Chapter 102: The Ceremony of Welcoming the Concubine?

Faced with Luyan’s question, Luying simply smiled without saying a word.

Early the next morning, Luyan went to school as usual. According to Luying’s arrangement, today Luyan would visit Lord Huang. Yet, Luying gave no instructions on how to request an audience or how to handle the situation.

She only told her brother the outcome she desired.

She thought, if this rare opportunity were to be ruined by Luyan, then so be it. From now on, when she entrusted tasks to him, she would withhold the details and just give orders.

She wanted to see how he would perform and handle matters on his own. She would rather have him make mistakes and cause a mess, forcing her to recalculate plans, than intervene too much and stunt his growth.

With some free time, Luying read for a while before hiring an ox-cart to deliver calling cards bearing their new home’s address to various noble households.

Whether it was Lady A Ti’s or Xiao Yan’s family, both were prestigious clans. Though Luying wore a silver-white male robe and carried herself with the grace of a young gentleman, when the calling cards reached the gatekeepers, they were met with cold stares and perfunctory dismissal after a brief scrutiny.

This was mainly because Luying personally delivered the cards without any servants accompanying her. There is a saying: “It’s easier to approach a lord than to deal with his servants.” Compared to the cautious calculation of the upper class, servants were far more straightforward. If you didn’t even bring a servant, no matter how handsome you were, you were undoubtedly seen as insignificant.

But Luying took it in stride; her goal was simply to deliver the cards. Whether they reached A Ti and the others was not her immediate concern.

After delivering to over a dozen households, nearly covering the entire city of Chengdu, Luying returned home by evening.

She busied herself cooking and boiling water while waiting for her brother’s return.

Soon, a knock sounded at the door.

Luying opened it to find Luyan, his dark eyes wide, struggling to contain his excitement.

Seeing her brother so eager yet trying to appear composed, Luying’s eyes curved with a smile. She stepped inside, took his hand gently, and asked softly, “Did you meet Lord Huang? What did he say?” After a moment, she added, “But I know my brother will surely get this done.”

Bolstered by his sister’s confidence, Luyan’s smile curved his eyes as well. Struggling to hide his joy, he said, “Not long after arriving at the academy, some people began insulting me over those words ‘ungenerous and unrighteous’ attributed to Lord Huang. They cursed me fiercely. I jumped up and told them that Lord Huang never said such things and offered to bet. If I could freely enter and leave Lord Huang’s residence and be treated courteously by his servants, it would prove my words true. If I won, each of them would owe me thirty iron coins. But if Lord Huang truly despised me, I wouldn’t even be allowed at his gate, meaning I’d lose and would owe them thirty iron coins each.”

Hearing this, Luying’s eyes sparkled. She exclaimed excitedly, “Well done, Ah Yun! That was a clever move.” Not only had her brother learned to adapt to the situation, but he had also shown decisiveness. Considering the thirty-iron-coin wager per person, it was no small sum for them.

Everyone faces moments to gamble in life; daring to stake a bet at the crucial time is the mark of a true man.

Luyan grinned proudly, but then recalling his sister’s scolding from the day before, he straightened his handsome face, striving to appear undisturbed, and continued, “Then I told them to follow me secretly and hide to see if I could enter Lord Huang’s residence. When I reached the gate, I took out the wooden token and easily entered.”

He smiled at the memory of the stunned faces of those men.

He went on, “Inside, a servant blocked me, saying Lord Huang was busy and to come another time. But I didn’t listen. Sister, you once told me, if the reason is on your side, you must seize the advantage and never retreat lightly, for retreat scatters momentum. Besides, I needed to win those iron coins today! So I brandished the token, scolded the servant sharply, and forced my way in. The servant, seeing my determination, quickly changed his tone and said I could wait a moment and would likely see Lord Huang.”

Luyan thought to himself that previously, he probably would have backed down at the servant’s first refusal.

After a pause, he added, “Within less than the time it takes for incense to burn, I met Lord Huang. After the formal greetings, I directly requested to confront the person who called me ‘ungenerous and unrighteous.’ I told Lord Huang that a man walking the world has nothing to hide from others. Maybe my learning is shallow, but I would never dare accept the words ‘ungenerous and unrighteous.’ I also told him that there is no cause and effect that cannot be explained. Since knowing I could study under him, I have held him in utmost respect, like a father. Now, I am wrongfully accused and wish to clear my name before my elder by debating with the slanderer.”

