Chapter 71: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

 FlamingoBees 

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 Chapter 70: 

 

Mian Tang had once thought of her husband as a celestial being, untouched by the mundane world.

Now that this celestial being had finally come down to earth, his flaws were painfully evident.

Today, she had discovered another flaw—his mouth really did need a good talking-to!

Aside from the issue of whether he was pleasant or not, if Cui Xingzhou were to hold a grudge over the fact that her grandfather had injured him, her grandfather would be at a disadvantage. After all, Cui Xingzhou had deliberately presented his injured leg, making it easy for her grandfather’s kicks to cause further bleeding.

With his leg injury worsening, Cui Xingzhou claimed he couldn’t return to the army camp outside the city and needed to rest in Mian Tang’s small courtyard to fully recover.

There was no way around it; the Lu family was indeed at fault, and Mian Tang couldn’t just force him to leave. She had no choice but to let him stay in the courtyard again.

Cui Xingzhou felt quite comfortable.

After enduring so much hardship alone in the Northwest, staying in the courtyard with Mian Tang felt like a return to the peaceful streets of Lingquan. He watched the cats play among the flowers and butterflies, enjoyed the fragrant tea Mian Tang had made for him, and experienced a serene and harmonious life.

The woman, dressed in loose robes with her hair styled up, was sitting with her head bowed, tapping away at an abacus. The rhythmic clacking of the abacus, in this courtyard, felt like a beautiful melody, making it quite addictive to listen to.

If it weren't for the urgent summons from the emperor, Cui Xingzhou thought he could stay here for quite a while. With this in mind, he sat beside Mian Tang and took the opportunity to help her untangle her messy hair with a comb.

She was still upset with him and refused to share a room with him.

Cui Xingzhou wasn’t a man driven by lust; although he often felt like pressing her for intimacy, he restrained himself, knowing that her anger was still fresh.

However, he couldn’t help but disturb her early in the morning, causing her to jump out of bed in a hurry, her hair uncombed, and sit angrily at the table to handle her accounts.

Her hair was a mess, and Cui Xingzhou took it upon himself to comb it. Fortunately, her morning irritation seemed to have lessened a bit, and she allowed him to help with her hair while she continued working on her accounts.

Mian Tang knew this celestial visitor had a touch of unruliness about him. Unable to drive him away, she let him comb her hair while focusing on her work.

As he combed through her silky black hair, Cui Xingzhou said earnestly, “It’s fine to be upset with me, but you still need to manage your business. You left Lingquan and didn’t tend to it, but thankfully the manager handled things well. Once we return to Zhenzhou, you should take good care of it. This business is part of your dowry; the more you save, the more we can pass on to our future daughter.”

Mian Tang raised her hand to brush away the fingers that reached for her cheek and looked down, asking, “Who says I want to have your daughter?”

Cui Xingzhou lowered his eyes and held her tightly, saying, “When you left, the Northwest army was moving further away, and I thought I could stop thinking about you. But you refused to see me even when you came to the Northwest to trade sheep. Hearing that made me really upset, and I couldn’t bear to think about you marrying and having children with someone else in the future. That’s why I had people keep an eye on you to prevent you from marrying. If I’m feeling this distressed, and you have feelings for me as well, how can you bear to see me marry someone else?”

Mian Tang pressed her lips together and remained silent. She knew deep down that she couldn’t be completely indifferent, especially when he spoke of his own suffering. She understood what that kind of feeling was like.

Seeing that Mian Tang did not respond, Cui Xingzhou knew she was considering his words. He continued, “The Huaiyang Prince’s residence is not a den of tigers and dragons. I don’t have any concubines or maidservants fighting for favor. You only need to show respect to my mother. Moreover, the prince's household isn’t like that of a country squire’s, where stepmother and daughter-in-law are at odds. My mother is busy with social gatherings and performances every day, so it’s unlikely you’ll see her much. What’s there to worry about?”

