Where Love Fills the Moonlight - Chapter 1

Yesterday, I had just offended the spoiled princess. Today, the young general and the gentle top scholar successively declared they had fallen in love with me at first sight. I said I needed time to get to know them, but they couldn’t wait to start competing. The general taught me how to ride a horse, and the scholar recited poems for me. One sent me rare treasures every day, while the other loved to invite me to shop for rouge and cosmetics. Privately, everyone said they were making a bet, treating me as entertainment. Yet, I turned a deaf ear, accepting all their gifts without refusal. A year later, the young general was to lead troops to war, and the scholar was to go south on inspection. They held a grand and extravagant birthday banquet for me, but at the banquet, they publicly admitted they had deliberately approached me, all for the sake of infuriating the princess.

My heart was filled with delight, and I ordered money chests to be brought in.

“I won! All the stakes belong to me!”

“Go quickly and collect the money! My general store will open in great prosperity tomorrow!”

When I arrived at the stable as agreed, Meng Hanshan was already wearing the dark blue robe I had praised as handsome, riding his horse at full gallop.

The servants standing outside had their backs to me, openly discussing:

“I heard that Bian Zhaoyue can’t even ride a horse, she’s very vulgar and ignorant. It’s truly difficult for our General Meng, having to lower himself to teach her how to ride.”

“The general said that when he returns to the general’s mansion, he must bathe and burn incense, fearing he’ll be tainted by her vulgarity, which might displease the princess.”

“That Scholar Wen is even more pitiful than the general. I heard he wrote several poems for Bian Zhaoyue, but she didn’t accept a single one. You know, a top scholar’s calligraphy is priceless and has no market!”

“Who told her to offend Princess Qingzhu? General Meng and Scholar Wen were both child-fiancés chosen for the princess by the Empress Dowager. They hold the princess in the palm of their hands, yet she made her cry incessantly. Of course, they have to properly play a trick on her, then throw her into the abyss!”

They chatted happily, and I discreetly walked to the other side.

I was afraid they would discover my uncontrollable drooling.

Just then, Meng Hanshan saw me. He immediately squeezed his horse’s belly with his legs and rode over, extending his hand to me. His smile was wild and unrestrained, and he bowed slightly in the sunlight:

“Zhaoyue, I’ll teach you how to ride a horse.”

I nodded gently and raised my hand to take his fingertips. As he pulled me onto the horseback, I immediately noticed that the stable was vast and spacious, but apart from the two of us, there were only those few servants standing outside.

I hadn’t expected Meng Hanshan to rent out the entire stable just to demonstrate his deep affection for me.

All just to teach me, a vulgar, ignorant, and fallen young lady, how to ride a horse!

Before I could think too much, Meng Hanshan had already guided me to grip the reins tightly.

Two hours later, I recalled the horsemanship I hadn’t touched in five years.

It still felt so exhilaratingly free.

At dusk, I rode two laps around the stable by myself. Just as I was about to ride another lap, I suddenly caught a glimpse of Meng Hanshan’s astonishment and immediately reined in the horse.

Meng Hanshan was breathing lightly, still surprised as he helped me dismount.

“Is this really your first time riding a horse?”

I covered my lips and chuckled, “Thanks to General Meng’s excellent teaching.”

Meng Hanshan’s lips curled up in pride, his eyes sparkling as he walked side-by-side with me to return the horse.

The stable owner spoke as soon as he saw me, praising, “Miss Bian truly lives up to being the only daughter of Prime Minister Bian; she shows no fear when learning new things!”

I immediately showed sadness, lowering my eyes, “If my father were still alive… perhaps he would also feel gratified for me…”

“What nonsense! Don’t needlessly upset Zhaoyue!”

Meng Hanshan scolded, and the owner quickly bowed to apologize to me, even offering a fine horse as an apology.

As I accepted it without hesitation, I caught a glimpse of Meng Hanshan’s furrowed brows.

He was probably annoyed by my vulgarity, so he casually found an excuse to return to the general’s mansion.

I happily finalized the delivery date for the fine horse with the owner. Stepping out, I saw Wen Yushu standing at the end of the street, holding a rabbit-shaped lantern.

The moonlight was like water, and his gentle and soft appearance resembled my worshipped God of Wealth.

“Zhaoyue, the silk shop in the East Market has some new fabrics. Would you honor me with your company to take a look?”

My eyes sparkled, and I quickly nodded in agreement, then hesitated.

“But I’m a bit short on money these days, I’m afraid I can’t afford it.”

