Dandy Escapes From Marriage - Chapter 31

Fang Qiong searched everywhere but couldn’t find the culprit. When he returned, he found the beauty had disappeared. Thinking she might have gone home, he immediately took his men back to the mansion: “Let’s go, prepare the betrothal gifts!”

 

Shen Ke and the other two returned to the outer residence. Liu Shu had just changed his clothes, his black hair hanging down his back, and hadn’t yet washed off his makeup. He turned and asked, “Where did you just go?”

 

Zhang Moyang stopped in his tracks and, seeing Liu Shu’s androgynous appearance, looked pained: “I say, do you…have any sisters?”

 

“I have two. Why?”

 

Zhang Moyang’s eyes lit up and he was about to speak but was blocked by Shen Ke.

 

“Go wash your face first,” Shen Ke said nonchalantly, standing in front of Zhang Moyang and speaking quietly to Liu Shu.

 

“Okay.” Liu Shu smiled at him and turned to wash his face.

 

Zhang Moyang alternated between standing and squatting, asking the other two with a worried expression, “Don’t you ever get confused by him?”

 

“Never,” Shen Ke replied.

 

Zhang Moyang didn’t believe it: “Sis, what about you?”

 

Zhang Mosheng thought for a moment and said, “Brother, I want to learn this from him.”

 

“Really? Are you sure?”

 

“Yes. If even you can be confused by him, it means his skills are excellent.”

 

“…Why does that sound so off.”

 

“What are you planning to learn?” Shen Ke asked.

 

Zhang Mosheng explained Liu Shu’s suggestion and, after thinking for a moment, couldn’t help but ask, “Do you think it’s feasible?”

 

Shen Ke pondered for a moment and said, “It’s feasible, but it won’t be easy. Not to mention that as an unmarried young lady appearing in public and doing small business, you might face harsh judgment from others. Even with Master Zhang, you might have a hard time getting through it.”

 

Zhang Mosheng naturally knew this. Now that she was of age, her father had started to worry about her marriage. Before, she could use her age as an excuse, but now it was difficult. Especially since no one had come to propose in the past six months, her father was evidently getting anxious.

 

She had originally planned to find a suitable husband before her father agreed to the Fang family’s proposal. However, there were no eligible men in town that she liked. She finally met Ke Shen, but he was already engaged.

 

But… she glanced at Shen Ke, who kept glancing at the inner door, and lowered her eyes in disappointment.

 

Whether the engagement was real or not, it showed he had no special feelings for her.

 

“I have to get through it no matter what,” Zhang Mosheng said quietly. “I used to think I could marry a promising man to get rid of Fang Qiong’s entanglement, but… things often go contrary to one’s wishes. I can’t always pin my hopes on others.”

 

“It’s good that you understand. If that’s the case, then go ahead.” Shen Ke smiled slightly and looked at Zhang Moyang. “Don’t worry, your brother will protect you.”

 

Zhang Moyang, suddenly mentioned, was stunned for a moment, then patted his chest: “Right, don’t worry, whoever dares to mock you will have to deal with me, Zhang Moyang!”

 

“Who dares to go against you?” Liu Shu walked out from the inner room and saw Zhang Moyang looking like he wanted to hit someone.

 

Zhang Moyang took a few steps forward, looking aggressive: “I’m entrusting my sister to you!”

 

Liu Shu was startled: “What? You know I don’t like women.”

 

“No.” Zhang Moyang pulled his sister over and said solemnly, “She wants to learn from you.”

 

“Have you thought it through?” Liu Shu asked Zhang Mosheng.

 

Zhang Mosheng nodded.

 

“Alright then.” Liu Shu sat down on the nearest chair, looking proud. “First, you need to formally acknowledge me as your master.”

 

“Don’t push it.” Zhang Moyang snorted.

 

“Go ahead,” Shen Ke said to Zhang Mosheng. “You haven’t married yet, and spending too much time with an unrelated man could affect your reputation.”

 

Zhang Moyang finally understood this and fell silent, staring at Liu Shu and snorting a few times.

