Perfect Match – Lu Yuxiao, Wang Xingyue, Wu Xuanyi, Huang Shengchi

During the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, the capital Bianjing was prosperous and peaceful. The people lived in comfort, with bustling streets, numerous shops, and crowds of people everywhere. The air was filled with the sounds of vendors calling out their wares, creating a scene of flourishing prosperity.

Madam Li from Luoyang entered Bianjing with her four daughters: the eldest daughter Shou Hua, the third daughter Kang Ning, the fourth daughter Hao De, and the fifth daughter Le Shan. They were looking for the second daughter, Fu Hui, who had already married. As daylight broke, a Taiping carriage slowly entered the city. Kang Ning gently woke Hao De, advising her not to press her arm anymore.

Looking around, the other sisters had already begun preparing themselves to present themselves beautifully to meet Fu Hui. Hao De grumbled about their mother being stingy, saying that hiring a sedan would have been much more convenient and dignified. Le Shan woke slowly, irritated by Hao De's incessant complaints. The two sisters argued loudly, much to the amusement of Shou Hua, who joked that they could only be peaceful when they were asleep.

The sisters lifted the curtain and looked out the window, admiring the luxurious attire of the passersby. Madam Li sighed, expressing that once they met Fu Hui and settled in Bianjing, she would arrange good marriages for all of them, ensuring they would live a life of wealth and luxury, just like Fu Hui’s family. She would have no regrets if that were to happen. However, Fu Hui, though seemingly having found a good match, was secretly full of grievances.

At first, she and her husband Fan Lianghan were deeply in love, but over time, she realized that her husband was a soft-hearted man, easily swayed by others. He often visited the pleasure quarters, and would be moved by a few words from others, which caused her constant distress. This pain turned into anger, and she eventually became a fierce woman.

One day, the nobleman Chai An entered a tavern, where he gathered with his good friend Liang Junqing and his cousin Fan Lianghan. Chai An noticed that Fan Lianghan, who was usually lively, was now sitting quietly with a conical hat on his head, which struck him as strange.

Though Fan Lianghan claimed to have been stung by a bee the previous day, Chai An casually took off the hat and saw a red mark on his face, realizing that it was likely caused by Fu Hui. Chai An decided to go confront Fu Hui. Meanwhile, Madam Li and her daughters arrived at the gates of the Fan family mansion. Seeing the grand gates and luxurious home, they were overjoyed.

However, Fu Hui avoided them and refused to meet them. The steward lied, saying that both the master and the mistress were out and would not return anytime soon. Madam Li intended to leave, but upon hearing the steward tell someone to clean up the filth around the Taiping carriage, she became furious, sensing a slight against her. She turned around and slapped the steward, scolding him for raising an ungrateful child.

From that moment, she swore never to set foot in the Fan family again. After Madam Li left with her daughters, Kang Ning kept looking back until the Taiping carriage was far away. After they left, Fu Hui opened the door, her eyes red as she gazed at the carriage tracks, feeling despondent. On the other side, Chai An, riding his horse, passed by the Taiping carriage, but neither of them noticed the other.

That night, in the guest room at Liang’s house, Chai An insisted on staying the night. He intentionally hung a woman’s outer robe on the screen and sent someone to inform Fu Hui that Fan Lianghan had left two maidservants in his room. As expected, Fu Hui, enraged, rushed to confront him, only to find Chai An lying in the bed.

Chai An, pretending to be asleep, sat up and coldly scolded Fu Hui for allowing jealousy to cloud her judgment, warning her that it would bring disgrace to the Li family. Fu Hui, deeply embarrassed, left in the middle of the night. Little did she know, as soon as she left, Fan Lianghan, who had been hiding in the corner, dared to come out.

Chai An then gave him a scolding, saying that while Fu Hui was indeed overly jealous, it was Fan Lianghan's fault to begin with. He ordered him to reflect on his mistakes and change his bad habits. The next day, Madam Li and her daughters found a guesthouse to stay in. After settling in, however, they noticed that Kang Ning was missing.

It turned out that Kang Ning had suspected that Fu Hui was hiding something, so she made a mental note of it. Later that night, she went to look for her second sister and found Fu Hui biting a stone in frustration, her mouth bleeding. Kang Ning brought her back to the guesthouse. Fu Hui apologized and tearfully explained her difficulties, fearing that her actions would cause trouble for the Li family. The others were angry and expressed their opinions.

