Qing’er said, “Quite a few people have come to the residence. The principal husband asks that you go meet them.”
Lu Jinlan assumed it was those relatives who loved to join in the excitement again. She splashed some water on her face perfunctorily, her mind still groggy, and staggered toward the front hall.
The moment one foot crossed the threshold—
More than twenty unfamiliar faces turned toward her in unison as if on cue. Her drowsiness was instantly driven away.
At a glance, she saw eight or nine young gentlemen in the room, along with the elders who had brought them—likely their fathers, stepfathers, uncles, and the like. Without anyone saying it, she already knew what this was about.
Yan Shi smiled and pulled her forward, introducing her to everyone in the room.
“This is the Feng family’s Third Young Master, seventeen this year.”
“This is the Li family’s Sixth Young Master—born the same year and month as you.”
“This is the Qi family’s Young Master, fifteen this year.”
…
The fire in Lu Jinlan’s belly was practically about to burst out of her mouth. But because of the system’s task, she had to pretend to be interested, sizing up each young man and racking her brains for something to say to make polite conversation.
After going through the entire round of formalities, she was finally able to drop the polite expression on her face.
“I haven’t finished today’s reading. Please excuse me.”
“Hey, you child…”
Yan Shi hurried after her. “Stop right there! I’ve put so much effort into arranging this marriage for you. Can’t you at least give your father some face?”
Lu Jinlan took a deep breath. “Who asked you to arrange a marriage for me? When did I ever say I wanted to get married? You gathered all these unmarried young men without discussing a single word with me. Did you ever consider how I feel?”
Yan Shi froze. “You’re unwilling? I thought you were quite willing—you were chatting with them so happily just now.”
Lu Jinlan had her grievances but couldn’t voice them. “That was… that was basic courtesy.”
Yan Shi didn’t believe her. “Don’t pretend in front of your father. As if I don’t know you.”
Lowering his voice, Yan Shi suddenly added, “People outside are already calling you a flirtatious, talented lady. Everyone in Yunzhou knows your reputation. But I’m not criticizing you—what woman isn’t fond of handsome men? I understand. You’re young and in the bloom of youth. It’s only natural to take a few extra glances at those boys.”
Lu Jinlan parted her lips, at a loss for how to defend herself.
“Let’s not even talk about before. Now you’re a celebrated scholar—whatever kind of young man you want to marry, you can simply choose. I’m just afraid you’ll be lonely. There are some things I’m not comfortable saying outright; we’ll have to wait for your mother to return and teach you. But let me warn you—Qing’er that boy isn’t worthy of our family. Even if you truly like him, you must first take a proper principal husband before anything else.”
Lu Jinlan was on the verge of losing her mind. “What are you even talking about? What does this have to do with Qing’er? I’m not thinking about any of this right now. I don’t want a single one of them.”
With a sweep of her sleeve, Lu Jinlan stormed off. Yan Shi stood there awkwardly stunned just as Housekeeper Zou came to report, “Madam has returned.”
Lu Jinlan lay on her bed sulking when she vaguely heard someone push the door open. With her back to the entrance, she simply closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.
The newcomer sat down by her bed. Something brushed lightly against her nose.
“It tickles.” Lu Jinlan opened her eyes irritably. A red sword tassel swayed before her.
Attached to it was an exquisitely crafted treasure sword, sharp enough to cut through iron like mud. Even the scabbard was inlaid with various gemstones, reflecting brilliant, dazzling light.
Lu Jinlan abruptly sat up, her eyes lighting up. “Mother, you’re back!”
Lu Jinchao smiled and patted her head affectionately. “On my way back, I heard you won first place. I made a detour to Chengzhou and purchased this sword from a renowned swordsmith. It can slice through iron like mud—exceptionally sharp. The gemstones on the scabbard were inlaid at my request; they’re worth a fortune. Carry it with you and others will know you come from a wealthy family and won’t dare bully you casually.”
Lu Jinlan dismissed it lightly. “Everyone knows I’m your daughter. No one bullies me.”