 

Zhang Mosheng took out ten taels of silver as a gift, handed Liu Shu a cup of tea in respect, and was about to kneel and kowtow when Liu Shu stopped her.

 

“No need to kowtow, I don’t want to shorten my life.” Liu Shu took the money and smiled as he drank the tea. “Alright, from now on, I’m your master. I’ll stay in town for the next few days and teach you everything I know.”

 

“I’m curious, where did you learn all this?” Zhang Moyang asked.

 

Liu Shu, hands behind his back, looking very smug, commanded: “Disciple, make this man shut up. Such secrets are not for outsiders to know.”

 

Zhang Moyang: “…Look at you being so smug!”

 

**The Next Morning**

 

The next morning, everyone gathered at the inn where Shen Ke usually stayed.

 

Zhang Moyang excitedly reported, “Fang Qiong really sent a matchmaker to Chenjia Village to propose. My people followed them to ensure everything went smoothly.”

 

“That guy is so easy to fool,” Liu Shu remarked. This was the easiest man he’d ever dealt with, clearly someone who hadn’t seen much of the world and lacked any resolve.

 

“Being easy to fool is one thing, but your seductive skills are impressive too,” Zhang Moyang said cheekily.

 

“Yeah, another one who hasn’t seen the world. You haven’t seen the top ten famous…,” Liu Shu trailed off when he caught Shen Ke’s gaze and turned to Zhang Mosheng, “Let’s get started.”

 

Zhang Mosheng had brought two personal maids with her to avoid suspicion of being the only woman in a room full of men. They might also be helpful during her training.

 

Shen Ke sat by the window writing, while the other table in the room was filled with various bottles and jars.

 

Zhang Moyang watched like a silly dog, wide-eyed, as Liu Shu meticulously applied and explained each step of using the makeup, demonstrating each step before asking, “Got it?”

 

Zhang Moyang: “…….”

 

Zhang Moyang was very curious: “I seem to understand every step, but at which point did you change your face?”

 

Liu Shu rolled his eyes at him.

 

The two maids, watching a man put on makeup for the first time, were so astonished that they forgot themselves, gasping and covering their mouths in disbelief.

 

“Let me try,” Zhang Mosheng said with a light smile, practicing on one of the maids. After one attempt, she was still dissatisfied.

 

Zhang Moyang couldn’t pinpoint the problem: “We followed his steps exactly, so why is there such a big difference?”

 

“First, your technique isn’t skilled enough. Second, she has almond-shaped eyes, which are different from yours. You can’t just copy what I did.” Liu Shu picked up a brush and asked the maid, “Do you mind if I make some adjustments?”

 

The maid blushed at his close proximity: “N-no, I don’t mind.”

 

Liu Shu made a few minor adjustments, and the effect was noticeably different.

 

Zhang Moyang clicked his tongue in amazement: “If everyone could master your skills, wouldn’t the world be full of beauties?”

 

“It seems this won’t be easy,” Zhang Mosheng anticipated the hard work ahead but felt a sense of excitement. She wondered what level she could achieve, but if she could reach this standard, it would be very fulfilling.

 

In the evening, Zhang Moyang received news and said, “The Fang family’s proposal was successful, and the wedding is set for five days from now.”

 

“So soon?” Zhang Mosheng was surprised. “Does Magistrate Fang allow him to be so reckless?”

 

“Magistrate Fang is busy with other matters and has already left. Besides, marriage is a good thing. Even if he’s not satisfied, he can always take more concubines later. So Fang Qiong probably made the decision himself,” Shen Ke suddenly said.

 

Zhang Moyang cursed, while Liu Shu curiously asked, “What’s Magistrate Fang busy with?”

 

“The new prefect is taking office, and he’s gone to report to him. He won’t be back for at least ten days due to travel and formalities.”

 

“By then, Fang Qiong will have already married Chen Yinglian,” Zhang Moyang said gleefully.

 

“What about the bandit problem?” Liu Shu asked, leaning on the table.

 

Shen Ke glanced at the setting sun outside the window and said, “If all goes well, Huishang should have met the new prefect by now.”

