Chapter 144: Exclusive Favor
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In the eighteen years of his life, apart from his junior sister, Liu Buwang never had any dealings with women. Even with his junior sister, she was gentle and well-mannered. He had never encountered such a vivacious and eccentric girl. His senior brothers often mentioned that he had a pure and honest nature, and although he carried himself with great pride, he was helpless when it came to dealing with Mu Hongjin.
Stuck with Mu Hongjin, he decided to wait until his business at the foot of the mountain was done and then take her back to Qiyun Mountain. How to deal with her would be decided by Master Yunji Daoist Leader.
Suddenly, a delicate and fragrant young lady appeared by his side, making Liu Buwang very uncomfortable. However, this discomfort was quickly replaced by anger. Mu Hongjin was not like what she mentioned of “I don’t eat much, and I won’t cost you much money. Having me with you won’t be troublesome.”
She didn’t eat much, as she claimed, but she spent quite a bit of money. She was very picky, always choosing the best restaurants to dine at, wearing elegant clothes, and never compromising on accommodations. Fortunately, she had plenty of money and could afford it. Not only that, she generously offered to share, saying, “Young hero, the roast duck at Wu Fang Pavillion is really delicious. You should try some!”
Liu Buwang frowned and looked at her, saying, “You said you were kidnapped, so how do you have so much money on you? When the kidnappers took you, they wouldn’t have left you without searching you, right?”
Mu Hongjin hesitated for a moment and then said apologetically, “You’ve found out, haven’t you? Well, the truth is, I wasn’t kidnapped here. I… ” She leaned closer to Liu Buwang and whispered in his ear, “I ran away from an arranged marriage.”
Liu Buwang looked at her in surprise.
“It’s true! I’m not lying to you. My father was going to marry me off to an old man much older than him. Look at me, so young and beautiful. How can I willingly go into such a situation? I heard that this man is a pervert who tortured all three of his previous wives to death. I had no choice,” she pretended to cry, covering her face with her sleeve. “I just didn’t want to die so miserably.”
Liu Buwang was skeptical. “Nonsense. If you have so much money with you, it means you come from a well-off family. Why would your father marry you to such a person?”
“That man’s family is even wealthier than ours!” Mu Hongjin said with a touch of bitterness. “You don’t know, a higher rank in the government can crush a person. He set his sights on me and wanted me to be his wife, and my father couldn’t refuse. But I didn’t want to, so I escaped in the middle of the night. If they catch me, I’m as good as dead. So, young hero, please don’t leave me alone.”
Liu Buwang said with irritation, “I’m not your husband.” He felt like he was being treated unfairly, considering they were just strangers who had met by chance. If her family found her and wanted to take her back, he didn’t really have a reason to stop them.
“That won’t work,” Mu Hongjin grabbed his hand. “You saved me, so you’re responsible for me. If you abandon me halfway, I’m as good as dead sooner or later. It’s better to die now.” She took the long sword from his waist and placed it on the table, looking at Liu Buwang with determination. “It’s better to die by your hand than be tortured by that scoundrel. Young hero, kill me!”
People around them were watching and pointing at them, which made Liu Buwang feel embarrassed. He angrily said, “What are you talking about?”
“If you don’t promise to protect me, I’ll keep doing this.”
The young man was at a loss, thinking, how could there be such an unreasonable woman in the world? She had said everything, leaving him with no room for refutation.
After a moment, he gave in and said through gritted teeth, “I promise.”
Fine, he thought, this mountain experience would only last for a month or so. After that, he would take her back to Qiyun Mountain, and Daoist Leader Yunji would have a solution. Then, no matter how arrogant she was, he wouldn’t have to see her again.
Upon hearing his promise, Mu Hongjin immediately smiled. Then, she leaned closer to him again and said, “Actually, there’s another option. If I get married now, that old man won’t be able to harm me anymore. Young hero, you’re handsome and skilled in martial arts, far better than that man. How about you marry me, and we both have a happy ending?”
