The Empress Dowager’s blessing settled the matter of Lady Cheng’s marriage. Though it was only a verbal agreement at this stage, with the formal betrothal process yet to begin, those who needed to know had all learned of it.
“I never foresaw how it would begin, nor how it would end.”
When Madam Chen entered the room, she found Chen Shao holding a teacup and murmuring these words to himself.
“You’re speaking of Jiao-niang’s marriage to Duke Jin’an, aren’t you?” she asked.
Chen Shao seemed to notice her presence only upon hearing her voice. With a slightly startled expression, he nodded almost reflexively.
“Yes, she and…” he began, then suddenly frowned. “How did you come to know of it?”
From the moment Duke Jin’an petitioned the Emperor for permission to marry Cheng Jiao-niang to the Empress Dowager’s eventual blessing, a mere half-day had passed. Chen Shao, with his connections at the palace, had received the news immediately. But how did his wife, a lady confined to the inner quarters, learn of it so quickly?
“I was at Madam Qin’s just now,” Madam Chen explained, a note of concern in her voice. “Before I could even finish speaking, her face went pale, and she hurried off to find Shi’san…”
It made sense that the Qin family would know.
Chen Shao nodded.
“So… is the matter truly settled this time?” his wife asked.
“Wasn’t Young Master Gao’s situation considered settled last time too?” Chen Shao replied, draining his teacup of the long-cold tea. “Who can say what will happen? Whenever this young lady is involved, things always take an unexpected turn. It’s simply impossible to predict.”
That was certainly true.
“In truth, the Duke is surely a better match than Young Master Gao,” Madam Chen remarked.
“Better in what way?” Chen Shao countered. “One sought to save reputation, the other seeks practical gain. Which is truly better?”
Young Master Gao had been driven by sheer stubbornness to subdue the young lady and reclaim his wounded pride. Duke Jin’an, however, sought to marry Cheng Jiao-niang not out of rivalry or pique, but for the sake of Prince Qing…
Both had their own motives and advantages.
“Not necessarily,” Madam Chen replied. “Do not forget, Jiao-niang is a great beauty. Few can rival her in appearance.”
A beauty?
Chen Shao was taken aback. In his memory, he had never truly registered the young lady’s looks – he had almost forgotten she was a lady at all…
“Given her… nature, who would notice such a thing?” He shook his head with a wry smile.
“Our Dan-niang would,” his wife retorted, unconvinced.
Chen Shao gave a derisive chuckle.
“Now you’re just talking nonsense,” he said. “Is Duke Jin’an a child?”
Could a child have grown up safely under such circumstances? Could a child, bearing the identity of an imperial clansman, have earned such fame and established himself?
Madam Chen shot him a reproachful look before sighing.
“I just… want things to be better for her,” she said. “At the very least…”
She paused here and smiled slightly.
“At the very least, the Duke is somewhat more handsome than Young Master Gao.”
Chen Shao also smiled and nodded.
“Well, that’s one improvement,” he said.
At least it’s better than her marrying into the Gao family. That was likely why the Emperor had agreed to it as well.
“Speaking seriously, will the Gaos cause any more trouble?” Madam Chen asked again.
Chen Shao, holding his empty teacup, smiled.
“If Gao Lingjun were to make another fuss,” he said, “then he wouldn’t be Gao Lingjun anymore.”
…
“Father, are we just going to let this go?” Young Master Gao cried, his face flushed with fury and frustration.
Ever since learning the news – or more precisely, from the moment he heard that Duke Jin’an had petitioned the Emperor for the marriage – Gao Lingjun had remained utterly unperturbed. It was as if his own plans to call upon Lady Cheng and seek her hand had never existed.
“This is an outright insult! What gives Duke Jin’an the audacity to slap the Gao family across the face like this?” Young Master Gao continued to shout.
Gao Lingjun looked up from the book he was calmly reading, completely composed.
“The Emperor,” he stated.
His son was momentarily stunned into silence.
“What?”
Gao Lingjun glanced at him.
“His audacity comes from the Emperor,” he repeated.
