Hearing the lively sounds from the street, Ran lifted the carriage curtain and saw a pastry shop not far away. She quickly called out to Uncle Li to stop the carriage. It would be rude to visit her boyfriend's family for the first time empty-handed.
"What's wrong?" Seeing Ran ask to stop, Simeon immediately asked nervously. "I'm fine!" Ran smiled and pointed at the shop called Shiwei Zhai. "Since it's my first time visiting, I need to prepare some gifts."
"You come with me to help pick something for everyone." "We're not officially engaged yet, so there's no need to go out of the way to buy gifts." Even though he said that, he still jumped off the carriage first and held out his hand to help Ran down. "Just buy some pastries and a jar of wine, that's enough."
"Is it really okay to keep it that simple?" Ran wasn't familiar with the customs here, but she still felt that might be too plain. She had originally planned to buy some snacks and get a piece of jewelry for Madam He. "Just showing appreciation is enough."
As he said this, Simeon suddenly smiled shyly and added in a low voice, "If you really want to buy something, wait until we're engaged." The reason he said that was because he worried Ran didn't have much money. Once they were engaged, he could give her money openly, and then she could buy anything she wanted.
Even though Ran didn't fully understand all this, she could sense his intentions. So she followed his suggestion and bought a few simple gifts before returning to the carriage. The carriage continued on and soon stopped in front of the He family estate.
The He residence was a three-section courtyard, with two majestic stone lions guarding the main gate. It gave off an impressive appearance. Standing in front of the main gate, Ran couldn't help but take a deep breath.
Even though Simeon had repeatedly reassured her that Madam He and the village chief would definitely like her, she still felt very nervous. Seeing her like this, Simeon only thought she looked adorable. His heart felt incredibly soft.
If there weren't people at the gate, he would have wanted to pull her into his arms and tease her. When Ran looked up and saw his smiling eyes, she rolled hers at him with a playful glare. She was so nervous, and he could still smile like that.
She took another deep breath to calm herself. It was just meeting the family. What was there to be so nervous about?
If they liked her, that was great. If not, with her skills and determination, she'd still get the man she wanted. With that thought, Ran straightened up and walked in boldly with Simeon by her side. The servants of the He family noticed how close the two of them were.
They began to look at Simeon with strange expressions. None of them had expected that the upright young master in their eyes would actually be a cut-sleeve. Even after they left, many servants gathered and whispered as they watched the two figures walk away.
"I can't believe the third young master is a cut-sleeve!" "No wonder he rejected the Sun family's marriage proposal." "Such a pity for the Sun family's lady master."
"I heard the Sun lady had promised the family head that if he agreed, she'd let him be a companion lord after marriage." "You all want to die or what?" "Do you think you're allowed to gossip about the masters of the house?"
"Get back to work!" It was the steward who sternly interrupted their chatter. But he also knew that after today, probably the whole city of Suzhou would know their young master was a cut-sleeve.
They had just stepped into the main hall when Madam He and the village chief, who had already received the news, sat there with serious expressions, staring intently at Simeon.
Smash!
Just as Simeon took a step forward and was about to speak, a teacup suddenly slammed to the ground and shattered into pieces. The hot tea splashed onto the hem of his robe.
"Father, what are you doing?" Simeon looked at the village chief in confusion, completely forgetting that Ran was still appearing in front of everyone as a disabled man.
"What am I doing? I should be asking you what exactly you're doing?" The village chief suddenly stood up, his trembling finger pointing at Ran, who was being shielded behind Simeon. His voice was filled with pain as he said, "I told you to focus on your studies, and this is what you've done?"
"Father, it's not what you think. Please listen to me first."
Looking at his father's expression, Simeon finally realized that he had been too emotional yesterday and had forgotten to tell his parents and the elders about Ran's true identity.
"Shut your mouth."
At that moment, Madam He, who was sitting in the main seat, interrupted him coldly. Her eyes were full of disgust as she looked at Ran.
Her tone was sharp and cold as she scolded, "When you fled here, if our family hadn't taken pity on you and helped you register your household, you'd still be a drifter."
"I never expected you to repay us, but how could you seduce Simeon? Don't you know he's already a scholar? He's just waiting for the spring exams, and once he passes, he'll become an official."
"How could you ruin him like this?"
Though her words were directed at Ran, they were also aimed at Simeon. He was the only one in the He family with a talent for studying.
How could she bear to see him walk down a path of no return? Everyone knew that not just in Daqian, but across the entire continent, if a man was found to have same-sex tendencies, he would be banned from taking the imperial exams.
Even in business, he would be rejected and discriminated against everywhere. That meant no matter how talented he was, he would lose all chances to rise in life.
"I am a sovereign woman."
