The Prime Minister's Deceitful Husband - Chapter 4

Tomorrow, he would go see Xu Zeyan.

***

Xu Zeyan’s home was built at the foot of the mountain, a structure of gray brick and tile. Though not as large as the Luo Family’s old residence, it was considered a fine house in the village, having drawn many envious glares when it was first built.

A crowd had gathered outside the Xu family’s gate. At the center stood Xu Zeyan, dressed in a short gray tunic, his hair tied high. Mud clung to his trouser legs and shoes, clearly showing he had just come down from the mountain and hadn’t yet had a chance to go inside.

Facing him was Matchmaker Liu, clad in bright red and green. Being a woman of tact, she didn’t immediately bring up the marriage proposal. “Scholar Xu, you’ve just come down from the mountain? What a coincidence. Why don’t you go inside, change your clothes, and rest your feet? I’m just here to get a sense of the place. I’ll come back to see you in a few days.”

Xu Zeyan spoke gently, “There’s no need. Please, tell me what you have to say.”

Hearing this, Matchmaker Liu didn’t hold back. “Scholar Xu, I’m sure you’ve already guessed why I’m here. I won’t mince words. A gentleman from a wealthy and noble family has taken an interest in you and asked me to propose a match.”

Matchmaker Liu beamed. “His family’s *ge’er* has just reached the age for marriage. He’s good-looking, well-educated, and knows how to run a business. If this marriage goes through, he’s willing to provide a dowry of twenty *mu* of fertile land. That’s an incredibly generous offer.”

Matchmaker Liu continued, “His family also said they’re willing to support your studies for the imperial examinations. If you become in-laws, you’ll never have to worry about food or clothing again. This is a match so good you couldn’t find it even with a lantern in the dark…”

The villagers shook their heads secretly. Such a generous dowry and favorable conditions truly made it a wonderful match, but unfortunately, it was about to be rejected again.

Sure enough, as soon as Matchmaker Liu finished speaking, Xu Zeyan politely declined. “I am grateful for the gentleman’s kindness, and I thank Matchmaker Liu for making the trip. However, my home is bare, and I possess nothing. I can barely support myself, and I cannot bear to see a young man from a wealthy family suffer by my side. I must decline this match.”

Matchmaker Liu had heard before arriving that Xu Zeyan had rejected many marriage proposals, so she wasn’t surprised by this refusal. Still, she wasn’t ready to give up so easily and urged, “What’s there to worry about? That wealthy gentleman’s family has money. With his support, your life will surely improve. Once you pass the examinations in the future, your days will only get better and better.”

Xu Zeyan’s demeanor remained gentle, but his tone grew firmer. “My family is poor, and I am currently focused on my studies. I simply have no heart for marriage at this time. Please, Matchmaker Liu, go back and tell that gentleman that I, Xu Zeyan, cannot accept such generous kindness.”

With that, he cupped his hands in a gesture of farewell to the crowd and stepped inside his home.

Matchmaker Liu stood outside, staring at the closed door and then at the gifts in her hand. She sighed.

*This Scholar Xu is so resolute. It seems I’ll have to return empty-handed after all.* What a waste of her matchmaking fee.

She picked up the gifts, turned, and climbed into her carriage, quickly departing.

With the commotion over, the villagers dispersed in small groups, chatting as they walked.

“Xu Zeyan is quite the lucky one,” one remarked. “So many wealthy families are offering him marriage proposals.”

“A pity they have such high standards,” another replied. “He probably looks down on them, hoping to marry a noble-born *ge’er* or a young lady after he passes the imperial examinations.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. He’s so poor he’s resorted to hunting, yet he still puts on airs of nobility.”

“How can you say such things? Didn’t the Xu boy say his family is poor and he doesn’t want to hold anyone back?”

“What’s wrong with being poor? If he’d accepted those proposals, he’d have a wealthy father-in-law’s support. How could he possibly stay poor then?”

“Exactly. Let’s be honest, he’s just too proud to accept…”

“You’re all just narrow-minded fools. The Xu boy is a scholar; he has his own plans. Why do you need to worry about him?”

***

Luo Shuheng slipped away with the crowd, his mood sinking even lower.

Xu Zeyan had rejected such a generous offer. Now that Luo Shuheng had nothing to his name, how could he possibly sway the man?

*But no matter the outcome,* he thought, *I have to try.*

Back at the Old Residence, he learned that Old Madam had awakened. After changing his clothes, Luo Shuheng went to see her and sat by her side for a while.

“Mammy Xue says you’ve been running out of the house every day,” Old Madam said, placing her hand on the back of his and patting it gently. “Have you found something fun to do? Tell your grandmother about it. It must have been so hard for you, cooped up in this house all these years.”

Luo Shuheng shook his head, silently reassuring her that he was fine. Then, he began to recount some of the amusing things he’d heard outside. When Old Madam heard familiar names, her eyes filled with nostalgia. “The village is still as lively as ever,” she murmured.

After Old Madam settled back down to rest, Luo Shuheng returned to his room. He took out a piece of paper and began to sketch aimlessly, his mind racing with plans to achieve his goal.

The ink-soaked brush moved unconsciously across the white paper. One scheme after another flashed through his mind, and he paid no attention to what he was drawing. Only when he finally snapped back to his senses did he realize he had unknowingly sketched Xu Zeyan’s portrait.

The figure in the portrait, however, had a coldness in his eyes, a stark contrast to the gentle man Luo Shuheng had seen before.

Luo Shuheng tapped his head with the brush. *Why did I draw Xu Zeyan?*

He set the brush aside and examined the portrait more closely. This was the Xu Zeyan he had seen in his past life, when the County Magistrate’s estate was being raided.

