Turn the tables on them

The bamboo shadows were dappled, and the bamboo leaves rustled. The shadow fell on Sui Zhixu's eyes, and Fan Lingzhang couldn't see Sui Zhixu's eyes clearly. The cheers from the polo field in the distance became very faint, almost subsided.

Xu remembered that she overheard Fan Lingzhang and the Prince of Xuanping talking on the Lantern Festival. The Aling they mentioned was Fan Lingzhang's deceased wife, Lu Kou.

Fan Lingzhang mistook her for Lu Kou? As Xu searched for information about Lu Kou in her memories, Dan Hong would occasionally mention her. According to the description, she was a beautiful woman who would capture everyone's attention the moment she appeared.

Otherwise, Fan Lingzhang would not have fallen in love at first sight and called her a divine concubine and fairy.

She is far inferior to him.

Although Xu did not speak, he lowered the hidden arrow.

She waited for Fan Lingzhang to speak first before thinking of a solution.

"How have you been lately...?"

"Is anyone in the Prime Minister's residence bullying you...?"

Regardless of the injury on his shoulder, Fan Lingzhang grabbed Sui Zhixu's arms with concern in his eyes. Sui Zhixu resisted the urge to shake him off, thinking that everything Fan Lingzhang said was just nonsense, even more so than what was written on the note.

"No, I'm fine."

"That's good. Did the Prime Minister and the others suspect you? How dare you impersonate the daughter of the Sui family head this time? What did he ask you to do?"

Sui Zhixu's expression turned strange, but she decided to play along. "Of course not. We haven't seen each other in eighteen years at the Taoist temple, how could I suspect anything? As for what happened? This has little to do with him. And you, how did you recognize me? My face..."

It's a mix of truth and falsehood, and the speaker seems hesitant to speak.

“Of course I can recognize you, even if your face is different. I recognized you two years ago too, but I was too late. You jumped into the lake right in front of me. I searched along the river and found only a bloated body. I really thought you were dead.” Fan Lingzhang’s tone rose, quite proud, but became more and more sorrowful at the end.

"I have things to do," Sui Zhixu said ambiguously.

"I know! I've always known, I just thought you didn't love me anymore." Fan Lingzhang's voice trembled with sobs as she covered her wound with her hand. Tears streamed down her face, making her look like a delicate flower in the rain, a sight that tugged at the heartstrings.

Sui Zhixu's gaze fell on Fan Lingzhang's face, for the Fan family was rumored to be descendants of Xi Shi.

The cloud-like patterns on Xu Yuguangzhong's sleeves were entwined with Fan Lingzhang's hair, and his hair ribbon fluttered behind him, as unrestrained as the others. If Fan Lingzhang was indeed a descendant of Xi Shi, his appearance would be acceptable.

Sui Zhixu took out a handkerchief, intending to hand it to him, but tears suddenly fell onto her hand. She sighed helplessly and gently wiped away Fan Lingzhang's tears. "How could I not love you? You can guess what I'm going to do, right?"

The seemingly cold words were full of warmth, instantly filling Fan Lingzhang's heart, which had been wandering for three years, with love, reluctance, joy, and disbelief at their long-awaited reunion.

He let Sui Zhixu wipe his face, his posture changing from standing to squatting, and he loosely wrapped his arms around Sui Zhixu's waist.

Fan Lingzhang guessed that Sui Zhixu had used the Miao people's face-changing technique. He reached out and placed his hand near Sui Zhixu's face, but did not touch it. Sui Zhixu subconsciously dodged away. Just as Sui Zhixu was about to speak, Fan Lingzhang said apologetically, "Does it hurt a lot? I've heard that the Miao people's secret technique can still cause a dull ache after a face transplant."

Su Zhixu's eyes flashed with surprise, and she admired Fan Lingzhang's imagination immensely. "Well, a little bit, but it's alright."

“I will help you. I have been investigating for the past two years.”

Fan Lingzhang was extremely obedient and handed over everything he had discovered to Sui Zhixu.

