The Favorite of the Sick and Weak Lady - Chapter 2

Xiao Yu followed her gaze and scanned the crowd, hesitantly nodding. It was indeed inconvenient to talk with so many people watching.

The coachman brought over a mounting stool. Song Luoning stepped down from the carriage, trembling slightly. Her expression was obscure as she glanced at the man standing nearby, who lacked any gentlemanly demeanor. She pursed her lips and said, “Sir, please lead the way.”

“Oh, alright.” Xiao Yu hesitated, then walked ahead. Song Luoning, clutching a bundle in her arms, followed behind. The crowd parted to make way, and Xiao Yu led her into the courtyard, closing the door behind them. Her eyes accidentally caught sight of the carriage just as the coachman jumped onto the shaft and swiftly drove it away.

?!

What was going on?

She was shocked and confused, staring wide-eyed at the woman before her. She was still here—why had the carriage left?

Would it come back later to pick her up?

That didn’t seem likely. Unless someone was blind, no one would be interested in the original host’s circumstances. Besides, this woman clearly didn’t know the original host.

Song Luoning said nothing, her lips pressed tightly together. Under Xiao Yu’s gaze, she calmly pushed open the door and walked inside.

Xiao Yu followed slowly.

The room was so shabby that Song Luoning couldn’t help but frown. She glanced at the stool, hesitated, then sat down. Xiao Yu quickly poured her a cup of water. “Miss, what brings you to me?”

She bit her lip. Why was she so nervous? It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen beautiful women before—she was worldly.

Song Luoning raised her head and looked at Xiao Yu for a moment, then pulled out a betrothal document from her bundle and handed it to her.

What was this?

Xiao Yu took it suspiciously, her heart pounding. Hopefully it wasn’t a debt notice.

Under Song Luoning’s watchful eyes, she braced herself and opened it. Upon reading the contents, she nearly dropped the document. She stared at the woman in disbelief, struggling to form words. “This… you see, my situation… we’re really not suitable. And we don’t even know each other…”

Surely she’d understand that.

Song Luoning’s eyes darkened, her grip on the bundle tightening. Given her earlier behavior at the carriage, she hadn’t expected this response. Perhaps her words didn’t match her true thoughts. She forced a smile and said, “Since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by parents and matchmakers.”

Wait a minute.

That kind of thinking was problematic. What kind of logic was that binding two strangers together and hoping love would grow? Often, it led to resentment and unhappy marriages.

She had to reject that mindset.

Even though this woman matched her aesthetic perfectly, was she really someone who’d marry for looks alone?

Absolutely not. She wouldn’t accept a loveless, feudal arranged marriage.

With that realization, she felt a surge of confidence. Xiao Yu considered carefully and said, “Miss, I won’t marry you. That ‘arranged by parents and matchmakers’ idea is outdated. You should marry someone you truly love.”

Song Luoning frowned and looked up at her, her expression cold and unreadable. After a moment of silence, she pulled out a silver note from her bundle, her smile not reaching her eyes. “I imagine Sir Xiao could use some silver right now.”

She stood up, having already observed the messy room, the lack of farming tools, and Xiao Yu’s delicate appearance. Clearly, she wasn’t a farmer. Living in a village without farming meant she was either wealthy which she clearly wasn’t or idle and poor.

If money could solve the problem, she was happy to offer it.

Sure enough, at the mention of silver, Xiao Yu’s eyes lit up. She wasn’t wrong.

Xiao Yu glanced at the silver note, biting her lip. She was tempted. Who wouldn’t be? The original host had nothing, and she had just inherited this body. Her stomach was growling, and if not for the lingering pain from hitting her head, she’d suspect the original host had starved to death.

And it was a full thousand taels a fortune. With that, she could eat and even invest to support herself.

But…

Her gaze returned to Song Luoning’s overly beautiful face. Marrying her didn’t seem like a bad deal…

She just wasn’t sure if her current identity would be a problem.

