Chapter 69: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

 FlamingoBees 

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 Chapter 69: 

 

Mian Tang was momentarily stunned, staring directly at Cui Xingzhou without saying a word.

Cui Xingzhou, on the other hand, made himself quite at home. He casually waved off Li Mama's respectful greeting, then fiddled with a string of sausages hanging on the drying rack. He instructed Li Mama to steam a couple for dinner that evening, as if it were his own household.

Then, leaning on his cane, Cui Xingzhou took a leisurely tour of the courtyard, examining every corner with interest. Finally, he made his way towards the house, intending to step inside.

At this moment, Mian Tang snapped out of her daze and quickly positioned herself at the doorway, bowing and offering her greetings as a means to block his entry.

It was only then that Cui Xingzhou looked at her properly. Leaning in close, he asked with a teasing tone, "What’s this? Has the market price gone up, and now I’m not allowed inside?"

Mian Tang felt his words were rather flippant, so she stood her ground, keeping a stern expression and refusing to move.

Seeing this, Cui Xingzhou simply tossed aside his cane, scooped her up in his arms, and strode into the house in just a few steps.

Mian Tang wasn’t about to let him carry her without protest. She struggled to get down, but he set her on the bed and wouldn't let her stand up.

Leaning in close, Cui Xingzhou inhaled deeply, savoring the sweet fragrance unique to her, and whispered, "It's been so long since we’ve been apart. Don’t you miss me?"

Mian Tang turned her head away, avoiding his kiss, and snapped back, "It’s been less than a month! How is that a long time? Why are you here? Get up and talk properly!"

Seeing that she was genuinely upset, Cui Xingzhou finally relented, giving her a quick peck on the cheek before standing up. He pulled her up as well, leading her to sit with him at the table.

As they sat down, Prince Huaiyang casually remarked that the furniture arrangement in the room felt awkward and inconvenient.

Mian Tang rolled her eyes hard but still poured him a cup of freshly made sweet soup with silver ear fungus, red dates, and longan.

"Your Highness still hasn't explained why you've suddenly come here," Mian Tang said while respectfully offering him the cup.

In truth, Cui Xingzhou had set off shortly after Mian Tang left. However, since he was leading his army back to the capital, the journey took longer, and he only arrived the day before.

That letter Mian Tang had written, where she laid everything out, had truly infuriated him. He had only allowed her to return home for a few days, and yet it stirred up figures like the Marquis and Prince Sui, making them restless. Particularly that Prince Sui—after being warned by Li Guangcai, he still had the audacity to openly attempt to abduct her.

The more Cui Xingzhou thought about it, the more furious he became. Had he not arrived in time, Mian Tang might have already been dragged into the Prince's private residence.

If that had happened, with her chastity at risk and her stubborn temperament, she would undoubtedly resist. But with her still-recovering strength, how could she possibly have withstood the Prince's force?

Cui Xingzhou couldn't bear to think any further and tightly gripped Mian Tang's hand.

Mian Tang winced from the pressure and softly protested, "Why are you squeezing so hard?"

Cui Xingzhou candidly admitted, "If you… were to end up with another man, I’d be out for blood…"

Remembering the heads that had rolled at her doorstep, Mian Tang realized he wasn't joking. She quietly looked at him and asked, "Who would you kill, me? Or my family?"

Cui Xingzhou shot her a sharp glance and replied coldly, "You've made me angry enough, and yet, have I ever laid a finger on you? Of course, I’d kill the adulterer…"

As she gazed at his fierce, handsome face brimming with murderous intent, Mian Tang suddenly felt amused. She couldn't help but laugh and said, "And where would you find this adulterer? If we’re being honest, you yourself aren't exactly on the righteous path…"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than she realized she'd overstepped—how could she speak like that to a noble prince?

But instead of getting offended, Cui Xingzhou merely scooped her up and twirled her around, saying, "I’m unmarried, and you’re unwed. At most, we’re just lovers meeting in secret."

Mian Tang grew frustrated at his use of the word “lovers” and snapped, “I’ve already told you that I want to break things off completely, yet you keep clinging to me. Aren’t you heading to the capital this time? Why not take Li Mama and your people with you? You’ve seen it yourself—I’ve established my own household, and I can live perfectly well without marrying. If you’re so jealous that you can’t stand the idea of someone else marrying me, then I won’t marry at all. You can go and enjoy your carefree life.”