Lu Jinchao shook her head with a smile. “There aren’t many wealthier than us in this world—but there are plenty more powerful. Your mother is only a merchant. The protection I can give you is very limited.”
“You’ve already given me more than enough.” Lu Jinlan had never felt so content. She eagerly jumped off the bed, drew the sword to test it. The blade gleamed with a chilling light—truly extraordinary.
When she turned around, she saw Lu Jinchao hesitating as if wanting to say something. Suddenly realizing, she asked, “You’re here to force me into marriage too?”
Lu Jinchao paused. “Ah… your father told me about what happened today. It was his oversight. As a husband managing the inner household, his thinking was too simple. The ones he chose for you were all merchants’ sons, focusing only on character, appearance, and virtue. It was indeed rather careless.”
Lu Jinlan nodded frantically. “Exactly!”
Lu Jinchao continued, “On my trip to Lingzhou, I selected General Song’s only son for you. He has outstanding character and appearance, and his mother is my close friend. After you marry, you’ll have the Song family army as your backing. Only then will I feel at ease.”
Lu Jinlan’s vision went black. “Wait—don’t feel at ease yet. Why are you in such a hurry to marry me off? I haven’t studied enough. The academy head said I have a chance to take the exam for the Royal Academy. I still want to go to the Shengjing and study for three more years.”
Lu Jinchao’s expression changed, her face turning stern. “No. The Shengjing is far away, full of all sorts of complicated people and deep waters. You cannot go.”
“I’m going to study, not to cause trouble. And if I truly get into the Royal Academy, I could bring honor to our ancestors and become a high official. What’s wrong with that?”
Anger flickered across Lu Jinchao’s face. “The Lu family doesn’t care about you bringing glory to our ancestors. I only want you safe and sound. Even if you achieve nothing, it’s better than you running off to the Shengjing and leaving me worried sick.”
Lu Jinlan keenly sensed something amiss. “Why are you afraid of me going to the Shengjing? Are you afraid I’ll meet someone there?”
Lu Jinchao’s pupils widened slightly as she avoided her daughter’s probing gaze, then quickly composed herself and said stubbornly, “No. I just don’t want you so far from home. Three days from now is my birthday. General Song and her son are already on the way. I say we make it triple happiness—celebrate my birthday, your first-place honor, and hold your engagement banquet with Young Master Song all at once. Three joys in one.”
“I refuse,” Lu Jinlan snapped.
“There’s no room for discussion.” Lu Jinchao made the decision firmly and turned to leave.
Furious, Lu Jinlan threw the sword aside and summoned the system’s customer service to urgently discuss countermeasures.
“Give me a hint—if I refuse the marriage, does that count as going against the spirit of a male-lead novel? Will I get beaten up badly?”
“No. While accepting all comers is a common trait in male-lead stories, doing whatever one pleases is their true essence. When it comes to choosing a partner, you have absolute freedom.”
“Good. That makes things easy.”
Lu Jinlan thought, My legs are attached to me. Wherever I go is my decision, isn’t it?
She quietly lay low for two days. After dealing with the household guests, she kept running to the academy head’s residence, anxiously hoping the notice from the capital would arrive soon so she could make her escape.
And so the third day came—the actual day of Lu Jinchao’s birthday. Lu Jinlan knew she couldn’t wait any longer. The Song family would be arriving any moment. If she somehow ended up engaged in the confusion and then ran off afterward, wouldn’t that leave Young Master Song guarding an empty room alone?
She hid in her room, frantically packing her bundle, planning to leave first and talk later.
Qing’er came in and was startled. “Young Mistress, what are you doing?”
“Don’t worry about it. If Mother and Father ask later, just tell them I’ve gone to the capital.”
“To the capital? To the Royal Academy?”
“Yes… How did you know?” Lu Jinlan remembered Qing’er couldn’t read and didn’t understand such things.
Qing’er hurriedly explained, “I just heard Principal Meng speaking to Madam. He came to offer birthday congratulations and happened to deliver some kind of qualification notice. When he handed it to Madam, I caught a glimpse of it.”