Mian Tang turned her face toward him and said, “My mother thought things were simple too, but when she was despised by my father, even the old servants in the house would argue with her. The rules in your household are strict, and I am without any backing. If I were to be deceived into marrying you, and if one day you become dissatisfied with me, even the doormen might bark at me…”

Cui Xingzhou couldn’t help but laugh at her response. “If you were talking about anyone else, I might believe it, but with your temperament, Liu Mian Tang, do you think you could be bullied by the servants? If any dog dared to bark at you, it would probably find itself with a broken leg and fed to wolves. Didn’t you manage to keep the head maid, Li Mama, in line?”

Mian Tang was momentarily at a loss for words. His words were indeed reasonable. She couldn’t tolerate being unjustly mistreated.

However, she was also aware that dealing with the social nuances of a royal household was not as simple as Cui Xingzhou suggested. She had always been brave and never afraid to face challenges, but this time, she felt a genuine fear of being deceived by him.

“You and I, our relationship is like a castle in the air, just an illusion. No matter how much sincerity you have shown… In the past, I respected you and we got along well, but once I enter the prince’s residence, the joy might be scarce. If you truly love me, then let us part ways here. I do not want to look back and regret the decision.”

She thought far more deeply than a typical nineteen-year-old. Life in the North Street had been a mere playhouse, not real life.

If she agreed out of impulsiveness and married him, it could lead to endless troubles. He was destined for great things and needed a match who could handle the social intricacies of the royal court, not someone from the underworld whom even the Old Princess Consort would not accept.

Her mother had loved her father deeply, or she wouldn’t have risked marrying him and becoming a stepmother. But what happened later? Deep love was worn down by the mundane details of marriage, leaving nothing behind.

Thinking of her mother's dying moments and the resentful gaze, never once mentioning her father, Liu Mian Tang had silently vowed that her husband would have to truly respect and treat her well.

Her mother had been constantly criticized and mocked for her ambition to marry into an official family; Liu Mian Tang did not want to live such a life even for a single day!

Now, with Cui Xingzhou pressuring her, she spoke her mind, hoping he would understand her feelings. After their meeting, she wished for them to part ways amicably. In time, though they might initially feel sorrow from separation, eventually the feelings would fade and become a distant memory.

Cui Xingzhou listened patiently and, furrowing his brow, said, “I am not like your father, and I know who you are. How could I ever disdain you in the future? As long as your heart is filled with me, what are those worries worth? It’s like refusing to eat because you choked once. As for my deceit, I admitted it long ago. You’ve had your revenge by staying away from me so long. If you’re rejecting me because of it, I can’t accept that!”

He turned her face towards him and kissed her lips passionately.

Liu Mian Tang, bewildered by his affection, found herself reluctant to continue the conversation.

Cui Xingzhou whispered near her ear, “I’ve never seen you so cautious. After I’ve deceived you, you’re just going to let me off so easily? Since I’ve deceived you with my charm, why don’t you deceive me with your dowry instead? I’ll give you the full bridal price, and if you think the situation isn’t right, just take the dowry and leave…”

Liu Mian Tang laughed at his words, “I’m not a bandit. Why would I take your dowry and run?”

Seeing her softening attitude, Cui Xingzhou said quietly, “How about staying with me tonight? Last night, I missed you so much that I couldn’t sleep for half the night…”

If she always refused, he’d have to endure hunger and discomfort. No young man with blood in his veins could tolerate such prolonged abstinence. Regardless of Liu Mian Tang’s answer, he intended to stay in her room that night.

Was it possible that a woman with a heart of iron and stone never thought about their past affection and intimacy in her midnight dreams?

Liu Mian Tang shot him a fierce glance and stood up to leave, but he lazily added, “After lunch, I’ll go to the Lu family to play chess with your grandfather. If I’m back late, I might have dinner there…”

Liu Mian Tang was surprised by how casually he treated her, not giving her time to rebuke him. She quickly asked, “Why are you going to my grandfather’s house? Who invited you?”

Cui Xingzhou, focusing on her lips still flushed from his kisses, answered nonchalantly, “This morning, I had Mo Ru deliver a visiting card. Your grandfather approved and even invited me for dinner… Don’t worry, you just focus on your own tasks. I’ll handle it myself.”

