Chapter 971: A Visitor from the Cui Family of Chang’an (4)
It was thought that the two would quarrel until they each married into their respective families and no longer saw each other. However, no one expected that when the Queen Mother recently picked a county prince for the newly ’ji’ Chang’an County Master, the latter would shock everyone by declaring her affection for her cousin Yan Junyu and her desire to marry him and become his wife.
One was the nephew whom the Queen Mother cherished like her own grandson, and the other was the niece whom she cherished like her own granddaughter. The Queen Mother actually thought their fights were amusing and promptly summoned her brother, Duke Wu’an, to the palace to ask for his opinion.
Duke Wu’an naturally knew who Chang’an County Master was. He too liked this beautiful and bright girl, and was more than willing to accept her as his granddaughter-in-law. Thus, the siblings reached a consensus, only waiting to inform Yan Junyu before selecting an auspicious date to finalize the marriage.
It wasn’t just that Yan Junyu’s heart belonged to another, even if he wasn’t interested in anyone else, he had no intention of marrying such a domineering woman as Chang’an County Master. When Duke Wu’an brought up the matter, Yan Junyu didn’t even have to think before he refused, shouting "I would marry a sow before marrying a tiger mother," which resulted in Duke Wu’an punishing him severely with physical force.
The shy and timid Chang’an County Master was still in the palace awaiting good news, yet what she received was this declaration. Enraged, she resolutely grabbed a riding whip, stormed into Wu An’s Mansion with her guards, and demanded that Yan Junyu stand at the city gate, apologize to her, and agree to the marriage.
Yan Junyu was not about to comply, even after being whipped by Chang’an County Master several times. He did not relent, shouting even louder, "I would marry a sow before marrying a tiger," and soon, the entire Wu An Mansion was echoing his words.
Chang’an County Master, furious and irritated, decided that if one whipping wasn’t enough, several more would do. She was determined to make the impudent Yan Junyu swallow his words and agree to marry her. So she visited Wu An Mansion every day, and even when Yan Junyu went into hiding, his doting grandfather Duke Wu’an would gleefully reveal his whereabouts to his future granddaughter-in-law.
Yan Junyu’s secret hiding places throughout the capital were all discovered. After Chang’an County Master stormed into Yanyu House in a fit of "catching an adulterer," turning the place into a scene of utter chaos, Yan Junyu could bear it no longer. He decisively ran away from home and sought refuge in Liu Yang Village for some peace and quiet.