Chapter 143: A Dream of Butterflies? Ziyan!

As Ziyan finished giving instructions to her maid, the entire House of Fragrance bustled with activity. Needless to say, that night featured a most distinctive wedding banquet. Although Zhu Hao had never intended to get married, events had been forced upon him, and he simply went along with the formality. In this era, very few people regarded a courtesan's debut wedding as a proper marriage; after all, within this feudal dynasty, any wedding lacking the mandates of parents, the words of matchmakers, and the traditional betrothal gifts was not acknowledged by conventional society.

After much commotion, Zhu Hao and Ziyan were finally sent into the bridal chamber. Zhu Hao lifted Ziyan's veil, feeling somewhat embarrassed and wishing to say something. Before he could speak, however, Ziyan said, "My lord, we are already husband and wife, yet you have not even seen what your concubine looks like. I only hope my appearance does not disappoint you!"

With these words, Ziyan removed the veil that had long concealed her face. As the veil lifted, a flawless visage was revealed to Zhu Hao. In truth, Zhu Hao had privately guessed at Ziyan's appearance, but in his wildest imaginations, he never expected that beneath the veil lay such a familiar face. Upon beholding Ziyan's true countenance, Zhu Hao's eyes widened in utter shock, and he cried out in disbelief, "Meng... Mengdie? How could it be you? Why are you here? What did that old nun do to you?"

Zhu Hao was so astonished because the delicate features beneath the veil were an exact match for Guo Mengdie, the prime minister's daughter whom Zhu Hao had previously known.

Without hesitation, Zhu Hao pulled Ziyan tightly into his embrace, as if terrified she might suddenly vanish. His actions gave Ziyan a fright. After a long moment, she asked, "My lord, I am Ziyan! What is wrong with you?"

Hearing her words, Zhu Hao felt that Ziyan's tone and manner of speaking were indeed somewhat different from those of Guo Mengdie. Suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, he released Ziyan, looked her over carefully for a long moment, and stammered, "You really aren't Mengdie?"

Ziyan nodded in confusion and replied, "My lord, I am Ziyan! I am not the Mengdie you speak of! Does your concubine happen to resemble an old acquaintance of yours?"

Though still doubtful, Zhu Hao nodded and said, "It's not just a resemblance—you look identical! How can there be two people who look so much alike? Could it be that you've lost your memory?"

Hearing Zhu Hao's incoherent words, Ziyan smiled charmingly and said, "My lord, you certainly know how to joke. Ziyan remembers everything that happened in the past, so how could I have lost my memory? Seeing how nervous you are, that acquaintance of yours must be the one in your heart, right?"

Forcing himself to believe that Ziyan was not Guo Mengdie, Zhu Hao sighed slightly and said, "To tell the truth, I don't even know how to describe the relationship between her and me. We only met a few times. Later, she nearly lost her life saving me, and after being rescued by someone, she vanished without a trace. I am very worried about her now."

Hearing this, Ziyan consoled him, saying, "My lord, you must care for that young lady very much. It is a pity your concubine is not her and has disappointed you. However, if there ever comes a day when your concubine has the chance, I will surely be like that young lady and sacrifice myself to save you without hesitation!"

As Ziyan finished speaking, the system's notification sound rang out:

"Congratulations to the host for completing fifty percent of the task progress for 'Winning the Courtesan's Heart'!"

"Fifty percent of the task reward is now being fulfilled: a four-star random summon."

"Does the host wish to summon now?"

Thinking that he was in no mood for summoning at the moment, Zhu Hao chose to decline for the first time, opting not to summon. The system then fell silent.

Although the system grew quiet, Zhu Hao's heart remained turbulent. First was the fact that Ziyan looked identical to Guo Mengdie; second was the fifty percent task completion. Neither of these developments made any sense to him.

Zhu Hao thought to himself, "Why is the progress only at fifty percent? Could it be that I have to ransom the courtesan and take her home?" Mulling this over, he probed gently, "Ziyan, you are a good girl. Are you willing to follow me from now on?"

Hearing this, Ziyan smiled with alluring charm and replied, "My lord, you were chosen by Ziyan yourself. Furthermore, after tonight, Ziyan is your person. As long as my lord does not despise me, your concubine is naturally willing to serve you for the rest of my life!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Hao said, "Very well, tomorrow I shall pay your ransom, and from then on you can stay by my side!"

When Zhu Hao finished speaking, Ziyan bit her red lips and said, "My lord, you and your concubine have already performed the wedding rituals of bowing to heaven and earth. Why do you still call me a young lady? You should address me as your wife!"

Hearing this gave Zhu Hao a splitting headache. He had never intended to get married and had only come to complete the task; yet, he had indeed bowed to heaven and earth with Ziyan. Although unconventional, for a woman of the pleasure houses, that recent ceremony was the most proper wedding imaginable.