In the end, it was decided that Kang Ning would step in to discipline Fan Lianghan and ensure that he would obey. Madam Li worried that Fu Hui wouldn’t be able to bear it, but Fu Hui said that if it could help her husband become better, she would have no hesitation in being harsh. The next morning, when Fan Lianghan thought the family was away, he lay in his room enjoying food and drink, being served by maidservants.

Just as he was indulging himself, he heard that Fu Hui had returned and was startled. He pretended to be sick, lying in bed. Fu Hui sensed something was off and was about to confront him, when a maidservant whispered something in her ear. Kang Ning, who had prepared a fake remedy for a headache, tricked Fan Lianghan into drinking it, pretending it was a cure. Fu Hui made him drink it, and it turned into a playful ordeal.

Later, Fu Hui and the Li family gathered and chatted happily. Since their arrival in Bianjing, Fu Hui had felt reassured, as though she had gained confidence. Liang Junqing and others passed by the garden and admired the beauty of the Li sisters, so they pretended to be maidservants and secretly watched them. However, they were caught and thoroughly scolded by Kang Ning and Le Shan.

Afterward, Liang Junqing whispered into Chai An’s ear, encouraging him to try and meet Kang Ning. Chai An kicked a ball towards her, knocking her hairpin off, which prompted Kang Ning to retaliate. Chai An, seeing her bold personality and beautiful appearance, was stunned for a moment. Madam Li noticed something was going on but said nothing, simply taking her daughters to the temple to learn more about the Chai family.

While Madam Li was praying for good marriages for her daughters, she discovered that a thief had stolen some tributes. She hurriedly chased after him, shouting loudly, which displeased Madam Chai. However, Madam Li, despite her tough demeanor, was actually very kind-hearted. Upon hearing that the thief’s family was poor and his daughter could not marry due to lack of a dowry, she gave the tributes to him.

Kang Ning began to wonder why a woman would be unable to marry because of a dowry. A woman nearby overheard and explained that in Bianjing, marriages were highly dependent on wealth, and families with daughters would prepare dowries early so they wouldn’t face difficulties when their daughters reached marriageable age. Just then, the thief returned, dissatisfied with the gifts he had received from Madam Li, cursing that her daughter would never marry. This angered Madam Li so much that she fainted on the spot.

Madam Li returned to the rented house and told her daughters about the events at the temple. They all agreed that if things continued like this, they would eventually have to return to Luoyang. However, they had boasted to their neighbors that they would settle in Bianjing, and if they went back now, they would become a laughingstock.

The five sisters each had their own opinion, but the eldest sister, Shou Hua, spoke decisively, as she always did when a decision had to be made. Shou Hua, steady and wise, believed that the most urgent matter was to start a business to relieve their financial worries. As for their mother's insistence on marrying them off, it was best not to argue further. They should go along with it and follow her wishes. The other sisters nodded in agreement.

They then persuaded Madam Li to use their savings to rent a large house with a shopfront and a courtyard behind it. The front part would serve as a tea shop, and the back part would be their family residence. After listening to her daughters, Madam Li agreed, thinking that running a business was something she was good at. Just then, she suddenly remembered that she hadn't retrieved the portraits she had left behind.

She couldn't help but let out a cry. Meanwhile, the monks at the temple had been packing up the portraits, but a gust of wind blew one of them away. Since Pan Lou was always busy, the Li family decided to open their tea shop, "Si Fu Tea House," across the street to attract customers. Kang Ning looked back at the bustling Pan Lou and happened to make eye contact with Chai An, who was on the upper floor.

Chai An, looking down from above, gave her a slight nod, but Kang Ning pretended not to notice. Fan Lianghan had been ordered by his wife, Fu Hui, to stop drinking and was looking quite pitiful. Chai An, already irritated by his behavior, was relieved when his servant, De Qing, reported that a new tea and wine shop had opened across the street. Chai An knew that the owner of Pan Lou, himself, was no fool.

He had already seen through the Li family’s intentions and ordered De Qing to ensure that Pan Lou would start offering morning tea service the next day. Although the profit wasn't the main concern, it was crucial that they didn't let the Li family steal their customers. Taking advantage of a moment when he was flattering Chai An, Fan Lianghan begged him to offer advice on how to escape Fu Hui's control.

Though Chai An had no desire to interfere in their marital issues, he was so fed up with Fan Lianghan's clingy nature that he subtly suggested sending his parents-in-law back to their home. Fan Lianghan was overjoyed by this suggestion and immediately saw it as a solution. The next morning, the Li sisters busied themselves in the kitchen, each with a task. They quickly steamed a batch of hot, sweet-filled buns.

