She refused to marry.

Su Wanwan arranged to meet the person at a teahouse.

She knew a little about this person.

Liu Wenzhao was a distant nephew of the Minister of Revenue in the capital.

This person was indeed handsome, tall and fair-skinned, and always looked down on people with a condescending air. He walked with his head held high and chest out, like a peacock spreading its tail feathers.

It is said that he studied at the Imperial Academy, where his grades were mediocre, yet he boasted that he was "a talented person who was not given the opportunity to shine."

He loved to pontificate in teahouses and taverns, often saying things like, "If I had been born into a prominent family, I would have been a prime minister and a marquis long ago."

Su Wanwan laughed out loud at this thought.

"What are you laughing at, Miss Su?" Liu Wenzhao crossed his legs, looked her up and down, and curled his lip, his tone somewhat frivolous.

"It's nothing," Su Wanwan said softly.

"Miss Su is a daughter of an official family, how did she end up having to find a husband to marry into the family? Could it be that the young men in the capital don't even look at Miss Su?" Liu Wenzhao sneered.

Su Wanwan picked up her teacup. "Young Master Liu, the way you say that makes it sound like you think highly of me."

Liu Wenzhao was taken aback. "Miss Su is joking. No matter how bad I am, I, Liu Wenzhao, will never marry into another family."

A wife should be virtuous, a concubine should be beautiful. Miss Su may be beautiful, but her reputation...

"Tsk tsk, the Su family's property was confiscated, and Miss Su's reputation is terrible. Whoever marries you is just throwing mud at themselves."

Su Wanwan put down her teacup, looked at him, and asked with a light laugh, "Young Master Liu is right. So, Young Master Liu came today to try and frame yourself?"

Liu Wenzhao's expression changed, and his voice rose several decibels, "Stop talking nonsense!"

"Young Master Liu, you're a down-on-your-luck scholar who didn't even pass the imperial examinations, living off connections at the Imperial Academy and receiving only two taels of silver a month for living expenses. You can't even afford a decent meal, yet you dare to call me a piece of shit?"

Liu Wenzhao's face flushed bright red.

"If Zhou Lingyi tells you to go east, you go east; if she tells you to go west, you go west."

You cherish her like a precious gem, but she treats your sincerity like dirt on the floor. Should we call you stupid? Or just plain foolish?

Oh, maybe none of that is true. Young Master Liu just wants to be a gigolo. He doesn't even look at himself. If he had any redeeming qualities, he wouldn't be being bossed around like a bench!

"The pretty boy's got no chance; he'll probably be sitting on the bench all the time."

"You!" Liu Wenzhao stood up, unable to utter a single word.

"Don't you understand? In Zhou Lingyi's heart, sending you here is the greatest insult to me!" Su Wanwan slammed her hand on the table and stood up. "And an insult to you too! You idiot!"

"You!" Liu Wenzhao's face turned from red to white, then from white to green. He wanted to refute, but found that he couldn't utter a single word.

Because everything she said was right!

He snorted, turned around and left. When he reached the door, he almost tripped over the threshold, stumbled, and rushed downstairs without looking back.

Su Wanwan hurriedly opened the window and saw Liu Wenzhao walk to a carriage and question him a few times.

The carriage left without even lifting the curtain.

Liu Wenzhao was left standing there, his face grim, facing the carriage road. "This is an insult to scholarship!!"

"Hahaha..." Su Wanwan laughed out loud at Liu Wenzhao's appearance.

"What's making you so happy?" A mournful voice sounded from behind.

Su Wanwan turned around and saw Lu Huai'an walking in with an unhappy expression.

"Lu Huai'an, what are you doing here? Haven't you been very busy these past few days?" Su Wanwan closed the window.

"I am very busy, but I heard that you are looking for a husband. No matter how busy I am, I have to make time to come see you..." Lu Huai'an sat down wearily, looking at her with a reproachful expression.

"I'm looking for a son-in-law, but you can't be of much help. You go about your business." Su Wanwan poured a cup of tea and handed it to Lu Huai'an.

Lu Huai'an took a deep breath, then let out a long exhale.

His gaze remained fixed on her face.

"Is that look in your eyes an expression of resentment towards me?" Su Wanwan questioned.

"Why do you need to find a son-in-law?" Lu Huai'an asked her, annoyed.

"Because my third aunt wanted to donate money for an official position, my father had to agree out of face. But our Su family no longer has the money to fill that hole. I need someone to speak from the perspective of the second branch of the family." Su Wanwan lowered her head and sipped her tea.

"So, you just want to find a son-in-law at will?" Lu Huai'an's eyes darkened.

"Not entirely. Look, they came with conditions."

I've already planned it all out: I'll pretend to get engaged, then make a scene in front of my third aunt about the money I donated for official positions, and then we'll break up.

"My wedding was ruined because of this, so I'm sure my third aunt will never covet my family's wealth again." Su Wanwan leaned back smugly. "How about that?"

Lu Huai'an's expression darkened further. "Are you really going to tarnish your own reputation like this?"

Su Wanwan straightened her clothes. "My reputation is not important. What's important is that my parents, third sister, and fourth sister can live out the rest of their lives in peace."

"Fine, even so, you haven't considered me at all?" Lu Huai'an's tone became a bit harsher.

Su Wanwan raised her eyes and laughed, "You? You're one of Prince Changxin's men, you can leave at any time. What if I haven't finished my important business and you've already left? Where am I supposed to cry then?"

"Just because of this?" Lu Huai'an looked at her with deep eyes.

Su Wanwan frowned. "Lu Huai'an, do you really want to help me? Or do you have other motives?"

"What do you think?" Lu Huai'an asked earnestly.

"I've known you for so long, and I've never asked you how many people are in your family, where you are now, whether you're married with children, why you were stripped of your citizenship, or what you're doing in the capital. I've never asked because I don't want to get too involved. I just want to be your friend, and it has nothing to do with your past." Su Wanwan crossed her arms, her tone resolute.

Lu Huai'an leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "My father is still alive, but my mother died early. I have an older sister who is already married, and a younger half-brother and a younger half-sister. My father also has several concubines. There are many people in the family, and everyone has their own agenda."

I have not yet married or had children. I have come to the capital only to seek justice.

"Wanwan, is there anything else you want to ask?"

Su Wanwan paused, hearing Lu Huai'an's warm breath in her ear.

After calming himself down, he thought for a moment and then shut up.

"I know what you want to ask. But I don't want to lie to you. There are some things I can't say now, but one day I will tell you everything," Lu Huai'an said in a low voice.

Su Wanwan lowered her head; she knew without being told.

He has a band of ruthless bandits under his command, who are now joining forces with Prince Changxin. This is the perfect time for him to conquer the world, so it's indeed not easy to be honest about it.

Asking too many questions might even lead to your death.

"Are you really trying to help me? Have you thought it through?" Su Wanwan looked up. "Won't you cause me any trouble?"

"I will never cause you any trouble." Lu Huai'an's gaze was deep.

"Deal!! You're a true brother!" Su Wanwan stood up and patted Lu Huai'an on the shoulder.

Lu Huai'an's face twitched. "Brother?!"