21
Jiang Xu, the only two-character prince of the Great Xian Dynasty. Born as the imperial grandson with a golden spoon in his mouth, he lost his father, Crown Prince Mincong, to an unexpected death before reaching his first birthday.
The late emperor was first invested as crown prince before ascending the throne, adopting the reign title Chunxing. Emperor Chunxing ruled for barely over a decade before passing away due to illness. The current sovereign, having inherited the position from his status as heir apparent, ascended the throne with the reign title Chengkang.
As the former imperial grandson, Jiang Xu originally occupied an exceedingly awkward position. By all accounts, surviving through multiple transitions of power was already fortunate enough; having grown to adulthood, he should merely have been enfeoffed as a commandery prince according to precedent and dispatched to some remote corner, out of sight and out of mind.
Yet, in the very year Jiang Xu established his own princely household, the current sovereign elevated him directly to the rank of imperial prince—a superlative status beyond which no further promotion was possible. Moreover, after achieving legendary status by leading three thousand elite troops to a decisive victory, his return to the capital was met by the emperor himself, who personally descended from his carriage at the city gates to welcome him and bestowed upon him the additional title “Dingbei” (Pacifier of the North). Such an extraordinary honor—an imperial prince further distinguished by military achievement—represented, for any military commander, the utmost glory imaginable.
…
Indeed, His Highness the Prince of Dingbei stands exceptionally noble and revered.
After pondering the life story of Prince Dingbei that Bai Minmin had sought out, Ming Tan unconsciously nodded.
Then the question arose: where could one secretly catch a glimpse of this exceedingly noble and immensely powerful Prince Dingbei? Apart from these biographical details, his appearance, stature, habits, and preferences seemed rarely known to anyone.
At dinner time, Ming Tan again forced down just a few bites before setting aside her chopsticks.
As the weather grew warmer, her appetite worsened. In recent days, even the incense in her room had been removed; instead, a large jar of fresh bergamot was placed in the main hall. Its light, fruity fragrance helped to ease her troubled heart.
Seeing that Ming Tan had been eating very little lately, her delicate face noticeably thinner, Su Xin grew concerned. After clearing away the evening meal, she went to the kitchen, rolled up her sleeves, and began preparing food herself.
Ming Tan usually loved the almond custard Su Xin made. To prepare it, the almonds first had to be crushed and sifted, then mixed with water into a smooth paste, strained again to remove any residue, and finally simmered with rice flour and sugar. During the simmering, the mixture required constant stirring over low heat to achieve a fine, silky texture.
Once the almond custard was prepared and cooled, Su Xin chilled it along with its bowl over ice for a while, sprinkled some crushed almonds on top, and carried it back to the Zhaoshui Courtyard.
Seeing the chilled delicacies, Ming Tan’s appetite indeed improved. Su Xin had prepared two servings; after finishing one, she was still reaching for the other.
But Su Xin stopped her, gently advising, “Miss, eating too many cold treats will upset your stomach. You haven’t left the house for several days. Why not take this almond custard to the study to pay your respects to the Marquis? It would do you good to stretch your limbs. Once the chilled custard has settled, I’ll cook you chicken noodle soup upon your return. The broth is simmering now; the young maid is watching the fire.”
Ming Tan pondered for a moment and agreed; indeed, she hadn’t stepped out of the house for several days. However, she would spare herself from her father’s company, as she had no desire to hear him eloquently recount once more the bloody exploits of His Highness, the Prince of Dingbei, whose hands were stained with countless lives.
She had Lü’e attend to her, refreshing her appearance with a new toilette, before setting off for Lanxin Courtyard carrying almond ice cream.
After delivering the ice cream and chatting with Lady Pei in the flower hall for quite some time, a steward from the household arrived to settle accounts, prompting Ming Tan to rise and take her leave.
While returning to her courtyard via the Eastern Garden, she happened to catch sight of Shen Hua leading her maids in picking flowers within the garden. After a brief consideration, she decided to approach them.
In truth, she understood that on that day at the Duke of Pingguo’s residence, Shen Hua had not spoken up for her sake, but rather for her own.
Shen Hua had taken residence in the marquis’s household on the eve of her marriage solely to earn a reputation as a young lady properly instructed by the Marchioness; had Ming Chu tarnished her virtue, it would have equally ruined Shen Hua’s own standing.