Cui Xingzhou lowered his gaze, drawing out his words as he asked, “So you’re really never going to marry? Didn’t you say you wanted to have children? How do you plan to do that without a husband?”

At this, Mian Tang instantly recalled the shameless things she had said when she had been “Madam Cui,” and her face flushed with embarrassment. She quickly tried to stand, refusing to say another word to Prince Huaiyang.

But Cui Xingzhou, knowing she was upset, gently held her in his arms and whispered, “Don’t be angry. Leave everything to me. When the time comes, you can have as many children as you want…”

Mian Tang had already been agitated by the repeated talk of concubines these past few days, and seeing that Cui Xingzhou was about to bring up old matters again, she could no longer hold back. She forcefully pushed him away and said sharply, “I know my background is humble, and I have no desire to climb up the social ladder. There are many ways to live in this world. Do you think that if a woman isn’t raising children in a prince’s mansion, she’s somehow low and dirty? I’m living just fine now. Even if I end up starving, I’d rather be a beggar on the streets and live freely! Stop talking about making me a concubine! Whoever wants to be your little wife can go ahead! If I ever think of you again, then I’m nothing but a coward!”

When Liu Mian Tang said this, her alluring eyes widened in fury, resembling a fierce little tigress ready to devour someone, completely disregarding Cui Xingzhou’s princely status.

Having been apart for so long, Cui Xingzhou knew Liu Mian Tang all too well. If she said these words, there would indeed come a day when she could forget him entirely, just as she had once forgotten that gentleman Zi Yu. 

The thought of this stirred a flame of uncontrollable anger in Cui Xingzhou's heart, and a mad idea began to form in his mind—an urge to lock this woman away, hide her in a gilded cage where no one else could ever see her!

In truth, during the days and nights they had been apart, Cui Xingzhou had weighed his feelings much more heavily than the ever-practical Liu Mian Tang, who had been solely focused on making money. He had tried to forget her, to put behind him that absurd time they had spent together on North Street. But he couldn’t let go. The mere thought of Mian Tang being with someone else was as painful as having his insides torn apart.

Lately, his late father’s image had been haunting his thoughts. The Old Prince Huaiyang had been a lover of women, with countless concubines, but when one looked closely at them, their eyes, eyebrows, and noses all bore a striking resemblance to one another. Only later did Cui Xingzhou realize that, in his youth, his father had once loved a woman of humble origin. But because her status was too lowly, they had never been able to stay together. His father eventually married Princess Consort Chu, and the woman he loved married far away.

From that point on, his father saw that woman in every mountain, in every stream, and his life grew increasingly reckless and debauched.

When Cui Xingzhou was a child, he once saw his father, drunk to the point of intoxication, telling a friend, "Even if one is granted the title of Marquis over ten thousand households, if he cannot follow his heart and marry the one he truly loves, then all his efforts have been for nothing. It's better to live freely like the common folk in the streets..."

In the past, whenever Cui Xingzhou thought of his father's tearful lament, he felt a deep disgust. He saw it as a pathetic excuse for his father’s indulgence in women and neglect of his mother.

How could a man, standing tall in the world, be entangled in such petty matters of love and affection?

But now that the same situation had fallen upon him, Cui Xingzhou realized that he had indeed ended up in the very predicament his father had once faced.

However, he found himself agreeing more and more with what his father had said later. To be a prince and yet not be able to marry the one you most desire—now that was truly the height of misery!

That gentleman, Zi Yu, had abandoned Mian Tang for the sake of power. If he were to do the same, how would he be any different from that useless imperial grandson who sold his dignity?

With this thought clearing his mind like the breaking of a dam, Cui Xingzhou had already made up his mind before coming here.

After Mian Tang glared at him and lashed out in anger, Cui Xingzhou calmly said, "Who said I wanted to make you my concubine?"

Mian Tang hadn’t expected him to take the stance of "you're not even worthy of being a concubine," and the shock left her breathless. The normally sharp-tongued beauty was at a loss for words, her eyes reddening, her chest heaving as she glared at him, tears threatening to fall any second.

Cui Xingzhou immediately regretted making her angry once again. After being apart from her for so long, he should have been focused on sweet moments with her, not driving her to tears—tears he would ultimately have to soothe himself.

