Will You Really Marry Her?

Out of their yard, after turning around an alley was a long, busy street. It was still crowded, the big red lanterns in front of stalls selling satin and rouge powder were still welcoming guests.

Less than two hours later, they had purchased not only clothes, but also a few pieces of jewelry and rouge powder, and spent less than 100 taels. 

Coincidentally, an attendant in a satin shop had received orders to make clothes for a wealthy family in the city, but measured the wrong size. The clothes were too big for the intended customer and could not be sold. Fortunately for all parties involved, Su Jiu bought them today.

When they entered the house, Ah Shu and Hu Dapao looked at the women's clothes in Nanny's hands and chuckled.

They then pushed and shoved Chang Huan into the room to change.

After an hour passed, Nanny lifted the curtain and smiled, "All done!"

"Miss Chang Huan, come out to meet your guests!" Ah Shu shouted teasingly.

Su Jiu was sitting back in her chair napping when she heard the commotion. She jumped awake and ordered, "No one is allowed to laugh at Chang Huan!"

After they waited for quite a while, Nanny had to go and call him, finally pulling him out by force.

Chang Huan who had covered his face with his long sleeves, shuffled out hesitantly, bowing his head. He dared not look at anyone.

Su Jiu went over, pulled his hands away, and immediately her eyes brightened. "What a handsome little servant girl!"

Chang Huan was handsome to begin with, and after being dolled up by Nanny he looked more beautiful and lovely!

"Yes, he looks like a beautiful girl!" Qiao An nodded with a gentle smile.

Hu Dapao and Ah Shu could not speak, as they were busy holding back laughter.

The blush on Chang Huan's face spread all the way to his neck as he pouted at Su Jiu. "Chief, I didn't laugh at you when you were a woman, so now you can't laugh at me!"

Su Jiu nodded as she tried to hold back her laughter. "Okay I won't laugh, no one is allowed to laugh...HA!"

Suddenly, she was unable to hold back as she turned around and burst out laughing.

As soon as she laughed it was like the dam had broken as they all began to laugh.

Embarrassed, Chang Huan stamped his feet, lifted the curtain, and returned into the house.

When the gang had finally calmed down, Nanny dragged Chang Huan out again.

Nanny, who only went up to Chang Huan's shoulder, looked up at him and said, "He's a little tall, but what about his Adam's apple?"

Since he had to pretend to be a woman, they could explain his face as a lady having more masculine features, and his height could be said to be well-developed. 

But as they looked at him it was clear that they were all thinking the same thing: How do we explain his Adam's apple?

Su Jiu gnawed at her fingers and thought aloud, "There are some human skin masks used for disguise in the martial world. It is said that men and women can use it fake the truth of their gender. We should go out to ask about it. If we can buy it, that would be best!"

"I'll do it!" Ah Shu said.

"Alright!" Su Jiu nodded.

After talking about it, everyone got used to Chang Huan pretending to be a woman. They said a few more words and then went back to their rooms to rest.

Two days later, Ah Shu went to the black market to buy human skin masks, and the others stayed in the yard and no longer went out so easily.

After looking for two days, they finally found a seller who made such things. Just covering the larynx cost them 52 taels, but the workmanship was superb. It looked the same as a real person's skin, and it could be blended into one's own skin without a trace. It was really useful.

After dressing up, Chang Huan wore high-collar clothes to cover his neck. Other than his masculine features, the tall figure really looked like a servant girl.

---

During the past couple of days, the Ji Manor was rather peaceful. Ji Yuxian looked at the accounts in the morning and went out to watch performances with his concubines in the afternoon. He seemed to forget Miss Su, who was his fiancée.

His concubines did not take Miss Su seriously at all. They were initially concerned to know that Su Yuejiu had come to Shengjing and had worried about it. They waited for each other to act and to look into Miss Su's details.

However, when they saw that Ji Yuxian had no intention of marrying at all, they were relieved, and naturally, they would not be foolish enough to find trouble for themselves.

In their eyes, Ji Yuxian was extremely shrewd. Why would he let the Su Family toy with him, rejecting and accepting the marriage at will? the concubines thought. Do they think the Young Master is a pushover?

Meanwhile, in the attic of Robes Square, a woman was dressed in a long white dress with embroidered dark lotuses. Her waist-length, inky hair was gently tied, framing her face as elegant as a lotus, highlighting her delicate beauty. This lady was the most beautiful woman in Shengjing: Lan Zhihui.

Her features were distinct as she held a brush and drew on the snow white paper. A pair of autumn lotuses were beginning to take form.

A beautiful servant girl in a green dress came up and put the tea on the table, laughing sweetly. "Miss has been painting for two hours, it's time to take a break!"

"I'll be done soon!" the woman replied calmly without raising her head.

"This Buxus tea is sent by the Ji Manor, and is the Eldest Young Master's favorite," the servant girl uttered encouragingly. "He only got a tin of tea but sent so much to you. This shows his love for you!" 

The woman paused with the brush in her hand. She smiled, elegant and calm as a clear spring. "I cannot get used to the taste of this tea, why did you accept it? It's such a waste!"

"How can Young Lady not accept the Eldest Young Master's heart?" 

The servant girl bent down to look at the lotus picture on the table. Her gaze turned, and she asked tentatively, "I heard that the Eldest Young Master's fiancee came to Shengjing to marry him. Have you heard of this?"

"Mmhmm!" the woman replied, the picture of nonchalance. 

"Mistress, the Eldest Young Master will not marry that Miss Su. The person he has in his heart is you!"

"Don't spout nonsense!" Lan Zhihui's beautiful eyes glared at the little servant girl.

"I'm not spouting nonsense! Eldest Young Master has said he wants to take you to the Manor two times, but Miss, you were unmoved! Other women would have fainted with joy!"

The Eldest Young Master had not volunteered to say which lady he desired, and he had said it twice to her young lady!

The woman only bowed her head and painted in silence.

"Miss!" the servant girl said exasperatedly, "I know that you are still thinking of Prince Rui but…"　

The little servant girl pouted and didn't go on.

Lan Zhihui looked up and looked at the osmanthus trees that had withered outside with sorrow on her face.

Next to her, the tea fragrance was light and refreshing.

After a short moment, the woman glanced away, took a shallow sip of the tea, and said, "Mo Yu, the Robes Square is from Ji Manor. He allowed me to inhabit it for ten years and I am naturally grateful. However, all I feel towards him is gratitude.

"As for Prince Rui, it's just a thought in my heart. I haven't harboured hope for a long time. Now, I just want to run the Robes Square well and repay Yuxian. I don't think much about the rest."

"Miss, you must always make plans for the future! Apart from Eldest Young Master, who else in Shengjing is worthy of you?" Mo Yu said.

"Please!" Lan Zhihui chuckled. "If others hear this, they would die laughing."

"No, I'm right! Young Lady, you are beautiful and talented, the number one beauty of Shengjing! If Master and Mistress were still here, even Prince Rui…"

"Alright!" Lan Zhihui interrupted the little servant girl, as she said, "Let's not mention things in the past, there is no point in getting caught up in 'what ifs.' It's all self-pity!"

She picked up the brush again and bowed her head. "Leave, you are just bothering me here!"

Dismissed, Mo Yu nodded, turned and walked out the door.

The room was quiet, but the woman no longer had peace of mind. She thought of what Mo Yu said and frowned.

The Su Family's Young Lady?

Will Ji Yuxian really marry her?