I'll Leave It All to You, Uncle

The seventeenth day of the seventh month was an auspicious day, fit for weddings.

Bai Mo lay motionless on the bed, sprawled without restraint, though her expression was stern and cold.

Today was supposed to be the day she went to the Grand Preceptor's Residence to propose marriage. Not one of the things she had prepared with such joy would be needed now...

Bai Mo rolled over in frustration.

For the first time, she felt that many things were predestined by unseen forces, not subject to human will in the slightest.

In her previous life, struggling to survive in the apocalypse, how could she have dared believe in fate? She could trust only in her own strength, and survive only by relying on herself. She had no time to sigh over autumn winds and mourn the moon.

Since coming to this other world, perhaps because life had been too peaceful, she had unknowingly let herself become deeply entangled in it.

Bai Mo felt she needed to keep herself busy.

The taste of love really wasn't all that great...

Ha! Bai Mo thought herself a little ridiculous. A nearly thirty-year-old soul lived in this seventeen-year-old body, and she had let a little boy make such a mess of her? There was no need for that!

Bai Mo decided to go study at the academy as soon as possible. She knew far too little about this world and needed to learn. Life still had to be lived properly.

The imperial examinations were a little over twenty days away. Presumably, she wouldn't be able to take part this year, and she didn't have enough ink in her belly anyway, but it would be good to watch the scholars prepare.

"Lixia, come in and help me dress."

Xiaohan pushed the door open and came in. "Good day, Eldest Miss. Sister Lixia is in the little kitchen. I'll help you wash and dress."

Bai Mo nodded.

"Eldest Miss, which outfit would you like to wear today?"

Bai Mo pointed to the pale blue-green trousers and tunic on the right. "I'm going to the academy to pay my respects to my teacher. Something plain and elegant. Just tie my hair up simply; I don't need any other adornments."

"Yes."

Xiaohan carefully helped Bai Mo dress and tied up her hair.

Once everything was in order, Xiaohan's eyes filled with delight again.

The woman before her had a radiant, lovely face untouched by powder or rouge. Beneath her curved brows were a pair of clear, dark peach-blossom eyes. Her brows were drawn together slightly, and her lips were pressed tight, bringing out the shallow dimples in her cheeks and making her red lips and pearly teeth stand out all the more.

Our eldest miss is so beautiful.

"Have the carriage prepared. I'm going to Xiaoshan Academy."

"Oh, Eldest Miss, you haven't eaten yet."

"No need. I have no appetite."

Just then, Lixia came in.

"Eldest Miss, your uncle said to go to the courtyard once you were awake."

Bai Mo: "..."

What does Uncle want?

As soon as Bai Mo stepped out of her room, she saw that the little garden and the covered walkway were piled high with chest after chest of betrothal gifts, even more than there had seemed to be yesterday.

"Momo, you're awake! Child, you got up so late. Drink less from now on, and take care of yourself."

Bai Jingyao came over to Bai Mo with a smile. Seeing that she was already dressed and ready, her little face so tender it looked as though water could be pinched from it, he pinched her cheek without hesitation.

Bai Mo didn't know what to make of that...

"Once you take a husband, you'll be an adult. You ought to be more steady. Matchmaker Song brought over an auspicious date first thing this morning: the twentieth day of the seventh month, three days from now.

"Since the two families have already agreed on the match, you and your mother will go to propose in person. I'll have your aunt go with you, so there's no need for Madam Chen to go."

Without waiting for a reply, Bai Jingyao pulled Bai Mo into the courtyard.

"Come, look at the betrothal gifts I added. The three letters and six rites were already prepared, and the livestock and fruit have all been prepared anew. The original gifts were already generous, but given what happened, I discussed it with your mother. We didn't want Muzhi to feel wronged, so we added another ten chests of lavish gifts."

At the thought of Xiao Muzhi, Bai Mo pressed her lips together, though her gaze softened.

"Sorry for the trouble, Uncle."

"Why be so polite with your own uncle? Also, this is the list of your father's dowry. I had Uncle Fu sort it out, and the items have all been put in your rear storeroom. Keep the list yourself from now on, and never hand it over to your mother again. This Madam Chen is no simple person; it wasn't easy getting these things back."

Bai Mo accepted the list Bai Jingyao handed her. Its paper was yellowed and very sturdy, and it bore the official seal of the government office. Bai Mo opened it with interest.

This...

No wonder they called it a dowry that stretched for ten li. It really was rather too much.

"Uncle, how can there be so much?"

"Look at you, as though you've never seen the world! Your father was a son of the Juan Family. They're the famous foremost imperial merchants, after all. Silly girl, when you marry, I'll send word to Shandong Commandery. Your grandmother will surely be delighted, though I wonder which of your paternal aunts will come."

The original owner had very few memories of her birth father, and Madam Chen had deliberately avoided mentioning him, so she had little idea of what he had been like. Merchant families might be lowly, but imperial merchants were different. Shandong Commandery was a thousand li away; presumably, it hadn't been easy for the Juan Family either.

"Momo, is there anything else you think we should add?"

Bai Mo shook her head. "Just arrange it as you see fit, Uncle. Let's make the gifts more generous."

Bai Jingyao sighed inwardly. He felt that Momo had no particular romantic feelings for Muzhi. What was to be done?

"Uncle, I'm heading out. I intend to enroll at the academy. My teacher gave me special permission to go whenever I wished."

"You're going today? The proposal is in three days, and the wedding arrangements need to be put on the schedule. Why not go after the proposal? A few days won't make any difference. Besides, before your mother went to court, she spoke to me about the marital residence. She asked whether you wanted to live separately with Muzhi."

Bai Jingyao grabbed her and held her back. With such a major life event at hand, she still wanted to go to school. It was sheer nonsense.

Bai Mo thought about it. It made no difference where she lived; she really didn't mind.

"Uncle, ask Muzhi. If he wants to live separately, we'll move out. If he's willing to come live here, just have my courtyard put in order again. Either is fine with me. We'll do as he wishes."

Bai Jingyao found himself in a quandary too. He knew being a son-in-law was no easy matter. Living under a father-in-law's roof was difficult enough, let alone with a stepfather-in-law like Madam Chen.

The Residence of the Earl Who Protects the State was not short of silver, and Momo also had her birth father's dowry to fall back on. Living separately really was best. Once she inherited the title, they could have Bai Yuanshuang move out, and then return after renovating the residence!

"All right, then. Once your mother comes back, I'll go to the Xiao Residence, meet the family we're marrying into, and discuss the matter."

"Mm-hmm. Uncle, you can arrange everything. I'm off."

Bai Mo deftly pulled her hand free and strode away.

Xiaohan had been perceptive enough to prepare the carriage early and was waiting outside the residence.

Lichun was in the carriage too. Seeing Bai Mo come out, she hurried forward to help her aboard and said ingratiatingly, "Miss, I'll drive. Xiaohan doesn't know the way."

"Let's go, to Xiaoshan Academy."

Xiaoshan Academy stood at the foot of Mount Lingqiu, southeast of the Capital. The road near the academy was lined on both sides with all kinds of trees, a magnificent sight, and the fresh scent of grass and leaves filled the air.

Bai Mo lifted the carriage curtain.

Early autumn had arrived. An autumn breeze sprang up, bringing a slight chill. The lush green trees had turned a riot of colors, and leaves drifted and fluttered down on the wind, scattered across the ground. In the distance, mountain ridges rose and fell in layers of dark blue-green. A somewhat desolate sort of romance?