Chapter One

Tao Fang Ao entered the Tao Manor.

'Second master, something bad happened,' Elder Jiang said.

historical

Elder Jiang's face was red and he was huffing from running too fast to report to second master.

'I'm in good health,' Tao Fang Ao said. 'You don't have to jinx my health.'

Tao Fang Ao opened his fan. Although he was teasing Elder Jiang, he knew something bad must have happened for Elder Jiang to be upset.

But the guards were holding in their laughter at the sight of Elder Jiang's disorderly state.

'Second master, someone came with a betrothal gift and she demanded to see you,' Elder Jiang said. 'But there are two young ladies who claim to be your betrothed.'

Tao Fang Ao's fan stopped in mid-air. His body tensed and he spoke in a dangerous tone. 'Tell me exactly what happened.'

'The two young ladies arrived an eighth of a shichen hour from each other,' Elder Jiang said. 'One of the young ladies is holding the betrothal gift but both young ladies claim to be your betrothed.'

Elder Jiang was grateful second young master returned home in time to deal with the complicated situation.

'Where are they?' Tao Fang Ao asked.

'Inside-' Elder Jiang said.

Tao Fang Ao didn't wait for Elder Jiang to finish, he strode into the guest room.

Elder Jiang didn't hesitate to follow second master. It wasn't often something that strange happened and he didn't want to miss out.

Inside the guest room, four young ladies were standing. One of the young ladies was Tao Tu Yun. She sensed someone entered the guest room and turned around.

'It's her,' Tao Fang Ao's heart said.

'It's him,' Tao Tu Yun's heart said.

Tao Fang Ao and Tao Tu Yun were separated less than a shichen hour. They both couldn't believe they met again so soon. He thought her face was still pale, but she looked healthier than she did when they met earlier. He didn't know why the purpose of her visit didn't make him angry instead he smiled amusingly.

'Gentleman, are you Tao Fang Ao?' the lady in the green dress asked.

Li Tai Fang was the lady in the green dress and she stood on Tao Fang Ao's left.

'I am,' Tao Fang Ao said.

Tao Fang Ao sat on a chair.

'I heard two young ladies claim to be my betrothed,' Tao Fang Ao said. 'Did you bring the betrothal gift?'

'Of course,' Li Tai Fang said.

Li Tai Fang showed Tao Fang Ao a vintage jade bracelet on her wrist that had Ao engraved on it.

'What?' Su Wu asked. 'How did the bracelet get into her hand?'

Su Wu was startled why Li Tai Fang was wearing her mistress' betrothal gift.

'Mistress, this bracelet belongs to you,' Su Wu said.

Tao Tu Yun opened her skilfully embroidered pouch, but it was empty.

Su Wu's eyes widened. 'I remember!'

Su Wu pointed an accusingly finger at Li Tai Fang. 'Mistress, I knew this young lady looked familiar. I remember we met them last night while we stayed at the inn. Her chamber was next to our chamber. She must have overheard us talking about mistress' betrothal and stole the bracelet from mistress.'

'You're a liar,' Cui Yu said. 'This bracelet belongs to my mistress. You and your mistress shouldn't accuse someone innocent. Second master, you can see my mistress' betrothal bracelet clearly. My mistress is your real betrothed. Second master, you should kick these two impostors outside your home.'

***

'Mistress,' Su Wu called.

Su Wu was worried the imposters' frightened her mistress speechless.

'Su Wu don't worry about it,' Tao Tu Yun said. 'We should leave.'

Tao Tu Yun's purpose for visiting the Tao Manor in Luo Yang Province was to break off the betrothal. Although she didn't expect to meet imposters, she was relieved to leave.

'Wait!' Tao Fang Ao said.

Tao Fang Ao sat and listened to the three young ladies arguing with each other. The situation surprised him but Tao Tu Yun's reaction surprised him the most. Tao Tu Yun was indifferent while her maid looked more concerned about the situation.

'Elder Jiang, can you bring me the bracelet for me to see closely?' Tao Fang Ao asked.

Elder Jiang immediately stepped in front of Li Tai Fang and retrieved the bracelet for second master. Then he stood aside to continue watching the amusing performance.

Tao Fang Ao carefully looked at the bracelet. It was the betrothal gift his father gave to his betrothed. It was similar to his first sister-in-law's bracelet except Ao was engraved on it instead of his first brother's name Ling.

'The two young mistresses, please explain how you possess this bracelet,' Tao Fang Ao said. 'Tell me your name and where you're from too.'

'My name is Li Tai Fang,' Li Tai Fang said. 'I'm from the imperial city. My father gave me this bracelet and told me to go to Luo Yang Province to look for my betrothed, a man name Tao Fang Ao.'

Li Tai Fang was scared she said something wrong by the intense scrutiny in Tao Fang Ao's eyes, her head couldn't help but tremble.

'It's your turn,' Tao Fang Ao said calmly to Tao Tu Yun.

