Chapter 42: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

 FlamingoBees 

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 Chapter 42: 

 

Thinking of this, Lian Binglan said, "The Old Princess Consort’s urgency for the marriage... Father and Mother absolutely cannot agree. However, if we refuse bluntly, it would damage the relationship between the families. Instead, we could say that I’m ill, suffering from a severe rash and unable to endure any stress. This way, we can gently refuse the pressure to marry and also wait for my cousin to return from Jin Jia Pass before making any further plans."

Lian Binglan thought for a long time before coming up with this temporary solution.

Madam Lian Chu regretted not thinking of such an excuse earlier when the Old Princess Consort first brought up the marriage proposal. 

Thus, the Lian family agreed on this plan and promptly invited a familiar doctor. They also sent maidservants and servants to buy medicine, with some precious medicinal materials needing to be sourced from the palace, which also allowed them to subtly inform the palace staff of their situation.

Soon, news of the Lian family miss’s urgent illness began to spread.

By the time the Old Princess Consort recovered from the shock of her son’s impending departure, a day had passed. She seriously discussed the matter of marriage with her son before his expedition.

Cui Xingzhou was busy mobilizing troops for the Western expedition, and he had little time to think about these matters. However, if it made his mother feel more comfortable, he agreed to proceed with the marriage arrangements.

When the Old Princess Consort invited the Lian family to discuss the wedding arrangements, only Madam Lian Chu showed up. Lian Hanshan, being shy and simple-minded, was afraid of revealing the truth in front of his sister-in-law, so Madam Lian Chu came alone.

"Old Princess Consort, listen to this—how can my daughter Binglan be so troublesome? She’s been complaining about feeling unwell for some time. Now that she hears that Xingzhou is going to the battlefield, it's like her worries have ignited a fire in her heart. Her entire body is covered in red rashes, each one weeping. The doctor says that if she doesn’t get proper care, the heat will affect her heart and lungs, and it will be incurable... Binglan is more than willing to proceed with the wedding, but as her mother, I know her body can’t withstand much strain. If I agree without considering her health, and her condition worsens... How will I face the next life if something happens to her?"

As she spoke, her tears flowed like rain.

Cui Xingzhou, having agreed to his mother’s wishes, came to meet with the Lian family today. The wedding is scheduled for tomorrow, and he will depart for the northwest the day after.

Unlike his mother, Cui Xingzhou was not naive enough to take his aunt’s words at face value. Observing his mother’s constant inquiries about Lian Binglan’s condition, he couldn’t help but sneer internally.

Wasn’t his aunt’s message essentially a refusal? She was only concerned about him being sent off to face possible death and feared that her daughter would become a widow.

This is actually quite common among people, but when it comes to oneself, it creates a deep sense of dissatisfaction.

After his aunt left, Cui Xingzhou was supposed to head to the military camp.

However, just as he reached the door, he stopped in his tracks, turned back, and summoned the steward. He instructed, “Find out when Miss Lian’s illness started and how severe it is… Be discreet about it and avoid making it too obvious.”

The steward was sharp and had understood the implication when he saw only Madam Lian Chu arriving. He immediately grasped the situation and was determined to handle the task carefully.

When Cui Xingzhou was inspecting the temporary allocation of grain and supplies in the military camp, a servant from the steward arrived at the camp and whispered to Mo Ru before waiting outside the tent.

Mo Ru entered and relayed the message quietly: “The steward used money to bribe a servant from the Lian family. According to him, Miss Lian was perfectly fine. However, on the day the imperial edict was announced, Madam Lian hurried back to the residence, called for the master, the eldest son, and Miss Lian, and they locked themselves in the study for the whole night. The next day, Miss Lian fell ill… The personal servants have been sworn to secrecy and are not allowed to speak to outsiders.”

This was exactly what Cui Xingzhou had anticipated, but he still felt a deep frustration.

Since receiving the imperial edict, he had been seething with anger. Yet, he couldn’t show any sign of it in front of his subordinates or even his mother.

