Xue Niang no longer lingered and turned to walk back. At the village entrance road, she happened to meet Liu Donghuai returning from the city.
He carried a basket on his back, dressed in the common attire of the villagers, with steady steps, looking much better than in the previous days.
"Liu Donghuai, did you go to the city?" Xue Niang took the initiative to greet him.
Liu Donghuai had seen her long ago, but due to some considerations, he hadn't spoken. Now, hearing Xue Niang greet him so openly, he felt his own behavior was timid and not as magnanimous as a woman's.
"Yes, I went to sell medicinal herbs."
"When are you getting married? Whose daughter is the young lady? She looks nice."
Hearing Xue Niang inquire like an old friend, Liu Donghuai's tension disappeared, and a faint joy surfaced.
This way, it was good.
"The second day of the ninth month. Miss Su is the daughter of my former tutor's family. She is indeed nice."
However, it wasn't what he had asked for.
The tutor was also dissatisfied, but she wouldn't listen to advice and insisted on ruining her reputation to be with him.
Since that was the case, he would treat her well from now on.
"Then congratulations first!"
Liu Donghuai heard the sincere joy in her voice and smiled faintly. The two walked side by side. Liu Donghuai looked straight ahead, not daring to look at her.
She was too beautiful; one glance would stir up inappropriate thoughts.
"After getting married, I will probably move to the city. My tutor, unable to bear his daughter suffering, has already bought my father's former grocery store for me to operate. He has also purchased a residence and agreed to let me bring my mother to live with me."
"Ah?" Xue Niang was taken aback. Wasn't that like marrying into the wife's family?
Liu Donghuai must have felt bad about it too. He lowered his head when he said this, perhaps afraid of being looked down upon.
"Liu Donghuai, have you really given up on the imperial examinations? I think it's a great pity!"
He was an upright person. Such a person would surely be a good official.
"That's impossible. My father... you know, no one dares to recommend someone like me. Actually, there's nothing to regret. There are many people with better scholarship than me. Even if I participated in the imperial examinations, I might not necessarily pass."
"But you have to try. Don't worry, someone will definitely recommend you. I'll ask Xiao Shan to think of a way."
"No—"
Before Liu Donghuai could finish his refusal, he saw a tall figure approaching from ahead.
"Hmph!" Xue Niang pouted and glanced sideways at the approaching Xiao Shan. "I'm still angry."
Xiao Shan glanced at Liu Donghuai. Why were they standing so close? He should be the one who was angry! You pretty boy!
"Get angry at home. The meal is ready, your favorite mushroom soup." Xiao Shan took her hand.
Xue Niang nodded with a dignified air and waved goodbye to Liu Donghuai. "Then I'll be going now. Goodbye!"
Still goodbye?
Xiao Shan squeezed her hand, earning an angry glare from Xue Niang.
Liu Donghuai witnessed their intimate interaction and conversation. Anyone could tell that the man treated her extremely well. It was laughable that he had once thought he mistreated her.
In their eyes, wasn't he just meddling in other people's business?
Back home, Xue Niang asked as soon as she opened her mouth, "What did that shameless county magistrate's men want?"
Xiao Shan: "...Probably to conscript soldiers again."
The Second Prince was facing a critical situation on the border, with shortages of both manpower and supplies. With no assistance from the capital, the Emperor seemed to have abandoned his son, completely disregarding his life or death.
Yet, he persisted, provoking the Turks aggressively.
He dared not tell Xue Niang about this, as that was her brother. But he truly felt the Second Prince was too foolish. If you want to save your sister, you can find other ways, like sending people to infiltrate the Turks and steal her out. Why provoke a war? The war had just ended!
Did he have the strength to stir up trouble? He had stayed in the palace for too long and didn't understand the immensity of heaven and earth or the suffering of the common people.
Suffering would eventually lead to rebellion. If this continued, Great Jing would surely be destroyed!
"Why did he tell you this?" Xue Niang looked at him suspiciously.
"He was bored. Don't overthink it, this has nothing to do with us."
Xue Niang fell silent, lost in thought, not knowing what she was thinking.
Xiao Shan pinched her cheek. "Were you angry just now?"
"Xiao Shan, I, I want to ask you for a favor."
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Xiao Shan frowned. "What trouble between us? Speak your mind, don't keep it to yourself."
Xue Niang pursed her lips. "Xiao Shan, will you accompany me to Xiangshan Water Pavilion? I want to see if Qinghe has returned. She said she would find a way to fake her death and escape. It's been half a year, perhaps she has returned?"
"No need to go, she hasn't returned."
"How do you know?" Xue Niang's voice suddenly rose.
"There are rumors that the Great Prince of the Turks and his consort are deeply in love and very affectionate. I inquired, and the consort's name is Qinghe."
Inquired? Xue Niang didn't ask in detail why he inquired about this, but she didn't believe this news.
Xiao Shan seemed to sense her doubt and added, "Don't doubt it, it's true. I've been fighting with the Turks for many years. Do you think I don't have people there?"
"How is that possible? Qinghe likes you!"
Xue Niang blurted it out inadvertently. She immediately covered her mouth, her eyes flickering, not daring to look at him.
Xiao Shan was almost amused to the point of anger.
What virtue or merit did he, Xiao Shan, have to gain another person who liked him without knowing or recognizing her, and to be pushed towards him by the woman he loved?
"So what? Why do you want her back? Do you want sisters to serve one husband?"
"You wish!" Xue Niang glared at him, fire burning in her beautiful eyes. "If you dare to have any entanglement with other women, I will leave you far away and never see you again!"
That was more like it.
Xiao Shan curved his lips, embraced her, and kissed her. "Of course, I wouldn't. It's you who is talking nonsense, attributing people I don't know to me."
She wasn't talking nonsense; she was just stating the truth. Although Qinghe had never said it, every time she inquired about the Divine Might General's news and came to tell him, the light in her eyes shone like stars. Perhaps she hadn't thought much of it before, but now, looking back, how could she not understand a maiden's infatuation?
That's why she didn't believe Xiao Shan when he said she and the Turkic prince were a loving couple. Qinghe was a stubborn person; she couldn't change so quickly.
"Qinghe would never like the Turkic prince. If she hasn't returned, it must be because she couldn't get away."
"I'll find people to inquire again. Can we stop talking about her?"
"Okay, okay. Then let's talk about Liu Donghuai—ah!"
Xiao Shan bit her ear, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her onto the bed.
"You, let go! Aren't we going to eat? Aren't you hungry? What are you doing! Hey—"
Xue Niang wanted to get down but was pulled back by Xiao Shan.
"I'm hungry, starving. Feed me first, then I'll feed you..."
Xue Niang couldn't speak, her mouth already sealed. She could only let out muffled sounds that slowly turned into soft, tender murmurs.
This was a tiger, a perpetually insatiable fierce tiger.