Chapter 67: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

 FlamingoBees 

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 Chapter 67: 

 

Seeing Liu Mian Tang's puzzled expression, Prince Sui, Liu Pei, stepped forward with a broad smile and said, "It seems we are fated to meet here."

Liu Mian Tang looked up, her brow furrowed in confusion as she took in the well-dressed man before her. He was tall and robust, not exactly scholarly in appearance but exuding an undeniable aura of nobility and grandeur. 

She realized she didn't recognize him. "And you are...?"

Liu Mian Tang's lack of recognition was understandable. Prince Sui had previously lived a reclusive life with his hair unkempt and a full beard. Now, having returned to a more refined appearance with a golden crown and neatly trimmed mustache, he bore the unmistakable dignity of a high-ranking noble, making him difficult to recognize.

Seeing Liu Mian Tang’s puzzled look, Liu Pei's smile widened. “I used to be a customer at your porcelain shop in Lingquan Town. You personally attended to me—how could you have forgotten?”

Liu Mian Tang realized he was a distinguished guest from her past business dealings, but his current noble demeanor made it hard to remember.

She offered a polite smile, intending to move on toward the ship.

However, Liu Pei wasn’t ready to let her go. He stepped in front of her and said, “This is my first visit to Xizhou, and I’m unfamiliar with the area. Since we’ve met, how about you guide me around Xizhou?”

Liu Mian Tang gave him a sideways glance, finding his persistence oddly familiar.

At that moment, Li Mama quietly reminded her from behind, “Miss, he is Prince Sui…”

Li Mama recognized Liu Pei from his youth. Back then, he was tall but still without a beard. However, Liu Pei did not recognize Li Mama as a servant of the Prince Huaiyang Regents residence.

After Li Mama whispered something in Liu Mian Tang’s ear, her expression turned sharp. She looked at Liu Pei intently and said, “Do you always stop women in the streets and ask them to be your guide?”

Liu Pei smiled, “One must choose wisely. Not everyone is worthy to accompany me.”

At that moment, Yun'niang, who had just disembarked from the boat, approached Liu Pei. Hearing the guards’ talk about a broken carriage axle, she hurried over to speak with him.

Liu Pei’s robust frame blocked Liu Mian Tang from view until Yun'niang got closer and noticed her standing there. 

Yun'niang was taken aback to see Liu Mian Tang and seemed momentarily stunned, unable to say a word.

Liu Mian Tang regarded Yun'niang thoughtfully. Her uncle had mentioned that Yun'niang had spent a long time in Yangshan and that she seemed to have had a remarkable relationship with Young Master Zi Yu, suggesting that their interactions had not been particularly pleasant.

Remembering the past incidents in Lingquan Town, Liu Mian Tang couldn’t help but wonder if Yun'niang’s behavior was related to her own misfortunes, including being dumped into the river after her tendons were cut.

The last time Liu Mian Tang had seen Yun'niang, she had beaten her severely, and now Yun'niang seemed visibly frightened, shrinking back as she noticed Liu Mian Tang’s determined expression.

Liu Pei glanced at Yun'niang, who quickly understood and stepped back, allowing Liu Pei to speak freely.

With a smile, Liu Pei said, “It seems you have your own matters to attend to. I’ll find you later to continue our conversation.” He didn’t inquire about her residence, but simply turned and walked away.

Liu Mian Tang understood that, given Liu Pei’s resources, finding out where she lived would be easy for him. However, she couldn’t fathom why he was here or why he was so insistent on pursuing her.

Liu Pei wasn’t actually here specifically to find Liu Mian Tang. His visit to Xizhou was part of a broader mission to seek out a talented individual. This person had once excelled in the imperial examinations, demonstrating exceptional literary and strategic skills. However, due to involvement in a political faction, he was demoted and exiled from the capital. After a period of idleness in Zhenzhou, he recently returned to service as a minor county magistrate in Xizhou.

Liu Pei had many sycophants around him, but few with real talent and dedication. Li Guangcai, who was closely associated with Cui Xingzhou in the past, had proven his worth but had fallen from grace, becoming a lowly county magistrate in Xizhou. Liu Pei suspected that Li Guangcai must be disgruntled with his current position.

