Song Dynasty Dreams: Marrying Zhao Pan'er at the beginning-Chapter 28 - Zhou She Is a Fraud

Chapter 28 Zhou She Is a Fraud

The sky was just beginning to brighten when Zhao Pan’er woke Gao You.

“Dear, wake up!”

Gao You groggily opened his eyes, looking outside. He had no desire to get up.

“So early?”

Zhao Pan’er chuckled.

“We have to attend Prince Qian’s banquet today.”

“We need proper attire—and a suitable birthday gift.”

Gao You sighed.

Wasn’t he just going there to paint?

Why did he need to prepare a gift?

Of course, he was just grumbling. Prince Qian’s household had sent an invitation for him as a distinguished guest. If he treated himself like just a painter, that would be an insult to himself.

Still half-asleep, Gao You was dressed and groomed before being pulled out of the house by Zhao Pan’er. The two walked along the Qiantang River for quite some time before reaching a clothing shop.

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Seated inside, Gao You realized—he needed to buy a carriage and hire more servants. If he had to rely on his own two feet for every trip, he’d collapse from exhaustion.

“Madam Zhao, these are the finest garments in fashion!”

The shop owner enthusiastically introduced the latest styles from surrounding regions. Gao You, yawning, simply let Zhao Pan’er make the decisions.

“System, sign in.”

With nothing to do, Gao You triggered his system’s daily check-in.

[Congratulations! You have received a Scholar’s Skill Pack (Choose one skill).].

A Scholar’s Skill Pack?

Gao You, intrigued, checked its contents.

Inside were various scholarly show-off skills—Poetry composition, essay writing, couplets, even inscription writing.

So many options?

He suddenly felt decision paralysis.

Forget it.

He’d pick one when the need arose. The pack had no expiration.

“Dear, how do you feel?”

Zhao Pan’er’s voice brought him back to reality.

He glanced at his reflection in the bronze mirror. With his sharp brows and striking features, he was undoubtedly a flower-boy.

Even if he wrapped himself in rags, he could still walk a fashion runway.

Did he care about clothes?

“Try another one.”

Smirking slightly, he instructed the shop attendants to change his outfit. It took a while, but both he and Zhao Pan’er finally settled on garments they were satisfied with.

_______

“Yinzhan?”

Zhao Pan’er suddenly spotted Song Yinzhan walking down the street—accompanied by a man.

Gao You took a closer look.

Zhou She?

That scumbag!

If things followed the original storyline, Zhou She would deceive Song Yinzhan into marriage, abuse her, and try to seize her property.

As Gao You considered his next move, Zhao Pan’er had already paid for the clothes and dashed outside.

Seeing no choice, he followed.

“Sister!”

Song Yinzhan was startled.

“What are you doing here?”

“I should be asking you that.”

Zhao Pan’er’s eyes fell on the man beside her. “And this is…?”

A bit embarrassed, Song Yinzhan introduced him.

“This is a friend I met recently.”

“The humble Zhou She.”

Zhou She bowed respectfully.

“I’ve heard Yinzhan speak of her sister often.”

“What a coincidence to meet you here.”

Gao You strolled leisurely beside Zhao Pan’er and suggested, “Let’s have some tea.”

Zhao Pan’er agreed—some conversations weren’t meant for the street.

She gestured towards a teahouse.

“Shall we sit for a while?”

Zhou She readily accepted.

This was exactly what he wanted—an opportunity to assess Zhao Pan’er. Song Yinzhan was gullible and easy to manipulate. If he could win over her sister, securing her wealth would be effortless.

_______

Seated in the teahouse, Zhou She wasted no time boasting.

“My family has been merchants in Huaiyang for generations.”

“We specialize in fine leather goods, with dozens of shops, nearly a hundred servants, and multiple estates.”

“…”

On and on he went, flaunting his supposed wealth. Zhao Pan’er, however, remained silent, listening patiently without reaction. When Zhou She finally stopped, she smiled politely.

“How did you and Yinzhan meet?”

“Our bond was forged through music!”

Zhou She’s words made Song Yinzhan flinch.

“Zhou Lang…”

Zhou She gave her a deep, affectionate gaze. “Or does Yinzhan not feel the same way about me?”

Song Yinzhan had been fed sweet words for days.

She had developed feelings for him—So, despite her nervousness, she said nothing and lowered her gaze shyly. Zhao Pan’er calmly took a sip of tea, steadying herself.

“Could you elaborate?”

Zhou She put on his best poetic demeanor.

“That day, Yinzhan played Song of Lady Mingfei by the lake.”

“I accompanied her from afar with my flute.”

“That was how we met and connected as soulmates.”

Zhao Pan’er remained expressionless.

Then, she asked a simple question.

“What’s the next line after ‘One goes to the Purple Pavilion and into the northern deserts’?”

Zhou She froze.

He had no idea. He was a fraud.

He knew nothing about poetry, let alone classics by Du Fu.

Zhao Pan’er stood and turned to Song Yinzhan.

“Come with me.”

“Yinzhan!”

Zhou She tried to intervene.

“I truly—”

Before he could finish, Zhao Pan’er pulled Song Yinzhan away.

______

Back on the street, Song Yinzhan yanked her hand free.

“Sister! Why are you doing this to Zhou Lang?”

“He’s a liar.”

Zhao Pan’er stated it bluntly.

Song Yinzhan frowned. “What has he lied about?”

Zhao Pan’er’s voice was cold.

“He couldn’t even recite Song of Lady Mingfei. How could he claim to be your soulmate?”

“These are just cheap tricks from the pleasure districts—only naive girls like you fall for them.”