“No matter. Since you’re accompanying me to look, of course, I’ll pay for it.”

I pretended to lower my head and smile shyly, just in time to see his clenched fist due to suppressed impatience.

It seemed that he, like Meng Hanshan, believed he was abandoning his dignity for Princess Qingzhu.

But I turned a deaf ear and even selected several additional bolts of Shu brocade at the silk shop.

Wen Yushu smiled gently on the surface, but when he paid, there was an unmistakable look of disgust in his eyes.

I felt a little flustered.

They had been furious for Princess Qingzhu for less than two months, and they were already backing down?

But I still had so many things I hadn’t gotten yet…

While I was pondering, a loud “make way” sounded outside the shop.

Immediately after, my biggest patron, Princess Qingzhu, strode in.

“Hmph, isn’t this the famous only daughter of Prime Minister Bian, Bian Zhaoyue?”

“What, are you after the top scholar’s money bag again?”

Princess Qingzhu was always rude and unreasonable, her voice clear but her words sharp.

But today, these words reaching my ears sounded even more beautiful than the rattling of a money bag, like heavenly music.

Before the surprise in my heart could subside, my lips had already turned pale.

“Princess knows my father passed away many years ago, why must you speak such hurtful words?”

“Although the Bian family has only me left, the Emperor personally said that all my food and clothing expenses would remain as before. I don’t need to be concerned about Scholar Wen’s money.”

She held a jade staff, which was said to be a gift from the Empress Dowager, implicitly granting her special privileges, allowing her to strike anyone she disliked.

As my tears just fell, the jade staff was already pressing against my chest.

“Dare to talk back to me? Believe it or not, even if I dig out your heart right now, the Emperor wouldn’t say a word more?”

“This princess’s birth mother is the Emperor’s own aunt!”

What she said was true, but my tears fell even faster.

So fast that Wen Yushu only glanced once before hurrying over, frowning and saying, “Princess, today I offered her gifts voluntarily, please don’t misunderstand.”

Through my tears, I saw their eyes exchange glances, and soon the princess withdrew her jade staff and brushed her skirt.

“Since Scholar Wen intercedes for you, then so be it.”

“If you dare to talk back again next time, I will not let you off lightly!”

Qingzhu turned and left, and Wen Yushu gently patted my shoulder: “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

My eyes were misty with tears as I looked up, my small hand clutching his wrist tightly:

“Scholar Wen, thankfully you’re here.”

Those few short words made his expression freeze. His wrist trembled, and he awkwardly “hmm”-ed.

Thanks to the princess’s help, I gained another bolt of gleaming brocade.

Wen Yushu casually found an excuse to leave first. The owner delivered several bolts of fabric to my courtyard, wiped his sweat, and obsequiously handed me a two-hundred-tael silver note.

“Miss Bian, the other day you took General Meng to the treasure shop, and he spent a full three thousand taels.”

“The stable owner also bragged to me about you getting a fine horse.”

“But today you only brought Scholar Wen to my shop to spend two thousand taels. What about next time…?”

I squinted my eyes, smiling at the silver note, and waved my hand: “Easy, easy. Bring in more valuable fabrics, and when I have a few more days, I’ll take General Meng to take a look as well.”

“Thank you, Miss Bian!”

The owner was satisfied and was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something. He lowered his voice and said to me:

“Miss Bian, have you heard the street rumors? Everyone says General Meng and Scholar Wen are making a bet to anger Princess Qingzhu by deliberately winning your heart and then cruelly abandoning you, leaving you heartbroken.”

I looked at the silver note in my hand, slowly reining in my expression.

The owner thought he had said something wrong and quickly bowed:

“It was my excessive talk. General Meng and Scholar Wen must truly care for you. Please, being a generous person, don’t mind me…”

He hadn’t finished his sentence when I stared at him with an excited look:

“Owner, which is the biggest gambling house in the city?”

The next morning, I changed into simple, coarse clothes and went to the gambling house as per the owner’s instructions.

Passing by the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, I saw the window of a private room on the second floor half-open, with Qingzhu carefully wiping her precious jade staff.

Sitting opposite her were Meng Hanshan and Wen Yushu.

Feeling a little curious, I found a window seat on the second floor of the tea house across the street.

Fortunately, after my parents and uncle’s family were wiped out by bandits, I had learned lip-reading for survival.

So, I could understand most of what they were saying.

Qingzhu had just finished wiping her jade staff when she raised her greenish-blue eyes:

“Yesterday, Mother urged me to set a wedding date as soon as possible. She can ask the Emperor to personally grant the marriage.”

