Chapter 65: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

 FlamingoBees 

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 Chapter 65: 

 

Lu Xian was so anxious he could climb the walls, but there was no one with whom he could share his concerns. When Prince Huaiyang's men summoned him, he had no choice but to brace himself and go.

This time, the scene was quite different from the relaxed family gathering they had last shared. The prince sat solemnly behind a desk piled high with documents, his jade crown and golden belt in place, his thick brows furrowed in concentration as he tirelessly reviewed the paperwork—a picture of relentless dedication.

When Lu Xian entered, he immediately knelt to pay his respects to the prince. However, Prince Huaiyang didn't raise his head for quite some time, leaving Lu Xian nervously kneeling there.

After a long pause, the prince finally looked up and said coolly, "Why is Mr. Lu still kneeling? Please rise."

Lu Xian understood that the prince was intentionally putting him in his place. But as a mere commoner standing before such a distinguished and powerful figure, what could he do? He quickly expressed his thanks but did not dare to rise.

With a wave of his hand, Cui Xingzhou ordered Mo Ru to bring a chair for Lu Xian to sit on.

Lu Xian finally stood up and cautiously perched on the edge of the chair.

Prince Huaiyang, appearing amiable, inquired about Lu Xian's recovery from his previous injuries and asked about the health of the elders in the Lu family.

When the small talk had nearly run its course, Lu Xian, unable to bear the tension any longer, spoke up, "My niece is quite thoughtless and has disturbed Your Highness for far too long. Today, I was thinking of taking her back, so as not to intrude further upon Your Highness's rest."

Cui Xingzhou smiled lightly. "She came to check on my leg injury out of concern; it's hardly a disturbance. I've been looking after her for some time now—what difference do a few more days make?"

This response left Lu Xian at a loss for how to continue. Gritting his teeth, he avoided responding to that particular point and instead said, "If there is nothing else, then I shall take my leave, along with my niece."

Leaning back in his chair, Cui Xingzhou tapped his long fingers on the desk and said, "I hear that the Lu family has had no shortage of matchmakers visiting lately. Is Master Lu so eager to return in order to continue arranging a marriage for Mian Tang?"

Lu Xian's heart skipped a beat. It was odd that Prince Huaiyang knew the affairs of the Lu family so well. He couldn't quite grasp the prince's intentions, so he replied softly, "It's not that, really. I'm just worried that the elders at home are anxious."

Cui Xingzhou nodded. "That's good. Others might not know, but Master Lu, you're well aware that Mian Tang and I are only a step away from being formally wed. Two years of marital affection can't be forgotten so easily, can it? As long as she remains safely in the Lu household, that's fine. But if someone were to quietly marry her off elsewhere, how would that reflect on me?"

Lu Xian, a man of few words, found Prince Huaiyang's statement to be absurd, yet there was something in the prince's firm and reasonable tone that left him unsure of how to counter it. The sheer confidence in the prince's claim gave it an odd air of legitimacy.

But... based on his words, wouldn’t Mian Tang have to remain single her entire life, unable to marry anyone?

Summoning his courage, Lu Xian said, "As for Mian Tang's marriage, it's not my decision to make; it's entirely up to the elders in the family. Your Highness also mentioned that Mian Tang and you aren’t formally married. To put it bluntly... it was just... an informal relationship, which doesn't hold any weight anywhere. Didn't Your Highness let Mian Tang return home, granting her freedom to marry, with no obligations between you two?"

Cui Xingzhou frowned, his tone turning cold. "How could you, as her elder, speak of your own niece in such a degrading manner? Moreover, Mian Tang is as respectable as anyone could be. If she knew you were speaking of her this way, wouldn’t she be heartbroken? And besides, you know she was once with me, yet you insist on marrying her off to another man. What’s your real intention here? Her future husband, if he finds out about this past, how would he treat her then?"

Lu Xian, of course, knew the predicament Mian Tang was in now. But even if every man on earth were gone, she still couldn’t marry Prince Huaiyang!

And if, one day, Cui Xingzhou ever found out what Mian Tang had been involved in before... just the thought of it made Lu Xian break out in a cold sweat.

