If her skin weren’t so thin, Wen Shu would have loved to bark like a dog right in front of Li Chu, just to muddle through the situation.
However, she had always accused Li Chu of being shameless, and now, to act shamelessly in front of the shameless herself, she simply could not bring herself to do it.
Moreover, she had been taught since childhood that “a gentleman’s word is as good as his bond,” and for her to break her promise would truly go against her conscience and upbringing.
Wen Shu turned her face away to avoid looking at Li Chu. Putting on a scholarly air in the hope that Li Chu wouldn’t go too far, she cupped her hands, lowered her eyes, and said softly, “As long as it does not violate heavenly principles or the law, any request you make that I am capable of fulfilling, I shall naturally agree to.”
Li Chu took a long stride and stood side-by-side with her as they walked. “Then I shall have to think about it carefully.”
Wen Shu became nervous, terrified that Li Chu would open her mouth and demand that she marry into her household.
It just so happened that the two were passing by a candy shop. A family was preparing for a wedding, and they had sent servants to purchase wedding candies and confections. Thinking that the family was not short of silver, they were quite generous; as long as someone passed by, they would grab a handful of candies and stuff them into their hands, saying, “To share the joy and seek good fortune.”
Because people were giving out candy, the doorway was crowded with onlookers.
Wen Shu’s stomach was empty, and smelling the sweetness, she couldn’t help but look a few more times.
Li Chu glanced sideways. “Want to eat some?”
Wen Shu felt a flicker in her heart. She actually felt a tiny bit of anticipation toward Li Chu, thinking that Li Chu would go and ask for some candy and then come back to share two pieces with her. Thus, when Li Chu reached out, grabbed her sleeve, and pulled her to squeeze into the crowd, Wen Shu pursed her lips and lowered her eyes, offering no resistance.
She was even breathing with a light tremor of nervous excitement because of Li Chu’s decisiveness in going to get the candy.
When the exam results were posted earlier, Wen Shu and her father couldn’t squeeze into the crowd no matter what. Now, with Li Chu standing beside her, she didn’t know what clever technique Li Chu used, but in a few moves, she had guided her to the front like a dragon swimming through water.
Wen Shu turned her head to look at Li Chu, feeling both respectful and astonished.
Li Chu, bearing the weight of Wen Shu’s admiring gaze, gave her a faint smile and placed both hands on her shoulders.
Wen Shu: “?”
Wen Shu’s eyes slowly widened. Before she could react to her gaze falling on Li Chu’s hands, the next instant, she was gently gripped by the shoulders and pushed forward.
By the time she turned her head to look ahead, she had stumbled and was standing right in front of the attendant distributing the candy. “?!”
Li Chu shouted from behind, “Please, little brother, give her a piece of wedding candy; we also wish to partake in the joy.”
Wen Shu: “…”
Standing together, they looked like a refined man and an heroic woman to outsiders; whether in appearance or temperament, they were exceptionally well-matched. Added to that were Li Chu’s words, so the bystanders, assuming they were also about to be wed, looked at Li Chu in unison and offered their congratulations.
Li Chu laughed. “When I get married, I will certainly be just as generous. I’ll treat the whole street to wedding candy; you all must come.”
“Naturally, naturally.”
“Young lady, when are you getting married?”
The passersby asked in a chaotic chatter. Li Chu’s eyes swept over Wen Shu every now and then. “The date hasn’t been set yet, but it should be soon.”
The crowd followed her gaze and looked at Wen Shu.
Wen Shu was still standing there, but her soul had long since taken flight. “…”
Wen Shu tried her best to keep a wooden expression, suppressing the urge to lift her sleeves to cover her face. She pretended not to know Li Chu, who was chatting freely with strangers in the crowd.
Under the gaze of the crowd, Wen Shu’s face was already burning red. She wanted to run backward, but her feet wouldn’t move, so she had to stand there awkwardly. She bowed to the attendant handing out the candy to apologize while trying to conceal her scorching face.
She had to admit that when Madam Yang had said the same words about “possessing her,” it made her feel disgusted and repulsed; but when Li Chu said it, Wen Shu only wanted to turn back and slash at her with her eyes.
The attendant looked up and saw such a handsome person, so he smiled and said, “My young miss is marrying a husband; as long as you say a few auspicious words, you can get a handful of candy.”
Even though Wen Shu had been pushed into this position, when she held the candy in both hands, she sincerely said a few common blessings for the young miss of that family.
The attendant gave her two extra pieces, looking teasingly past Wen Shu toward the back. “I also wish you two a quick delivery of your own wedding candies.”
Wen Shu acted as if she hadn’t heard this. With red ears, she walked out of the crowd, almost walking with both her left hand and left foot moving in tandem.
Only when they were far from the crowd’s gaze did Wen Shu let out a sigh of relief, and then she glared at Li Chu.
Li Chu reached out to take the candy from between her palms, looking at her with a blank, innocent expression. “If you wanted to eat, you should have gone and asked. Why be so embarrassed? Those with thin skin can’t get such sweet candy.”
Wen Shu spun around, dodging Li Chu’s hand. Seeing Li Chu’s look of surprise, she raised her eyebrows slightly. “If the General wants to eat, then go ask for it yourself. Those with thin skin naturally cannot get such sweet candy.”