Danhong and Liulu stood not far away. Danhong clenched her fists. "What is Young Master Fan doing? How dare he molest his wife?!"

Liu Lü had good hearing and heard everything. She pressed down on Dan Hong's restless hand and said, "Put down your medicine. Your wife has her own plans."

Dan Hong was furious. She stuffed the poison back into the hairpin and stared intently at Fan Lingzhang's hand.

She was certain that if Fan Lingzhang did anything to his wife, she would put all the poison in his mouth, causing his whole body to rot, especially his face!

Having a good piece of meat means she's not fit to be a doctor in the clinic.

"Quiet down. My wife and lord think more than you do. Instead of wasting time, you should refine more poisons for my wife's occasional needs." Liu Lü impatiently slapped Dan Hong on the back with the hilt of her sword.

Fan Lingzhang then hung a jasmine sachet around Sui Zhixu's waist, a smile playing on his lips. "I'll give you a new jasmine sachet when the new ones arrive at the incense shop."

The jasmine fragrance was delicate and not unpleasant. Knowing that Fan Lingzhang had not stopped her, she responded softly.

Fan Lingzhang laughed again, and it seemed as if Xu could smell the rich aroma of the strong liquor from the Western Regions, passionate and unrestrained.

"It smells wonderful," Sui Zhixu commented.

"Then I'll be going now." Fan Lingzhang left reluctantly, knowing that their statuses were now different and it was not appropriate for them to stay together for too long.

Xu was in a good mood after learning a lot about the Prince of Xuanping from Fan Lingzhang, and he didn't mind seeing Fan Lingzhang off.

After seeing Fan Lingzhang off, Sui Zhixu tossed the handkerchief she had used to wipe her tears to Danhong and said in a low voice, "Take this and throw it away."

"Never mind, this isn't urgent. Let's go back and check on Cui Wan first."

She was a little worried when Xi Yushao arrived.

The most pressing issue right now is the relationship between the siblings, Xi Yushao and Xi Yuzhen.

—

As soon as Xu entered, he saw Cui Wan sitting gracefully on horseback at the horse farm, her blush still fresh. The outcome was obvious.

Cui Wan won.

When Pei Qinglian saw that she had finally returned, she beckoned her over, "You're finally back! Why were you gone for so long? The scenery outside was so beautiful that you couldn't find your way back?"

As Xu Zhixu's mind drifted to Fan Lingzhang's beautiful face, he sat down opposite Pei Qinglian and said, "I think it's too noisy here. Did Cui Wan take the lead?"

Knowing full well the answer, Pei Qinglian glanced at Sui Zhixu and handed her a handkerchief. "You look so hot, don't you even know to wipe your sweat? She really did win first place and is over there asking for her prize. Ning Yan and my brother aren't on the same team as Cui Wan; they were just here, but I don't know where they are now."

Sui Zhixu composed herself and calmly accepted the handkerchief. "Thank you. What about that third-place scholar that Cui Wan has taken a liking to?"

"At the pavilion, the newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) didn't play in the ball game at the Moon Lantern Pavilion. I heard that his family had fallen on hard times, so he probably didn't study anymore."

Sui Zhixu nodded, "I'll make you a handkerchief later."

Pei Qinglian: "What do I need this for?"

Sui Zhixu: "After all this time, almost all the handsome young men in Chang'an are here today. Haven't you found anyone you like?"

"Oh, no." Pei Qinglian remained calm and composed, glancing at her. "Don't try to tease me, it's impossible."

"No, you misunderstood me. I was just trying to be kind."

"hehe."

As Sui Zhixu and Pei Qinglian exchanged words, Cui Wan tiptoed behind Sui Zhixu, intending to put her hands on his shoulders. Sui Zhixu, having already heard Cui Wan's footsteps, suddenly stood up, turned around, and pinched Cui Wan's face. "Cui Awan, are you trying to scare me?"