 

The three of them remembered Huishang’s mention of “doing something big,” and Liu Shu asked in confusion, “You sent a monk to report the bandit issue to the prefect?”

 

“Monks have also been troubled by the bandits, which shows how severe the problem is. And since he’s a monk, even if he encounters Magistrate Fang on the way, they’ll just think he’s traveling to beg for alms,” Shen Ke explained.

 

“What are they talking about?” Zhang Moyang quietly asked his sister.

 

Zhang Mosheng asked directly, “But what if the new prefect doesn’t want to deal with this issue?”

 

“If he’s smart, he’ll know this isn’t just something to handle; it needs to be done publicly so everyone in his jurisdiction knows about it.”

 

Zhang Mosheng slowly nodded: “I understand.”

 

“No, what do you understand? What are you guys talking about?!” Zhang Moyang was about to go crazy.

 

The sun was setting later, and when they returned to the village, it wasn’t completely dark yet. As they passed the basket weaver’s house, he unusually invited them for dinner.

 

At the table, the basket weaver hesitated several times, taking a breath as if to speak, but then closing his mouth again.

 

After a few such attempts, Liu Shu, nearly driven mad by the suspense, asked, “Brother, what do you want to say?”

 

“Well, there’s… a girl…” the basket weaver shyly lowered his head and mumbled, “Last time in town, while taking shelter from the rain, I met a girl who had bought one of my baskets. She asked me to help fix her roof.”

 

“And then?” Liu Shu’s eyes lit up with interest, eagerly watching him.

 

“Then she asked if I was married.”

 

“What did you say?”

 

“I said I was, but my wife found someone else.”

 

“And she…” 

 

“She said she’s a widow and asked if I’d mind helping a widow repair her roof.” The basket weaver buried his head even lower.

 

“You said you didn’t mind, right?” Liu Shu pressed.

 

The basket weaver nodded and fell silent again.

 

Liu Shu and Shen Ke exchanged glances and both burst out laughing. Liu Shu said cheerfully, “Alright, I get it. Don’t worry, brother, I’ll help you.”

 

The basket weaver raised his head, looking at him in confusion: …Help me with what?

 

Liu Shu stood up and went to the kitchen, coming back with a kitchen knife, which startled the basket weaver: “What are you going to do?”

 

“Don’t you want to look a bit better? Let’s start by shaving off that beard,” Liu Shu said, raising the knife.

 

Basket weaver: !!!

 

I just wanted to share with you guys!

 

As they walked home by moonlight, Liu Shu was laughing so hard he could hardly straighten his back: “Did you see our brother’s expression just now? Clutching his beard, he looked so sad, as if he was about to erect a monument for it.”

 

Shen Ke couldn’t hold back his smile either: “Are you sure shaving his beard will help?”

 

“Of course! He’s just shy, wishing his beard could cover his entire face and hide his features. Look at him now, clean-shaven. Doesn’t he look more spirited and handsome?”

 

“What if… that girl likes his rugged look with the beard?”

 

Liu Shu’s smile froze: “That can’t be…”

 

“I’m just joking. Even if she likes beards, he can always grow it back later. It’s no big deal,” Shen Ke laughed. “And if she happens to like his clean-shaven look, then even better.”

 

“Exactly.” Liu Shu quickened his pace to catch up with Shen Ke. “This is what you scholars often say, ‘a soldier will die for someone who understands him, and a woman will adorn herself for someone who loves her.'”

 

“Right! Who wouldn’t like a good-looking face?”

 

Shen Ke walked a few more steps, then suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked down at him: “And what about you?”

 

“What?” Liu Shu looked up, puzzled.

 

“What do you like about me?”

 

“Well, what don’t you like about me?”

 

Their eyes met, and a faint layer of moonlight surrounded them. The only sound around was the chirping of cicadas.

 

After a moment, Liu Shu’s lips curved into a broad smile, his eyes sparkling with laughter.

 

“Isn’t it hard to answer?”

 

“Yes.” Shen Ke chuckled softly. “It really is a difficult question.”