'My name is Tao Tu Yun and I'm from Liu Yue Province,' Tao Tu Yun said. 'When I was six years old, Gentleman Tao was passing by Liu Yue Province. He stayed in my family home for several days. Before he left he gave me this bracelet. He instructed me when I turn sixteen that I should go to the Tao Manor in Luo Yang Province and request his second son Tao Fang Ao to honor our betrothal.'

Tao Tu Yun explained smoothly while looking directly at Tao Fang Ao's eyes. She was curious who he would believe. Although it was their second meeting, her intuition told her that he was wasn't someone easily deceived. The moment she stepped into Luo Yang Province, she heard many rumors about the Tao Fang brothers. The locals respected and loved the Tao Fang brothers.

Tao Fang Ao looked back and forth between Tao Tu Yun and Li Tai Fang, but his hard to read eyes landed on Tao Tu Yun. While everyone was holding their breath for his reply, he smiled at Tao Tu Yun.

'The two young mistresses both claim to be my betrothed but I don't know who is my real betrothed,' Tao Fang Ao said. 'Young mistresses should stay in the Tao Manor as guests while I investigate this matter. After it's resolved, I won't be merciful toward the imposter.'

'Wait,' Tao Tu Yun said. 'The truth is the purpose why I came here isn't for you to honor our betrothal but to break our betrothal. I think there is no reason for me to be here and I should leave.'

Although Tao Tu Yun's voice was soothing, her words startled everyone, even Tao Fang Ao's body tensed.

'How do I know if your words are sincere and not a ploy to retreat?' Tao Fang Ao asked. 'Like I said earlier, young mistresses should stay here while I find out who is my real betrothed. Everything else can be discussed later.'

Tao Fang Ao didn't know why his heart felt discomfort after he heard Tao Tu Yun wanted to break their betrothal. They've only met twice, he didn't know why he felt a strange connection with her.

'Elder Jiang, escort the young mistresses to the guests' chambers,' Tao Fang Ao said.

'Young ladies please follow me,' Elder Jiang said.

Tao Tu Yun didn't know why Tao Fang Ao insisted that she stayed in his home. But she couldn't reject Elder Jiang's hospitality and followed Elder Jiang to the guests' chambers.

Half a shichen hour later Elder Jiang returned to the guest room. Second master was still inspecting the bracelet.

'Second master, the young ladies have settled into the guests' chambers,' Elder Jiang said. 'Second master, do you know who is your real betrothed?'

'Elder Jiang, who do you think is real and who is fake?' Tao Fang Ao asked.

Elder Jiang wasn't an ordinary caretaker. Elder Jiang was fifty years old and he was the Tao Manor's caretaker for more than thirty years. He was loyal and caring toward everyone at the Tao Manor. He treated the Tao brothers like his sons. His biggest dream was for the four Tao brothers to succeed and have happy families of their own to honor their father's last request before dying.

'Second master, I'm not certain who is your real betrothed,' Elder Jiang said. 'Even though Lady Tao didn't possess the bracelet, she doesn't look like an imposter. This strange situation muddled my head.'

Elder Jiang didn't know why he believed the elegant Tao Tu Yun, but he felt she was genuine. He suspected Su Wu was telling the truth and Li Tai Fang stole the bracelet from Tao Tu Yun. He thought the strange situation was Senior Tao's fault for betrothing the four Tao brothers before dying. Apart from first master who was recently married, the three other Tao brothers didn't know who their betrothed was. All they knew was if they met their betrothed before their twenty-fifth birthday then they needed to honor their betrothal. But after the twenty-fifth birthday, their betrothal would be cancelled if they didn't meet their betrothed. It was the reason why third and fourth masters were in hiding. First master couldn't escape his fate and second master looked after the Tao Household while being weary before turning twenty-five.

'Elder Jiang, you should stand by and see how the real fake betrothed is unravelled,' Tao Fang Ao said. 'Like I said I won't be merciful toward the imposter.'

Tao Fang Ao was calmly fanning his ruthless head.

Tao Fang Ao wasn't merciful like his first brother, nor was he carefree like third brother and gentle like fourth brother. Anyone who schemed against him or had bad intentions to harm any of his family members, he would be merciless toward them and make them remember three words for life, Tao Fang Ao.

Elder Jiang shivered. He pitied the imposter who dared to deceive second master. He knew second master resented being betrothed, but second master hated the imposter more than second master's resentment. Whoever was the imposter, he hoped the imposter would confess before second master gathered evidence otherwise the imposter would leave the Tao Manor without their life intact.

***

The western guest chamber.

'Mistress, I didn't expect Tao Fang Ao was the man who rescued us,' Su Wu said. 'But what are we doing to do? Mistress, the imposter stole your bracelet and we can't leave.'

Tao Tu Yun frowned, it was Li Tai Fang's fault she was in an unwanted dilemma. Not only did Li Tai Fang stole her bracelet, Li Tai Fang dared to lie about being Tao Fang Ao's betrothed. She couldn't believe such an inconsiderate impostor existed in the world.

'I don't know what to do either,' Tao Tu Yun said.

