Getting Married

Yu Shiyan knew that Ye Yunchu had feelings for him, but their statuses were worlds apart. Being together would be opposed by Zhen Nan Wang and the Wangfei. He had no intention of climbing the social ladder to live a life of wealth and luxury. He just wanted to choose a gentle and jade-like husband when it was time to marry, manage the household, have a child, and live a peaceful life.

Meeting Ye Yunchu was an accident. Yu Shiyan warned himself not to stray from the life he had envisioned and not to let anyone block his path.

Ye Yunchu initially thought that Yu Shiyan had called him out to accept his proposal, but unexpectedly, it was to reject him. He wasn’t blind; he knew Yu Shiyan had feelings for him too.

He didn’t rashly step forward to do anything extreme. Instead, he looked at Yu Shiyan with a deep gaze and said, “I like you, and it has nothing to do with status.”

Hearing this, Yu Shiyan only felt that Ye Yunchu was somewhat naive at heart. He didn’t say anything more, just lowered his eyes and said, “If Ye Shizi has nothing else, I’ll be leaving first.”

When Yu Shiyan showed this kind of resistant attitude, Ye Yunchu also felt a bit angry. He knew there was a gap in their statuses when he fell for Yu Shiyan. Now that he had expressed his attitude and determination, Yu Shiyan didn’t even listen and just wanted to escape from him.

Ye Yunchu grabbed Yu Shiyan’s wrist, “What do you mean? We can still talk this out. If you’re afraid of my father and mother, I can talk to them. You shouldn’t always want to leave when something happens. Running away won’t solve the problem.” Ye Yunchu’s heart was on fire, and his actions were a bit rough.

Yu Shiyan felt pain in his wrist, his expression restrained.

Noticing Yu Shiyan’s unusual expression, Ye Yunchu quickly let go of his hand, looking flustered, “I’m sorry, Xiaoyan, I didn’t mean it. Are you okay?”

“Ye Shizi, can I leave now?”

Ye Yunchu hesitated to speak, and Yu Shiyan left directly.

He was also angry inside. Ye Yunchu didn’t understand anything, just saying he was timid and liked to avoid problems. He wasn’t avoiding problems; he just lacked confidence.

He was a concubine’s son from the Changyang Marquis Mansion, and the people there didn’t like him. His father was a Ge’er who climbed into bed, and everyone in the Capital City knew his background, while Ye Yunchu was a noble, the dream lover of many Ge’ers in Shengjing.

Yu Shiyan, feeling troubled, covered his head with a quilt.

…

“Young Master, you asked me to watch for when the Third Young Master would return at the back door. I saw him leave and come back about half an hour later. When he returned, his wrist was red, and his eyes were red too,” Jin Yun ran back to the courtyard to tell Yu Lanyi.

Did Yu Shiyan and Ye Yunchu have a fight? Yu Lanyi suddenly felt in a good mood. Love or not, they still ended up fighting, almost making someone cry.

Yu Lanyi pouted. Ye Yunchu wouldn’t have used force, right? Otherwise, why would Yu Shiyan’s wrist be red? Really lacking class. Speaking of which, Zheng Shanci didn’t seem like someone who would use force.

Just in case, Yu Lanyi planned to carry a knife with him at all times. If Zheng Shanci dared to use force, he would have to show his knife.

“Young Master, your wedding dress…” Jin Yun said with difficulty. Yu Lanyi was inconsistent, and the wedding dress wasn’t even finished, not even a sleeve. Yu Fulang had already prepared a wedding dress embroidered by a seamstress for him.

“These are minor issues. By the way, how’s Xinfeng County? I’ve never left the Capital City in my life,” Yu Lanyi looked at Jin Yun with bright eyes.

Jin Yun: “You can ask the eldest young master about this. He’s the most knowledgeable person.”

Yu Lanyi was still curious. His lively nature made him want to plan well for himself now that things were settled.

First, there was money, the more, the better. Then, since he was particular about beds, he would take his bed with him, along with his favorite bed curtains and his favorite table… He wanted to move the whole house.

