After leaving the Liu household, Xie Tinglan first went to find the village chief, then headed to the Fang family to look for Chuncao.
Although the Fang family usually mistreated Chuncao, they were fully supportive of her clinging to Xie Tinglan.
Everyone in the village knew how well Xie Tinglan studied and that he was certain to pass the imperial examinations in the future. Once he passed, he would become an official—how could they not try to curry favor with him?
If Chuncao really managed to attach herself to Xie Tinglan, even as a concubine, the Fang family would rise to prominence. Who in the village would dare bully them then?
That was why the Fang family had never sold Chuncao off—they were waiting until next year’s Autumn Examinations to see if Xie Tinglan would truly pass.
The Fang family politely invited Xie Tinglan inside, but he declined, choosing to wait outside for Chuncao instead.
Soon, Chuncao came out happily.
Seeing Xie Tinglan, she was both surprised and delighted.
“Brother Xie, how did you find me? When did you return to the village?”
“I went to the Liu family today.”
Chuncao exclaimed excitedly, “I didn’t lie to you, did I? That Liu Zhiheng really hid a…”
“Shut up.” Xie Tinglan frowned, cutting her off unhappily. He said impatiently, “Don’t spread such nonsense. It would only embarrass me.”
Chuncao quickly fell silent, her eyes reddening as if she were about to cry, but she didn’t dare argue.
“That person is Liu Zhiheng’s cousin, not some unspeakable relationship. During this time, if you have nothing to do, go visit Liu Zhiheng more often. Sit at her house, keep her company, and chat with her.”
“Why?” Chuncao said somewhat indignantly. “She doesn’t like me and always bullies me. Why should I go out of my way to humiliate myself and let her bully me?”
“Liu Zhiheng isn’t as unreasonable as before. She won’t do anything to you. Just go. With you there often, even if outsiders see a man living in her house, you can help explain. From now on, no matter who asks or mentions it, you must say it’s her cousin staying with the Liu family. You need to help the Liu family explain, understand?”
Hearing Xie Tinglan say this, Chuncao was utterly shocked. Was this still the Brother Xie she knew?
The same Brother Xie who was so suspicious—how could he just believe the story about a cousin?
Chuncao didn’t think it was because Xie Tinglan had become foolish. She believed Brother Xie was acting this way because he had been bewitched by Liu Zhiheng. He was starting to side with Liu Zhiheng…
“Why should I speak up for her?”
“You’re doing it for me.”
Chuncao bit her lip, twisting her handkerchief, filled with resentment.
“Will you agree or not?”
“I agree…” Chuncao said, her eyes red with grievance. “No matter what you ask of me, I always agree.”
Xie Tinglan sighed and took out a small pouch, handing it to Chuncao. She opened it to find some broken silver inside—for the villagers, this was already a considerable amount of money.
“Take this and buy yourself something.” With that, Xie Tinglan turned and left.
Clutching the pouch, Chuncao’s heart was in turmoil.
…
Chuncao returned to her room in a daze. First, she hid the silver, then rummaged through her cabinet and pulled out a small paper packet.
Inside the packet was an aphrodisiac.Back when Liu Zhiheng wanted to drug Xie Tinglan to solidify their relationship, she was discovered by Chuncao before she could administer the drug. Chuncao snatched the medicine away and even had her neck scratched by Liu Zhiheng in the struggle. Fortunately, thanks to Chuncao’s desperate efforts, Xie Tinglan managed to avoid falling into the trap that time.
Chuncao thought for a moment and tucked the packet of powder into her sleeve.
If Brother Xie was bewitched by that woman and believed her lies, truly convinced that she and her cousin were innocent, then why not just make Liu Zhiheng and her cousin solidify their relationship?
After all, a woman like Liu Zhiheng, who would drug a man, deserved to be drugged herself.
Clutching the packet tightly, Chuncao made up her mind…
…
Meanwhile, Liu Zhiheng took Duan Wujiu up the mountain.
