The waiter waiting for payment and the other diners in the restaurant all froze, clearly not expecting such a turn of events.

The few men who had mocked the An family’s live-in son-in-law earlier were momentarily stunned as well.

Fan Changyu stared blankly at first, then asked in surprise, “Did your money pouch get stolen on the road just now?”

She immediately called to the waiter, “I’ll pay.”

During the New Year holidays, the streets were crowded, making it easy for pickpockets to strike.

With Fan Changyu’s loud shout, the entire room that had been staring at them finally returned to eating, though some still discussed it quietly.

“When we go see the lantern festival later, the streets will be packed shoulder to shoulder. Things are even easier to steal then. Better stay alert!”

Someone else whispered, “That man’s prettier than a woman. Think he’s a kept pretty-boy too?”

The person beside him refuted, “No way. He even rushed to pay just now!”

“After seeing the An family’s son-in-law make a fool of himself, anyone can put on an act. But with a face like his, living off a woman wouldn’t be hard…”

Before Xie Zheng could explode, Fan Changyu scooped up Changning with one arm, grabbed him with the other, and quickly dragged him out of the restaurant.

Only once they reached the street did she finally breathe out and ask, “Your money pouch really got stolen?”

The icy look on Xie Zheng’s face stiffened for an instant. He gave a tiny nod.

With his skills, it was impossible for someone to steal something from his person without him noticing. The truth was exactly what Fan Changyu had guessed earlier—he had bought too many things for the child and simply hadn’t noticed he’d run short of money.

After all, in the past, whenever he bought anything, he had never needed to think about whether he had enough silver.

Fan Changyu recalled that he had even gone to the bookstore and decided not to buy anything because the goods were expensive there. Clearly he should’ve known how much money he had left. It didn’t make sense for him to only realize he was broke at checkout.

She sighed.

“It must’ve happened when the streets got crowded earlier. A thief probably lifted your pouch.”

She pulled out her own purse, counted out two small pieces of silver and a large handful of copper coins, then handed them to him.

“Take this. If you see something you want at the lantern festival later, it’ll be more convenient.”

Changning also generously declared, “Ningniang’s New Year money can go to Brother-in-law too!”

The little girl smiled so sweetly that they really looked like a family.

A strange feeling rose in Xie Zheng’s chest. Frowning slightly, he said, “No need. I’m not buying anything.”

“How are you this troublesome? It’s convenient to have some money on you no matter what.” Fan Changyu assumed he was embarrassed to take her money, so she directly grabbed one of his hands and stuffed the silver and coins into his palm.

Her hands were always warm. When she grabbed him, that warmth passed over as well, seeming to seep through flesh and bone into somewhere deeper.

After she withdrew her hand, Xie Zheng looked at the copper coins and broken silver in his palm. His fingers curled almost imperceptibly before he quickly closed his hand as though concealing something.

Night had fully fallen, and lanterns throughout the streets and alleys had all been lit.

Warm yellow light outlined the sharp lines of his profile. Looking at Fan Changyu, the emotions within those dark phoenix eyes became even harder to read.

“Thank you.”

“What are you thanking me for? You already bought so many things for Changning anyway. Besides, you still have forty taels stored with me…” Fan Changyu didn’t think much of it.

Xie Zheng merely listened quietly. After she finished speaking, he finally said, “Candy money is candy money. It’s different.”

Fan Changyu froze slightly.

At that moment, loud cheers suddenly erupted from the distant crowd. All three of them turned toward the sound and saw a street performer breathing fire.

No one knew how the performer managed it. Holding a small burning bamboo stick in his hand, he blew forcefully, and the tiny flame instantly burst into a massive blaze. The crowd shrieked and stumbled backward whenever the fire swept near them, then immediately burst into applause and cheers.

Changning found it all incredibly fascinating and immediately tugged on Fan Changyu’s sleeve.

“Big Sister, Ningniang wants to watch the big fire!”

By now it was fully dark and the streets were packed. Afraid Changning might get knocked over or trampled, Fan Changyu directly picked her up and said to Xie Zheng, “Looks like the lantern festival’s already started. Let’s head over there.”

Xie Zheng glanced at the fire-breathing troupe, all traces of emotion fading from his eyes.

“I’ll carry her.”

Fan Changyu immediately refused.