Liu Pei had a penchant for recruiting talented individuals, regardless of their gender—men for their skills and women for their beauty. Although Li Guangcai was not particularly striking in appearance, his abilities were noteworthy. Liu Pei planned to take advantage of the opportunity to recruit him and also to pick up any talent that Prince Huaiyang might have overlooked.

Unexpectedly, upon disembarking, Liu Pei encountered Liu Mian Tang, which he considered a fortunate coincidence.

For Liu Mian Tang, Liu Pei was uncertain whether it was her talent or her appearance that caught his interest, as both were noteworthy upon closer inspection.

For the time being, Liu Pei decided not to rush into visiting Li Guangcai. Instead, he settled into the guest residence arranged for him in Xizhou and instructed his subordinates to investigate how Liu Mian Tang, who had previously been sent to the northwest with the military, ended up here.

Previously, Liu Pei had sent people to capture Liu Mian Tang, but his agents were met with wild wolves in the northwest. Though he had considered sending more people, Liu Mian Tang's husband was in the Prince Huaiyang’s army, making it risky to act too soon and potentially alert Cui Xingzhou. Thus, he had put his plans on hold.

Now that he encountered Liu Mian Tang again, Liu Pei’s curiosity and interest were piqued even further.

As for Yun'iang, she was aware of the situation regarding the Lu family and mentioned to her guardian: “Liu Mian Tang’s grandfather is in Xizhou. It’s possible that she has come to stay with the Lu family. The second uncle, Lu Mu, is familiar with me, so I’ll go and see if I can find out more from him.”

Liu Pei sipped the fragrant tea presented by his favored concubine and, after a taste, glanced sideways and asked, "You seem quite proactive. Since you couldn’t marry Zi Yu, are you now looking to rekindle a sisterly bond with Liu Mian Tang?"

Yun'niang's face tightened at his words.

If not for the opposition from her father and the old factions of the Eastern Palace, she would have been Zi Yu's wife long ago. How could she accept him marrying the plump daughter of General Shi? The sight of Zi Yu and Miss Shi in the capital, happily married and sharing a respectful relationship, only fueled her resentment.

Miss Shi had been married to Zi Yu for less than a year and was already pregnant...

Yun'niang knew that neither she nor Miss Shi was truly in Zi Yu’s heart. Once Zi Yu achieved his ambitions, he would likely bring Liu Mian Tang back to be the mistress of Feng Palace.

Thinking back to how she had tried to bring up the subject of Miss Shi's pregnancy in front of Zi Yu, only for him to respond indifferently, saying, “If Liu Mian Tang wishes to, she may also bring her child to the capital,” she felt a pang of frustration.

In effect, it meant that no matter what, Liu Mian Tang would not be rejected by Zi Yu.

Currently, with the Eastern Palace factions supporting the Shi family, Yun'niang could do nothing about Miss Shi. But in the future, when Zi Yu had succeeded, Liu Mian Tang shouldn’t expect to enjoy the benefits without any effort!

Only by thoroughly tarnishing Liu Mian Tang’s reputation could she be made unacceptable to Zi Yu.

Yun'niang understood that Liu Pei’s interest in Liu Mian Tang was far from genuine. If Liu Pei decided he wanted something, he would go to great lengths to obtain it. Once Liu Mian Tang became Liu Pei’s plaything, she could forget about any future with Zi Yu.

Moreover, Liu Mian Tang’s fiery temperament meant that once she refused something, no one could change her mind.

The thought of Liu Mian Tang facing ruin filled Yun'niang with a sense of satisfaction.

Thus, Yun'niang was more than willing to assist Liu Pei in learning about Liu Mian Tang’s current situation. As for the condition of the Lu family, the information was quickly obtained.

Yun'niang signaled her subordinates to locate Lu Mu and, after offering him some benefits, managed to extract the truth from him through a combination of coaxing and subtle threats. It was revealed that Liu Mian Tang had discovered that her previous husband was an imposter. After spending two years with a man without formal engagement or marriage and then breaking ties with him, she resolutely returned to the Lu family with her uncle.