These were all things she had traded for with her own thick skin.
It was unclear whether it was disappointment from the earlier expectations or annoyance at herself, but Wen Shu petty-mindedly stuffed the candies into her sleeves. Whatever couldn’t fit, she turned and distributed to Guan Lu, refusing to give any to Li Chu.
Li Chu turned to look behind her. Guan Lu instantly popped a piece of candy into her mouth, her cheeks bulging as she looked up at the sky, indicating she wasn’t going to get involved in their business. As for their companion, Doubai, she had already driven the carriage around to wait for them up ahead.
Li Chu: “…”
Li Chu reached out to pinch Guan Lu’s cheek. Guan Lu fluttered like a pigeon, swatting at Li Chu with both hands, her head tilted back, and said muddledly, “Go on, go ask the Master for it. This was given to me by the Master.”
Li Chu looked at Wen Shu.
Wen Shu was in a great mood. Right in front of Li Chu, she took the candy out of her sleeve, stuffed it back in, and then took it out again.
The provocation was palpable.
Li Chu raised an eyebrow and smiled, beginning to lower her head to tighten her own sleeves.
Wen Shu’s eyelids twitched crazily. She turned to run, but was immediately grabbed by the back of her collar by Li Chu and pulled back.
She was being held like a little chick.
Wen Shu: “…”
Li Chu: “Are you going to give it to me voluntarily, or shall I take it voluntarily?”
Her question was incredibly amorous.
Wen Shu lowered her head and took out the candy, placing it in her palm, saying weakly and softly, “That was just for fun, General. How can you take it seriously?”
Only when Li Chu had tasted the sweetness did she release Wen Shu and take her to find a restaurant to eat.
Wen Shu lowered her head, blushing as she straightened her clothes, and muttered to herself: What kind of Confucian general would touch someone like that, wishing she could strip her clothes off just to grab some candy?
She couldn’t beat her in a fight, and she couldn’t outtalk her. Wen Shu glanced at Li Chu out of the corner of her eye, cleared her throat twice, mustered up her courage, and emphasized, “The General’s requests—if they are proper, I will naturally agree. If it is something that makes life difficult for others, please forgive me, but I cannot comply.”
Li Chu looked her up and down in confusion, asking curiously, “What kind of request is considered ‘improper’?”
She made Wen Shu blush instantly.
That fair, clean skin slowly turned light pink, and finally, it was redder than a persimmon on a winter branch.
Li Chu’s cheeks bulged as she held the candy, staring at Wen Shu with rare interest. She leaned in to blow air against her ear and asked softly, “What kind of books does the Hanlin official usually read?”
Naturally, she read proper history books and the classics.
She was worried that the books Li Chu read were the improper ones!
The scent of cold plum blossoms exclusive to Li Chu, mixed with the sweetness of the candy, lingered in her nostrils. Wen Shu felt as if she were completely enveloped by her presence; she was blushing so hard she could barely breathe.
Before she could suffocate herself, Li Chu slowly pulled back, her hands behind her back. “Rest assured, my request is very simple: just accompany me to a family banquet in a couple of days.”
The Emperor had asked her to attend a meal at the Pei family courtyard before the welcoming banquet, and she wanted to bring Wen Shu along.
As for the matter of them getting married, whether Wen Shu was willing or not, she would ask the Emperor for an imperial decree of marriage within the next two days.
Wen Shu would definitely marry her.
And she could only marry her.
It was just like the candy melting on her tongue—if she wanted it, she would get it.
Li Chu glanced sideways at Wen Shu, savoring the sweetness on the tip of her tongue, her eyes filled with a smile.
Wen Shu gasped for air, still relieved that Li Chu’s request was simple, and felt quite relaxed.
She was afraid that Li Chu would see her relief, so she pretended to be reluctant, saying, “A Li family banquet—if I go, it would be too strange.”
Li Chu pondered. “Then I shall change—”
Before she could finish, Wen Shu hurriedly interrupted, “No, this one is fine! A bet is a bet. I will force myself to accompany you.”
Li Chu chuckled and glanced at her sideways.
Wen Shu looked away guiltily, her eyes flickering, as she raised her hand to lightly stroke her chest.
Li Chu’s only family in the capital was her cousin, Li Yue. If the three of them had a meal, how could it be any more awkward than asking for wedding candy just now?
Because of this request, both were very satisfied. They had a surprisingly harmonious lunch, and before parting ways, Wen Shu even let bygones be bygones and shared another piece of wedding candy with Li Chu.
Wen Shu’s good mood lasted until her father returned from work in the evening; she even felt that it wouldn’t be impossible to be friends with Li Chu in the future.
At the dinner table, Wen Shu was serving vegetables to her grandmother. They were eating ginseng chicken soup, and she was talking about how Li Chu had “uprightly” defended the weak at the Yang residence.
It wasn’t until Master Wen entered, clutching his official hat, walking with hurried steps, and heading straight to Wen Shu to look down at her.
Wen Shu: “?”
Wen Shu was bewildered but dutiful, picking up the bowl she hadn’t touched yet and handing it to him. “Father, are you hungry?”
Master Wen was in no mood to eat. He asked directly, “I hear you are going to marry Li Chu?”