[R18] The stars are brilliant, so lucky even (The stars are brilliant, the moon rises over the sea) – Chapter 65 of “The Stars Are Brilliant, How Lucky They Are (The Stars Are Brilliant·The Moon Rising Over the Sea)” [English]

Chapter 65

In the early morning of the next day, Cheng Shi sent someone to the Chengmen Lieutenant’s Office to apply for leave early. After thinking about it, he also applied for leave for Lou’s servant, and then went to Lou’s house to inform him. Finally, he and his wife slowly dressed up in formal clothes.

Mrs. Xiao caught a glimpse of her husband’s uncontrollable curling of the corners of his mouth, and tightened his belt with force: “Toughen up your face. Today we are going to cancel the engagement, not to receive a reward.”

Cheng Shi touched his recently loosened waist and shouted, “You feel unhappy after hearing Cheng Shun’s reports these past two days! Hiss… be gentler, especially yesterday, yesterday! The two most outstanding sons in Hedu City are both in our daughter’s bowl!”

“Why are you speaking so harshly?” Mrs. Xiao pressed harder on her hand, “After this time in the Lou family, we must be more careful in the marriage of our children, so as not to fall into the laughingstock of others.”

“Pretend, keep pretending! I wonder who was tossing and turning last night and couldn’t sleep? Hey, you used to worry that Niao Niao wouldn’t be able to get married or that she wouldn’t get married well, but now it seems that all your worries are in vain!”

Mrs. Xiao said: “I can tell you, in the coming days, no matter who comes to propose marriage, I will make sure that no matter who proposes marriage, don’t be like the other Lou family, who hastily agreed with a pale face, as if you have never seen a proposal of marriage in three lifetimes.”

Thinking of the candidate for his future son-in-law, Father Cheng’s face glowed as if he had been smeared with lard: “Hey, when do you think someone will come to propose marriage? I bet within half a month. Also, who do you think will come first?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.” Mrs. Xiao said, “We just broke off our engagement with the Lou family. We have to wait for two months to calm down. It seems that we have already chosen a son-in-law. As for the candidate… I would rather be Yuan Shanjian…”

“Eh? Why not Ling Zisheng.” Cheng Shi’s idea was very simple and crude, “he is more powerful.”

Mrs. Xiao pondered for a long time and sighed: “…I don’t understand he. He is not popular at all, and he can’t get in. Besides, if you are sure, just go out and make an agreement with Niao Niao. If she doesn’t come to propose marriage later, let’s see what happens to Niao Niao.”

Cheng Shi was immediately frightened: “It’s hard to explain. What if we are just being sentimental and don’t end up being happy in vain. That’s all. Maybe you and I are overly worried. They don’t plan to get married at all, so they just helped out.”

Therefore, when the couple appeared at Lou’s house, they both had well-dressed and solemn expressions. Young Shang was kneeling behind him with his head bowed, and those who didn’t know thought they were attending a funeral.

Today, the main hall of the Lou family is closed. In the middle, sitting on the left and right are Lou Taipu and Cheng Shi. Next to them are Mrs. Lou and Mrs. Xiao. Below Mrs. Xiao is Shao Shang, and below Mrs. Lou are the second Mrs. Lou and Lou Yao. The eldest young lady and the second young lady are kneeling and sitting at the lower end a little further away.

Cheng Shi made it clear in a few words that he wanted to withdraw from the engagement. Lou Yao became anxious as soon as he heard this and rushed to say: “Young Shang, you were fine yesterday. Why do you just…just…last night? I sent someone to your house, but the maid said you had rested.”

Shao Shang’s eyes were red and swollen, and he felt that all the tears that needed to be shed were shed last night. She was now full of humor: “It was just a quarter past noon when I boarded the He family’s carriage yesterday, but you came to see me at night. If Mr. An Cheng had the intention to harm me, she would have destroyed the body and wiped out traces of her death. There will be no evidence of death, so your uncle’s servant will not have to ask for leave today.”