“Although you are both my child-fiancés, I can only choose one in the end. At that time, whoever makes Bian Zhaoyue suffer unbearable heartbreak first, I will marry.”

Meng Hanshan let out a helpless laugh, and a doting smile also appeared on Wen Yushu’s refined face.

“Qingzhu, we approached Bian Zhaoyue to anger you. As for who you marry, as long as you are happy, the other of us will remain unmarried for life, guarding you forever.”

Qingzhu’s arrogant expression gained a hint of shyness, and when she lowered her gaze, she was even a little bashful:

“I’m not so unreasonable as to want to see her as a joke, but she did make me lose face at the flower viewing banquet that day.”

“The Bian family is gone, so who is she putting on airs as a prime minister’s daughter for?”

Having delayed enough, I swallowed my last sip of tea and hurried to the gambling house.

On the way, I suddenly recalled the flower viewing banquet held by the Prince two months ago.

That day, the Princess Consort, pitying my loneliness, specifically bestowed upon me a golden hairpin.

As I leaned down to accept it, Qingzhu walked over with a giggle, snatched the hairpin, and played with it.

“Such a good golden hairpin, wouldn’t it be a waste to give it to her? Princess Consort, why not give it to me? I just happen to be missing one.”

The Princess Consort knew that her arrogance stemmed from the Empress Dowager’s favoritism, so she hesitated and glanced at me, then could only say, “The Princess is right.”

Qingzhu proudly inserted the golden hairpin into her hair, and everyone around complimented her.

Only I secretly bit my lip tightly.

This was clearly the most common occurrence in the past five years.

Anything I wanted, anything others gave me, anything the imperial family bestowed upon me—as long as it was mine, she would find ways to snatch it away.

Because of the Emperor’s words when we were young, “Zhaoyue knows etiquette better than Qingzhu,” she remembered it for many years.

In the past, I knew I had no backing and could only yield.

But that time, for some reason, I suddenly didn’t want to tolerate it anymore.

“The Princess Consort said she would give it to me, but now she’s giving it to someone else. Does she think that because my Bian family has fallen, I, Bian Zhaoyue, am easy to bully?”

Everyone present was startled. The young prince walked over and quickly apologized with a smile:

“Miss Bian is overthinking. Prime Minister Bian fought for the Emperor’s empire. The Emperor personally said that his daughter is equivalent to a contemporary princess. Who dares to bully you?”

He gave the Princess Consort a meaningful look, and the next moment, he snatched the golden hairpin from Qingzhu’s head and handed it to me.

That was the first time I had taken something back from Qingzhu, and it was also the first time she had lost face in front of so many people.

So, I also anticipated that she would definitely try to regain her reputation.

Sure enough, the next day, her two child-fiancés successively declared they had fallen in love with me at first sight.

I had self-awareness, so of course, I knew they weren’t sincere with me.

But why would I push away a God of Wealth who came knocking at my door?

I had been openly and secretly bullied by Qingzhu for five years. Why couldn’t I get some compensation from her child-fiancés?

Thinking of this, I quickened my steps and entered the gambling house.

With my embellishments, the gambling house opened a new bet.

Betting on whether Meng Hanshan or Wen Yushu could win my heart, and then cruelly abandon me.

In the short month that followed, the odds for both of them were almost even.

At this point, I entered the gambling house again and calmly said, “I bet Bian Zhaoyue won’t fancy either of them.”

A burst of laughter erupted in the crowd, and everyone laughed so hard they doubled over.

“Miss, you must be from out of town. You don’t know how greedy Bian Zhaoyue is. She takes whatever General Meng and Scholar Wen give her. How could such a woman not fancy them?”

“If you ask me, she’s probably agonizing over who to choose right now!”

I smiled without speaking, simply adding five hundred taels of silver to the third betting option.

Because of this bet, our affair became widely known.

I heard that Qingzhu even pulled in other imperial princesses, saying they wanted to watch me make a fool of myself together.

But I pretended not to hear and continued to accept all the gifts they sent.

As spring turned to summer, Meng Hanshan returned victorious from battle. Without even disarming, he rushed to my small courtyard, presenting a chest of luminous pearls as if offering a treasure.

In nearly a year, he had grown accustomed to sending me rare and exotic treasures.

And each time, I would cover my mouth in surprise, my peach blossom eyes filled with admiration for him.

“Where did General Meng get these treasures? How did you know I would like these!”