The scandal of being deceived into marriage had tainted her reputation, so the Lu family kept it a secret, claiming instead that Liu Mian Tang had been gravely ill and had only recently recovered.

As for Liu Mian Tang’s condition, her mind was still muddled, and she had not yet regained her memory.

Hearing this, Liu Pei raised an eyebrow and said, “So she’s still unmarried... She’s not young anymore, and her family isn’t anxious?”

Yun'niang lowered her head respectfully and replied, “No matter how urgent it is, it’s useless. She’s already tainted, so her family can only deceive potential suitors with a clear conscience... However, with her background, if she were brought to serve, it wouldn’t bother the gentlemen from enjoying themselves.”

Liu Pei laughed heartily and remarked with a touch of sarcasm, “You speak as if you’re a brothel madam in the alley... Liu Mian Tang is truly fortunate to have a sister like you. Are you suggesting that I become the villain who forcibly takes someone else’s property?”

Yun'niang was startled and quickly reassured, “Daughter wouldn’t dare! How could esteemed father be such a person! You only intend to investigate Liu Mian Tang’s background, right?”

Liu Pei nodded, “If we’re to investigate, it should be done properly.”

The next day, Liu Pei sent a matchmaker and personally wrote a formal proposal letter, including his birthdate and astrological details. He instructed his steward to prepare a lavish dowry of five carriages worth of gifts, which the matchmaker took to the Lu residence to make the formal betrothal proposal.

Yun'niang observed the dowry and noted that it was of the same standard as for a concubine, which startled her.

Liu Pei’s legal wife was his cousin, the niece of the Empress Dowager, which made the marriage particularly close. However, his wife was soft-spoken and could not manage Liu Pei’s affairs.

Fortunately, Liu Pei had never formally taken a concubine, though he frequently had mistresses, changing them regularly without leaving behind illegitimate children. 

However, the legitimate wife of Liu Pei had been unfortunate in bearing children. After producing three daughters, she finally managed to give birth to a legitimate son, who, at seven years old, was in poor health.

If Liu Mian Tang were to accept Liu Pei’s proposal, she would be formally accepted as a concubine, with the potential to bear Liu Pei’s children officially.

The idea that a woman who had been deceived and wronged for two years could ascend to such a position seemed almost inconceivable. Yet Liu Pei was indeed intent on making her his concubine. He considered a woman who was physically impaired and had been wronged by another man to be suitable for such a role, seeing her more as a token of gratitude than a potential rival.

With the grand wedding gifts arriving at the Lu residence, the entire street was abuzz with spectators.

The gatekeeper had never seen anything like it before. While they had previously hosted a marquis, a prince from the imperial family was an unprecedented event.

When the steward from the prince’s household arrived with the matchmaker and explained the purpose of their visit, the gatekeeper, overwhelmed and breathless, rushed to the old master’s quarters, gasping, “Old... Old Master, a prince has come... come to propose!”

Lu Wu lifted his eyelids, his face wrinkled in confusion, suspecting he might have heard wrong.

When the gatekeeper repeated the message, Lu Wu quickly rose, changed into proper attire, and went to greet the envoy from the prince’s household.

With so many maidservants in the house, he wondered which of them this unexpected prince intended to marry.

Upon reaching the front door and meeting the steward and matchmaker from the prince’s residence, the matchmaker was beaming with joy, her face radiating delight as she congratulated the Lu family on such a grand marriage prospect.

Lu Wu looked at his two sons, who appeared equally puzzled. When the matchmaker mentioned that it was Prince Sui, the son of the late emperor, proposing, the second son’s face lit up with evident pleasure as he rubbed his hands together in excitement. However, the eldest son’s expression changed, showing signs of hesitation or unease.

When Lu Wu asked which of his granddaughters Prince Sui intended to marry, the matchmaker smiled and said, “It’s your granddaughter, Liu Mian Tang! The prince saw Miss Liu at the dock and was immediately captivated by her beauty. Upon discovering she was from your family, he immediately arranged the five carts of dowry. Prince Sui is thirty-five, at the peak of his vigor. His household is peaceful, with only one main wife who is gentle and elegant, and most considerate. The main wife has already borne a son, so your granddaughter, even as a concubine, can confidently bear children and secure her place. When the prince receives an official title from the emperor, she would be a legitimate secondary wife.”

