16
As long as it is not the fourth young lady of the Ming family, I can make an effort on your behalf for any other woman.
These words echoed in Shen Yu’s ears; though each character was clear, their combined meaning eluded him: “Why? For what reason?”
His mind reeled, and it took him a long moment to recover: “Your Highness, why can it not be the fourth young lady of the Ming family? Is it due to social standing?”
Jiang Xu looked directly at him, his gaze indifferent: “I have no need for subordinates who are perpetually entangled in matters of love.”
…?
How could you be so consumed by matters of the heart all day long?
“You lied to me simply because you wished to see her. How can I know that, in time, you will not draw your sword against me for her sake?”
Shen Yu was stunned for a moment. Did His Highness know that he had visited his cousin Tan at Lingmiao Temple before?
It was wrong of him to lie about this matter, but what possible reason could Cousin Tan have that would compel him to draw his sword against His Highness?
He wanted to offer some explanation, but Jiang Xu had already lowered his gaze and coldly commanded, “Leave.”
“My lord—”
“General Shen, please.” A shadow guard emerged silently from nowhere, blocking Shen Yu’s attempt to step forward with the scabbard of his sword.
–
When Shen Yu returned to the Jing’an Marquis’s residence, the hour for evening meal had long passed. Shen Hua had specially prepared some delicacies to seek him out; seeing him practicing martial arts in the courtyard until the corners of his eyes turned red, she understood somewhat what had transpired.
“Brother.”
Shen Yu glanced at her, completed the remaining half of his move, spun around to sheath his sword, and walked slightly out of breath to the pavilion: “Ah Hua, what brings you here?”
Shen Hua opened the food box and said softly, “I heard from the maids that you encountered Ming Chu in the East Garden today.”
Shen Yu nodded and sat down.
Shen Hua also took her seat. “Did she incite you to do something?”
Shen Yu thought for a moment and replied, “Not exactly.”
Shen Hua had intended to warn that Ming Chu was arrogant, capricious, and far from kind-hearted, advising her brother to avoid further dealings with him. Yet, judging by his expression, he clearly had no mind to hear such words at the moment.
Thus, she changed the subject, saying, “Some time ago, I happened to hear that both the Empress Dowager and His Majesty have recently summoned the Marquis to the palace for private audiences. It seems they intend to arrange a marriage alliance for the Marquis’s household.”
“Where did you hear this?” Shen Yu asked, stunned.
Shen Hua avoided answering, saying only, “Brother, you must not fall in love with Ming Tan.”
Shen Yu suddenly rose to his feet. “Why does everyone forbid me from loving her? I—”
“Brother!” Shen Hua also stood up, cutting him off. “Is this really so hard to understand?”
Shen Yu’s eyes reddened with anger as he turned his head away, refusing to look at her.
“You and Ming Tan are incompatible in nature. You have only met her a few times; your affection is merely superficial, based on appearances. Having lived under the same roof with her for half a year, I know her temperament and thoughts far better than you ever could. You ought to marry a virtuous wife who can uphold the Shen family’s standing, not bring home an ancestor who knows nothing but spending money to be worshipped!
“Furthermore, though I am well-versed in court politics, even I have sensed lately that Ming Tan’s marriage is not something even the Marquis and Marchioness of Jing’an can decide on their own. This is not merely her personal affair; it concerns the entire Jing’an Marquis household. Brother, you are a military man; surely you must have noticed this? If there were mutual affection, fighting for her hand might be worthwhile, but since she clearly has no interest in you, why rush headlong into misery?
“The noble families of the capital are a battlefield where blood is never shed openly. Given that we merely reside as dependents in the Jing’an Marquis’s府邸, you simply cannot and should not harbor any designs on Miss Ming. Even supposing, against all odds, you successfully married Ming Tan, have you considered how people would slander both her and me behind our backs?”
She mimicked, “These two siblings are staying in the Marquis’s residence with clearly ulterior motives, seeking to climb the social ladder. Since the elder brother married the legitimate daughter of the Marquis’s household, the younger sister must be no better, just waiting to latch onto power and prestige!”
“Marrying a distant cousin who resides in one’s own family estate—perhaps they’ve long been secretly involved in some scandalous affair. Didn’t this Miss Ming’s former fiancé engage in an illicit relationship with his own female cousin? Truly shameless!”