What surprised him was that his future wife seemed to be distancing herself from him at such a crucial moment.

At this point, his frustration could no longer be contained. He suddenly lifted his foot and, with a loud crash, kicked over the table in front of him.

The guards and Mo Ru in the tent all lowered their heads and dared not make a sound.

Cui Xingzhou’s temperament was always decisive. Since his future in-laws had many concerns and were unwilling to initiate an annulment themselves, and since his cousin had to feign illness, he decided it was best to avoid complicating his cousin’s future.

With this in mind, Cui Xingzhou took a moment to calm down, allowed Mo Ru to set the table back up, and re-spread the white paper. He then meticulously wrote out the document for the annulment of the engagement.

The reasons for the annulment were presented in a grand and righteous manner. He stated that he was going to war for the country with a determined resolve to die in battle. Unless he could drive out the barbarians, he would not return home.

However, the youth and beauty of a woman should not be wasted, and as such, he and his cousin, Lian Binglan, were clearly not fated to be together. He hoped they could find happiness in their next lives. Thus, he annulled the engagement between their families and hoped that his cousin would find a good match and live well.

The language of the annulment letter was both noble and courteous. However, after writing it, Cui Xingzhou sent the steward to the Lian residence to inform them that the words of their servant, who had inadvertently "let slip" information to the palace servant, had reached the prince’s ears.

Cui Xingzhou wanted the Lian family to know that he was fully aware of their schemes. He wanted to avoid any more pretense or unnecessary excuses when the annulment letter arrived.

When the annulment document, complete with the prince’s seal, was delivered to the Lian residence, Lian Hanshan was frantic and stamped his feet in frustration. He regretted not standing firm and allowing his wife’s manipulation to lead them into such a clumsy and transparent ruse.

The steward personally delivered the annulment letter, but the implication of the words was embarrassingly blunt.

"Look at this! Our Lian family’s reputation is being completely ruined by this mother and daughter duo. Prince Huaiyang is sacrificing himself for the country, while our family is scheming and pretending illness. How will Binglan ever face others in the future?”

Madam Lian Chu was also taken aback by the Prince of Huaiyang’s resolute decision. In her anger, she said, “What a disgrace! He’s not even married yet and has kept a concubine in Lingquan Town. We’ve known about this for a long time and have been covering for him in front of the Old Princess Consort. And now he turns around and gets angry with our daughter... He has no right to be so righteous! I’ll go to my sister and speak about this properly. How can he justify this?”

Lian Hanshan slammed the table in frustration and said, “What time is it? The entire region of Zhenzhou is busy preparing to head to the northwest. Even youths from other regions are coming forward eagerly to enlist. Loyal and righteous mothers are using ink needles to tattoo their sons’ backs to show their devotion to the country. And here you are, as an official’s family, showing such a lack of understanding. You’re stirring up trouble and spreading discord in front of the Old Princess Consort. Do you even care about how this will affect my reputation among my colleagues?”

Lian Binglan stood by, biting her lip and saying nothing.

She hadn't expected that after her cousin saw through her pretense of illness, he would be so resolute, leaving the Lian family with no room for maneuver.

Was he angry with her, or had he been planning to end the engagement for some time?

Although Lian Binglan did not want to marry before the war, she had never imagined that the engagement with her cousin would be broken off. The frustration she felt was even more painful than receiving news of her cousin's death in battle.

At that moment, Lian Xuan had just returned from the government office. Hearing the argument between his parents, he stomped his foot in frustration and said, “Mother, what are you arguing about? Don’t you know that now the entire Zhenzhou is spreading news of the Prince of Huaiyang’s engagement being broken and his determination to sacrifice himself for the country? Everyone is moved to tears, praising his loyalty. At this critical moment, causing trouble only makes it seem like you lack understanding.”