But when it came to arguing, Lu Xian could never outmatch Prince Huaiyang. Growing increasingly anxious, his boldness as a man of the martial world surged up, and he glared, asking, "So what is Your Highness saying—do you plan to waste my niece's life away?"

Cui Xingzhou waved his hand, signaling Mo Ru to pour another cup of tea for Lu Xian. "You're misunderstanding the situation, Lu Xian. Mian Tang and I are simply at odds with each other at the moment. She can’t possibly stay angry with me forever, can she? Though I’m preoccupied with state affairs and have little time for personal matters, if, while I’m dedicating myself to the country, someone schemes to steal away my woman, even if I were to descend to the Yellow Springs, I would never let that happen!"

With those words, the matter was effectively sealed. The gist was clear—he might allow her to be taken away, but marriage was out of the question!

When Lu Xian left Prince Huaiyang's study, Mo Ru led him to a courtyard within the estate. As soon as he entered, he saw Mian Tang in the process of removing the splints from her hands and feet.

Over the past few days, her limbs had regained much of their former strength. Though she could never be as healthy as she once was, she could easily handle daily tasks without much difficulty.

Since there was still a fear that the tendons in her limbs might shift again, they had remained fixed in place for some time. Now that her condition had improved, and since the splints made it difficult to move, she decided to remove them altogether.

However, Lu Xian didn’t even ask about her hands and feet. He anxiously blurted out, "Why have you come back to him again? Do you even know what he just said to me?"

Mian Tang dismissed the maid who had been attending to her. Once the room was empty, she calmly said to her uncle, "Whatever His Highness says, just treat it like he’s talking nonsense. I’ve already had Bi Cao and Fang Xie pack our things. We can return to Xizhou at any time."

Lu Xian slapped his thigh in frustration. "But he’s Prince Huaiyang! To commoners like us, his words are like bolts of thunder from a clear sky. How can we ignore them? He… he means to say you aren’t allowed to marry anyone else!"

Mian Tang had already heard all of Cui Xingzhou's domineering declarations earlier, so she wasn't surprised. As she calmly folded her clothes, she spoke gently to her uncle, "He’s just trying to save face. Back at Wuning Pass, I shouldn’t have been the first to suggest leaving; I should have waited for him to urge me to go. Now, the Prince feels his pride has been hurt, unable to bear being discarded first, so he’s trying to regain some dignity. He’s no longer young, and once the war in the northwest ends, his mother will arrange a marriage for him. Once he has a wife and children, where will he have time to worry about others?"

Mian Tang spoke lightly, but Lu Xian found Cui Xingzhou's words far from mere jokes. "But what if he keeps thinking of you? Does that mean you won’t marry? And these past few days... have you two…?"

Some questions were too awkward for an uncle to ask, and Lu Xian, flustered, couldn’t help but twist his mustache.

Mian Tang, however, kindly relieved her uncle's embarrassment. "Since I now know that he’s not my husband, I naturally haven’t shared a room with him. I’m just giving him some time to gradually separate from me."

Lu Xian had married according to his parents’ arrangements, so all this talk of romantic entanglements, partings, and reunions between young lovers was completely foreign to him. But seeing Mian Tang so calm and collected, he began to feel that perhaps the situation wasn’t as dire as he had imagined. Yet the idea of Cui Xingzhou not allowing Mian Tang to marry still troubled him deeply.

"What if he never takes a wife? Does that mean you’ll never find a husband? Girls aren’t like men—they can’t afford to wait too long!" he said, his voice tinged with concern.

Mian Tang only smiled lightly. "Uncle, you’re overthinking it. Even a retired madam with some wealth by her side can attract plenty of young men. I’m not exactly ugly—if I earn enough money in the future, I might even find someone more handsome than him."

Lu Xian couldn’t help but think that Mian Tang had the same flaw as her mother, focusing too much on a man’s appearance. The conversation took an unexpected turn as they began discussing how to recognize a man’s inner virtues instead of just his looks.

Seeing her uncle distracted, Mian Tang quietly let out a sigh of relief.

In truth, Cui Xingzhou's regret over their hasty parting had indeed caught her off guard. But no matter what happened, she knew that she and he were destined to be apart in this lifetime. These recent days together were nothing more than fleeting illusions—a temporary beauty, allowing them to create some final memories.

