In this dynasty, it was a popular custom to kidnap a groom right after the imperial exam results were announced. On the day when the spring exam results were revealed, the entrance of the Imperial College was swarming with people, resembling a large - scale human trafficking scene.
Early that morning, Li Wanming set off with her maid Chuntao and a group of servants, carrying sacks and clubs, with a determined and imposing air.
After waiting for about half an hour below the list, they finally spotted their target.
Cover the mouth, knock out, put a bag over the head, and stuff into the sack.
Chuntao executed these actions smoothly and effortlessly. After tying him up, she even winked at Li Wanming to signal that the job was done.
The rest was easy. They beat drums and gongs and took the "groom" back to the Li Mansion.
Just as Li Wanming was about to get married to the "groom", a young scholar in a lake - blue long gown suddenly rushed in. He was furious and started scolding as soon as he opened his mouth:
"Li Wanming, as the daughter of a general, can you have a bit more sense of contract? Didn't we agree that you would kidnap me?"
He had delicate features and a handsome face. But at this moment, his face was so red with anger that it seemed to match the color of his lake - blue gown, creating a rather strange and beautiful sight.
Everyone's eyes immediately shifted to the newcomer, then to the "groom" with a red veil on his head and tied up tightly, and finally, all the gazes landed on Li Wanming, the third daughter of the Li family.
Li Wanming was also a bit confused. "Ah, what's going on? Didn't I kidnap you?"
The newcomer was Pei Yanqi, a scholar she had hired in the Imperial College seven days ago to marry her on this day.
"What do you mean 'didn't'! I saw you coming just now and waved desperately, but you didn't even look at me. You knocked out someone else with a club and took him away!"
Pei Yanqi wished he could poke his finger on her forehead. "This is a major marriage matter. Can you be more reliable? How could you kidnap the wrong person below the imperial list?"
As he spoke, he stared angrily at the "groom" opposite. Staring at him, he suddenly became suspicious.
"Li Wanming, don't tell me you found someone else on purpose to lower my price. That won't do! We've agreed that it's thirty taels a day for a total of ten days... If you suddenly change your mind, let me tell you, the deposit won't be refunded!"
"Sister, what's wrong?"
Li Wanxin, the eldest daughter of the Li family, walked down from the carved armchair at the upper seat and asked nervously.
Li Wanming scratched her head. "It's nothing. It's just... I seem to have kidnapped the wrong person."
"Kidnapped the wrong person?"
Li Wanxin's face turned pale instantly. She tightly grasped her younger sister's hand.
"Didn't you say you were well - prepared and everything would go smoothly? How could you make such a mistake? If... if you can't get married today, you'll be betrothed to the Prince of Ning's heir!"
Li Wanming gave a bitter smile. "I know..."
The Prince of Ning's heir was a well - known bad omen in the capital. He was a short - lived and wife - killing man.
Apart from being in poor health since childhood, his marriage path had been extremely bumpy.
Since the discussion of his marriage a few years ago, his fiancées had died one after another for all kinds of strange reasons.
In the end, even the Matchmaker Temple in the capital refused to accept the incense money from his family, saying that it was for matchmaking people, not sending them away.
Some time ago, for some unknown reason, news suddenly spread from the palace that the emperor had taken a fancy to her, the youngest daughter of a fourth - rank general, and intended to bestow the marriage.
After hearing the news, Li Wanming was so scared that she came up with a good idea overnight: kidnap a groom after the list was announced and quickly make the "raw rice cooked" - she really didn't want to die suddenly.
It happened to be just before the spring imperial exam in February. So she came to the teahouse near the Imperial College with Chuntao and waited day and night for three days. Finally, she chose Pei Yanqi.
He was good - looking - it was an explanation to herself.
He had decent talent - it was an explanation to the elders of the Li family.
He was extremely poor - she could buy him with a small amount of money, which was an explanation to her purse.
He perfectly met all of Li Wanming's requirements.
At first, Pei Yanqi refused. "What kind of person do you take me for, girl!"
But after seeing Li Wanming take out a deposit of one hundred taels, he stood up suddenly. "Does the girl need her husband to be the number one scholar? If you can offer five hundred taels, I can even consider striving for the number one position..."