The first lady wanted to laugh but did not dare to laugh, the second young lady shook her head and smiled, and the second lady was at a loss; the remaining four people had become refined in cultivation, and there was no wave on their faces.Only Lou Yao was speechless: “No, no, it’s not…” He thought that the young merchant would come and tell him immediately afterwards, but there was still no news until the evening.

Cheng Shi turned to look at Lou Taipu, who saw Lou Taipu shaking his head and letting out a long sigh, his face was sad and he said nothing.

He hated the dead look of scholars the most in his life, so he immediately used his trump card: “If your servant doesn’t say anything, I will tell you outside the Lou family today that our Cheng family has come to cancel the engagement, but the Lou family will not agree to it no matter what, life or death!”

Servant Lou was shocked: “Ah…” Madam Lou said excitedly: “Captain Cheng, be careful what you say!”

“That means you agree to break off the engagement.” Cheng Shi said, “Then quickly return each of your gifts. I brought the suet-fat jade sword that was betrothal today, and my Jinhulou Commandery Prime has been sent back to the capital. Take it out. Tear up the engagement documents between the two families a few times, and it’s over.”

This time, even Mrs. Lou didn’t know what to say, and the whole place fell into an awkward silence. Although they had been mentally prepared, the Cheng family acted so neatly, and everyone in the Lou family didn’t know what to do.

Young Master Lou had a clear theme and asked hurriedly: “Young Shang, what’s going on? Didn’t you say that as long as I don’t talk back, you won’t back down?”

Shao Shang said expressionlessly, “There are two answers to your question. To make a long story short, my father and mother were grateful for the loyal ministers and good generals who fought for the country until their family was destroyed, so the Cheng family was determined to fulfill General He’s last words.”

After saying this, everyone in the Lou family looked at her blankly, especially Mrs. Lou – weren’t these what she just said a few days ago?It also attracted cynicism from you.

The second young lady on the floor smiled and said: “Ms. Cheng’s humble words of righteousness and self-sacrifice for righteousness are really admirable.”

“Second sister-in-law!” Lou Yao shouted.

The second young lady on the floor didn’t even raise her eyelids: “Why, what’s wrong with Mrs. Cheng’s words? Or do you really want your brothers to divorce their wives and marry another one?”

Cheng Yao’s face turned red, then turned purple.He is not good at words, but at this time, the other party has all the truth, and he can’t say anything, so he can only be anxious.

Mrs. Xiao’s eyes flashed across everyone’s faces, and she said simply: “Since both parties have no objections, just return the token and tear up the marriage contract.”

The second lady on the floor also cried softly: “Ah Yao, just listen to everyone. I also like Shaoshang, but…but…”

“But the situation is like this, Ah Yao, you have to be obedient!” Mrs. Lou said with pressure.

Lou Yao froze on the ground for a long time, suddenly stood up, and shouted angrily: “I won’t break off the engagement, I won’t! You have used a lot of big principles to deceive me since I was a child. Doing this and this is benevolence, and doing this and that is repayment of kindness, butI am the only one who is wronged by the whole family!You either have to sit back or say something indifferent, even if you feel sorry for me, you can’t live out the rest of your life for me!Why does it have to be me?”

After hearing this, Mrs. Lou’s second wife covered her face and fell to the ground crying. Mrs. Lou’s eldest wife had a displeased face, and Mrs. Lou’s servant sighed and turned away.Cheng Shi and Mrs. Xiao looked at each other, unwilling to get involved in the Lou family’s private affairs.To put it bluntly, in a family like the Lou family, the success or failure of a marriage only depends on the wishes of the elders, and how can the children and grandchildren have any say.

Shaoshang looked at the angry and aggrieved face of the young man and said with a smile: “Ah Yao, are your legs healed?”

Lou Yao was stunned, and his anger was controlled for a moment, and he said sarcastically: “Actually, I can stand up a long time ago, but the doctor asked me to stay up for a few more days, so I still asked someone to carry me.”

Shao Shang was sad: “This is great. Mr. An Cheng will definitely get married with love and filial piety, and your legs and feet will be sharp by then.”