Lian Xuan's words were not without merit. It was likely that the servants from both households had let slip some details, combined with the general knowledge that Prince Huaiyang's expedition might be a one-way trip. To the common people, the Prince's breaking of the engagement was seen as a noble act, clearly indicating he did not want to bring misfortune to the girl.

A young prince who combines loyalty and righteousness is worthy of admiration from all.

Hearing her father and brother, Lian Binglan no longer shed tears.

She knew the most effective way to salvage the situation was to rush to her cousin's horse and publicly tear up the annulment letter, making a declaration of her unwavering commitment to wait for him.

Such an act would be more poetic than any written words, demonstrating an unmatched devotion.

However, she was also frustrated.

Her cousin’s actions, disregarding the Lian family's face and her own feelings, showed he had seen through her pretense. Even if they were to marry in the future, there would always be a lingering awkwardness between them.

At that moment, Lian Binglan recalled a time when she and her cousin walked a small path under the moonlight. The path seemed short, but it felt long as they walked in silence. He walked at a pace she couldn’t quite keep up with, leaving her to follow behind, lost in thought.

However, Lian Binglan also thought about how her cousin's reasons for breaking off the engagement were still somewhat noble and did not tarnish her reputation. He had, in a way, considered her feelings.

After stewing in her frustration for a while, Lian Binglan managed to calm herself.

Given the situation, she could no longer afford to worry about maintaining the image of a proper young lady.

She planned to veil herself and rush to her cousin’s horse the next day when the army departed, expressing her willingness to wait for him.

Since her cousin would already be preparing to leave, even if she declared her willingness, they could not marry immediately.

This way, she could mend the relationship between the Cui and Lian families, possibly win back her cousin’s feelings, and most importantly, avoid an hasty marriage before the battle, which would have left her with no way out.

Thinking of this, Lian Binglan felt a bit more at ease. She planned to wait by the roadside the next morning to see her cousin and his troops off.

When dawn broke the next day, the streets were already bustling with people who had come from all directions.

The Lian family had occupied a tea house by the roadside early on, avoiding the crowded throngs and quietly waiting for the troops from Zhenzhou.

From her elevated vantage point, Lian Binglan noticed that Miss He Zhen from Lingquan Town had also arrived, eagerly stretching her neck and holding a bouquet of flowers.

It seemed that the news of the broken engagement had reached Miss He. What was she planning to do with those flowers? Did she not consider her own status? Even if her cousin was to marry someone else in the future, would he choose a merchant’s daughter?

In fact, it wasn't just Miss He; the roadside was filled with young girls, each holding bouquets of flowers, ready to offer them to the heroic soldiers.

Lian Binglan snorted in disdain.

She was determined to reach her cousin before Miss He did, intercept his procession, and express her true feelings. She wanted him to understand that her illness was genuine and not a mere excuse to avoid marriage.

To convince her cousin, she had even taken a special medicinal brew from the doctor, and by the previous night, her face and body had broken out in red rashes. She hoped that seeing this would make it impossible for her cousin to remain indifferent.

Thinking about this, Lian Binglan scratched her arm restlessly. The medicine was indeed making her uncomfortable, with a persistent itch all over her body. She hoped her cousin would arrive soon so she could cry at his horse’s front and persuade him to retract the letter of disengagement, after which she could return home and take a remedy to ease her discomfort.

But soon, an official's servant came by, banging a gong and shouting, “Everyone disperse! The Prince's army set out last night! Everyone, disperse!”

Lian Binglan was stunned upon hearing this. She sat there dazed, thinking—her cousin had left just like that. What should she do now?

It turned out that after inspecting the route, Cui Xingzhou deemed it too urgent and had packed up and quietly departed with his troops the night before.

There was no time for a proper send-off due to the Emperor's orders urging him to leave immediately. 

As he was leaving Zhenzhou, Cui Xingzhou had taken a moment to think about arranging for Mian Tang on North Street.

Although he didn’t want to tempt fate, realistically, this departure had a high chance of being permanent.

If Mian Tang lost his protection and fell into the hands of the Yangshan Sect, her situation would likely be dire.