Now that his leg was no longer a concern, she could rest easy.

In the future, she must always remember that Cui Xingzhou was never the fallen Cui Jiu she once thought him to be. This was a man destined for great things, and his well-being was something she no longer needed to worry about.

She had made the mistake of coming here and getting involved with him, but next time, she would certainly be wiser and stay out of his affairs.

Her uncle, Lu Xian, wanted to leave immediately, but Cui Xingzhou persuaded him to stay for a few more days, to enjoy the hot springs and the fine food in Youzhou before departing.

Meanwhile, the situation in the northwest had undergone a significant change.

Lin Siyue—whose true name was Princess Chun Yue—had officially been granted a title by the Great Yan dynasty, becoming the Lady Chanyu of the nomadic tribes. As for A'Gushan, he had been relentlessly pursued by Cui Xingzhou’s forces and fled to the north of the Snowy Mountains, losing all his influence.

In less than a year, Cui Xingzhou had managed to pacify the northwest, achieving great military success. Under normal circumstances, he should have returned to the capital to report and hand over his command.

However, due to his leg injury, he now had a legitimate reason to remain in Youzhou to recuperate, enjoying a rare period of leisure after a year of hard-fought battles.

Although it was only early February, Youzhou, being located in a basin, enjoyed a particularly warm and gentle spring. The slopes outside the city were covered in a vast sea of butterfly flowers.

The purple blossoms blanketed the hills, forming an expansive ocean of flowers that attracted many couples and friends. When they encountered particularly lush patches, they would lay down their mats, sit on the ground, and sip the wine and cold delicacies they had brought, basking in the beauty of the springtime.

Prince Huaiyang traveled incognito, and although he was accompanied by many servants, they looked no different from the groups of young noblemen enjoying the outing.

However, his leg had not yet fully healed, and he still walked with a cane.

From a distance, this elegant and handsome young lord, adorned in a jade crown and scholar’s robe, limped as he walked, eliciting a sense of pity from those who saw him.

Beside this refined gentleman stood a woman in white who commanded even more attention.

While most women in spring favored bright and colorful dresses to enhance their beauty, the overly vibrant attire could clash with the surrounding flowers, failing to create a harmonious effect.

Yet, this woman’s simple white dress was perfect amid the pale purple sea of blossoms. With her slender waist and her dark hair elegantly styled, every glance she cast over her shoulder took the breath away from onlookers. It was as if a fairy from the flowers had leapt out and come to life amidst the bloom.

Lu Xian did not follow them but sat on a mat a short distance away.

The pair by the riverbank seemed to be deep in conversation. Lu Mian Tang made Prince Huaiyang laugh heartily, but she still appeared somewhat annoyed.

Next, Prince Huaiyang, disregarding conventional propriety, reached out and took Lu Mian Tang’s hand, shaking her arm back and forth as if he were coaxing a child.

Seeing this, Lu Xian’s anxiety flared, and he immediately stood up, ready to intervene and separate them.

However, before he could move, he was hindered by the servant Mo Ru, who caught his arm: “Ah, Master Lu, I just poured you some hot wine. Please drink it while it’s warm!”

Lu Xian, flustered and stuttering, said, “Drink… drink… drink what? He… he’s holding… holding…”

Mo Ru followed his gaze. By now, Prince Huaiyang had stopped holding Lu Mian Tang’s hand and was instead crouching by the riverbank, using a stick to draw something in the river sand.

The two of them were huddled close together, whispering to each other in what looked like a tender and intimate scene, reminiscent of young lovers enjoying a spring outing.

Mo Ru glanced at the pair and found them quite a sight to behold. He then turned back to Lu Xian and said, “To be blunt, if it weren’t for your sudden appearance at Wuning Pass, our Prince and Miss Lu would have been quite content together. Instead, you showed up, caused everything to be thrown into disarray, and took Miss Lu away without a word. It kept our Prince up at night! Fortunately, our Prince is a great talent with immense self-discipline and capability. He managed to drive the barbarians away, but if it weren’t for his skills, just your quiet removal of Miss Lu and the resulting disturbance to his mind could have been grounds for charging you with disrupting military morale!”

