"Madam, what sort of man is this Captain Wu?"
"I've heard from your father that he's decent enough," Madam Mo replied with clear satisfaction. "His family is from Huaiyang and they're said to have some means. He's the second son. Most importantly, he won't have to return home to serve an elderly mother—he intends to settle in the capital. And to earn the rank of captain at such a young age, he can't be too bad."
In the study, Mo Lixia finished washing her hair and shoved the whole "Captain Wu" matter to the back of her mind. She toweled her hair until it was half-dry.
"Xiqiu, Hongshang—look! Isn't my hair so fluffy now?"
"Miss, stop admiring your hair," Xiqiu urged, exasperated. "Madam is still waiting in the main hall."
"This is all my fault," Hongshang said miserably. "I didn't explain it clearly to you earlier. If I'd stopped you, none of that would've happened."
"Stopped me? Why would you stop me?"
"So you wouldn't… lose your composure in front of a guest."
Mo Lixia paused, then stared at them. "Tell me—Father and Mother brought an unrelated man into my courtyard. What does that mean?"
"What does it mean?" Xiqiu looked genuinely confused.
Hongshang, on the other hand, saw right through it. "Miss… the General and Madam are letting you meet a prospective husband."
Mo Lixia's shoulders sagged in an instant. "Right. They're having me meet a prospective husband…"
Two lifetimes, and this was her first time being "matched." But she didn't like it. Not one bit.
She hadn't missed the way the man frowned the moment he first looked at her.
So much for the ancient world being impossibly conservative—"arranged marriages" and all that. They'd practically led the man straight into a young lady's private courtyard. If anything, it felt… oddly open, almost like the stories about the Tang Dynasty.
Because she didn't like him, she decided to make sure he didn't like her either.
"Xiqiu, find me the brightest green outfit you can," she ordered. "And make the makeup heavy—really heavy."
"Miss… that's not a good idea," Xiqiu pleaded with a pained expression. "Any more rouge and you'll look like one of the girls from Spring Flower House."
Mo Lixia flashed a deliberate smile. "That's exactly the effect I want."
Still, once she'd said it out loud, her mood soured again. The mirror reflected her face—beautiful, yes, but her thoughts were a mess.
In this world, at her age, it really was time for marriage talks. But when she thought of the noblemen and young masters of the capital… which of them didn't keep concubines and secondary wives?
Other things, she could adapt. This, she refused to "get used to."
If she truly had to marry…
She sighed.
"Bring water," she said at last. "I'm washing it off. Hongshang, pick me something decent."
Both maids brightened. "Yes, Miss!"
In the main hall, Mo Lixia entered in a pale blue dress. Her hairstyle was simple, her complexion clear and fair—so striking that she looked almost otherworldly.
Only the red mark at the corner of her right eye was… hard to ignore.
The Mo family sat properly together, all smiles.
General Mo Wushang spoke warmly. "Captain Wu, make yourself at home. Try this vegetarian 'chicken'—does it suit your taste?"
"You honor me, General," Captain Wu said, his posture respectful—almost stiff.
He truly was a little uneasy.
He'd returned from the military camp and happened to be traveling back with the general when the snow fell. The general had suggested he come to the residence to wait out the weather.
But once he arrived, he realized the invitation came with another purpose: General Mo wanted to marry his daughter off to him.
Captain Wu didn't stay in the capital often, but he'd heard the rumors—people said the Mo family's young lady was wild-tempered and unreasonable.
Unreasonable, he'd just witnessed firsthand.
And yet now she sat there poised and polite, like a refined young miss from a scholarly household.
Was she… pretending?
The thought made his brow crease again.
If she truly had such a nature, how was he supposed to refuse without offending the general?
And even setting temperament aside…
Yes, she was beautiful. But that mark at her eye…
How could he take her out to meet people in the future?
He couldn't ruin his entire life just because he owed the general courtesy.
No. Absolutely not.
He ate calmly on the surface, but inside, he was already calculating his way out.
General Mo and his wife, however, were all warmth and enthusiasm. Madam Mo even asked about Captain Wu's hometown in Huaiyang—most importantly, she pressed, carefully and repeatedly, on whether he already had a betrothal.
Zhanchen had met Captain Wu a few times before and kept the conversation going with talk of the capital, preventing any awkward silences.
When the meal ended, General Mo had the steward prepare a guest room for Captain Wu, insisting he stay the night and leave after the snow stopped.
With such hospitality, Captain Wu couldn't very well refuse.
Later, in General Mo's study, the family gathered around the brazier.
Madam Mo smiled first. "Well? Lixia, what do you think?"
"What do I think about what?"
"About Captain Wu, of course. Did you take a liking to him?"
Mo Lixia hesitated—then decided it was better not to mislead them. "Mother… I don't like him."
"Not to your taste?"
Mo Lixia nodded honestly.
General Mo's expression immediately darkened. "Then forget it. Our Lixia doesn't have to force herself. If you don't like him, you don't like him."
Madam Mo sighed. "But I thought he was quite suitable…"
Zhanchen, who'd been listening quietly, suddenly said, "Father—Captain Wu didn't seem to take a liking to our Lixia either."
The moment those words left his mouth, General Mo bristled. "He didn't like my daughter? What about her is not good enough for him? How dare he be picky!"
"Ahem—Father," Zhanchen hurried to smooth things over. "I was only saying it casually."
Mo Lixia also nodded quickly, trying to help calm her father down.
Then General Mo's eyes narrowed. "What is that on your eye?"
"Ah—oh." Mo Lixia laughed awkwardly. "I got a bit of cinnabar on it by accident. It doesn't wash off easily. It should be gone by tomorrow."
Madam Mo was still frowning when Zhanchen smoothly changed the topic.
"Mother, Father—there's something we need you to prepare."
"What is it?" Madam Mo asked.
"On the day I marry, Prince Kang may come… and Prince Su as well." Zhanchen's tone turned serious. "Mother, speak with Father about how we should handle it. That day, I'm afraid I won't be able to manage everything alone."
General Mo frowned. "Prince Kang rarely goes out. If he comes, it's a good sign. But Prince Su—he knows full well that we…" He glanced at Mo Lixia and stopped himself. After a beat, he said, "Set up two separate tables. Have Steward Mo clear a few outer rooms."
"And Father," Zhanchen added, "reserve one room for me as well. That day, Mu Tong and Yufu will also come."
General Mo gave a short nod. "Alright."
Thanks to her brother's wedding matters taking center stage, Mo Lixia finally had breathing room—at least for the days before the New Year.
The next morning, Xiqiu reported that Captain Wu had left early, right after breakfast.
And General Mo and Madam Mo acted as if nothing had happened.
Mo Lixia, on the other hand, was delighted.
As soon as she got up, she ran straight back to the study to continue tinkering with her shampoo.
…Finally, something she actually enjoyed.