Liu Mian Tang couldn’t relax. She worried about what schemes the prince might be planning at her grandfather’s house.

In the end, Liu Mian Tang followed Cui Xingzhou to the Lu family.

Previously, she had thought her husband was slow to warm up to people. However, several incidents had proven that Cui Xingzhou could expertly control his attitude, managing it with ease.

On these two visits to the Lu family, Cui Xingzhou seemed determined to maintain a down-to-earth and approachable demeanor. He interacted with the younger members of the Lu family like a friendly older brother, chatting and laughing with them in the courtyard. He even demonstrated some grappling techniques, which greatly impressed them.

The Lu family, who valued martial arts, found the practical and powerful fighting techniques far more appealing than a valuable yellow jade walnut. As a result, Young Master Cui had naturally become Big Brother Cui among the younger generation.

For some reason, Liu Mian Tang’s grandfather had not mentioned Prince Huaiyang’s true identity to the family. Consequently, the younger members felt free to interact with Cui Xingzhou without any reservations, engaging with him warmly.

In the courtyard, cousins practiced their martial arts, while the female relatives gathered in the hall, listening to Madam Quan discuss the details of the engagement ceremony from the previous day.

It was only today that Liu Mian Tang learned that the dowry list from the Su family was quite modest and somewhat lacking in sophistication.

According to Madam Quan’s father, the Su family adhered to a minimalist approach, avoiding extravagance and wastefulness. They followed the ancient tradition of simplicity in their children’s marriages.

Although Madam Quan usually tried to align herself with the gentry, she had been quite practical regarding her daughter’s marriage, with a dowry that was so meager it could be blown away by the wind. This made it difficult for her to maintain any sense of dignity.

However, Lu Mu believed that Madam Quan was rather short-sighted. The Lu family, though originally from a background of bodyguards, had managed to connect with someone from an official family like the Su family. It would be quite disgraceful for them to appear greedy for additional dowry like impoverished villagers.

Thus, rather than mentioning it, the Lu family decided to prepare a more substantial dowry themselves.

During a private moment, the eldest cousin from the main branch whispered to Liu Mian Tang that the second uncle had gone to ask the old man for the dowry intended for his granddaughter. However, he was met with a severe scolding, with the old man accusing him of depleting the family’s resources and having no face to demand more. If he insisted on filling in the amount, he might as well take the twenty-year-old copper night pot!

Liu Mian Tang remained silent, knowing that her grandfather had allocated the portion meant for her cousin to her instead. Revealing this would only expose her grandfather's strategy. Besides, she had a feeling that the Su family was not trustworthy. Her cousin arriving with a large dowry would not necessarily be a good thing.

The second uncle, who had recently been caught in a compromising situation, was unable to protest against the old man’s rebuke and returned dejectedly. In the end, he would simply have to prepare the dowry himself.

After this episode, it became clear to others just how substantial the Lu family's assets were, and that Lu Qingying's marriage into the Su family would indeed be quite impressive.

However, like her mother, Lu Qingying felt somewhat uncomfortable. Especially given that the scholarly Young Master Su, who was favored by the elder, didn’t seem as outstanding or prominent compared to the Su family’s reputation. Moreover, the total dowry from the Su family was worth less than a pair of jade walnuts, which made Lu Qingying feel uneasy. She even harbored a bit of resentment toward this Young Master Cui for not arriving at the Lu family earlier; had he done so, he might have been the one she was betrothed to.

Today, with some free time, the second master took the opportunity to ask Young Master Cui if he was married.

Cui Xingzhou glanced at Liu Mian Tang, who was peeling melon seeds for her little nephew, and hinted, “I haven’t made any engagements yet. I’m thinking of finding a suitable girl in Xizhou to bring home and marry…”

His glance was too obvious, and the older women in the hall understood immediately. They looked at Liu Mian Tang with surprise, thinking: What kind of luck does this Liu girl have? Her romantic prospects are certainly flourishing recently!

