On the rooftop outside the house.
Xiao Ce and Gao Wenbin stood on it, holding sharp swords, glaring at each other. This was entirely different from when they had followed Fan Zehao to his fiefdom.
Xiao Ce pointed his sword at Gao Wenbin, "You know my feelings for Li Sisi, why must you interfere between us!"
Gao Wenbin, with his usual cold demeanor, did not seem to notice the sharp sword. He looked expressionlessly at the agitated man and replied indifferently.
"You aren't even friends, if I recall correctly, it was your mother who went to insult Sisi's humble origins, and it was you who tried to take her as a concubine, only to be rejected. What, now you want to marry her, have you asked your parents for permission?"
"My marriage is my decision. As long as you stay out of it, I can marry her!"
Gao Wenbin sneered, "If you had this resolve earlier, you would have married her then. Now you boast about your marriage being your decision? A nursing baby shouldn't talk so big. Go back, wash up, and sleep."
"Sisi has already agreed to marry me, so stop your foolish dreams. If you dare to pester my fiancée again, I will not forgive you!"
A gentle breeze blew, their robes fluttered, neither yielding to the other in presence. From afar, the scene was truly unique.
Wangcai and Dazhuang huddled together, whispering, "Do you think Supervisor Xiao's martial arts are better, or Guard Gao's?"
Dazhuang looked at the two men, who seemed evenly matched in presence, and said, "I think Lord Gao is superior. When we caught Ji Shiyi, I saw him with his trembling sword, and in a few swift moves, he took down a whole group. Very dashing."
As they were discussing, the men on the rooftop actually began to fight. The servants thought they were sparring, but when they saw Gao Wenbin injure Xiao Ce, they realized they were serious.
"This is bad, they're fighting! Quickly find the Prince, or Supervisor Xiao will be sent to the west!"
Wangcai's voice was not quiet, and Xiao Ce heard him clearly, making him so angry he almost vomited blood.
Gao Wenbin mocked him, "See? The servants have clear eyes. You should give up!"
"Never! I will never give her to you!" Xiao Ce's stubbornness flared.
"Give? Sisi is a person, not something you can just give away. She is already my woman!"
Gao Wenbin also became angry. With a flick of his wrist, his soft sword swished out a flower, aiming straight for Xiao Ce's face.
"Stop!"
Fan Zehao stood on the ground and roared at the two men in the air.
"Living too comfortably, have nowhere to vent your energy? Or are you just bored out of your minds!"
Gao Wenbin and Xiao Ce, glaring at each other, descended from the rooftop, standing on opposite sides.
"Let's talk inside!"
Inside the house.
Xiao Ce complained to Fan Zehao, "He took advantage of the situation, it's dishonorable, he's stealing my woman!"
"Sisi was never your woman. Speak carefully, lest you tarnish my fiancée's reputation!" Gao Wenbin retorted, not backing down.
Upon hearing that it was about Li Sisi, Fan Zehao, a rough man, felt he was not suited to interfere. He looked at the person standing to the side, who was a bit dazed.
"Wife, you handle this matter!"
Zhao Jiaqi looked at the cross-eyed men and asked, "You both like Sisi?"
"Yes!"
This time, they both answered in unison, without any hesitation.
One woman, two men wanting to marry her, this was truly...
"You are not allowed to fight again tonight. We will resolve this when Sisi arrives tomorrow. Today ends here. Tend to your wounds, and then… disperse!" Fan Zehao waved them away irritably.
When faced with such matters, it was best for the person involved to clarify things. Regardless of who Sisi chose, she would support her.
In the middle of the night, the Prince's mansion gate was knocked open.
Steward Wang, sound asleep, was woken by the gatekeeper, "Steward, Li Sisi and her family have arrived. Xiao Ce was brought here by Li Chuang, and they are now in the front hall. Master Li wants to see the Prince to seek justice!"
The groggy man slowly got up, took a deep breath, and exhaled, "This Xiao Ce, what is he up to? Can't even let people sleep!"