The girl smiled gently, her eyes clear as a mountain spring, reflecting his figure. The young man in white was startled and jumped as if he had been bitten by a snake, scolding, “Who wants to be all happy with you!”
“Oh,” Mu Hongjin sighed and shrugged, “That’s too bad.”
That’s too bad.
Suddenly, there was a “clang” at his side. He snapped back to reality, realizing that he had accidentally touched the strings of the zither on the table, shattering his memories into pieces.
He stood there in a daze for a moment, and the clear and cunning voice of the girl from the past seemed to float into his mind, calling him “young hero” over and over again, making him impatient and confused.
After a moment, Liu Buwang lowered his head and smiled faintly.
All is past, and it cannot be pursued. It only adds to the sadness.
…
Due to the encounter with Mu Hongjin in the Royal Mansion during the day, He Yan also had things on her mind. That night, she didn’t sleep well, tossing and turning for most of the night, but fortunately, she didn’t wake Xiao Jue.
Because she had slept late at night, she woke up later the next day. When she woke up, she didn’t see Xiao Jue. Hong Qiao smiled and said, “The young master went out early in the morning and told the servants not to wake the madam.”
“Oh,” He Yan replied. “Did he say where he was going?”
Hong Qiao shook her head.
He Yan got up, freshened up, had her meal, and went to the courtyard. She saw Liu Buwang brewing tea, and Lin Shuanghe was sitting on the side, admiring the tea-making process.
“Master,” He Yan went over and called out.
“Ah He,” Liu Buwang smiled and said, “Do you want some tea?”
“No, thank you.” He Yan waved her hand. While Liu Buwang seemed to be skilled in making tea, his tea was always very bitter, almost like medicine. She didn’t mind a little bitterness, but she wasn’t a glutton for punishment. She said, “I’m going out for a walk. You two continue.”
He Yan walked away with a wry smile.
In Jiyang, life could be quite boring unless there was something to do. If it were in the past, on a beautiful morning like this, she would have been practicing martial arts to keep herself in shape. However, she was currently dressed in women’s clothing, which was not suitable for such activities. Moreover, she didn’t want to draw attention to herself. After some thought, she decided to give up.
Just as she was lamenting her situation, Cui Jiao hurriedly ran over and said, “Madam, we have a visitor!”
“If there’s a visitor, let them come,” He Yan said, puzzled. “What does it have to do with me?”
She wasn’t the mistress of the Cui family. She was just a guest. Even if there was a visitor, she didn’t need to greet them personally.
“No,” Cui Jiao carefully examined her expression. “The guest is someone you know. It’s Miss Ling Xiu from the Ling family, who you met at the Dianbo Hall earlier. She came to the mansion today, saying that she wanted to visit you.”
He Yan was perplexed. Ling Xiu? She hardly knew Ling Xiu. They had exchanged only a few words. They weren’t close enough for casual visits.
“Madam, do you want to go and see her?”
He Yan sighed. If the person had come all the way to her house, she couldn’t just ignore them, right? She decided to go and see what Ling Xiu wanted.
In the small garden, a group of young girls sat together, all dressed up and full of lively spirits. They chatted and laughed, and their voices were like warblers singing in a valley, making the garden even more beautiful. He Yan couldn’t help but appreciate the scene.
Meanwhile, Wei Yiniang stood in the corridor, twisting her handkerchief in frustration. She said, “These people are really going too far, bullying our family’s Yuyan like this!”
The Er Yiniang who was applying rouge to her lips, had a bright red color that made her fingers look particularly delicate and white. She said, “There’s nothing we can do. It’s because Young Master Qiao is so handsome. How many years has it been since someone like him appeared in Jiyang? He’s the right age, too. If I were ten years younger, I’d give it a try as well.”
“You try my butt?!” Wei Yiniang was so upset that she used strong language. “Be careful I’ll tell the old master!”
“Well, dear sister, I’m just talking. Why take it so seriously?” Er Yiniang laughed and examined her carefully colored lips in the sunlight. “With so many wolves chasing after one piece of meat, I think it’s too much trouble. I’m not interested.”
