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The visitor was Madam Zheng, Songyan’s mother.
She had always been fierce and aggressive. Now, pointing at Lu Qiniang’s nose, she cursed, “You’ve already left the Zhou family, and yet you’re still seducing my son! Don’t you have any shame?!”
Lu Qiniang’s face flushed bright red. “Aunt Zheng, you’ve misunderstood. I’m several years older than Songyan. I see him as a younger brother—there’s nothing like what you’re thinking…”
“Whether you’ve thought about it or not, you know that in your own heart! Clinging like a ghost that won’t leave, can’t even spare a look in the mirror to see what kind of person you are, and yet you still dream of seducing my son!”
“Shut your filthy mouth!” Erya shot forward like a cannonball and gave Madam Zheng a hard shove. “You old hag! Did you eat horse dung? Your mouth reeks that bad! My mother doesn’t even care for Fifth Young Master, why would she fancy your precious son? Quit flattering yourself—what makes you think you’re worth anything?!”
The little girl’s voice was sharp and piercing, rattling off like firecrackers—absolutely not one to suffer a loss.
“Doesn’t care for Fifth Young Master? Aren’t you afraid the wind will split your tongue for talking nonsense? Do you even know who Fifth Young Master is? He’s the hope of our Zhou family—became a Xiucai at the age of twenty! He’s the Star of Literature descended from the heavens!”
“So what if he’s the Star of Literature? My mother still doesn’t care for him.”
“Erya, that’s enough. Go inside,” Lu Qiniang shook her head at her. “This is grown-up business. Children shouldn’t get involved. I only borrowed silver from Songyan. Let’s not drag Fifth Young Master into this.”
“See? You admit it—going to Songyan just for money. Don’t treat me like a fool. I’ve long seen through you. You’ve got your eye on my son!”
“Aunt Zheng, that’s not true. I’m raising three daughters on my own. I’ve never considered remarrying…”
“Tut-tut. Not planning to marry? Then what, you’re going to buy yourself a husband?” someone outside watching the commotion jeered.
“Buy a husband? What do you mean buy a husband?”
Songyan rushed in, drenched in sweat. He had meant to stop his mother from making a scene, but the moment he heard that line, he completely lost it.
“There’s a long story behind this,” Lu Qiniang said. “Songyan, you explain it to Aunt Zheng. I only borrowed money from you. I have no ulterior motives.”
“Fine. Just wait. I’ll settle this with you later.” Songyan looked at her like she had betrayed him.
Lu Qiniang: “…”
Songyan turned angrily to his mother. “I’ve told you clearly—I don’t like Lu Qiniang! You just keep running around ruining my reputation so no one will marry me, is that it? If you keep this up, I’ll go get Father.”
Madam Zheng was actually afraid of this son.
So she left, still cursing under her breath, and made sure to declare as she went that she would never accept Lu Qiniang as a daughter-in-law.
Lu Qiniang: “…”
What on earth was all this?
Rage flared in Songyan’s eyes. “Lu Qiniang, what’s this about buying a husband? Fifth Young Master’s not here, and this is how you act behind his back—”
“Stop right there,” Lu Qiniang cut him off. “Who do you think I am? Someone worthy of being associated with a celestial scholar like him? Borrowing money is one thing, let’s not confuse issues. I owe you money, your mother insulted me by mistake, fine—I’ll take that as the interest. But if you dare spread rumors about me and Fifth Young Master, then don’t blame me for turning nasty!”
“Don’t change the subject! I’m asking you—what’s this about buying a husband?”
“It’s exactly what it sounds like,” Lu Qiniang said flatly. “Men should marry, women should wed. I couldn’t find a man, so I bought one—what of it?”
“You, you…” Songyan was unexpectedly furious. After a long pause, he stomped his foot and snapped, “You’re shameless!”
“Enough. Go home. I’ll find a way to pay you back soon,” Lu Qiniang said, clearly done with the conversation.
Songyan leapt up. “Where is this husband of yours? I want to see him for myself. What kind of man dares compare himself to Fifth Young Master?”
Erya muttered quietly off to the side, “In terms of looks, he actually does compare…”
Though that might be all he had going for him.
Just then, the window creaked open with a low squeak.
Songyan looked toward the sound—and found himself locked in a pair of deep, quiet eyes.
His throat tightened instantly.
The man’s silhouette was bathed in twilight. Snowflakes swirled past his temples on the wind, but not a bit of their chill matched the cold in his gaze—like a blade forged in millennia of frost, lazily sweeping over its prey. Even the crows in the trees fell eerily silent.
He tapped a slender finger against the window lattice with languid elegance. Though he merely leaned against the fragile window frame, he exuded a presence reminiscent of a lone wolf perched on a snowy cliff—dangerous, regal, and utterly untouchable.
Cold sweat broke out at the nape of Songyan’s neck.
Outside, night seemed to suddenly thicken like ink spilling across paper.
“W-Where did you find this… husband of yours?” he whispered, taking two steps back and glancing sideways at Lu Qiniang.
She really… dared to bring just anyone into her home?
This man—just one look, and you could tell—he was no ordinary person.
He radiated danger. Songyan’s back was drenched in cold sweat.
“It’s Xiao Yan,” Lu Qiniang said in a low voice. “I told you before—he once helped me. I couldn’t just stand by and watch him die.”
“Who? Who did you say?” Songyan snapped his head around and stared at her.
“Keep your voice down. Xiao Yan used to be an official—he still has some pride to maintain.”
“You—!” Songyan’s voice caught in his throat.
An official?
He was more than just an official, wasn’t he?
He was a very high-ranking official!
No one dared get involved in that mess—and yet she did, of all people!
“You—honestly, you…” Songyan was so furious he could hardly form words.
“I owed him a debt,” Lu Qiniang repeated for the umpteenth time, calm but firm. “I couldn’t just watch him die.”
Songyan no longer felt jealous on behalf of his young master.
After all, someone like Xiao Yan would never look twice at Lu Qiniang.
“You really ought to be more mindful of your reputation,” he muttered, voice low. “No wonder you needed to borrow money. Turns out there’s another mouth to feed at home. What am I supposed to say to you?”
He scolded her as he pulled out his money pouch.
Lu Qiniang quickly waved him off. “No need, really. I’ve got enough on hand.”
A loan was a debt—she didn’t want to owe more than she had to.
Songyan didn’t insist. He just murmured, “If you ever need money, you can come to me. But remember—your reputation matters. If it gets ruined, even if the Fifth Young Master passes the Emperial exam…”
“Go home already.” Lu Qiniang didn’t let him finish. She grabbed him by the arm and pushed him out the door.
Xiao Yan’s gaze grew darker.
So widows could have their springtime, too.
To pass the provincial exam at twenty, and to be entering the imperial exam come spring—this Fifth Young Master was no ordinary man.
Yet here he was, nesting in someone else’s home like a cuckoo in another bird’s nest.