Faced with the scolding from the village chief and Madam He, Ran didn't get angry. She understood they were doing it for her and Simeon's sake.
It was also their fault for not informing them beforehand. Otherwise, the two elders wouldn't have been so angry.
She still felt a little guilty in her heart.
"No matter who you are, you can't... wo... woman... sovereign?"
Madam He was still angry and was about to scold again, but then paused. She slowly turned her head and looked at Ran, who was smiling softly, her face full of disbelief.
Not only Madam He, but everyone else present, including her husbands and the servants, were all staring at Ran in shock.
Then their eyes immediately turned to Simeon, who was standing nearby with a gentle smile. When they saw him nod slightly at them, the disbelief in their eyes instantly turned to joy.
"You, come with me."
Madam He tried to suppress the excitement in her heart. Her face softened as she glanced at Ran, then raised her chin to signal her to follow.
Ran knew they wouldn't believe it so easily. So she didn't say anything and simply gave Simeon a reassuring look before following Madam He into the inner room.
"Take off your clothes."
At this moment, Madam He was extremely nervous, and her voice even trembled a little. Ran didn't hesitate at all.
She immediately raised her hand and started to unfasten her clothes.
When Ran's chest curve, tightly wrapped by her clothes, was revealed, Madam He's smile grew bigger. She stepped forward and gently held Ran's hand, speaking with a loving smile.
"Good child, you've worked hard during this time!" Madam He turned and took a pale yellow ruqun from the cabinet, handing it to her. "Go change your clothes quickly. The Empress's chest curve is very delicate, you can't treat it roughly like that. You must not do it again."
"Yes, thank you, Madam!" Ran accepted the ruqun and went behind the screen. She quickly changed her clothes and then walked out again.
"Oh my! What a beautiful female!" When Ran stepped out, Madam He's face showed surprise.
Her skin was fair like jade, her large eyes full of life, her nose straight, and her lips red without makeup. Her long black hair fell like a waterfall, making her beauty seem almost unreal.
"Madam!" Ran felt uneasy under Madam He's intense gaze and called softly.
Madam He finally came to her senses and pulled Ran to sit at the dressing table. She wanted to style her hair but then realized she did not know how.
"Madam, I can do it myself!" Ran smiled and picked up the comb on the table. She styled her hair into a simple but elegant look.
When she was at university, she was obsessed with traditional clothes. To match them, she had learned many hairstyles.
She had not practiced for a long time, so she was a bit rusty.
When Madam He pinned a butterfly hairpin on her, she looked amazed and nodded again and again. "Ran, going out like this will surely confuse Simeon!"
After that, Madam He quickly pulled Ran out of the room.
As Ran stepped out into the sunlight, the servants outside were stunned by her beauty.
Madam He gave them a cold look and then led Ran toward the main hall.
Inside the hall, since Ran left, Simeon kept glancing toward the inner room. The longer time passed, the more restless he became.
"Simeon, sit properly! Your father is handling everything," the village chief said firmly when he saw him distracted.
"Third Brother, don't blame him. I just saw the female, and her beauty is truly outstanding. It is natural that Simeon can't stop thinking about her," said Mr. Shuo, trying to calm the situation.
He was Madam He's main husband and a well-known scholar in Suzhou. Unfortunately, he never passed the imperial exams, so he worked as a regular teacher at the Lude Academy.
In this family, his status was highest, so the other secondary husbands and companions respected him a lot.
He put down his teacup and looked at Simeon, who kept looking around nervously. With a serious tone, he asked, "Simeon, now that the female's identity is exposed, what will you do next?"
"I..." Simeon paused when hearing the question. He pressed his thin lips together and shook his head slightly. His voice was low, "I don't know what to do."
He knew that now Ran's identity was revealed, with his current ability, he could not protect her.
But if he just gave her up, he could not bear it. At that moment, he truly did not know what to do.
Mr. Shuo saw Simeon's painful expression and put the teacup down on the table. He looked at him kindly and comforted him, "What you need most now is to build a good relationship with Ran. This way, even if other husbands come later, they won't be able to surpass you."
"The village chief is right!" The village chief also advised, "She hasn't revealed her identity all this time, but she's willing to do so because of you. It shows she has feelings for you.
You should use this time to deepen your relationship with her. Let her have enough trust in you so that your position in her heart becomes firm."
"Okay, I understand!" Simeon nodded to show he understood.
"There is one more thing you need to prepare for in advance," Mr. Shuo continued. "I see she's not young anymore, but I don't know where her previous husbands are. What name will she give you then?"
"Ran said she has no husband!" Simeon remembered what Ran said and spoke up. "Also, no one has come looking for her after such a long time. It seems she is alone in this world."
