Seeing the woman beside him biting her cherry lips with a slight frown, the Zhenbian Marquis couldn't help but tighten his grip on her hand, feeling a pang of heartache. "Even if that young girl has some background, she's likely from a merchant family. Scholarly families have strict rules, how could a woman from the inner chambers possibly travel outside?"
"Is that so?" Zhang Yiyi was slightly taken aback, her voice still gentle. "I must have been infatuated. Seeing her engrossed in a book, I thought she was either from an official family or a scholarly lineage, but I forgot she didn't have any female escorts or elders accompanying her."
The moment she lowered her head, Zhang Yiyi's autumn-water-like eyes were filled with intense contempt and disdain.
A lowly merchant's daughter, yet she pretended to be a noble lady. Her demeanor was quite convincing, perhaps she could indeed trick a young master from a prominent family in the future.
Two quarters of an hour later, the bowls and chopsticks on the table were cleared, and maids brought freshly brewed tea, fruits, and pastries to the table before silently retreating behind the screen.
Standing up, Zhang Yiyi picked up the celadon teapot with her fair hand, her tea-pouring movements elegant. "Marquis, I wonder if Xu'er will resent me. I am not a good mother."
The Zhenbian Marquis grasped Zhang Yiyi's wrist and pulled her onto his lap. "To nurture the mother, to leave the child at home. Under the bright moon, one hears the cuckoo's call, and worries for those north and south. Xu'er is already eight years old, not an ignorant child. He will understand your good intentions."
Completely unaware that she was being mistaken for a deceiver, and one who would later engage in a marriage scam, Zhan Feiyu entered a state of concentration once she began reading.
However, when she inadvertently looked up and saw the silhouette on the screen opposite, Zhan Feiyu was stunned into silence. The ink from her brush dripped down, quickly spreading into a large ink blot on the paper.
Originally, Zhan Feiyu was practicing calligraphy while Yin Wuyan read. Chong Guang was bored, but with the wind and rain outside, he couldn't go out. Seeing the dumbfounded Zhan Feiyu, Chong Guang's interest was immediately piqued.
"Shall we compose a poem for this scene?" Chong Guang winked at Zhan Feiyu, having already noticed her little secret.
In broad daylight, no, in full view of everyone, these two were being so intimate. Chong Guang truly worried that their Seventh Master would fly into a rage and eliminate both of them, turning them into a pair of star-crossed lovers. Who told them to corrupt the children?
Although the Great Qing Dynasty promoted Neo-Confucianism, the customs were considered relatively open. However, sitting embraced like this, Zhan Feiyu speechlessly withdrew her gaze. "Do you dare to listen to what I dare to say?"
"There is nothing in this world I dare not listen to!" Chong Guang looked at Zhan Feiyu suspiciously. The plump girl was the least skilled at composing poetry; could she still do it effortlessly?
Even if it was involuntary, besides the people of the Zhenbian Marquis's manor, there were Zhan Feiyu's group of six. Crucially, she was still a young girl with her hair in twin buns. The Zhenbian Marquis and Zhang Yiyi were so unrestrained simply because they were "merchants," and thus were not taken seriously at all.
"Uncle Chong Guang, do you dare to deliver it to the other side if I write it?" Zhan Feiyu tilted her chin towards the opposite side.
There was already a poem ready. Since the Zhenbian Marquis's manor did not treat her as a person, Zhan Feiyu had no intention of saving them any face.
Chong Guang first glanced at Yin Wuyan. Seeing that their Seventh Master was still reading and had not intervened, Chong Guang understood. "Just write it. If they have no shame or principles, will they be afraid of your pretentious poem?"
Zhan Feiyu crumpled the ink-stained paper and threw it into the fire. She picked up the brush again and began writing with swift strokes, but she used the hairpin flower script, common among women, instead of the official script used for imperial examinations. Since it was not a commonly used font, the handwriting appeared ordinary.
"A Bride of Eighteen and a Groom of Eighty"
An eighteen-year-old bride, an eighty-year-old groom,
White hair facing the red makeup.
A night of togetherness in a mandarin duck quilt,
A pear blossom pressing against a begonia.
Chong Guang leaned over and glanced at it, utterly amazed. "Does Scholar Gu know you can write such poems?"
If she encountered a strict and pedantic tutor, Chong Guang suspected Zhan Feiyu's plump little hands would be crippled by the ruler. She, a scholar, a nine-year-old girl, could effortlessly compose such poems.
Rolling her eyes, Zhan Feiyu put down her brush and blew on the ink. "It's obvious from a glance that it wasn't written by me; I'm just borrowing it."
Yin Wuyan's gaze remained fixed on the book, but he hadn't turned a page in a long time.
Initially, he had planned to ask He Nuan to pay attention and prevent the young girl from reading any inappropriate books, especially those romantic novels.
However, after calming down, Yin Wuyan hesitated. The more the young girl read and understood, the less likely she would be deceived by sweet talk in the future.
