When Zhou Liu-lang returned home, Master Zhou was having Cheng Si-lang and Wang Shi’qi-lang locked up.
“Master Zhou, what are you trying to do?” Wang Shi’qi-lang shouted, watching the Zhou family’s fierce-looking retainers gather around them.
Like many military families, the Zhou household employed former soldiers as their retainers—far more intimidating than ordinary household servants.
“Why don’t you call me Uncle now?” Master Zhou stroked his beard and smiled. “You are both my nephews. Now that you’re in the capital, of course I’ll treat you well. What’s wrong with that?”
“Uncle, I came here to study,” Cheng Si-lang said, flustered. “I can’t stay in your house.”
“Study what?” Master Zhou snorted. “You can study at my house too. Just stay here quietly.”
“Master Zhou, if you dare to detain me, my family won’t let this go,” Wang Shi’qi-lang shouted.
“You dared to ruin my family’s daughter’s reputation—do you think I’ll let you off?” Master Zhou barked. “Don’t worry, there’s no need for your family to come find me. I’ll go find them myself!”
“I didn’t! Our families arranged it, the betrothal letter was already delivered!” Wang Shi’qi-lang shouted. “You’re the one smearing me!”
“Enough nonsense. Drag them away,” Master Zhou waved his hand, too lazy to argue.
A couple of young juniors from Jiang-zhou—so what if he tied them up or even beat them? What could they do?
Truly, it was a case of a scholar meeting a soldier—reason alone wouldn’t help!
Seeing the fierce-looking retainers charging straight at him, Wang Shi’qi-lang immediately crouched down and covered his head.
“The Zhou family really are madmen!” he shouted loudly at the same time. “Si-lang, you didn’t lie to me!”
As soon as he said that, the two retainers who had been menacingly rushing toward him suddenly changed direction and grabbed Cheng Si-lang instead—he looked mild enough not to resist too hard.
How dare he speak so rudely and insult them behind their backs!
“You scoundrel! When did I ever say that—” Cheng Si-lang cried out in protest, but before he could finish, a retainer covered his mouth. He was yanked around, his hat fell to the ground, and his hair was thrown into disarray.
Just as the scene was in chaos, Zhou Liu-lang strode in from outside. He glanced briefly at the two disheveled young men but didn’t intervene. Instead, he quickly walked up to Master Zhou and whispered a few words in his ear.
“She really wants to see him? Now?” Master Zhou asked in surprise.
Zhou Liu-lang nodded.
“She just said so,” he replied.
So soon? Master Zhou stroked his beard. He had thought that Cheng Jiao-niang would only step in personally once things had escalated into a full-blown conflict between him and the Cheng family. He had already prepared for that eventuality.
He didn’t expect that she would want to meet the fiancé chosen by the Cheng family this quickly. Well then, let her see him. He had already made his position clear; the rest was simply a matter of firmly following his niece’s wishes.
“My sister lives here?”
Lifting the carriage curtain, Cheng Si-lang looked outside and asked.
“Don’t listen to him! They’re definitely taking us somewhere to kill us and destroy the evidence,” Wang Shi’qi-lang shouted.
Zhou Liu-lang ignored him and went straight up to knock on the door.
“You’re here again, Sixth Young Master…” Jin Ge’er opened the door and began to speak, but before he could finish, someone let out a loud gasp.
“Jin Ge’er!”
Startled, he turned toward the voice and saw a small, thin servant boy beside the carriage glaring and pointing at him.
“Liu Jiu’er?” Jin Ge’er rubbed his eyes and called out tentatively.
“Oh wow, it really is Jin Ge’er!” the servant boy exclaimed joyfully, walking over in disbelief and giving him a once-over. “You’re not dead?”
Jin Ge’er spat.
“You’re the one who’s dead!” he said.
“Your mother and your sister cry at home every day…” the servant boy said.
“Cry for what? I’m doing just fine,” Jin Ge’er snorted and looked him over. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to the capital with Fourth Young Master!” the servant boy replied, pointing behind him.
Cheng Si-lang jumped down from the carriage, looking both surprised and overjoyed.