Shen Yu’s mind went blank.
He turned his head to stare at Shen Hua, stunned.
Shen Hua paused for a moment, her voice softening considerably: “Brother, Ah Hua speaks only for your own good. Romantic longing in this world is but an illusion; moreover, this particular illusion was merely your own one-sided desire.
“I only hope you remember Father’s words: restore the Shen family’s honor soon and bring glory to our ancestors. What true man need worry about lacking a wife? Should you one day achieve extraordinary feats for Da Xian, like His Highness the Prince of Dingbei, what woman would not be yours to choose?”
She took the pastries from the food box, placed them upon the stone table, then cast one last lingering glance at Shen Yu before lifting the box and walking slowly away.
Shen Yu watched her retreating figure, standing motionless in place for a long time.
In truth, Shen Hua had no desire to speak so bluntly, yet her brother was precisely the sort of person who, unless addressed with directness, would neither comprehend nor heed what was said.
She had long been aware of Shen Yu’s feelings for Ming Tan; however, at that time, Ming Tan was still betrothed, rendering any affection futile. A significant portion of her own dislike for Ming Tan stemmed precisely from Shen Yu’s infatuation.
In the past, she might have coldly allowed her brother to crash against obstacles a few times without interference. Yet ever since she overheard the Marquis and Marchioness of Jing’an worrying about intentions originating from the imperial palace, she had been pondering the matter. By now, she had discerned part of the truth: the marriage arrangements concerning the House of Jing’an were likely far more than a simple union between young people. She could no longer permit her brother to become entangled in this and cause some disastrous upheaval.
It seemed that vile creature, Ming Chu, had also heard rumors from Concubine Liu regarding the palace’s intention to bestow a marriage decree. Resentful at the prospect, she did not wish for Ming Tan to secure such an advantageous match.
She couldn’t care less how that wretch intended to deal with Ming Tan, nor did she wish to; but daring to use her brother as a pawn meant this grievance would be firmly etched in her memory.
She halted outside the courtyard and lifted her gaze upward.
When she first arrived in the capital last year, she hadn’t noticed how profoundly dense the night sky of Shangjing truly was—devoid of stars, devoid of moon. Those who walked alone, if even slightly careless, could easily tumble into this boundless darkness, never to recover.
–
After the spring imperial examinations, as late spring gradually approached, the invitation to the poetry gathering hosted by Zhang Hanmiao, the third young lady of the second branch of the Pingguo Duke’s household, arrived as scheduled.
However, this invitation was not only sent to Ming Tan and Bai Minmin as Zhou Jingwan claimed, but also reached Shen Hua and Ming Chu.
Judging by the situation, invitations were being distributed far and wide without discrimination.
Upon learning it was merely a pretentious poetry gathering, Ming Chu had no intention of attending; she could not compose poetry and deeply resented those delicate young ladies in the capital who paused every few steps to pant and constantly competed with one another.
Only after Concubine Liu persuaded her with much effort did Ming Chu finally agree, for she was already at an age when marriage arrangements were being considered; who could know whether her future husband might turn out to be a cousin from some young lady’s family?
Moreover, there is no shortage of women from military families in the capital who practice martial arts. Going out more often and forging connections with others can only be beneficial.
On a previous occasion, Lady Pei had told Ming Tan that she could consult her first whenever matters arose.
This time, while preparing for the Late Spring Poetry Gathering, Ming Tan mentioned Shu Jingran to Lady Pei as she selected her attire: “Mother, are you aware of the second young master of the Shu family, who earned the title of Third Place Scholar in this year’s imperial examinations? During the procession when the successful candidates rode through the streets, I caught a distant glimpse of him. His bearing and appearance were truly extraordinary.”
Lady Pei paused; her face, previously alight with amusement as she watched Ming Tan choose her clothes, softened by three degrees upon hearing this. She replied carefully, “The Shu family is renowned throughout for their noble integrity; naturally, the children they raise are beyond reproach.”
“Hmm, I think so too,” Ming Tan replied in high spirits.
Pei Shi took a sip of tea, her heart weighed down with worry.
During the period Ming Tan spent at the temple offering prayers for blessings, both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor had summoned the Marquis for casual conversations. Though the Marquis was rather careless by nature, he could not fail to notice that their remarks, both explicit and implicit, revolved around the marriages of their children. Clearly, they were hinting at arranging betrothals!
