34
When Jiang Xu asked his question, his expression was earnest, showing no sign of perfunctoriness.
Ming Tan was momentarily at a loss for words, then instinctively explained, “Luodai… it only needs to be applied with water. As for the Shuiwan and Yuanshan eyebrow styles, on that day at Daxiangguo Temple, I wore the Shuiwan brows. The night before last at the Marquis’s residence, I wore the Yuanshan brows.”
After her explanation, she glanced at Jiang Xu’s expression.
Excellent. From her husband’s handsome face, which betrayed little emotion yet held a faint trace of confusion, it was clear he had not noticed any difference between the eyebrows she wore the night before last at the Marquis’s residence and those she wore that day at Daxiangguo Temple.
Ming Tan had previously thought that, given her husband’s cold disposition, he might simply be unwilling to paint her eyebrows for her. Yet she never expected that her husband genuinely did not know how to paint them at all.
Nowadays, it is fashionable for young noblemen in the capital to visit courtesans; poems describing eyebrow-painting and applying kingfisher feather ornaments are frequently recited. Even her father was somewhat versed in such arts.
Ming Tan composed her delicate features into a thoughtful expression for a moment, unwilling to give up. She had intended to offer some guidance, but Jiang Xu suddenly assumed an air of “What’s so difficult about painting eyebrows? I can master it without instruction.” With remarkable composure, he picked up the spiral eyebrow pencil, dipped it in water, and then—
He drew a thick, bold stroke across her brow.
That thick stroke was applied with remarkable calligraphic flair.
Ming Tan stared into the bronze mirror, utterly stunned.
What, exactly, did he think he was painting? A majestic pine and bamboo, or perhaps a military defense map of the capital? It was merely eyebrow makeup; there was absolutely no need for such imposing grandeur!
Seeing that the man still intended to cause trouble on the other side, Ming Tan snapped back to her senses. She quickly pressed a hand to her forehead and used the other to block him. “H-Husband,” she stammered, “let Ah Tan do this herself. You are a brilliant general, born to lead armies into battle; how could I bear to trouble you with such a trivial matter? Ah… Ah Tan can paint her own eyebrows just fine!”
“…”
Jiang Xu halted his movements.
She was the one who wanted it done, yet she was also the one who didn’t.
Marrying a noble lady indeed brings endless complications.
He set down the eyebrow pencil, offering no further argument: “This prince is off to the military camp.”
Watching Jiang Xu rise and stride out, Ming Tan covered her half-ruined eyebrow and couldn’t help but curse him silently in her heart: “Brute!”
–
This was Ming Tan’s first day as a bride in the Dingbei Prince’s manor. Originally scheduled to enter the palace to offer thanks and pay respects, the visit had been postponed at Jiang Xu’s request, leaving her first day in the residence strangely leisurely.
Having suddenly left the Jing’an Marquis’s household where she had lived for over a decade, Ming Tan naturally felt somewhat unsettled. The furnishings within the room and the trees and flowers in the courtyard were all adorned with the joy of a new marriage, yet everything appeared strangely unfamiliar.
After finishing her morning meal, she strolled around the courtyard, yet everything felt unreal, as though she were merely a temporary guest in this residence, not truly belonging here.
Before she could sort out the vague sense of emptiness and melancholy lingering in her heart, Fu Shu, the chief steward of the prince’s mansion, arrived leading stewards from various departments to meet her.
“This humble servant, Song Laifu, pays his respects to Your Highness the Princess.”
Ming Tan had heard about Steward Song from Su Xin and Lü’e. Steward Song had once served in the Eastern Palace; after Crown Prince Mincong passed away, he remained steadfastly devoted to caring for his young master—their current prince. Everyone in the household respected and honored him, addressing him affectionately as “Uncle Fu.”
Ming Tan hurried forward to help him up, saying, “Uncle Fu, please rise at once; such a grand gesture is truly unnecessary.”
With her assistance, Uncle Fu did not insist on performing the full kowtow. Instead, his eyes crinkled into narrow slits as he exclaimed with joy, “This old servant has been waiting for stars and moons alike, and finally, we have welcomed the Princess into the mansion!”
“The Dingbei Prince’s Manor occupies the entire Changyu Street. Though it is dauntingly vast, His Highness lives simply and rarely stays in the capital, so the place lacks warmth. Indeed, this old servant has guarded it for over a decade, always hoping our prince would take a wife, so that there might finally be a proper mistress of the house!”
