Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Madam Shen was all too familiar with the type of poor scholar who put on a lofty air but was really scheming and self-serving.

Lan Geer was the apple of her eye. How could she let her son make the same mistakes she made back then?

Thus, after bringing the boy back to the mansion, Madam Shen earnestly tried to persuade him once more:

"Lan Geer, I know you can't control who you love. But how can I watch you swallow the same bitter dose I had to choke down? Isn't your father living proof?"

"Even if... even if that Han boy really loves you, what about his family? I'm not trying to be snobbish or look down on farmers, but most country folk are rough and don't think ahead. When problems come, they don't talk it out—they make a scene and stick to you like burrs. Do you really think you could put up with that?"

"Look at the faces of your father's country relatives. Do you truly think you could endure it?"

"I was just like you once. My parents tried everything to talk me out of it, but I fell for your father's nonsense. And where did that get me? Look at what I ended up with."

"Every day, it was either dealing with those nasty relatives or fighting with the concubines in this household... Do you think I'm still Madam Shen because your father has a conscience?"

"No. It's because I can bring in money. Your grandparents send us money every year. I oil his official connections and network. And since he couldn't find a better deal, he kept me to build himself a reputation for not abandoning his humble wife. Otherwise, I'd have been divorced long ago, or died quietly of 'illness'!"

Madam Shen spoke from the heart, even reopening old wounds, hoping to knock some sense into her son.

But unfortunately, Han Zhang had already seen this coming. Han Zhang had long prepared for this and had already gotten into Shen Qinglan's head.

Shen Qinglan rushed to defend his beloved: "Brother Han isn't like Father! He never tricked me. I made the first move; I was the one who pursued him."

"Until today, Brother Han had no idea I was a gē'er, let alone that I was the young master of the Shen estate. He even felt guilty for falling for someone he thought was a man and tried to break things off several times."

"He also said that feelings are fickle and he didn't want to be with me because he was afraid of hurting me down the road..."

"But Mom, I just like him. I get everything you're saying, but if it's Brother Han, I'm willing to take the risk. Even if I regret it, I'll accept it."

Madam Shen choked up: "Your father fooled me the same way!"

"Your father swore that if he ever betrayed me, he'd be struck by lightning. And now this Brother Han of yours hasn't even made a single promise, and you're already throwing yourself at him. Who knows how much he despises you!"

Shen Qinglan refused to back down: "Brother Han would never do that. He's upright and noble. People are different, Mom. Don't compare Father to Brother Han."

"Mom, you're only biased against Brother Han because of what happened today—seeing us embrace. But Brother Han is really great. I forced myself on him—I kissed him first and made him take responsibility."

"Besides, if Brother Han really wanted to climb the social ladder, why would he turn down Miss Zhang from the Tutor's Office at the temple fair? Doesn't that prove his character?"

As he spoke, Shen Qinglan couldn't help blushing, remembering their passionate kiss earlier. His ears burned and his heart felt sweet.

Madam Shen was at a loss for words. She didn't think Han Zhang was noble—just that his methods were especially cunning.

Does refusing one invitation from a third-rank official's daughter prove a man's character? No. There's a word for that—playing hard to get.

As a seasoned woman, Madam Shen knew better than to keep badmouthing Han Zhang, or else her Lan Geer would only get more stubborn.

She had no choice: "Then what if you lose? I'm really scared."

"If that day comes... I'll take it."

"Mom, you've spoiled me since I was little. You know my temper. I'd rather crash and burn, rather die a spectacular death, than settle for something I don't want."

Shen Qinglan's eyes reddened, his voice choked.

If he could have compromised, he would never have turned down becoming the secondary wife of the Jinyang Marquis's heir.

Madam Shen sighed and finally nodded.

"Fine. Since you've said your piece, I won't push you anymore. But if a year from now, Han Zhang doesn't come to ask for your hand as promised, you have to agree to follow the family's marriage arrangements and stop thinking about him. Understood?"

"Lan Geer, you have to understand that everything you do affects not just yourself but also the other young ladies and lads in the family. The clan has supported you. You may not care about your own future, but you can't selfishly drag everyone else down..."

Shen Qinglan opened his mouth but finally nodded with tears in his eyes.

"Alright, Mother. I promise. If Brother Han breaks his word, I... I will let go of this love."

In his heart, though, he thought differently.

No, he would never give up.

If Brother Han broke his promise, he'd kill him.

Brother Han said he liked him too. He had kissed him first today. He was already his, so Brother Han couldn't betray him.

When Shen Qinglan loved, he loved fiercely, unto death.

Of course... the one who'd die was the faithless man.

He still had a lot of silver in his private stash. It'd be a shame to die before spending it.