Even Lu Mu looked troubled. He was concerned that Young Master Cui might not be aware of Liu Mian Tang's past, including the issues with Prince Sui's unwanted advances and the scandals involving men deceiving her in the northwest. Such a past might be unacceptable to any decent man.

He wondered how to subtly warn Young Master Cui that Liu Mian Tang had already caught the eye of Prince Sui. Marrying her off without considering the Prince’s feelings could provoke his anger. Unfortunately, Lu Mu had no suitable daughters left to offer in her place.

However, he didn’t get the chance to discuss this further with Young Master Cui, as Cui Jiu soon left to join the Old Master in the study for a game of chess.

Once Young Master Cui departed, the women in the hall became more lively. Some of the married cousins teased Liu Mian Tang, suggesting, “Mian Tang, it seems that Young Master Cui has been eyeing you. Should we have your two uncles step in and discuss things?”

Lu Xian, overhearing this, felt a surge of frustration and repeatedly sipped his tea to calm himself.

The day before, his father had called him and discussed the Prince Cui’s proposal. Hearing this had nearly given him a heart attack. Fortunately, his father also mentioned that Liu Mian Tang seemed to be opposed to the match, which gave Lu Xian some relief.

Lu Xian knew that if he revealed Liu Mian Tang’s past actions on Yangshan Mountain, it would ruin her life completely. So, he kept this secret buried deep, knowing it was crucial to her future.

The current regime has officially pacified the Yangshan bandit group, but who can guarantee there won’t be retribution later? Liu Mian Tang, having lost her memory, has severed all ties with Yangshan, but marrying a former adversary might save the trouble of dealing with the King of Sui directly.

Liu Mian Tang wasn’t engaging in the conversation, instead hoping that Cui Xingzhou would leave soon. If he stayed any longer, the Lu family might actively propose a match.

On the other hand, Old Master Lu had a pleasant interaction with Cui Xingzhou today. They both skillfully avoided discussing marriage and focused solely on playing chess and chatting.

Had it not been for the deceit Cui Xingzhou played on his granddaughter, Old Master Lu would have shown him great respect. Cui Xingzhou, having single-handedly pacified the northwest and driven out the invaders, was a top hero of the Great Yan and deserved admiration from the people.

As Old Master Lu played chess with Cui Xingzhou, he again realized that the young man before him was extraordinary. Cui Xingzhou’s chess moves were sharp, and his skill in capturing pieces was exceptional. After losing three games, Old Master Lu’s expression changed slightly, and he raised an eyebrow, asking, “Is Your Highness unable to find a worthy opponent and come here to show off his skills?”

Cui Xingzhou, while gathering the chess pieces, responded earnestly, “I initially intended to hold back and flatter you. However, the Lu family’s tradition of honoring the strong is well-known. Even if I played modestly, it might not win your favor. Besides, when someone comes to marry my daughter in the future, I would certainly choose someone with real ability. Those who only flatter and ingratiate themselves might be good enough to be a son-in-law, but they would not be worthy of Mian Tang.”

Old Master Lu was pleased by this response and smiled, saying, “My granddaughter does indeed have some abilities and is not easily matched by ordinary men… but she doesn’t want to marry someone just because of their abilities, and no one can force her.”

Cui Xingzhou replied sincerely, “I am determined to marry her since she has been with me for two years. However, she is currently feeling conflicted, and I cannot force her. I just want to secure a marriage contract first and, once she has resolved her feelings, formally welcome her into my home.”

Old Master Lu waved his hand and said, "I won’t be helping you persuade her. If her mother had been as thoughtful as she is now, she wouldn’t have passed away so early. If you want to sign a marriage contract, it must be with her consent… It's getting late. I won’t keep you for dinner. Please, go back."

Old Master Lu’s attitude was still not very positive, but it was much better than outright hostility. Cui Xingzhou did not expect the stern old master to yield to his prestige and power and rush to marry off his granddaughter.

If Old Master Lu were such a person, Liu Mian Tang might have already become a consort of Prince Sui.