His face was full of smiles: “I got them from the defeated army camp. I thought you’d like them, so I brought them all back.”

I was overjoyed and threw my arms around him.

Through his hard armor, I felt his body stiffen.

Just as I was about to strike while the iron was hot and say something more, there was a knock at the door.

Meng Hanshan’s smile instantly vanished. I released him and saw Wen Yushu standing outside the open door, holding a three-tiered food box, his face equally grim.

I took half a step back and smiled sweetly at him: “Scholar Wen, is there something you need?”

“Miss Zhaoyue, weren’t we supposed to go shopping together today?”

Under Meng Hanshan’s dark gaze, I followed Wen Yushu out of the small courtyard and went to the rouge shop.

As I carefully selected items, I heard him suddenly say, “You really like the luminous pearls General Meng sent you?”

“Mm, you don’t see so many large luminous pearls in the capital; they’re quite rare.”

He probably remembered how last time, just after he had given me a poem, it was interrupted by the jewel hairpin Meng Hanshan sent, and he was still bothered by it.

His voice was even a little impatient, unlike his usual gentle tone.

“Owner, bring out all your best rouge for Miss Bian to choose from.”

My eyes immediately crinkled into a smile, and I gently tugged his sleeve: “Don’t be so extravagant.”

“As long as you like it…”

Before his words fully fell, I reached out and embraced his slender waist.

“Scholar Wen, thank you.”

The fresh scent of my hair filled his nostrils, and I could feel his throat gulping.

When I released him, he looked at me, but then raised his arm and handed the owner a wad of silver notes.

“Here is ten thousand taels. From now on, whatever Miss Bian wants, take it from here!”

The owner grinned from ear to ear. I suppressed my excitement and gently sighed.

He quickly asked, “Zhaoyue, are you feeling unwell?”

I shook my head: “Nothing, I just remembered when Mother was still alive, she often said she would accompany me to the rouge shop, but they died so tragically, they didn’t even leave me a word…”

As I spoke, large tears welled up in my eyes and rolled down my cheeks.

Wen Yushu was heartbroken and raised his hand to embrace me: “Don’t be sad. I promise you, if there’s an opportunity in the future, I will definitely help you avenge them.”

I sobbed softly in his arms, when suddenly I heard a loud shout from outside the door:

“Wen Yushu! How dare you!”

Wen Yushu quickly let go of me, seeing Qingzhu’s face flushed with anger, her jade staff almost crushed in her hand.

He didn’t even look at me, running over to grab her sleeve: “Princess, we were just…”

Qingzhu didn’t listen to his explanation, raised her jade staff, and struck him on the forehead.

Wen Yushu couldn’t believe she would actually hit him and was instantly stunned.

I took the opportunity to walk over and pull him back: “Princess, what crime has Scholar Wen committed? How can you publicly lay hands on him? Have you no regard for his reputation!”

“What right do you have to speak here!”

The jade staff pointed at me, Qingzhu furious.

But I pretended to be deaf, only looking up and rubbing Wen Yushu’s red and swollen forehead.

My gaze shifted downwards, and I saw the undisguised affection in his eyes.

Suddenly, I smiled radiantly.

A few days later, Meng Hanshan, perhaps having heard about this matter, blocked me at the entrance of my small courtyard.

As soon as I stepped out, I saw him frowning:

“Zhaoyue, why aren’t you wearing the hairpin I sent you? Is this wooden hairpin from Wen Yushu?”

I raised my hand to touch the wooden hairpin and sighed:

“This is a memento left to me by my father. I can’t bear to take it off.”

“My family died innocently, and if even I forget them, no one in this world will remember them.”

My eyes just started to redden when Meng Hanshan tenderly took my hand: “How could that be? I always remember Prime Minister Bian’s teachings to me. Believe me, I will definitely bring justice for your family!”

I looked grateful and, bending my knees, knelt before him.

“Zhaoyue thanks General Meng!”

Meng Hanshan hurriedly helped me up. I took the opportunity to cling to his arm, getting closer and closer to him.

In my peripheral vision, Princess Qingzhu stood at the end of the street, her fingers clutching the jade staff with almost all her might.

It was clear that she couldn’t wait any longer.

In the next few days, I don’t know what she said to the two men, but they didn’t come to see me.

However, the news that followed was that Meng Hanshan was going to lead troops to war, and Wen Yushu was going to inspect the south.

A few days later, they came to see me one after another, saying they would hold a birthday banquet for me, as a final gathering before their temporary departure.

I happily agreed, and on the day of the birthday banquet, I saw the uninvited Princess Qingzhu, along with several princes and princesses from the palace.

