Chapter 12
Zhou Qiao withdrew her sword just in time, then shot Gu Tingwei a glare. “Why didn’t you dodge?”
Gu Tingwei had nearly had the face he was so proud of ruined. He immediately threatened, “Zhou Qiao, you’re finished. Private fighting in the army earns a hundred strokes of the military cane!”
Zhou Qiao fired back, “Gu Tingwei, you’re finished too. Harassing a respectable young lady is punishable by castration!”
Gu Tingwei instinctively felt a sharp pain between his legs. “I didn’t! What nonsense are you talking about?”
“My elder sister kindly thought of the soldiers and brought an entire cart of wine, meat, fruits, and even pastries to the army kitchen!”
Gu Tingwei turned to look at Zhou Li. She had lowered her eyes. She was beautiful as ever, but in Gu Tingwei’s eyes, she seemed somewhat aggrieved.
Even when he had been heavily outnumbered and surrounded on the battlefield, Gu Tingwei had never felt so helpless. He had no idea how to comfort a woman. “My fault, my fault. Miss Zhou, it’s all my fault today.”
Standing nearby, Zhou Qiao’s eyes widened. Had she heard correctly? This stubborn mule, who wouldn’t admit defeat even after being beaten bloody by Uncle Gu, was actually apologizing?
She looked at Zhou Li, then at Gu Tingwei, and finally realized something truly astonishing.
Chapter 6: Making Plans
On the carriage ride home at noon, Zhou Qiao mysteriously tugged at Zhou Li’s sleeve.
“Sisterâ”
Before she could finish, Zhou Li’s face had already turned red. “You’re not allowed to talk nonsense.”
As if Zhou Qiao would let it go so easily. Counting on her fingers, she said, “This is truly unheard of. Gu Tingwei actually stopped practicing martial arts and stuck to you like a dog-skin plaster. Not only did he accompany us around the entire military camp, but at noon he even insisted on cooking personally and keeping you there for lunch!”
“That fellow is always saying, ‘A gentleman stays away from the kitchen,’ and would rather bleed than lower his head. But today? Every other sentence was, ‘Miss Zhou, I was wrong,’ and ‘Miss Zhou, please don’t be angry.’ He scared me so much I thought he’d gone mad.”
“The more you talk, the more ridiculous you become. Young Master Gu is dignified and imposing. How could he possibly have gone mad?”
Zhou Qiao let out an exaggerated gasp. “Sister, you’re already speaking up for him?”
Unable to out-argue her, Zhou Li fell silent while Zhou Qiao continued on her own.
“I don’t approve of this marriage at all.”
Startled, Zhou Li asked, “Why not?”
With a solemn expression, Zhou Qiao said, “If he marries you, won’t he become my brother-in-law? That would be terrible! In the army, he’s the Deputy Commander while I’m a Commandant. At home, he’d be my brother-in-law while I’d be his sister-in-law. Wouldn’t that mean he’d have authority over me everywhere? No way. Absolutely not.”
Thinking there must have been some serious reason, Zhou Li merely covered her lips and laughed softly.
Zhou Qiao went on, “Besides, his temper is far too impatient. You can tell just from the way he fights battles. He’s always charging forward recklessly, and Uncle Gu has scolded him countless times for it. Sure, he’s won every time so far, but if he ever loses even once, it’ll cost him his life.”
Taking Zhou Li’s hand, Zhou Qiao pursed her lips. “Marrying a soldier means worrying yourself sick every day. If the worst should happenâI truly hope it never doesâbut I don’t want my sister becoming a widow while she’s still so young.”
It was rare for Zhou Qiao to be so serious. Her few heartfelt words warmed Zhou Li’s heart as though a brazier had been placed inside it.
“All right. I understand.”
Seeing that Zhou Qiao was still worried, Zhou Li teased her in return. “You’ve thought so carefully about my future. What about yourself? Little girl, you already know what kind of man should or shouldn’t be married. Then what kind of husband do you want?”
“Naturally, someone handsome! Preferably a scholar. We could spend our leisure time reciting poetry and composing music together. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
Since Zhou Qiao would soon come of age and reach the age where marriage proposals would be discussed, Zhou Li carefully thought over her requirements.
A handsome scholar…
But no matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t think of any young man who met both conditions.
The handsome ones were seldom free from flirting and chasing women, and that simply wouldn’t do.
The well-read scholars, on the other hand, usually fell short in appearance and bearing. They certainly wouldn’t be a worthy match for Zhou Qiao.
Perhaps she simply didn’t know enough people. This matter would have to…
