Chapter 10: The Gold Eater

Chapter 10: The Gold Eater

Cui Ziqi came to visit Zheng Shanci and, seeing that Zheng Shanci was doing well here, he smiled and said, "Zheng, let's go for a drink some other day."

He noticed that Zheng Shanci was different from those other pompous scholars. Some scholars always acted aloof, while others went to the other extreme and became bootlickers.

"Alright," Zheng Shanci agreed.

Returning from the Golden Robe Pavilion to his room, Jin Yun held up a set of red wedding suits: "Mr. Zheng, this is the style of the wedding suit you chose. Please see if it fits. I've brought the tailor with me."

On the tray were several sets of wedding suits. Originally, Zheng Shanci hadn't felt the reality of getting married in less than half a month. But when his hand touched the wedding suit, a feather lightly tickled his heart, and he suddenly felt a sense of reality. He had traveled to this world, following the original plot, aiming to secure the magistrate's position of Xinfeng County and marry Yu Lanyi to stick to the plot. When he touched the smooth, light, and thin silk, he felt a sense of reality from it.

"Mr. Zheng, Mr. Zheng!" Jin Yun called out to Zheng Shanci, who was staring at the wedding suit in a daze.

Zheng Shanci snapped back to reality. There were several sets of wedding suits, all of excellent quality. Zheng Shanci carefully selected one and chose a simple outfit.

The tailor stepped forward to measure Zheng Shanci's body.

The tailor noted down Zheng Shanci's measurements.

"Alright, Mr. Zheng."

Mr. Zheng was still in a daze, somewhat stunned.

He asked, "Will Yu Lanyi also have a say in the groom's attire style?"

The tailor laughed, finding the question odd: "Mr. Zheng, since you two are getting married, Young Master Yu will naturally get measured and have his wedding attire tailored as well."

Zheng Shanci looked bewildered, realizing he had asked a foolish question. He smiled sheepishly, his ears reddening: "I must be losing it."

Zheng Shanci looked at the wedding attire on the tray, his heart still unsettled.

The tailor continued, "Mr. Zheng, since you've chosen this style, we'll have the wedding attire ready in ten days."

"Alright, thank you."

Zheng Shanci let out a sigh. He was really going to marry a man. And not just any man, but a villainous side character. He and Yu Lanyi were bound together unless they divorced.

He shuddered at the thought. Yu Lanyi would never agree to a divorce. He would feel humiliated, sneer, and might even give him a beating.

Zheng Shanci: "..."

Life seemed hopeless.

It seemed he had no choice but to train his body well, sharpen his escape skills, and strengthen himself so that he might withstand a beating or two. Yu Lanyi's martial arts were taught by Yu Zhangxing, the deputy commander of the emperor's imperial guards... so Yu Lanyi was somewhat of a pseudo-deputy commander.

And a tyrant at that.

In the future, the financial power of the household and the management of the mansion's maids and servants would also fall under his control. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but Yu Lanyi's domineering nature would take it all over.

Jin Yun brought the news back to the Marquis's residence. Yu Lanyi was poking at his wedding dress with a needle and thread. Seeing Jin Yun arrive, his eyes lit up: "How did it go?"

"The groom has had his measurements taken and chose a simple wedding attire."

"Hah, it's a wedding after all, so naturally, one should wear something luxurious," Yu Lanyi muttered. "And I heard from Father that he's already become an official, a seventh-rank magistrate. I've never seen such a low-ranking official before."

Jin Yun: "..."

"My dowry list, Father has given it to me. I'm going to hide it secretly and not show it to Zheng Shanci. And his salary will be under my control," Yu Lanyi said smugly. "If he obeys me, he’ll live well. If he defies me, he’ll go hungry."

Jin Yun felt sorry for the future groom upon hearing this and said, "Young Master, the groom was totally spaced out when he saw the wedding outfit. I called out to him several times before he snapped out of it. He even asked the tailor if you had a wedding outfit too, which shows he still has you in his heart."

Upon hearing this, Yu Lanyi's mind flashed with scenes of Zheng Shanci pulling his sleeve to run and Zheng Shanci placing a straw hat on his head, peeking at Zheng Shanci's back through his lashes. His ears turned slightly red.

"I’m amazing, of course he’s into me," Yu Lanyi sat at the dressing table, looking at the ripples in his eyes, his lips curling back into place.

What’s so funny? Is this really a good thing?

Stop laughing!

Yu Lanyi pretended to ask casually, "Are his parents coming to the wedding?"

"Probably not, the wedding’s too soon—they won’t make it."

Yu Lanyi nodded and said, "So I’ll have to leave the capital after we’re married?"

Jin Yun nodded gravely, saying with a sense of resignation, "Young Master, don’t worry—I’ll stick with you."

Yu Lanyi: "..."

His heart sank, kicking himself for not saving up earlier. Now he was flat broke. The twenty taels his brother gave him? Gone after one roast duck feast.

He still owed the Golden Cloth Pavilion a hundred taels of silver.

Forget it—he’s not paying that back. By the time they come knocking, he’ll be long gone from the capital.

Yu Lanyi opened his jewelry box, and both Jin Yun and Yu Lanyi were blinded by the glittering gold, their eyes practically sparkling.

"Sell them," Yu Lanyi couldn’t bear to look. He picked out twenty pieces of jewelry he liked and pushed the rest of the box out, "Find someone to sell them to. I don’t want coins—I want banknotes."

Jin Yun was shocked, "Young Master, these are your most treasured pieces!"

Yu Lanyi: "Keep twenty for appearances, turn the rest into banknotes to stay with me."

Once the jewelry’s sold, he could use the cash to buy new pieces. Yu Lanyi was calculating in his mind, he was too clever.

Jin Yun had no choice but to take Yu Lanyi's jewelry box and find a place to sell it. Judging by Jin Yun’s skilled moves, this wasn’t his first rodeo.

"Also, I need to visit my grandmother's house more these days," Yu Lanyi said, "I’m leaving the capital—I should pay my respects."

Jin Yun remained silent.

Yu Lanyi skipped out the door, the wedding dress forgotten.

...

On the other side, Zheng Shanci was still entertaining Golden Cloth Pavilion guests. To be honest, he wasn’t just idly looking around. He was sitting in a spot resting, the accountant had gone to the restroom. His eyes landed on Yu Lanyi’s name.

Yu Lanyi: Debt of one thousand taels (crossed out) Debt of two thousand taels (crossed out) Debt... Debt of one hundred taels.

Zheng Shanci: "..."

He nearly choked on his tea.

Yu Lanyi’s debts filled half the page.

The page was densely packed with evidence of Yu Lanyi's past debts.

He did the math—he couldn’t afford it.

This is a money pit.

He wants to live it up—good food, good drinks, and good times. As a county magistrate, his monthly salary is a modest sum of silver.

Zheng Shanci fell silent.

This isn’t even enough to keep Yu Lanyi satisfied.

He felt a pang of distress.