If he truly liked Miss Sisi, he should have fought for her in the capital. Now that someone else liked Miss Sisi and they had feelings for each other, he became jealous.
Alas!
"Serve them well, I'll go fetch the Prince!"
Steward Wang got dressed and went to the madam's courtyard. He stood at the foot of the wall and called out softly, "Prince, Prince? Master Li Youcai requests an audience!"
Half a cup of tea later, Fan Zehao emerged wearing a cloak, and gently closed the door.
"What's going on?"
"Master Li's family and Xiao Ce are all here. It's likely that Xiao Ce went to the Li residence and something happened, causing the anger of the Li family!"
Steward Wang said it tactfully, but conveyed everything without missing a beat.
"Understood. You go to the front hall, I'll get dressed and be right there!"
Thinking of Xiao Ce gave him a headache. After getting dressed, he went to the front hall.
Li Sisi was weeping softly, with Gao Wenbin standing beside her, glaring furiously at Xiao Ce, as if he wanted to devour him!
Xiao Ce knew he was ashamed, but for whatever reason, he sat slumped in a chair, silent.
Fan Zehao sat down and asked Li Youcai, "Uncle Li, what happened!"
"Xiao Ce came looking for my daughter in the middle of the night, asking her to marry him. What kind of behavior is that? Fortunately, it was in the middle of the night, and fortunately, we know him, otherwise, Sisi's reputation would really be... Prince, what do you think should be done!"
Not only was Li Bo's face twitching with anger, but even hearing it made one angry. "Xiao Ce, you speak!"
"I willingly accept punishment!" His heart was dead, he no longer cared what punishment he received, he said faintly.
In his mind, he was still thinking of Sisi yelling at him, she liked Gao Wenbin, not him anymore!
"Since that is the case, then... thirty military strokes!" Fan Zehao did not want to punish him too severely, but he had to.
Thirty military strokes would be enough to make him lie in bed for days to clear his head!
But someone couldn't bear to see it and immediately stepped forward, "I will carry out the punishment."
Gao Wenbin, unable to refuse, said to the Prince. The anger in his heart would not be extinguished until it was vented.
If Xiao Ce fell into his hands, he would probably not be able to get up for ten days to half a month. He looked at Uncle Li, then at Sisi crying uncontrollably, his heart could not soften.
"Granted!"
In the courtyard, Xiao Ce took off his upper garment and stood straight. Gao Wenbin, holding a military rod, struck him hard, one blow after another.
After a few blows, his back was bleeding. Xiao Ce coughed up blood and staggered a few times. Halfway through the beating, Li Youcai couldn't bear to watch any longer.
He stopped Gao Wenbin, "Stop hitting, let this matter end here!"
The future father-in-law had spoken, and Gao Wenbin had no choice but to stop. He turned and pulled Sisi, then walked to Li Youcai and Fan Zehao, and declared, "I like Sisi, and I want to marry Sisi as my wife. This is my only wife in this life. I implore Uncle Li and the Prince to grant my wish!"
"Sisi, are you willing? Speak boldly, don't be afraid, I will be your guarantor!"
Sisi nodded shyly, "I am willing to marry him as my wife, I ask the Prince to grant our wish!"
"Whether I grant it or not is not important, the key is whether Uncle Li agrees!" Fan Zehao teased.
Li Youcai was very satisfied with Gao Wenbin. Though he had no parents, and his family background was ordinary, they were not from any high-ranking families, so they were considered a good match.
"Of course, I am willing. Tomorrow morning, you will go and present the betrothal gifts, and get the wedding done as soon as possible." This way, he wouldn't have to worry anymore.
Gao Wenbin, showing a rare smile, replied readily, "Understood, Father!"
One word of "Father" made Li Youcai extremely happy. He had come in a fury, and left laughing heartily, the contrast between then and now was too great.
Xiao Ce put on his clothes. The moment he heard Li Sisi agree to marry Gao Wenbin, he quietly left.
He had missed his chance in the end.