The

matchmakers were rowdy until nightfall before leaving with an excited vigour,

in addition Xia Ling Mei had agreed to persist tomorrow.

w.a.n.g

residence side courtyard was brightly lit, a hubbub of voices, the main

courtyard however was a serene darkness, an indescribable stillness, the dinner

the maids have delivered remained on the table, without being touched, on a

normal day people would have still come to enquire about his well-being,

tonight even mosquitos could not be seen.

Juan Shu

stepped into the main courtyard, he couldn’t help but utter: “There’s only the

laughter of the young, where do you hear the crying of the old.”

w.a.n.g Yun

Feng stood rigidly inside the house, he did not turn his head: “Is there

someone suitable for her?”

“Oh dear,

master relax, the requirements the mistress is looking for in a husband cannot

be achieved by ordinary people. In my opinion, it would take half a year to

pick one.”

w.a.n.g Yun

Feng coldly snorted, putting the book in his hand without thought into the

bookcase: “How many officials are there in such a small place like Chenzhou who

are above fifth rank, the highest ranked fourth rank Lord Hua already has a

proper wife, he also has two sons from his first wife, that temper of Ling Mei

absolutely will not consider a man with a wife.”

Juan Shu

happily laughed: “The mistress said if he’s not an official she will accept

him, as well as a hero of the Jianghu.”

w.a.n.g Yun

Feng had just picked up a book before smacking it down: “Those in the Jianghu 

are impulsive and bossy, unable to distinguish right and wrong, not clear of

black and white, even if he fulfils her requirements for a husband, he might

not be able to protect her properly. Don’t think people of the Jianghu only has

one proper wife, a majority of men in the Jianghu would keep one or two

concubines, if Xia Ling Mei finds out, she would tear 

apart their skin.”

Juan Shu

shuddered: “That, what if the lady returned to Beiding city, to find a husband

amongst the influential families of the Imperial City?”

w.a.n.g Yun

Feng was drinking tea, the tea had been boiled in the afternoon, the maids only

remembered to go where the crowds were, simply no one came to change it, his

heart was anxious, pouring cups after cups of tea from the cold teapot. Cold

and bitter tea went down his throat, making him shudder a few times. Thinking

about it for quite a while, before slowly saying: “If she really returns to

Beiding City, I’m actually not afraid.”

Everyone

knew Xia Ling Mei is w.a.n.g Yun Feng’s first wife. Apart from those who held

power in the Xia family, somewhat very few people knew the w.a.n.g residence’s

mistress had long ago deserted the place. That year, after Xia Ling Mei had

forced him to sign his name on the divorce doc.u.ments she had left by herself,

he did not make it known to the public he had already divorced his wife, he

only said to the people of w.a.n.g and Xia she was seriously ill, unable to meet visitors

deep inside the residence. Therefore, at the end of every year Xia Ling Mei

returned to the Xia residence, outsiders would only think she was feeling a bit

better, using the new year to return home to visit the family. The Xia family

wouldn’t tell others their daughter had been divorced, w.a.n.g Yun Feng restrained

his own family, no one could ask to see the mistress to disturb her

recuperation.

Over these years’

people have obscurely suggested to present him with maids and concubines, they

were all scared away by him well-known as the grim imperial censor. Any man,

after marrying for ten years without a son from his first wife would be

sufficient to make people raise their eyebrows, only w.a.n.g Yun Feng was

unconcerned, apparently he wasn’t to set on having son to succeed his t.i.tle.

Those intelligent, did not dare to rashly offend the 

Xia family, more than that

to dare provoke the shrewish wife of Beiding City; those not intelligent, who

directly presented concubines and maids would be rejected by w.a.n.g Yun Feng,

making plans to secretly sneak into the w.a.n.g residence, the next day if that

girl wasn’t resold she was matched with another man. There were also ambitious

women, swearing they would bite this imperial officer’s hard bones, frail and

charming, or fresh and pure, or gentle and softly spoken, or straightforward

and optimistic,

< p="">

Stratagems to attract a husband> was

played every day, the different situations were merely countered by w.a.n.g Yun

Feng in various ways, when he really couldn’t resist, Juan Shu would almost

lose his chast.i.ty on his behalf, so scared he would shut himself in the small

courtyard repeating to himself `women are tigers` for several days, before he

got better.

