How Could I Resist His Madness and Charm [Transmigration] - Chapter 16

Marry Zhu Yun?

Luo Yan choked. “But we’re siblings.”

As soon as she said it, she remembered they weren’t related by blood. In that case, getting married didn’t seem like a problem.

No, no, no, they were still children! How had they ended up on this topic?

Half-embarrassed, half-annoyed, she pushed his face away and snapped, “Do you even know what marriage means?”

How dare he speak so boldly!

“I know.” Zhu Yun started walking again, waiting until they were on level ground before explaining. “Marriage is when a man and a woman become husband and wife, have many children, and are buried together after they die.”

“Ah, why do they need to have so many children?” she muttered, genuinely puzzled.

“They just do.”

When he was nine, he had followed the Divine Physician to select disciples. They visited twenty-seven villages, and every household was overflowing with children. The sick ones were buried, the extras were sold, and still, many remained.

But the martial world was different.

After thinking it over, he told her, “Most martial artists drift from place to place and keep to themselves. They might form sworn sibling bonds with unrelated friends and meet up for drinks during major gatherings. But established families are different, they have ancestral manors and deep roots. They seem to love marrying and having lots of children.”

Luo Yan listened with great interest. “Are most of their marriages political alliances, or do they fall in love after fighting like in the storybooks?”

“…How would I know?” He compromised and said, “I’ll ask around later.”

He had, after all, been hired to kill both husbands and wives before, he could have shared a story or two, but Luo Yan would surely be frightened if she knew. Better to drop the subject.

By the time they returned home, the topic of “marriage” had been forgotten.

Yet around the same time,

a matchmaker had been hired to inquire about the Jia family in Qingyuan Village.

A few days later, at dawn, a festive procession marched up the mountain with gongs and drums.

Leading the way was Granny Song, the famous matchmaker of Hanmei Town, responsible for countless successful matches. Behind her were four maids, each carrying a tray with a red booklet, gold ingots, and other betrothal gifts.

Following them were eight servants in red, carrying live geese and red chests, their hands full.

Jia Yufang stepped into the courtyard at the sound, and the music stopped. But Luo Yan had already been woken by the noise. She draped her outer robe loosely over her shoulders and stood by the window, listening as Zhu Yun relayed the conversation:

“Master Wang dotes on his youngest son…”

“Yes, yes, the young lady is still quite young.”

“The grandest procession in ten years.”

“Servants have been arranged, she can marry a few years later.”

Luo Yan couldn’t help laughing at his stiff tone of voice. After a moment, she realized, “Are they here to propose marriage?”

He tilted his head, listening carefully, then pieced together the story, the youngest son of a wealthy family had seen Luo Yan in town, fallen lovesick, and his family had begun investigating her background.

“Don’t go out.” Zhu Yun’s face darkened as he picked up his sword and headed for the door.

Luo Yan hurried to stop him. “What are you doing?”

He avoided her gaze guiltily and muttered, “Just going to take a look.”

“Since when does ‘taking a look’ require a sword? Besides, even Grandmother isn’t worried, why are you so worked up?”

No sooner had the words been spoken than Grandmother, usually so gentle and kind-hearted, erupted in a furious shout: “Heaven-cursed old hag! What ‘precious son’ or ‘qilin child’? How dare you even speak of him! Everyone knows that Wang scoundrel had his leg broken by a girl’s father and brothers a few months ago for harassing her in the street. How dare he set his sights on my granddaughter! Get out, all of you! Take your trash and get out of here!”

Immediately, the sharp sound of slippers striking flesh echoed, followed by the matchmaker’s cries for help.

Zhu Yun, rarely showing such astonishment, silently set down his sword. Worried about her grandmother’s dignity, Luo Yan pulled him back into the room and whispered, “We can’t let Grandmother find us.”

Jia Yufang, kind-hearted and always dignified in the Luo family, had just played the part of a shrew for the sake of a granddaughter not even related by blood. She would likely feel ashamed about it for a long time.

Luo Yan’s eyes stung with emotion. Masking her feelings by teasing her younger sister, she murmured softly, “Grandmother truly cares for me.”

Zhu Yun remained by the window, eavesdropping until he was sure the visitors had left. His tightly pressed lips finally relaxed into their usual slight curve as he turned and asked, “Shall we sleep for another half-hour?”

“Alright,” she agreed, lying back on the bed and mumbling drowsily, “If Grandmother doesn’t bring it up, we won’t ask. Anyway…”

Her words trailed off abruptly.

Zhu Yun lifted the bed curtain to find the girl already curled up, fast asleep. He straightened her out, tucked the quilt snugly around her, and picked up the book The Fox Spirit and the Scholar from the bedside.

Yan Yan loved this story, always praising the scholar for his warmth and thoughtfulness. Recalling this, he paused and thought, It wouldn’t hurt to learn a thing or two.

So when Luo Yan woke from her nap, she found Zhu Yun sitting solemnly at the foot of the bed, frowning intensely as he read,

The storybook.

I must be dreaming, she thought.

Hearing her stir, Zhu Yun glanced up. “Grandmother has gone down the mountain. She left some sweet congee on the stove. Shall I bring it to you?”

“Have you eaten?” she asked.

“No.”

“Too engrossed to eat or sleep?” Luo Yan teased. “I have two more volumes if you want to read them.”

He gave no definite answer, heading to the kitchen first to set the meal while Luo Yan got up to wash up.

As for Grandmother, her hurried trip down the mountain was likely to meet with Cui Wuyang’s trusted aide in Hanmei Town, to prevent the Wang family from causing trouble behind the scenes.

Luo Yan felt reassured with the male lead handling matters. Free from worries, her mood was as sweet as the congee.

Zhu Yun studied her for a moment before suddenly saying, “Give me your hand.”