Conversely, Ming Chu’s reputation mattered little to Shen Hua. Everyone knew she was a daughter born of a concubine, raised in the borderlands under her aunt’s care, and had only recently returned to the capital. Even if she were foolish or malicious, no one would blame the Marchioness for inadequate instruction, nor would such accusations tarnish Shen Hua’s own character.
Yet regardless of Shen Hua’s motives, she had genuinely offered assistance, and for that, gratitude was certainly due.
“Cousin.” Ming Tan stepped forward.
“Fourth Sister.” Seeing Ming Tan, Shen Hua was not surprised; she adjusted the peonies in her basket and spoke in an ordinary tone, “Are you coming from Lanxin Courtyard?”
Ming Tan gave a soft hum and offered a shallow curtsy. “On the day of the poetry gathering, I must thank you, Cousin, for speaking up on my behalf. If there is ever anything you need from me, please do not hesitate to ask.”
“I merely spoke the truth; there is no need for you to dwell on it, Fourth Sister.” Shen Hua gently supported her rise, knowing that Ming Tan’s acknowledgment of the favor was sufficient, without needing to spell things out too explicitly. “Oh, by the way, I haven’t seen you these past few days. Allow me to congratulate you on securing such an excellent match.”
Ming Tan offered only a faint smile, saying nothing, while subtly observing Shen Hua.
Not long ago, rumors throughout the household claimed that Shen Hua was destined to be elevated to Changyu Street, soaring upward to become a side consort of the Prince of Dingbei. On the Lantern Festival, when she entered the palace, her attire and demeanor clearly indicated her ambition for that very position. Yet now, she seemed genuinely sincere in her well-wishes, displaying not a trace of bitterness or resentment.
Both being astute, Shen Hua naturally understood what Ming Tan was thinking. Plucking a peony, she changed the subject: “Just now, Fourth Sister mentioned that if I ever needed anything, I should speak freely. In truth, I do have a request.”
“Although your wedding date has not yet been set, it is surely not far off. Since we all reside in the Marquis’s household, according to our ancestral customs, Third Sister and I ought to be married before you. Therefore, discussions regarding my betrothal must inevitably commence soon. I only hope that Fourth Sister might put in a good word for me before the Lady, so that she may choose a suitable husband for me.”
These words clearly indicated her lack of interest in becoming a concubine in a prestigious family.
Ming Tan nodded. “Naturally so. With Cousin’s exceptional beauty and talent, even without any recommendation, you are certain to find an ideal husband.”
Shen Hua replied modestly, “In any case, I cannot compare to my fourth sister.”
During the Lantern Festival, the imperial palace hosted a grand banquet inviting noble ladies, specifically intended for selecting a consort for His Highness, the Prince of Dingbei. Shen Hua had indeed considered that she might be chosen as a secondary consort. However, at that time, she knew very little about the aristocratic families and royal titles in the capital, and she had overestimated her own standing.
The prestige and nobility of the Jing’an Marquis’s household were barely enough to secure a seat within the palace gates; the rows of seats outside the palace walls, stretching into the distance and obscured by the biting cold wind, seemed endless. Moreover, during the imperial banquet, His Highness, the Prince of Dingbei, did not even show the slightest courtesy to the younger sister of Noble Consort Yu or the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Cheng’en. From the moment she stepped out of those palace gates, she abandoned all such delusions and began reconsidering her own marriage prospects.
Yet now, when such honor has fallen upon her fourth sister, it appears that her fourth sister is not particularly delighted by it.
“His Highness the Prince of Dingbei is heroic and extraordinary, truly an ideal match. Why, does Fourth Sister seem troubled by something?”
“Heroic and extraordinary?” Ming Tan seized on the key phrase. “How does Cousin know he is heroic and extraordinary?”
Shen Hua paused. “My brother mentioned it once in passing, saying that His Highness the Prince of Dingbei commands troops like a god and is heroic and extraordinary.”
Wasn’t this just ordinary praise for a military commander? What was there to know or not know? No—this Fourth Sister of hers… seemed particularly fixated on the words “heroic and extraordinary.”
Shen Hua seemed to understand something, suddenly covering her mouth with a handkerchief as she laughed, “Since my brother praised him for being handsome rather than brave, Prince Dingbei must at least be decent-looking, if not truly striking.”
“It is common for ordinary families to meet before becoming engaged, but since Fourth Sister’s marriage was personally decreed by His Majesty, such arrangements were naturally omitted. Still, there would be no harm if Fourth Sister managed to catch a glimpse of him privately.”