Cui Xingzhou couldn’t arrange for her to be safely settled before leaving, but he knew that Liu Mian Tang should not remain in the mixed environment of Lingquan Town. It was best for her to go into hiding elsewhere.

So, he decided to take decisive action and wrote a letter of divorce.

In the letter, he stated that with the nation in peril, he had resolutely joined the army with several friends, following the troops of Prince Huaiyang to the northwest. He expressed his determination to sacrifice himself for the country and his certainty of not returning. Fortunately, the Cui family had substantial property and houses elsewhere that he had not previously disclosed to her; now, everything was given to her for her support. As for her future, Mo Ru would take her and ensure she was settled safely.

As for her future marriage, she was free to choose her own path and live her life as she wished.

Perhaps due to writing two letters of separation in a single day, Cui Xingzhou had become quite adept at it.

Yet, the second letter seemed to flow less smoothly. He felt some parts were too blunt and feared that Liu Mian Tang might find it distressing and end up with swollen eyes from crying.

So, he revised and polished the letter with considerable effort.

Along with the letter, he also sent the yellowed marriage contract he had retrieved from the fake Cui Jiu, and another document for the divorce.

From now on, Cui Xingzhou had effectively removed Liu Mian Tang's ties to their engagement. She no longer had to consider herself anyone’s wife and was free to remarry if she wished.

In the chaos of the times and the ever-changing battlefield, no one could predict the future.

Cui Xingzhou believed this was all he could do for Liu Mian Tang.

As for how Liu Mian Tang would react, he did not dwell on it.

But there is an old saying: “Husband and wife are like birds in the same forest; when disaster strikes, they each fly their own way.”

Just like his cousin Lian Binglan, who, despite her apparent affection for him, started planning her own escape upon learning of the possibility that he might not return. She sought to secure her future with a backup plan.

As for why he chose not to reveal the lie and continued to deceive Liu Mian Tang under the pretense of being Cui Jiu, there was a subtle intention behind it.

If he truly does not return, he hopes that Liu Mian Tang will remember him as the considerate and caring merchant Cui Jiu, rather than the deceitful Prince Huaiyang who had tricked her. 

In the future, if he were to meet his end on the battlefield, he would still like to think that a woman might shed a tear of longing for him in the quiet of the night. As for her loss of virtue in the hands of the Yangshan bandits, he chose not to mention it—being dismissed from a marriage was better to him than having her reputation tarnished. Why should he inflict the harsh truth upon her?

However, two days after he left, Mo Ru returned in haste. He reported that after Liu Mian Tang received Cui Jiu's divorce letter, she did not say a word. Instead, she directed her servants to manage the shop, settle accounts with the shopkeeper, and then proceeded to shut herself away to dig a pit and prepare silver, packing her belongings.

In short, Madam Liu handled the matter with remarkable decisiveness, with no signs of the helpless tears of a discarded wife.

Mo Ru had originally planned to escort Liu Mian Tang to the designated county arranged by the prince. However, Liu Mian Tang suddenly instructed him to buy various items like hemp rope and other supplies from the shop. When Mo Ru returned, Liu Mian Tang, her maid, and old Li Mama were all missing.

Only Li Mama and the secret guards left a message for him, stating that Liu Mian Tang did not want to go to the place arranged by the prince, so she had sent him away and left on her own.

Mo Ru figured that with the protection of the secret guards, Liu Mian Tang should be safe, so he returned to inform the prince of the situation.

Liu Mian Tang's immediate focus on her finances was actually anticipated by Cui Xingzhou.

However, her calm acceptance of her fate, without even a token tear, and her complete lack of the affection she once displayed, left him feeling deeply unsettled.

She used to call him "husband" with such devotion that it made one's bones ache. But now, she had left with her silver without a trace of remorse. This showed that Liu Mian Tang was simply this way by nature—regardless of memory, she was adept at seizing opportunities and taking her leave with the money.

