"Someone to marry? Easy... I can just marry Fuhan!" Yan Mei blurted.
The yard went silent. Everyone froze in shock, but before Lin Xu could react, she frowned and asked, "Wait... whose family were you supposed to marry into?"
Madame Yan straightened her clothes, her tone sharp. "The Song family. They’ll be here tomorrow."
At that name, Mo Ying’s head snapped up. Fuhan’s eyes darkened slightly. The two men exchanged a quick look.
Yan Mei didn’t notice. She took a step toward Fuhan, smiling nervously. "So? Would you be willing to marry me instead?"
Fuhan’s face remained unreadable. For a long moment, he didn’t answer. Finally, he shook his head. "No."
Yan Mei froze, her smile vanishing. "Why?" she whispered, but Fuhan didn’t explain. He simply turned and walked away.
"Enough of this foolishness!" Madame Yan scolded as she grabbed Yan Mei by the arm and dragged her off. Yan Mei struggled weakly but was pulled away without choice.
The yard fell into silence.
Mo Ying gave a low whistle. "Well, that was expected."
Lin Xu gave him a sharp glare and smacked his arm lightly. "Don’t tease." The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✶𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✶𝓷𝓮𝓽
He just laughed under his breath. Lin Xu sighed and waved her hand at the children. "Alright, back to the front yard. Go finish your game and pack up."
The kids hurried off, leaving the adults.
Later that night, the house had settled. The children were asleep, and Fuhan had long retreated to the other room.
In her room, Lin Xu sat cross-legged on the bed, folding the clothes she had washed earlier. The quiet crackle of the oil lamp filled the space.
Across from her, Mo Ying sat by a low desk, brush in hand, scribbling notes on a thin piece of parchment.
"You’re still writing?" Lin Xu asked without looking up.
Mo Ying hummed, not raising his head. "Mm. Just calculating something. You did say you were thinking of opening a shop... I’m helping you calculate the costs!"
Lin Xu stacked another folded robe neatly. "You’re more careful with accounts than I thought."
Finally glancing up, Mo Ying smirked. "And here I thought you only saw me as a troublemaker."
She rolled her eyes. "You are one. But at least you’re a useful one."
He chuckled softly and dipped his brush again, while Lin Xu kept folding.
Suddenly, a thought crossed Lin Xu’s mind as she asked, "They said the ’Song’ family. Which family do you think they are referring to? Are they alright?"
Lin Xu was curious; she didn’t know any family or whatsoever in this world.
Thinking for a minute, Mo Ying then answered, "There are a lot of Song families... but since they are talking about the ones here in the village, then it would be one of the most prestigious families in the empire."
"Why would a prestigious family, as they call themselves, even be in this type of village? Shouldn’t they be living in the capital or something?"
"They do live in the capital, but their main family house is here in this village, so for important events , they tend to commence the ceremony at their main home."
"Huh... I see. Well, that means they must be rich, that’s good... but are they good people?" Lin Xu asked the question that made Mo Ying smile.
Placing the ink and brush back where he found them, he stood up and walked toward Lin Xu as he sat beside her, taking some clothes and folding them gently.
"Who exactly are good people anyway? Everyone feels like the good guy in their own story," he said with a faint smile.
"The Song family have been working for the imperial family for years. The current Crown Prince is the son of the late Empress, but the Song family is under the power of the Song of the current Noble Consort. They are a prominent family and would do all they can to secure the throne for the Fourth Prince, so technically..."
"They’re trying to dethrone the Crown Prince!" Lin Xu completed his words as he smiled and nodded.
"That’s right... but they won’t succeed because evil deeds can’t stay buried for long."
Saying that, he placed the folded clothes together with the others before standing up.
"I want to receive some fresh air... you rest first!"
With that, he turned around and left as Lin Xu just sighed. "All these palace and throne drama. Thank goodness I didn’t transmigrate into the body of an imperial concubine, or I would have been thrown into the Cold Palace my first week there."
Mo Ying stepped out into the night, stretching a little as he walked toward the back of the house.
From the shadows, Fuhan appeared. He gave a slight bow. "Young Master."
Mo Ying raised an eyebrow. "Not asleep?"
Fuhan shook his head. "The Song family coming tomorrow for a wedding all of a sudden... it doesn’t feel right."
Mo Ying leaned against the post, arms folded. "It’s their eldest son’s wedding. If it goes through, they won’t need to worry about him being pushed to marry Hostage Princess San."
"So it’s a move to save themselves," Fuhan said quietly.
"Exactly," Mo Ying nodded. "But that wedding is also our chance. While they’re busy, we’ll slip in and take their ledger. Once we have it, the Songs will be finished."
Fuhan frowned. "It will be very risky."
Mo Ying gave a crooked smile. "Everything worth doing is risky."
For a moment, they stood in silence, the sound of crickets filling the air. Then Mo Ying glanced sideways at him.
"You asked me about Lin Xu before. Now it’s my turn." He smirked. "What about Yan Mei? Don’t tell me you feel nothing."
Fuhan’s face stayed calm. "I don’t."
Mo Ying clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Cold as ever. You may lie to me, but don’t lie to yourself. If you like her, say it. If not, you’ll only regret it later."
Fuhan’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
Mo Ying gave a short laugh and turned to leave. "Stubborn fool. Suit yourself."
He walked off into the night, leaving Fuhan standing alone.