A woman's heart is as deep and unfathomable as the ocean.

When Luan Yi awoke from his nightmare, Xiao Cui was attending to him, wiping away his cold sweat. Seeing his eyes open, she asked whether he felt any better, and if the drunkenness had passed.

Luan Yi shook his groggy head, assuring her he was fine. “Cui’er, bring me something to eat. Though I feasted on delicacies last night, they all returned to the earth, and now I’m famished. Thank you!”

Xiao Cui spat lightly, “Why thank me? I’ll go make your favorite noodles with savory broth. I’ll be back soon.”

After Xiao Cui left, Luan Yi summoned Luan Fu to help him dress and fix his hair. Once ready, he hurried out, heading straight for the rear courtyard to find Cai Yan.

At the door to Cai Yan’s boudoir, the maid Cai Yun guarded the closed entrance, telling Luan Yi that Cai Yan was resting and not receiving visitors.

Yet Luan Yi could hear noises inside, faintly resembling sobs. He knew Cai Yan was upset about the matter of taking a concubine. He explained through the door that he too faced difficulties; he did not wish to be fickle, but as a younger family member, how could he go against the elders’ arrangements?

Cai Yun grew angry at his words, questioning, “If you have no feelings for Diao Chan, why would the elders arrange the marriage? You always obey my lady and seem deeply devoted, yet secretly you flirt with other girls. You’re the greatest heartbreaker under heaven!”

“How dare you speak like that!” Luan Fu, furious at Cai Yun’s insult to his master, scolded her.

Cai Yun was relentless. “Isn’t it true?”

Luan Yi stopped Luan Fu from arguing further. He called through the door, “I’ll come back to see you, sister,” and left dejectedly.

While eating, Luan Yi’s mood was bleak. Even his beloved noodles tasted bland, his heart burdened and restless. On top of last night’s drinking, he suddenly vomited up all he had just eaten.

Luan Fu and Xiao Cui were alarmed, rushing to soothe him. “Master, are you all right?”

“I’m fine!” he replied, shaking his head. At that moment, the door creaked open, and through blurry eyes, he thought the visitor resembled Diao Chan. On closer look, it was indeed her.

Seeing Luan Yi’s pale face and the mess on the floor, Diao Chan’s brows knitted with worry as she hurried to him. “Are you unwell?”

Luan Yi forced a smile, telling her, “I’m all right, just overindulged in wine last night; my stomach is unsettled. Forgive me for letting you see me this way.”

Diao Chan noticed that his smile was strained, as if troubles weighed heavily inside. She asked, “Do you have any difficulties?”

“None,” Luan Yi’s gaze dimmed, drifting for a moment before he forced himself to look at her again. “None at all.”

Diao Chan pondered, then said, “Is it because Sister Cai is unhappy about sharing your affections, and you are troubled by it?”

Luan Yi was momentarily stunned. Though he denied it, Diao Chan could see clearly that this was indeed his concern.

“Hong Chang understands,” Diao Chan nodded. “You needn’t worry. I will go to Sister Cai and explain everything. It was I who insisted, threatening my life, and so you were forced to take me as a concubine. You have not betrayed Sister Cai’s feelings; all blame should fall on me. I hope she can forgive you.” With that, Diao Chan turned to leave.

Luan Yi hastily stopped her, “How can you lower yourself so?”

Diao Chan smiled back. “Anything that benefits you, I am willing to do, no matter how difficult. Besides…” She paused, then continued, “Sister Cai’s reluctance to accept me is largely because she doesn’t know me. Perhaps if we talk more and get to know each other, she might accept me.”

“Hm?” Luan Yi thought this made sense. Affairs between women should be settled by women themselves. He said no more, letting Diao Chan go find Cai Yan.

Waiting made time crawl. Luan Yi paced inside, instructing Luan Fu to spy outside Cai Yan’s quarters and report any progress. More than an hour passed with no news, and Luan Yi grew increasingly anxious. Thinking he could not wait any longer, he decided to investigate himself.

He strolled toward Cai Yan’s courtyard and saw, from a distance, Luan Fu perched in a tree, peering inside, not noticing Luan Yi’s approach.

Wanting to ask for news but unwilling to call Luan Fu’s name aloud, Luan Yi pinched his nose and imitated a dog’s bark, “Woof woof…”

Luan Fu finally noticed him, sliding down from the tree in delight. “Young master, it’s done! It’s done!”

“What’s done?” Luan Yi had barely spoken when laughter rang out from the courtyard. Listening closely, he recognized Cai Yan’s, Diao Chan’s, Cai Yun’s, and Diao Chan’s unnamed maid’s voices. Luan Yi realized that the two women had quickly become friends, dispelling the notion that women’s hearts are unfathomable. His own heart unblocked with relief.

