Fang Zhi kneaded the orange peels in her hand, watching them gradually stain her fingertips yellow.
"My father said that General Feng is an honest man. Although he can be a bit stubborn, his love for his only grandson is genuine. In the future, with him looking out for the Feng family in the court, the Feng family may well survive these turbulent times. And more importantly..."
She took a deep breath. "He and the Feng family belong to different camps. Only in this way can I be guaranteed safety no matter who wins in the future strife."
It was the early summer, supposed to be the loveliest time of the year. The shadows of the trees on the branches intertwined, like a wolf - hair brush dipped in rouge making layer upon layer of gorgeous blots on smooth rice paper. The colors were so vivid that they seemed to be on fire.
But at this moment, Li Wanming only felt that there was a touch of mournful beauty in the brilliance, like the dying embers of a fire, leaving only a tinge of withered red.
She was just about to offer words of comfort when she saw Fang Zhi wipe her mouth forcefully and slap the crushed orange peels on the table.
"Damn it! I'll marry. So what?"
"My father said that you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket. Even the wonton vendors on Changming Street know this!"
"If our family's chicken coop goes to ruin in the future, they'll be counting on this egg in someone else's basket to carry on the family line."
"So I have to marry into the Feng family, whether I like it or not. I might as well eat whatever I want now and get married happily!"
...
Fang Zhi stuffed the remaining orange segments into her mouth and spat out two orange seeds with a "puff", which made a crisp sound as they hit the silver plate.
The previous gloom vanished in an instant. The sunlight from the eaves happened to fall into the corner of her eye, making the silk - tree flowers in the courtyard look bright red and golden. Where was there a trace of the dejection of ashes?
Li Wanming sighed. She had underestimated Miss Fang. A person like her could thrive anywhere. How could she need Li Wanming's sympathy and comfort?
After all, Fang Zhi was Fang Zhi, a tough character who had been in fierce competition with Lü Songyuan in the capital for years without being outdone. How could she be sentimental and sad just because of a small marriage?
Looking at Fang Zhi's bulging cheeks, Li Wanming suddenly smiled. "Your father's saying, does it mean that when the nest is overturned, no egg can remain intact?"
Fang Zhi grabbed another red - bean cake and waved her hand carelessly. "My father said I can remember it however I like. The main thing is to understand the meaning."
It was still early for the auspicious time. The wedding procession from the general's mansion might not even have set off yet.
"Why are you here so early today?" Fang Zhi finally remembered to ask after finishing a bowl of almond tea.
"I... I came because..."
Li Wanming was momentarily at a loss for words. She couldn't very well say that she came early to avoid those annoying noble ladies, could she?
As she stammered, Fang Zhi started muttering to herself. "It's really strange. I never saw you so eager in the academy back then. But for a wedding banquet, you come so early? It's my wedding, not yours. Why come so early?"
Li Wanming was so choked that she stared wide - eyed. After a long while, she gritted her teeth and said, "I thought that on the day Miss Fang gets married, your mansion would be crowded with people and there wouldn't even be a place to stand. So I came a bit early. Who knew it would be so deserted, not even a soul in sight..."
Far from being angry, Fang Zhi nodded in agreement. "It's better to be quiet. It's already noisy enough outside with all the gongs and drums. If my place is also crowded, it'll be so noisy I'll go crazy."
She turned to the little maid who had just come in with walnut cakes. "Don't let anyone in later. I'm too lazy to deal with those philistines."
Then she glanced at Li Wanming. "If you're not busy, you can go out and enjoy the banquet too."
Li Wanming was so angry that she really wanted to turn around and leave!
Philistines?
Which philistines?
This sounded like she was scolding someone indirectly...
However, she hadn't presented her wedding gift yet. If she left in a huff at this moment, there would surely be more gossips in the capital. Her Li family really couldn't afford another round of rumors.
Li Wanming angrily opened the brocade box she had brought with her. Inside were a pair of white jade bracelets with carved dragons and phoenixes, exuding a gentle glow on the red silk.
"I wish you and Young Master Feng a loving marriage, a long - lasting union, and a happy life together..." she said stiffly, and planned to leave immediately after finishing, no longer caring whether Fang Zhi was being sentimental or overeating.
However, before she could finish her words, Miss Fang frowned. "Who wants to grow old with him? Don't curse me for no reason, okay?"
Li Wanming was so angry that she almost fell backwards.
Curse her?
Even if she didn't like Feng Xiao, growing old together was hardly a curse.
Miss Fang's way of thinking was really something...
Seeing Li Wanming looking blank, Fang Zhi sneered and wiped the crumbs of the red - bean cake from the corner of her mouth. She spread her hands like a storyteller. "Do you know what a woman's ideal marriage is?" Her eyes lit up as if she were describing a grand blueprint. "Rich, powerful, leisurely, and with a high social status, but without a husband!"
Li Wanming stared at her blankly, as if she didn't understand.
The idea of being a happy widow was something she had only dared to think about back then. But now Miss Fang was saying it so brazenly?
Everyone said she was lawless and unconventional, but Miss Fang's state of mind was twenty years ahead of hers!
Those pedantic scholars in the Imperial Academy should really take a good look at what true uniqueness and shock value were.
"Does... does Feng Xiao know about your grand wish?" Li Wanming asked tremulously.
These words were no different from cursing one's own husband to die early. Any man would surely fly into a rage upon hearing them. Given Feng Xiao's temper, wouldn't he tear the roof off?
Fang Zhi lazily gave her a sideways look. "Of course he knows! Otherwise, why do you think he said I was daydreaming?"
"He... he knows?" Li Wanming asked in disbelief.
"Right! Before we got married, we weren't like some people who are locked up at home. I kept causing trouble in various ways, and he was out philandering. How could we not meet?"
Fang Zhi stuffed the remaining red - bean cakes into her mouth and clapped her hands nonchalantly. "I'm bent on becoming a widow, and he's secretly trying to get promoted and get rich and have his wife die. We're like a perfect match. Neither of us should point fingers at the other."
Li Wanming forced a couple of laughs. "Well... actually, you don't have to describe yourself like that..."
But Fang Zhi had already stretched out her fingers stained with orange juice and fiddled with the white jade bracelets in the brocade box, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"Every day it's either a necklace or a bracelet. Why are you all so unoriginal? I thought you were an interesting person, which was why I told the maid to let you in. Who knew you'd be so tacky?"