“Miss Yuyan is indeed pitiable,” San Yiniang enjoyed dwelling on sad matters, using her handkerchief to cover her chest while sighing. She seemed to empathize and said, “She just arrived in Jiyang, and so many people have set their sights on her. If she stays in Jiyang, will she have good days ahead? Although she’s young and beautiful, if there’s always ladies flaunting themselves in front of Young Master Qiao, how long can he resist? Men’s affections are fickle and easily swayed by sweet words and flattery.”
“Who are you criticizing?” Er Yiniang gave her a sidelong glance. “Would you dare say this in front of the Old Master?”
Pretending not to have heard Er Yiniang’s comment, San Yiniang continued to wipe the tears from her eyes.
Si Yiniang, the youngest of the group, was originally a street performer. She always laughed wholeheartedly and said, “If he genuinely likes his wife, this is nothing to worry about. I actually like Miss Yuyan; she doesn’t act like a spoiled young lady. Last time, she even helped my maidservant carry a water bucket. I’ve never seen a Master work like that before. It’s great!”
“But that’s not good,” San Yiniang exclaimed with astonishment. “Men prefer gentle and delicate women. Carrying water buckets… that only makes others look down on her. It’s like she thinks she’s destined to be treated carelessly.”
Si Yiniang was dissatisfied and spat out the melon seed shells in her mouth, saying, “What’s wrong with you? I used to perform on the street, juggling five water jars at once, and the old master liked me a lot. He didn’t like soft-spoken and timid girls like you. You keep getting headaches and feeling feverish every now and then, the old master won’t bother to deal with you!”
“Enough, stop arguing,” Wei Yiniang scolded them, her head throbbing from their bickering. She said, “We’re talking about Miss Yuyan!”
“In any case, she’s quite pitiful,” San Yiniang mumbled. “You see, Miss Ling Xiu is not easy to handle. Other girls won’t be any better. Young Master Qiao is handsome but very aloof, and from what I’ve seen these past few days, he doesn’t seem to care much about Miss Yuyan. It’s only a matter of time before trouble arises.”
“Third Sister, do you know why you’re the least favored among the four of us?” Er Yiniang asked. “It’s because you have no eyesight.”
San Yiniang glared at her, tears welling up in her eyes, about to cry again.
“That Young Master Qiao is indeed cold by nature, and it seems like he’s not very interested in Young Madam Qiao,” Er Yiniang said. “I don’t know the reason for this, perhaps there were no feelings before they got married? But based on his recent behavior, it’s clear that he has some affection for Young Madam Qiao. Ordinary affection is nothing special, but when someone like him falls in love, it’s a big deal.”
“There’s a type of person who, when not interested, is unaffected, but when they fall in love, they focus on only one person,” Er Yiniang explained with a sly smile. “No matter how many other beautiful women there are, in his eyes, they are all in vain.”
“Qiao Huanqing is that kind of person.”
After this statement, the room fell silent for a moment. It seemed that such men were the subject of many women’s desires, and for a while, no one spoke.
After a while, Wei Yiniang asked, “So, what is your suggestion? Do we need to try to resolve the situation?”
“What’s there to resolve?” Er Yiniang shrugged with indifference. “That Qiao Huanqing is fiercely protective. Let’s make a bet. I’m afraid that before Miss Wen Yuyan is troubled, her husband will step in to defend her.”
…
When He Yan arrived in the small garden, she was greeted by a strong fragrance that almost made her dizzy.
She couldn’t understand why the women of Jiyang loved wearing sachets, especially the ones with such a strong and overwhelming scent. While it might be fine for one person, when many gathered together, it felt like being in a cloud of cosmetics and perfumes.
For a moment, He Yan missed the subtle scent of moon orchids from Xiao Jue, which was barely perceptible and perfectly balanced.
“Madam Qiao is here.” Ling Xiu stood up and greeted He Yan with a smile.
Among these young ladies, He Yan only knew Ling Xiu and Yan Miner. The others were strangers to her. After a moment’s thought, she said, “I heard Miss Ling came to find me on purpose?”
