Chapter 1, Naturally Charming Bone

Eighteen years ago, Lord Su and Lord Lin both served as officials in Yizhou. At that time, Su Zhongxing's mother and Lin Mei's mother were close friends, and after each gave birth to a son and a daughter, they often joked privately about forming a marriage alliance. These words reached the ears of Lord Su and Lord Lin, and after a drinking session, the two half-jokingly and half-seriously called each other in-laws. The next day, they exchanged tokens and arranged a marriage contract for Su Zhongxing and Lin Mei. Later, Lord Su's career progressed smoothly, and he was promoted several times, eventually returning to the capital.

Luo Mingxiu lives up to her name, possessing an exceptionally delicate beauty. However, her temperament is somewhat akin to that of her mother, being proud of her looks and talents, and looking down on others. Even towards her aunt, Madam Su, she shows little respect. Given all these factors, Madam Su naturally prefers Lin Mei to be her daughter-in-law.

Upon the passing of Master Su, aside from Su Jiasheng and Madam Su, no one in the Su family remembered that Su Zhongxing had once been engaged to someone. However, Su Zhongxing himself had developed a deep affection for his cousin Luo Mingxiu, who was residing in the Su residence, and they were merely waiting for Luo Mingxiu to come of age before their families would discuss marriage.

At this moment, Lin Mei, accompanied by Nurse Gu, gracefully appeared before the Su family

In broad daylight, in a pavilion with wind blowing from all directions, which should have been the most open and aboveboard place to meet, your appearance and voice have turned it into a scene that makes it seem as though I am here to engage in an affair with you

Su Zhongxing turned around and saw Luo Mingxiu standing not far from the pavilion, with a fierce fire of anger burning in her eyes

Seeing Lin Mei leaning softly against the pillar, looking as if she might fall at any moment, Su Zhongxing furrowed his brows: No wonder the little girl Qiuzhu murmured that Miss Lin is very eloquent, always pretending to be weak to gain sympathy, and the lady is completely taken in by her. Indeed!

What are you doing?" An angry voice rang out

The woman's voice was sweet yet tinged with a hint of bitterness, striking the eardrum and possessing a captivating charm. Su Zhongxing remained unmoved, entered the pavilion, took two steps forward, and looked at Lin Mei, saying: "Even if you marry me, you will not find happiness, so why bother?"

Su Zhongxing decided to clarify everything at once to avoid Lin Mei's entanglement, so he stepped forward, intending to sit down on the stone bench nearby. However, just as he took a step, he heard Lin Mei's sultry voice softly say, "Don't come over!"

In the past, Old Master Su arranged a marriage for his grandson, but he did not expect the Lin family to fall into such decline. Observing that Old Master Lin was proud and unwilling to seek a match, he became indifferent to the matter. Later, when the Su family moved to the capital, they never received any correspondence from the Lin family. Old Master Su then assumed that the Lin family was too embarrassed to pursue this marriage any further. He instructed his son, Su Jiasheng, stating that as long as the Lin family's daughter remained unmarried, Su Zhongxing should not marry first, in order to avoid gossip.

Su Zhongxing was quite angry. When he raised his eyes, he saw Lin Mei leaning against a pillar, her fair face slightly flushed, her cherry lips half-open. With her hands clasped behind the pillar, her thin spring garment was pulled back, revealing her entire slender figure: her neck was white and delicate, her chest rounded, and her waist was slim. The anger in his chest surged even more as he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, saying: "Lin Mei, what are you trying to do?"

"Don't come over!" Lin Mei was on the verge of tears, yet her voice was soft and sweet, as if inviting the other person to come over quickly

Wuwu, what on earth is going on? Lin Mei felt like crying without tears. After she learned about her own constitution, she tried her best to avoid men, and when she had to meet one, she maintained a distance, and nothing had happened before. Now, as Su Zhongxing took a step forward, not only did her body become increasingly weak, but her heart also raced, and her cheeks flushed. She had no choice but to call out to Su Zhongxing to not come closer. Who would have thought that as soon as she spoke, her voice changed, sounding just like a lover's whisper. Now, as Su Zhongxing took a step forward, not only did her body become increasingly weak, but her heart also raced, and her cheeks flushed. She had no choice but to call out to Su Zhongxing to not come closer. Who would have thought that as soon as she spoke, her voice changed, sounding just like a lover's whisper. Anyone who heard it would inevitably have different thoughts.

