Belle's words left Lily Evans and Mrs. Charlotte Evans momentarily stunned, but then realization hit and they burst into laughter, hugging each other tightly.
“Hahaha, I can't breathe!” Lily Evans gasped between laughs. “Arthur Evans tried so hard to climb the Leo Family tree, even offended the county magistrate by breaking off his engagement. Who could've guessed he’d end up marrying a courtesan from Red Blossom Pavilion—a fake heiress! And that Miss Lucy is something else, pretending to be a rich lady just to snare a wealthy man, only to land Arthur Evans, the penniless scholar! Honestly, those two are made for each other—two frauds, two fools, a perfect pair!”
Mrs. Charlotte Evans laughed until tears streamed down her face. "Isn't that the truth! Arthur Evans thought he’d snagged the richest heiress, but he’s fallen right into a pit! Married that courtesan Miss Lucy in front of the whole village—no way to undo it now!"
Belle grabbed Lily Evans’s sleeve, giggling, "Madam, you don’t know—Miss Lucy was a real beauty back in the day, but now she’s past her prime and takes on all sorts of clients! I bet half the men in Clearwater Village have paid her a visit. Just imagine—when the bride walks through the village, every few steps she’ll bump into an old customer. Oh, what a scene! Too wild to even picture!"
Lily Evans clutched her stomach, laughing, "Arthur Evans has really won the green hat this time!"
None of them cared about the wedding feast anymore—they dashed straight to Cynthia Wu’s house to gossip.
Cynthia Wu, waiting for her own wedding, couldn’t be bothered with the Evans Family and skipped the ceremony. But when Lily Evans brought the juicy gossip, Cynthia listened, collapsed onto her bed laughing, and declared, "I even felt sorry for Miss Lucy and scolded Arthur Evans for being a jerk! Turns out, they’re perfectly matched! They should absolutely be together—may they bicker for a hundred years!"
"Exactly! A courtesan paired with a fool—forever and ever!" Lily Evans pounded the bed, still laughing. "I heard Arthur Evans offended his ex-father-in-law, the county magistrate, by breaking off the engagement. Now he wants to take the scholar exam, but the magistrate will surely mess with him. Not only did he miss out on marrying rich, he’s ruined his future! Scholar? He’ll be lucky to pass the first exam!"
While the women were deep in gossip, the Evans Family wrapped up the wedding ceremony. The bride was sent off to the bridal chamber, while Arthur Evans and the others greeted the villagers at the banquet.
Helen Parker and Grandma Evans were fixated on the Leo Family’s dowry, but by afternoon, there was still no sign of anyone from the Leo Family bringing it over.
Helen Parker muttered, then said to Arthur Evans, "Arthur, where’s the dowry? Didn’t you say the Leo Family was loaded? How come they haven’t even sent a single servant or maid?"
Arthur Evans was starting to get suspicious too, but figured the wealthy Leo Family wouldn’t shortchange their only daughter. He reassured Helen Parker to just wait a bit longer.
While the Evans Family waited anxiously, Miss Lucy—actually Lila Green—sat in the bridal chamber, even more uneasy.
Lila Green had her face covered the whole way, but she quickly noticed the Evans Family’s house was tiny—not at all like the grand estates she’d imagined.
Now, sitting in the bridal chamber, there wasn’t a single maid or matron to attend her. Glancing down, she saw the floor was just bare earth—not even a single brick.
Lila Green grew more and more suspicious. If Arthur Evans was so rich, why was his house so shabby? Unable to hold back, she lifted her veil for a look…
Well, what do we have here? This rundown mud-brick hut—what’s going on? Lila Green’s heart sank. So this so-called wealthy Evans heir was just a poor farmer from a remote mountain village!
Lila Green flung off her veil, sprang to her feet, rolled up her sleeves, and her gentle face turned fierce. "Arthur Evans, you dare trick me? Watch how I turn this place upside down!"