As Xiao Yu hesitated, Song Luoning seemed to read her thoughts and smiled sweetly. “Sir Xiao, please consider it carefully.”

Consider what?

They both knew.

Xiao Yu pondered, then met Song Luoning’s gaze and asked, “Why do you insist on marrying the original no, me?”

Song Luoning smiled, her eyes soft like a painting, breathtakingly beautiful.

Xiao Yu swallowed and looked away, unable to maintain eye contact.

Song Luoning said, “As I said, arranged by parents and matchmakers.”

Xiao Yu: “…”

Was that really her reason?

Were ancient women truly so bound by tradition?

If everyone thought that way, maybe it wasn’t so strange.

She hesitated. Despite the lure of money, she kept a shred of reason. Before marrying, she needed to be honest.

Like revealing her true identity disguised as a man.

Xiao Yu weighed her words. “Actually, it’s not that I don’t want to marry you.”

Song Luoning gazed at her, waiting.

So calm?

Xiao Yu gritted her teeth. “I’m actually a woman. Are you sure you still want to marry me?”

Song Luoning’s smile froze. Her mind went blank for a moment. She quickly regained composure and studied Xiao Yu carefully.

Her features were too delicate, her build slender. Even the thinnest man wouldn’t look like this. Song Luoning believed her about 70–80%, but needed confirmation.

Her expression cooled. “How will you prove it?”

Xiao Yu: “…”

She hadn’t expected to be asked for proof. After a pause, her gaze dropped to her flat chest.

Bracing herself, she unfastened her collar, revealing layers of white cloth wrapped around her chest.

Song Luoning was stunned. She caught a glimpse of the cloth before Xiao Yu quickly covered up and adjusted her ties.

“Did you see clearly?”

Song Luoning: “…”

After a moment, she nodded blankly.

She thought she saw enough. Probably.

Xiao Yu: “So… are we still getting married?”

The air froze. You could hear a pin drop.

They had no feelings for each other. But marrying her might be easier than dealing with a man. It would save a lot of trouble.

After a moment’s thought, Song Luoning pushed the silver note forward, showing her resolve.

Xiao Yu was stunned. She hadn’t expected her to accept this. Did she have a hidden agenda?

She began to doubt herself had she been too hasty?

As if sensing her hesitation, Song Luoning said, “Sir, are you afraid of a weak woman like me?”

A weak woman?

Wasn’t she one too?

Xiao Yu studied her. Compared to Song Luoning’s sickly appearance, she might have the upper hand.

After a pause, she remembered she needed money. She tucked the silver note away carefully. At least she wouldn’t starve now.

Since she’d accepted the money, she had to follow through. Gritting her teeth, Xiao Yu said, “When shall we get the marriage certificate?”

In modern times, people get marriage licenses. In ancient times, it was a marriage document. She knew that much.

Song Luoning paused. “Where’s your betrothal token?”

Token?

What was that?

Xiao Yu looked confused. Song Luoning removed half a fish-shaped jade pendant from her neck and placed it on the table.

Xiao Yu instinctively touched her own neck nothing. Her heart sank. Had the original host sold it?

She’d just received the silver note!

Taking money was easy. Paying it back not so much.

Xiao Yu was miserable. She bit her lip, her mind racing. She mentally reviewed the original host’s entire life every detail, from daily habits to fights and flirtations but found no mention of the jade pendant.

She glanced at Song Luoning. Had she mistaken her for someone else? Maybe the original host wasn’t the one betrothed?

How could the original host be engaged to a woman?

“Is there a problem?” Song Luoning’s clear voice rang out like a death knell.

“No, just forgot where I put it.” She couldn’t find it now and didn’t want to return the silver note. Xiao Yu decided to stall. “I think my mother put it away.”

Song Luoning said nothing, noting her panic.

“Um… should I go ask my mother?” Xiao Yu was flustered, desperately trying to fix the situation.

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