The four great Families of Haoyue City were already the largest Family powers in the region, and some even held official positions in the imperial court. They oppressed the common people, who dared not speak out in anger.
Besides the City Lord who traveled with a troop of armored soldiers, the only other people who commanded such a magnificent sight were members of the four great Families. Although this procession wasn't armored, its numbers and the quality of its attire were no less impressive than the City Lord's. Listening to the surrounding chatter, Lin Han also knew this wasn't the City Lord. The two most prominent figures leading the group were Su Yibo, whose father, Su Wenyi, was a second-rank official in the imperial court and also the Clan Chief of the Su Family. The other was named Su Youwei, whose father, Su Hao, was the Su Family's spokesperson here and Su Wenyi's younger brother. The other elegantly dressed individuals on horseback behind them were also direct descendants of the Su Family. The students all stared at the procession; it was a rare trip to the city, and they were all very curious to see these important figures.
Just as this procession was about to pass quickly before everyone's eyes, Su Yibo's gaze suddenly lingered on a woman. Yin Cui, feeling embarrassed, lowered her head. Yin Cui's beautiful, flower-like face, curvaceous and slender figure, flawless skin, bright teeth, and the unique charm of a young girl made her stand out among the crowd. Su Yibo was immediately captivated by her exquisite beauty.
Then, to avoid being seen as lustful and losing his composure, Su Yibo's eyes lingered for only three seconds before moving elsewhere, continuing to admire the surrounding lantern-lit streets. He maintained an arrogant gaze, as if he were a high and mighty god touring the human world. After a short while, he called over a personal attendant and whispered, "Help me ask where that girl is from, the one in red and green clothes, about fifteen or sixteen years old." He glanced at Yin Cui again, then continued to follow the procession without looking back. The attendant, already understanding, found an excuse to leave the group and blend into the crowd, pretending to buy something.
After the procession had left for some time, the attendant followed Yin Cui's group of female classmates and found a suitable moment to speak with Yin Cui.
"Young Miss, you are a local of Haoyue Province, aren't you? May I ask your name? Could we get to know each other?"
"Who are you? Why should I tell you?" Yin Cui was a bit surprised by the stranger's question, but a faint, uneasy feeling arose in her heart.
"Me?" The attendant's fawning expression changed. He puffed out his chest and proudly declared, "I am Young Master Su's personal attendant, my name is Tao Fu."
Yin Cui's uneasy feeling intensified. Hearing that he was from the Su Family and a personal attendant to a Young Master made her even more hesitant to offend him. She respectfully said, "So, you are from the Su Family. My apologies, I was rude just now. My name is Yin Cui, from Weifeng Town, east of Haoyue Province. May I ask if there is anything I can help with?"
"Oh, so it's Young Miss Yin Cui. It's like this, my Young Master Su Yibo would like to be friends with Young Miss and asked me to convey the message. This is a small gift for Young Miss, as a gift for friends meeting for the first time. Please accept it?" The attendant took out the hairpin Yin Cui had seen earlier in the ornament shop.
Yin Cui was startled. This hairpin was the one she had glanced at several times when passing the ornament shop. She hadn't bought it because of its high price. She hadn't even noticed the attendant following her, so how could she not be startled? She still politely and respectfully whispered, "This is too valuable a gift, I really can't accept it. Please take it back. If your Young Master needs my help with anything, please say so. I will do my best to help, but there's no need for a gift."
"Young Miss, since it's given to you, please accept it. After all, my Young Master rarely gives things to girls," the attendant said with a smile. "As for what matter it is, you'll have to discuss it with him personally; it's not appropriate for me to inquire. When do you have time?"
Yin Cui panicked. Even the most naive girl would sense something was amiss, let alone a 16-year-old who was now an adult. Due to the Su Family's influence, she could only whisper, "Please tell your Young Lord that I cannot accept a reward without merit. If there's anything you need my help with, please just ask. If you send a message, I can come to handle it. If that's truly not possible, then seven days from now, at noon, we can talk at the Leyi Building in Weifeng Town. If it's not necessary to trouble your Young Lord to come in person, it would be best if you could tell me instead."
The attendant chuckled, "Alright, then we'll meet at Leyi Building in seven days." Then he turned and left.
Yin Cui watched the attendant leave, her heart in turmoil. She was anxious and confused, not knowing what to do. "I hope the next person who comes isn't him, but his attendant." This was all she could hope for. This was the girls' jewelry street, and soon a few female classmates finished their shopping and gathered again. They arrived at the agreed-upon location and returned with their male classmates, who first escorted the girls home. Everyone had carriages, but riding horses was not allowed in the city during the New Year. Carriages were parked in designated spots outside the city gate. However, the four great Families could not be restrained from riding their own horses.
As everyone rode back in the carriage, Lin Han noticed Yin Cui's complexion wasn't very good and asked, "Yin Cui, did you have fun tonight? What happened just now? Why do I feel like you're preoccupied?"
