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"Hm? So you're going to marry another man while harboring feelings for yours truly?"

What a twist. Such wild ups and downs—this plot was pure melodrama. Zhu Bafu shrugged. "That's the plan. Love at first sight is far too unreliable. I came to say goodbye to my feelings before going home to get married." Her lie was neat and consistent from start to finish. She was just about to turn and leave without a backward glance when he stepped in front of her. His dark, brilliant eyes held hers without blinking.

"So you're rejecting me?"

Peacock-like men apparently couldn't bear rejection. His face turned sullen and gloomy, a far cry from his smug, swaggering manner moments ago.

"So you're refusing to marry me because of another man?"

Huh? Why did it sound so strange when he put it that way? As if she were some heartless snob who'd loved him for years, then betrayed him to marry someone richer?

"...Who?"

"Huh?"

"Tell me. What kind of man are you marrying?"

"..." This was bad. Where was she supposed to find a man to marry?

"If you can't tell me, I won't let you leave. I'll carry you straight back to my mansion."

Was his mansion home to a family of highway bandits?!

"The man I'm marrying is Zhu—Young Master Bafu of the Zhu Household! Young Master Zhu Bafu of Wuya Bookstore!!"

"What?! You're marrying that little bastard?"

"Who are you calling a little bastard?" You're the bastard! Your whole family's a pack of bastards!

"He's not just a bastard, he's a sissy. He spends all day neglecting honest work, and he even sent a love letter to a man!"

"You were the one who told me to send that letter..."

"Hm?"

"Even... even if he doesn't like women and only likes men, I still want to be with him!"

Of course she didn't like women. Her tastes were perfectly normal!

"I don't like women who speak too recklessly." He pressed an index finger to her lips, stopping her next fierce declaration. "If you're my woman, I won't allow anyone to leave marks on your face."

She started and touched her cheek, which was gradually losing its heat. She hadn't expected him to notice the handprint so carefully. He unclipped a tiny tobacco pouch from his belt and placed it in her hand, his lips curving. "Take it. A token that you're my woman. If you're unhappy with him, come find me anytime."

He paused, then gave her another faint, suggestive smile. "Before the wedding or after—it doesn't matter. I'd prefer after."

She looked down at the little pouch. An embroidered silver dragon curled around a sun on the deep-purple fabric, with a row of tiny silver characters beside its tail. "What's this?" she asked, pointing to the writing.

"The number of women yours truly has had."

The number of women he'd slept with? He handed these out to everyone and numbered them in order? What kind of sordid collecting habit was that? So 329 poor souls had come before her, and she'd happened along just in time to round out the number?

"If you come looking for me someday and I don't remember you, show me that pouch. I never forget a number."

Look for him someday? What for? To rally the 329 women before her into a mighty army, each armed with an embroidered shoe to smack his pretty face? If that was the plan, she'd gladly join in.

A whole day gone, and nothing accomplished.

Young Mistress Li had kicked her and slapped her, and she'd even handed over the silver. She had lost her money and her dignity, all for a tobacco pouch marked number 330.

No wonder Zhu Xiaojiu had been looking at her like she was utterly useless from the moment she walked in.

"You lost the silver?"

She nodded miserably, her lips puckered into a high pout.

"How are we going to send silver to Old Man from now on?"

She shook her head blankly, her mouth drooping low.

"In that case, we'll have to sell you."

"Sell... sell me!!?? Are you selling yourself, or... me?"

"You, of course. I'm a minor and haven't finished growing. How could anyone sell me?"

"...Maybe someone has a taste for your sort and likes little children. Tender young meat like yours would fetch a much higher market price than me!"

"Who messed this up in the first place? What right do you have to tell me to sell myself?" Zhu Xiaojiu slapped the table in anger, asserting his authority as head of the household. Zhu Bafu promptly shrank toward the corner of the table and pressed her index fingers together. It proved one thing: without control of the family finances, age, gender, and height didn't mean a damn thing.

"Then... who are you selling me to? What's my market price? I'm skilled with both pen and sword, so I ought to be worth plenty, right?"

"Plenty indeed. You can be a man or a woman, male or female. Where else would we find something with two uses in one?" Zhu Xiaojiu sat down calmly, his little feet swinging beneath the table. "How about selling you to the Holy Emperor as a servant?"

Smack! A thin, crumpled notice landed on the table—

Recruitment Notice for Dongxu Mansion, the Academy Directly Under the Ministry of Personnel, Year 6 of Tianjuan. By mandate of Heaven, to meet the need for new personnel in court institutions and agencies directly under the Ministry of Personnel, and in accordance with the relevant provisions of this dynasty's laws and personnel regulations, the Ministry of Personnel will organize recruitment for Dongxu Mansion and its affiliated departments in Year 6 of Tianjuan, to prepare candidates to replace officials and personnel of our dynasty. The relevant particulars, application requirements, and positions open for application are announced below:...

"Dongxu Mansion is recruiting?" Zhu Bafu held up the large-print notice and looked at Zhu Xiaojiu, who kept nodding. "You want me to apply?"

"Exactly."

"But I'm a woman!"

"I'd almost forgotten."

"..."