Unintentional Surprise (GL) - Chapter 15

Those ten carts of gifts—Wen Dinglan hadn’t even looked through them carefully. So why was she already displeased?

Dongqing couldn’t figure it out. Song Tianlang couldn’t figure it out either.

No one in the city who heard about the story could figure it out.

They only knew that day, Wen Dinglan did exactly as she said—she rejected the gifts and had Song Tianlang dust himself off and drive all ten carts back to where they came from.

That “where they came from” was, of course, the Zhuangyuan Manor.

The city buzzed with endless speculation.

Now, everyone was wondering: “What exactly does Master Wen fancy?”

The idle sons of noble families began competing and placing bets, determined to find a gift that would please Wen Dinglan.

The guests at Fu Xian Ling Yin Pavilion had multiplied several times over. After enjoying the music and dance, they would all ask the same question:
“Do you know what Master Wen has taken a liking to lately?”

Listening to music and watching dances were now just secondary amusements. Figuring out what Wen Dinglan liked, giving the right gift, and making a name for themselves—that had become the most important pursuit in the capital.

The clever performers at the Pavilion, of course, would never easily reveal the answer to any guest.

In truth, no one really knew what Wen Dinglan liked.

Not even Dongqing.

She simply fooled these rich young men into coming day and night, happily spending money, only to end up leaving empty-handed, with their dreams of “winning the beauty’s heart” slowly crumbling into reality.

Of course, some were just too stubborn to wake up, even after hitting a wall.

They brought no small amount of trouble to Fu Xian Ling Yin Pavilion.

That day, Wen Dinglan was in the courtyard tending to a nearly blooming pale pink peach blossom.

Dongqing came running in a panic and snatched the watering can from Wen Dinglan’s hands.

Seeing Dongqing in such a fluster, Wen Dinglan immediately knew something had happened again that required her to step in.

Today, she happened to already be dressed up. There wasn’t even an excuse to stall.

Dongqing grabbed her and, without another word, pushed her toward the main hall.

“At least tell me what happened, so I can come up with an idea before I show my face,” Wen Dinglan said lazily, dragging her feet. Despite being at the center of the storm, she was completely composed.

Dongqing blurted it all out in one breath, not even pausing to breathe:
“Che Kuiyuan spent a large fortune from the Prime Minister’s estate to build a golden zither, and he’s brought it here personally!”

“Slow down. What golden zither?” Wen Dinglan’s own zither had its strings broken when she used it to save the Zhuangyuan (top scholar) — the whole city knew. Che Kuiyuan’s gift was certainly thoughtful and carefully planned.

“Golden body, golden base, golden strings. I checked—it’s real! And Che Kuiyuan even said publicly that it’s a betrothal gift—for you, Master Wen!”

If she accepted it, it would mean she agreed to become Che Kuiyuan’s new concubine.

If she refused, the women of the Prime Minister’s household would likely sue the Pavilion and drag Wen Dinglan into a legal mess.

She was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

“This Che Kuiyuan—so shamelessly debauched!” Not only had he brought trouble to the Pavilion, but he was still smug about it, completely clueless.

Wen Dinglan obviously couldn’t accept the gift.

But how could she reject Che Kuiyuan in a way that was reasonable and justified?

Wen Dinglan refused to go out. Dongqing couldn’t drag her.

“I can’t go out.” If she could stall for a bit, she would.

“We might dodge the first day of the lunar month, but not the fifteenth. What if Che Kuiyuan moves in and refuses to leave?” Dongqing was truly starting to panic.

Even immortals fear clingy pests.

And Dongqing couldn’t help but feel frustrated.

If only Wen Dinglan had accepted Jiang Shunyiao’s ten carts of gifts back then, none of this trouble would’ve happened.

But now, it was far too late to say anything.

What’s done was done.

Wen Dinglan paced back and forth in front of the pale pink peach blossoms, lost in thought, her mind cycling through dozens of solutions.

Yet not one of them could resolve the matter in a way that let the Pavilion come out safe and clean.

Just then, one of the dancers rushed in to report again.

Dongqing grabbed her immediately:
“Something’s happened in the front hall again? Is Che Kuiyuan stirring up more trouble?”

Wen Dinglan was concerned too and waited for the rest.

“N-no… not the front hall. Someone’s come to the back door. She’s wearing dark robes, definitely not a regular guest. She asked for you by name, Master Wen.”

Dongqing, already stressed, snapped:
“We don’t have time for the back door right now—the front hall is still a mess!”

Wen Dinglan found it strange that someone would come through the back and asked more:
“Other than the dark robes, anything else?”

The dancer replied honestly:
“Yes. She was holding a celadon wine flask and said—‘She owes Master Wen a cup of fine wine.’”

At that moment, the pale pink peach blossoms burst open, releasing a faint, enchanting fragrance.

Wen Dinglan’s days of frustration melted away.

She had finally received the visit she’d been waiting for.

She had finally received the one gift she could accept.