“So my sister really is here,” he said.
The door was already open. Zhou Liu-lang stepped inside, and a graceful young lady turned around.
“So it’s Fourth Young Master,” the maid said with a bright smile and a courteous bow.
In Cheng Si-lang’s memory, the image matched the girl who used to sit in the carriage reading calmly amidst the noise and bustle.
He let out a breath of relief—she really was here.
“How is my sister?” he stepped forward and asked.
“Miss is doing well,” the maid replied with another bow and a smile. “Please come in, Fourth Young Master.”
Cheng Si-lang lifted his foot to step inside, when suddenly a voice called out from the carriage behind him.
“Wait!”
Only then did Cheng Si-lang remember there was someone else with him. He quickly turned back.
“What are you doing now?” he whispered. “Hurry up and get out. Otherwise, just forget about seeing her.”
“How could I not see her?” Wang Shi’qi-lang lifted the curtain slightly and whispered back. “I came to the capital just to see her.”
So you do remember that the whole reason you came to the capital was to see her! And yet you wasted all that time hanging around Desheng Pavilion!
Cheng Si-lang shot him an irritated glare.
“Hurry up and get down!” he said.
But Wang Shi’qi-lang shrank back a little.
“Go borrow me something to wash up and fix my hair,” he said.
“What nonsense are you up to now?” Cheng Si-lang frowned and hissed in a low voice.
“Uncle made me look like a mess—how can I face a beauty like this?” Wang Shi’qi-lang also whispered angrily.
Cheng Si-lang clenched his teeth as he looked at him, but—since it was already settled that he was the one, then letting him tidy up a bit so his sister could at least feel some joy upon seeing him wasn’t a bad idea after all.
Zhou Liu-lang had been standing in the courtyard for a moment when he saw the maid return with a smile.
“What does he want now?” he asked with a frown.
“Fourth Young Master said he wanted to tidy up his appearance, for fear of offending Miss,” the maid replied.
“Ugly people really do make the most fuss!” Zhou Liu-lang snapped, stepping outside.
“It’s fine,” Cheng Jiao-niang said. “That’s not so strange.”
Zhou Liu-lang paused and turned back to glance at her.
The maid understood, and together with Ban Qin, they brought combs and washing supplies and sent them out. After a short wait, the two young men finally entered.
“Fourth Young Master, please,” the maid said.
Cheng Si-lang took a deep breath and stepped into the courtyard.
Beneath the covered corridor stood a graceful young lady, her hands gently folded in front of her.
It was the same beauty who had once cast a downward glance from the rock by the lotus pond.
The beauty bent slightly in a courteous greeting.
Cheng Si-lang snapped back to his senses and hurried to return the bow, but someone gave him a push from behind, making him stagger.
“I am Wang family’s seventeenth son, greetings to the young lady,” Wang Shi’qi-lang declared loudly. He gave a deep, exaggerated salute with practiced, fluid ease—so much so that the flower newly tucked at his temple quivered slightly.
As he spoke, he lifted his head and looked at the young lady before him.
“A true beauty indeed,” he said, eyes shining, face full of admiration. “A beauty still as a painting.”
There are all kinds of beauties in the world—plump or slender, each with her own charm. Different from the lively, radiant, water-like women, there is another kind of beauty that lies in stillness. She need not move, speak, or smile—just by standing there, she becomes a painting in herself.
Like a timeless beauty from a scroll painting, standing silently for eternity. Hence, such women are often jokingly called “still-as-a-painting beauties.”
Cheng Si-lang shot him a glare.
“Sister, this is Shi’qi-lang from our uncle’s household,” he said, introducing him with a touch of embarrassment.
Cheng Jiao-niang bowed once more.
“Please,” she said.
At those words, Wang Shi’qi-lang let out a surprised noise and frowned.
“Why does her voice sound so unpleasant?” he said.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Cheng Si-lang, Zhou Liu-lang, and the maids all turned to look at him.