Before they arrived, we were playing touhu (pitch-pot game). As soon as they appeared, Meng Hanshan’s eyebrows furrowed tightly, and Wen Yushu even turned his head away, unable to bear looking at me.

“Princess, this is…”

Before I could finish speaking, Qingzhu ordered a chair to be brought and sat down.

“I heard that General Meng and Scholar Wen are both proposing to you today.”

“This princess has come to join the fun, to see who is so lucky in the end to win Miss Bian’s heart!”

Princess Qingzhu was in high spirits, and the others were also eager.

The princes and princesses sat upright in their chairs, openly pointing at me and discussing.

“I’ve long heard that after Prime Minister Bian’s family was wiped out by bandits, Bian Zhaoyue had a very difficult life. But now it seems she’s doing quite well, even having such an extravagant birthday banquet.”

“It might also be Prime Minister Bian’s blessing from heaven, otherwise, with her current fallen status, how could she gain the favor of General Meng and Scholar Wen?”

Their words were full of sarcasm, but no one said they were making a fool of me.

I also pretended not to hear, and asked them with feigned surprise: “General Meng, Scholar Wen, are you proposing to me?”

Both of their faces turned unnatural as they looked away, neither daring to meet my eyes directly.

Qingzhu, seeing their hesitation, tapped her jade staff on the ground.

“It’s getting late. Don’t make everyone wait for nothing.”

Her last few words, combined with the sound of the jade staff, seemed to put pressure on them with the Empress Dowager’s authority.

After a long pause, Wen Yushu sighed first.

He took out a painting. In the painting, it was me at the Mid-Autumn Festival, holding a fish-shaped lantern.

“Zhaoyue, I have loved you for a long time. Can you give me a chance to take care of you?”

Everyone in the audience gasped in surprise. No one had expected Wen Yushu to actually put effort into painting for me just to win.

Qingzhu’s face turned ashen. She gave Meng Hanshan a cold glance but found that he didn’t even look at her. Instead, he pushed Wen Yushu aside and handed me a military book.

“Zhaoyue, this is a military book that Prime Minister Bian gave me when he was alive. It contains his personal annotations.”

“Today, I offer this as a token to propose to you.”

I took the military book, and my eyes couldn’t help but redden when I saw my father’s handwriting.

“Thank you, General Meng.”

Meng Hanshan moved his lips, wanting to say something, but was interrupted by the princess: “How about it, Miss Bian, whose proposal do you want to accept?”

Everyone’s eyes focused on me. I took a deep breath and ordered paper and brush.

“General Meng and Scholar Wen have both been extremely kind to me. I don’t want to hurt either of their hearts.”

“I will write down the person I wish to marry and discuss it with them privately later.”

Qingzhu became excited and ordered someone to snatch the folded paper after I had finished writing.

With the general situation decided, she no longer pretended. She tapped her jade staff twice on the ground and sneered:

“You really think you’re so beautiful that you can charm two men?”

“To tell you the truth, both of them are this princess’s child-fiancés. They approached you to amuse me. Whoever you love, that person wins!”

“To put it bluntly, they don’t love you at all. We’re not here to join the fun, but to see how low and humble Bian Zhaoyue is, rushing to fawn over men as soon as she sees them!”

The other princes and princesses burst into laughter.

Even a few servants and maids were full of mockery.

“She’s really stupid, doesn’t even know she’s being played.”

“It’s her fault her parents died early and she wasn’t properly disciplined, she’s long become more vulgar and materialistic than commoners. Men just give her a few things and she gives her true heart, it’s what she deserves to be played with!”

The more unpleasant they spoke, the uglier Meng Hanshan and Wen Yushu’s faces became.

With a look of disbelief, I asked them, “Are you… deliberately playing a trick on me?”

Meng Hanshan’s face showed unwillingness: “I’m sorry, Zhaoyue, but I swear to you, my promise to help your family get revenge is absolutely sincere!”

Wen Yushu also said: “Zhaoyue, I will find out where the bandits are hiding for you, just as… my compensation to you.”

I lowered my eyes and sighed softly, hearing Qingzhu huff coldly: “At this point, there’s no need for you to keep up the pretense.”

“Next, I will publicly announce who Bian Zhaoyue wants to marry. That person will be the winner, and also this princess’s future husband!”

Everyone present eagerly gathered closer, impatient to see who had won.

Even Meng Hanshan and Wen Yushu bit their lips, bending down to look.