Upon hearing that Prince Sui wanted to marry Mian Tang, Lu Wu’s expression darkened.

Before the matchmaker could finish her enthusiastic pitch, Lu Wu interrupted, “My granddaughter is a wild and uncultured girl, unfit to serve in the noble prince’s household. I must decline the prince’s favor. Please take the marriage proposal and dowry back with you.”

The matchmaker was stunned; she hadn’t expected Lu Wu to refuse such a wealthy match so decisively.

The steward who had come on behalf of Prince Sui also looked displeased and said arrogantly, “Old Master Lu, are you being too hasty? You should think this through carefully. If you miss this opportunity, you might ruin your granddaughter’s future.”

Lu Mu was also anxious. He knew that Prince Sui was far wealthier and more noble than the previous Marquis. When the Marquis left upon hearing that Mian Tang had departed, he was disheartened but did not mention marriage and quickly left.

The Su family, after setting the date for the betrothal, also departed. Lu Mu had felt some regret at the time, thinking he had missed the chance to secure a prestigious match for Mian Tang.

Now, Mian Tang's fortune seemed to have turned around. The current proposal was from a prince of royal lineage!

Unfortunately, his father had made a foolish decision. Rejecting this match was akin to preparing oneself for a fatal blow.

After delivering his remarks, the steward handed a letter from Prince Sui to Old Master Lu.

“Old Master Lu, this is a letter from Prince Sui to Miss Liu. You may read it before deciding whether to accept the proposal. I wouldn’t dare take back the dowry without the prince’s orders. Please keep it here for now.”

After saying this, the steward waved his sleeve and led the matchmaker and others out of the Lu residence.

The five carriages of dowry were left parked in front of the Lu family’s gate.

Lu Mu walked around the carriages a few times, then returned to ask his father how to handle the situation.

However, Old Master Lu did not even glance at his son. Instead, he clutched the letter, his hands shaking with anger.

The old hero then fixed his gaze on his eldest son with a fierce look and said, “Lu Xian! Come into the study with me!”

Lu Xian knew something was amiss as soon as he heard the name "Prince Sui." Seeing his father’s stern expression, he obediently followed him into the study.

Once inside, Old Master Lu slammed the letter onto his eldest son's face and demanded, “Is this letter true?”

Lu Xian braced himself and picked up the letter. 

The letter from Prince Sui detailed, in a rather unscrupulous manner, that Mian Tang had been deceived by a merchant and had lived with him as a fake couple for a long time. The prince generously stated that although the lady had been wronged and misled into a mistaken lifelong commitment, he could overlook it. He expressed his hope that Miss Liu would not feel ashamed or hesitant to accept him. Once she entered the prince's residence, he would forgive her past and ensure she was well taken care of, allowing her to bear children and enjoy the privileges of being a royal concubine, living a life of luxury and honor.

As for Lu Xian's smuggling of minerals in the northwest and his association with the bandit group Yangshan, Prince Sui made no mention of it in the letter.

However, this omission did not lessen the impact of the letter on Old Master Lu’s heart. 

After Lu Xian finished reading the letter and did not protest, Old Master Lu leaned back in his chair, feeling utterly disheartened.

It seemed that what Prince Sui had written was entirely true. How could he, as Mian Tang's uncle, have allowed her to be deceived by some unknown scoundrel and end up in such a predicament?

Moreover, while Prince Sui appeared to be magnanimous and kind, his underlying threat was clear—if Mian Tang did not agree to the marriage, he would publicly announce her compromised status, utterly ruining her reputation and destroying her future!

Fuming with anger, Old Master Lu could no longer contain himself and began to strike Lu Xian with his cane.

Lu Xian dared not avoid the blows and simply curled up, bracing himself.

He was even more reluctant to mention Yangshan or the involvement with Prince Huaiyang, as he feared that such revelations would be too much for his father to handle. The old man, already struggling, would likely be overwhelmed if he learned that Mian Tang's past with Yangshan had caught the attention of so many suitors, including both princes.

