unclear. All that could be seen was that she slightly bent her body and made a small bow.
“Cheng Jiao-niang,” he suddenly recalled something and called out.
In the dim light, the lady straightened her posture and looked at him.
“What’s your name?” Duke Jin’an asked. “I’m Fang Bocheng.”
Fang Bocheng.
The maid silently repeated the name in her mind, quickly searching through her thoughts for any families named Fang in the capital.
This surname was too common—there were many officials with the surname Fang in the court, and even the royal family had members with the surname Fang…
“I don’t know what my name is.” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Duke Jin’an nodded. For some reason, though, those words, which seemed somewhat laughable, made him feel a bit of sorrow, a touch of melancholy, and a sense of helplessness.
A lady who had been foolish since childhood didn’t even know her own name, or perhaps no one had ever given her one.
The ladder shook slightly, and Duke Jin’an steadied himself against the wall.
“It’s time to go.”
The guard holding the ladder said in a low voice, with a hint of urgency.
Yes, it was time to go.
It wasn’t yet the moment to be carefree and at ease, so Duke Jin’an leaned against the wall.
“I’m leaving,” he said. “I’m glad to hear you like the pastries.”
Cheng Jiao-niang once again lowered her head in a bow. As she straightened up, the figure of the young man was no longer on the wall, and the lanterns in the courtyard had all been lit, shining brightly and beautifully.
“Miss, you’re not wary of this person at all,” the maid walked over and bluntly expressed her confusion and concern.
“What did I say?” Cheng Jiao-niang glanced at her with a smile and asked.
“You’ve mentioned personal matters, like the marriage proposals—how can you just tell others about such private things?” the maid said.
“Private?” Cheng Jiao-niang smiled, “Do you think that if I don’t say it, he won’t be able to find out if he really wants to?”
The maid froze for a moment.
That young man had said he was familiar with the people of the capital. He had been inquiring about them. He knew they had bought the Chen family’s house, and just now, he even called her by her childhood name.
Zhou Liu-lang and Madam Chen were not unknown in the capital. If someone wanted to know why they came, no matter how private the matter, if they were determined to ask, they could always find out.
Then, recalling their conversation earlier: “Did you enjoy the pastries? Yes. Do you want to get married? Yes. Let me help you inquire. Alright, what’s your name? I don’t know…”
Actually, they didn’t really say much at all…
Just some meaningless small talk…
The maid couldn’t help but touch her hair, which had fallen loose.
But still, she felt like something was wrong, like her mind was a bit muddled.
“Oh no, I really am getting more and more confused.” She couldn’t help but mutter. “It won’t be long before Miss sends me back to the Old Master.”