Ming Tan pressed her lips together in a gentle smile.
She was exceedingly beautiful, yet not in an aggressive or striking way; with bright eyes and pearly teeth, she possessed a delicate charm that instantly endeared her to all who saw her.
Uncle Fu, already grateful for the patronage of Cuo Jin Pavilion’s most distinguished client, felt even more vindicated in his discernment upon meeting her in person. This princess consort clearly had a kind and approachable demeanor! Consequently, his warmth toward her grew ever more pronounced.
Before long, Uncle Fu leaped from discussing the renovations prepared for the new princess consort’s arrival to envisioning the unborn young master, and then promptly handed over everything—including the keys to the storehouses—to Ming Tan. He dubbed this gesture appropriately: now that the princess consort had entered the household, it was only right that she assume control over its domestic affairs.
In truth, no matter how legitimate a new bride’s position might be, wresting managerial authority from the previous holder of power was never an easy task.
It is quite common for a new daughter-in-law, even after enduring seven or eight decades under her mother-in-law’s authority, to still be unable to independently manage the household. Even without a mother-in-law above, persuading the existing stewards of the estate to submit obediently is by no means an easy task.
Ming Tan had originally anticipated considerable trouble, yet she never expected them to deliver themselves right to her doorstep, displaying such heartfelt affection for her as their new princess consort. Given this, Ming Tan found herself less inclined to take charge.
“Uncle Fu is a seasoned member of the household who has managed the prince’s residence with great order. As I am new here and still unfamiliar with the estate, I shall have to rely heavily on Uncle Fu.”
Uncle Fu hurriedly said, “Your Highness, please do not speak so! If there is anything this old servant can do, it would be my honor; I would never hesitate even at the cost of my life. However, managing this princely household should rightly fall to Your Highness. Should anything be unclear, this old servant will gladly assist you in sorting it out gradually.”
Since things had been put so plainly, Ming Tan felt she could hardly refuse.
She had never lacked for clothing or provisions and had always regarded household management and accounting with indifference. Yet she understood that a mistress of the inner quarters must be proficient in such matters; thus, while still an unmarried young lady, she had diligently studied them under Lady Pei.
Taking the account ledger and flipping through its pages, Ming Tan suddenly paused.
It was evident from the betrothal gifts that the Dingbei Prince’s Manor was immensely wealthy, yet the extent of this opulence seemed even more extravagant than she had imagined.
“…The Jinxiu Workshop and the Cuojin Pavilion are both properties of the manor?”
Uncle Fu seemed to have been waiting for her to ask; he promptly replied with an “Ah,” then vividly recounted her past connections with the Jinxiu Workshop and the Cuojin Pavilion.
Ming Tan suddenly remembered something: “So, the set of eastern pearl hair ornaments that Cuojin Pavilion sent me earlier was made by your subordinates under your instructions, Uncle Fu.”
Uncle Fu dared not claim credit and humbly replied, “It was mainly done with His Highness’s approval.”
Ming Tan paused briefly, nodded, lowered her eyes to continue reviewing the accounts, yet the corners of her lips couldn’t help but curve upward.
In just half a day, Ming Tan had grown quite familiar with Uncle Fu. Jiang Xu had never been particular about things, allowing anything passable to remain as it was; Uncle Fu, sitting on piles of silver with nowhere to spend it, had found this rather frustrating. Now, with someone finally able to spend it, Uncle Fu felt he had at last found a kindred spirit.
“These two trees are quite tall; we could build a swing here. In the past, the trees in the Marquis’s residence were not this tall, so the swings made from them were rather low.”
“The garden within the residence seems slightly small; perhaps we could extend it westward by another five zhang. I have yet to see the flowers and plants in the garden; let me take a look first before deciding whether we need to hire more skilled craftsmen to tend to it.”
“How can Your Highness practice martial arts in such a small area? The eastern courtyard could be renovated into a small drill ground; it is also close to the residence’s armory. We could build a shooting range here, so when Your Highness’s friends visit, they can spar together as well.” Ming Tan gestured across the map of the princely residence. “And here, covered entirely in wild grass—why not clear it up and turn it into a cuju field? The residence of the Duke of Pingguo is much smaller than our princely residence, yet even they have a cuju field.”