“No need. Your injuries still haven’t fully healed…”

Xie Zheng replied, “Holding a child won’t matter.”

After a pause, he added, “I noticed all the other children on the street are being carried by their fathers or older brothers.”

Fan Changyu looked around and realized he was right. Families out viewing the lanterns usually had the father carrying the child.

With her and Yan Zheng bringing Changning along, people already mistook them for a family of three.

Yan Zheng was tall and strikingly handsome. Since she had been carrying Changning herself, plenty of passersby had already glanced at them repeatedly.

Some who didn’t know the situation had even pointed at Yan Zheng and whispered.

Remembering what had happened at the restaurant, Fan Changyu hesitated briefly before finally handing Changning over to Xie Zheng.

“If your arms get tired, give Ningniang back to me.”

Xie Zheng answered calmly, “Alright.”

He stood over half a head taller than Fan Changyu. Perched against his shoulder, Changning could see much farther. Along the way she constantly pointed here and there for them to look at, excitement overflowing from her.

Fan Changyu walked shoulder to shoulder with Xie Zheng, still holding the painting the scholar had given them. Rarely did such a relaxed smile appear on her face.

Many passersby who saw them sincerely praised what a perfect-looking couple they were.

One middle-aged couple was also out enjoying the lantern festival with their child. The woman held their son in her arms, but after seeing Fan Changyu’s group, she immediately stuffed the child into her husband’s arms and scolded him with a stern face.

“Look how considerate that young man is toward his wife! You useless lump, can’t you see my arms are about to break from carrying him?”

The man hurriedly held the child with both hands while his wife twisted his ear. He yelped and apologized over and over.

Fan Changyu found the scene amusing, yet the woman’s words still made her feel oddly uncomfortable.

She secretly glanced at Xie Zheng, only to discover he had turned his head at the exact same moment.

Their gazes collided beneath the dazzling lantern lights.

“What is it?” he asked.

Fan Changyu coughed lightly and quickly pointed toward a distant tower covered in colorful lanterns.

“I think they’re doing lantern riddles over there. Let’s go solve some!”

Changning had also spotted the various lanterns hanging there and excitedly shouted, “Ningniang wants a piggy lantern!”

Fan Changyu laughed.

“Alright, let’s go take a look first.”

Xie Zheng asked, “Is she born in the Year of the Pig?”

Before Fan Changyu could answer, Changning nodded vigorously and counted on her chubby fingers.

“Big Sister’s a tiger, Ningniang’s a pig.”

Xie Zheng shot Fan Changyu a strange look.

“You’re only nine years older than your sister?”

“More accurately, ten.” Fan Changyu explained, “I was born in the first month of the Year of the Tiger, while my sister was born at the end of the twelfth month in the Year of the Pig.”

She looked at Changning, her gaze softening.

“After last twelfth month passed, Ningniang turned six. But according to our town’s customs, during mourning for one’s parents, children aren’t allowed to openly celebrate birthdays lest it shorten their lifespan. So I didn’t prepare any birthday gifts for her this year. I only made her a bowl of noodles.”

Then she looked at Xie Zheng.

“You ate them too. Those pig intestine noodles.”

Xie Zheng: “…”

That truly was not a pleasant memory.

Still, if her birthday was in the first month, then she had already turned sixteen this month?

Xie Zheng lowered his gaze slightly.

Suddenly Fan Changyu asked him, “What animal year are you?”

Xie Zheng didn’t answer.

She guessed randomly, “You’re a dog, right?”

That sounded suspiciously like an insult. Even passing pedestrians couldn’t help glancing back at them.

Xie Zheng shot Fan Changyu a cold look.

She tried to suppress her grin but completely failed.

“Actually, if you really were born in the Year of the Dog, it’d suit your personality perfectly.”

Her smile was so bright and carefree.

Xie Zheng turned to look at her.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Fan Changyu coughed lightly.

“I heard people born in the Year of the Dog hold grudges especially well. They’re also very good at insulting people.”

Before she finished, she received another icy glare.

Feeling inexplicably guilty, she muttered, “Don’t you know how venomous your own mouth is?”

The corner of Xie Zheng’s lips curled slightly.

“I’ve never said much else about you. I only remarked that your taste in men is poor. One Song Yan and you’ve remained hung up on him until now…”

Fan Changyu finally understood what it meant to reap what one sowed.

