"Miss Wu, congratulations, congratulations!" The next morning, as she was eating breakfast, Wu Caiwei's hand paused at a loud shout, nearly knocking over her bowl.
Soon, a matchmaker happily approached her and began to brag.
"Miss Wu, you haven't been here long and may not recognize me. I am the most famous matchmaker in the city. Everyone who goes through me lives to a ripe old age and has a happy marriage."
"May I ask which family the matchmaker is here to propose for? Our maids are beautiful, intelligent, and literate. If I don't approve of the man you speak of, I will not agree." Wu Caiwei's gaze swept over the faces of the maids behind her, and she was more and more satisfied. Ordinary women were not as capable as them.
The matchmaker was taken aback, then slapped her thigh hard and laughed exaggeratedly, "It's my fault for not being clear. I'm here today to propose on behalf of someone else for Miss."
"No need, I don't want to get married for the time being. If there's a suitable young man, you can keep an eye out for my maids." Wu Caiwei's interest immediately waned upon hearing this, and she continued eating breakfast.
"Miss, don't be so quick to refuse. Don't you want to know who I'm proposing for? Once this village is gone, there won't be another shop like it." The matchmaker looked as if she expected Wu Caiwei to ask her quickly, promising a huge surprise. Wu Caiwei couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head, and continued to eat her meal.
"It's our governor, a fourth-rank official. Moreover, the governor is a man of talent and elegance. Although he has been married before, he only has one daughter. If you marry him and have a son, your status will be secure. When the girl grows up, a dowry will suffice."
Wu Caiwei acted as if nothing was happening, as if the person being spoken of was not her at all. The嬷嬷 (māmā - older female servant), however, was excited. Although their family background was not bad, their master and madam were gone, and their young lady was alone and helpless, making it difficult to find a good marriage. Furthermore, the Zhou family was still standing. The governor had visited their courtyard multiple times, each time bringing gifts for their young lady. She didn't believe he had no intentions. Su Dan Novel Network.
She quickly reached out and tugged at her young lady's clothes. Wu Caiwei knew what she meant. The governor was indeed a good candidate. He was wise and steady, a good official for the people. If she had no one in her heart, she might have considered him. But it was impossible for her in this life, and she didn't want him to have any lingering hopes.
"I already have someone I like. Please convey my refusal." Wu Caiwei quietly pulled her sleeve back from the 嬷嬷's hand and said calmly.
"Mama, don't listen to my young lady's nonsense. Our young lady is a lady of the boudoir, who never leaves her chambers. How could she have someone she likes? She just doesn't want to get married for the time being and said it casually. You can go back first, and I will persuade her properly." When Wu Caiwei said she had someone she liked, the 嬷嬷 didn't believe her at all. She had been by her young lady's side constantly, and she hadn't seen any man outside the Zhou family in the past few years. She probably didn't think highly of the governor.
"Alright, you two think about it carefully. The governor is very sought after in the city. Countless women dream of becoming the governor's wife. Anyone else would happily agree. If you miss this opportunity, you'll regret it later." The matchmaker spoke the truth. In her opinion, this was an excellent marriage. The other party had given her a lot of money, and she was willing to facilitate this marriage. She wanted to wait a little longer.
Seeing them immediately hit it off, Wu Caiwei knew that no matter what she said now, they wouldn't believe her. Anyway, she would never agree, so she could only let them have their hopes dashed.
The 嬷嬷 enthusiastically sent the matchmaker to the door and returned to her young lady's side. She said earnestly, "Even if Miss doesn't think highly of the governor, she shouldn't say she has someone she likes! If she does this, who will dare to propose to her in the future? Moreover, in my humble opinion, the governor is a truly suitable match. I wonder what Miss dislikes about him."
"He is very good, but your young lady truly has someone she likes, and it's destined not to work out." Seeing her gossipy expression, she continued, "Don't ask who he is. I don't know either. Don't ask where he is now. I don't know that either, but he will definitely appear."
"So unreliable," the 嬷嬷 muttered to herself, growing more worried as she listened. She felt that if her young lady continued like this, she would never get married in her life, which was not a good sign.
There had been no war recently, so the governor returned earlier than usual. He wanted to chat with his mother. As he approached the main entrance, he heard the matchmaker reporting to his mother about her proposal to the Wu family. He couldn't help but eavesdrop.
Then, he hurried out, got on his horse, and rode to the Wu family. Ignoring the objections of others, he went straight to Wu Caiwei. His eyes were slightly red as he said, "You said you have someone you like, but you've been here for so long, and I've never seen or heard of him. Is he really that important to you? Can't I replace him? Tell me, what have I done wrong? I can change."
Wu Caiwei sighed. She hadn't expected to encounter someone who wasn't deterred after she displayed her formidable martial arts skills. Wouldn't most men shy away from a woman as powerful as her? Why was he even more determined? She was not afraid of owing favors in this life, but she was afraid of owing emotional debts.
Rubbing her forehead with some helplessness, she said firmly, "No one can replace him in my heart. Believe me, you will see him soon."
After leaving the gate of the Wu family, the governor walked aimlessly through the bustling streets. Suddenly, he felt his face was wet. He wiped it with his hand and realized that he had started crying without knowing when. He hadn't felt this way in a long time.
He wiped away his tears, adjusted his mindset, and looked around to see his personal attendant holding his horse, following not too far behind. He quickly mounted the horse and headed for the military camp.
After the explanation, the governor was not the type to pester. He never appeared before her again, and Wu Caiwei breathed a sigh of relief.
Before long, the Xiongnu returned. Although the Crown Prince had died and the royal court was in chaos, they soon realized that their most pressing task was to obtain food and ensure their people could survive. Thus, they gathered all their forces and were determined to capture the city.
Looking at the densely packed Xiongnu cavalry below the city, the governor's heart sank. He had almost failed to fend off the previous hundred thousand troops, and now there were another hundred thousand. Was heaven trying to destroy him?
Although the Emperor had sent fifty thousand reinforcements, and another fifty thousand soldiers were on their way, all of them combined numbered only a little over a hundred thousand. Against such fierce Xiongnu, where was the chance of victory?