“You…you…” Lou Yao became anxious again.

Shaoshang said softly: “Ah Yao, please listen to what I have to say. Okay, sit down first, then let’s keep the story short…”

Seeing Lou Yao suppress his anger and slowly sit down, she spoke: “In the past few months, we have talked about everything. You tell me, although you don’t like An Chengjun, General He is very good to you. You have been fond of martial arts since you were a child, and no one in the Lou family can lead you, but General He is always willing to take time to teach you no matter how busy he is. He is both a teacher and a father, and you love him so much.”, Really or not?You have tolerated He Zhaojun all these years partly for the sake of kindness, but partly for the sake of General He.”

Lou Yao’s anger subsided slightly and he remained silent.

Shaoshang continued: “There is also the fifth son of the He family. He is only two years older than you. He has taken you fishing and shooting birds with you since you were a child. He made your first small bamboo bow for you. It seems to be something you like and has kept it to this day. But…”

She changed her tone and said, “But do you know that when Mr. He and a team of scouts wanted to break out to report the news, they were knocked to the ground by the Xiao family rebels, and then trampled to a pulp by random horses!”

The floor servant let out a long sigh and turned his head away from tears.He knew this, but the female relatives at home did not. Madam Lou, her mother-in-law, and her daughter-in-law shrank back in fear. Madam Lou Second was frightened and cried. Only Madam Lou Second was calm, but she couldn’t help lowering her head to wipe her tears.

Lou Yao stared with big eyes and shed tears.

“I asked my second brother in detail. Not only the fifth son died miserably, but also the eldest son and the fourth son. Life and death are common in battle formations. However, in order to provoke General He to leave the city, the rebels dragged the bodies of the two young masters behind the horses and ran around the city. In the end, they even beheaded HeTheir heads were stuck on the tips of spears to show off their power.When you were young, Ah Yao, didn’t the eldest son always put you on his shoulders to pick fruits?You were taught how to ride a horse, but you are dead without a body!”

Lou Yao was already in tears.The remaining female relatives all cried softly, and even Cheng Shi and Mrs. Xiao couldn’t bear to look back and sigh.

“…The second young master was stabbed in the heart by several arrows at the top of the city. He was dragged for a day and a night, but he could not survive. The third young master was ambushed when he led the reinforcements back and died of exhaustion…” Shao Shang unknowingly moistened his eyes again, “The second young master’s wife was pregnant with Liujia, and was killed by the cruel traitor with a sharp blade.He died from a puncture in the abdomen. The eldest son-in-law’s wife stood at the top of the city and watched with her own eyes as her son-in-law died, and he was so crazy that he didn’t know when he would recover.Ah Yao, you told me that the eldest young lady of the He family makes the most delicious glutinous rice cakes, and the second young lady can make sweet rice wine… butShe, even she…”

The He and Lou families are close friends. Many people are just names to the Cheng family, but they are living memories to the Lou family. Their voices, faces, and smiles are still there, but they have passed away.The first lady cried without any pretense this time. She hugged her daughter-in-law and covered her mouth and howled silently. The second lady cried loudly and fell into the arms of the second young lady.

Lou Yao seemed to be a stone statue carved from salt rock, motionless, his tears dried.

“Ayao, when we were in Huaxian County, we saw the tragic scenes of war, saw the mass graves with flying crows, and saw the orphans and widows crying without tears. At that time, you said that a real man should protect the people and respect the world. Do you know that this time, the people of Fengyi County are not like Hua County. General He is such a real man…”

As Shaoshang talked, he started to cry: “Ah Yao, I also feel very sorry for you. I said it nicely, but you are the one who married He Zhaojun. If only I could marry her for you!”

“Stop talking.” Lou Yao finally changed his expression and smiled with tears in his eyes, “Shao Shang, you are not sorry for me. But you are right. I keep saying that I want to be a man who protects the people, but I refuse to accept even such a little grievance. Isn’t it ridiculous.”

“Ah Yao, you are just aggrieved for a moment, don’t let it become a lifelong grievance.” Shao Shang wiped his tears hard.