Duan Wujiu wore her father’s hunting outfit and a pair of long boots. What had looked plain and unremarkable on Liu Yigu seemed to transform into something entirely different on Duan Wujiu.
Liu Zhiheng stared at Duan Wujiu and sighed, “Xuelang would look so dashing on horseback. It’s a pity my family only has a donkey…”
Duan Wujiu smiled shyly. “I’ll work hard to earn money for a horse in the future and ride it for A Heng to see.”
Ah, so obedient.
Liu Zhiheng happily led Duan Wujiu up the mountain.
Perhaps she had inherited a bit of her father Liu Yigu’s lucky charm aura, because not long after they started climbing, they came across a nest of wild rabbits. Soon after, they even caught a large mountain pheasant.
“Done! Come on, carry the game. Let’s head back and make a hotpot!”
Duan Wujiu carried the prey as he followed behind Liu Zhiheng.
He noticed that each rabbit had been shot through the eye with a single arrow, their fur completely undamaged.
“A Heng’s archery is truly remarkable,” Duan Wujiu murmured in admiration.
“This is nothing compared to my father. He’s the truly skilled one—he doesn’t even need to look. He can shoot an arrow through a willow leaf from a hundred paces just by listening to the sound.”
A flicker of doubt arose in Duan Wujiu’s heart. Even though he had lost his memory, he still retained common sense. People like the father and daughter of the Liu family should be treated with great respect wherever they went. Even if they were overlooked for a time, they would surely be discovered at the slightest opportunity.
So why was this family living in this small village, unknown to anyone?
Were they hiding their talents, or did they have some secret?
Duan Wujiu thought of it and asked outright.
Hearing Duan Wujiu’s question, Liu Zhiheng was momentarily stunned and didn’t answer right away.
Worried that Liu Zhiheng might misunderstand, Duan Wujiu quickly explained, “I don’t mean anything by it. I just want to know everything about A Heng. Only then can I protect you properly.”
Liu Zhiheng wasn’t suspicious of Duan Wujiu; she simply didn’t know how to answer.
Was she supposed to say: Our whole family are just tools for Xie Tinglan, placed in this small village to give him an advantage?
“It’s not like no one has noticed. Didn’t my father catch the county magistrate’s eye and go work for him?”
Duan Wujiu thought that made sense.
Liu Zhiheng quickly changed the subject. “Alright, stop overthinking things. Let’s hurry back, or we’ll miss dinner.”
Once home, Liu Zhiheng deftly began processing the game.
She skinned one rabbit first, planning to sell the others at the county town tomorrow. Slowly, she would save up some money to buy Xuelang a new set of clothes.Xuelang couldn’t keep wearing Father’s clothes forever. Father’s clothes were still a bit old-fashioned, and Xuelang was so handsome—it was truly a waste for him to always dress so plainly!
Liu Zhiheng deftly slaughtered the rabbit and the chicken, her movements crisp and efficient.
Duan Wujiu stood to the side, watching intently, his eyes filled with admiration, as if a small flame flickered within them.
Soon, Liu Zhiheng realized that what she was doing was too bloody, and she worried it might frighten Duan Wujiu. After all, based on her life experience over the years, men often had smaller guts than women.
She remembered the first time she went on a field trip during her studies, where they had to camp and slaughter chickens. All the boys in the class hid in fear, and in the end, it was the girls who stepped up. One girl held the feet, another held the head, and a third swung the knife—with a swift motion, chicken heads littered the ground.
Liu Zhiheng glanced at Duan Wujiu, who was watching her slaughter the chickens, curious to see his reaction.
Unexpectedly, when she turned to look at Duan Wujiu, she met his eyes brimming with affection.
Duan Wujiu stared at her blood-stained hands, unable to hide the fervent admiration in his gaze. It was as if those blood-stained hands of Liu Zhiheng had touched something deep within him.
Truly befitting a villain—his preferences were different from others…