A glimmer of laughter reflected in his light-colored pupils, his fair cheeks flushed with a rosy hue from smiling. He Yunzhao said airily, "Just teasing you."
Qu Zhan found himself caught between amusement and irritation, both hands clenched into fists. Had they been more familiar, he would have certainly taught this brat a lesson—how truly wicked he was!
Something that even those who had been around him for years hadn't noticed was keenly picked up by Qu Zhan: He Yunzhao could be quite mischievous at times.
He was certain that He Yunzhao's jest wasn't malicious, but it certainly wasn't kind either.
Qu Zhan stared fixedly at him, thinking to himself, Well, I suppose this makes us even.
Last time, he had provoked with his words; this time, He Yunzhao teased him back. They could barely call it square.
"Brother He, please stop teasing me. I'm a clumsy person and tend to take things too seriously," Qu Zhan unexpectedly conceded.
He Yunzhao shook his sleeves and stepped forward, his pupils reflecting Qu Zhan's image. Suddenly, he laughed. "Brother Qu, you're unexpectedly good-tempered."
He unabashedly swept his gaze over Qu Zhan, his expression inscrutable. Qu Zhan felt utterly uncomfortable, yet his feet seemed rooted to the ground as if by hot iron.
He knew all too well the arrogance of families like the Qu clan—they would arrogantly assume that no one would refuse to associate with such a prominent and noble house.
He guessed right. He certainly wouldn't make an enemy out of someone over a momentary impulse. But when it came to forming connections, who would take the lead was still up for contention.
Once that parallel prose was published, the one who needed a beautiful friendship the most wasn't him, but Qu Zhan, the Qilin Zi of the Qu family!
If someone wrote an article praising their rival's talent and reflecting on their own jealousy, yet remained hostile to that rival outside the text, then whenever He Yunzhao faced any disgrace, people would immediately suspect the Qu family.
If He Yunzhao and Qu Zhan could smoothly become friends, that would be even better!
Guan Bao friendship, Yang Zuo friendship, Jiaoqi friendship—a long list of historical precedents lay before them. What a perfect opportunity to boost one's reputation!
Moreover, for him, this was a deal with minimal investment and maximal returns. Once Qu Zhan became his friend, he absolutely couldn't betray him openly; otherwise, the entire Qu family's reputation would be tarnished.
Qu Zhan squirmed uncomfortably. He shifted his shoulders and asked, "Why are you staring at me?"
He Yunzhao looked innocent. "I just realized how exceptionally graceful Brother Qu is."
Qu Zhan's face instantly flushed crimson, and even his outstretched fingers turned red. At this point, it was impossible to tell whether he was blushing from embarrassment or anger.
He Yunzhao spoke with such apparent sincerity that his direct compliment left Qu Zhan momentarily stunned. How could this brat act like such a flirt!
Just as he was about to raise his voice, Qu Zhan glanced around and immediately lowered it, gritting his teeth. "You're young, yet already so smooth-tongued."
"Huh?" He Yunzhao was puzzled. He genuinely hadn't meant to tease—Qu Zhan truly had a beauty reminiscent of a lovely woman, and his compliment was sincere.
"Has no one ever praised you before?"
Qu Zhan couldn't care less anymore. He grabbed He Yunzhao and pulled him into a corner to talk. A scholar who had been admiring calligraphy and paintings in the corner quickly stepped aside upon seeing Qu Zhan.
He looked at He Yunzhao and whispered, "Why are you acting so differently from how you were at the Literary Gathering that day?"
He Yunzhao suddenly understood and broke into a smile. "Brother Qu, don't blame me. I didn't mean to tease you—it's just that I truly find your appearance extraordinary."
In other words, this had the same effect as complimenting someone with "you're so beautiful" or "you're so amazing" when trying to build rapport.
Given that Qu Zhan had previously been bested by her in literary talent, she couldn't very well praise his writing—that would easily come across as intentional humiliation.
So she had no choice but to focus on Qu Zhan's most prominent traits.
Without exaggeration, if the two of them stood side by side and someone suggested one of them was a woman disguised as a man, Qu Zhan would likely be the first suspect.
Hearing this, Qu Zhan froze for a moment.
Good-looking people naturally know they're attractive, but he was also aware his features weren't conventionally handsome, and he'd never liked others commenting on his appearance.
He had delicate features with a high nose bridge. When he lowered his brows to look at someone, there was a faint fox-like quality—not seductive, but rather an air of cool detachment.
He Yunzhao before him was actually the first person to openly compliment his looks without reservation. The atmosphere eased instantly, and with both intending to become friends, this became an unspoken understanding between them.
After exchanging some information, they grew much closer.
Until Qu Zhan couldn't resist asking: "Have you read my 'Yu He Yunzhao Shu'?"
He Yunzhao's eyes flickered momentarily before she immediately replied, "I have."
"You're lying!"
He Yunzhao looked at him innocently, trying to convey sincerity through her eyes. "I really read it."
Though usually slow-witted, Qu Zhan was sharp this time. He stated firmly, "You're definitely lying. Your eyes shifted just now."
He Yunzhao attempted to mask her awkwardness with a smile. Reading an essay with her own name in the title still felt a bit too advanced for her.
This was precisely why she felt confident Qu Zhan would want to befriend her. If someone claimed Wu Jun—who wrote 'Yu Zhu Yuansi Shu'—had a poor relationship with Zhu Yuansi, what would people think?
Under Qu Zhan's unwavering gaze, He Yunzhao surrendered. "I'll definitely read it when I return home."