Lu Xian, always straightforward, was so flustered by Mo Ru’s words that he was left speechless: “Charge… charge…”

Bi Cao, who had been listening nearby, was not having any of it and immediately jumped to her master’s defense: “Charge you, big-headed fool! Your Prince treats our master with the utmost courtesy, and here you are making accusations! May I ask, Mo Ru, are you now a general or a marshal, to be talking about charges and offenses?”

Mo Ru was not pleased and immediately began bickering with Bi Cao.

It was only when Li Mama’s face darkened and she spoke in a low voice, “What are you all arguing about? If you keep it up, you’ll all go back and face punishment!” that the argument came to an end.

At that moment, Lu Xian looked again and saw that the two had already walked quite far. He approached the riverbank and noticed a line of poetry written in elegant, flowing script on the ground: 

"Last night’s dreams left uncollected, only remembering the faint light of a lonely lamp. Reunion, though brief, like a fleeting moment, gazing at the day when swallows become a pair…”

The poetry was truly romantic!

Lu Xian had never written poetry to woo young ladies in his youth. But his father used to say that the most shameless literary men would boldly express what should be quiet, intimate feelings, and might even create a famous line that people would recite for generations.

Those who could write such sentimental verses were surely not ordinary people!

Now, Lu Xian saw how insightful his father had been. It seemed young girls were easily swayed by such poetry.

Lu Xian was genuinely concerned that his niece might again be enchanted by the poetic charms of Prince Huaiyang and, unable to resist his persistent courtship, might agree to become his concubine.

In reality, Prince Huaiyang had written the poem out of genuine feeling. He used to be impatient with such poetic gestures when his cousin would send him verses under the moonlight.

Now, he realized that writing such sentimental poetry came quite naturally to him. 

Unfortunately, Mian Tang didn't seem to appreciate it and became more upset after reading the poem.

"Always looking so sulky, almost like a steamed bun," Prince Huaiyang said, holding her hand as they walked. "Didn’t we agree to focus on cheerful things today and not bring up anything unpleasant?"

Even when she was angry, Mian Tang was strikingly beautiful, with the shimmering water by the river making her face glow and her brows framed in light.

Mian Tang sighed and said, "The escort agency has too many issues that need my direct attention. I really can’t delay any longer. Please understand, and allow me and my uncle to return tomorrow."

Prince Huaiyang stopped and said, "Didn't we agree to stay a bit longer?"

Mian Tang lowered her head, her eyelids drooping as she replied, "That was your decision, not mine."

Prince Huaiyang stretched out his words, "In the past, every time I was about to leave, you were always reluctant to part. What’s changed now? Why the eagerness to separate?"

Mian Tang turned her face away, coldly saying, "I was naïve before, and didn’t realize I was being deceived. Now that I’ve grown a year older, I can’t remain foolish forever. If the prince finds it displeasing, you can always find someone else. With your looks and talent, you could easily find someone willing to cook and sew for you, and always keep you happy."

Prince Huaiyang took a deep breath, realizing that he had no chance in this kind of discussion. He sighed and gently patted her back, saying, "Alright, it was my fault before. I shouldn't have deceived you. Since you want to leave, I won’t hold you back. It won’t be long before I head to Xizhou myself... Don’t worry about anything. I’ll take care of everything from now on. When we return to Zhenzhou, everything will be just as you wish..."

Mian Tang didn’t respond immediately, her resolve firm in her decision not to return to Zhenzhou with him. If he still harbored intentions of marrying her as a concubine, he would have to eventually give up on that idea.

The next day, Mian Tang boarded the ship with her uncle. Unlike their sudden departure from Wuning Pass, this time Prince Huaiyang personally escorted them to the docks.

“This time, I’ve arranged for Li Mama to accompany you back,” Prince Huaiyang said, indicating the elderly Li Mama who was carrying a bundle.

Mian Tang, upon hearing that Li Mama was to accompany her, immediately spoke up, “There’s no need for that. The Lu family isn’t short of servants. I have no shortage of people to attend to me.”

Mian Tang now understood that Li Mama was intended as Prince Huaiyang’s spy, so even if the old woman’s cooking was excellent, she was wary of accepting it.