Only I stood still as a mountain, my expression subtle.

“You’re about to be famous throughout the capital, why aren’t you begging for mercy?”

Seeing this, Qingzhu curled her lips in disdain: “I advise you to say a few more kind words, and I might be able to persuade everyone present not to spread the word, otherwise, you, Bian Zhaoyue, might completely disgrace your Bian family.”

“Oh, I forgot, your Bian family only has you left!”

She led the others in throwing their heads back and laughing loudly, their laughter echoing throughout the courtyard.

But suddenly, the laughter came to an abrupt halt.

Because the name written on that slip of paper was—

“Bian Zhaoyue.”

In a bizarre silence, I chuckled softly.

“Sorry, I’ve disappointed you all.”

“I won’t marry any of them. I only love myself.”

The princes and princesses exchanged glances, and the servants and maids also found it unbelievable.

They looked at each other, none of them able to believe that I would write my own name.

I continued: “Princess and the two gentlemen have spent a whole year’s effort and financial resources for me. I, Bian Zhaoyue, thank you all for this.”

“Although my family passed away five years ago, I was pampered myself. My mother often told me that no matter how much a man loves me, the person I love most can only be myself.”

Meng Hanshan was stunned and wanted to reach out to pull me but knew he had no right, so he simply retracted his hand.

Wen Yushu was slightly moved, but ultimately he only sighed.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd spoke unhappily: “Still being stubborn. This is just trying to save face after being exposed.”

“Prime Minister Bian and his wife died early, so they certainly didn’t arrange a marriage for her. Now that men are proposing, she isn’t quickly grabbing the opportunity. She’s truly foolish beyond belief.”

These words reached Qingzhu’s ears, and a mocking expression reappeared on her face.

“I think, it’s just that you know your place. You know what kind of person you are, and you also know that someone like you, without parents or family support, simply isn’t worthy of them.”

“That’s right, even the house you live in now, they took pity on you and only charged you one tael of silver for five years.”

“How could you have the face to marry General Meng and Scholar Wen?”

The rest of the crowd burst into laughter again. Seeing that the time was ripe, I turned and waved to the gambling house owner.

“Owner, I won! All the stakes belong to me!”

The gambling house owner, who had intended to witness the outcome of the bet himself, walked over. He stared at me for a moment, then suddenly shouted as if waking from a dream, “It’s you! That Miss Bian!”

My eyes curved into a smile, and I ordered over a dozen empty money chests: “Are these enough to hold it all?”

The owner looked distressed: “I’m afraid not.”

“Then bring ten more!”

Some people were puzzled and stopped the owner to ask what he meant. The owner sighed heavily and said:

“My gambling house set up bets. Everyone in the capital either chose General Meng or Scholar Wen. Only Miss Bian herself bet that she wouldn’t choose anyone!”

“Now all the stakes belong to her, plus the odds… that’s a full ten million taels of silver!”

Everyone gasped in shock. Qingzhu frowned tightly, gripping her jade staff.

But I turned a deaf ear, enthusiastically directing the servants to bring out the plaque.

“Thank you all for gracing my birthday banquet with your presence. Coincidentally, this courtyard chosen by Scholar Wen has already been purchased by me. From now on, this will be the storefront of Bian Family General Store!”

“Each room inside has different goods. Since you’ve all come, please go in and take a look. If anything catches your eye, take it home!”

“Today, the general store opens in great prosperity, and all goods receive a discount!”

The plaque was hung outside the main gate, and the servants, quick in their movements, led out ten fine horses.

The doors to all the rooms in the courtyard were wide open, revealing countless fabrics, rouge and cosmetics, Wen Yushu’s calligraphy and paintings, and various rare and exotic treasures.

A servant respectfully bowed to me and asked, “Manager, the jewelry room is packed. What do you wish to do with it?”

I raised my hand and pointed to the adjacent courtyard, handing him a wad of silver notes: “Go and negotiate with that family, buy their house too, and connect it.”

“My Bian Family General Store will be the first in the capital to use a mansion as a storefront!”

The servant ran off to buy the courtyard. As he passed Wen Yushu, Wen Yushu suddenly snapped out of it.

“Zhaoyue, you knew our intentions all along…”

I avoided his outstretched hand and bowed gracefully to him and Meng Hanshan, speaking from the bottom of my heart:

“Zhaoyue is eternally grateful to General Meng and Scholar Wen for providing endless sources of goods for my general store, and even more grateful to Scholar Wen for choosing this place to hold my birthday banquet for me.”