When Mian Tang arrived at the study after receiving the letter, Lu Xian had already been beaten into groans.

She quickly pushed open the study door and intercepted her grandfather’s cane, saying, “Grandfather, please stop hitting Uncle Xian. It’s my fault; I’ve caused trouble for the family.”

Old Master Lu, relying on sheer willpower, was immediately exhausted by Mian Tang’s intervention. He sank into his chair, tears streaming down his face, unable to speak, overcome with silent grief.

Mian Tang lowered herself and fell at her grandfather's feet, her gaze fixed on the letter that had been discarded on the floor.

The words written on it were harsh and threatening, each line dripping with malice.

Unable to hold back, Mian Tang bit her lip.

Old Master Lu knew that now was not the time for accusations or punishment. The Prince Sui had exploited Mian Tang’s damaged reputation to coerce her into becoming a concubine. Although Mian Tang claimed not to care about her reputation, Old Master Lu knew that such words were naïve.

In his view, a woman's reputation was of utmost importance in the world. However, succumbing to Prince Sui’s threats and entering his palace would be a different matter entirely. Despite not having met the prince, Old Master Lu surmised that someone who resorted to such coercion was unlikely to be a suitable match. Moreover, allowing Mian Tang, an orphan with no support, to become a concubine would place her in a perilous position where she would have no control over her fate.

Realizing this, Old Master Lu's anger subsided, and he quickly regained his composure. He then asked Mian Tang what she planned to do. Where was the man who had deceived her? Could he be located and made to rectify the marriage?

Mian Tang admitted that the man who had deceived her was currently serving in the military and had no intention of marrying her, so he probably wouldn’t be coming back.

Old Master Lu, frowning and gritting his teeth, reprimanded his eldest son, Lu Xian, for not dealing with the scoundrel who had deceived Mian Tang when he was in the northwest. He demanded to know why the ruffian hadn’t been punished or dealt with more severely.

Lu Xian, unwilling to reveal that the deceiver was the northwest’s commander, discreetly signaled to Mian Tang to keep quiet about the details. He feared that if the truth came out, their father might be driven to the brink of a breakdown.

Mian Tang herself hadn’t expected that Prince Sui would want to take her as a concubine. Given that the prince had previously acted aggressively when he thought she was a merchant’s wife, it was no surprise that he now had no qualms about pursuing her.

In the past, she might have been uncertain about what to do. However, given the situation in Youzhou, where Prince Huaiyang had forbidden her from marrying, she decided to let the matter of marriage be sorted out among the princes themselves.

After calming her grandfather and assuring him that she would handle the situation, Mian Tang returned to her residence and wrote a letter to Cui Xingzhou. The letter was straightforward and unembellished, describing the current predicament where Prince Sui wanted to make her a concubine and the array of suitors that had come to seek her hand.

Having finished the letter, Mian Tang summoned Fan Hu and handed him the letter for delivery.

Mian Tang knew that sending the letter to Cui Xingzhou was just the first step; she still had to deal with the immediate problem of how to refuse the marriage proposal and deal with the wedding gifts, which were now piled up at her doorstep. If it rained in the next few days, the gifts might get damaged, making them even harder to return.

Just then, Fang Xie rushed in with news. "Miss, another official has arrived."

Bi Cao, already nervous at the mention of officials and dignitaries, anxiously asked, "Could it be that the Marquis has returned to make trouble?"

Fang Xie shot her a look and said, "The Marquis left as soon as you did. He won’t be coming back. This time, it’s our local county magistrate, Li Guangcai."

Mian Tang furrowed her brow slightly and turned to Li Mama. "What could he want?"

Li Mama didn't know for sure but suspected that with the prince showing interest in Mian Tang, the county magistrate might have come to discuss matters related to the prince’s interest or to offer some assistance. She sighed inwardly, thinking how a young woman without powerful connections but with such beauty seemed destined to be caught in such situations.

Mian Tang decided to go to the front hall to find out the purpose of the magistrate's visit.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

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