However, despite their efforts, business at the Si Fu Tea House was dismal, just as Chai An had predicted. The shop was nearly empty, as Bianjing was already full of tea houses, and Chai An’s decision to offer tea at Pan Lou had negatively impacted their sales.

Madam Li and her daughters discussed a strategy to get Fu Hui to ask Fan Lianghan to speak with Chai An, hoping that Pan Lou, which had the upper hand, might at least allow the Li family to share some of the customers. However, Fu Hui, too, was troubled by her own situation. When talking about sending her parents-in-law back, she mentioned that Fan Lianghan was sick and blamed her for being too strict.

She scolded her for wanting to take a concubine. Upon hearing this, Madam Li was furious, believing that the Fan family was bullying them. She wanted to confront the Fan family, but Shou Hua quickly advised her to avoid trouble. Luckily, Kang Ning was quick-witted and came up with a plan to handle both the Chai and Fan families. First, she suggested that Madam Li close the tea house for two days.

Then, they would have Fu Hui pretend to be generous, allowing her husband to take a concubine, claiming that she needed to stay in the city and carefully select an appropriate woman. Chai An, seeing that Si Fu Tea House had closed, speculated about the reason. De Qing revealed that the shop across the street seemed to be undergoing renovations, changing from a spacious layout to smaller rooms, which left him puzzled.

Meanwhile, Kang Ning went to Bianjing’s famous shops to personally sample the food and instructed her maid, Chun Lai, to learn about the local tastes, so they could cater to them. At that moment, Fan Lianghan, claiming that his life was at stake, sent for Chai An. When Chai An arrived at the Fan family mansion, he discovered that the supposed life-or-death matter was actually about Fan Lianghan choosing a concubine.

Three women from poor families, who were not as beautiful as Fu Hui and lacked skills like singing or tea ceremonies, didn’t interest him much. Chai An noticed a figure standing behind a screen and immediately realized it was Kang Ning. He advised Fan Lianghan to avoid taking a concubine if he wanted to live a long life.

Fan Lianghan, confused, followed Chai An to Pan Lou, where they coincidentally encountered the singer Zhen Niang, whom Kang Ning had arranged for him to meet. Fan Lianghan fell in love with her at first sight and soon discovered her identity. He decided to spend money to take her as a concubine. Hearing about this, Chai An found it suspicious and feared it would cause trouble.

He sent a message to Fan Lianghan, urging him to abandon the idea of taking a concubine. Unfortunately, Fan Lianghan ignored the advice and happily brought Zhen Niang back, introducing her to his parents. Fan’s mother told Zhen Niang to serve tea to Fu Hui as a form of greeting, and from then on, she entered the Fan family as a concubine.

To everyone’s surprise, Zhen Niang bowed gracefully and tearfully shared her background, expressing her gratitude for the Fan family’s help. Upon learning that she was the daughter of a scholar, Fan’s father grew serious and ordered her to leave Bianjing and return to her hometown with some silver. When Chai An hurriedly arrived at the Fan family, he was horrified to find that Fan’s father was about to punish Fan Lianghan with family law.

Fu Hui stood in front of her husband to protect him, while Chai An used kind words to stop a tragedy from happening. After this incident, Fan Lianghan clung to Fu Hui, seeking comfort and declaring that no woman outside could compare to her. He promised never to take a concubine again. However, Chai An noticed that Zhen Niang was meeting with Kang Ning privately.

When he tried to approach them, Kang Ning, having anticipated this, signaled Chun Lai to stop him, and they quickly left in a sedan, throwing two crab meat buns for him to taste. Soon, Si Fu Tea House reopened with a new approach. It offered not only tea but also calligraphy, paintings, and delicious pastries, which attracted many customers. Chai An, curious about the success, visited and discovered that his own famous paintings were being used to decorate the shop.

Angered and frustrated, he decided to tell Fan Lianghan the truth about Zhen Niang. Fan Lianghan, realizing his mistake, immediately returned to follow Chai An’s advice.

Chai An's anger had not yet subsided, and he was eager to teach Kang Ning a lesson. Secretly, he instructed Liao Zhanggui to set up a trap for Madam Li. He pretended to want to buy an unremarkable guqin (ancient Chinese zither), claiming that a wealthy customer had already paid a deposit of thirty strings of cash to reserve the “Bingqing” guqin, and that the customer was willing to pay three hundred strings of cash for it.