“However, I will not refund the thousand taels for the rent.”

I smiled broadly, but then suddenly remembered something and changed to a gentle smile.

“But, you cannot go back on your promises to me.”

“My Bian family’s dozens of grudges still need to be avenged by you.”

In the end, Qingzhu left only after shattering her jade staff.

She had been determined to come and teach me a lesson, but her jade staff accidentally struck a stone bench in front of the courtyard, and the precious item bestowed by the Empress Dowager shattered in my courtyard.

“Bian Zhaoyue, you just wait for me!”

“Meng Hanshan, Wen Yushu, come back with me!”

She gritted her teeth as she shouted, but the two men stared blankly at me, neither moving a single step.

Everyone around was staring at her, but she left, while the other princes and princesses were still Browse the general store.

As they browsed, they found it peculiar.

“The grand show Qingzhu has been talking about for a whole year, just ended like that?”

“I thought I’d have some fun today, but it turns out Qingzhu was the biggest joke.”

“I said before I came, Bian Zhaoyue is, after all, Prime Minister Bian’s only daughter. What kind of person was Prime Minister Bian? He was a capable man who, even when the current Emperor was just an unfavored prince, could debate fiercely with many and lead troops into battle. How could his daughter be a vulgar woman who clings to men?”

“Only Bian Zhaoyue could come up with this trick, to use their schemes to her advantage, getting benefits from General Meng and Scholar Wen, and then piling those benefits into a general store.”

“Prime Minister Bian’s daughter is indeed a capable person.”

They were Browse the shops inside, while I personally counted the silver notes and coins delivered by the gambling house outside, ordering them to be sent to the accounts office.

When I entered the room, I was stopped by Meng Hanshan and Wen Yushu.

“Zhaoyue, you knew our purpose all along. Why didn’t you say something earlier?”

Meng Hanshan’s tone held no accusation, but rather full of heartache.

Wen Yushu also looked at me with pity: “How sad you must have been this past year, knowing we were deceiving you, yet having to pretend to be moved by us…”

“I’m sorry, at first it was only because Qingzhu said you made her cry, and we wanted to get back at you for Qingzhu. We didn’t expect that in the end, she wanted to humiliate you in front of so many people.”

Their apologies were sincere, but I was impatient to see the first day’s profits, so my speech was a little faster:

“Is it a mistake for me to want to reclaim what’s mine?”

“Why don’t you ask her whether she cried because she was angry and sad, or because I had been bullied for so long, and suddenly one day I gathered the courage to resist her, which made her lose face?”

They were a little surprised. I didn’t want to say more and turned to enter the room.

For a period of time after that, I didn’t see them.

But during this period, my general store was packed daily. Whether it was high-end goods or ordinary items, countless people came to purchase them.

Coupled with the silver I got from the gambling house, I quickly became one of the top wealthy merchants in the capital.

After becoming rich, I sent gifts to several princes and princesses that they liked. After a few conversations, I even became friends with them.

More than a month passed, and I heard that the Emperor summoned Qingzhu to the palace and publicly reprimanded her.

A princess described the Emperor’s expression at the time to me; it was truly furious.

“I have repeatedly mentioned Prime Minister Bian’s kindness to me, and I have also declared to the world that Zhaoyue’s food and clothing expenses would remain as before!”

“I pity her loneliness, yet you, relying on the Empress Dowager’s favoritism, repeatedly act arrogant and overbearing, even plotting against her!”

“Do you know that if Prime Minister Bian hadn’t interceded back then, your mother would have been sent to the frontier for a marriage alliance! Yet you repay kindness with ingratitude, humiliating his only daughter!”

I chewed on my date cake, smiling without speaking.

If the Emperor truly cared for me, he wouldn’t have been silent for five years. Even when the Prime Minister’s mansion was reclaimed, he didn’t consider what would become of me.

His reprimand of Qingzhu now was merely out of fear that I would be disheartened, which would damage his reputation.

However, this led to more customers for my general store, which could be considered a good thing.

Later, I heard news of Qingzhu again: the frontier sought a marriage alliance.

None of the current princesses wanted to marry, and Qingzhu had just displeased the Emperor. The Emperor simply hid it from the Empress Dowager, enfeoffed her as Princess Qingzhu, and she left for the marriage alliance a few days later.

When the princess I was friendly with came to tell me this news, I was happily counting my silver notes.

“Her mother didn’t go for a marriage alliance back then, and now it falls upon her. It’s truly karmic retribution.”

