Surprise

On the 16th day of the 3rd month, Madam Zhang arrived in Bianliang. Guan Lang and the butler of the house went to the city gate to personally fetch her.

Everything that Song Caitang had been worried about did not happen.

Madam Zhang was friendly, magnanimous, behaved in a fairly humble manner and kept a low profile. She had a smile on her face from the moment she stepped into the house and she was kind and loving toward Guan Qing and Guan Wan too, as though she had no disagreement with them at all. She brought a lot of presents too, and they were presents she put thought into. All of them were things that Guan Qing and Guan Wan would like.

She was even more respectful toward their grandmother, Old Madam Bai. Her presents, the way she went through all the necessary formalities, the way she presented herself and her tone of voice, were all befitting of her role in the family. She did not ask to be in charge of the people or money within the household, but kept thanking everyone for taking good care of Guan Lang.

After a while, Song Caitang realized what was going on.

Madam Zhang wasn’t the best person in the world, but she was a mother and the one she loved the most was her precious son, Guan Lang.

She might not be doing all of this with a sincere heart, since it was impossible that she would really not want to be the mistress of the house or give up being in charge of finances. If that were so, she wouldn’t have caused so much trouble back in Luanze. Her concern for Guan Qing and Guan Wan were not genuine.

But she was willing to do a lot, look and plan far into the future, and get her hands dirty just to make sure her son never suffered the slightest bit. Her son was the most outstanding and excellent young man who had a bright future ahead of him. He could not afford any stain on his reputation because of what was going on at home.

As long as her son was around, she would make sure everything was in place and put in her best efforts. Her own image and her husband’s judgment of her performance was not as important. The most important thing was for her to be here. That way, she could help to create a safe environment and other measures to make sure her son gained even more.

The problem was, she had no idea if this was really what Guan Lang would have wanted.

All parents wanted the best for their children. But their idea of what’s best was not always the same as what the children defined as best.

The only problematic character in this household was Madam Zhang. But as long as she was willing to cooperate and maintain harmony in the family, even if it was just a pretense, nobody would make any trouble for her too. The Guan family was still harmonious and happy.

Song Caitang was relieved.

When she was in Luanze, Madam Zhang lived apart from her husband and son, so she could do whatever she wanted without consequences. But not anymore. No matter how busy her husband was, he wouldn’t be away from home for too long. Guan Lang was studying hard at an academy, but he was still expected to come home a few times a month. There was no way for Madam Zhang to pull any stunts.

That was enough.

The family was going to remain peaceful for now.

As for Guan Rongrong, Madam Zhang probably knew that the family didn’t want to see her either, so she didn’t talk too much about her. She just helped Guan Rongrong to bring some presents to the family, because it was supposedly hard for her to leave the house.

Guan Qing scoffed, but didn’t say anything.

Even an official wife had to watch her behavior for the first three years of marriage. Guan Rongrong was a concubine, not even a wife, so of course it was impossible for her to move about freely and visit her family. The Jiangs would not treat the Guans as proper in-laws at all.

Madam Zhang was just using this to console herself.

It was hard for any woman in any situation to survive in this society, so even though they didn’t like each other in the past, they were all cousins from the same family. There was no need to sneer or pass unnecessary sarcastic remarks after what had happened to Guan Rongrong, so Guan Qing didn’t want to make any comments.

But when she looked at Madam Zhang’s expression… Madam Zhang seemed very pleased with whom her daughter had married. She did not look regretful at all and even looked rather smug about it. Guan Qing didn’t want to judge, so she just leaned to the side slightly and gently patted her younger sister’s head.

At night, the moon shone brightly, but there were few stars in the sky.

Zhao Zhi had arrived.

He was just a little earlier than usual, but to his surprise, he found himself face to face with a pair of large eyes staring at the bright moon from her window.

Song Caitang was awake.

He looked up at the sky and frowned slightly. “Why aren’t you sleeping yet?”

His tall figure was reflected in her eyes as her lips curled upward slightly. “You’re here so early… to wait for me to wake up?”

From the first day he knew her, Zhao Zhi knew that his girl was a dangerous woman. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to fall to his doom.

He lowered his gaze and folded his arms as he leaned against the window frame. “I didn’t have a lot to do today, that’s all.”

“I don’t believe you,” Song Caitang gave him a cheeky smile as she held the window frame and leaned forward slightly to stick her head out of the window. Her pretty chin was bathed in moonlight, her facial features beautiful to look at. “Prince Ping, tell me. How many times have you arrived at this window extra early like this? Hm?”

Zhao Zhi took one step back warily.

Song Caitang leaned closer to him and spoke softly, “You don’t find it troublesome?”

Zhao Zhi’s Adam’s apple trembled slightly. His throat felt a little dry.

When he thought about the countless times he had come here, he realized he hadn’t found it troublesome at all. They were sweet memories.