As for these proposed matches, while it remained unclear whom the Emperor had in mind, the Empress Dowager had already explicitly offered two options for selection: the position of a commandery princess consort to a certain prince of a commandery, and that of a heir apparent’s primary wife to a certain imperial prince’s successor.
Those two were not merely figureheads from a declining imperial clan; they were also openly aligned with the Empress Dowager’s faction. Moreover, Ming Tan had just mentioned the Second Young Master of the Shu family today. In terms of appearance and demeanor, those two fell far short of the Second Young Master of Shu, even proving inferior to Liang Zixuan. How could she possibly be willing?
“Mother, what is wrong?” Ming Tan asked.
Lady Pei quickly masked her unease with a faint smile. “It is nothing.”
She ventured cautiously, “Could it be that you have taken a liking to the second young master of the Shu family?”
“It would not be accurate to say I have taken a liking,” Ming Tan replied, her gaze still fixed on the table laden with fresh hair ornaments. “I merely feel that, should marriage negotiations arise, the second young master of the Shu family would be quite suitable.”
As long as it is not affection, all is well.
It’s the “I’ll marry no one but you” that gives me a headache.
Lady Pei breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it best to let the young girl go out tomorrow for the poetry gathering to ease her mind. Since the matter of the imperial betrothal remained undecided, there was no need to burden her with unnecessary worries for now.
Thinking of this, Pei Shi stood up again and joined Ming Tan in selecting their attire.
–
Early the next morning, carriages and horses stopped outside the second gate, ready to escort the three young ladies to the residence of the Duke of Pingguo.
Ming Tingyuan had to attend court, so he departed far earlier than the three of them. After the court session concluded, he intended to leave together with Bai Jingyuan, but unexpectedly, an attendant serving Emperor Chengkang called out to him, saying that His Majesty summoned him to the Imperial Study for an important discussion.
Ming Tingyuan followed the attendant away.
Entering the Imperial Study, Ming Tingyuan bowed with clasped hands and said, “Your subject greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy eternal peace.”
“No need for such formalities.” Emperor Chengkang raised a hand in dismissal, then returned to his desk. Lifting a scroll of bright yellow silk brocade, he gently blew away the still-wet ink upon it. “I have summoned you regarding the previously discussed matter of arranging your marriage.”
Ming Tingyuan, upon hearing this, immediately sought to deflect with excuses.
Emperor Chengkang raised an eyebrow and stared directly at him, saying, “Do you know that the Shoukang Palace is dissatisfied with your repeated evasions and is now inclined to issue a direct imperial decree?”
“…?”
Skipping even the pretense of courtesy and proceeding straight to forced marriage?
“I will not stop you, but I can offer you a second choice.” Emperor Chengkang tapped the table, gesturing for him to come forward and examine the imperial edict. “See how suitable this match is that I have chosen for your daughter.”
“…”
What kind of second choice is this? It is still nothing but forced marriage.
Ming Tingyuan knew that, holding significant power and coveted by many factions, he had always been extremely reluctant to involve himself in such partisan strife. Yet now, with the political landscape shifting, it was clearly no longer possible for him to remain neutral and preserve his own integrity. Even something as simple as his children’s marriages had somehow ignited various hidden struggles.
Bracing himself, he stepped forward.
Emperor Chengkang stood aside, muttering softly, “In truth, the marriage of one’s children does not necessarily reflect your stance, Ming Tingyuan; there is no need for excessive worry. I respect your choice. For now, set aside other concerns and simply consider the person in question. Can what the Empress Dowager intends to arrange for you possibly be compared with the match I have chosen for you?”
Ming Tingyuan’s gaze remained fixed upon the imperial edict, filled with disbelief. Could it truly be this person? How could it possibly be him?
“Your Majesty, might I… might I be granted some time to reconsider?”
He spoke so startled that his words stumbled over one another.
Emperor Chengkang: “The Empress Dowager’s edict has already been drafted; it was I who found an excuse to temporarily withhold it. Yet what can be delayed for a moment cannot be postponed forever. Perhaps before you even step beyond these palace gates, the Empress Dowager’s decree will have already arrived at your Jing’an Marquis residence. What are you hesitating over? Had he not personally spoken up, I…”
“I will marry!”