Madam Li saw the hidden contract under Liao Zhanggui's sleeve and believed it to be genuine. Eager to acquire the “precious” guqin, she eagerly bid one hundred eighty strings of cash to win it. However, when she waited all day for the so-called rich customer to come and purchase the guqin, no one appeared. Eventually, she realized she had been tricked and burst into tears. Her daughters heard her crying and hurried over.

After repeated questioning, they learned the full story: one hundred eighty strings of cash had been spent, and there was almost nothing left of the family's savings. Madam Li initially wanted to find Liao Zhanggui and give him a severe lesson, but before she could find him, in her fury, she even lost the guqin. Kang Ning, along with Chun Lai and others, went out to search for the guqin but overheard the sound of music coming from Pan Lou.

Chai An was playing the very “Bingqing” guqin. At that moment, Kang Ning realized that her mother had fallen into Chai An's carefully laid trap. She decided to set up a counter-trap to get back at him. The next day, at the temple, Madam Li went there with a maid to pray. Acting on Kang Ning's advice, she entered the temple with great devotion, bowing respectfully.

Her sincere demeanor caught Chai An's wife's attention, who later learned that Madam Li had come to thank the deity for answering her prayers related to marriage. Chai An's wife, anxious about her husband's marriage, believed Madam Li's words and followed her guidance to seek out a deity. Meanwhile, Chai An was riding through the streets when a sedan chair suddenly blocked his path.

Kang Ning confronted him, asking why he interfered with the household matters of her second sister and brother-in-law, even working with Liao Zhanggui to deceive Madam Li. However, Chai An was unperturbed and retorted with sarcasm. He then returned the one hundred eighty strings of cash, subtracting thirty strings as a reminder that someone might be targeting the Li family and warned her not to act recklessly in the future.

Afterward, Chai An, pleased with his victory, returned home, only to be stunned to hear that his mother had donated exactly one hundred eighty strings of cash to renovate a Daoist temple. He was dumbfounded.

Soon, Kang Ning sent a messenger to thank him for his generous donation, while also returning the remaining silver and advising him to remember that there are always people more powerful than oneself, and to avoid being arrogant, for he was no more than a frog in a well. In their back-and-forth exchanges, not only did Chai An not get angry, but he also became intrigued by Kang Ning.

He sent the silver back again, but Kang Ning did not accept it all; instead, she donated the money for charitable purposes. Seeing this, Chai An smiled even more deeply, admiring her restraint and generosity. Yet, he thought to himself that while she understood how to avoid temptation, her methods were too rash and careless, and she was likely to face serious trouble in the future.

When Liang Junqing heard that Chai An had been outdone by Kang Ning, he, remembering how he had once been slapped by Chai An, decided to take action and teach him a lesson. Chai An, however, came up with a clever plan. He personally wrote a calligraphy to promote his fine wine and invited the famous courtesan, Lu Yanyan, to ride a decorated carriage through the streets, drawing a huge crowd of onlookers.

The spectacle caused all business at Si Fu Tea House to grind to a halt. The young and wealthy Yang Xian, following Liang Junqing's poor advice, came to Si Fu Tea House, looking for a beautiful woman based on a portrait, and tried to flirt with Shou Hua in the street. However, he was surrounded by a group of beggars brought by Le Shan, and his clothes were ripped off, leaving him in utter disgrace.

This incident stirred up a deep resentment in Yang Xian, who swore to take revenge. On the other side, Madam Li was trying to attract customers outside Si Fu Tea House, but no one paid attention. Just then, Chai An's wife passed by with her servants. She rushed forward and confronted Madam Li, angrily accusing her of being a fraud. Madam Li, enraged, grabbed a broom and began to strike at Chai An's wife. The scene quickly became chaotic.

Kang Ning hurriedly stepped forward to stop the fight, almost losing her balance, but Chai An managed to catch her in time. With Chai An's persuasion, his wife reluctantly left. Madam Li, no longer as furious, began to call out to the gathering crowd, offering her homemade hangover soup. The fragrant smell drew people in, and they began to buy from her.

Thanks to Kang Ning's idea, the customers who had originally gone to Pan Lou turned to Si Fu Tea House instead, and Chai An's wife was so angry that she almost wanted to destroy the stall. Chai An, trying to calm her down, managed to prevent her from doing so. With the newfound profits, Madam Li bought her daughters some accessories, and the family enjoyed a moment of peace.