Thinking about leaving his elder brother, the Changyang Marquis, and his father, Yu Lanyi suddenly felt a sense of loss. He never thought there was anything good about home before, but only when leaving did he realize he was reluctant.

It was all Zheng Shanci’s fault for being useless. Why couldn’t he stay in the Capital City? Just a small county magistrate.

Yu Lanyi got angry again.

…

Zheng Shanci hadn’t been idle these days, his fishing skills improving rapidly. The fish he brought back were quickly snatched up. He heard that today a Grand Scholar was going to give a lecture at the Imperial Academy, and they were allowed to enter and exit.

“Lord Yue was an official promoted from the local level, now retired, but wherever he governed, the people loved him. He taught many scholars, with students all over the world, but in reality, he only had a few scattered disciples. Many scholars were proud to have attended Lord Yue’s lectures, claiming to have received the grace of his teachings and recognizing him as their teacher.”

“Hurry, hurry, if you’re late, you won’t even see Lord Yue’s face from the back.”

Hearing this, Zheng Shanci was moved. Since he was about to go to the grassroots level, he could go listen. With this thought, he followed the people in front, and when he entered the Imperial Academy, it was a sea of people.

It felt like being in a school lecture scene, and Zheng Shanci could only see many heads. Standing on the periphery, he could barely hear what was being said on stage.

Zheng Shanci: “…”

Zheng Shanci focused his mind, and Lord Yue’s voice grew louder.

“Governance of a place lies in agriculture and education… When the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when clothing and food are sufficient, they know honor and shame. As a local official, you must first use a thunderous demeanor to awe the people, only then do you have the right to speak… The most troublesome for local officials are the gentry and local tyrants. I suggest dividing and conquering, drawing one in and suppressing another, but you must maintain a balance between them and let them vie for your support…”

Zheng Shanci mentally noted down the useful knowledge. After the lecture, he felt he had gained a lot.

As Lord Yue left, Zheng Shanci bowed in the direction he departed.

The other scholars crowded forward, but Zheng Shanci had already left the Imperial Academy. As he left, he felt clear and open-minded. Since he had become the magistrate of Xinfeng County, he naturally had to be responsible for the people of Xinfeng.

He went back to recall the plot of the original story, noting down several important points. In the original, Ye Yunchu was a hero of Da Yan, preventing the spread of a plague with Yu Shiyan, earning the trust of Emperor Wu Ming. Ye Yunchu also went on a mission to the barbarians, raising Da Yan’s prestige.

Zheng Shanci noted down several time points. Having looked at it for too long, he couldn’t remember clearly and had to regretfully put down the pen.

The wedding day arrived in no time. Zheng Shanci put on his wedding attire, and Yu Changxing got him a tall white horse to show his demeanor. The academy not only taught the Four Books and Five Classics but also etiquette, music, archery, charioteering, and mathematics.

A few days before the wedding, the couple couldn’t see each other. On the eve of the wedding, Zheng Shanci felt a bit nervous. He had never married anyone before, and this person was a man. He found it hard to sleep. It wasn’t anxiety or excitement; he didn’t have those emotions.

But he just couldn’t sleep.

Sometimes he would think of Yu Lanyi throwing silver pieces at his head, and when he returned the silver pieces, Yu Lanyi’s eyes sparkled with fire, his whole face bright and beautiful, with vivid colors.

The next day, as Zheng Shanci stepped out the door, many people had gathered around the place. Seeing so many people made him a bit dizzy. Where did such a lively scene come from in the alley? The Marquis Mansion was marrying off a Ge’er, and these people were here to watch the excitement.

“The groom is out, the groom is really handsome!”

“This is Zheng Shanci, almost didn’t recognize him.”

Seeing the white horse adorned with red flowers, Zheng Shanci mounted it.

His posture was agile and skilled.

Someone in the crowd shouted a cheer.

Zheng Shanci pulled the reins, exhaling as he rode towards the Changyang Marquis Mansion.