Juan Shu

chast.i.ty was under threat, Bai Yan showed extreme anger. Bai Yan who had learned

the master’s cold mood completely, took it upon himself in the days after, in

the battle to defend the chast.i.ty of the men in the w.a.n.g residence, a firm

protector, with a cold sword pus.h.i.+ng all the women to dissolve in tears.

Xia Ling

Mei did not know about this at all. The Xia family wouldn’t tell her such

things to irritate her broken heart, the secret guards from the w.a.n.g family who

protected her knew the doctrine of silence is golden, as for w.a.n.g Yun Feng,

it’s not that he didn’t want to tell her, rather he didn’t dare to tell her (┬＿┬).

Juan Shu

moaned and groaned in pain on behalf of his master: “Don’t tell me you’ll let

the mistress continue making a scene like this? Maybe one day she’ll realise,

and she won’t mention those requirements, if she directly arranged an arena for

a martial arts compet.i.tion 

to invite a groom…”

w.a.n.g Yun

Feng paused: “No one without some genuine skill can beat her.”

“Maybe, the

mistress doesn’t want a man with greater martial arts than her.”

“Then what

is the point of her having a martial arts compet.i.tion to invite a groom?”

“To compete

based on who can take the most beating.” w.a.n.g Yun Feng was surprised for a

moment, Juan Shu continued: “a man who can still survive after a severe beating,

good at enduring, and will live long. The important is, he would see, hear and

obey the mistress docile and obedient, thus if they travel and there is murder

and arson or disaster she could lend an essential Twenty-four Filial Exemplars of a husband!”

With a `ka`,

the tea cup, cracked

Juan Shu

had originally come to attempt to convince w.a.n.g Yun Feng to have a lenient

mind, he didn’t expect in the end his master would on the contrary become even more

anxious, not only did he shatter the tea cup, he also accidentally torn

< p="">

Secrets of the Heart>,

such books, from time

to time anger rolled on in waves from his expression, from time to time his

heart palpitated with worried, occasionally helplessly confused, a thousand

miles difference between his icy expression in court.

By the

second day, when the matchmakers once again beaming with happiness offering

numerous portrait scrolls came to the door, w.a.n.g Yun Feng only had one

expression ---- cold as ice.

On the

third day, the crow, Juan Shu kept on reporting on the battlefield situation,

was. .h.i.t by w.a.n.g Yun Feng with a brush forcing him out.

On the

fourth day, Bai Yan sat by the window in w.a.n.g Yun Feng’s study, cracking melon

seeds with his teeth as he gave a live relay: “The mistress’ fame is

unrivalled, now even officials from other areas have specially dispatched

people to deliver portraits, for mistress to inspect. `Clicking his tongue`,

fifth rank official isn’t a dream, a third rank official sons are competing

strongly.” `Bang`, the ink stone broke through the window and went outside.

On the

fifth day, Bai Zi with a face filled with worry sat on the rooftop grumbling to

Hei Zi: 

“The newly-appointed martial arts leader is too repulsive, he actually

dared to ask the mistress to host a martial arts contest to invite grooms,

whoever beats the mistress will marry her.”

Hei Zi:

“What has a martial arts compet.i.tion to invite grooms got anything to do with

you?”

“I need to

take the initiative for my master.”

“You are no

match for him.”

“I know. I’m

just angry that you clearly saw the other person beat me, yet you looked on without

lifting a finger.”

“You need to

take the initiative for your master, I don’t need to support you on behalf of

my mistress. Anyway, that martial arts leader is distinguished and elegant, an

air of righteousness, and has professional success, he would be so good with my

mistress.”

“You don’t

understand anything, if the lady marries the martial arts leader I will be

unable to be with you.”

Hei Zi with

great alarm said: “Who said I wanted to be with you?”

Bai Zi

angrily said: “You want to abandon your wife?”