“No need to be so formal,” Ling Xiu smiled. “The weather is nice today, and we’re just sitting together for a casual chat. Since Madam Qiao is here, why don’t you join us? I hope we’re not bothering you.”
“Not at all.” He Yan smiled and chuckled inwardly. Even though she was not very sensitive to female affairs, she could tell that this group was not here to see her. They were obviously here to see Xiao Jue.
Sure enough, Ling Xiu’s next question was, “Why haven’t we seen Young Master Qiao?”
“My husband left early this morning,” He Yan replied with a friendly smile. “He might not be back until late at night.”
Why should they be allowed to see him? She may not be very sensitive to these matters, but she could tell that they were not here to visit her casually. Young Master Qiao was not someone who could be shown off at will.
Lin Xiu and the other girls showed disappointment on their faces at her response.
He Yan chuckled and said, “Miss Ling, you didn’t come specifically to find me, did you? It’s not just a joke, is it?”
“Why would I?” Ling Xiu returned to her senses and warmly held He Yan’s hand, sitting at the stone table in the courtyard. “Please have a seat. My father has a very good relationship with Lord Cui. When he used to come to the Cui residence, I often came here as well. However, I’ve never had any sisters to talk to. With Madam Qiao here, it’s a lot better. In the future, Ah Xiu will come to the Cui residence again and won’t have trouble finding someone to talk to.”
He Yan thought to herself that this wasn’t about finding sisters; they were clearly here to see handsome men. Xiao Jue should come over and see what it meant to deceive others so seriously.
He Yan sat down at the stone table. She didn’t know these people very well and didn’t know what to say. She casually picked some fruit to eat and planned to sit there as a decoration while listening to their conversations.
Unfortunately, since the other side had come for Xiao Jue, when he wasn’t present, this “Madam” was still the target of attention. As they talked, the conversation naturally turned to He Yan.
“I’ve heard that Madam Qiao is a famous talented woman in Huzhou. I really wanted to hear Madam Qiao’s music before, but Young Master Qiao stopped me. I regret it,” Ling Xiu said with a smile.
He Yan laughed and said, “There’s no need to regret. My husband played a tune as well.”
“But Young Master Qiao said his musical talent is not even a tenth as good as Madam’s,” Ling Xiu stared into He Yan’s eyes. “It’s truly hard to imagine.”
Yes, it was truly hard to imagine, He Yan thought. Xiao Jue’s exaggerations made her blush even when hearing them from someone else.
“My husband exaggerated a bit,” He Yan poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip. “My musical talent is about the same as his. When you heard his performance, it’s almost like hearing mine as well.”
“But how can that be?” Ling Xiu didn’t intend to let her off the hook. “In Jiyang, we admire talented people the most. If Madam has such exceptional talent, you shouldn’t hide it. Since the weather is nice today, how about we have a poetry gathering here? It would be interesting, and it would also allow us to see Madam’s talent.”
It’s here again. He Yan felt extremely frustrated. Why is Ling Xiu always making me play the zither or compose poetry? Does it mean that as long as I say I can’t compose poetry, I have to play chess or do calligraphy? He Yan pondered this. Even if this young lady is infatuated with Xiao Jue based on his appearance and admires him, why is she coming to trouble me? Does she think that if she troubles me, Xiao Jue will like her?
Once would have been fine, but every time? He Yan didn’t want to patiently play along with these games anymore. She just smiled and said, “Today, I don’t want to compose poetry, play chess, do calligraphy, and, of course, I absolutely won’t play the zither.”
Surprisingly, there was no room for negotiation at all; she directly refused Ling Xiu.
Ling Xiu, no matter how refined she was, didn’t expect He Yan to speak so bluntly. After a moment, Yan Miner, who had been silent all this time, made a mocking sound and said, “They say that women from the Central Plains are gentle and polite, but I see Madam Qiao’s manner of speaking is more like our Jiyang girls, very straightforward.”
“Just adapting to local customs,” He Yan said with an unflinching smile.
“Madam Qiao, do you look down on us?” Ling Xiu lowered her head and asked anxiously.