Lord Lin faced difficulties in his official career, and his only son, Lin Li, proved to be unworthy, only knowing how to gamble and indulge in brothels. He even entangled himself with a courtesan, spending lavishly to take her home as a concubine, which ultimately led to the death of his daughter-in-law, Gu Ke'er, from anger. After Gu Ke'er passed away, Lord Lin was so overwhelmed with grief that he soon fell ill and died six months later. It was only then that Lin Li began to show some signs of regret, trying to gather his emotions and resolve to live a better life. Unfortunately, the Lin family was already small in number and not wealthy; after years of his reckless behavior, the family fortune had dwindled to almost nothing. After two funerals, life became quite strained. Fortunately, Gu Ke'er's former wet nurse and two maids remained, and they helped Lin Mei by doing needlework to sell, which barely allowed them to get by.

Su Zhongxing was taken aback, halting his steps, and suddenly, a surge of anger welled up within him. Is this how they intend to provoke him? How shameless!

After Lin Mei entered the mansion, Luo Mingxiu no longer paid attention to Cai Su Zhongxing. Su Zhongxing had trouble sleeping for several nights. One early morning, he strolled into the garden and, from a distance, saw a strange young woman sitting in the pavilion. He guessed that she was Lin Mei, which prompted him to approach and say these words.

Su Zhongxing was very annoyed by this irrelevant exchange and raised his voice, saying: "How much do you want to leave?"

Lin Meimei has beautiful features and is extremely charming, but she has a fatal flaw: her bones are too soft, lacking proper posture when sitting or standing. A concubine who came from a humble background once commented on her, saying that she was born with a seductive charm, and that she was destined to be far removed from dignity.

In order to provide for the concubine and gather the expenses to travel to the capital, the property in Yizhou has already been sold, leaving no way back. Moreover, if the engagement with Su Zhongxing is dissolved, even if one lowers their expectations to seek another marriage, it is likely to be difficult. Additionally, there is the matter of one's own constitution, which causes instability at the scent of a young man; if this were to be discovered by someone with ill intentions, the consequences would be unimaginable. The only course of action now is to hasten the marriage in order to preserve one's innocence. Furthermore, the issue of one's own constitution, which causes instability at the scent of a young man, if known to someone with ulterior motives, could lead to dire consequences. Therefore, the only viable plan is to marry quickly to safeguard one's purity.

In order to appear dignified, Lin Mei has made considerable efforts, but the results have been minimal

Upon hearing that Su Zhongxing had a fiancée, Luo Mingxiu felt as if struck by a bolt from the blue. She wept for several days, and no matter how Su Zhongxing tried to console her, she could not change her mind.

Su Zhongxing stood outside the pavilion, looking down at a young woman inside with a condescending posture. His tone was indifferent, yet there was an unmistakable disdain in his eyes

What?" Lin Mei pressed her lips together, forming a thin line, a feeling of anger igniting in her chest. Her waist remained straight, her spine stiffened, and she suddenly stood up, narrowing her eyes as she looked at Su Zhongxing and said: "So, in your eyes, the marriage contract established between my grandfather and your grandfather can be broken as long as there is money.

Lin Mei also let out a sigh of relief. It had taken her a full six months to travel from Yizhou to the capital, and her money was nearly spent. Now that spring had arrived, with the thin spring clothing, it was becoming increasingly difficult for her to disguise herself as a man. She feared that if her identity as a woman were to be exposed, it might lead to unforeseen troubles

Lin Mei was originally slouched on the stone bench, but upon hearing the sound, she straightened her back and silently reminded herself: must be dignified, must be dignified

The masculine aura enveloped her, and Lin Mei felt a tickle in her nose, her spine no longer able to remain rigid. She could only take a step back, leaning her back against the pillar of the pavilion, and with her eyes lowered, she said: "In my view, men are all quite similar; regardless of whom one marries, there is always a risk of unhappiness."