Young Master Gao let out a frustrated grunt and slumped into his seat. “The Emperor spoils him far too much! Even if there’s favoritism, there should still be an order to things – first come, first served,” he complained.
“It’s a good thing that the Emperor spoils him,” Gao Lingjun replied, his tone placid as he casually turned a page.
“Father!” the young master exclaimed, agitation sharp in his voice. “Are we just going to accept this?”
“We are,” Gao Lingjun said. “As I said before, this outcome may not be unfavorable. You see? It has turned out quite well.”
Well? How?
Young Master Gao was utterly bewildered.
Gao Lingjun set his book down, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching his lips. “The Emperor has permitted our blade to be aimed at Duke Jin’an. Is that not a good thing?”
“And now, it’s even better,” he continued. “The two of them are tied together. It saves us the trouble of dealing with them separately and in sequence.”
“This is truly a most fortunate development.”
…
“Is this really a good thing? Is it really?”
Back at the Zhang residence, the maid’s excited chatter had been going on for quite some time.
Old Master Zhang dug a finger in his ear, feigning annoyance.
“Old Master, Old Master!” The maid darted in front of him again, barely containing her excitement. “Can I start making the wedding dress for our lady now? Can I?”
“No,” Old Master Zhang replied.
The maid froze, her excitement instantly replaced by anxiety.
“Old Master?”
“What’s the rush?” Old Master Zhang said, raising a hand and counting on his fingers. “Only two contenders have stepped forward so far…”
A smirk played on his lips as he glanced at the old servant steadily roasting tea beside him.
“How about a wager? Let’s guess who’ll jump out next.”
The old servant chuckled, but the maid grew even more frantic.
“Old Master,” she said, stepping closer, “are you saying that even the Duke might not end up marrying our lady?”
“That depends on whether His Highness is blessed with good fortune,” Old Master Zhang replied with a laugh. “If he’s lucky, someone else will step forward to compete for her hand, and he’ll escape this fate. But if no one else comes… and she ultimately lands in his lap, then he’s truly out of luck.”
The old servant’s laughter boomed louder, mingling with the sound of the maid’s frustrated stomping.
“Old Master, stop teasing me like this!” the maid cried. She turned on her heel. “I’m not asking you anymore. I’ll go ask the Master instead!”
Watching the maid storm off in a huff, Old Master Zhang shook his head.
“I wasn’t teasing her,” he said. “I’m serious. That young lady is utterly cunning. Any man who marries her would surely be sold out and still end up counting her money for her. How could that possibly be a good thing? One should be running for the hills, not scrambling to win her hand. They’re all fools, rushing headlong into it.”
The old servant, standing nearby, shook his head in disagreement.
“Old Master, I’m not so sure about that,” he said. “Look how well things have turned out for you. You gained a fine maid for nothing, and you have another one outside who remembers you on every festival, sending you loads of food and drink. You sent one maid out and got two in return.”
Old Master Zhang turned to look at him.
“Eh? Are you implying that I’m the fool?” he said.
Those who needed to know had learned of the matter, but the majority remained unaware – after all, only half a day had passed.
Just as Zhou Fu stood before the Cheng residence, poised to kick the door, the urgent clatter of hooves sounded behind him. He turned his head and saw Qin Hu leap from his horse, striding swiftly forward.
“Shi’san, you–” Zhou Fu began.
But before he could finish, Qin Hu brushed past him and shoved the door violently.
Though physically impaired since childhood, Qin Hu, like all young men from prestigious families, had never neglected horsemanship or archery.
The arms capable of drawing a battlefield-worthy bow now put their full force into pushing the door. The impact was no less powerful than Zhou Fu’s intended reckless kick. With a heavy thud, the side gate, which had been only loosely latched, swung open under the force.
Everyone, inside and out, was startled.
“Young Master Zhou,” the gate guards exclaimed, their eyes shifting to Zhou Fu before their expressions cleared with understanding. They bowed in greeting.
This time, it really wasn’t me!
The thought flashed through Zhou Fu’s mind, but he had never been one to bother with self-justification.
“My apologies,” Qin Hu said, coming to a halt as if startled by his own actions. A mild, courteous smile touched his lips. “This gate… seems rather flimsy.”