For a moment, Cui Xingzhou felt he could truly empathize with the feelings of someone who had been robbed.

If he had the time, Cui Xingzhou might have smashed everything in sight and even vented his anger on his parents. But now, he had no time even for such grievances.

The army was pushing forward day and night, striving to reach the northwest as quickly as possible.

Although there were many passionate youths eager to fight and defend, the army was mixed with all kinds of people, including timid deserters. Thus, patrols tasked with catching deserters were constantly on the move.

Whenever a deserter was caught, the army halted its advance. The deserters were stripped of their shirts and publicly executed in front of everyone.

Deserters were frequent along the route, and the executioner's blade was nearly worn out.

Cui Xingzhou remained expressionless and merciless. He had also instructed that the names of these deserters would be sent back to their hometowns and posted on public notices. This way, not only would they be denied the state-issued compensation, but their families would also bear the shame, unable to hold their heads high among the villagers.

“I, like all of you, have left behind family and home, embracing the determination to fight to the death for our cause. This is to ensure that our loved ones can live in peace, with a safe home and land to keep. If you refuse to fight and choose to desert, you will surely meet a grim fate. Since we are all destined to die, why not do so on the battlefield, fighting bravely against our enemies? Furthermore, glory is often sought through risk! If you wish to achieve greatness, isn’t this vast battlefield the perfect opportunity to make a name for yourself? As the saying goes, ‘Ascend the Lingyan Pavilion, and the scholar becomes a marquis.’ Isn’t this the principle at play here? Do any of you wish to achieve greatness and become renowned officials and generals of the Great Yan?”

After executing a batch of deserters, Cui Xingzhou, mounted on horseback and standing by the blood-stained road, addressed the soldiers. 

His words were few but resonated deeply. Everyone knew about the story of the loyal and determined Prince An who had, before setting out, broken off his engagement with Miss Lian, all in the name of fighting with a resolve to die for his country.

Prince Huaiyang, despite his high status and vast wealth, had chosen to lead his troops into battle. So what were they—poor and landless—afraid of?

As the Prince had said, "Why not fight the enemy if we’re already headed to the northwest? Why choose to be a deserter and die pitiably by the roadside in a barren wasteland?"

After executing the deserters as a warning, the number of such incidents sharply decreased. The soldiers from Zhenzhou began to unite, their spirits lifted as they pressed on towards the front lines.

However, after five days and nights of marching, the chief of the patrol cavalry arrived at full gallop, hesitantly reporting to General Cui Xingzhou, “Reporting to the Commander, we’ve been following a suspicious carriage that has been covertly trailing our main force. My men suspected it might be an espionage vehicle, so we detained the occupants.”

Cui Xingzhou, who was examining a map from his horse, replied without looking up, “Proceed with the interrogation. If anything suspicious is found, deal with it accordingly.”

The chief understood this well, but while restraining the detainees, a black-faced old woman had handed him a token from the Prince’s residence, requesting to see Master Cui—the esteemed lord.

While the young woman was momentarily distracted, the black-faced old woman whispered urgently to the patrol chief, “Please ensure the Commander delivers this token to the Prince himself. If you delay, the Prince will surely punish you severely!”

The token was authentic, and the black-faced old woman had a menacing presence, so the chief hurried to report to the Prince.

Upon inspecting the token, Cui Xingzhou confirmed its legitimacy. The description matched Li Mama, who should have left with Liu Mian Tang. 

Cui Xingzhou was momentarily taken aback and ordered Mo Ru to investigate further.

Moments later, Mo Ru returned swiftly with the report, “Your Highness, it is indeed Liu Mian Tang and her people!”

Without waiting for more details, Cui Xingzhou dismounted and strode purposefully towards the rear of the convoy. However, after a few steps, he remembered something, pointed to a nearby centurion, and indicated that he should remove his armor so that Cui Xingzhou could wear it.

Once he had removed his gilded armor and donned the worn leather armor, Cui Xingzhou continued his determined walk towards the rear of the convoy.

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