As the Cui family’s carriage was intercepted and a confrontation seemed imminent, Cui Yun heard a voice from outside: “Is Seventh Miss Cui inside?”
“Who are you?” the Cui household servants asked nervously.
“Wang Hecheng of the Wang family in Xiangzhou!” the visitor announced.
The name sounded familiar. Zhaoyan gasped, “Isn’t this…”
Wang Hecheng of Xiangzhou was the younger brother of Cui Yun’s second sister-in-law, Wang Yi, and one of the “ideal husbands” Cui Yuanfeng had selected for Cui Yun.
Cui Yun felt slightly relieved, though she did not release the short dagger hidden in her sleeve. She instructed Zhaoyan, “Ask him why he is here.”
Zhaoyan parted the carriage curtain just enough to peer at the man riding the black stallion. Wang Hecheng had only just reached adulthood, yet he had already grown a beard, making him appear a few years older than he was. He wore a round-collared robe made of high-quality silk and satin, with a jade belt cinched at his waist, and even his saddle was gilded. His entire appearance seemed to scream, “I am wealthy; come and rob me.”
Zhaoyan relayed Cui Yun’s question. Wang Hecheng grinned and said flippantly, “I have come to escort you back to Zhaoping Township to handle the grave relocation for my future father-in-law and mother-in-law.”
Cui Yun’s anger flared: “Watch your tongue, Young Master Wang!”
If such a frivolous remark were to spread, others would assume they were already betrothed, leaving her besieged on all sides.
“Your voice is quite pleasant,” Wang Hecheng laughed. “Very well. I know you haven’t taken a liking to me yet, but I will marry you eventually.”
Zhaoyan grumbled in a low voice, “I never expected this young master of the Wang family to be such a shameless, debauched rogue!”
Wang Hecheng was determined to escort Cui Yun back to Zhaoping Township, and Cui Yun suspected his presence was linked to Cui Yuanfeng and Wei Yanniang. She even mused that if Chang’an were not so far from Dengzhou, they would likely have dragged Wei Zhao over to fawn over her as well. Since she could not chase him away, she decided to have her people ignore him.
Wang Hecheng tried to engage her several times but was met with indifference. His servant tried to defend him: “Our young master traveled thousands of li from Xiangzhou to assist Seventh Miss Cui, yet she treats him with such neglect. Where is the upbringing of a noble family? How could our young master ever suffer such grievances…”
Seeing Wang Hecheng’s glance, the servant thought he had touched his master’s heart, but the next moment, he was struck across the face by Wang Hecheng.
Wang Hecheng declared loudly, “She will be the wife of Wang Hecheng in the future; she is your mistress. What qualifications do you have to discuss her?”
The servant nearly fell off his horse, realizing his mistake and apologizing profusely. He had been by Wang Hecheng’s side for quite some time, and based on their past history, Wang Hecheng decided not to pursue the matter further, arrogantly stating, “My Wang family is a prestigious house; only someone with the background and status of Seventh Miss Cui is worthy of me.”
He was determined to secure this marriage.
The conversation between the master and servant reached those inside the carriage. Zhaoyan immediately forgot Wang Hecheng’s earlier roguish behavior and remarked, “That was a well-deserved lesson! Young Mistress, in this servant’s opinion, the Young Master of the Wang family is actually quite decent.”
Cui Yun pursed her lips and remained silent. Wang Hecheng’s discipline of his servant was not out of care for her, but merely to maintain his own dignity. Furthermore, he did not want to marry her out of affection; what he coveted was her family status and reputation. But in this world, how many marriages are based on mutual affection? It was simply her own naive wishful thinking.
Cui Yun was traveling light, and the carriage soon reached the northern pass of Luyang Pass. Unlike the past, when they could enter and exit at will, this time there was a checkpoint, and local garrison soldiers were inspecting the travel permits of those passing through.
“What is going on? Why are they suddenly checking permits?” Zhaoyan wondered. Suddenly, she spotted a familiar face among the soldiers and said to Cui Yun with pleasant surprise, “Young Mistress, it is Deputy General Zhang.”
Cui Yun, who had not even lifted the curtain to look at Wang Hecheng despite his repeated attempts to speak, lifted a corner of the curtain upon hearing this and saw Zhang Zhaoge. She was still wearing the same armor from their first meeting; while the iron plates bore many scratches, each piece was polished clean and bright much like her face and temperament. In this appearance, she looked less like a martial commander and more like a scholar-general.
When it was the Cui family’s turn, Cui Yun voluntarily stepped out of the carriage to cooperate with the inspection.
“So it is Seventh Miss Cui; there is no need for questioning,” the soldiers said with a chuckle, letting her pass.
Cui Yun asked, “Are you hunting down fugitives? Why such a large formation?”
The soldier waved his hand and lowered his voice to disclose, “Not a fugitive, but spies from Huaixi.”
Behind her veil, Cui Yun’s brows furrowed. Four months had passed since Wu Cheng killed Chen Xian. Although the Emperor was unhappy that Wu Cheng had used the pretext of avenging the bandit Li to kill the court-approved Chen Xian, the central government had lost too much manpower and resources suppressing the five rebellions and lacked the energy to deal with him, forced to begrudgingly acknowledge him as the new Jiedushi of Huaixi.
However, this new Jiedushi was not as obedient as Chen Xian. He was intent on separatism and ignored all imperial edicts. With the Huaining Army becoming even more valiant under his reform, the court had to adopt a policy of appeasement, keeping guard while maintaining a surface-level peace.
Cui Yun thought that it seemed Huaixi was about to make another move. However, she wondered, was Zhang Zhaoge’s position not awkward when dealing with this?
Zhang Zhaoge happened to walk over and asked, “Is Seventh Miss Cui with them?”
Cui Yun regained her composure and, realizing “them” referred to Wang Hecheng and his servant, she firmly denied it: “No.”
Wang Hecheng was displeased that she was distancing herself from him so clearly: “Seventh Miss Cui, you are too heartless; I escorted you for the entire journey.”
Cui Yun replied coldly, “I do not recall asking you to do so.”
“You—” Wang Hecheng was a man who valued his reputation highly. Being snubbed repeatedly by Cui Yun, his face was already flushed with anger. Ignoring him in front of his servants was one thing, but to do so in front of an outsider meant she clearly did not respect him at all.
Zhang Zhaoge interrupted his outburst: “I do not care if you know each other or not; if you want to pass, you must produce your travel permits.”
Although Wang Hecheng was dissatisfied, he dared not cause trouble at such a critical moment. He readily produced his permit for the soldiers to inspect.
Zhang Zhaoge asked as a matter of routine: “How is it that someone from Xiangzhou has come all the way here?”
Remembering Cui Yun’s attitude, Wang Hecheng intentionally replied, “I came to see my fiancée.”
Cui Yun sternly rebuked: “Our marriage hasn’t even been discussed yet; watch your words!”
Wang Hecheng said with a flirtatious tease, “I didn’t say my fiancée was you; why are you in such a hurry to admit it?”
Having lost her composure for a moment, Cui Yun had given him the opening he sought, and she was too angry to speak further.
Zhang Zhaoge’s gaze shifted between the two, and she understood the situation.