A scholar breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Tao Yu with a smile in his eyes. When Tao Yu looked over, he raised his eyebrows at her, and she rolled her eyes. Just as she was about to signal him to leave, a large “door board” blocked her view, and she was stunned to find it was Yue Linze’s back.
The scholar was startled and quickly took a step back, distancing himself from Yue Linze: “City, City Lord, is there something I can help you with?”
Yue Linze coldly stared at him, his eyes filled with frost-like coldness that made the scholar tremble. Just as the scholar was about to break down, he slowly spoke: “No matter what bad intentions you had before, when you marry her, you must treat her well. If I find anything wrong, I’ll make sure you have no place to be buried.”
The scholar stared blankly, not understanding the hatred in his eyes.
“Did you hear me?” Yue Linze frowned unhappily.
The scholar subconsciously nodded, then suddenly realized that the city lord seemed to care too much about a wet nurse, as if they had some unknown relationship.
His thoughts suddenly cleared, and he regretted his stupidity, only now noticing something was off. He couldn’t help but glance at Tao Yu again, thinking that no wonder the city lord disliked him. If his elder sister had some relation to the city lord, he might have inadvertently become a generation younger.
“What are you thinking about?” Yue Linze had already moved away from between them, and Tao Yu noticed the scholar’s dazed expression and raised an eyebrow.
The scholar trembled and gave an awkward laugh: “Nothing… Where are my parents?”
“They just left,” Tao Yu pointed outside the door, “Go take a look, don’t let the old folks get too upset.”
The scholar responded and hurried out.
When only Tao Yu and Yue Linze remained in the hall, Tao Yu stretched lazily and, seeing Yue Linze’s unhappy face, couldn’t help but laugh: “Thank you today. With you as a guarantor, my marriage is now stable.”
Yue Linze glanced at her and lowered his head. Seeing he wasn’t speaking, Tao Yu walked towards the door. Just as she was about to step out, she heard him say gloomily: “Their family is not a good match.”
“Oh?” Tao Yu turned her head.
Yue Linze hesitated but couldn’t help walking in front of her, frowning: “I’ve already sent people to investigate. The scholar’s parents are small-minded opportunists who would abandon their friends and relatives as soon as they gain power. How can you marry into such a family?”
His words were full of concern for her, without the previous jealousy towards the scholar, as if he was wholeheartedly considering her well-being. Tao Yu let out a light laugh, looking at him playfully.
Seeing her unconcerned, Yue Linze became more anxious: “Have you considered that if they’re dissatisfied with you now, even if I protect you and you marry in, I can’t always be around. What if they bully you when I’m not looking? Are you really going to suffer in their home?”
Although in his eyes, Tao Yu was the best, with no woman in the world comparing to her, without a single flaw.
But he was not ignorant of human nature, knowing that not everyone would love such a girl, cherishing her like a precious gem. So he had been uneasy, and today, after seeing the scholar’s parents, his unease reached its peak.
Tao Yu listened quietly, then sighed helplessly: “But what if I just want to marry him?”
Yue Linze was stunned, unable to say another word. Tao Yu looked at him calmly, waiting for his response.
After a long time, Yue Linze’s eyes darkened: “If you must marry, I’ll clear the path for you and completely root out any potential troubles.”
Tao Yu was taken aback, then gave him a sidelong glance: “If you dare to do anything to his parents, I won’t be nice to you.”
“…” Yue Linze’s lips moved, finally lowering his head. Then he felt a delicate finger lifting his chin, looking at Tao Yu in a daze, not knowing how to react.
Tao Yu narrowed her eyes: “Promise me to let things take their course. I’ll handle them. You’re not allowed to interfere.”
“…I can’t do that.” Yue Linze thought for a long time before honestly saying these four words.
Tao Yu scoffed: “You’ll do it even if you can’t. If I find out you’re interfering, you’ll be in trouble!” After threatening him, she turned and left.
Yue Linze looked gloomily at her back until she disappeared from view, then helplessly said: “I’ve already done it.”A scholar instinctively sensed danger and looked up to see Yue Linze approaching. Without clearly seeing who it was, he ran behind Yue Linze. Just as he dodged, a basket was thrown, which Yue Linze caught in his hand.
“What’s wrong?” Yue Linze asked in a deep voice.
Hearing Yue Linze’s voice, the scholar paused and quietly took a step back, then slowly moved closer to Tao Yu. Although the elder sister looked terrifyingly like a bear right now, compared to the city lord, this level of scariness was nothing.
Seeing Tao Yu didn’t respond, the scholar awkwardly laughed: “I made the elder sister angry. I originally promised to help her sew a sandbag, but I messed it up… Well, I have something to do. City Lord, Elder Sister, I’ll take my leave now and visit again another day!”
He then ran away like the wind, quickly disappearing completely. Tao Yu glared in the direction he left, angrily taking the basket from Yue Linze’s hand and stuffing the chaotically cut fabric inside, then sitting down dejectedly.
“It’s just a sandbag, why be so upset?” Yue Linze sat across from her, puzzled.
“Of course!” Tao Yu responded without thinking. She had actually believed such an incompetent fool and wasted so much time on him – wasn’t this enough to drive her mad?
Yue Linze thoughtfully looked at the fabric scraps in the basket, remaining silent for a while. After Tao Yu calmed down, she raised an eyebrow and asked, “You’re usually so busy and nowhere to be seen. How come you came so quickly when he arrived?”
“…I had someone watching him. Whenever he comes, they’re to notify me immediately, no matter what I’m doing,” Yue Linze looked into her eyes and said frankly.
Tao Yu scoffed, “Didn’t I tell you not to meddle too much?”
“I’m not meddling, I’m just looking out for you,” Yue Linze explained seriously. “Whatever you like, I won’t obstruct, and I won’t hold you back.”
Tao Yu blinked, feeling a sourness in her heart. She wanted to clear up the misunderstanding immediately but calmed down after seeing his eyes. It wouldn’t be long anyway; she could tell him later.When evening came, the family of three was dining in the inn’s hall, and the scholar could no longer hold back: “Father, Mother, what did you go home to do these past few days?”
As soon as he broached the subject, the woman’s eyes immediately reddened, and she pounded her chest and lamented: “It’s all my sin!”
“…What do you mean?” The scholar’s expression immediately became tense.
The woman tremblingly grabbed him and said painfully, “Child, must you marry that old woman? Aren’t you afraid our family will have no descendants? If you’re willing, I can find some matchmakers to introduce you to some good girls, how about that?”
“Stop talking about that first, I just want to know what you went home to do this time?” The scholar was somewhat nervous. According to reason, his previous letter had already been sent, and Yin should have known about the plan. This time she should have half-pushed, half-followed him to Huanhuan City. Why did only this old couple come back?
The woman cried sorrowfully, clutching his hand like a lifeline, constantly muttering that she shouldn’t have been so extreme in everything, leading to all escape routes being blocked now.
