The sky was overcast, and nightfall approached.
The tension that had been gripping everyone for days suddenly lifted, and the entire village felt a sense of relief. After Wei Zhao took his dicine and fell asleep, Shunzi grabbed the letters from the bedside and descended the mountain.
There were two letters in total.
Before the acupuncture, the General had instructed that if he was okay, one letter should be sent to the secret base in Shangjing, and another should be taken to the border, where soone would respond.
Elder Ge, exhausted but uneasy, decided to keep watch personally that night and set up a bedroll by Wei Zhao’s couch.
"Alright, you don’t need to stay here. Go back to your room and rest. Co replace in the morning."
He said this to Yu Tingwan, who was standing nearby.
But there was no reply.
Elder Ge looked over.
Yu Tingwan was half-leaning against the cabinet, seemingly lost in thought.
No one knew what had happened.
When he returned from preparing the dicine earlier, the girl seed off.
Elder Ge yawned: "What’s wrong?"
Afraid of disturbing Wei Zhao, he walked over with tired steps.
"Too hot?"
Elder Ge squinted, wondering if: "Or did the General upset you? Look, even your ears are red with anger."
Yu Tingwan snapped back to reality.
The matters between her and Wei Zhao couldn’t be shared with others.
It was just that he was too straightforward and could speak such words with a calm expression, as if discussing whether dinner was good or not so casually.
Wei Zhao had no sense of sha!
She wasn’t overly concerned, but it still made her sowhat uneasy.
After all, that night, her eyes and ears were not quite clean.
Her father had said in his lifeti.
——"Yaoyao looks good, and when she grows up, she’ll definitely be a beauty like your mother. Who knows how many young n will co eagerly to propose. But rember, there aren’t many good n out there. If anyone offends you with inappropriate words when you’re out, you must tell Dad, and Dad will set them straight. Your future husband must be personally approved by Dad, lest you be deceived."
——"So out there are too frivolous, always saying sweet words to confuse young girls. Yaoyao is the smartest; she mustn’t be fooled."
Yes.
She wouldn’t be.
So, when she entered the Hu Family back then, she knew Hu Yaozu was no good.
Hypocritical.
But pretended to be a learned and refined man.
Back then, she didn’t understand compromise and always clashed with Mrs. Wang. Given her young age and undeveloped features, Hu Yaozu didn’t develop improper feelings toward her.
Extrely annoying, he always acted like a caring brother.
——"Wan, even though Dad says this is your ho too, you’re different from us, so at least understand so rules."
——"My mother may be difficult, but she’s an elder. I’m not saying you have to yield to her, but at least respect her."
Yu Tingwan was exasperated.
She couldn’t listen to any of it.
Her temperant was sensitive and irritable at the ti, unable to accept her parents’ death. Hard to handle and unreasonable, how could she give face to Hu Yaozu?
She tilted her chin and beckoned Hu Yaozu with her hand.
——"Co, if you don’t care for , kill ."
Very provocative.
Making Hu Yaozu furious.
——"Rebellious!"
Incredible as it might seem, Hu Dalang initially was more considerate of her feelings. He would occasionally diate when things got out of hand, advising Hu Yaozu not to hold grudges against her.
Later, as the girl matured, her striking beauty couldn’t be hidden.
Hu Yaozu started to look at her differently.
Even his words changed.
——"Did my mother upset you again? Don’t get mad; I apologize on her behalf."
——"On my way back, I saw soone selling candied fruit and thought of you. Take it; there’s no need for formality between us."
By then, Yu Tingwan had learned restraint.
Even if utterly fed up, she would muster up energy to deal with him. She kept a polite distance while maintaining his dignity.
Until Hu Yaozu expressed his feelings, and Yu Tingwan’s face turned completely cold.
Unwilling to fake civility.
Sick of hearing another word.
Despite it being classically romantic talk, without a hint of color.
Now, Wei Zhao was already speaking lewdly.
Yet, she didn’t feel repulsed.
It just seed reasonable.
Didn’t Wei Zhao tease her, wouldn’t he tease other girls?
Besides, for him to say such things, he certainly has the confidence.
However... Yu Tingwan was a bit worried.
With only the two of them in the room, she didn’t hide her thoughts. Seriously, she looked at Wei Zhao.
——"Can’t you be smaller?"
——"This way... it won’t fit easily."
The tone clearly showed how genuinely she felt.
Then...
Then Wei Zhao’s look towards her changed.
He seed surprised, but considering Yu Tingwan’s usual deanor, it appeared logical.
The Luminous Pearl inside the room was from their ho, making the darkness outside even pronounced.
The scent of the dicine was strong, yet to dissipate.
Elder Ge put down the chopsticks he had just picked up from the corner of the bed.
The girl said, in a slightly muffled voice: "I’m going next door; call if anything cos up."
Elder Ge, oblivious to the little spats between young couples, saw the girl still sullen and silent, couldn’t help but frown.
Perhaps it was an age thing, unable to stop worrying, or maybe having followed Wei Zhao for years, he had already regarded him as a younger mber.
Elder Ge seed to think of sothing, a hint of regret crossing his eyes.
"Young couples in this world need ti to adjust, occasional bickering is unavoidable. If he does sothing that makes you uncomfortable, you need to bring it up. Keeping it inside only burdens yourself. Often a trivial matter can beco an insurmountable obstacle over ti, and that’s what most strains a marriage."
These words were very reasonable.
Yu Tingwan took note.
Elder Ge: "It’s the first ti being married to soone, no one teaches you, so you can only learn how to get along slowly."
These words were also very true.
Yu Tingwan nodded.
Indeed, she didn’t know how to be soone’s wife.
Especially since her situation with Wei Zhao was complicated.
Even now, Yu Tingwan wasn’t ready to fully commit and stand by him.
In this world, ’equal social status’ is a shackle.
The girl had a delicate mind.
She didn’t have many strengths, but never belittled herself. Since Wei Zhao chose her, she was worthy of him.
But what about the doors of the Duke Shun Mansion?
Was she worthy?
What would she face?
A very real problem.
Elder Ge continued to talk eloquently.
"In recent years, the General has been focused on the Wei Family Army and the Duke Shun Mansion. While most young n his age are already married, he carries a heavy burden and has never been ensnared by won’s charms."
Yu Tingwan nodded.
"Frankly, many noblewon in Shangjing lose their dignity hoping for the position of Young Madam of the Duke Shun Mansion. Many are left heartbroken by his obliviousness."
Yu Tingwan continued to nod.
Elder Ge spoke vigorously: "The General hasn’t interacted much with won, doesn’t know how to sweet talk, nor has he ever tried to win over a girl’s heart. In terms of erudition, even He Xuran from the Post Station is outperford by him. In terms of martial arts and strategy, he is probably unmatched in Shangjing. Despite his early wisdom, in matters of romance, he is a novice."
Yu Tingwan’s eyelids twitched.
"Then you underestimate him."
Wei Zhao, looking all serious, is adept at speaking flirtatiously, self-taught.
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