Hei Zi fell

back: “You are not my wife.”

Bai Zi pursued:

“You can’t love them and leave them!”

On the

sixth day, w.a.n.g Yun Feng looking thin floated out of the study, flinging his

completely empty sleeves, with a solemn expression he walked to the hall, just

after Xia Ling Mei had sat down, he sat his bottom down firmly on the other

seat next to her.

Knowing to

look at meanings in one’s eyes the maids had already offered up light

refreshments and tea, lighting a calming incense, holding up a fan, moving in

an orderly fas.h.i.+on they organised the matchmakers coming in one after another

to their seats.

Matchmakers

were smooth and slick in establis.h.i.+ng social relations, matchmakers were

incomparably braver than deities, matchmakers spoke sweet words but had a sword

in their bellies, matchmakers were…

“Lady Xia,

this man is certainly a perfect match for you. Jia family is also one of the

most influential families in Beiding, he is the second child of the, he also

has an older brother closely related by blood, right now he’s a fourth rank

high official. Remarkable literary talent, quick and clever talking, know the

history throughout the ages well, knows funny anecdotes, proficient in all four

arts…”

“The second

son of the Jia family, this officer has happened to have the chance to meet him

once before.”

The smile

on the matchmaker’s face somewhat increased, pandering to w.a.n.g Yun Feng: 

“To be

able to obtain the Imperial Censor’s recognition, that Lord Jia must be an

amazing 

person, if him and the lady married…”

“It must

not be allowed.” w.a.n.g Yun Feng interrupted, holding his tea cup, brus.h.i.+ng aside

the tea leaves and taking a sip to moisten his throat: “The second son of the

Jia family has been known as a child prodigy since he was young, he was able to

study history at the age of three, he could recite poetry at the age of four,

at five he entered the Bailu academy of cla.s.sical learning to become Teacher

Zhan’s favourite pupil.”

The

matchmaker’s eyes shone, chest even more puffed out, with an ever more arrogant

expression.

Xia Ling

Mei made the maids hold up the portrait, looking at it carefully, with a little 

suspicion: “I think I’ve seen this second son of the Jia family before.”

“He studied

together with your fifth uncle’s daughter, he’s that well-known a figure, of

course you’ve seen him before.” w.a.n.g Yun Feng saw Xia Ling Mei nod, grimly

smiling as he continued: “While he was at Bailu academy, he had a childhood

sweetheart, the feelings between the two people were extremely good, originally

he was prepared to arrange a marriage after that girl reached marriageable age,

who knew there would be an unexpected event, the night before the girl reached

marriageable age she was s.n.a.t.c.hed away, she was rescued but her reputation was

ruined. That Jia family immediately withdrew the marriage, the second son sent

a poem to her that night, that girl took her own life.”

Xia Ling

Mei frowned: “He sent her a poem?”

“Yes.”

“The she

committed suicide?”

“Yes.”

Xia Ling

Mei smiled yet it was not a smile watching w.a.n.g Yun Feng: “Do you know the

details of that poem?”

w.a.n.g Yun

Feng drank his tea: “That sort of thing that can ruin someone’s reputation, would

not be the way of a n.o.bleman, I know that verse but I cannot say it, also I

will not say it.”

Xia Ling

Mei snorted, tearing that portrait of Lord Jia into two: “Since ancient times,

childhood sweethearts are hard to reach an old age. Tell me, isn’t that true?”

w.a.n.g Yun

Feng pursed his lips, saying to the matchmakers: “Is the portrait of the

martial arts leader here?”

Juan Shu

immediately like a dog offered up the portrait.

Different

from the culture and refinement of the men of official influential families,

martial artists had their own heroic manner, with a manly demeanour, again

hearing the matchmakers harping on about his chivalry, using one phrase to

summarise he had heroic bones and soft intestines.

“The

martial arts leader has said, he is a vulgar man, he cannot be with genteel

people, compared to a scholar who cannot truss a chicken. If the lady is

interested, I can find a day for the two of you to test your skills…”

“Enough.”

w.a.n.g Yun Feng again interrupted, “I only want to ask you, how did he get his

position of martial arts leader?”