He quickly stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, softly coaxing, "I didn’t come here just to make you my concubine. I came because I want to marry you as my wife! And even if you don’t want to have children, there will always be someone around urging you to, won’t there?"

Mian Tang was still wrapped up in her anger, feeling insulted by his earlier words. But hearing him now suddenly speak of marriage, she simply dismissed it as more of the sweet nothings men say to deceive young women.

By now, she had calmed herself, swallowing her frustration and doing her best to speak evenly through her lingering emotion. "In any case, I thank Prince Huaiyang for coming to my rescue today. I owe you yet another favor, and I will find a way to repay you doubly in the future… It’s getting late, your highness please return now."

Cui Xingzhou had imagined all kinds of responses from her after he promised to marry her—shy joy, tears of happiness... But he had never anticipated such a nonchalant reaction.

After a while, Cui Xingzhou's handsome face darkened, and he raised his thick eyebrows, declaring, "Where am I going? I’m staying here tonight!" With that, he lay down on the bed, kicked off his shoes, and didn't move an inch.

Liu Mian Tang hadn’t expected him to be so shameless, and, fuming, she turned and left the room.

As she stepped out, the wood shop just happened to deliver two unvarnished door panels. After comparing them to the doorframe, they fixed the hinges temporarily, which would suffice for the moment. After all, it wasn’t proper for a woman living alone to leave the door wide open at night.

Once Mian Tang saw Fan Hu and the others working clumsily but successfully to put the door panels in place, she headed to the kitchen to check on Li Mama, who was boiling soup and steaming sausages.

Seeing Li Mama start to stir-fry Cui Xingzhou’s favorite dish, Mian Tang couldn’t help but protest, "You’re really preparing food for him? Did I say he could stay for dinner?"

Li Mama, noticing Mian Tang’s demeanor, knew that there must have been an argument with the prince earlier in the house. She cautiously replied, "We have plenty of rice and food at home; one extra meal won’t hurt. The prince often has irregular meals in the army, and I heard he's had some stomach issues recently… It’s nearly dinnertime. If he doesn’t eat, he might end up with stomach pains on his way back."

Mian Tang fell silent, her face still clouded. After pacing around the kitchen for a while, she asked, "Are we adding the same amount of water to today’s rice as we did yesterday?"

Li Mama thought her mistress was up to her usual nitpicking and quietly replied, "Miss said she prefers the rice a bit firmer, so it’s the same water amount as yesterday."

Mian Tang remained silent again, and after pacing a few more rounds, she finally took a small clay pot, scooped out some rice along with a generous spoonful of yellow millet, added water, and set it on the small stove to cook porridge.

Li Mama didn’t say a word but, turning around, couldn’t help but smile to herself. This young lady, she thought, has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. After hearing her mention the prince’s stomach troubles, she had clearly worried that the regular rice might be too hard on his stomach, so she had started preparing some millet porridge to soothe him.

Sigh, if only they were a regular, well-matched couple—how wonderful that would be! The prince would have a wife who genuinely cared for him.

After placing the clay pot and covering it, Mian Tang left the small kitchen. As she passed her own room, she heard snoring from inside and realized he had actually fallen asleep.

Cui Xingzhou, having been injured and then rushing to travel, was truly exhausted by the time he reached her place. Now lying in Mian Tang’s bed, surrounded by the fragrance that lingered on her pillows and blankets, his guard dropped, and he drifted into sleep.

When Mian Tang entered, she saw Cui Xingzhou lying with his face buried in her pillow, stretching out his long limbs, his eyes tightly closed in deep sleep.

He had always been handsome, and though the sun of the northwest had darkened his skin, it only enhanced the rugged and irresistible masculine charm that radiated from him.

For the first time in a while, Mian Tang allowed herself to take a good, long look at him.

She had to admit that of all the men she had encountered, none could compare to him in terms of appearance. His eyebrows, eyes, and overall physique all matched her preferences. If she could forget the annoying things he did, she could easily spend a whole day just watching his peaceful sleeping face.

Remembering his stomach issues, Mian Tang gently pulled the blanket over him. She then took a spare blanket from the chest and quietly left for the maid's room next door, intending to sleep there tonight.