However, the fact that he did not oppose outright was a good sign. As long as her family did not object, Cui Xingzhou believed he could eventually win her over.

Since the Lu family would not provide dinner, Cui Xingzhou returned to Liu Mian Tang’s small courtyard.

Liu Mian Tang stayed at the Lu family’s house for dinner and returned to her courtyard later. As soon as she entered the room, she saw Cui Xingzhou lying on her temporary bed, reading a book.

“It’s getting late. Why haven’t you gone to rest yet, Your Highness?”

Cui Xingzhou put down the book and walked over, wrapping his arms around her. “You’re not keeping me company, so how can I sleep?”

Liu Mian Tang pushed him away with some force. "You're not a child. Why do you need someone to keep you company? If you can’t sleep, go find your mother!"

But Cui Xingzhou held on tightly, burying his face in her neck. He mumbled, "I can't let go. I miss you so much..."

In truth, being held like this, and inhaling his distinct masculine scent, Liu Mian Tang felt her face flush and soften. His good looks had always been her weakness. She used to think only men were swayed by physical attraction, but after being with Cui Xingzhou, she realized that women could be just as driven by desire.

Every time she thought back to their unrestrained and impulsive days together, her heart would start racing...

In the midst of her distraction, he had lifted her onto the bed. As he leaned down to kiss her, Liu Mian Tang couldn’t help but find herself instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck...

By the time she came to her senses and wanted to push him away, it was too late—the tide had already surged in.

Liu Mian Tang’s strength had returned somewhat, but she was no match for the physically robust Cui Xingzhou. By the time the waves of passion had subsided, it was already late into the night.

Exhausted, she could barely move her fingers, yet she had to admit that after such a long separation, these moments with him were truly invigorating for both body and mind.

No wonder the infamous courtesan of the previous dynasty, after the emperor’s death, kept so many concubines. A man like this was worth his weight in rare delicacies and tonics—he was indeed a great tonic for her well-being!

Cui Xingzhou was unaware that Liu Mian Tang was preoccupied with thoughts of the courtesan from the previous dynasty. Having been deprived for so long, he found this indulgence deeply satisfying and felt that not marrying her would make the rest of his life unbearable.

He couldn’t recall the last time they had been so tender and affectionate, holding each other in silence and listening to their heartbeats. This quiet, intimate connection seemed even more precious than their earlier passionate embrace.

Cui Xingzhou kissed her forehead gently and said, “Minister Li will bring the marriage contract tomorrow. Since you’re already a registered woman, it’s quite simple. Once you sign, I’ll take you back to Zhenzhou.”

Liu Mian Tang didn’t respond. Having enjoyed his touch, she couldn’t bring herself to argue against him now, feeling that her complaints would seem insincere.

Understanding her hesitation, Cui Xingzhou coaxed, “Let’s just sign the agreement for now. It’s not like we’ll marry immediately. If you’re unhappy later, you’ll still have a chance to back out!”

Liu Mian Tang lazily glanced at him and said, “You’re quite experienced at breaking off engagements. Care to teach me how it’s done?”

Cui Xingzhou, knowing that Liu Mian Tang had leverage over him, couldn’t help but notice how charming she looked with her flushed cheeks and tousled hair. Smiling, he didn’t say more and instead moved closer, warming a pot of fragrant rice porridge for her.

The next day, both of them slept in late.

Li Mama wasn’t surprised to find them sharing a bed again. After all, before their separation, they had been inseparable, and when they were deeply involved with each other, it was only natural for them to think about each other constantly.

It was quite unexpected for Li Mama that the prince would be moved by a woman with such a strong martial background. 

Although Liu Mian Tang was not a highborn lady, she clearly harbored deep feelings for the prince. Her concern for him was evident and much stronger than Miss Lian’s, which was a notable difference.

However, their private affair had yet to be formalized, and it was impossible to predict what kind of stir it might cause in the Prince Huaiyang’s residence once it became official.

Minister Li, being a man of action, personally arrived with the marriage contract on a donkey before noon.

© 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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