His girl had grown up and wasn’t shy anymore. She had grown up to become a woman now, so she was much bolder and dared to say anything now.

Then again… he had grown up too. He wasn’t that same youth from a few years back.

If he didn’t put her in her place, she might really climb all over his head.

“You think you can see through me?” Zhao Zhi stopped holding himself back. He took a step forward, wrapped his hand around the back of her head and kissed her deeply.

Song Caitang was feeling breathless from his kiss, so it took her a lot of strength to finally push him away. Her face was all red.

Men and women were really different. It was fun to tease him a little and watch him look awkward and all, but if she teased him too hard… then it wasn’t fun anymore.

Zhao Zhi knew that she was feeling shy, so he stopped kissing her, but did not let go of her.

Under the moonlight, his voice was low and faraway, as though it came to her from outer space. “Get it now?”

Song Caitang was confused. “Huh?” Get what now?

“That’s the answer to your question.” Zhao Zhi pressed Song Caitang’s lips gently with his thumb. “It’s sweet.”

Song Caitang blinked a few times before she finally got it.

So… Zhao Zhi was saying that he didn’t find it troublesome, but found it sweet?

She was suddenly reminded of a cheesy but famous pick up line. If I mix with bad company, I become a bad person. But if I mix with you, I become sweet.

She was covered in goosebumps, but her heart was melting at the same time.

Love was a really strange thing. It made those in love say gross words and do the most embarrassing, cheesy and dumb things. Yet they were so happy doing them, so pleased to be on the receiving end…

Song Caitang had not fully regained her memory, but she had suddenly become very close to Zhao Zhi. It happened very quickly, but it happened very naturally too. There was no sense of awkwardness or uneasiness.

Perhaps it was because they were subconsciously affected by their shared past, or perhaps the two of them were simply the one for each other, so even if they had met in a different time or dimension, this would still have happened. Some people just happened to share such a fate. They were able to feel comfortable with one another very quickly.

It was just that… his dry and warm hand was on her face and his face was so close to hers. His head was slightly bent, as though he really wanted to kiss her but was doing his best to hold back. Uh oh.

Not just him. She felt that way too.

A lone man and woman in the middle of the night was really not a good situation to be in.

She casually raised a question, “So, the pretty pomegranate flowers you talked about the last time. Are they in bloom yet?”

“It’ll take at least another month before they’re in full bloom.” Song Caitang’s face was reflected in his eyes, as well as the night sky and the moon. You couldn’t see the other end at all. “I’ll bring you to see them when they’re in bloom.”

Song Caitang felt like her face was growing even hotter.

The atmosphere between them was still filled with too many temptations. It seemed dangerous to let Zhao Zhi remain like this, as if she might let a wild beast out of its cage if she wasn’t careful.

Changing the topic hadn’t helped at all.

Why not…

“Why don’t we go for a walk?” blurted Song Caitang as she applauded herself for such an idea.

Going out was a good idea, an excellent idea! She was certain Zhao Zhi would behave himself in a public place!

He frowned slightly. “You’re not going back to sleep?” He was worried she wouldn’t have enough sleep, or that she would wake up again later.

“I can’t sleep anyway. I don’t feel sleepy at all.” Song Caitang knew what he was worried about. She winked at him, “Maybe I’ll be fine after we come back? If I’m tired enough, I might be able to sleep all the way until daybreak!”

Zhao Zhi lowered his gaze and did not speak.

“Come on… let’s go? Let’s go?” Song Caitang really had a hunch that all psychological related problems could be resolved if the root of the problem was addressed. Once her memories were back and the questions and burdens in her heart were answered, she would stop having this problem.

It was probably the same for Zhao Zhi.

Once the dangers in one’s subconscious were properly addressed and erased, then the person would be able to bravely face the path ahead without feeling fearful.

“Are you… still afraid of water?” She looked expectantly at him.

He caressed her cheek and spoke gently, “It’s much better now.”

“Exactly…” Song Caitang grinned as she pulled an arm around his arm and shook it from side to side. “You don’t have much to attend to tomorrow anyway, so even if we’re tired from walking and we have to rest extra, it won’t matter.”

He stared at her for a long time and his voice was a little hoarse. “Alright then.”

His girl hardly behaved so cutely around him. He couldn’t help but give in to her.

It was a fine and quiet night with the moon’s company. One was tall and one was small in stature. Zhao Zhi was well versed in martial arts, so he only needed one hand to hold onto Song Caitang and he could lift both of them up with his martial arts moves. The way he leaped weightlessly through the air was as good as flying.

It should have been a beautiful and romantic night, but things didn’t always work out. Shortly after they had left the house, they heard a strange noise.

“Help! Help!”

Frantic footsteps accompanied by a person running in a panic came running toward them as she cried for help.