Cui Xingzhou, after several nights of unrest, slept soundly and deeply. By the time he woke up, it was already midnight. When he opened his eyes, he found the room empty except for himself.

Li Mama had been keeping watch by the door, and when she heard the prince stirring, she brought the prepared food into the room.

Cui Xingzhou, hungry after his rest, ate heartily and then asked, "Where is she?"

Li Mama replied truthfully, "After dinner, she went to rest in the side room. Tomorrow the Lu family is coming to present betrothal gifts; I hear the second daughter is getting engaged, so Miss needs to attend and decided to go to bed early."

Li Mama's words were a subtle reminder to the prince not to bother Miss Liu in the middle of the night. The usually calm and composed young lady always seemed troubled and dispirited after being teased by him, and even Li Mama couldn't help but feel a bit of heartache for her.

Cui Xingzhou, however, had no intention of disturbing Mian Tang that night. He had already made up his mind to marry her, so naturally, he would have to deal with the Lu family first. Since the Lu family would be present tomorrow, he planned to go along as well.

With that thought in mind, Cui Xingzhou finished his meal and went to check on Mian Tang, only to find that her door was bolted from the inside and wouldn’t budge no matter how much he tried to push it.

Not wanting to wake her, he turned back and returned to his own bedroom.

The next day, at the beginning of the Mao hour (5–7 a.m.), Mian Tang awoke.

Now residing in Linzhou, she knew that it would take some time to travel to the Lu residence in Xizhou, so she had to get ready early.

Aware that today was Lu Qingying’s engagement ceremony, Mian Tang did not wish to outshine her cousin. She chose a simple pale smoky-colored long dress and styled her hair into a high chignon, securing it with two jade flower hairpins. As for her makeup, she merely dusted on some light powder and dabbed a hint of rouge on her lips.

Her second uncle's family was hosting a grand engagement ceremony with the Su family today, and knowing her uncle's pride, she had prepared generous gifts for her cousin.

After Mian Tang had finished dressing and grooming herself, she stepped outside only to find that Cui Xingzhou was also ready. He wore a jade crown on his head, with delicate gold-threaded ribbons hanging elegantly by his temples. His attire was a moon-white long robe, with cloud-chasing-the-moon patterns embroidered on the sleeves, giving him an air of refined elegance. His broad shoulders, slim waist, and long legs, paired with white deerskin boots, made him stand tall and straight like a standard bearer, impossible to ignore.

Even the jade cane in his hand added a scholarly and cultured touch to his appearance.

Mian Tang bit her lip, avoiding his gaze, and bowed her head, asking, "Are you leaving? I wish Your Highness a safe journey..."

Cui Xingzhou frowned slightly at her dismissal. She spoke as if she intended to remain unmarried, but just look at her now—after a little bit of dressing up, her lips were red, her teeth white, her bright eyes captivating. It was impossible to conceal her beauty. Unless all the men in the world were blind, how could she possibly stay unmarried?

With this thought in mind, he replied slowly, "I'm going with you to the Lu family. If you're worried your grandfather might say something, you can ride in your own carriage. My carriage will follow behind yours."

Mian Tang finally realized that he intended to accompany her back to the Lu family, so she quickly asked, "Why is Your Highness coming along?"

Cui Xingzhou said, "I told you yesterday, didn't I? Apparently, you didn't take it to heart. I said I want to marry you, so naturally, I have to go to the Lu family to propose."

Mian Tang grew angry. "Didn't I also say that I will never be a concubine in this lifetime? What are you proposing for? If you anger my grandfather, I don't care if you're a prince or not—watch me fight you to the end!"

Cui Xingzhou, long accustomed to Mian Tang occasionally showing her true fiery nature, calmly took her hand and said, "I just returned from the northwest and haven't informed my family yet, but my mother always listens to me, and the elders of the Cui family can't control me. Once I propose to your grandfather, we'll arrange the formal betrothal and the traditional matchmaking ceremonies. Li Guangcai will help us prepare the marriage documents. After the engagement is set, you'll return to Zhenzhou with me to inform my mother, and then we can hold the formal wedding ceremony."

He spoke with such seriousness that both Mo Ru and Li Mama, who stood nearby, were left wide-eyed in astonishment.

Mian Tang, though she didn’t open her mouth, was equally shocked, her eyes widening in disbelief as she stared at him. "You... have lost your mind!"