However, Yang Xian, claiming that he had lost a pearl, deliberately stirred up trouble at the Li household. Fu Hui hurried to inform everyone. Kang Ning, worried about Le Shan's impulsiveness, quickly disguised herself as the fifth sister and cleverly dealt with Yang Xian. Unexpectedly, when Yang Xian saw the third sister, he became lecherous and took the opportunity to propose taking her as his concubine.

He forcefully seized her skirt to pressure the Li family into marrying her to him. The Li family was suddenly thrown into an unprecedented crisis. Le Shan wanted to report to the authorities, but with the Yang family’s rising power and influence, no one dared to take the case. Moreover, if Yang Xian presented the skirt in court, it would surely tarnish the third sister’s reputation, and the public’s gossip would destroy them.

Fan Lianghan made a special trip to explain the situation to Chai An, hoping that he could come up with a plan to dispel Yang Xian's ill intentions and ensure that Kang Ning would not marry into the Yang family. Chai An, though outwardly agreeable, secretly had other thoughts. He said that unless Kang Ning came to find him personally, he would stay in the building and wait.

Soon after, he saw Madam Li and Kang Ning walking towards him, and he was full of joy. However, to his surprise, they ignored him and walked past without a second glance. In fact, Kang Ning had no intention of seeking Chai An’s help. Instead, she cleverly devised a plan to deceive Yang Xian. She hosted a banquet at the bustling Pan Lou to attract him.

Inside Pan Lou, the lanterns were glowing, and the scent of wine filled the air. Kang Ning was cheerful and smiling, engaging in polite conversation with Yang Xian. Every glance and every word seemed to carry hidden meaning, and her graceful demeanor and intelligence were evident in every move she made. Chai An, who had already been paying close attention to Kang Ning, grew even more curious after hearing about the banquet.

He watched from the shadows, observing how she was warmly engaging with Yang Xian. Doubts began to form in his mind, and he discreetly followed, focusing on Kang Ning’s every move. As expected, Kang Ning quietly set her plan in motion. Taking advantage of Yang Xian’s drunken state, she skillfully retrieved the skirt. In truth, Yang Xian did not have deep feelings for Kang Ning; his actions were more about rebelling against his father, who was pressuring him to marry.

Before marrying, he wanted to take a concubine just to defy his father. Yang Xian repeatedly asked Kang Ning if she was the woman wearing a veil the other day, but Kang Ning remained noncommittal. She even arranged for a poem to be written on the ribbon of her skirt. After Yang Xian was escorted away by his servants, Chai An ordered De Qing to follow Kang Ning.

He was convinced that someone as proud as Kang Ning would never agree to become a concubine, but he wanted to see what her strategy truly was. Meanwhile, Fan Lianghan took Chai An to the Xiangguo Temple market and revealed that "Qiong Nu," a girl who had been taken in by Madam Li when she was six years old after being abandoned in Luoyang, had originally been intended to marry her maternal uncle.

However, she died suddenly before the marriage could take place, leaving her as a widow. At the bustling market, Chai An discreetly observed the Li family’s stall and noticed a familiar figure—Wang Nei Shi, a favored servant of the palace consort, appearing in front of the stall. In addition, Fu Hui had brought a pearl-embroidered skirt to sell, intentionally marketing it as a rare treasure—the “pearl skirt.

” Chai An’s instincts told him that this skirt might hide something more than it seemed. After a brief thought, he secretly took action and ensured that Wang Nei Shi could purchase the pearl skirt without issue. After Wang Nei Shi left, Chai An asked Fu Hui if there was any hidden story behind the sale of the skirt. Fu Hui refused to divulge any details, offering an excuse instead.

Although Chai An knew she was lying, he reminded her that for now, he would pretend not to notice the matter. However, if anything about it turned out to be untrue, he would bring Wang Nei Shi back to confront her for clarification. That night, Kang Ning sat before her vanity, lost in thought. Deep down, she lacked the confidence that her plan would succeed.

If she really had to marry Yang Xian, she was mentally prepared to go down with him. On the other hand, the palace consort, wearing the pearl skirt, went to see Emperor Song Renzong. Upon seeing the poem on the ribbon, the emperor flew into a rage. The next morning, Yang Xian arrived with his men to take Kang Ning away. Just as Kang Ning was about to board the sedan chair, a messenger rushed over with a report.