Back then, in order to prevent him from misunderstanding that she had feelings for him, she had fabricated some nonsense about still being deeply in love with Song Yan. Now this man seized every opportunity to mock and despise her over it.

Unable to endure it anymore, she protested, “When have I ever been unable to forget him—”

“Pfft—”

A snicker suddenly came from behind the wall covered with hanging banners and lanterns.

Fan Changyu looked up and saw several young scholars emerge from behind the lantern wall after lifting aside the banners.

One of them was Song Yan.

“Brother Song truly hides his talents well. Even the county magistrate’s daughter has fallen for Brother Song’s literary ability, and now even this former fiancée who’s already married is quarreling with her husband over Brother Song!” A man in a yellow robe and scholar’s cap pointed at Fan Changyu with his folded fan, his face full of frivolous amusement.

Clearly, he had been the one laughing behind the lantern wall earlier.

Fan Changyu’s face instantly darkened. She had never expected Song Yan and his fellow scholars to be standing behind that lantern wall.

Her lips pressed tightly together.

Nothing disgusted her more than letting that surname Song think she still liked him.

Xie Zheng had met Song Yan before and still vaguely remembered him. His heavy, oppressive gaze swept over the group of scholars, lingering on Song Yan for several extra moments.

Song Yan wore a dark blue robe and held a folding fan despite the freezing weather. The moment he met Xie Zheng’s eyes, he instinctively looked away.

His companions, however, were unconcerned. In their minds, they were all degree holders. Even in court they wouldn’t need to kneel. Why should they fear some butcher woman’s live-in husband?

The man in yellow immediately sneered, “Brother, there’s no need to lose your temper. Brother Song is the only successful provincial exam candidate in Qingping County. Your wife still thinking about him is perfectly understandable.”

Another man beside him suddenly clapped his hands after staring at Fan Changyu for a while.

“I remember now! One winter this young lady even came to the academy to deliver winter clothes to Brother Song. I asked who she was, and Brother Song said she was his younger sister!”

“So this young lady truly is deeply in love with Brother Song. No wonder this brother here became furious the moment Brother Song was mentioned…”

The lantern festival was lively tonight, and with the group loudly bantering back and forth, many passersby stopped to watch the excitement.

Some even pointed at Fan Changyu while whispering.

“So this is Scholar Song’s former fiancée.”

“She’s quite pretty, but now that she’s married, why’s she still hung up on Scholar Song? Only a live-in husband could tolerate that sort of humiliation…”

“What a coincidence they ran into each other here. Maybe she knew Scholar Song would attend the lantern festival tonight and specifically came just to see him?”

Listening to the crowd’s discussion and seeing Song Yan’s expression, Fan Changyu felt rage surge from her chest through every vein in her body until she felt physically sick.

Xie Zheng glanced at her before turning toward the group.

“Stop.”

His tone was lazy, yet carried unmistakable command.

The surrounding crowd instantly became even more excited.

Song Yan’s group halted. When his companions turned around, their faces were filled with mocking superiority.

The man in yellow laughed.

“What, brother? You planning to fight us? We all hold degrees. If you lay a finger on us, you’ll suffer for the rest of your life.”

The mockery at Xie Zheng’s lips deepened.

“You studied the teachings of sages for ten years only to stuff propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame into a dog’s stomach? Is gossiping about a woman how scholars conduct themselves?”

Several of them immediately looked embarrassed.

Xie Zheng’s thin lips coldly spat out two words.

“Apologize.”

Only the man in yellow stubbornly retorted, “When did we gossip? We merely stated facts.”

Xie Zheng lazily lifted an eyelid, his words sharp and merciless.

“Are your examination essays also filled entirely with gossip about women? You don’t remember a gentleman’s conduct, but you’re quite skilled at wagging your tongues. Did you crawl out of a male brothel?”

The surrounding crowd burst into laughter.

Someone even shouted loudly, “Well said! A bunch of scholars gossiping like old hens about a woman—aren’t you ashamed? Even the male prostitutes from the pleasure houses don’t gossip as much as you lot!”

Hearing the crowd’s jeers, the yellow-robed scholar’s face instantly turned the color of pig liver. He pointed at Xie Zheng furiously.

“Y-you…”

One of his companions chimed in, “Such vulgar, shameless words! Completely lacking refinement!”

Xie Zheng snorted lightly.