Given her identity as Scholar Gu's disciple, the doorstep of the scholar's mansion was about to be flattened by matchmakers. Even with himself and Scholar Gu vetting potential suitors, one never knew what a person would become after marriage, as appearances could be deceiving.
Yin Wuyan's sharp, icy gaze swept towards the screen opposite. When the Zhenbian Marquis sought to marry the princess back then, he had also promised to love her exclusively for life. But what about now? Aside from not remarrying or having any overt concubines, he had likely indulged in debauchery in private. It was just that being in Longyou Dao, far from the capital, meant the news didn't get back.
Furthermore, the princess's mother, Princess Ren An, had not supported the current Emperor, which was one of the reasons the Zhenbian Marquis felt emboldened.
"Seventh Master, shall I send it over?" Chong Guang asked in a low voice, feeling that their Seventh Master was acting strangely tonight.
Even though the princess had passed away many years ago, she was still a princess of the royal family and bore the surname Yin. The Zhenbian Marquis's actions were an insult to the Great Qing's royal family.
Yin Wuyan stood up, picked up a brush, and quickly transcribed the poem before handing it to Chong Guang. The young girl was too young to be involved in such matters.
Seeing Chong Guang approaching, Miss Lian's heart began to race, but she maintained her composure. "Is there something? My mistress wishes to rest."
"It is fate to meet in this dilapidated temple. I offer this poem as a meeting gift for your mistress." Chong Guang maintained his roguish attitude and handed the folded paper to her.
This? Miss Lian was taken aback, her face showing a hint of anger. Another man smitten by her mistress's beauty, and he dared to openly send a love poem, how shameless!
She snatched the paper from Chong Guang's hand, intending to throw it directly into the fire. But a soft, watery voice came from behind the screen, "Lian'er."
As Zhang Yiyi's head maid, even if she didn't say anything superfluous, Lian'er knew her mistress's intentions.
Glaring angrily at Chong Guang, Lian'er turned and walked towards the screen. "Mistress, this gentleman is flippant and lacks seriousness. I fear he is acting out of lust."
The Zhenbian Marquis showed no trace of anger on his face. He took the paper from Lian'er.
"Marquis," Zhang Yiyi said coquettishly, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, which added a different kind of charm. "I was just about to have Lian'er refuse him. Why are you also causing trouble?"
Zhang Yiyi's face was not stunningly beautiful, but her elegant and serene demeanor was enough to captivate any man. Moreover, she was well-read and talented. Even though she was over thirty, she looked like she was in her early twenties.
The Zhenbian Marquis patted Zhang Yiyi's fair hand to comfort her. He unfolded the letter, but as his eyes scanned it, his expression suddenly turned cold and furious. The palpable murderous aura made Lian'er, standing beside him, turn pale and unable to bear it, collapsing to her knees.
Zhang Yiyi was startled. She took the paper and looked at it. Instantly, she was so angry that her face turned ashen. As if unable to bear it, her body swayed twice. "How dare he?"
The moment the words fell, crystal tears rolled down from the corners of her eyes, sliding down her jade-like cheeks, and finally landing on her clothes. As if unwilling to show her vulnerability, Zhang Yiyi quickly raised her head, her long black eyelashes fluttering, as if trying to force back the tears.
"Don't be upset," the Zhenbian Marquis said. Although his feelings for the woman before him were three parts true and seven parts false, seeing her feigned strength, he couldn't help but feel pity. His rough fingers wiped away the tears from her eyes. "He's just a shameless scoundrel."
"Marquis, outsiders already look down on me like this, and Xu'er..." Biting her red lips, Zhang Yiyi threw herself into the Zhenbian Marquis's arms, clutching his collar with both hands, suppressing her sobs. Her slender body trembled along with her.
His large hand gently patted the beauty's back. The anger that had just subsided surged back. The Zhenbian Marquis waited until the person in his arms calmed down before gently pressing her back into the chair. "You rest for a while."
His peripheral vision fell on Lian'er, who was kneeling on the ground. His voice suddenly turned cold and commanding, "Take good care of your mistress!"
Chong Guang was looking up at the leaking roof, a mocking cold smile on his lips. He had been so devoted when he sought to marry the princess. Tsk, men's mouths are deceitful ghosts. The ancients did not deceive me.
The Zhenbian Marquis walked around the screen and came out. He immediately saw Chong Guang leaning against a pillar, looking disreputable. "Guards, seize this scoundrel!"
After confirming that Zhan Feiyu's group were merely "merchants," the Zhenbian Marquis, despite knowing that Chong Guang and his guards were skilled in martial arts, still did not take them seriously. This time, when they came to Weizhou, there were several guards accompanying them openly, and ten personal guards secretly. Although the Zhenbian Marquis was over sixty, his sword was still sharp. With superior numbers, he did not take Chong Guang seriously.