Yang Xian suddenly realized that Kang Ning had set him up, and he was furious, ready to take action. However, Chai An stepped forward just in time to intervene, warning him to back off. Faced with the emperor's orders and the fear of causing trouble, Yang Xian, in frustration, left in a huff. Thanks to Chai An's intervention, Kang Ning, in gratitude, had woken up early to prepare pastries as a thank-you gift for his help.

But when she arrived at Pan Lou, she happened to overhear Liang Junqing speaking with Chai An, boasting about the “basket” incident. From his words, Kang Ning realized that it was actually Liang Junqing who had caused the trouble. Enraged, Kang Ning confronted Chai An and Liang Junqing, angrily accusing Chai An of being shameless. Every word she spoke felt like a sharp blade, cutting into Chai An’s pride.

After this, Kang Ning grew to despise Liang Junqing, and, seeing Chai An constantly associating with him, she began to see him as just another careless and lecherous man. Chai An was also displeased with Liang Junqing’s meddling, but Fan Lianghan intervened to mediate, eventually convincing Chai An not to pursue the matter further.

Liang Junqing, seizing the opportunity, asked Chai An to lend him a jade comb, claiming that his mother had seen Chai An's wife wearing it and wanted to borrow one to have a replica made. Without much thought, Chai An agreed to lend it to him. Kang Ning started learning perfume-making from Shou Hua, but Qiong Nu seemed unusually downcast, which was strange. Madam Li had bought hairpins and flower decorations for all her daughters, except for Qiong Nu.

Little did she know, Qiong Nu overheard their conversation from outside the door, and tears began to fall. Meanwhile, Chai An remained upset, still misunderstood by Kang Ning. He wanted to find a chance to explain himself but couldn’t find the right opportunity. In the dead of night, Qiong Nu went to meet Liang Junqing and did not return for a long time.

Chai An heard that Madam Li had taken the daughters to see water puppets but noticed Kang Ning was absent, which made him feel jealous, though he had no way of acting on it. Madam Li found out about Qiong Nu’s late-night outing and, fearing that it might be an illicit meeting, scolded her harshly, drawing the attention of the other daughters.

Kang Ning and Shou Hua hurriedly tried to calm Madam Li, but she still felt guilty over old regrets. Had she not saved Qiong Nu all those years ago, perhaps their only son wouldn’t have been swept away by the river, and the Li family wouldn’t have been exiled to Bianjing in disgrace. Meanwhile, Qiong Nu, utterly humiliated, was on the verge of hanging herself. Fortunately, she was saved by the Li daughters.

Qiong Nu stubbornly refused to reveal who she had met that night or what had happened, and her silence only deepened the doubts in the Li family’s hearts, leaving them shrouded in mystery. When Chai An came to retrieve the jade comb, Kang Ning mistakenly thought he had tricked Qiong Nu and slapped him. The Li family, angry and upset, locked him out.

At the banquet in Pan Lou, Liang Junqing became increasingly drunk and boisterous as the night went on. After several rounds of wine, he lost all sense of propriety and began bragging shamelessly about his affair with Madam Li, using vulgar and contemptuous language. His words provoked Fan Lianghan to the point where he threw a punch in anger. Chai An, though equally enraged, remained clear-headed and knew that acting impulsively would not be wise.

He quickly intervened with a subtle move to protect the honor of the Li family women. After Liang Junqing was dragged away by the servants, Fan Lianghan still seethed with anger. Chai An reminded him that if there had been a public fight in Pan Lou, the scandal would spread far and wide. The Li family's daughters might not only find it difficult to arrange marriages, but even going out could lead to people gossiping behind their backs.

Fan Lianghan, however, felt that the matter couldn't be left unresolved, and Chai An, understanding his anger, knew that Fan Lianghan had already formed a plan in his mind. Meanwhile, Kang Ning, having learned that Liang Junqing was the one who had humiliated Qiong Nu, decided that he needed to be taught a lesson. Just then, Chai An appeared before Kang Ning, declaring his intent to punish Liang Junqing severely and clear his own name.

Grateful for Chai An’s help, Kang Ning, in order to ensure their plan went smoothly, apologized for their past misunderstandings and asked him what their next step was. Chai An, with a clever smile, spoke of setting a trap to catch a bigger fish. The Double Ninth Festival (Chongyang) soon arrived. The Four-Fu Tea House had carefully prepared a variety of distinctive Chongyang cakes, and with Madam Li’s silver tongue, the shop was filled with customers.