Li Wanming said, "No need. Our relationship is very clear. I'll pay the money, you'll get married with me. We'll get divorced after ten days, and I'll pay you the remaining money. Then we'll go our separate ways and be happy."
Go their separate ways and be happy...
What a flawless plan, but something had gone wrong.
Li Wanming walked up to the "groom" and said apologetically, "Sorry, brother. We made a mistake. Don't mind. I'll give you a big red envelope later..."
Saying that, she lifted the groom's veil.
Under the veil was a face as fair as jade and eyes as bright as stars. He looked extremely elegant, but his face was too pale with an abnormal flush.
He smiled as soon as he opened his mouth. "What are you talking about, wife? How can the bride give a red envelope on the wedding day?"
Ah?
Li Wanming was stunned.
The man continued, "I think we've already worshipped heaven and earth. How about just staying like this? Hey, and that gentleman over there. Since you're here, why not stay for a cup of wedding wine?"
He politely invited Pei Yanqi.
Pei Yanqi was angry. "What are you talking nonsense about! Miss Li, the third daughter of the Li family, and I had an agreement first. She's my fiancée!"
The "groom" said calmly, "Yes, she was indeed your fiancée before."
"But now the situation is that your fiancée has already worshipped heaven and earth with me and become my wife."
"Legally speaking, I'm the husband she brought... um, kidnapped in through the main entrance, while you haven't even crossed the threshold."
"If we really talk about who came first, it's me. You came later. In terms of seniority, you should call me brother."
Li Wanming was really stunned.
This man was so powerful.
Such a nonsensical speech, when he said it so righteously, actually seemed a bit like the truth.
After the man finished speaking, he turned his face and nodded at the rope on his wrist, indicating that he was still tied up.
Li Wanming woke up as if from a dream. She quickly and clumsily untied the rope and explained while doing so, "We really just made a mistake..."
The man rubbed his wrist. His eyes drooped, and his black eyelashes were like crow feathers. "Wife, don't tell me you want to be heartless and abandon me?"
He grabbed Li Wanming's hand. His warm and amber - like eyes looked at her affectionately. "We've already worshipped heaven and earth. If you want to be heartless, be careful of getting struck by lightning~~"
Li Wanming's eyebrows twitched.
She was just getting married. How did it get related to getting struck by lightning?
Just as she was about to speak, he put a finger on her lips. "Shh, I just heard your conversation and roughly guessed your dilemma."
"Wife wants to quickly find someone to get married to avoid the betrothal from the Prince of Ning's Mansion... Instead of choosing him, why not choose me?" He pointed at Pei Yanqi and then at himself. "Because I'm better - looking than him."
...
Powerful.
Really powerful.
Not only powerful but also very shameless.
Pei Yanqi was very unconvinced. "So what if you're good - looking? We had a contract first..."
"May I ask if there are any penalty clauses in your contract with the wife? If not, then terminating the contract before it's even executed doesn't count as a breach of contract. At most, the deposit won't be refunded."
He leaned closer to Li Wanming and whispered, "How much deposit did you pay him? And how much is the remaining money?"
Li Wanming replied, "One hundred taels as a deposit and two hundred taels as the remaining money."
He immediately said, "Choose me! Choosing me can save you two hundred taels! And my overall asking price is also cheaper than his."
"How much cheaper?"
"Just provide me with meals."
Li Wanming thought for a moment. "Okay, it's you then!"
Anyway, it was just a fake marriage. Who else could she marry? Of course, she should choose the one with the best appearance and the lowest price!
The so - called comparison of goods among different stores and survival of the fittest... Isn't that how one should choose a husband?
When Pei Yanqi heard that his fiancée was easily convinced in just a few words and he was eliminated, he was so angry that his face turned green. "Li Wanming, you... you're faithless!"
Li Wanming gave him a cold look. "What faith? What righteousness? Didn't you hear? Terminating the contract before it's executed doesn't count as a breach of contract! Also, did you give a wedding gift when you came to drink the wedding wine today?"
After saying that, she turned her head and shouted, "Chuntao, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and let the gong and drum band play again. Your miss has changed her groom!"