Ming Tan nodded gently, then added with a touch of bashful reserve, “Prince Dingbei comes and goes unpredictably; how could one possibly arrange a private meeting with him so casually?”
That was indeed true.
Shen Hua pondered for a moment and said, “If Fourth Sister trusts me, I do have a way to arrange a private meeting for you.”
Her brother was simple-hearted; prying his whereabouts from him required less effort than picking flowers to brew wine. Moreover, if Ming Tan’s marriage proceeded smoothly, it would bring her nothing but benefits and no harm whatsoever, so naturally she ought to help.
–
Three days later, at noon, Shen Hua prepared a basket of lunch and, accompanied by two young maids, headed straight for the Imperial Camp in the capital region.
Upon arriving outside the camp, the guarding soldiers blocked their path. Shen Hua gracefully curtsied, then presented the token given by Shen Yu, explaining that she was the younger sister of General Shen and had come specially on this hot day to deliver a light lunch to her brother. The soldiers, ears turning red as they rubbed their noses, promptly let her enter.
Once inside the camp, the two young maids who had kept their heads bowed behind her quietly lifted their gaze. What met their eyes were the faces of Ming Tan and Bai Minmin, who had come along for the fun.
When the three reached a secluded spot, Shen Hua instructed, “Wait outside for now. I’ll take the meal to my brother first, then find a way to persuade him to let us send the extra lotus leaf porridge to His Highness, the Prince of Dingbei.”
Shen Hua knew Shen Yu inside and out. Regarding the matter of Ming Tan being betrothed by imperial decree to the Prince of Dingbei, Shen Yu still found it utterly unacceptable.
Yet at the same time, he held the Prince of Dingbei in great respect, leaving him torn between conflicting emotions and deeply troubled. Presumably, he would be willing to share the porridge, but he would absolutely refuse to deliver it personally. Thus, with just a few carefully chosen words from her, she could easily persuade Shen Yu to assign any soldier to accompany her maid in delivering the porridge.
Everything proceeded smoothly; within half a quarter-hour, Shen Hua emerged from the tent and instructed Ming Tan and Bai Minmin, who were standing guard outside: “You two, follow this young soldier to the Prince’s tent and deliver some lotus leaf porridge.”
Both women curtsied in unison and assented.
Upon arriving before the tent of the Prince of Dingbei, however, the guarding soldier proved less accommodating. He scanned them up and down and gruffly declared, “Just hand the porridge over to me, ladies.” ???
How could that possibly be acceptable!
Seeing the soldier about to take the food box, Ming Tan quickly devised a plan and solemnly fabricated a story: “Sir, you may not know that this lotus leaf porridge is kept chilled inside an ice chest. The ice chests in our household are specially crafted and extremely delicate; I fear you might not know how to open one properly, and it would be most unfortunate if the contents were spilled.”
Oh, so they’re implying that our burly soldiers might break their… ice… ice chests?
Still, it’s true we don’t know what such things are; these wealthy families certainly are particular about their food.
He reluctantly stepped back half a pace, lifting the curtain aside. “Only one young lady may enter. Please depart promptly after delivering your message, so as not to disturb His Highness while he attends to official matters.”
Ming Tan exchanged a glance with Bai Minmin, who kept gesturing insistently for her to go inside.
Actually, having Bai Minmin accompany her wouldn’t have been so nerve-wracking; going in alone, however, was truly…
But since they had already come, there was no reason to let Bai Minmin go in on her behalf to make the assessment. Besides, Bai Minmin’s taste in men was questionable: she found Second Master Shu handsome, and even considered Ming Tan’s own father exceedingly imposing.
Thinking of this, Ming Tan bowed respectfully: “Thank you, sir, for your understanding.”
Upon entering the tent, Ming Tan felt an overwhelming silence.
The prince’s tent was noticeably larger than those of other generals from the outside, and inside it was arranged with great comfort. She vaguely caught sight of a black-clad figure standing before the military strategy table; her heart immediately began pounding like a drum. Daring not to look further, she kept her eyes lowered and walked steadily to the desk. Controlling her voice to sound normal from a distance, she bowed and said, “Your Highness, General Shen’s young master has sent me to deliver this porridge to you. The lotus leaf porridge is still chilled, perfect for clearing summer heat.”
Jiang Xu: “…”
That voice.