Tao Tu Yun faced the open wooden window. The wind messed her hair but it couldn't blow away the worries deep in her heart. She remembered if Tao Fang Ao didn't save her and Su Wu in the alley then they would have lost their lives. She also couldn't help remembering how he held her protectively in his arms. She was curious what kind of person he was and how he was going to deal with having two women claiming to be his betrothed at the same time. She could see he was unhappy about their betrothal and Li Tai Fang's lies only added to his disgruntlement. She couldn't help but smile at the absurd situation.

'Mistress, how long do you think we have to stay here for?' Su Wu asked.

Su Wu felt helpless that in her mistress' weak condition, because her mistress' bracelet was stolen it delayed her mistress' initial plan.

'At most it'll be several days,' Tao Tu Yun said.

Tao Tu Yun had anticipated after breaking the betrothal she could return to Liu Yue Province. But she knew it was better if she patiently stayed in the Tao Manor for several days. Tao Fang Ao was a man who had intelligent eyes, and that she shouldn't dream about leaving until he had evidence to show who the imposter was.

'Are you Tang Fang Ao's betrothed?' Luo Bing Liang asked.

Luo Bing Liang was a petite woman and also Tao Fang Ling's wife. She had shiny eyes and it would be hard for strangers to detect that she was two months pregnant. Her shiny eyes looked curiously at Tao Tu Yun.

'Young lady, you are...' Tao Tu Yun said.

Tao Tu Yun admired the ethereal beauty of the woman who was standing in front of her. She didn't know why her heart was curious about the beauty's identity.

'I'm Luo Bing Liang,' Luo Bing Liang said. 'I'm Tao Fang Ao's first sister-in-law.'

Luo Bing Liang assessed Tao Tu Yun, smiled and a dimple was visible on her cheek. It only took a glance and she instantly liked the elegant lady in front of her. Tao Tu Yun had a rare tranquil aura that could make anyone feel at peace while looking at Tao Tu Yun.

'Lady Luo, you came here because...' Tao Tu Yun prompted.

Tao Tu Yun was surprised someone like Luo Bing Liang who looked the same age as her was married and was also Tao Fang Ao's first sister-in-law. She felt Luo Bing Liang's happy aura meant it would be strange if Luo Bing Liang was unhappy after marrying into the Tao Household. Her eyes turned gloomy, she thought in her life she wouldn't be as blessed as Luo Bing Liang.

'You don't need to be alarmed,' Luo Bing Liang said. 'I came here to greet you.'

Earlier Luo Bing Liang heard Elder Jiang 'volunteer' to tell her about Tao Fang Ao's real fake betrothed situation so she rushed to the guests' chambers. She thought these recent days at the Tao Manor were too peaceful, but the four ladies' appearance had livened the Tao Manor. She was happy to see the amusing performance, because even Tao Fang Ao was affected.

'Can I call you Tu Yun?' Luo Bing Liang asked.

'You can,' Tao Tu Yun said.

Tao Tu Yun smiled and nodded. She felt surprised Luo Bing Liang felt close to her.

'Lady Luo, have you been to the eastern guest chamber?' Tao Tu Yun asked. 'Tao Fang Ao's other betrothed is there.'

Luo Bing Liang thought there was a teasing tone behind Tao Tu Yun's gentleness. Her shiny eyes widened. She realised Tao Tu Yun was an intelligent woman and wouldn't need another person's support to overcome the situation.

'Tu Yun, I realised I'm continually liking you more and more,' Luo Bing Liang said. 'I'm not going to lie to you, earlier I visited the eastern guest chamber.'

Luo Bing Liang admitted Li Tai Fang was a beauty. But Li Tai Fang gave off an aura of falseness that she couldn't endure.

Tao Tu Yun smiled. Before she could reply, a tall man appeared behind Luo Bing Liang. She didn't know where the tall man came from. He was frowning but his eyes were bright while he was looking at Luo Bing Liang.

Luo Bing Liang suspected why Tao Tu Yun was looking behind her. She turned around, closed her small mouth and her heart cried for mercy.

'Xiao Bing, didn't you say you felt seriously nauseous?' Tao Fang Ling asked. 'Why aren't you resting in our chamber? Why did you run to the western guest chamber?'

Tao Tu Yun could see Luo Bing Liang's tall husband loved Luo Bing Liang. He wrapped an arm around Luo Bing Liang and wanted to escort Luo Bing Liang to their chamber to rest.

Tao Tu Yun smiled and nodded farewell at the captured Luo Bing Liang.

'Wait... wait...' Luo Bing Liang pleaded. 'Tu Yun welcome to the Tao Manor. I'll visit you again soon to gossip.'

Tao Fang Ling led his wife toward their chamber. But she turned around and waved farewell to Tao Tu Yun.

Tao Tu Yun could see the resemblance between Luo Bing Liang's husband and Tao Fang Ao so it wasn't hard for her to see that Luo Bing Liang's husband was Tao Fang Ao's first brother.

Tao Tu Yun thought Luo Bing Liang was an interesting woman and being detained in the Tao Manor wouldn't be a bad experience. But she hoped after Tao Fang Ao found out the truth then she could safely leave, because the Tao Manor wasn't her home.

***