---

Swear Not to Be a Concubine

Liu Mingyi returned home, gently pushing open the door to the hall. He was startled by the figure sitting motionless at the table, looking like a clay sculpture. Through the narrow gap of the door, the moonlight streamed in, revealing that it was Wei Lan. She was draped in a cloak, quietly sitting there.

Wei Lan spoke faintly, “You’re back.” She had been waiting in this posture and almost fell asleep, but the cold wind blowing through the door brought her fully awake.

She looked at Liu Mingyi, noticing his thin clothes, with his temples and eyebrows damp from the moisture. A thin layer of frost had formed in the cold air, making him look somewhat disheveled.

Liu Mingyi set down the bamboo basket he was carrying and asked, “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Wei Lan, who was usually straightforward, furrowed her brow slightly and asked in return, “Do you want me to marry Ji Wang as his concubine?”

Liu Mingyi stood still, his expression serious. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke, “Has your sister explained this to you? This is something you must decide for yourself; we cannot make the decision for you.”

Wei Lan sneered, a hint of sarcasm in her gaze. “Do you still want to decide for me? Liu Yan, don’t forget, my surname is Wei, not Liu.”

Liu Yan, noticing she was upset but not understanding why, asked, “Isn’t this a good marriage match?”

Wei Lan spoke with a touch of grievance, “I just want to ask you, was it your idea to make me a concubine? If you think I’m a nuisance here, just say it. No need to beat around the bush. I was planning to move in with Hong Hua.”

Wei Lan had thought about it. During her time at the Liu family’s house, except for the days when Liu Mingyi was injured and she took care of the housework, she hadn’t really helped much. Liu Mingyi, however, was very diligent and took on most of the chores, with Liu Yao occasionally coming over to help clean. If they thought she was lazy, she could move to the medical hall—she wasn’t someone with no place to go.

Her clear voice rang out in the still night. Liu Mingyi, worried about disturbing Liu Father, glanced nervously at his room and lowered his voice, “Xiao Lan, sleep first. We’ll talk about this tomorrow.”

Wei Lan tightened the cloak around her shoulders, stood up, and went straight for the door. She turned and said, “If you’re afraid of waking Liu Father, come out and speak clearly. If we don’t clear this up tonight, I’ll feel uneasy.”

Liu Mingyi sighed helplessly and followed her.

After walking a few steps, Wei Lan noticed he was still only in light clothing, so she said, “It’s cold at night. Put on the cloak.”

Liu Mingyi finally turned and took the cloak, quietly following her. They walked a few hundred meters and arrived at a large tree.

Wei Lan and Liu Mingyi stood facing each other, less than half a meter apart. In the quiet night, Wei Lan spoke first: “We won’t disturb anyone here. We can talk now. You didn’t answer my question earlier.”

Liu Mingyi felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. He looked at Wei Lan deeply, and after a long pause, he softly said, “How could I harbor any disdain for you? I only fear you disdain me.” The last part was almost a whisper, nearly drowned out by the night wind.

Wei Lan took a small step forward, slightly tilted her head, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight, and said, “What did you say? I didn’t hear clearly.”

At this moment, they were very close, almost able to feel each other’s breath. Liu Mingyi, however, was unusually slow, not avoiding her gaze.

The night wind gently blew, causing Wei Lan’s hair to brush lightly against Liu Mingyi’s cheek. The soft sensation felt like a delicate feather, gently brushing against his skin. Her scent, faint like flowers, quietly drifted into his nose.

Liu Mingyi whispered, “Xiao Lan, how could I have any disdain for you? In my house, you can stay as long as you like. This marriage proposal came from Ji Wang’s messenger. Ji Wang is of noble status, and we didn’t dare respond hastily, so we wanted to tell you.”

Hearing Liu Mingyi’s explanation, Wei Lan’s mood visibly lightened, and a smile finally appeared on her face. “That’s more like it.”

That night, the moonlight was clear and bright, softly illuminating Wei Lan’s face. She had washed off the “beauty mud” on her face, revealing her naturally delicate skin. Liu Mingyi gazed at her, almost catching a glimpse of the fine down on her forehead. Under the cold moonlight, it seemed like a thin layer of frost had settled on her skin.

He almost forgot, Wei Lan’s beauty was captivating enough to make any man fall in love at first sight. Even if she had covered herself in dark mud, she could not escape Ji Wang’s favor. Why was that?

A mischievous smile appeared on Liu Mingyi’s lips as he teased, “But you’re as black as charcoal. I really don’t know how Ji Wang could like you.”

Wei Lan pouted and said narcissistically, “It’s because I have a beautiful soul!”

She recalled that she didn’t really know Ji Wang at all. She didn’t even know if he was tall or short, fat or thin. However, she remembered that day when she found a purse and returned it to its owner. The symbol on the purse was the “Ji” character in seal script. Could that man have been Ji Wang?

Wei Lan shook her head lightly, then her expression darkened. “But what about being a concubine? You want me to serve one man with other women. Don’t you think that’s wrong?”

Liu Mingyi was stunned, and after a moment, he asked, “You don’t want to be a concubine?”

Her words ignited Wei Lan’s anger. She said firmly, “I swear I will not be a concubine! No matter if his surname is Zhu or Dog, even if the emperor comes, I won’t marry him!”