Watching his fingers press against her wrist, Luo Yan grew uneasy. “Didn’t you say that pharmacopoeia was a forgery and only taught poison-making? It wouldn’t work for me, right?”

“…” His face tightened, his eyes flashing with displeasure at being underestimated. “Checking pulses and acupressure are basic skills. The pharmacopoeia wouldn’t cover those.”

In other words, he had learned and was quite proficient in them long before.

Luo Yan pouted and soothed his pride. “You know so much, skilled in both literary and martial arts, and even able to diagnose illnesses.”

His expression softened as he replied matter-of-factly, “I can’t treat illnesses. I’m just checking your pulse to see if the elixir you took yesterday is working.”

At this, Luo Yan unconsciously straightened her back, blinking and leaning in attentively.

Zhu Yun’s lips curved slightly as he deliberately teased her. “Want another bowl?”

“…”

Getting revenge right away, huh?

Luo Yan grabbed his arm, shaking it as she pleaded, “Tell me quickly!”

“It’s working,” he said, scooping more congee. “The elixir is somewhat effective. After two or three more days, you can join me on the mountain to practice archery.”

She cheered and threw herself forward, forgetting that Zhu Yun was sitting on the bench with no support behind him. His left hand still held a spoon, leaving him no room to dodge. He wrapped an arm around her as they crashed to the ground with a thud.

“Huh?” Luo Yan lifted her head from his embrace and saw Zhu Yun grimacing in obvious pain. Surprised, she remarked, “But you know martial arts.”

Zhu Yun snorted coldly, “Why don’t you try it yourself?”

“My bad, my bad.” She scrambled up nimbly and noticed his temple twitching, the skin at his collar reddened from her impact. Concerned, she asked, “Should I rub it for you?”

With that, she actually reached out toward him.

Zhu Yun dodged awkwardly, his ears flushing hot. “Don’t touch randomly.”

“Then at least let me help you up,” Luo Yan said, ignoring his sudden bashfulness. Noticing mud on his sleeves and hem, she suggested, “Change your clothes.”

“Mm…”

His tailbone ached, but he couldn’t rub it in front of Luo Yan. Limping, he headed back to his room.

The two usually didn’t adhere to strict gender boundaries, Luo Yan came from an era where tank tops and shorts were commonplace, while Zhu Yun had grown up wild, never taught societal norms.

So, Zhu Yun proceeded to change behind the screen as usual.

But when he caught a faint glimpse of the girl’s silhouette through the landscape embroidery, his movements to undress halted, replaced by a flush of heat to his face.

Why did he suddenly feel embarrassed?

Puzzled, he spoke in an noticeably unsteady voice, “Yanyan, go outside for a bit.”

“Huh?”

“Just go out for now.” Zhu Yun’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “I’m begging you.”

Luo Yan glanced suspiciously at the screen, worried. “You sound strange, did you catch a cold?”

This time, Zhu Yun refused to answer. She stuck out her tongue, picked up a geography book, and went to sunbathe in the yard.

When Jia Yufang returned home, wiping sweat from her brow, she found the usually inseparable children far apart.

One was leaning by the window, carving something unknown. The other was crouched by the door, playing with a cat. Hearing footsteps, she immediately stood to greet her: “Grandmother, did you bring me any treats?”

“I did.”

Jia Yufang carried three bundles, hot food, trendy jewelry from the capital, and new clothes for Zhu Yun, who had recently shot up in height.

She didn’t mention the unpleasant incident from the morning, not wanting to trouble the children, and simply said she’d visited an old friend in town. She motioned for Luo Yan to follow and relayed, “I passed on your message. Guard Ning couldn’t make the decision and has gone back to the capital to report. The others have rented a place nearby. If we need money or help, we can just notify them.”

Luo Yan understood her grandmother was subtly comforting her and nodded eagerly, picking out a kingfisher feather hairpin from the jewelry. “Grandmother, help me put this on, quick!”

Lately, Luo Yan’s complexion had improved greatly, bearing a faint resemblance to her late mother.

Jia Yufang wiped the corner of her eye and asked seriously, “Yan girl, are you really unwilling to go to the capital? With the Ye family and His Highness there, they could help you find a good match.”

“No,” she insisted. “If my parents knew from beyond, they wouldn’t want me living a precarious life again.”

“Alright.”

Jia Yufang seemed to have made a weighty decision, her shoulders relaxing. “The physician gave some tonic herbs. Deliver them to your Aunt Cui for me. Oh, and have Brother Yun move a pickle jar for me.”

Unsuspecting, Luo Yan took the herbs and hurried out the door.

Zhu Yun stepped into the kitchen and found no trace of any sauce jar. Realizing that Jia Yufang had deliberately sent Luo Yan away, he spoke directly, “Please go on.”

The young man before her was handsome in both stature and appearance. Though his temperament was somewhat cold, he made up for it with his diligence.

The more she looked at him, the more pleased she felt. Smiling, she asked, “Young Master Yun, do you still have family at home?”

“No.”

Jia Yufang’s smile deepened. “Are you betrothed?”

Zhu Yun’s dark lashes trembled slightly as he faintly grasped the underlying meaning. He answered clearly, “No.”

“That’s good.” She took a deep breath. “You and Yan Jie are of similar age and share common interests. I was thinking, if you’re willing, perhaps you could become Yan Jie’s…”

After all, she had never acted as a matchmaker before, and the words felt awkward to voice. Jia Yufang rolled the phrases on her tongue, hesitating to speak them aloud.

But then she heard Zhu Yun say, “I’m willing.”

“Hmm?”

“Wasn’t it to make me Yan Yan’s child groom?” His expression remained calm, but his eyes shone with startling intensity as he enunciated clearly, “I’m willing.”