Excited, Lu Jinlan grabbed his wrist. “Where’s the notice? Where did she put it?”
“It should be in the study.”
Without another word, Lu Jinlan dashed to the study. Qing’er stood guard at the door, trembling as he tried to dissuade her. “This is my fault for talking too much. I shouldn’t have told you. If Madam finds out, she’ll beat me to death.”
“If you don’t say anything and I don’t say anything, who’ll know it was you? Ah—found it!” Lu Jinlan unfolded the letter. It was indeed the notice summoning her to the Shengjing to participate in the selection process. It even bore the seal of the Royal Academy. She quickly tucked it away.
Qing’er was still trying to persuade her. “The Shengjing is so far away, and you’ve never traveled far before. What if something happens?”
“I’ll bring more money, just in case.” As she spoke, Lu Jinlan pulled open one of Lu Jinchao’s drawers and stuffed a stack of banknotes into her robe.
Qing’er anxiously hugged her legs. “No! Even if you beat me to death, I can’t let you go alone. It’s too dangerous outside.”
Lu Jinlan hesitated for a moment. “You have a point. Traveling alone is inconvenient. Fine—go pack a bundle too. Come with me.”
“Ah?” Qing’er was caught off guard. “But… but neither of us has any experience in the jianghu. Wouldn’t that still be dangerous?”
“Then we’ll bring Ximo along too. Once I safely arrive in the capital, you two can travel back together and report to the family.”
That girl Ximo loved going out anyway. The moment she heard they were heading far away, she was overjoyed. Without hesitation, she went to the back courtyard to harness the carriage and waited excitedly by the rear gate.
In a hurry, Lu Jinlan left behind a letter that would infuriate her parents:
Mother, Father, your daughter is leaving. Once I make something of myself in the Shengjing, I’ll return in glory. Of course, if I fail and can’t survive, even if I have to beg in rags, I’ll still come home. In any case, don’t be angry. I’ll decide my own marriage. If you keep forcing me, I won’t come back at all.
“Let’s go.” Lu Jinlan picked up her treasured sword and gave her room one last look.
The two of them slipped past the corridor. Suddenly, a commotion erupted from the front courtyard. Faintly, they heard the gatekeeper announce, “General Song has arrived!”
Curious, Lu Jinlan ran over and hid behind a pillar, muttering, “I want to see what this Young Master Song looks like.”
Qing’er leaned in and pointed at the middle-aged woman in the crowd who was exchanging greetings with Lu Jinchao. “Look at how valiant and extraordinary General Song is. Her only son must be impressive too. Why don’t you stay and get married instead of leaving?”
Before he could finish speaking, two young men appeared behind General Song. Their appearances were truly… hard to describe.
One was extremely fat—so fat that the knotted buttons on his robe were askew. From a distance, he looked like a water vat that had sprouted legs and walked out on its own.
The other was incredibly thin, like a starving mantis. His clothes hung loosely off him. With Lu Jinlan’s current strength, she was afraid that one shove might leave him with multiple fractures.
This was what Mother called “first-rate appearance”? Wasn’t this outright fraud?
Qing’er stared, dumbfounded. “Young Mistress, this… which one is General Song’s only son?”
Lu Jinlan let out a dry laugh. “Does it even matter? Is there a single normal person among those two?”
Qing’er shot her a look of sympathy and resolve. “Then there’s no time to lose. Let’s run.”
The two of them climbed into the carriage. Ximo cracked the whip, and in a flash they sped out of Yunzhou City.
“Ding! Congratulations, Host, for unlocking self-assertive behavior. Lifespan +1000!”
Oh? An unexpected bonus?
Smiling with delight, Lu Jinlan lifted the curtain and breathed in the air of freedom to her heart’s content.
The Shengjing—it sounded like a very special place.
Unable to resist, she shouted toward the open fields, “Shengjing, here I come!”
Author’s Note:
The groundwork is done~ The main cast is about to enter the stage.