Yin Cui, snapped out of her thoughts by the question, said, "I had a lot of fun tonight, nothing happened. I was just thinking about some Family matters." Then she started laughing and chatting with Lin Han, and the two became happy and talked playfully again... Although Lin Han knew Yin Cui had something on her mind, since Yin Cui wouldn't say, Lin Han wouldn't press her, because Lin Han and Yin Cui were not only good friends but also confidantes, and even deeply in love.
After returning home, Yin Cui had many thoughts in the following days, sometimes feeling worried and flustered. She hoped things weren't really like that, but as soon as she thought of Su Yibo's gaze fixed on her, she felt flustered again... As for whether to tell her parents? She finally decided it wasn't necessary for now. She would wait until seven days later, clarify what Su Yibo wanted, and then decide.
During those New Year days, Lin Han also had a lot of fun. First, he visited relatives, then returned to play New Year games with nearby friends... There was also something else: having come of age, he confessed to his parents his love for Yin Cui. His parents also knew about their relationship and were very fond of and satisfied with Yin Cui. Lin Han was as happy as a child, just waiting for a month to pass so he could go with Yin Cui to meet her parents.
Seven days later, Yin Cui arrived at Leyi Building. Led by the Shop Assistant, she went up to a private room on the second floor. Su Yibo was already waiting inside. Seeing Yin Cui enter, he stood up with a smile and greeted her, "Young Miss Yin Cui, come, sit over here." The attendant immediately brought a chair for Yin Cui to sit on. Yin Cui returned the greeting and sat on the chair the attendant held for her. The two then began exchanging polite greetings...
"Young Master Su, may I ask what you need from me? If I can help, I will certainly do my best," Yin Cui asked cautiously. After some polite exchanges, Yin Cui slowly got to the point.
Su Yibo took a sip from the wine glass in his hand and said with a smile, "That day at the lantern festival, I saw Young Miss Yin and developed admiration for her. I wanted to be friends with Young Miss."
Upon hearing this, Yin Cui felt that something was amiss, but she managed to suppress her expression and said with a smile, "To be friends? For someone like Young Master Su to be friends with me, that is the good fortune I've accumulated over several lifetimes." Yin Cui continued, "This humble girl just turned 16 this year, so she's an adult. This year, I will marry my beloved, Young Master Lin. Of course, I am happy to be just friends with Young Master Su. Then, at the wedding of my husband and I, we will have one more good friend to invite... Will Young Master Su be free then?"
Yin Cui said this without waiting for Young Master Su to state his intentions, revealing her engagement first, implying that she could no longer pursue a romantic relationship. She hoped Su Yibo would understand the hint and back off gracefully, giving everyone an easy way out.
Su Yibo was immediately displeased upon hearing this. A faint smile touched his lips, "So, Young Miss Yin Cui is getting married this year? Congratulations! May I ask which Family's Young Master is so fortunate to marry such a beautiful woman?"
"It's Young Master Lin Han from the Lin Family, a small Family in Weifeng Town. We grew up studying and playing together as classmates; we've been childhood sweethearts for a long time and are just waiting to get married after I come of age this year," Yin Cui said, deliberately sounding happy.
Su Yibo frowned, glanced at his attendant, and said, "The Lin Family? Never heard of them." The attendant immediately leaned in and whispered, "Just a small landlord, still within the sphere of our Su Family's influence. They send gifts to our Su Family every year." Su Yibo sneered, "So that's how it is. Then, when we have time, we should invite Young Master Lin out for a gathering. We can all be friends."
Yin Cui joyfully said, "Oh, really? Thank you, Young Master Su. My husband and I will definitely have a good drink with Young Master Su then."
After the meeting, Yin Cui hurried home. Her heart felt much better, relieved that Young Master Su had not forced anything this time or broken up their relationship.
Three days after this incident, Yin Cui's parents spoke with her, saying that since she was an adult this year, it was time for her to marry. Before Yin Cui could mention Lin Han, they told her they had already arranged a marriage for her with Young Master Su Yibo of the Su Family. Yin Cui nearly fainted upon hearing this, thankfully her parents caught her in time. Yin Cui tearfully begged her parents to plead with the Su Family, saying she was already engaged to Young Master Lin.
However, Yin Cui's father said that the Su Family had already sent people to discuss it, stating that Su Yibo had decided to marry Yin Cui as his second wife. At the time, Yin Cui's father still wanted to clarify the matter, but the Su Family attendant said, "There's no need to say anything else. What Young Master Su decides will not change. It is your Family's good fortune that Young Master Su has taken a liking to your daughter. This gift is worth three times your Family's assets, and there will be an even greater gift at the wedding. You should prepare to choose an auspicious day and hold the banquet."
Yin Cui's father continued, "We also know about you and Lin Han. You often run to his house with your classmates, isn't it to see him? But the Su Family cannot be offended. Young Master Su has already spoken and will not change his mind. I believe the Lin Family has also received the same message. They will not dare to marry you. Prepare to marry into the Su Family as their Young Madam. It's just that you and Lin Han were destined to be without a future together."