The Li daughters were busy in their rooms, but the fifth daughter, Le Shan, felt bored and wished to go out for a stroll. The fourth daughter, Hao De, had the same idea. The two of them earnestly begged Shou Hua and Fu Hui to accompany them, and after some persuasion, they received permission. Kang Ning agreed to go out as well, but she waited a long time without seeing Chai An.

Instead, she became intrigued by a golden Moke Luo and, after paying five copper coins for it, learned that it had already been reserved by someone—Chai An, the young master of Pan Lou. Soon, Chai An arrived and stood beside Kang Ning, and the two engaged in a sharp exchange of words. Just then, Liang Junqing appeared not far away, leaving with a woman.

It turned out that Chai An had found a beautiful woman and set a trap for Liang Junqing, who, with his usual interest in women, walked right into it. As soon as Liang Junqing entered the room to meet the woman, she screamed, and the servants rushed in to beat him mercilessly. Kang Ning took the wooden stick that Chai An handed her and beat Liang Junqing with it, finally releasing the pent-up anger for Qiong Nu.

Afterward, Chai An escorted Kang Ning home, assuring her that there was no need to worry. The servants who had beaten Liang Junqing were skilled in martial arts and knew how to control the situation. They had only broken one of his legs to prevent him from causing harm to others. Even though Liang Junqing might harbor resentment, the shame of being caught in such a compromising situation would prevent him from speaking out, even in the imperial court.

He would be forced to swallow his anger and remain silent. With this, Kang Ning’s opinion of Chai An changed significantly. She accepted the golden Moke Luo that he gave her, and her feelings for him grew. Madam Shou Hua noticed that Qiong Nu had lost weight recently, suspecting that she was still upset over the earlier events.

Le Shan suggested going to the night market for a change of pace, but Fu Hui heard that a group of bandits had arrived in the city, known for abducting beautiful young women. She hesitated, but Shou Hua advised that it would be safer for the Li family to bring a few guards along to ensure their safety. That night, a fire broke out in the city center.

Chai An, quick to notice, realized that many buildings would need repairs, so he took Fan Lianghan out of the city to purchase bricks, tiles, and timber, hoping to make a fortune. However, Kang Ning and Fu Hui were abducted by the bandits. Upon returning from their errand, Chai An and Fan Lianghan heard the news and immediately set out with their men to track down the bandits. They set up a trap and captured all the criminals.

Chai An and Fan Lianghan successfully rescued the two women but, remembering the Li family sisters' past arrogance, decided to teach them a lesson. Following Chai An's plan, Fan Lianghan ordered Fu Hui to lie on the cold ground for an entire night, hoping to make a show of his great achievement in front of his wife and tame the second daughter.

Meanwhile, Chai An pretended to be a bandit and kidnapped Kang Ning, even playfully threatening her along the way. Kang Ning, after some struggle, seized the opportunity to stab him with her hairpin. When she removed the blindfold, she realized it was Chai An, and she gave him a sharp reprimand. Finally, Chai An revealed the truth, leading Kang Ning safely back into the city.

As they walked along the street, Kang Ning worried that if anyone saw her returning with a man so late, there would be gossip. But Chai An, ever thoughtful, had already anticipated this and draped a black cloak over her to hide her. It was a small but considerate gesture. Once they reached their destination, Chai An suddenly confessed that his earlier actions had not been to play tricks on her but simply to spend more time with her. His heartfelt words made a ripple in Kang Ning’s heart. She quietly watched him leave, a shy smile tugging at her lips.

Madam Chai had found a suitable match for her son, and the young woman, seeing that Chai An was handsome and well-off, was satisfied. However, Chai An immediately refused the proposal, openly declaring that he had already set his sights on Kang Ning, the third daughter of the Li family, and hoped his mother would find a matchmaker to propose marriage on his behalf.

At first, Madam Chai was a bit puzzled, but when she learned that Kang Ning was the daughter of the Four-Fu Tea House across the street, she nearly fainted from the shock. In the dead of night, Fu Hui, still disturbed by the earlier incident with the bandits, felt as though she heard strange sounds outside. Fearing they might be seeking revenge, she voiced her concerns. Half-awake, Fan Lianghan accidentally revealed the truth.

By the time he realized his mistake, Fu Hui had already raised her fist and given him quite the beating. The next morning, the two most renowned matchmakers in Bianjing arrived at the Li family home, both eager to propose a marriage for Kang Ning. The matchmaker they were representing was none other than Chai An. Such a high-profile marriage made Madam Li overjoyed.