“By the way, as summer approaches, how about converting this vacant pavilion by the western lotus pond into a cool retreat? We could line the surroundings with bamboo mats and channel water onto the eaves… The Marquis’s residence once had such a small cool room, though its scenery was unremarkable. If we were to build one beside the lotus pond, it would surely be exceedingly pleasant come summer!” The very thought brought Ming Tan great comfort; her eyes sparkled brightly as she looked toward Uncle Fu.
Uncle Fu nodded repeatedly, “Good! Good!”
He quickly dipped his brush in ink and recorded the transaction in the ledger.
–
Meanwhile, Jiang Xu, having finished training his troops back at the military camp, finally found some rare leisure time.
In fact, under his command over these years, the northern barbarians had largely been brought to heel; unless winter shortages stirred unrest among the people, disturbances were now rare. Moreover, before his wedding, he would make a second tour of inspection northward, simultaneously dealing with lingering issues from the battle in Dongzhou. Within this year, the northern regions would likely remain quite peaceful.
He was reading an official gazette when Shen Yu suddenly lifted the curtain and entered the tent.
After reporting on official matters, Shen Yu hesitated for a moment before unable to resist asking, “Your Highness held your wedding ceremony yesterday. With no urgent military affairs today, why are you not accompanying the Princess Consort at the residence?”
Jiang Xu replied casually, “It seems I have assigned you too few tasks, if you are now meddling in my family affairs.”
Shen Yu stiffened his neck and said, “The… the Princess Consort is, after all, my cousin. It should not be improper for me to show some concern.”
Jiang Xu paused slightly in his movements: “The Princess Consort is tired and resting in the residence. Do you have any further questions?”
…?
Tired?
How can you be tired?
Yesterday, at the grand wedding, he also attended the banquet. The bride was supported and carried by attendants every step of the way; she hardly walked a few paces herself. Surely, that couldn’t have made her exhausted.
Jiang Xu added, “Leave.”
Shen Yu stood dumbfounded for a long while, like a greenhorn, before finally obeying the order and leaving the tent. Yet even after being outside for some time, he remained bewildered, unable to comprehend whether the prince’s perfunctory manner indicated his displeasure with Cousin Tan.
It was only when he overheard several of his soldiers huddled together, recounting their recent romantic escapades at the Yihong Courtyard, that understanding slowly dawned upon him.
“That Lady Mei truly has a delightful voice; calling out ‘elder brother’ so sweetly it makes one’s bones turn to jelly! What a pleasure!”
“I say Lady Yanzi is far superior; that slender waist of hers, hehehe, she came to me the next morning, all delicate and tender, claiming she was utterly exhausted!”
Shen Yu, in a daze, poured herself a glass of water, unable to imagine what it would be like when her cousin Tan and the prince were together—her calling him “elder brother” repeatedly, speaking in a coquettish tone about having worked herself to exhaustion until her waist nearly broke.
–
Perhaps it was because Shen Yu had rushed over to inform him that he hadn’t accompanied his princess consort on the first day of their wedding that Jiang Xu, right after finishing his evening meal, returned to the Dingbei Prince’s Manor.
Upon entering the manor, he saw servants bustling everywhere, some carrying flower pots, others holding lacquer boxes adorned with gold patterns.
Without saying a word, he made his way directly to Qian’an Hall, where his newly appointed young princess consort now resided.
Compared to the outside, Qian Hall was even more bustling. At its entrance, he happened to meet Uncle Fu, who was just about to leave.
Upon seeing him, Uncle Fu, chattering away like beans pouring from a bamboo tube, cheerfully recounted the day’s discussions with the Princess regarding the renovation of the princely residence. Interspersed throughout were effusive praises such as “The Princess truly has brilliant ideas,” “The Princess is indeed a remarkable person,” and “Everything the Princess says is correct.”
“…”
So extravagant.
Jiang Xu fell silent for a moment, then stepped into the room.
Inside, Ming Tan was flipping through a book while extending her hand, allowing a young maid to paint her nails with crimson dye.
Upon seeing Jiang Xu enter, Ming Tan’s eyes lit up briefly. She quickly rose, approached him eagerly, and held up her delicate, boneless little hand before his gaze. “Husband, you’re back. Does it look beautiful?”
She stood close, emitting a faint, delicate fragrance. Recalling the previous night, Jiang Xu found his thoughts wandering. His Adam’s apple bobbed subtly for a moment; the elaborate praise he had intended to speak transformed, as it reached his lips, into simply—
“Beautiful.”