Song Caitang couldn’t see her face clearly, but she was definitely a woman. She had an excellent figure and she sounded absolutely terrified.

She turned to meet Zhao Zhi’s eyes but she did not do anything. Zhao Zhi did not carry her elsewhere either.

It didn’t take long for the woman to reach them. She was dressed in a bright-colored flowy dress that cascaded prettily on her body, except that the collar was opened a little too wide. The neckline was so wide, half her forearm could be seen.

Her eyes were beautiful, her hairstyle was complex, and she had a full face of makeup. But she had been running too hard and too fast and had cried too, so her makeup had run a little, her hair and clothes were messy, and her exposed chest area had telling red and blue bruises…

“Help!” When she spotted Zhao Zhi and Song Caitang, she looked like she had found a float in the ocean. She ran and hid behind them. “Someone is trying to bully me! Please be kind and help me!”

She was asking for help, so naturally she was hoping for Zhao Zhi, the tall and broad man to help, and not Song Caitang, since she was also a woman. She ran and hid behind Zhao Zhi.

Zhao Zhi did not move aside or protest, but he did not let her go near Song Caitang either. He took a step forward and stood in front of Song Caitang.

Song Caitang could understand why he reacted this way. They weren’t going to simply believe what this woman, who appeared from nowhere, was telling them. They would observe the situation first before deciding what to do.

Scammers were everywhere and robbers struck late at night too. The fact that a beautiful woman was here in the middle of the night was an anomaly, so being careful and wary was the right thing to do.

Most importantly, nobody was running after this woman. They had time to observe and question her.

Song Caitang took a good look at her and concluded that this woman was likely to be a courtesan, based on her general dressing, mannerisms and way of speaking.

The woman’s face was covered in tears and the bruises on her chest were real, so it was also natural for her to panic and be frightened. As she pleaded for help, she also peeked out from behind Zhao Zhi from time to time. She was probably really trying to run away from someone.

Song Caitang looked at Zhao Zhi and nodded.

Zhao Zhi thought the same way as her. He put up a hand signal. “Go and take a look.”

A few men in black flew out from the side and ran toward where the woman had come from and disappeared in no time.

Song Caitang knew that those were his secret guards.

The woman let out a long sigh of relief before realizing how messy she looked. Her face was red as she pulled her collar shut and smoothed her hair out. She curtsied toward Zhao Zhi and Song Caitang and said, “Thank you for kindly saving me. I’m sorry for intruding on your walk.”

Even a simple curtsey could be done in such a coquettish way. Any other man would have been drawn to her immediately and taken pity on her.

This girl was good at this.

But Zhao Zhi did not even raise an eyebrow and stared steely at her. “What happened?”

The woman bit her lip and looked back at where she came from.

Song Caitang consoled her gently, “Don’t worry, you’re fine now.”

The woman breathed another big sigh of relief and managed to smile. “My name is Linglong, I’m one of the courtesans at Yuchun Court. I was hired to go to a party outside Yuchun Court earlier. I’ve walked back to Yuchun Court at night before, but I was very unlucky tonight. I ran into someone who tried to take advantage of me and I couldn’t get any help until now, which was why I was so panicky just now… I hope you can understand.”

Song Caitang asked, “But it’s already so late. Why didn’t you spend the night at the party instead of returning at this hour?”

No matter how busy a brothel was, as long as their courtesans were willing to take on customers and were able to stay safe, most pimps would not be so strict about such things.

Linglong stared at the ground. “How could someone like myself be qualified to stay overnight at such a luxurious place…”

It was likely that someone of high standing had thrown this party.

Song Caitang asked another question. “Why are you alone? What about your maids?”

“The brothel was very busy tonight and because I wasn’t around and my regular customers wouldn’t be able to find me…” Linglong spoke very softly, as though she felt that she shouldn’t be talking about such things to a young woman from a much cleaner background. “So I got my maid and a few other servants to send some handkerchiefs back…”

She didn’t say so explicitly, but Song Caitang knew what she was talking about. It was common for courtesans to send their customers handkerchiefs with little messages or a kiss mark on them as souvenirs. It helped to keep the customers coming back too.

After she finished saying that, she looked at the ground again and sighed. “People like myself are not women from good families and are treated no better than dust. It’s just walking at night, so there’s nothing to be afraid of. After all… we don’t have much more to lose…”

Song Caitang was silent for a while before asking again, “Who did this to you? Did you see his face?”

“No,” Linglong shook her head after pausing to think. “I happened to pass by a dark alley and heard voices, so I stopped for a moment. Perhaps that’s how he noticed I was there. He ran toward me in just a few steps, covered my mouth with his hand and tried to drag me into the alley. The alley was very dark and the walls were high, plus his face was against the light and I was terrified, so… I didn’t get a good look.”