When Kang Ning returned home and overheard her mother and sisters discussing Chai An's proposal, she felt conflicted and decided to confront Chai An. Seizing the opportunity, Chai An expressed his feelings for her.

Cautioned by the experience of her second sister, Fu Hui, Kang Ning set three conditions for their potential marriage: first, he must never take concubines or buy maids; second, if they had no children, they must adopt from their own family, and he must not entertain thoughts of having a child outside the family; and finally, if she died young, he would have to wait three years before remarrying, and after a hundred years, they should be buried together.

Listening to Kang Ning’s words, Chai An found her to be a woman of remarkable character. Instead of being angered, she had laid out clear terms, which impressed him even more. He immediately agreed, saying that the head of the Chai family must be wise, decisive, and resilient, someone who could win his heart—and only Kang Ning was worthy of that role.

Moved by his sincerity, Kang Ning accepted the marriage proposal, but asked that he travel to Luoyang to fulfill her father’s dying wish and bring back a branch of plum blossoms from her hometown. Although Madam Chai had a strong prejudice against the Li family, her son Chai An had already made up his mind. He took care of all the details, even selecting a date for the wedding.

Eager to leave for Luoyang, he departed, and shortly afterward, Madam Chai met with Fan Lianghan to discuss how to make the Li family reconsider the marriage. Soon, the Chai and Li families officially discussed the marriage, and Kang Ning, full of joy, began to embroider her wedding clothes. Shou Hua, noticing her mother's low spirits, suspected that Madam Chai had been difficult to deal with.

At that moment, the Chai family returned the "betrothal gift" from the Li family, demanding that they replace the live fish with goldfish and the fish chopsticks with silver ones, costing the Li family more money. The Chai servants mocked Madam Li, and although she was hurt, she endured it for her daughter's sake. Later that night, Madam Li sat alone in the courtyard, looking at her husband's belongings and speaking to herself.

If not for his sudden death, how could she and her daughters be left to endure such humiliation? She only wished for Kang Ning’s marriage to go smoothly and without further trouble. Kang Ning, standing at the door, witnessed this scene and broke down in tears. The next day, Madam Li, with Shou Hua, went back to the Chai family to deliver the revised betrothal gift.

However, Madam Chai mocked them again, belittling them for being widows and women without sons. Each word cut deeply, but at that critical moment, Kang Ning stepped in, fiercely defending her mother and older sister. She declared that the Chai and Li families were not compatible, and the marriage was ill-fated. With that, she swiftly took her mother and sister away from the Chai house.

At that moment, Chai An returned from Luoyang, his joy evident as he brought the plum branch. When he saw Kang Ning and the others leaving in silence, he was filled with confusion. Madam Chai seized the opportunity to sow discord, claiming that the Li family had gone back on their word.

Chai An, eager to find Kang Ning and clarify things, went to her house, but she avoided him, fearing that revealing the truth would create a rift between him and his mother. Fu Hui stepped in on Kang Ning’s behalf, but Chai An misunderstood and, in a fit of frustration, threw the plum branch to the ground before leaving in sorrow. Qiong Nu felt guilty, believing that her bad luck had delayed Kang Ning’s marriage.

She blamed herself, but Kang Ning comforted her, telling her not to worry. Later that night, Kang Ning sat alone in her room, recalling how her father had once picked red plums for her, and thinking of Chai An's promise. She placed the plum branch and the golden Moke Luo into a box, tears streaming down her face, and from then on buried her feelings for him.

On the day of the Winter Solstice, Chai An personally delivered winter vegetables to the Liu family. There, he happened to encounter the scholar Du Yangxi, who was in trouble after refusing a marriage proposal from Liu Tang. Liu Tang ordered Du Yangxi to complete a mural within the time it took to burn a stick of incense, and Du Yangxi finished on time.

Hearing that they had met before, Chai An interceded on Du Yangxi’s behalf, and Liu Tang agreed to let him go. Worried that Liu Tang might cause trouble later, Du Yangxi left a mocking poem behind. Liu Tang, furious and ashamed, lost his temper and, disregarding his own reputation, ordered his men to ambush Du Yangxi and his friends. Fortunately, Chai An sensed something was wrong and arrived just in time to rescue them. The two men narrowly escaped harm and resumed preparing for the imperial examination.