“What a pity,” Wang Shi’qi-lang said with genuine regret. He stepped forward a few paces, looked at Cheng Jiao-niang, and shook his head repeatedly. “But never mind—‘still-as-a-painting’ beauties are meant to be admired in silence anyway. Just try to talk less in the future.”
The maid stared wide-eyed at the young man.
“Is he stupid or something?” she turned and whispered.
Beside her, Ban Qin’s expression was also rather complicated.
Zhou Liu-lang, on the other hand, couldn’t help but smile slightly as he looked at Cheng Jiao-niang.
This girl’s tongue was normally as sharp as a blade…
“Shut up!” Cheng Si-lang shouted, his face flushed red. He glanced nervously at Cheng Jiao-niang.
“Sister, he… he was just joking…”
Cheng Jiao-niang gave a slight smile and nodded.
“Alright,” she said.
Alright?
What does she mean by alright?
Everyone in the courtyard was momentarily stunned—except for Wang Shi’qi-lang.
“Good, good,” he said cheerfully. “As long as you listen to me, I promise you’ll live a good life.”
Cheng Jiao-niang smiled again.
“Alright,” she nodded, stepping down the steps and walking toward Wang Shi’qi-lang.
She looked at him carefully—up and down, left and right—her gaze slow and steady, sweeping over him from head to toe.
What’s there to see in such an ugly ghost!
Zhou Liu-lang frowned and looked over as well.
About sixteen or seventeen years old, shorter than him, with a thin frame—not as sturdy as him either.
Small eyes, a small nose, and none of his spirit.
His face was powdered white like a ghost! And he even wore makeup.
Though that wasn’t unusual—many wealthy youths in the capital dressed like that—but somehow, this person’s appearance was just disgusting.
What’s so good-looking about him? The more you look, the more sickening he becomes!
Being sized up like this by the young lady was nothing new to Wang Shi’qi-lang—and something he quite enjoyed.
He simply spread his arms and turned around.
“Well, how is it?” he asked proudly.
Zhou Liu-lang snorted silently and glanced at Cheng Jiao-niang.
“Not bad,” Cheng Jiao-niang nodded with a slight smile. “But I still want to ask you a few questions.”
See? Here it comes…
Zhou Liu-lang looked at Wang Shi’qi-lang with a teasing smile.
By the time she’s done scolding you, you won’t even have time to cry…
“Please,” Wang Shi’qi-lang said with a smile.
“How old are you?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked. “Where are you from? Who’s in your family? What does your family do for a living?”
Everyone present was stunned again. Even Cheng Si-lang, who had been a bit embarrassed before, looked at his sister in surprise.
Was she going to interrogate him about his family affairs?
Wang Shi’qi-lang laughed heartily.
“Why don’t we sit down and talk in detail?” he said, gesturing politely. “Although my father-in-law already knows all these things, since you want to know, I’ll tell you everything thoroughly.”
As he spoke, he raised an eyebrow at Cheng Jiao-niang and threw her a coquettish glance.
“For matters concerning our family, whatever you want to know, I’ll tell you.”
Cheng Jiao-niang lowered her head slightly and bowed. Then she indeed turned around.
“Please, sir,” she said.
Seeing the two of them indeed head toward the main hall, everyone in the courtyard stood there dazed.
What does this mean?
Is it really happening?
The maid was stunned.
“Has Miss accepted this match?” she couldn’t help but ask Ban Qin.
Ban Qin was also stunned, but quickly came back to herself.
“I’ll go prepare some tea,” she said, quickly walking away.
Prepare tea…
The maid responded with an “Oh.”
“I’ll come roast the tea,” she said, following after.
Cheng Si-lang had already gone inside, leaving Zhou Liu-lang alone in the courtyard.
He stared at the main hall where the three had taken their places—the hosts and the guest. That ugly boy was still darting his eyes around nervously. Why hadn’t the girl lost her temper yet?
Scold him! Mock him! Shoot him with the bow and arrows hanging on the wall!
“Please, sir, have some tea.”
Yes, tea! Make him drink tea! And then watch him get furious!
Zhou Liu-lang stood in the courtyard, clenching his fists, excitement written all over his face as he watched the hall.
