The Trick to Teasing a Noble Family's Son - Chapter 29

Lin Xia took a moment to regain her composure. She was now tied to Wei Lan for life and death. As long as she completed her tasks, it didn’t matter to her. She could pursue, but it didn’t mean the other party would accept her. Even if they did, she could still figure out her next steps later. If worse came to worst, taking him wasn’t out of the question.

…If he was really good-looking.

Taking a deep breath, she asked seriously, “Shizi, about your brother’s appearance…”

“Same as mine.” Seeing Lin Xia relent, Wei Lan wasn’t about to let the cooked duck fly away. “Prepare yourself. I’ll take you to meet my brother soon.”

Preparation, Lin Xia thought, meant drying and combing her hair. But Wei Lan was meticulous. After dressing her in fine clothes, she selected jade pendants, sachets, and a hair crown with care. Her brows were lightly made up in the men’s subtle style of the day. Her clothes were ironed with a charcoal-heated iron ball, then scented with incense until fragrant. Only then was it done.

When Lin Xia stepped out, she was transformed from the scrappy youth of days ago. Standing quietly in wooden clogs, hands tucked in wide sleeves, she exuded a hint of noble elegance.

People rely on clothes, horses on saddles. Lin Xia finally understood why noble sons always looked so dashing. With so much time spent on appearances, how could they not?

Wei Lan circled her, nodding. “Not bad. I’ll take you to meet my brother. You must win him over!”

“But…” Lin Xia hesitated, “What if I can’t…”

“Pursuing a man,” Wei Lan raised an eyebrow, “and you’re already thinking of retreat? If you can’t, I’ll teach you.”

“Oh…”

Lin Xia tried to adjust to Wei Lan’s logic as they whispered about how to talk and show off her feminine charms when meeting her brother. Listening, Lin Xia felt her stomach churn.

Finally, they reached Wei Hua’s boudoir door. Wei Lan said, “Brother, I brought someone to see you…”

A soft, melodious voice replied, “A’Lan, you’re here?!”

A figure in pink fluttered out like a flower butterfly, throwing herself into Wei Lan’s arms. “A-Lan, I missed you so much! You don’t know, I haven’t dared go out, stuck embroidering indoors, so boring. Last time at Treasure Pavilion, I didn’t finish picking jewellery…”

Before finishing, Wei Hua noticed Lin Xia and asked, “Who’s this young master?”

How did he gain Wei Lan’s trust to the extent of calling him brother in front of them and bringing him here?

Wei Lan cleared her throat, and Lin Xia quickly stepped forward to greet, “Greetings, Young Master Wei. I am Lin Xia, a humble doctor.”

Based on Wei Lan’s mannerisms, Lin Xia felt she just needed to perfectly play a man’s role.

Seeing Lin Xia’s polite demeanor, Wei Lan felt she had made the right choice and gave Lin Xia an encouraging look. She led Wei Hua into the room, saying, “You wanted to go out recently, right? I think you should have someone with you to deter those rascals.”

“Huh?” Wei Hua quickly realized and pointed at Lin Xia, “Him?”

Wei Lan sat in the high seat, sipping tea, dismissing Wei Hua’s maid. “Lin Xia is a descendant of the Lin clan of the Imperial Medical Bureau, disguised as a man. Our identities can’t switch back yet, and nominally, you need someone to marry. Delay too long, and if an imperial edict or noble’s proposal forces a marriage, it’ll be trouble.”

Wei Lan’s words weren’t baseless. If she revived the Changxin Marquis house, her beauty and rumoured “sister” might even tempt the thirty-five-year-old emperor to summon Wei Hua to the palace.

While saying this, Wei Lan observed Wei Hua’s reaction. She loved her brother but was also wary. If Wei Hua remained this naive, she would protect him forever. But if Wei Hua intended to reclaim his male identity, Wei Lan would make other plans. She’d schemed hard for the heir’s position, returning to being this world’s “strange woman”? Not a chance!

Hearing Wei Lan, Wei Hua looked confused, then glanced at Lin Xia with a bit of grievance.

Wei Lan put down her teacup and asked, “What’s wrong? Feeling wronged?”

“Marrying a woman disguised as a man, I don’t mind…” Wei Hua mumbled, “But couldn’t you find someone… better-looking?”

Plain-looking Lin Xia smiled on the side: “…”

Life has no joy left.

An innocent bystander, forced to pursue a sissy, and now he despised her looks!

“For a woman,” Wei Lan frowned, her tone displeased, “what does beauty matter? Decent is enough. What matters is if she loves you, has responsibility, and will care for you.”

Lin Xia: “…”

My worldview is shattering. I can’t listen to this sibling talk anymore.

Wei Hua remained silent, so Wei Lan said, “Fine, chat with her. Don’t resist. In a lover’s eyes, beauty emerges. Maybe you’ll find her attractive in time.”