After the laughter faded, Diao Chan deliberately called out, “Sister Cai, do you keep a dog at home?”

“Yes!” Cai Yan replied, “Perhaps you didn’t know, but our dog is very mischievous, especially fond of lurking outside others’ courtyards to eavesdrop!”

Another burst of laughter followed.

Luan Yi laughed as well. Now the two women were making him the butt of their jokes. He raised his voice toward the courtyard, “Dare to call your future husband a little dog? Just wait until after the wedding—I’ll deal with you then!”

“Deal with us?” Cai Yan and Diao Chan exchanged glances, blushing as they realized his meaning, and retorted, “Scoundrel!”

Luan Yi sighed inwardly. How could his innocent remark be twisted by these two mischievous women into something indecent? Was he the scoundrel, or were they? What sort of situation was this?

He pushed open the gate, entered the courtyard, and feigned anger. “Not married yet, and already bullying your fiancé. Once we’re wed, how will I maintain the proper order in the household? If I don’t teach you a lesson today, how will I in the future?” He brandished his hands playfully, lunging toward Cai Yan and Diao Chan.

The two women shrieked with laughter, fleeing as he chased. The day was filled with cheerful commotion.

That night, in the rear garden of Wang Yun’s residence, Diao Chan sat alone in a pavilion, chin resting on her hand, gazing at the rippling water below, recalling the joyful half-day, a smile unconsciously blooming on her lips.

Beside her, her maid scoffed, “Miss, you’re only to be Luan Zi Qi’s concubine. Is it worth such happiness?”

Diao Chan’s smile faded. She turned to her maid, Yue Nu, and countered, “What is a wife, what is a concubine? These are just titles. Only she who truly holds her husband’s heart is the mistress of the house.”

Yue Nu pondered, “So you believe you are the one who will win Mr. Zi Qi’s heart?” Her tone shifted. “But who is Cai Zhaoji? A famed scholar, renowned throughout the court, and her father is Luan Zi Qi’s teacher. How do you know he won’t favor her more?”

“I just know,” Diao Chan answered coldly. “Today’s conversation with Cai Zhaoji gave me insight into her character. Born into a scholarly family, she carries a strong pride typical of literati. Such pride is tolerable in men, but in women it becomes pretentious, sometimes hurting her husband’s self-esteem and, over time, breeding resentment. Besides, I love Luan deeply, am willing to give everything for him—even my life. In this, Cai Zhaoji cannot compare. So I dare say, in the future, Zi Qi will love me a thousand times more than her!”

Yue Nu considered her words and found them sensible. “I understand now.”

…

According to Luan Yi’s original plan, he would stay in Luoyang until the following spring, waiting for the local branch of Phoenix Pavilion to be established before returning to Yingchuan. But unforeseen events led to the accidental arrangement of two marriages. As such, the matter had to be reported to his grandfather, for marriage must be decided by the family elders.

Of course, regarding these two marriages, the Luan family had no say and could only comply. Nevertheless, the formalities had to be observed, especially the traditional rituals of seeking auspicious dates and making formal proposals, which required the family elders to visit Cai and Wang’s households in Luoyang.

They had arrived with carriages full of gold and silver, and left with most of it gifted away, the remainder entrusted to Cai Yong’s household. In truth, the so-called deposit had no time limit, meaning Luan Yi had essentially gifted this wealth to Cai Yong.

On the day of departure, crowds gathered outside Luoyang to bid farewell. Cai Yong and Wang Yun were among them, as were Yuan Shao and Cao Cao. Xun Yu, Xun You, and Cheng Yu, wishing to remain in the capital until spring before heading north to Jizhou for further study, also came to see them off.

Luan Yi, Guo Jia, Shan Fu, Ji Zhicai, Mao Jie, Dian Wei, and Luan Fu each rode tall horses, with Xiao Cui seated in the carriage behind. They saluted those come to see them off. Luan Yi called out, “Green mountains remain, clear waters flow; we shall meet again.” With a flourish of his whip, they sped away.

Watching Luan Yi’s graceful figure in white, Yuan Shao stroked his beard and smiled. “That Luan Zi Qi! Even his farewell words are extraordinary. ‘Green mountains remain, clear waters flow’—splendid! Well said!”

Cao Cao laughed heartily. “To call Zi Qi’s talent divine is no exaggeration. A savior’s talent… a talent to save the world!”

At the Five-Mile Pavilion outside Luoyang, Cai Yan and Diao Chan stood together, gazing at the departing travelers.

Cai Yan’s heart was heavy, tears spilling from her eyes. Diao Chan comforted her, “Sister, don’t cry. By this time next year, we’ll be together day and night.”

Hearing this, Cai Yan felt a bit better, wiping her tears with her sleeve. “You see things so clearly, sister.”