The princess stamped her foot in exasperation: “How can you still be so calm? The one escorting her for the marriage alliance is none other than General Meng!”

“And the envoy for the marriage alliance is Scholar Wen!”

The day before Princess Qingzhu left for the marriage alliance, the bandits were annihilated.

I closed the shop and returned to my small courtyard, seeing Meng Hanshan waiting for me, holding a long sword.

Blood dripped from the sword, and his body was also stained with quite a bit of blood.

“Zhaoyue, I have fulfilled my promise to you.”

“Wen Yushu found their hiding place in the mountains, and I wiped them out in one fell swoop.”

“I have avenged the Bian family.”

I pinched the luminous pearl inlaid in my sleeve and bowed to him: “Zhaoyue, on behalf of the Bian elders, thanks General Meng.”

He hurriedly threw down his long sword and helped me up, his fingers caressing my wrist.

“Zhaoyue, at first I was indeed trying to anger Qingzhu, but I also fell for you a long time ago.”

“Can you wait for me for half a year? I’ll officially propose to you when I return from the frontier. I promise I will never fail you again, and I will never deceive you again.”

I gently pulled my arm free and shook my head at him:

“General Meng, I have never loved you.”

“Every word I said and every action I took was part of a counter-scheme, and also to extract your value to the fullest.”

“Today, I also apologize to you. I deceived you.”

His face turned pale, but he still stubbornly tried to pull me closer: “I never blamed you. I know it’s all my and Wen Yushu’s fault… please forgive me, I can’t be without you…”

My expression hardened, and I still shook my head: “General Meng, we should never have met in the first place. Just consider us going our separate ways now. From now on, we won’t meet again.”

After saying that, I disregarded his attempts to make me stay and turned back into my courtyard.

When I returned, Wen Yushu was sitting by the door, holding a three-tiered food box in his arms.

“Zhaoyue, you’re finally back.”

He quickly stood up and pushed the food box into my arms.

“This is the date cake you love. I made extra and brought it. Eat more…”

I took the food box but dodged his touch.

“Scholar Wen, you should set off tomorrow. You should rest early.”

He looked at me dejectedly, his lips trembling.

“I heard what you said to General Meng. If you don’t forgive him, will you also not forgive me?”

I didn’t speak, and he understood.

“We investigated the matter from a year ago thoroughly. It was indeed Qingzhu who snatched your things first. We trusted her too easily, so this time, when the frontier sought a marriage alliance, I was the first to recommend her.”

“Like this, will you feel a little better?”

His almost pleading look made me chuckle softly: “This is the second piece of good news I’ve heard today. The first was General Meng saying the bandits were wiped out.”

“Scholar Wen, thank you for helping to find their hiding place.”

Wen Yushu thought there was a turn for the better, and his face lit up with joy:

“I’m willing to do anything for you, as long as you forgive me.”

“Zhaoyue, I can ask the Emperor not to let me go to the frontier. Can I stay and accompany you?”

“I can write many calligraphies and paintings for you. You can sell them, and I won’t charge you money. I only ask that you let me stay by your side.”

I shook my head: “Scholar Wen, I don’t love General Meng, nor do I love you.”

“I said, I only love myself.”

His hand, suspended in mid-air, fell limply, the light in his eyes gradually dimming.

The next day, the marriage alliance procession departed quietly.

I saw them again five months later. By this time, my general store had opened several branches, and business was booming. No one dared to mock me as vulgar or stupid anymore.

That day, I packed my luggage and was escorted into a carriage, planning to go south to find suitable storefronts.

The carriage traveled a few streets when, suddenly, by some strange impulse, I pulled open the curtain and saw Meng Hanshan and Wen Yushu standing not far away, both looking at me.

As our gazes met, their gaunt faces showed loneliness and regret.

Wen Yushu wanted to come to me, but Meng Hanshan stopped him.

By reading their lips, Meng Hanshan said:

“She’s doing very well now. Why should we disturb her?”

“To love and not be loved, we deserve this.”

The maid whispered in my ear: “I heard that Princess Qingzhu couldn’t get rid of her arrogant habits even after going to the frontier. On the very first day, she flew into a rage and even injured a noble princess of theirs.”

“From now on, her life will probably be worse than death.”

I “hmm”-ed and lowered the curtain.

“Let’s go.”

“Mother’s hometown is in the south. Let’s go see the place where Mother grew up.”

“And while we’re there, let’s earn a little more money to build a memorial tomb for Mother, which will be like bringing her home.”

As for men, they are the least valuable things.

I can use them, but they are not essential.

This is very good.