"I don't have any—"

Sui Zhixu continued to pull her face and shake it from side to side, "You still say you didn't get anything? What treasure did you get that makes you so happy?"

She felt that she had also been corrupted by Yueling.

"Hehe." Cui Wan easily brushed away Sui Zhixu's hand and chuckled, "The prize from the princess is a piece of jewelry she has been treasuring. I've always wanted it, and today I finally got it."

Sui Zhixu and Pei Qinglian smiled without saying a word. Sui Zhixu asked her, "Did you see the person you've been longing for?"

Cui Wan blushed and stammered, while Xu Zhixu sighed quietly, unable to make up her mind.

Sui Zhixu tried to persuade her tactfully, "Is his face what attracted you? There are plenty of good-looking people in the world, why don't you look around some more?"

“Indeed, he didn’t play today. Your only knowledge of him is that he was the third-place finisher in this year’s imperial examination. You know nothing else. With your limited understanding, he could easily fool you with a few sweet words.” Pei Qinglian couldn’t stand her like this and spoke ruthlessly and venomously. “He hasn’t done anything, and you’ve already fallen for him. What if he did something? Wouldn’t you be completely smitten?”

"It's not that serious! My father was penniless back then, and my mother was fine when she married him. And what about the head of the Sui family and Prime Minister Cong? Wasn't Prime Minister Cong in the same situation back then?" Cui Wan was used to Pei Qinglian's way of speaking and couldn't accept this explanation. When she mentioned Sui He and Cong Lan, she turned to look at Sui Zhixu.

Meeting Cui Wan's eager gaze, Sui Zhixu knew she wanted to agree, but still shook her head, "What I mean is that you have other candidates, you can choose more."

Cui Wan didn't understand why even Sui Zhixu didn't support her. Overcome with anger, she threw down her arm and said, "I don't want to see either of you."

He turned and left.

"That's how she is when she talks about Xi Langjun. Just ignore her; the more you try to persuade her, the more she gets worked up." The teacup in her hand was slammed heavily on the table, the sound of porcelain shards hitting the wooden table was jarring and unpleasant to hear.

Pei Qinglian was far from being calm on the surface.

The departing figures of Cui Wan and Sima An overlapped in her vision. Sui Zhixu sighed at the coincidence of the day and silently shook her head.

Ning Yan and Pei Sanlang, who had rushed over, bumped into the furious Cui Wan and asked in confusion, "Wan?"

"Huh?" He shook his head, both of them puzzled, facing Pei Sanlang.

Pei Qinglian maintained her previous posture, her eyes radiating indifference and aloofness, exuding an aura of "keep away, strangers."

Ning Yan didn't dare to touch Pei Qinglian's brow, so she tossed Pei Sanlang over. Pei Sanlang met Pei Qinglian's gaze, and the two siblings sat together without saying a word.

Ning Yan ignored Pei Sanlang and walked to Sui Zhixu's side, lowering her voice, "What's going on? I was only gone for a moment, and you're arguing again."

Knowing that Xu had kept things brief, Ning Yan understood. Still worried about Cui Wan, she hesitated for a long time before deciding to go and check on her.

"I've thought about it, and I think I'll go see her. To put it nicely, she's straightforward; to put it bluntly, she's impulsive. I'm afraid she might do something rash." Ning Yan didn't care about Pei Sanlang; she came in a hurry and left in a hurry as well.

"Dan Hong." Sui Zhixu beckoned, "Go and tell Mother about this, and let Mother and Madam Cui talk to her."

Cui Wan is currently only interested in Xi Yushao; any further provocation from others would only deepen their feelings. To address the root cause, Madam Cui knows Xi Yushao's character is flawed, and naturally wouldn't consider him a suitable son-in-law.

Since Cui Wan couldn't see Xi Yushao, Madam Cui arranged for other handsome young men, whose skills were no worse than Xi Yushao's, and Cui Wan's initial enthusiasm gradually faded.

It's all Yueling's fault, otherwise she would have made arrangements long ago.