Wang Jianyi was aware of what his mother had planned for him.

Marrying Tang Meixiang and making her his |×|Imperial Noble Consort. But now that his engagement with Fang Chunhua was annulled, he assumed that his mother already planned to make Tang Meixiang as his Empress.

Other than that, the very reason why he hated Fang Chunhua was because of the Empress manipulation.

He realized it. He hated Fang Chunhua not because she looked at him bashfully and assumed that she wanted to climb his bed. He realized how foolish he was.

He hated her because the Empress kept telling him lies about Fang Chunhua.

How Fang Chunhua wanted the throne and ruin his family. How Fang Chunhua was a two-faced woman who acted shy when he's around and then would show her disgusting colors when he's not around.

Ever since he turned 9 years old, her mother started feeding him information about Fang Chunhua's dark nature, along with Fang Chunhua's deceased mother. Who he believed was a seductress because the General and the Emperor both love her.

And ever since then, he treated Fang Chunhua coldly. It got worse when he met Qiao Langfeng.

Thinking that he loves Qiao Langfeng and hated Fang Chunhua to the core.

It dawned to him when he was traveling back to the Yang Empire. How his own mother brainwashed him.

After realizing that he had fallen to his mother's trick, he wanted to make up to Fang Chunhua. Only to come back in the Yang Empire having their engagement dissolve and her... getting betrothed to another.

Wang Jianyi grunted in frustration. He doesn't know what to do, he can only think, 'Ah... I was too late...'

__________

"Kang'gege! Come! Look at this masterpiece!!" Blare squealed and pulled Zhao Kang, locking his arm onto hers.

"Young Mi-- argh!" Zhao Kang held his stomach where Blare smacked her hand on.

Blare smiled innocently at the storekeeper.

"How much is this |×|ayi?" Blare asked while pointing at the |×|circular fan.

"Only 2 silver taels young miss" the storekeeper smiled as she presented the circular fan to Blare.

It was truly a masterpiece, a detailed |×|red azalea flowers were sewn in the circular fan. She also noticed that it wasn't a paper fan, but was made in white silk and then the red azaleas were sewn on it.

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"You made this?" Blare asked, her eyes touched and scanned the circular fan.

"My esteemed husband did, young miss" The storekeeper replied.

"My! You're so lucky ayi! An artisan is truly a blessing to women!" Blare said while nodding. The old woman blushed at her remark. While Zhao Kang heart stirred.

"Young miss is also lucky. Your husband even accompany you to shop!" the storekeeper returned the compliment.

Blare blushed at this, so did Zhao Kang.

Sensing that Zhao Kang was about to refute, Blare tightened her hold in the man's arm.

"T-Thank you ayi... Aiyah! Here is the payment! The rest are tips for the great service." Blare said as she handed 1 gold tael to the old woman.

Before the old woman could refuse, Blare already walked away with Zhao Kang.

Zhao Kang and Blare arrived at a restaurant and picked a reserved private room to eat. In the private room was Li Rouhan and Guang Fan Ai, along with their fake partners.

Li Rouhan was seated beside Guang Fan Ai. While the two fake partners, Ou Liwei and Ji Dongxin sat on the opposite side of the two women.

Naturally, Zhao Kang sat in the two men's side, while Blare sat opposite to him.

Over the last 4 months of traveling, Blare regretted it. She did not take into account that traveling in this era will bring her bad experiences. Especially, when planes, cars and technology are non-existent. 

Also, it took 4 months of traveling! She felt so pitiful.

Blare slept on the tent most of the time, always lying on the hard mattress and not so soft pillow. Couldn't sleep while hearing the slightest rustling sound and whatnot at night. Only taking a bath once in 3 days or even a week!

But the travel was worth it because she had known Zhao Kang demeanor, temperament, and even his likes and dislikes.

All those times Blare shamelessly pursued the man for his preferences like she was courting him. This, of course, did not escape her friends teasing gazes. But Blare did not utter a word to them.

Months of traveling goes by as she continually asked Zhao Kang, and the man would answer her. At first, he was reluctant, but seeing her getting so interested made him answered in defeat.

Eventually, Zhao Kang got used to her young miss's 'friendly' approach. Blare, on the other hand, got used to the man's presence and simple answers to her question.

She also felt that the body was already familiar and comfortable with him. But it held no romantic affection, so she can only frown in her unsuccessful matchmaking.

At the present, for the first time, Blare felt the body's heart flutter with shyness and hidden joy when she heard the old woman's praise awhile ago. It was the same feeling she had when she had a crush back in 6th grade.

Blare realized that Fang Chunhua was already in the first stage, which is 'liking the man'... But she needed more!

And she would not be so stupid as to ignore him at this moment, just like what she did in the past.

After feeling her heartbeat, Blare was starting to not know how to act around Zhao Kang.

Six figures of men and women dine in the private room of the restaurant. The women were chatting happily while the men eat silently.

"Wei'gege... Are the food not to your liking?" Li Rouhan asked, the man flinched and shook his head.

"Young miss--" before Ou Liwei could respond, Li Rouhan cut him off.

"Hmp! I told you to call me Han'er!"

Blare and Guang Fan Ai giggled.

Both Ji Dongxin and Ou Liwei came from humble birth too. The only difference to Blare is that the two men grew up together with the two women.

While Blare only met Zhao Kang months ago.

Dinner ended with the women all smiles while the men sighed.

They were, after all, servants of these rich young ladies. Acting as their spouse is like asking for death to their families.

As much as they wanted to refute, they were only met by their angry young misses rant about the matter of protecting their future marriage.

Besides, when a month had passed after they left the Yang Empire, the young ladies then told them that they have to act as their spouses. If they have known what the women were planning, they would run as soon as possible.

The six people stayed in their inn separately. While heading to their individual rooms, Blare sneaked a peek at Zhao Kang.

Feeling a gaze looking at him, Zhao Kang turned to look towards Blare. Only to see the woman looking away with red-tinted cheeks.