Luying nodded happily at his approach. That was exactly how it should be: if you stand in the right, you must present yourself with dignity. If you shrink away, even when justified, others will suspect you are guilty or timid.

In her view, it was better for Luyan to offend Lord Huang with directness and firmness than to show any sign of hesitation or retreat.

Luyan continued, “Lord Huang didn’t give me a direct answer but asked many questions, all of which I answered. Later, he said he would investigate the slanderer and had his steward personally escort me out.”

At this, Luyan’s eyes narrowed with a smile. “Sister, you wouldn’t believe how funny those people looked when they saw me politely sent out by Lord Huang’s steward.” Waving the iron coins in his hand, he proudly said, “Here, six or seven iron coins—all won by me.”

Luying smiled and praised, “Ah Yun, you did very well.” Then she remarked, “From what Lord Huang said, it’s clear he knows he was wrong. Yet, since he can’t admit it to your face and even refuses to summon the troublemaker for a proper confrontation, it shows his character and learning have yet to reach the level of a great scholar. Losing him as a mentor isn’t a loss for you.”

Flushed with pride, Luyan’s handsome face glowed.

As the siblings chatted and laughed, a knock came at the door.

Wondering who it could be, Luyan opened it.

Outside stood four burly men, and the one knocking was a round, plump middle-aged steward.

Behind them were seven or eight large trunks.

Who could these men be? Were they relatives coming to seek shelter?

But their posture didn’t suggest visiting kin, and Luying had no relatives unknown to him.

Before Luyan could ask, the steward spoke, “Are you Luyan of the Lu family? Is your sister Luying at home?”

Luyan called inside, “Sister, someone’s here.” Then he eyed the odd group and asked, “May I know your business?”

The steward nodded at the strong men, signaling them to unload the trunks into the courtyard. Then, he entered confidently and said, “By order of my lord, I am here to escort your esteemed sister into his residence.”

Luyan was baffled.

Seeing his sister still inside, he called again, “Sister, this man says, by his lord’s command, he’s here to escort you into his household.”

At that moment, Luying emerged.

Approaching, Luyan said, “Sister, this is strange. These men brought so many trunks and say they’re here to escort you in. It’s like...” He trailed off.

It was clearly the manner of a concubine’s welcome—only rougher, more abrupt, and utterly baffling.

Yet judging by the quantity of trunks, it seemed this reception was more lavish than usual.

As Luyan pondered this, the plump steward waved his hand, and the four strong men came forward to open the trunks.

Inside were silks and brocades of various colors, and smaller boxes filled with gold, silver, and jade jewelry, all gleaming brilliantly in the sunset.

Now Luyan couldn’t deny it.

He stared at the steward, speechless.

The steward glanced at Luying once, then turned to Luyan and said, “Here are eight trunks of top-quality silk, one of silverware, one of gold, one of jade, three of brushes, ink, and books, plus assorted precious stones... All are betrothal gifts for your esteemed sister. My lord said he’s been busy lately and couldn’t come in person to escort her, so please do not hold it against him. Once at the residence, he will drink a few cups and make amends to your sister.”

In fact, a few days ago, his lord had seriously mentioned being busy these days. That afternoon, while drinking, he overheard mention of a beauty and, caught up in excitement, ordered this steward with several servants to fetch the maiden he saw at the city gate.

Ordinarily, such a concubine welcome would involve one or two matchmakers, but the lord was in a hurry. The steward thought the lord’s decisiveness meant prior private arrangements had been made, so with such lavish gifts, other formalities could be overlooked. Hence, he arrived with his men.

If the siblings still didn’t understand by now, it would be foolish indeed.

The two pairs of striking black-and-white eyes met and held each other’s gaze for a moment until even the usually stoic Luying couldn’t help but smile.

She lifted a corner of her lips and asked, “May I know your lord’s full name?”

What?

The plump steward was taken aback, then inwardly scorned, thinking: “So she’s a fickle one.” He sneered and said coldly, “My lord’s surname is Zhang, given name Feng. Has the young lady promised another lord, then?” His tone was distinctly unfriendly.