Chapter 36

Princess Pingyang's mansion was indeed next to Luo Shixin's residence.

Initially, after the Li Tang forces captured Guanzhong and occupied Chang'an, Li Yuan bestowed titles and rewards to his meritorious subjects, seizing all the luxurious mansions left by the Sui nobility. Li Yuan, a father who cared deeply about the harmony among his children, arranged for his sons and daughters to live on the same street, so they could support each other in times of need.

Thus, the residences of Li Jiancheng, Princess Pingyang, and Li Shimin were connected. However, after Li Yuan usurped the Sui throne and made Li Jiancheng the crown prince, Li Jiancheng moved to the Eastern Palace to assist in state affairs, leaving his house vacant. It was eventually given to Luo Shixin.

Perhaps it was a coincidence, perhaps it was fate. Li Shimin gave the vacant house in Yongxing Fang to Du Ruhui, which led to the tragic beating of Du Ruhui. Li Jiancheng gave his house to Luo Shixin, which almost resulted in a tragedy, but Luo Shixin's martial skills saved him from being beaten.

Luo Shixin watched as Princess Pingyang and her entourage entered the mansion. Just as he was about to knock on the door, he noticed a figure crouching in the corner of the wall, barely visible in the dim moonlight.

"Who's there!"

Luo Shixin called out, but received no response. After a moment's thought, he walked over.

As he approached, he saw a petite woman hugging her knees, her head buried in her legs, seemingly asleep. Her face was hidden, but her hairstyle was very familiar.

A figure appeared in Luo Shixin's mind, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "No way!"

"Hey, hey, hey!"

Uncertain, Luo Shixin reached out and gently pushed the woman's shoulder.

The figure murmured and slowly lifted her head, rubbing her eyes. Upon seeing who had woken her, she couldn't help but call out in surprise, "General Luo!"

In the moonlight, her face gradually became clear: cute and alluring, it was none other than Zheng Liwan.

Luo Shixin examined Zheng Liwan from head to toe. She looked travel-worn and disheveled. Her expressive, charming eyes were bloodshot, her eyelids swollen, and her beautiful face marred by smudges from wiping away tears.

"What happened to you? Who bullied you?" Luo Shixin's tone was stern. After all, Zheng Liwan was his fiancée, and as a man, he felt he should take some responsibility.

"My father!" Zheng Liwan said indignantly.

"Uh!" Luo Shixin cut off the rest of his words: "What did your father do?"

"My father is too barbaric. He arranged a marriage for me without asking me. He's domineering, hateful, barbaric, and annoying..." Zheng Liwan was full of resentment, speaking non-stop.

"Uh..." Luo Shixin was at a loss for words. Could this girl have come to give him a "good person card" and ask for a breakup? But it didn't seem like it!

After a while, Zheng Liwan said pitifully, "General Luo, my father doesn't want me anymore. Can you let me stay for a few days? Just a few days!"

Luo Shixin's mind was in a whirl. He hesitated and said, "That might not be appropriate!"

Zheng Liwan stomped her foot and said, "What's inappropriate? Why are you so ungrateful? I helped you get rid of Yin Ashu, and now you refuse to help me. I must have misjudged you." She was about to leave in anger but then pitifully pulled back her foot. "I really have nowhere to go! My father will definitely find me in a safe place, and I can't go to a dangerous place. After thinking it over, I have nowhere to hide except at your place, General."

Running away from marriage to her fiancé's house, was Zheng Liwan's mind playing tricks on her... or was there something else? Luo Shixin thought of a possibility and couldn't help but ask, "Miss Zheng, who did your father arrange for you to marry?"

Zheng Liwan pouted and said, "Who else but Cousin Lu? Today, only Cousin Lu and Aunt Cui visited my father. It couldn't be Aunt Cui, right? Cousin Lu is nice, but he's a bookworm. I won't marry him."

Luo Shixin finally understood. This girl didn't know that Cui had proposed on his behalf and thought that Zheng Renji had agreed to the marriage with Cousin Lu. In a fit of anger, she had run away to her "official fiancé."

Luo Shixin's headache was not just a headache; it felt like his head was about to explode. He wanted to tell her that the proposal wasn't from Cousin Lu but from Aunt Cui, and that her fiancé was him, Luo Shixin, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

If he told her, she might resist even more. Unable to make a decision, he decided to let her stay for now, rather than let her wander around to escape her marriage.

"Alright! Considering you helped me with your strategy, I'll let you stay for a while," Luo Shixin said, feigning reluctance.

Zheng Liwan's face finally lit up with a smile. "I knew General Luo was the best and wouldn't let me wander the streets. I won't be a burden. I can be your maid and your strategist, helping you come up with ideas. It's a win-win situation for you."

Luo Shixin said irritably, "Save it. Don't cause me any more trouble. Follow me!"

Zheng Liwan followed behind with a smile, relieved to have a safe place to stay.

Luo Shixin watched her and muttered, "I don't know where you get this misplaced confidence in me!"

Zheng Liwan smiled and squinted her eyes but didn't answer. In her heart, she thought, "Maybe this is what it means to have a kindred spirit."

Even Zheng Liwan herself wasn't sure why. But from the moment Luo Shixin decided to use her strategy, a chord deep in her heart was struck. Luo Shixin was the only one who recognized her intelligence and used her ideas, making her feel like a person who would die for a true friend.

So, when she ran away from home, the first place she thought of for refuge was Luo Shixin's mansion. She had an unwarranted and irrational trust in him.

The steward didn't say anything about Luo Shixin bringing a strange woman back. He was only a temporary steward, not a real one, and certainly not a spy for Li Jiancheng. His job was to maintain the mansion and follow orders, and he didn't meddle in other matters.

Luo Shixin asked the steward to arrange a place for Zheng Liwan to stay and prepare food and bathwater for her.

Seeing that Zheng Liwan was exhausted after eating, Luo Shixin didn't disturb her and let her rest.

Zheng Liwan lay on the fragrant bed, thinking about everything that had happened that night. She smiled faintly, "He's quite considerate." Then she thought of Zheng Renji and couldn't help but feel angry. She kicked the blanket a couple of times and said, "Forcing me to marry, forcing me to marry. When the daughter is gone, what will you have to marry?" She didn't realize that she had already delivered herself to his doorstep.