Shuse Jinjia

Xie Zhaotang looked up and saw a handsome man staring intently at her.

"Fourth...Fourth Miss, do you still remember me?"

Xu Muyuan saw that the woman was about to leave and, anxious to confirm, went around to her from the other side.

Just then, Xie Zhaotang walked over. Seeing that bright and beautiful face, wasn't she the girl he had been longing for?

"The Fourth Miss was stung by a bee at my flower banquet the other day. I heard she was unconscious for several days. Is she fully recovered?"

Xu Muyuan stared intently at Xie Zhaotang's face. That day, Xie Zhaotang had an accident at the Xu family's flower banquet. His mother felt bad and sent someone to apologize to the Xie family. He had only mentioned that he wanted to go and visit her when his mother scolded him.

He still remembered his mother saying, "Xu Muyuan, the fourth daughter of the Xie family has a concubine's mother. She's just an illegitimate daughter. Even if she becomes your concubine, it's still a step up for her!"

"Even if you've fallen for her, you should wait until you've married your principal wife. You've just entered the Hanlin Academy, your career is bright, don't let beauty cloud your judgment and ruin your future!"

Madam Xu forbade Xu Muyuan from going to the Xie family, but Xu Muyuan fell in love with Xie Zhaotang at first sight, and her image appeared in his mind while reading, closing his eyes, and even in his dreams.

Now that his beloved was right in front of him, Xu Muyuan disregarded his mother's instructions and took a step forward...

Before he could even speak, Xie Zhaotang saw his face clearly and hurriedly pulled Xing'er aside to avoid him.

"Thank you for your concern, Young Master Xu. I'm alright now... My fifth sister is still waiting for me up ahead... Farewell..."

This guy is such a troublemaker. Last time, he drove Xie Linzhu crazy just because he said he wanted to take her as a concubine.

Xie Zhaotang just wanted to marry herself off quietly before the Xie family discovered her rebellious intentions, and she had no intention of provoking Madam Xie and Xu Muyuan, whom Xie Linzhu had her eye on.

"Fourth Sister... I'll just say one thing..."

Seeing that she was trying to avoid him, Xu Muyuan became anxious and grabbed her sleeve.

He said in a low, quick voice, "I like you. I don't care about your background. What I told you last time was true. I will marry a proper wife as soon as possible and talk to your father about taking you as a concubine before you come of age... Don't be afraid, I will definitely not let your father give you to Lord Gong..."

Xie Zhaotang looked up at Xu Muyuan in disbelief.

Has this guy not given up on this idea yet?

He'd take her as a concubine? Did she even agree? Isn't love mutual? She doesn't even like him, so how can he say it so matter-of-factly?

He even spoke in a condescending, redemptive tone, which made Xie Zhaotang laugh in exasperation.

If it weren't for her current status preventing her from offending the Xu family, Xie Zhaotang would have slapped them long ago.

"Young Master Xu... I will not become your concubine! If you really want to help me, the further away you stay from me in the future, the better..."

Xie Zhaotang coldly shook off his hand and left with Xing'er.

"Fourth Miss? Is this the Xie family's illegitimate daughter who seduced you?"

Pei Yu pulled Pei Song around as well, and upon hearing Xu Muyuan's address to Xie Zhaotang, he pursed his lips.

"This illegitimate daughter will stop at nothing to get into your family... She's just saying those things to entice you since we're here!"

"They even said the farther away from her the better, cousin, don't fall for it, it's all just their little trick... playing hard to get!"

"Who's playing hard to get?"

Duan Chengyu and Huo Beiyu happened to walk over. After overhearing a few words, Duan Chengyu casually asked a question.

Huo Beiyu had already seen the figure in purple, and he also saw Xu Muyuan and Xie Zhaotang pulling and tugging at each other.

Due to the angle, he didn't see Xu Muyuan pulling Xie Zhaotang's sleeve; he only saw the two talking very close to each other.

Thinking back to how this concubine's daughter had gotten close to him, he assumed that Xie Zhaotang was using the same old tricks to curry favor with Xu Muyuan.

