However, the salutatorian in the middle, they say heās only nineteen, with rather delicate features upon closer look, of course, you have to overlook the unevenness on his face.
"This Ye Ziāan looks quite good, itās just that his nose is covered in freckles," a young lady said regretfully.
"Isnāt that the truth? I donāt find the mole by his eye unattractive, but those freckles really are unsightly, there are just too many of them all clumped together." Another young lady spoke similarly, and after a while added, "Do you think I could give him my freckle-removing cream? And my skin-whitening cream, the one I bought from Divine Doctor Mu for six hundred silver taels, which works really well, look, the spots under my eyes are all gone."
All those sitting were young ladies from various households, and upon hearing this, they were thunderstruckā gifting a man with skin-whitening cream? It would be one thing to give freckle cream, but this too?
However, this young lady was quite pleased with herself, thinking her idea excellent, and she commanded her maid, "Go back and bring the unopened freckle-removing cream and skin-whitening cream from my makeup case. Oh, and also fetch two unused fine brushes from my fatherās study."
The little maid was somewhat troubled but still went on her errand.
"Yunhong, are you serious?"
"Of course I am! Once the parade is over, Iāll personally deliver them to him, and then Iāll tell him I want to marry him. Although heās only the salutatorian, heās young and has the backing of General Luo and the Third Prince; his future prospects are boundless." Her father had also mentioned to her that Ye Ziāan seemed to have an extraordinary relationship with the Emperor, but this, she would not divulge.
The young miss named Yunhong was the daughter of a first-grade official, but she was a concubine-born daughter. Although the official had only this one daughter and raised her like his legitimate child, her status as a concubine-born daughter was undeniableāneither high nor low.
"But Yunhong, I heard heās already married."
Yunhong showed not the slightest concern, waving her hand dismissively, "I know, but so what if heās married? He just has a countrywoman for a wife, who might be both old and ugly. How can she compare with us? We have status, beauty, and wealth, and most importantly, the power and influence that men desire. Any sensible person would know how to choose! As for his wife at home, I shall magnanimously let her become a concubine. Otherwise, people might say he abandoned his plain wife, which wouldnāt be a good reputation to have."
Another young lady agreed, saying, "Yunhong, thatās very reasonable, but I hear that young man is also General Luoās nephew, and wouldnāt the Luo Family have something to say about it? Iāve heard thereās a miss in the Luo Family too."
"Whatās there to fear? Rumors suggest that General Luo and the Luo Family are at odds. Ye Ziāan is the son of General Luoās own sister, so who is close and who is distant is still unclear. Besides, that woman from the Luo Family is simply a fool," retorted Yunhong, giving no thought to the Miss Luo in question.
But it must be said, this group is quite enoughāgossiping about othersā private affairs and entertaining grand illusions.
At this moment, Ye Ziāan, riding on horseback, is still unaware that he has already become the object of someoneās interest, the idea of hiding oneās ugliness a complete self-deception.
What they see in him are power, prospects, and the support he can offer their families in the future, not his appearance.
Ye Ziāan is now utterly disgruntled, the parade moving too slowly for his liking; he needs to get it over with and return home. Although he heard a message had been sent, whether itās genuine is anyoneās guess.
Calculating the time, his wife must be almost seven months along by now; by the time he returns to Funan, she is likely close to giving birth, and he must get back to be assured of her well-being.