Xun Lang's Scheme

When Tang Heng arranged a marriage for Tang Zhen, the goddaughter he had just taken in, she was still a baby who blew milk bubbles. Before Tang Zhen had even begun to look like a young woman, Tang Heng died.

He died.

So Tang Zhen, who had been adopted by Tang Heng after both her parents died, was sent to the Yingchuan Tang family, where she became neighbors with Xi Zhicai.

Xi Zhicai was a man of talent. He believed girls shouldn’t only read Lessons for Women, and even went so far as to claim that reading only Lessons for Women was useless, even for managing a household and raising children, let alone for living in harmony with one’s husband. A few years later, to prove his point, Xi took Tang Zhen, who had just started learning to read, to his home to teach her.

Tang Zhen: Thanks so much. You really are something.

When Xun Yu was fourteen, he happened to visit Xi Zhicai and came across twelve-year-old Tang Zhen, whom Xi was making study with her head bowed over her books. Seeing the little girl’s rosy, delicate face and lovely features, he couldn’t help feeling fond of her. He picked up a book Xi Zhicai had left on the desk, intending to test her.

But when the young master Xun took a close look at the book, his expression changed.

Good heavens, Xi Zhicai had left The Military Methods of Wei Liaozi on the table.

Xun Yu thought it over and decided to test her on the teachings of Confucius and Mencius instead, so as not to make things difficult for her. After all, girls were shy, and he didn’t want to put her off.

So the handsome and dignified Xun sat in front of Tang Zhen, who was busy writing and drawing who knew what, and asked with a smile,

“How are your studies going, Miss Tang?”

As if rescued, Tang Zhen quickly put down her brush. “I’ve only just started learning The Art of War. The other day, Brother Xi asked me what I thought about Bai Qi’s massacre of a city. I couldn’t answer, so he told me to copy the book a few more times and read The Military Methods of Wei Liaozi. He said I’d understand it eventually.”

Xun Yu thought Xi Zhicai’s view made quite a lot of sense.

A woman who studied could do more than sit at the same table as her husband. She could clearly hold her own against any man!

Who wouldn’t like a clever and beautiful wife? Xun Yu immediately began making plans to propose.

After returning home and making discreet inquiries, Xun Yu learned that Tang Zhen had already been promised to him.

Xun Yu: This really is a marriage decreed by fate. First come, first served. Brother Xi, I won’t hold back.

A handsome, widely read strategist x a gentle female teacher with a self-aware mind

Other works in the same series:

[Yang Jian] Moon Over Peng Mountain

[Li Si] The Rabbit-Chasing Decree

[Huo Qubing] Snow on the Qilian Mountains

[Xun Yu] The Young Master Xun’s Plan

[Sima Zhao] Spring at Shangyang

[Xie Xuan] Song of the Northern Mansion

Theme: How could anyone not enjoy the grass growing close to home?