I'll Play the Hero and Rescue the Beauty

Zhao Wanting said calmly:

"I just think you're pretty good. If you don't want to be a concubine, I won't force you."

However, it seems you have quite a temper.

Zhou Wanwan rolled her eyes and said:

"My temper is naturally no match for yours. You lost all your betrothal gifts and you weren't even angry."

Who's as magnanimous as you? You're no different from Wang Baochuan.

Zhao Wanting frowned and asked, "Who is Wang Baochuan?"

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said, "Wang Baochuan! She was one of your seniors."

A little girl nearby laughed and blurted out, "I know, I know, it's the one who likes to dig for wild vegetables!"

Zhou Wanwan looked at her and said, "I didn't expect you to know too!"

The little girl nodded and said:

"Recently, I've been going to listen to storytellers in the city a lot, and that's what they say."

Wang Baochuan, the daughter of a high-ranking official, married Xue Pinggui, a poor man.

Her husband went to war and left, leaving her alone in a cold cave for eighteen years, surviving by digging for wild vegetables every day.

When he returned, Xue Pinggui had become the King of Xiliang and had married another woman.

Although Wang Baochuan was eventually made empress, she only enjoyed her glory for eighteen days before dying of illness.

The little girl looked at Zhao Wanting and said, "Sister, are you Wang Baochuan?"

Zhao Wanting was so angry her chest ached. She looked at Zhou Wanwan and said:

"You don't need to laugh at me. I've known Hongyuan since I was a child, and I know he has lofty ambitions."

You are nothing but a short-sighted and petty person; you are not worthy to enter the Cui Family's gate.

Zhou Wanwan quickly nodded and said, "Miss Zhao is indeed extraordinary. I hope you can say this to me with a smile in the future."

Zhao Wanting replied loudly:

"Of course I can say this to you with a smile; Cui Hongyuan in love with me."

He's just being foolish for a moment. You'll definitely regret it once he passes the imperial examinations."

Zhou Wanwan didn't understand. Was Zhao Wanting unable to understand human speech?

This matter has caused quite a stir. Madam Cui the Younger rushed home and looked at Cui Hongyuan:

Did you go to the gambling den last night?

You even gambled away all those betrothal gifts, how am I supposed to explain this?"

Cui Hongyuan cried and sobbed:

"I didn't expect Zhou Wanwan to be so amazing. There were so many people at the gambling table last night."

If I don't pay, people will laugh at me.

Madam Cui the Younger was so angry that she trembled all over.

"What am I supposed to do now? I spent so much effort to raise all those dowry gifts."

Your Yue Family said that whatever the betrothal gifts you bring, they will give you double the dowry.

You have no betrothal gifts whatsoever, what are you going to do?

Cui Hongyuan low voice, "It's alright, I'll go and beg Wanting. Wanting loves me the most, she'll definitely understand."

Cui Hongyuan found Zhao Wanting and said pitifully, "Wanting, I'm so sorry, I'm afraid I can't marry you in this lifetime."

Zhao Wanting's eyes reddened. "Cui Hongyuan, why did you do this? What am I supposed to do?"

Cui Hongyuan pulled her into his arms and said:

"Wanting, I had no choice. So many people were watching last night."

If I don't pay up, I'll be laughed at to death.

It's all Zhou Wanwan's fault. If only she had just obediently become my concubine. Actually, I don't like her at all; she's just too rich.

You have no idea how many stacks of banknotes she pulled out at the gambling table yesterday.

Zhao Wanting looked up at him and said, "But she absolutely doesn't want to become a concubine in the Cui Family."

Cui Hongyuan said coldly, "You have no choice but to agree, Wanting. As long as you agree to take her as a concubine, I will find a way."

Zhao Wanting looked at him and said:

"Hongyuan, although I don't want her to be your concubine, she is indeed capable."

Her older brothers were all just scholars, and her father was nothing more than a poor, pedantic scholar.

If she were to enter our household and be at our mercy, I think it would be quite nice to have her as a concubine.

"If she could hand over those betrothal gifts, that would be even better; then you'd have the betrothal gifts to marry me."

Cui Hongyuan nodded and said, "Wanting, wait for me, I will definitely marry you."

When he got home, Lord Cui was furious:

"Cui Hongyuan, you beast! You're really going astray, going to a gambling den like that."

"Any family that gets involved in gambling will be ruined and destroyed. All your learning will be wasted."

Cui Hongyuan said pitifully, "Dad, I just wanted our family to be richer, what did I do wrong?"

Lord Cui angrily said:

"Now things are much better. We were originally hoping that the Zhao Family's dowry would fill the hole in our family's finances."

"You've lost all the betrothal gifts! How am I supposed to explain this to the Zhao Family?"

Cui Hongyuan coughed and said:

"Father, I have an idea. I'll take Zhou Wanwan as my concubine first."

That way, they can come up with the betrothal gifts; Zhou Wanwan is really rich.

Last night she not only won my betrothal gifts, but she also won a lot of money.

Lord Cui the Younger scoffed coldly, "Even if someone is made a concubine, does that mean they have to agree?"

Cui Hongyuan said calmly:

"Women are just like that! I've already talked to my mother about it."

I'll throw a banquet tomorrow, find a reason to lure her here, and then someone will push her into the water, where I'll play the hero and save her.

"If I ruin her reputation, she'll have no choice but to marry me."

Lord Cui the Younger looked at him and said, "Your wedding is just around the corner, you'd better hurry up and get this done!"

The next day, Madam Cui the Younger held a special engagement banquet at home.

Firstly, it was to celebrate the upcoming happy event in the family, and secondly, it was to invite all the young women of similar age from the city over to create a lively atmosphere.

The banquet was bustling with people. Tables and chairs were set up in the garden, and snacks and tea were readily available. Girls were chatting and laughing everywhere.

Zhou Wanwan was also helpless. She didn't want to come and join in the fun at all, but how could Nie Rou and Cui Yingying let her off the hook?

I went to her house early in the morning and coaxed her over.

Looking at the snacks and tea at the Cui Residence, Zhou Wanwan couldn't help but complain, "It seems the Cui Residence really is broke. This tea is stale, and these snacks are absolutely awful. I knew it wouldn't be interesting."

Nie Rou smiled and said, "Wanwan, let's go play on the boat together! There's lots of delicious food on the boat."

Zhou Wanwan shook her head and said, "What's the point of being on a boat? Besides, it's too hot outside, I don't want to move."

Cui Yingying smiled and said, "There are ice bowls on the boat, as well as lots of fruit and snacks. Let's go play together! Hurry up!"

Zhou Wanwan reluctantly followed behind them.

Lu Lan and Wen Zhiyu are here today, and I didn't expect Zhao Wanting and Xie Yan to come too.

Xie Yan, the girl who dressed as a boy last night, raised an eyebrow at Zhou Wanwan and said, "Why do I see you everywhere? It's so unlucky."

Zhao Wanting said with a smile:

"I didn't expect you two to know each other! Let me introduce you. This is Xie Yan, the eldest daughter of the Xie Family in the capital."

This is Zhou Wanwan, she came from the mountains.