Chapter Fifty-Four: Pan Yinlian

"I am Su Yang, a scholar from Yanggu County, and also the master of the Su family," Su Yang sat up from the bed, gazing at the woman before him, whose beauty seemed to seep from her very bones.

"I didn't expect you to possess academic honors. I have always admired learned men," Pan Yinlian's eyes brightened upon hearing that Su Yang was a scholar. Sitting at the edge of the bed like a ripe peach, she continued, "But in Yanggu County, I've never heard of the Su family. What business are you in?"

Her question left Su Yang somewhat at a loss.

Should he tell her that his livelihood came from robbery and living off others?

"You jest, miss. What business would a scholar have? Besides, my household has enough to eat and drink, with a dozen or so servants and maids to help. Life is rather leisurely."

"If not for the rebels besieging the city, I would be diligently preparing for the autumn examinations. With my literary talent, passing the provincial exam is no great challenge. In the future, becoming a metropolitan graduate would mean I could find a position at court, and perhaps, after some years, be posted as a magistrate in a local prefecture."

"That would bring honor to my ancestors."

This grand vision painted by Su Yang made Pan Yinlian's eyes brim with affection, her voice gentle as she said, "Master Su truly seems otherworldly. Surely you will have boundless prospects."

"Unlike me, a wretched fate indeed..."

As she spoke, she lowered her head and began to sob quietly, looking so pitiful that one couldn’t help but want to take her in their arms and comfort her.

Meanwhile, Wu Dalang carried flour outside, began kneading the dough, lighting the fire, fetched some sesame seeds from the house, and continued working.

Time passed swiftly.

One dough ball after another was formed; next, he had to roll them out, press them together, sprinkle sesame seeds, place them in the oven, and carefully control the temperature until the cakes were done.

Inside the room, Su Yang gently kneaded Pan Yinlian’s fair, soft hand and said, "Your palm speaks of hardship followed by sweetness. The first half of your life is beset with loneliness, but the second half shall bring riches and honor."

[Bone Measuring Technique]

Bone quality: Grade C (Innate Alluring Bone)

Upon testing her bone structure, Su Yang discovered that Pan Yinlian possessed a rare constitution described in the Bone Measuring Technique—Innate Alluring Bone!

If she could find a cultivation method suited to this rare trait, her strength would advance rapidly, as effortlessly as drinking water, much like Zhang Qingpoetry. If not, her bone quality would remain at Grade C, a special existence nonetheless, worthy of investment and care.

Moreover, Pan Yinlian’s allure was truly profound, burrowing into his heart.

"How could I expect riches and honor, married to a stunted little man like Wu Dalang?" Pan Yinlian laughed softly, her every gesture brimming with charm. Her other hand lightly tapped the back of Su Yang's hand. "You never stop touching, you little rogue!"

In Pan Yinlian’s mind, Su Yang was not only witty and talented, but handsome as well, and even an eighth-rank martial artist—truly the epitome of both literary and martial excellence.

As for Wu Dalang’s brother, Wu Song, he was rough by nature, with a hairy face and the stench of sweat. At best, he would live his life as a chief constable or a minor official.

But Master Su was different. In the future, he would surely pass the metropolitan examination, and at the very least, become a prefect. Even if fortune failed him, he could start as a county magistrate—positions Wu Song could never hope to attain.

As for Wu Dalang...

Could she really resign herself to marrying such a man for life?

Though she was already married, she remained untouched, never allowing Wu Dalang near her. For the sake of Su Yang’s reputation, she wouldn’t seek the status of a proper wife, but being a concubine was certainly possible.

From the first meeting, Pan Yinlian had taken a liking to Su Yang, thinking of him day and night. She often sat by the window, gazing out, hoping to catch a glimpse of that young man she had met.

Seeing him again today, after a long conversation, her admiration grew stronger. She longed to follow him immediately.

"Miss Yinlian, you smell so sweet—what do you use?"

"Giggle... Why don't you come closer and find out?"

"Wife, what are you two talking about in there?" Wu Dalang asked anxiously as he continued kneading dough outside.

"Mind your cakes and stop meddling," Pan Yinlian, her hair slightly disheveled, replied impatiently. "Naturally, we're just chatting about daily life. What else could we be talking about?"

"Wife, the cakes are ready, they're ready...!"

Soon after, Wu Dalang’s urgent voice came from outside. He burst into the room to find Su Yang lying on the bed, his wife Pan Yinlian sitting at the edge, nothing untoward happening. Relieved, he sighed deeply.

"Oh, thank you, Master Wu," Su Yang smiled calmly, got up from the bed, picked up a cake from beside him, and squeezed a soft little hand that had slipped into his own before letting go.

"Alright, alright, the cakes are done. Hurry up and leave, don’t disturb my nap," Wu Dalang pressed Su Yang to depart.

Su Yang had already gotten everything he needed from Pan Yinlian, and taken his share of advantage. Now, with Wu Dalang so eager to send him off, he left the courtyard under the man’s watchful gaze, cakes in hand, and headed to the Zhou family marketplace.

He dared not eat the cakes himself—who knew if Wu Dalang had poisoned them? Better to exchange them for something useful.

Luckily, his luck was good; at the Zhou family market, he traded them for some hawthorn, fresh fruit, firewood, cloth, and other household necessities.

Wu family’s cake shop.

Wu Dalang sized up Pan Yinlian’s slender figure, unable to suppress a gulp, greed flickering in his narrow, ugly eyes as he pleaded, "Wife, the weather is getting hotter. The second floor is cooler—could I spend the night upstairs?"

"Get out!"

Before the words were finished, Pan Yinlian shot him an impatient glance, turned to ascend the stairs, and said, "If you dare set foot on the second floor, I’ll cut off your manhood."

Wu Dalang felt a sudden tightness below and abandoned the thought.

Back upstairs, Pan Yinlian placed a pair of scissors beneath her pillow. If Wu Dalang ever lost his mind, she wouldn’t hesitate to teach him a lesson. Did he not see his own appearance? How could he ever hope to touch her?

She recalled their wedding night, when that wretched Wu Dalang brought a wealthy lord into her room, seeking to force himself upon her. Hatred welled up in her heart, never fading.

Had she not fought desperately that night, she would have been violated. Fortunately, she threatened the lord with scissors, and only then did he keep his distance.

After returning home and putting away his goods, Su Yang dressed up and made his way to the address Pan Yinlian had given him.

Dog Tail Alley, Number Thirty-seven.

The houses here were cramped and labyrinthine, the drains reeking, home to the lowest folk in Yanggu County and rife with vice.

After the rebel siege, this area suffered the highest casualties. Even now, the yamen runners hauled cartloads of bodies away.