This was a rebellious statement, and Liu Mingyi quickly looked around, confirming that no one was nearby. He sighed in relief, then sternly said, “Never speak such reckless words in front of others. You might lose your head.”

Wei Lan turned her head and snorted, “Besides, if I marry in the future, my husband can only have me. No other women, not even concubines or servant girls!”

This perspective, so shocking in that era, made it difficult for Liu Mingyi to understand. What was she thinking? He tentatively asked, “You don’t want other women to bear your children?”

Wei Lan rolled her eyes. “I don’t want to discuss this with you. You and they are the same, all of you have feudal thinking!”

Feudal thinking again? They were living in the present, so why were they always labeled as ancient people? But now that Liu Mingyi knew Wei Lan had no intention of this marriage, he finally felt relieved, the heavy weight in his heart lifting.

In the peaceful night, it felt as though the world had fallen silent for them. Liu Mingyi felt an inexplicable pull, casting aside the noise of the world, and his mind, heart, and thoughts were filled entirely with the figure of this delicate woman in front of him.

Just as he finally organized his chaotic thoughts and was about to speak with deep affection, “Xiao Lan, I…” a sudden gust of wind blew through, roughly loosening the knot of Wei Lan’s cloak.

Liu Mingyi reacted quickly, grabbing the flying cloak with steady hands, deftly tying a neat and tight bow, and then carefully adjusting it for her.

Wei Lan was full of questions. Liu Mingyi was acting unusually today. Normally, he kept just the right distance from her, but today, he was showing so much care. She couldn’t help but ask, “What were you going to say?”

The cold wind seemed to have blown away Liu Mingyi’s temporary trance. His eyes cleared up, and his voice returned to normal. “Let’s go back. It’s late.”

---

In Ji Wang’s residence, Zhu Cihuai lazily lounged in a chair, idly stroking a cold, gleaming dagger. This dagger, a gift from Old Master Lei, was narrow and sharp, with intricate cloud patterns carved on the blade and a few ruby-sized gemstones embedded in the hilt, gleaming brightly. It was said to cut iron like clay. Zhu Cihuai treasured it and had taken it out today to examine it.

He glanced sideways at Liu Mama, who was kneeling on the floor, and slowly spoke, “Liu Mama, this dagger is said to be able to cut iron, but it’s never been used. I wonder what it would be like to use it on someone’s bones?”

Liu Mama, kneeling on the floor, was so terrified that she trembled all over. Cold sweat streamed down her forehead, and she cried out, “Spare me, please, Your Highness!”

She had come to return the gifts. Previously, she had been full of joy, carrying the gifts that Zhu Cihuai had carefully prepared, believing the marriage proposal would go smoothly. However, when the Liu family returned the gifts, it left her in a dilemma, not knowing how to report back to Ji Wang.

Therefore, she wasted no time and rushed here to report the situation. Liu Mama knew very well that if Ji Wang wanted to take her life, it would be as easy as crushing an ant. Full of regret, she wished she had never taken this task. But now, there was no turning back.

Zhu Cihuai noticed her state, his eyes flickering with amusement, and asked, “What did you say to them? Did they know my identity?”

Liu Mama’s heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t sure how to answer. If she revealed Ji Wang’s identity, the Liu family might refuse, which would cause embarrassment for Ji Wang; if she left it out, she feared Ji Wang might think she hadn’t done her job properly.

After a brief pause, she answered, trembling, “Your Highness, when I arrived at the Liu family, I presented the gifts and mentioned the marriage proposal. I only said a noble person was interested, without mentioning Your Highness’s name. The Liu family was vague, neither agreeing nor refusing, and returned the gifts unopened. I don’t understand what they are thinking. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

Zhu Cihuai’s gaze was sharp as a hawk, and the room was so quiet that even the sound of a needle falling could be heard. The only sound was Liu Mama’s frantic breathing.

Liu Mama felt as if every second was unbearable. Her heart was pounding so hard she thought it might leap out of her chest.

Finally, after a long silence, Zhu Cihuai smiled lightly and said, “Go back.”

His voice was light, but it felt like an imperial order. Liu Mama’s tense nerves relaxed, though she couldn’t believe what had just happened.

Lang Yue, who was standing nearby, coughed lightly and reminded, “Liu Mama, His Highness has pardoned you. Once you leave this door, today’s matter will disappear like smoke.”

Liu Mama quickly came to her senses and said, “Understood, understood, I understand.” She then quickly exited the room, as though she had been pardoned, disappearing down the hallway as though chased by a ghost.

Zhu Cihuai watched her retreating figure with an even more intense smile and turned to Lang Yue, saying, “Do I look that scary?”

Lang Yue held back a laugh and replied solemnly, “Your Highness, your joke about cutting bones really scared Liu Mama. She thought you were going to use the dagger.”

Zhu Cihuai laughed heartily. “I was just teasing her. I’m not that cruel.”

At this moment, Qingfeng said, “Your Highness, would you like me to bring Wei Lan…?” He made a swift gesture.

Zhu Cihuai shot him a sideways glance. “Qingfeng, do you think I’m the kind of person who forcibly takes a woman? What I seek is for her to willingly fall into my arms, not to be dragged here.”

Qingfeng bowed his head slightly and respectfully stepped aside.

---