“But what if,” Wei Hua looked at Lin Xia, worried, “she stays ugly?”

“Three years,” Wei Lan said firmly. “If you still think she’s ugly then, I’ll let you choose.”

“You won’t trick me?” Wei Hua’s eyes lit up. Seeing his lively expression, Wei Lan smiled, softening. “How could I trick you?”

Wei Lan then remembered, “Didn’t you want to buy jewellery? Let her take you.”

“Okay!” Wei Hua nodded. “I’ll get ready. You and this ugly girl wait.”

He darted into the inner chamber.

“Ugly girl” Lin Xia stood by, waiting until he was gone, then turned to Wei Lan. “Shizi, since Young Master Wei despises me so…”

“Have some cofidence,” Wei Lan slapped her shoulder, handing her two silver notes. “Perform well, be generous. I’ll cover it. When you’re Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, pay me back.”

Lin Xia: “…”

You’re so rich, yet so stingy?!

Seeing Lin Xia’s expression, Wei Lan raised an eyebrow. “I’m generous with men, but I don’t like supporting women. Especially my future sister-in-law.”

“If you can’t even earn this much,” Wei Lan scoffed, “what kind of woman are you?”

Then I won’t be one, okay?!

Lin Xia raged inwardly but put the silver notes in her pocket with a forced smile.

Taking a deep breath, she said, “Shizi, if I fail to win over Young Master Wei…”

“If you can’t handle this small task,” Wei Lan replied gently, “what use are you?”

Lin Xia’s face turned serious immediately. “Rest assured, Shizi. I will handle this matter properly!”

As they spoke, Wei Hua came out, all dressed up. Wei Lan smiled and said, “Brother, you go out with Lin Xia. I have other matters to attend to.”

“Go,” Wei Hua said cheerily, waving. Turning to Lin Xia, he said, “Uh, Lin… whatever, let’s go.”

“Lin Xia,” Lin Xia was almost in tears but managed to maintain her smile, awkwardly complimenting, “You look… really nice today.”

“Really?!” Wei Hua, pleased, looked excited, then bashfully punched Lin Xia’s chest, saying, “Oh, stop it!”

With a punch, Lin Xia almost spat blood and collapsed on the spot.

Wei Lan, just stepping out, heard the noise and turned back. She saw Lin Xia almost in tears being helped up by Ran Mo and asked, “Are you okay?”

“Shizi…” Lin Xia nearly cried, “My protective mirror… it dented…”

Wei Lan coughed, patted Lin Xia’s dented mirror with her fan, and said, “It’s fine, as long as your chest isn’t dented.”

Lin Xia: “…”

I can’t do this. I want to go home!

“Brother,” Wei Lan turned to her cautious brother, scolding, “Your strength is too great. Don’t touch Lin Xia casually from now on, understand?!”

Wei Hua nodded like a pecking chick. Wei Lan turned to the aggrieved Lin Xia and said, “Why don’t you change your mirror first and come back another day?”

Lin Xia nodded eagerly and was almost dragged out by Ran Mo.

After consoling Wei Hua, Wei Lan entered the courtyard, feeling uneasy.

The first impression he gave to her future sister-in-law was one of overwhelming strength, which wasn’t ideal…

But concern aside, she didn’t plan to let Lin Xia off. In the following days, Lin Xia was forced to see Wei Hua daily, chat with him, dine with him, and shop with him.

Wei Hua was talkative, sensitive, and prone to grieving spring and mourning autumn. In days, Lin Xia visibly withered.

When Xie Zichen and Wang Ning returned, they happened to see Lin Xia escorting Wei Hua from a jewellery store. Wang Ning, sharp-eyed, pointed from the carriage, “Zichen, look, isn’t that your Miss Wei?”

The “Wei” name made Xie Zichen turn. Seeing Lin Xia with Wei Hua, he felt little, but realizing someone was cutting in with a blade to steal his love, he lifted the curtain. “Xie Tong, find out who’s with Miss Wei.”

“Zichen,” Wang Ning was surprised by Xie Zichen’s decisiveness, “You really care about Miss Wei…”

Xie Zichen said nothing, leaning back in the carriage and closing his eyes to rest.

If he wasn’t mistaken, the decree summoning noble sons to study in the palace would come tomorrow. Today, he would keep Wang Ning at his place, and once the decree was issued, he would send Wang Ning home.

“A’Ning,” he opened his eyes and said, “Stay at my place tonight.”

He thought Wang Ning, being so noisy, would ask more questions. But Wang Ning gave him an understanding look, patted his shoulder, and said, “Zichen, don’t worry, your brother’s always going to stand by you.”

Xie Zichen: “???”

Wang Ning sighed, “Even if Miss Wei doesn’t like you, I’ll always be your friend. Tonight, we’ll drink until we’re wasted!”

Xie Zichen: “…”

Where did he find such an unreliable friend? He wanted to throw him out.