After a moment’s thought, he decided to destroy the drawing. As an unmarried *ge’er*, keeping a portrait of another man in his room could damage his reputation.

But just as he was about to tear it, he hesitated. In the end, he simply tucked the painting away, hiding it deep in his wardrobe.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, Luo Shuheng spent his days either secretly gathering information on Xu Zeyan’s movements or secluded in his room, mulling over his plans.

His grandmother’s sixtieth birthday was only a month away. The family would be hosting a grand celebration, and his second uncle and aunt would surely arrive early to escort her back. He would have no choice but to go with them. If he didn’t act now, he might never get another chance.

But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t devise a good plan. His frustration only grew.

Just then, he heard that a country fair was about to be held. Luo Shuheng decided to go and clear his head.

The country fair was a regular market held on the first and fifteenth of each month, where people from nearby villages gathered to buy and sell goods.

The country fair was held in the open space at the crossroads of Cloud Field Village and Elm Tree Village. It wasn’t far, and Luo Shuheng walked there with the other villagers.

The fair was bustling with people: farmers in coarse cloth tunics, young boys with their hair tied in knots, women with bamboo baskets on their arms, peddlers carrying shoulder poles, and even young masters and ladies coming to join the festivities.

The vendors simply spread old cloths on the ground or set up small carts, displaying their wares to create a stall.

They sold a chaotic mix of items: grain, fruits, vegetables, chickens, ducks, cloth, farm tools, salt, oil, sewing kits, jewelry, and toys. Though it couldn’t compare to the prosperity of the town, it had its own unique charm.

After wandering for a while, Luo Shuheng’s gaze settled on a small stall displaying various pieces of jewelry and a few jade pendants.

Looking at the jade pendants, a bold idea took root in his mind.

After a moment’s thought, he walked over and examined them closely. His eyes landed on a pendant of slightly better quality. “Shopkeeper, how much for this jade pendant?”

The shopkeeper, a young man, greeted him enthusiastically upon seeing a customer inquiring about a price. He picked up the pendant to show it off. “Young master, this jade pendant is of excellent quality and very reasonably priced. It’s only forty wen.”

Luo Shuheng pursed his lips. *So expensive.*

His second uncle and aunt rarely gave him money. His grandmother would, but he had already spent a lot on brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and embroidery thread over the years. Now, he only had one tael and fifty-five wen in hand.

He couldn’t touch that one tael of silver, as he needed it for other things. He only had the fifty-five wen to spend. If he bought this jade pendant, he would have almost nothing left.

The jade pendant would likely never sell, or at least not for much. If he spent the money and the marriage didn’t work out, wouldn’t he be losing big?

His gaze fell on another jade pendant, only about the size of a finger joint. “How about this one?”

“This one is cheaper, only twenty wen.”

Luo Shuheng still felt it was a bit too expensive. He asked about other jade pendants, but the cheapest one was fifteen wen. After hesitating for a while, he decided not to buy anything and planned to look elsewhere.

After walking a few steps, he spotted Xu Zeyan. He was also running a stall, this time selling wooden hairpins. The craftsmanship wasn’t very fine, but the styles were fresh and beautiful, attracting many *ge’er* and young women to stop and look.

For reasons he couldn’t quite figure out, Luo Shuheng quietly approached a nearby stall and pretended to browse, while secretly observing Xu Zeyan’s stall from the side.

His vantage point was excellent. With a quick glance, he saw a group of Ge’er and young women chattering as they browsed the hairpins. Some held them up to their hair, others huddled together in hushed discussion, and some took the opportunity to boldly strike up a conversation with Xu Zeyan.

“Scholar Xu, did you make these hairpins yourself?”

“I did indeed.”

“Scholar Xu, your craftsmanship is truly remarkable.”

“You flatter me, young lady.”

Xu Zeyan handled every question with poise, explaining the materials and designs of the hairpins in detail. His every gesture was refined and courteous, naturally drawing people’s goodwill.

Luo Shuheng noticed several of the Ge’er and women blushing, their shy glances clearly revealing their interest in Xu Zeyan.

After watching for a while, a question dawned on him.

Xu Zeyan was handsome, gentle-tempered, skilled at hunting, a master hairpin maker, and well-educated. Even though he was currently penniless, he had no shortage of admirers. So why had he never married? Could it be… some kind of hidden ailment?

Luo Shuheng looked at Xu Zeyan, his eyes flickering with sympathy.

How pitiful.

Fortunately, he only wanted the title of the Grand Secretary’s husband and had no desire for children. Even if the man was… lacking in that department, it wouldn’t be a problem.

Xu Zeyan suddenly sneezed, prompting the Ge’er and women to shower him with concern.

“Scholar Xu, have you caught a chill?”

“The mornings and evenings have been cold lately. You must take care of your health, Scholar Xu. It’s no fun to be sick.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Luo Shuheng moved to another spot to continue his observation, knowing that lingering too long at one stall would draw unwanted attention.

After watching for a while, he felt a wave of frustration.

Among the ge’er and young women, there were many beauties, yet Xu Zeyan remained completely unmoved. It seemed he had no taste for such charms, which meant Luo Shuheng’s own good looks were likely useless.

He glanced at the sky, sighed softly, and decided to head back to the Old Residence before making his next move.

On the way, he encountered a peddler carrying a load of goods. There were a few jade pendants on the shoulder pole. Luo Shuheng stopped him and asked the price.

“Only eight wen.”

Cradling the newly purchased jade pendant, Luo Shuheng patted the money pouch in his robe and winced at the thought of the cost.

He would go find Xu Zeyan tomorrow.

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