“I, can I…?” Lou Yao’s eyes filled with tears.

“Of course! After you get married, you will not only be He Zhaojun’s son-in-law, but also her brother and her support! You have to feel sorry for her and teach her. You can’t let her go when she’s wrong. If she loses her temper and shows off, you can’t just swallow it like before…” Shaoshang said loudly, which was really what she said from the bottom of his heart.

“I can teach her.” Lou Yao seemed to see a new world in front of him, “If she keeps messing around, I…I will catch her and ask her in front of General He’s body…”

Young Shang took a few steps forward on his knees and said earnestly, “That’s right! If you have something you can’t figure out, just ask Madam Second Young Master. Is there anything you can’t say to your sister-in-law?”

The second young lady on the floor looked at Shao Shang movedly.When the servant Lou saw this scene, he felt very sad.

Shao Shang glanced sideways at Mrs. Lou beside him, and suddenly said: “Ah Yao, don’t be afraid of quarreling, as long as the reason is what you are afraid of, but you want to see who is full and supported to take care of things in your room…”

Cheng Shi and Lou Taipu didn’t quite understand this sentence, but all the female relatives present knew it.

This overly simple divorce ceremony ended with Lou Yao crying loudly. After crying, he seemed to have grown up in an instant.Lou Yao looked calm as he watched the Golden Tiger and Yujue being handed back and the silk with the marriage certificate torn into two pieces.

When the three members of the Cheng family were sent away, he was still able to smile: “Uncle Cheng, Aunt Cheng, I will ask a few brothers for advice in the future, so just treat me as your own nephew.”

Cheng Shi felt a rare moment of softening and nodded.

Mrs. Xiao said softly: “You and An Chengjun will have a good life in the future. She is now lonely and looks like she is showing her teeth and claws, but she is actually pitiful on the inside. You will treat her with courtesy and your heart. You will not go wrong.”

Lou Yao bowed and agreed, then turned around and said, “Young Shang, from now on you can call me brother.”

Shaoshang rubbed his increasingly red and swollen eyes and rolled his eyes: “Don’t do this, it’s too early for you to want to be my brother!”

Lou Yao laughed and burst into tears.Shaoshang felt sad and couldn’t help but shed a few more tears.

The two families said goodbye. Although this was a complete and successful divorce, the three members of the Cheng family were not happy.

When he returned to Cheng Mansion, Cheng Shu had already prepared lunch.The Cheng family brothers all knew what their parents and younger sister had done this morning, so they all took leave and stayed at home.Everyone gathered in the main hall to eat in silence. Cheng Shi drank a glass of wine in one gulp and said loudly: “… From now on, Niao Niao will have nothing to do with the Lou family. This matter is over! Did you all hear that?”

Cheng Shu and the three brothers all nodded in greeting, but Cheng’s mother, who was the leader, said angrily: “What kind of world is this? You have to cancel a good marriage!”

Mrs. Hu quickly stepped forward to comfort her: “Hey, old madam, please stop talking. The marriage has been called off, and your lord, your lady, and the young lady will be more sad than anyone else. Didn’t the previous gentlemen tell you the truth behind this?”

Cheng’s mother pushed Hu Lao away and said loudly: “What nonsense, how much money is it worth? The Lou family’s treasure is real! Is it worth it for you to withdraw from such a good marriage just to ruin your reputation? I think you are a fool for becoming an official. The grain in the barn, the money in the cash box, the fields under your feet, only these are important…”

Mother Cheng complained loudly and chattered on top, while the children below all ate quietly without interrupting a word.

Cheng Shi heard that my mother was getting more and more angry and couldn’t help but said: “Mom, what are you talking about…”

Before he finished speaking, the maid suddenly ran over to report—

Someone came from the palace and said that they wanted to summon Cheng Shi, his wife and Shao Shang to the palace. The person who announced the order was already waiting in the front yard at the small yellow gate.

Mrs. Xiao’s chopsticks fell on the food table with a clatter, and she looked at her daughter in panic.

Shao Shang was still puzzled and sat blankly.