“Naturally

the righteous sect of martial artists selected him together.”

“From what

I know, if there are righteous people in martial arts, there are criminals.

So-called nonconformity gets punished, this martial arts leader is a target. If

there’s something wrong with the sect they’ll make the leader stand out, the

criminals will also pick a fight with him if there’s something wrong. How many

families in the righteous sect protect him, how many criminals would be itching

to kill him and be very happy afterwards. This sort of person, will only ever

be able to hole up in the righteous sects’ domain, but do not dare to get

closer to the evil sect. Looking at it positively he has to protect the peace

of the Jianghu, but looking at it negatively he’s just a coward afraid of

getting involved. Ling Mei,” he turned to her, “Xia family are people of the

imperial court, everything is done with the importance of the country in mind,

if you really married a martial arts leader, if there’s conflict between the

martial artists and authorities, would you be on the side of the Jianghu

martial artists or the common people of the court?”

Xia Ling

Mei said indifferently: “The world is large, it does not all belong to the

emperor.”

w.a.n.g Yun

Feng abruptly sneered: “Then if the Jianghu killed people, involving the

innocent common people, would you uphold justice for the common people asking

those in the 

Jianghu to pay with their lives for the murders, or follow the

unwritten rules of the Jianghu, if they’re of the righteous sect, a murder

kills because of justice, ants lives are not worth mentioning, everyone should

be grateful for them for getting rid of evil for the people?”

The

matchmakers all took in a deep cold breath, Xia Ling Mei gritted her teeth: “Such

a fine sharp mouth, worthy to be called the clever and eloquent speaker Senior

imperial censor official, you don’t need a sword to kill someone.”

w.a.n.g Yun

Feng swept his cuffs: “You overpraise me, I’m only worried you’ll marry the

wrong person, it’ll be a lifelong mistake.”

The two

people looked at each other, regarding one another with wide eyes, watching

intently, viewing each other as enemies, blaze raging in their eyes, wis.h.i.+ng to

hack the other person into pieces.

Numerous matchmakers

were stunned by the indescribable measure for measure between the two people,

not long after, someone suddenly realised: “Oh, that’s right, this Lord w.a.n.g is

a third rank imperial censor!”

“Ah, ah,

the w.a.n.g family is also one of the ten influential families in Beiding.”

“Listening

to do, Lord w.a.n.g and Lady Xia are childhood friends?”

“Aiyo,”

someone waved their hands, “Lady Xia don’t squander the time of us group of old

women. In my opinion, don’t be picky, just immediately choose this Lord w.a.n.g.”

Someone

even came to realise: “Lady Xia aren’t those requirements modelled on Lord

w.a.n.g…”

Someone

regretted their past deeds: “I’ve said before this matchmaking was strange, as

it turns out the two of them has already taking to each other’s liking, but still

need to squander their time for no purpose like this, you tired out my old

bones.”

A lively

discussion with everybody talking at once started, some beat their own chest

and stamp their feet, some were grudgingly cursing, even more some were

grumbling in jealousy, after a burst of noise they were coaxed out by Xiu Yu

and Ying s.h.i.+, before leaving they even closed the door firmly.

Xia Ling

Mei was dizzy with anger: “w.a.n.g Yun Feng, are you looking for death!”

w.a.n.g Yun

Feng laughed, he was so proud of himself for the many baseless lies: “The

flowers on the peony trees have fallen, even if I become a ghost…”

Before he

could finish speaking, the foolish Xiao Bai appeared at the window hanging

upside down, shouting: “Master, the son of Liu family, Liu Ling Mo is asking to

see you.”

w.a.n.g Yun

Feng held his breath: “I won’t see him.”

“Master, Zhao

Princess Xia Zhi has also come to see you.”

Zhao

Princess Xia Zhi, was the first daughter of the Xia family’s third concubine,

Xia Ling Wo, also known as w.a.n.g Yun Feng’s true childhood sweetheart, is Xia

Ling Mei’s lifelong rival in love.