However, Prince Huaiyang responded, “If you don’t need anyone to attend to you, why have you grown so thin? You frequently crave Li Mama’s specialty dishes but complain about the skills of your own household cooks. Now that I’m sending her with you, you can request whatever you like to eat. Moreover, if you wish to learn some etiquette, Mama can teach you. A young lady shouldn’t only know martial skills but should also be versed in manners.”

Mian Tang replied politely, “I’m just running a protection agency, and with the staff, I prefer simple, hearty meals. The etiquette that Li Mama would teach is more suited for ladies and gentlewomen at tea parties. I likely won’t have much use for it in the future.”

Prince Huaiyang’s face darkened as he said, “In any case, I’ve sent her with you. If you find her unsuitable, you can sell her off to a slave trader.”

As he spoke, Li Mama stood nearby, her posture straight and unmoved. Even if the Prince threatened to sell her off, her expression remained calm and unperturbed.

Li Mama’s demeanor was indeed that of a seasoned palace matron, unshaken by the storm.

However, she cast a glowering look at Mian Tang, her face darkening.

Mian Tang, realizing that such a seasoned servant might be unsettled by the threat, quickly reassured her, “The Prince is just joking. How could I ever sell you off?”

Li Mama responded with proper formality, “What His Highness says is correct. If the young lady finds me lacking in loyalty or diligence, it would be appropriate to sell me or even beat me to death.”

Her casual mention of being beaten to death was delivered with an unsettling calmness, as if it were a mere part of her routine.

Hearing Li Mama’s remarks, Fang Xie and Bi Cao both recoiled.

Previously, when Li Mama scolded them, she had often said that with their lack of progress, if they had entered a royal or noble household, they would have been bundled up in a straw mat and thrown into a graveyard by now!

They had thought she was joking at the time, but now they realized that her words had been laced with a menacing intent.

With Li Mama accompanying them, both young maids wore gloomy expressions.

Prince Huaiyang then gave another round of anxious instructions. Most importantly, he stressed that any letters he sent must be replied to promptly. The previous behavior of not even acknowledging his letters was absolutely intolerable.

Finally, once they were aboard the ship, Lu Xian, glancing back at the Prince still standing at the dock, asked Mian Tang with some apprehension, “Do you think the Prince will be able to let go completely?”

Mian Tang remained silent, walking to the bow of the ship and watching the ripples in the water.

Whether he could let go or not was his own concern. As for her own life, she knew she had to chart her own course.

When she returned, she knew she had to start saving money diligently.

Being burdened with the label of an old maid wasn't as daunting as being both old and poor.

Thinking this way, the separation this time felt less emotionally heavy compared to the first time, despite appearing outwardly calm.

It seemed that Prince Huaiyang's gradual approach to separation had some effect. Mian Tang felt that even before she had returned, there was already a list of tasks awaiting her.

The boat continued its journey without much conversation, and after a few days, they reached the borders of West Prefecture.

Since Mian Tang had left under the pretext of handling matters related to the escort agency, though it had caused some concern for the old master, it was understandable. Only her elder uncle seemed extremely worried and had followed her, while others thought nothing was amiss.

However, the return of Miss Liu, along with the addition of a stern-faced maid, caused Lu Qingying to pout and remark, “The style has really grown, hasn’t it? Two maids aren’t enough, so she brought back another servant! She seems even more like a noble lady than the county magistrate’s daughter!”

At that time, the second branch of the family was having a meal. When Lu Qingying made her acidic comment, Lu Mu shot her a sharp look and said, “That Marquis Zhao is interested in Mian Tang. Once she becomes a favored concubine in the marquis's residence, she’ll certainly have more prestige than you, the granddaughter of a county magistrate! Your cousin is quite formidable. If you talk like this in front of her, she won’t let you off lightly!”

Lu Qingying pouted and replied, “Father, you’re thinking too optimistically. Just because a Marquis shows interest doesn’t mean he’ll bring her into his household. I heard from Master Fan that Marquis Zhao’s family already has many concubines. What’s prestigious about that? When there are so many, they all end up being the same. Perhaps the lord only wants a fleeting romance with her!”

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