Pei Yu and Huo Beiyu, along with Duan Chengyu, were all old friends from prominent families and had grown up together since childhood. When Duan Chengyu asked, they didn't hide anything and told him everything Xie Zhaotang had said behind the Nandina domestica.

He laughed mockingly, "This fourth daughter of the Xie family, born out of wedlock, is utterly ignorant and incompetent, completely clueless about music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Isn't it laughable that she says things like crabapple can be used as medicine? I wonder who gave her this idea to stand out in this way. You mustn't fall for it!"

"Especially you..."

Pei Yu patted Pei Song on the shoulder and cautioned, "You're naive. You don't know how cunning these concubine's daughters are. They have endless ways of seducing men. If you're not careful, you'll be forced to marry them!"

Xu Muyuan's lips moved, as if he wanted to say that she wasn't that kind of person...

But as the words were about to come out, he remembered the scheming methods his mother had used to dissuade him from seeing Xie Zhaotang.

He had only met the Fourth Sister once, and his knowledge of her was limited to her appearance; he knew nothing about her character.

What guarantees he can assure her that she isn't that kind of person?

"What are you bunch of brats doing here? Have you all forgotten why you came here today? Go find your own destiny!"

The flower grower brought over a small stool and, seeing the group blocking the road, began to curse them in annoyance.

Upon seeing the flower farmer, Huo Beiyu quickly bowed and greeted him, saying, "Greetings, sir."

Duan Chengyu rolled his eyes at the flower grower's attire and chuckled, "Grandpa, when Grandma woke up this morning and didn't see you, she knew you were here tending to the flowers and plants again, and she was right! Can't you stay idle? Aren't the flowers and plants in the mansion enough for you to manage?"

The flower grower rolled his eyes at him and cursed, "What I do is none of your business, brat! Get out of here, don't get in my way..."

Huo Beiyu watched the grandfather and grandson bickering with a smile. Prince Chen was about the same age as his grandfather. Every time Huo Beiyu saw him, he would think of his grandfather and feel a sense of warmth in his heart.

Prince Chen turned his gaze to Huo Beiyu, looked him up and down, and nodded.

"Beiyu, you're dressed quite properly today... You're not fighting any enemies, who are you trying to scare by dressing all dark all the time!"

Duan Chengyu quickly took credit: "Old man, I forced him to change into this outfit, otherwise he would have come in looking all dark and gloomy!"

Huo Beiyu glared at him, then looked down at his deep purple robe, a gift from Duan Chengyu's mother.

The fabric was very soft, but he always felt it wasn't his style and felt a bit awkward wearing it!

"Beiyu, your grandfather and I went through thick and thin together, so I deserve for you to call me 'Grandpa.' Let me say a few words to you... Your grandmother is worried about your marriage. Your family is counting on you to settle down and take care of them, so don't be too picky. Just marry someone decent enough to help your grandmother!"

Prince Chen spoke earnestly.

"Grandpa, I will!" Huo Beiyu quickly pulled Duan Chengyu away.

If he tried to strike up a conversation again, the old man would launch into a long lecture, just like Duan Chengyu did, and he simply couldn't take it anymore.

……

"Fourth Miss, don't be angry. Young Master Xu is just like Third Miss, used to being high and mighty. He doesn't know how good you are at all. You don't need to get upset by his words!"

Seeing that Xie Zhaotang was still silent with a stern face after walking quite a distance, Xing'er cautiously tried to persuade him.

Xie Zhaotang shook his head and walked to the lakeside.

Xie Zhaotang was no longer angry at what Xu Muyuan said. Perhaps these young masters from noble families, like Xie Jianghuai, all felt that daughters of concubines were of lowly status and should be content with being a concubine rather than a wife.

Xu Muyuan is a traditional man. Growing up in such an environment, he was influenced by what he saw and heard. It's normal for him to say that she should be his concubine with a straight face.

He was the third-ranked scholar, knowledgeable and insightful, and everyone thought so. But what about the others?

Even if someone truly loves her, how many would dare to defy societal norms and risk their family's opposition to marry her as their principal wife?

Is the path I want to take actually feasible?