Hearing her talk about their future, Yue Linze felt even more uncomfortable and didn’t dare to look at her. Tao Yu, warmed by the ground dragon, was getting sleepy. Seeing Yue Linze still hesitating, she said with some headache: “Say what you want to say quickly. I want to go rest.”
Yue Linze moved slightly and after a long time said: “But what if he doesn’t like you? What if he’s marrying you just to deceive you? Would you still want to marry him?”
“Where did you hear these things?! So have we been exposed, is that why you’re saying all this?!” Tao Yu looked at Yue Linze in shock.
Yue Linze looked at her steadily: “I’m asking you, if he doesn’t love you, would you still want to marry him?”
Tao Yu, who was still shocked about how he knew, noticed something was off and tried again: “What does it matter if he’s deceiving me? If he’s willing to marry me, he can’t hate me. Feelings can be cultivated slowly. Didn’t we also marry first and fall in love later?”
“…” Hearing her place herself so low, Yue Linze’s Adam’s apple moved, looking more desperate, “You like him that much?”
“You’ve asked this several times already. Do you want me to repeat it?” Tao Yu laughed, wondering what was wrong with him. He didn’t seem to have discovered her and the scholar’s plan, so why was he asking these things?
Yue Linze looked at her for a long time, the sadness in his eyes almost impossible to hide. Tao Yu felt uncomfortable under his gaze and touched her nose: “Why are you suddenly asking about this? Did he do something to make you dislike him?”
“… No, I was just casually asking.” Yue Linze lowered his eyes.
Tao Yu breathed a sigh of relief and gave him a sidelong glance: “Why ask so many questions like this? If I were petty, I’d definitely start suspecting him.”
“Sorry, don’t suspect him. He’s a good person.” Yue Linze forced a smile.
Tao Yu snorted: “Alright, if there’s nothing else, I’ll go first. In the future, don’t meddle in my affairs. Just help me deal with his parents. Don’t worry about anything else… Also, my real appearance and age, please keep it hidden. Since my guy doesn’t care about looks, I don’t want to expose my identity for now.”
As she spoke, Yue Linze nodded, remembering her words. Tao Yu felt she had explained enough and turned to leave. As soon as she left, a guard appeared in the study.
“City Lord,” the man, who had delivered the letter earlier, kept his head down.
Yue Linze was silent for a long time, then slowly said: “Simulate the handwriting on that letter and write a new one, saying they’re already engaged. Make that woman give up.”
“Yes!” the guard responded.
Yue Linze thought for a moment and added: “Investigate that woman’s background. If possible, send her family far away so they never appear near that scholar again.”
“Yes!” the guard bowed and left to carry out the orders.
Yue Linze stood alone in the study, his gaze fierce on the candle. Not long ago, he had read the scholar’s letter here and learned that the man had staged a drama of changing affections to marry the woman he loved.
If this letter hadn’t been intercepted, he and Tao Yu would still be in the dark. If Tao Yu didn’t like this fool, he would have torn him to pieces to show the consequences of deceiving her feelings.
However, even with reservations, Yue Linze wasn’t going to let it go. Since Tao Yu liked him, no matter what kind of trash he was, he would get him for her. Wanting to marry his love? He’d have to prove he was capable.
Now, by sending that woman away, if the scholar doesn’t behave, he’ll teach him a lesson. Yue Linze’s eyes were slightly painful from the candlelight as he looked away. Since he likes acting, he’ll perform a play under his surveillance, preferably one that would never reveal any flaws.
He walked calmly to the door, about to close it, and looked at the small footprints in the snow, rarely showing a slight smile.
A night of calm.
The next day was a sunny day. Tao Yu and Nian Nian lazed in bed until late morning, finally getting up when they were starving. As soon as Tao Yu went out, she felt a warm breeze and looked at the icicles on the eaves, which seemed about to melt.
Could spring be coming? At the thought of this possibility, Tao Yu’s mouth curved up. But before she could smile for long, a young maidservant ran over and said to her, “The city lord wants you to go to the guest hall.”
“What does he want me to do there?” Tao Yu asked, puzzled.
The maidservant replied, “The city lord didn’t say much, but I just heard that a scholar brought his parents, and the city lord is talking to them right now. I don’t know much else.”
… The scholar’s parents had come so quickly? Tao Yu immediately ran towards the guest hall, but after a few steps, she turned back and asked, “How long have they been here?”
“At least one or two hours. They came early in the morning, and the scholar’s mother has been crying several times. It’s so annoying,” the maidservant complained.
Hearing they had been there for so long, Tao Yu felt something was wrong. She hurried over, remembering that in the scholar’s description, his parents were not particularly honest people. She was worried they might cause a scene that Yue Linze wouldn’t be able to handle.
She took a deep breath as she approached the guest hall and burst through the door. As soon as she entered, five pairs of eyes turned to look at her. Except for the steward standing, everyone else was sitting properly, looking dignified and courteous – completely different from what she had imagined.
She had entered so quickly that she almost lost her balance, stumbling a few steps before stopping. After quickly surveying the scene, she calmly bowed to Yue Linze, “City Lord, did you call me for something?”
“I called you to meet your future in-laws. Quickly pay your respects with tea,” Yue Linze said casually.
As soon as he spoke, Tao Yu clearly saw the scholar’s mother’s eyes reddening, looking like she might cry or faint at any moment. She wasn’t sure how the woman would react to being served tea, but since Yue Linze had spoken, it seemed inappropriate not to comply.
Tao Yu instinctively looked at the scholar, seeking some hint, and saw him confidently nodding. She breathed a sigh of relief and picked up the tea cup to offer to the seated woman.
Yue Linze observed their tacit understanding and unconsciously pinched his palm.
As Tao Yu handed over the cup, the woman tremblingly accepted it. Upon seeing Tao Yu’s dark, fat, and old face up close, she could no longer contain her grief and anger, looking at the scholar, “Son! Have you been blinded by pig fat? Why would you like such a woman?”
Yue Linze’s gaze suddenly turned cold, “What’s wrong with this woman? How dare you look down on her?”
The woman trembled but still grabbed the scholar’s hand while crying, “Child, as long as you don’t marry her, I won’t interfere with your marriage in the future. You can marry whoever you want… Weren’t you fond of the girl next door? Your mother won’t object if you marry her.”
The scholar was momentarily tempted but, catching a glimpse of Tao Yu’s expression, knew it wasn’t the right time and seriously refused, “No, my eyes are only for Big Sister.”
“Big Sister? Do you even know her name or where she’s from? Has she ever been married? You’re being so reckless!” the woman was on the verge of a breakdown.
At this moment, Tao Yu realized with horror that despite knowing each other for so long, they had never actually exchanged names!
Just as she thought their secret might be exposed, the scholar declared righteously, “I don’t need to know too much. I only need to know that her name is Lei Feng, and she is the best person in this world!”
Tao Yu: “… ?… !!” Yue Linze: “…