"Did she say how she plans to settle you?" The village chief, who helped Ran with her registration, knew more about her situation. Since no one came for her for so long, the village chief thought it was likely she was an orphan.
After all, if there were family members, no one would let such a beautiful lady wander alone outside."
"Ran said, if you agree, she will personally come to propose!" When talking about marriage, Simeon's cheeks turned red with shyness, and his eyes were full of happiness.
Hearing Simeon's answer, everyone there showed surprised expressions.
They all knew that the lady herself proposing was a treatment only the main husband got.
It meant this lady planned to marry him as her main husband.
"Why are you so happy?"
Just as everyone was excited, Madam He walked in holding Ran's hand.
When the people in the hall heard the sound and looked over, they saw Ran walking in with light behind her. Everyone had different thoughts.
Simeon looked at her with admiration. Though he already knew she was beautiful, this moment, dressed in a light yellow skirt and wearing a butterfly hairpin, he was stunned again.
He quickly stepped forward and stared at her, reaching out to hold her hand. But he was afraid to offend the goddess and didn't dare to make a bold move.
Ran smiled and took his hand first. She turned her wrist and linked her fingers with his.
Feeling her action, Simeon immediately relaxed. His heart felt sweet. Being cared for by her warmed him deeply.
Seeing their interaction, Madam He and the village chief felt both happy and worried.
They were glad Ran loved Simeon, but seeing her stunning appearance, they couldn't help but worry.
Such beauty cannot be hidden. Later, Simeon would have many rivals.
What they worried about, Simeon himself also thought of. He held Ran's hand tightly and felt a thin cold sweat of nervousness in his palm.
Feeling his nervousness, Ran gently shook his hand. When he looked at her, she gave him a bright smile.
At that moment, Simeon was immediately enchanted by her and lost all nervousness.
"Cough!" Sitting at the main seat, Mr. Shuo, though happy about their relationship, had to remind them.
"Father!" Hearing the voice, Simeon came back to his senses. Seeing everyone's eyes on him, his cheeks flushed red, and he lowered his eyes to avoid their teasing looks.
"Lady Ran, may I ask what plans you and Simeon have?" Mr. Shuo asked carefully.
"Just call me Ran!" Ran straightened up as soon as she heard Mr. Shuo's words.
She looked respectfully at the two people sitting and said firmly, "I want to marry Simeon. I hope Madam He will agree to our marriage."
"All right! Please take your seat!" Madam He had already guessed why they came.
Now that Ran said it herself, she had no reason to disagree.
"Don't worry. I won't stop this marriage," Madam He said kindly, then asked, "But how do you plan to marry him? What kind of ceremony will you have?"
Everyone present looked at Ran nervously, waiting for her answer.
Even Simeon beside her looked tense.
"I will marry him with the ceremony of a principal wife," Ran said without hesitation.
"Well done! My son is so lucky!"
Hearing her, everyone relaxed. The village chief's eyes were even a little red with emotion.
He knew well the importance of being the principal wife.
He thought that even if Simeon was the top student, he might only marry a noble lady as a secondary or servant husband because of their family background.
He never expected Ran to become the principal wife.
"All right! Someone, go set off the wedding firecrackers at the door. Let everyone know that our Simeon has been engaged as a principal husband!" Madam He stood up excitedly and ordered the servant.
"Yes!"
"Wait!" Just as the servant was about to set off the firecrackers, Mr. Shuo stopped him.
He looked at Madam He gently and said, "Wife, now is not the time. It would be better to set off the firecrackers on the day Ran comes to formally present the betrothal gifts."
"That's right. I was too happy to think clearly!" Madam He agreed after his reminder.
She patted her head and sighed, "This big happy event should wait until the formal betrothal day to set off the firecrackers."
Then she asked, "Ran, dear child, when do you plan to come for the formal betrothal?"
They all hoped Ran would come tomorrow to present the gifts because they worried that if they waited too long, things might change.
Ran glanced at Simeon and smiled, "Madam He, you know I built the bridal chamber. It will be ready tomorrow, and I also bought furniture to send over. So, how about three days later?"
Ran wanted to settle the marriage as soon as possible to live openly with him.
But she would be busy tomorrow and needed time to prepare the gifts. So she pushed the date back two days.
"All right! Then come in three days for the formal betrothal," Madam He agreed immediately.
"There is one more thing I need to ask, Madam He," Ran said shyly.
"I'm not sure what needs to be prepared for the formal betrothal here."
Although she knew something about the place, she did not know the details of the ceremony.
Especially since women here also marry secondary and servant husbands, and the gifts differ.
She didn't want to make a mistake and cause embarrassment.
So it was better to ask clearly.