“It’s not that I look down on you,” He Yan spoke with confusion, “it’s just that I don’t feel like it today. Isn’t Miss Ling a talented woman? How can she not understand a simple sentence? Is what I’m saying hard to understand?”
If it were men who were causing trouble today, He Yan would have already let them fight it out. However, it’s not appropriate for women to engage in such undignified behavior. After careful consideration, it might be better to establish a reputation as a difficult and formidable woman to make these girls understand that she’s not someone to be trifled with. Once they’re frightened, they won’t come knocking on her door again, asking her to teach them “qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting.”
Ling Xiu stared at her in a daze and didn’t say anything. The other girls on the side, seeing this, all showed their displeasure towards He Yan. It’s likely that Ling Xiu had a great deal of prestige among them, and when she was wronged, they all wanted to come forward to defend her.
A girl with a slightly louder voice said, “Madam Qiao is always like this, unwilling to do this, unwilling to do that. Could it be that she doesn’t know how to do it? Her reputation as a talented woman doesn’t match her actual abilities; and she always avoids these things.”
“How is that possible?” Another woman, as if deliberately echoing her, said in surprise, “Young Master Qiao is not an ordinary person; he plays the zither so well, showing that he is a refined individual. He has always been wealthy, and now he has returned to his roots, it will make him a person of status in Jiyang sooner or later. I heard that Madam Qiao comes from an ordinary family. If she doesn’t have any special talents, what does Young Master Qiao see in her?”
Yan Miner smiled and said, “Her beauty, of course. Madam Qiao has fair skin, a moon-like face and a flower-like countenance.”
She emphasized the words “fair skin” strongly.
He Yan: “…” It seems like they’re trying to bring up her dark past. How can they blame that on her? What kind of logic is this?
“Moon-like face and flower-like countenance, there are plenty of beautiful girls in Jiyang. Isn’t Ah Xiu beautiful? She comes from a good family, has a gentle disposition, and is exceptionally talented. So, in that sense, Ah Xiu is the one who is a match for Young Master Qiao.”
“Don’t talk nonsense,” Ling Xiu said with red eyes.
Jiyang’s girls are indeed bold and direct; He Yan has learned that well this time. But what are they trying to achieve? After all, Ling Xiu is a virtuous young lady, and Xiao Jue is already a married man. Do they want her to be a concubine for Xiao Jue? Or do they want her to step aside for Ling Xiu? Are they out of their minds?
“We haven’t said anything wrong. Madam Qiao being like this; sooner or later, her husband won’t like her,” the girl with the loudest voice said with a smile. “Madam Qiao, don’t blame us for speaking unpleasantly; we’re just saying this as if you were one of us. Don’t take offense.”
Well, they’re clearly trying to sow discord.
He Yan, having spent a long time with Xiao Jue, has learned some of his skills in insulting people without using dirty words and being fatalistic. She immediately shook her head without any concern and spoke sweetly, “Not offended, not offended. I know you’re all well-intentioned. However, you’re overthinking things.”
“My husband treats me very well. Not to mention my skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Even if I couldn’t do any of them, he wouldn’t complain at all. I have a bad temper and often get angry and ignore people, but my husband, he always patiently comforts me. He cooks noodles for me, takes me to buy noodles, and he remembers every word I casually say, even the most trivial things like my monthly cycle, he remembers better than I do.” He Yan glanced at Ling Xiu and saw that her expression had turned sour. She felt a sense of satisfaction and continued to speak with even more enthusiasm, “What’s so difficult about learning music, chess, calligraphy, and painting? When I’m not happy, my husband uses his skills to please me. What you all have seen is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s so much more that you haven’t seen.”
Outside the courtyard, Xiao Jue hadn’t reached the garden yet, and as he turned the corner, he heard He Yan’s pretentious sigh and her nauseating tone.
“Ah, such an outstanding and unique man, who favors me alone and can’t stand anyone else in his eyes, what can I do?”
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He Yan is digging a pit 😁
Thanks for the translation!