The guards exchanged glances, unsure how to respond.
“Is Lady Cheng at home? I am–” Qin Hu began, his tone gentle and measured.
But before he could finish, Zhou Fu shoved him from behind.
“Stop pretending!” Zhou Fu snapped. “You were so frantic you nearly broke the door down, and now you stand here mincing words. Do you really think any of them care about your refined manners and elegant composure?” With that, he strode past Qin Hu and marched inside.
Qin Hu shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips, and hurried after him.
Ahead of them, a servant had already rushed off to announce their arrival.
The main hall was unchanged. Cheng Jiao-niang emerged to greet them, and two young maids served tea.
“Why isn’t Ban Qin here?” Qin Hu asked with a smile, his gaze lingering on the two maids who had withdrawn to sit behind Cheng Jiao-niang.
That spot had always belonged to the younger Ban Qin. As for the older Ban Qin, she was often too busy, making her presence a rare sight.
“She is occupied,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
Did that mean both Ban Qins were busy?
Qin Hu’s smile widened.
“Then, my lady, would you consider adding a new Ban Qin to your household?” he said lightly. “I would be happy to send one over.”
Before Cheng Jiao-niang could respond, Zhou Fu coughed, cutting him off.
“Do you have one to offer too?” Qin Hu asked, glancing at him. “I asked first. First come, first served.”
“Enough of this nonsense!” Zhou Fu snapped, glaring. “Let’s talk business. There’s no time for jokes.”
Qin Hu smiled and nodded, turning his attention back to Cheng Jiao-niang. His expression grew serious.
“No matter how minor this matter may seem, we must find a way to address it,” he said, his tone formal and measured.
This is it! He’s going to say it! He’s going to say it!
Zhou Fu’s body stiffened, his hands on his knees clenching into tight fists.
“You know, recently there has been…” Qin Hu continued, but before he could finish, Zhou Fu abruptly interrupted.
“If it comes to the worst, we can go to the Northwest,” he blurted out, his eyes fixed on Cheng Jiao-niang. “The Northwest is a good place too. You can build a career there, achieve your goals. You don’t necessarily have to stay in the capital.”
His words drew the immediate attention of both Cheng Jiao-niang and Qin Hu, their gazes snapping toward him.
“Running away won’t solve this kind of problem,” Qin Hu said, shaking his head.
“Why wouldn’t it?” Zhou Fu retorted, his face tense. “Do you really think they can falsely accuse our Zhou family without cause?”
“Of course they can. Since when does an accusation require a just cause?” Qin Hu replied. “Liu-lang, stop this. This is no longer a game.”
“I am not treating it as a game,” Zhou Fu shot back. “If I say I’ll marry you, then I’ll marry you. I’m not afraid of anyone.”
He said it! He said it!
And he had said it himself – not through Qin Hu’s prompting!
“You can’t,” Qin Hu said, frowning.
Can’t?
What is this brat trying to do?
Zhou Fu’s face flushed crimson.
“…You couldn’t back during the Gao family affair, and now, with Duke Jin’an involved, you’re even less capable,” Qin Hu continued.
Zhou Fu stared, bewildered.
Duke Jin’an?
Qin Hu turned his gaze to Cheng Jiao-niang, his expression grim.
“Lady Cheng,” he said, “Duke Jin’an has petitioned the Emperor for permission to marry you. It happened this morning.”
As the words left his mouth, he sensed the atmosphere in the room was not what he had expected.
The young lady’s demeanor remained unchanged. But then, she was always like that. Presumably, even if the Emperor himself wished to take her as a consort, her expression wouldn’t flicker.
Zhou Fu, however, had paled – though his reaction seemed less one of shock and more one of… sudden understanding.
Understanding?
“Was that what Duke Jin’an came to discuss with you yesterday?” Zhou Fu cried out.
Yesterday? Duke Jin’an? Came here?!
Qin Hu whipped his head around to stare at Cheng Jiao-niang, and in that single moment, a terrible understanding seemed to dawn.
No. It couldn’t be. It was impossible. Absolutely impossible!