“Refinement? Do any of you deserve those two words? Read a few books and suddenly your eyes rise to the top of your heads. How would you know that when geese fly south, even phoenixes can find nowhere to land?”¹

As he said this, his indifferent gaze landed directly on Song Yan. The words were clearly aimed at him.

After realizing Xie Zheng was also educated, the scholars all looked furious. Yet his final line was obviously mocking them, and none could think of a suitable couplet to answer him with. Their faces became extremely ugly.

Song Yan’s expression shifted repeatedly after hearing those words. In the end, he cupped his hands and bowed.

“My two friends spoke carelessly earlier and offended Miss Fan… Madam Fan. I apologize to the two of you on behalf of my friends.”

The others saw Song Yan lower his head first. Though unwilling, they also bowed.

“We were in the wrong earlier. Please accept our apologies.”

Xie Zheng said nothing and instead looked toward Fan Changyu.

Fan Changyu already knew Xie Zheng was talented, but she’d never imagined he could verbally crush several scholars by himself. After a brief moment of astonishment, she immediately straightened her face and coldly said:

“My husband and I were joking with each other. Since when is it your place, as readers of the sages, to criticize us? My husband has looks, talent, and learning. I’m neither stupid nor blind, so why would I still pine for someone else?”

That statement immediately made many onlookers laugh.

Song Yan’s face alternated between red and pale. Even the fingers clasped together in his salute stiffened tightly.

Meanwhile, Xie Zheng lazily lifted his eyes.

Although he knew most of what she said was simply to save face, the words still sounded extremely pleasing to him.

After all… he didn’t think any of it was false.

Having regained her dignity, Fan Changyu huffed lightly, grabbed Changning’s hand, and declared, “Let’s go.”

Xie Zheng casually glanced at the scholars still standing there before leisurely following after her.

Song Yan and his companions felt unbearably humiliated.

The surrounding crowd continued gossiping.

“They say heartless men are usually scholars. Song Yan broke off his engagement after passing the provincial exam, and now he still mocks that Fan family girl in public. Truly despicable!”

“I think the Fan family’s live-in husband seems even more talented than those scholars. If he takes the imperial exams and passes, the Fan family’s future will be prosperous indeed!”

Hearing these comments, Song Yan’s face hidden beneath the lantern shadows turned dark and gloomy.

His companions tried to save face by loudly shouting:

“A pretty-boy live-in son-in-law! If he really had the talent to pass the imperial exams, he wouldn’t need to marry into another family!”

“In my opinion, if he took the exams, he probably wouldn’t even pass the elementary scholar exam!”

Yet Song Yan’s expression remained cold and unchanged. He only said, “Let’s end things here tonight. We’ll gather another day.”

Now that he had spoken, the others—already having lost so much face—were too embarrassed to continue strolling through the lantern festival and all headed home.

—

Xie Zheng walked several steps behind Fan Changyu, the two moving one before the other.

After a stretch of silence, he suddenly said, “Earlier… I misspoke first.”

If he hadn’t brought up Song Yan, those scholars behind the lantern wall wouldn’t have overheard and mocked her.

Fan Changyu’s steps paused briefly.

“It’s nothing. You already helped me. Besides, I was the one who lied to you first.”

Xie Zheng raised his eyes.

“Lied to me about what?”

Fan Changyu scratched her head awkwardly.

“I was afraid you’d misunderstand and think I had feelings for you, so I deliberately said I still hadn’t gotten over him.”

At those words, something shifted within Xie Zheng’s eyes.

“I thought… you were upset.”

Fan Changyu shot him a look that clearly said “As if.”

By now they had already left the lantern festival street. The surroundings suddenly became quiet, and the occasional alley they passed looked dark and eerie.

Xie Zheng asked, “Is this the road to Yixiang Tower?”

“No.” After saying that, Fan Changyu shoved Changning into his arms. “In a bit, cover Ningniang’s eyes and take her farther away.”

Xie Zheng fell silent for a moment.

“What are you planning to do?”

Fan Changyu pulled him into a dark corner and crouched down together with him. Then she took out the large burlap sack and laundry-beating stick she’d bought while leaving the marketplace earlier. Baring her little tiger teeth, she grinned viciously.

“That yellow-robed bastard’s mouth was way too foul. Of course I’m going to beat him up to vent my anger!”