Having made this promise, she prepared to leave since other guests were waiting to speak with her. But as she took a step, her sleeve was tugged.
Qu Zhan pulled two sheets of paper from his sleeve pocket. "I copied and brought them with me. Take them back."
Two pieces of xuan paper inscribed with 'Yu He Yunzhao Shu' were unceremoniously stuffed into He Yunzhao's sleeve.
He Yunzhao: "…" She felt some regret. Perhaps borrowing the Qu family's influence wasn't absolutely necessary.
…
After the apprenticeship ceremony, He Yunzhao's profile in the capital became clearer: her grandfather had served as Minister of Revenue, her father was the late Kangshun Marquis—though without a title, he was recognized as a gifted scholar whose 'Ru Meng Ling' had reached the ears of countless literati.
Many families observing her age began secretly plotting. Talented scholars had always been highly sought after, let alone one from the respectable He family with its established heritage.
The number of interested parties grew considerably.
In December, when the weather turned bitterly cold, her aunt Wen Shi paid a visit.
Wen Shi's visit was quite unusual. Old Madam He showed little interest, but Mother He was genuinely delighted.
Having been widowed for years after marriage, Mother He mostly attended banquets during social outings, often avoiding joyous occasions deemed inappropriate for her.
Seeing relatives was particularly rare—only during festivals when her nephew delivered gifts. Though Wen Shi was her sister-in-law, Mother He was overjoyed, repeatedly sending servants to check since morning until Wen Shi finally arrived at mid-morning.
Wen Shi hadn't visited the He family for a long time either, her eyes calculatingly taking in everything along the way.
Entering through the side gate of the Marquis residence, one could see a narrow passageway lined with blue brick walls on both sides. Following the path forward, a graceful pavilion in the garden was visible to the left, while four tidy main rooms on the right appeared to be Zhao Ge'er's residence.
When the sedan chair reached the inner courtyard, Wen Shi alighted with the support of a maidservant's arm. Her eyes swept around, and nowhere did she see any signs of decline.
The wealthiest families' greatest annual expense was the maintenance of their estates. Any sign of decline would be apparent from the moment one entered—faded paintwork being the most obvious indicator.
But now, seeing that the He family was evidently still prospering, Wen Shi patted her chest in relief.
"Sister-in-law!" Mother He greeted her from afar. Having not seen each other for a long time, they immediately fell into catching up, sentence after sentence.
After sitting indoors for quite some time and drinking two cups of tea, Wen Shi remarked: "Zhao Ge'er's success has brought immense joy to the whole family. The master drank so much in celebration—if not for Yu Ge'er restraining him, who knows how drunk he would have gotten."
Mother He felt a pang in her heart, touched that her brother still remembered Xiao Zhao.
"Second Sister, let's speak frankly. Isn't a woman's entire life lived for her children? Zhao Ge'er is growing older, and with such a fine reputation now, we must make plans early."
Before Mother He could dry her tears, she listened blankly. "What plans?"
Wen Shi slapped her knee with a look of exasperation. "What plans indeed! Since Zhao Ge'er possesses such capability, how could we settle for an ordinary match in marriage? But those daughters from noble families aren't easily wed—the betrothal gifts cannot be meager."Mother He dabbed her tears with a handkerchief, disguising her emotions: 'Our master passed early, leaving little behind.' This is our family's situation—we needn't compare with others. Zhao Ge'er has his own abilities. As his mother, I shouldn't force decisions."
Wen Shi tsked, sighing with a furrowed brow. "Second Sister, it's not as simple as you think. You haven't been out in society much—how would you understand current customs? Noble families care most about face."
"They may have many children, but they can't provide lavish dowries for every daughter. Without generous betrothal gifts, no matter how outstanding the groom's character, the father-in-law won't consent. He'll inevitably need those gifts to cover his sons' marriage expenses."
"It can't be that extreme," Mother He laughed awkwardly. After all, she was raising a genuine daughter!
She tactfully said, "We needn't limit ourselves to great families." As long as the girl comes from good character, that should suffice.Wen Shi immediately bristled in rebuttal: "There you're wrong!" Even if there were some commoner's daughter you approved of, Second Sister, have you considered whether it would cause Zhao Ge'er loss of face?"
Mother He grew increasingly uneasy, sensing Wen Shi wasn't acting as a matchmaker. She tentatively opened her mouth: "Then you, sister-in-law…"
Wen Shi beamed. "What a coincidence! My maternal family returned from Ganzhou with a collection of antiques, each piece exceptional. My husband acquired some and the more he examined them, the more impressed he became—so he thought of you, Second Sister."
"Gold in turbulent times, antiques in prosperous ages. Our Da Jin is currently in its golden age—perfect for collecting antiques. I'll go plead with my family to allocate you some. In a few years, selling them will yield substantial silver."
"Even if not for Zhao Ge'er's betrothal gifts, they could later help his career networking. We mustn't hold our children back, must we?"
Mother He hesitated, and Wen Shi said, "Our family isn't particularly wealthy, and the master often laments not being able to help Yunzhao. Now that the opportunity has come, he specifically sent me over."
Mother He wavered, unable to make a decision. Wen Shi didn't press further, stayed for a meal, and then left.
When He Jinmo heard Mother He's account, he also grew uncertain. "Is such a good deal really possible? Would Uncle actually think of our family?"
It was Old Madam He who made the final decision. "Let's wait for Yunzhao to return and decide."
When He Yunzhao returned and heard the story, she laughed. A Pig Butchering Scheme?