After issuing the command, the Zhenbian Marquis's sharp gaze turned towards Zhan Feiyu. He gave orders to the two personal guards who had appeared: "Bring that young girl over!"
"Marquis," a voice of urgent protest sounded. Zhang Yiyi quickly walked over, her eyes red. She grabbed the Zhenbian Marquis's arm and said with a wry smile, "Marquis, forget it."
"Rest assured, leave it to this Marquis." The Zhenbian Marquis had originally intended not to reveal his identity, as they were here for the Yang family and wanted to avoid any complications.
However, he was not hiding his identity to let these insignificant people be arrogant, and they even dared to meddle with him.
"Marquis, with my status, I should be scorned by others. Why must you stand up for me?" Zhang Yiyi's face was filled with bitterness, her eyes showing a hint of gloom and sorrow. However, her hand, which was holding the Zhenbian Marquis's, tightened slightly, indicating that she was merely trying her best to suppress her emotions.
Chong Guang felt like he was going to vomit the flatbread he had eaten that night. This woman's tricks were so smoothly executed. Not only was the Zhenbian Marquis's eyes burning with rage, but the guards beside him also showed indignant expressions. And the one being targeted was naturally Chong Guang, the culprit.
On the other side, Zhan Feiyu watched the two Marquis's personal guards approaching. At first glance, they looked no different from ordinary guards, but upon closer inspection, one could see that their eyes were extremely sharp and cold, like venomous snakes. In their eyes, everyone was just a dead thing about to be killed.
Just as Zhan Feiyu was about to get up, Yin Wuyan placed a hand on her shoulder.
With icy phoenix eyes that looked at the two approaching guards as if they were dead, Yin Wuyan casually picked up a twig as thick as a finger from the pile of wood.
Zhan Feiyu looked up and saw Yin Wuyan flick his wrist. The withered branch seemed to come alive and shot towards the two personal guards like lightning.
Their expressions suddenly changed. The two personal guards knew they were facing a master, but they hadn't expected their skills to be so terrifying. The one on the left didn't even have time to react before he felt a sharp pain in his neck, and a faint scent of blood wafted out.
So fast! Zhan Feiyu watched Yin Wuyan, who wielded the withered branch like a sword, with sparkling eyes. A drop of blood dripped from the branch. Fortunately, it was just a minor punishment; otherwise, the opponent's neck would likely have a hole in it.
"Scram!" A clear, cold voice rang out. Yin Wuyan threw the branch in his hand into the fire, not even glancing at the two of them.
Clutching their necks, the two personal guards exchanged glances, their faces extremely grim. However, they also knew that if they stayed any longer, their lives might be in danger. They immediately retreated.
On the other side, the Zhenbian Marquis's face was extremely grim. He had seen Yin Wuyan make his move the moment he did. Even with just one move, the speed of his attack was so fast that, let alone the personal guards, even the Zhenbian Marquis himself would have been easily killed.
He had thought it was a small merchant he could crush at will, but he hadn't expected such a terrifying master! However, despite his immense rage, he could only suppress it for now.
Zhang Yiyi didn't know what had happened, but she could clearly sense that the Zhenbian Marquis's mood was off. She softly pleaded again, "Marquis, after a day of travel, you should rest."
Before the Zhenbian Marquis could speak, Zhang Yiyi stepped forward, glanced at Chong Guang, her expression solemn, and her voice lost its usual soft and gentle tone. "Young master, if you have nothing else, please leave. I wish to wash up and rest."
This dilapidated temple was simple. Although there was a screen to separate them, the actions behind the screen were reflected on it under the glow of the fire. As a woman, she had cast aside her pride to say she wanted to wash up. If Chong Guang had any manners or decorum, he would not continue to stay.
Chong Guang glanced at the two returning personal guards. As martial artists, they were sensitive to the smell of blood. Their Seventh Master had drawn blood with his first move, but it was just a minor punishment. He likely didn't want to kill anyone in front of the plump girl.
"Alright. I hope you two remember what it means to be modest and ashamed. After all, my young lady is still young. If she sees anything she shouldn't while outside, and my master pursues the matter upon our return, no one will be able to bear the responsibility." Chong Guang lazily dropped his words and turned to walk back. If Scholar Gu were to make a fuss, the Zhenbian Marquis wouldn't be able to handle it.
Chong Guang glanced at the two returning personal guards. As martial artists, they were sensitive to the smell of blood. Their Seventh Master had drawn blood with his first move, but it was just a minor punishment. He likely didn't want to kill anyone in front of the plump girl.
"Alright. I hope you two remember what it means to be modest and ashamed. After all, my young lady is still young. If she sees anything she shouldn't while outside, and my master pursues the matter upon our return, no one will be able to bear the responsibility." Chong Guang lazily dropped his words and turned to walk back. If Scholar Gu were to make a fuss, the Zhenbian Marquis wouldn't be able to handle it.