What is even more alarming is that since her menstruation began last year, she has discovered that her nose is extremely sensitive; inadvertently catching the scent of a young man causes her entire body to weaken, making it nearly impossible for her to stand.

Su Jiasheng, esteemed as a Hanlin scholar, values reputation above all else, and naturally would not engage in an act such as breaking off an engagement. Upon seeing the resemblance between Lin Mei and Gu Ke'er, Su Madam was reminded of her past relationship with Gu Ke'er and promptly arranged for Lin Mei to reside in the eastern courtyard of the Su family's nearby garden, in order to facilitate the selection of a date for the wedding

Nurse Gu heard that Master Su had passed away, and now the Su residence is managed by Master Su's son, Su Jiasheng. Su Jiasheng holds a position in the Hanlin Academy and is known for his integrity and strong sense of reputation, which brings her some relief. Since the Su family values their reputation, they would not deny this marriage arrangement.

In their joy, the master and servant inquired about Su Zhongxing's character and appearance. Everyone said that he was not very old, behaved with propriety, and was just like his father, a person of integrity

Su Zhongxing waited for a while and saw Lin Mei puffing out her chest and stretching her neck, posing and preening, yet she did not respond to his words. He could not help but frown, and with a cold tone, he said word by word: "What must you do to agree to annul the engagement?"

It is unclear whether it was due to Lin Li's frequent visits to the flower houses and wine alleys, or for other reasons, but apart from Gu Ke'er giving birth to Lin Mei, there were no other offspring. Lin Li, whose body had been drained by indulgence in wine and pleasure, fell ill after a few years. Before his death, he instructed the wet nurse Gu to accompany Lin Mei to the capital to find the Su family and finalize the marriage contract.

Are you Lin Mei

Lin Mei did not dare to raise her head to look at Su Zhongxing, and could only desperately encourage herself: Be dignified, be dignified! Such charm is unacceptable! While encouraging herself, she reached back to grasp the pillar, trying to steady her weakening body and move over to the other side.

At this moment, Lin Meihong, with her cherry-like lips forming an O shape, let out a breath and said: "Are you Su Zhongxing?"

Madam Su has a gentle temperament, yet in her youth, she was often bullied by her sister-in-law Su Jiahui, who constantly made her feel embarrassed. Later, when Su Jiahui passed away, the old lady of the Su family took in Su Jiahui's daughter, Luo Mingxiu, to live in their residence. Naturally, Madam Su found it difficult to be affectionate towards Luo Mingxiu.

At this point, Lin Mei was completely at ease, and after choosing a day to tidy up, she sought out the Su family with Nurse Gu.

Luo Mingxiu's biological mother passed away early, and her father held an official position outside. Although she lived in the Su residence and was cherished by the old lady of the Su family, she was treated like a legitimate young lady of the Su family, and no one dared to look down on her. Moreover, she grew up alongside Su Zhongxing, and they were childhood sweethearts, with everyone having long recognized them as a couple. Now, with the sudden arrival of Lin Mei, how could she possibly accept this?

Nurse Gu, at the age of forty-eight, was round and plump, always greeting others with a smile. In her earlier years at the Gu residence, she was quite capable, and later accompanied Gu Ke'er to the Lin family, assisting in managing household affairs, which gave her some insight. She helped Lin Mei handle the aftermath of Lin Li's passing, dressed Lin Mei in male attire, and darkened her face, before hiring a carriage to head to the capital together. Upon arriving in the capital, she did not rush to seek out the Su family, but instead settled in an inn to inquire about the Su family's affairs.

Such a shameful matter must not be known to others. Lin Mei was deeply troubled by this issue. Now that Su Zhongxing was only a few steps away from her, she feared that her body would weaken again, so she made a concerted effort to straighten herself up, trying to present a dignified appearance in response to the conversation

Su Zhongxing and Luo Mingxiu's romantic involvement is something that Madam Su is naturally aware of, but she does not approve of it; she is merely unable to oppose it due to the presence of Old Madam Su