But he believed Brother Han would never betray him.

Shen Qinglan nestled into his mother's arms and couldn't help carefully putting in a good word for his beloved:

"Mother, Brother Han is truly an excellent person. Once you get to know him, you'll see..."

"Alright, I believe you. I'll take a good look at this Brother Han of yours. Now rest. Your eyes are swollen from crying. If you don't sleep soon, you won't look pretty tomorrow."

"Mm... thank you, Mother. Mother loves me best..."

Hearing his mother's tone soften, Shen Qinglan finally smiled, nuzzling against her like when he was a child.

Madam Shen gently tucked the quilt around her son, hummed a lullaby from his childhood, and only after he had fallen into a deep sleep did she quietly rise and leave the courtyard.

Once back in her own courtyard,

Shen Huaizhi, who had been waiting anxiously, came up to ask: "Mother, how is Second Brother? Did you talk sense into him?"

"Talk sense? With that stubborn temper of his, a few words won't do it. That Xiucai Han is a master of manipulation. Now your brother's heart and eyes are full of him. He won't listen to anything."

"I believe you now. That Han scholar seems honest on the surface, but inside he must be full of deceit. If he hadn't schemed long ago, how could he have bewitched Qinglan so thoroughly in such a short time? There's no such coincidence in the world!"

Madam Shen snorted coldly: "A man so calculating—if your brother truly follows him, he'll be left with nothing but bones."

"Exactly! I found that Xiucai Han unpleasant the very first time I saw him. I wasn't wrong..."

And most importantly, that Han guy was far more handsome than me!

Shen Huaizhi pouted with a sour expression.

Madam Shen rubbed her forehead: "Enough. Your insight is like a blind cat that catches a dead mouse. As for your younger brother's matter, let's proceed as we discussed. These days, keep a close eye on that fellow and don't give him any chance to get near your brother again. I'll handle the rest."

"Don't worry, Mother. I'll keep a tight watch on that guy and never let him sweet-talk his way into deceiving my brother again."

Shen Huaizhi patted his chest in assurance.

Madam Shen also called over her trusted maid and whispered instructions.

Mother and son were determined to have a showdown with Han Zhang, this scheming Xiucai.

...

Meanwhile,

On the other side,

Han Zhang was also figuring out how to win over his future mother-in-law and second brother-in-law.

He wasn't worried about Shen Qinglan. His handsome young husband was stubborn by nature—once he set his mind on something, not even ten oxen could pull him back.

But Madam Shen was no easy mark.

No matter how seamless his methods for seducing her son, they couldn't stand up to a mother's love for her child. How could she bear to let her pampered young lad marry down and suffer hardship?

As expected, he would soon face this mother-in-law's schemes.

"Given Madam Shen's shrewdness, she wouldn't really harm me. If something happened to me and Lan Geer discovered the truth, it would only damage their mother-son bond. Madam Shen is a typical matriarch; her methods would never be so crude..."

"So the best way is to force me to retreat and give up Lan Geer willingly."

"But I am a calculating scholar. Now that I've taken this chance to climb up, how could I let go so easily?"

"Unless... unless I can latch onto a better branch, then naturally I'd look down on the Shen family and abandon Lan Geer..."

After careful thought, Han Zhang felt at ease.

So,

from the next day onward, apart from studying hard every day, he deliberately put on a lovesick act over Shen Qinglan, paying no heed to other matters, quietly waiting for the "good show" Madam Shen had arranged to begin.

Actually, he didn't even need to put on a lovesick act.

Having not received Shen Qinglan's chatty letters for a few days, he genuinely missed that lively young lad.

Therefore,

even though he knew Madam Shen would most likely block his communication with Qinglan, Han Zhang still wrote letter after letter whenever he missed him, sending them to Lingyun Study.

At least there was a glimmer of hope.

What if Madam Shen, out of love for her son, relented and showed his letter to Qinglan?

Qinglan liked him so much—if he saw his letter, he would smile so happily.

Thinking of the young man's beaming face, Han Zhang's mood lifted as well. Even though he stayed up late every night writing policy essays and studying classics, he was still full of energy during the day!

Then... this made things tough for his roommates.

Every time they got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, they would see Han Zhang still reading by candlelight.

Someone couldn't help but counsel: "...Brother Han, it's late, you should get some rest. Though studies are important, health is the foundation of everything."

Without looking up, Han Zhang said: "You go to sleep first, don't worry about me. I'm not sleepy yet. I'll read a few more pages. Don't worry."

His earnest studying at his desk made everyone else look like a bunch of slackers.

The others were expressionless: ...

Who the hell is worried about you? We can't sleep because you're stressing us out!