Chapter One (Part 3)

'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.

***

End of Chapter One (Part 3)