Zhu Hao understood that if he reneged now, it would deal a devastating blow to Ziyan. Looking at her face, which was identical to Guo Mengdie's, he simply could not bear to cause sorrow and pain to that face. Finally, gritting his teeth, he stammered, "Wife!"

Then he muttered inwardly to himself, "I'll just treat it like playing house and muddle through for now. Once the task is complete, I'll properly settle Ziyan elsewhere!"

Hearing his address, Ziyan smiled sweetly and said, "My lord, a night of spring is worth a thousand pieces of gold. Let your concubine help you change your clothes!"

Zhu Hao had no wish to be married to Ziyan, and naturally he had no intention of laying a finger on her. Seeing her push her advantage further, he shook his head repeatedly and cried, "No, this must not be!"

Just as Ziyan's hand brushed against the lapel of his robe, Zhu Hao blurted out those words, hurriedly rising and retreating several steps. Seeing this, tears welled up in Ziyan's eyes as she sobbed, "My lord, do you despise my humble background and that is why you act this way? If you despise Ziyan, why didn't you say so earlier? Now that we are already husband and wife, you treat me like this—how am I supposed to face anyone? Ziyan's life is so bitter! Sob, sob..." With that, she collapsed onto the bed, weeping bitterly.

Faced with Ziyan's loud wailing—whether bewildered by her face being an exact replica of Guo Mengdie's or simply thrown into a panic—Zhu Hao was utterly at a loss, scrambling clumsily without knowing what to do. He hastened to comfort her: "Miss Ziyan, please don't cry. I didn't mean it that way; it's just that I haven't mentally prepared myself yet. Look, can we consummate our marriage a little later? Once I've paid your ransom and returned home to announce it, we can properly wed then, alright?" Having run out of options, Zhu Hao resorted to stalling tactics, thinking that if he could just drag things out until the task was completed and Ziyan was properly settled, the problem would be solved.

Hearing Zhu Hao's words, Ziyan stopped crying and asked, "Are the lord's words true? You won't abandon Ziyan, will you? Ziyan is your person today; if you abandon Ziyan, I will have no choice but to prove my resolve with my death!"

Hearing this sent a chill down Zhu Hao's spine. Though he still could not determine his exact feelings for Ziyan, he was certain of one thing: he did not want this young girl to perish because of him. He quickly reassured her, "Please rest assured, Miss, I always keep my word!"

Seeing Zhu Hao's solemn pledge, Ziyan wiped away her tears with a smile, though a look of worry soon returned to her face. She asked anxiously, "That being the case, why does my lord still call your concubine 'Miss'?"

Seeing Ziyan's jittery disposition, which seemed moments away from another tearful episode, Zhu Hao hurriedly explained, "Miss Ziyan, rest assured, when I marry you, it will be a proper marriage with formal matches and red paper, not like this hastily snatched union. Once I return home and we hold an official wedding ceremony, I will change how I address you. For now, I must still call you Miss!"

Hearing this, tears welled in Ziyan's eyes once more. Noticing this, Zhu Hao thought he had said the wrong thing again and anxiously blurted out, "Ziyan, what is wrong now? Did I say something wrong again? Please don't be like this!"

Seeing Zhu Hao's flustered state, Ziyan quickly explained, "My lord, Ziyan never imagined that you would hold me in such high regard. These are tears of joy!"

Hearing this, Zhu Hao finally let out a sigh of relief and said, "Alright, since you're happy, don't cry anymore! Crying doesn't look good!"

Nodding in agreement, Ziyan gently replied, "I will listen to my lord! Ziyan will not cry!"

Satisfied, Zhu Hao nodded and said, "I am going to speak with the madam right now regarding your ransom. Wait for me here!"

In truth, Zhu Hao simply could not bear to remain in such an awkward atmosphere any longer and used this excuse to escape the room. However, just as he spoke and prepared to leave, Ziyan grabbed his hand and said, "My lord, we have just entered the bridal chamber, and yet you walk right out. Others will mock Ziyan! I beg you, do not leave!"

Hearing this, Zhu Hao feared she had changed her mind and intended to consummate the marriage right then and there. This threw him into a panic, but refusing to sit passively, he quickly argued, "Ziyan, didn't I just tell you that I want to wait until—"

Before Zhu Hao could finish, Ziyan interrupted, "My lord, as the saying goes: follow the chicken if you marry a chicken, follow the dog if you marry a dog. Although my lord wishes to treat me generously with a proper marriage, from the moment we bowed to each other, Ziyan has considered herself your person. Therefore, I would never disobey my lord. I only ask that my lord remain in the room for the night so that people will not gossip about Ziyan, is that alright?"