Cui Xingzhou smiled faintly. "I did lose my mind for a while after you left, but lately, things have become clearer. Enough talk—it's getting late. Let's get going."

After saying this, Cui Xingzhou intended to get into the carriage, but Mian Tang firmly held onto his hand and said, "Your Highness! I am the daughter of a criminal, and my brother is still in exile! These are unchangeable facts. You are now the grand marshal who has protected the nation and a hereditary prince of a different surname. Even if you don't fear the judgment of others and insist on marrying a woman with such a stain on her name, your maternal family will be shamed because of this marriage! At that point, you'll be constantly troubled by it, and no matter how much love there is, it will eventually be worn down... I am fully aware of my position and don't wish to marry you. I am grateful for Your Highness's mistaken affection, but please, return home soon!"

Mian Tang's words were all true, and these were the same reasons that had made Cui Xingzhou hesitate in the past. But now, hearing these words from Mian Tang herself made each sentence sound so harsh and unpleasant to his ears.

At this point, Cui Xingzhou no longer saw her lowly background as something insurmountable. After all, he was a man who thrived on challenges.

Others dared not face the barbarian tribes of the northwest, but he dared; others dared not marry a woman like her, but he dared too!

So, after listening to Mian Tang, he still calmly repeated, "Haven't I said it before? Leave everything to me, and I guarantee you'll walk through the gates of my Cui family with dignity... As for meeting your elders for the first time, too grand a gesture might seem inappropriate. I've prepared old ginseng and deer antler wine for your grandfather, along with a pair of jade walnuts for him to play with. I've also prepared gifts for your two uncles. What do you think?"

Mian Tang was now certain that Cui Xingzhou had truly gone mad. She could only helplessly turn to Li Mama and say, “Li Mama, please talk some sense into your master!”

Li Mama, her head drooping, pretended not to hear. Although she was a woman who liked to give advice, there were limits! How could she possibly advise her own prince? It felt like all the years she had spent in the palace had been in vain.

Seeing Mian Tang dragging Li Mama into this, Cui Xingzhou found it a bit amusing. He pulled her into an embrace and lifted her onto his carriage, then told the driver, “Hurry up and drive!”

The journey to Xizhou was neither very short nor particularly long.

During the trip, Mian Tang realized that Cui Xingzhou was indeed determined to marry her and had already started making arrangements without consulting her.

Cui Xingzhou, on the other hand, realized that Mian Tang truly did not want to marry him. She felt deceived by him once and didn’t want to spend her life with a great liar.

Once this was clear, Cui Xingzhou was genuinely angry. His handsome eyes stared fiercely at Mian Tang, who bit her lip and turned her head away from him. It wasn’t until the carriage was nearing the city that she asked, “Your Highness, let me get off here, and you can return on your own.”

Cui Xingzhou said coldly, “Liu Mian Tang, what are you thinking? You’re already my woman. Are you expecting me to kneel and apologize just because you won’t marry me?”

Mian Tang, who had been troubled all morning and had a headache from a restless night, leaned wearily against the carriage wall, closing her eyes.

Cui Xingzhou, aware of her recurring headaches from her past amnesia, quickly pulled her into his embrace. He skillfully used his long fingers to massage her temples. His massage techniques, learned from Zhao Quan, were precise and effective, and Mian Tang’s headache eased slightly.

Only then did Cui Xingzhou have a moment to speak gently, “I know you’re holding onto your anger, but you’ve been gone for so long, and I’ve been restless. If you don’t marry me, it might feel like revenge, but what about the elders in my family? Your grandfather is old now—don’t you want him to see you in a wedding dress and happy? Instead, you’ve become a woman with no marriage prospects for life. Have you thought about how it would upset your grandfather? He might be so worried about you that he’ll be heartbroken!”

In truth, Mian Tang knew that Cui Xingzhou had a point.

However, she questioned whether Cui Xingzhou was truly someone she could trust for life. He had deceived her with lies before, and she feared that he might deceive her family as well. She didn’t want her elderly relatives to be misled by this high-ranking and untrustworthy man.

As they approached the city gate, Liu Mian Tang knew she needed to get off his carriage first. Otherwise, if their family saw them traveling together in the same carriage, it would be impossible to explain.

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