Outside the study, no one was in attendance. Inside, there was no significant commotion, only the sound of chess pieces being placed. The conversation had concluded. Mudan gently knocked on the door. She believed she already knew the outcome—if Jiang Changyang hadn’t passed He Zhizhong’s scrutiny, He Zhizhong wouldn’t be calmly playing chess with him.
After a while, He Zhizhong called out, “Come in.”
Mudan pushed open the door and immediately saw Jiang Changyang sitting cross-legged opposite He Zhizhong on the couch by the window. From the moment she entered, Jiang Changyang had been gazing at her, a faint smile on his lips. Mudan returned a radiant smile, then turned to He Zhizhong, “Father, Mother asked me to see if you need any refreshments?”
He Zhizhong gave her a reassuring smile, then turned to Jiang Changyang, “Chengfeng, what would you like to eat? Don’t be shy.”
Jiang Changyang replied with a smile, “Whatever is convenient is fine. I’m not picky.”
He Zhizhong said, “If you’re not hungry, why don’t you stay for dinner? Daniang, go tell the kitchen to prepare a proper meal with wine.”
Mudan looked at Jiang Changyang, waiting for his nod. However, Jiang Changyang shook his head and said, “Thank you for your kindness, Uncle He, but I won’t impose. Just something simple will do.”
He Zhizhong didn’t insist, stroking his beard as he said, “Very well. In that case, Daniang, go to the kitchen and have them prepare a bowl of wonton soup like last time.”
Mudan complied and went to the kitchen. Soon after, the wontons were ready, and she delivered them. As she opened the door, she saw only Jiang Changyang sitting inside, with He Zhizhong nowhere in sight. She asked, “Where’s my father?”
Jiang Changyang looked up at her, “Uncle He said he wanted to show me a treasure. He told me to wait.”
Mudan responded with an “Oh” and set down the food box. She then moved to clear the chess pieces from the table. She collected the white pieces while Jiang Changyang gathered the black ones. They started from opposite ends of the board, moving slowly until their hands inevitably met in the middle. Mudan extended her hand to the right, but Jiang Changyang, pretending not to notice, also reached to the right.
After several encounters, his fingertips lightly brushed hers, warm and gentle. Mudan moved away several times, but he followed, always staying close. Mudan quickly withdrew her hand, her face slightly flushed, and looked up at him.
Jiang Changyang, however, remained calm, keeping his eyes down and focusing on collecting the black pieces. He didn’t look at her, as if his actions hadn’t been intentional and she was overthinking. Mudan sighed inwardly and continued collecting white pieces, this time choosing an area without black pieces. She wanted to see how he would manage to reach her now.
But after she had picked up just two pieces, his hand followed, joining her in collecting white pieces. He continued to lightly touch her fingers, just a gentle brush before sliding away like a playful fish.
Annoyed by this childish teasing, Mudan spread both hands and swept the remaining pieces into a pile. As she was about to scoop them up, Jiang Changyang’s hands gently landed on the back of hers. He said seriously, “There are still black pieces inside. Let me pick them out for you.”
Despite his words, his hands remained on hers as if glued, quickly becoming damp with sweat. Hot, burning, and moist, Mudan felt as if she’d been shocked. Her fingertips trembled slightly, and she instinctively tried to pull away. But he decisively pressed down, firmly holding her hands in his. Mudan lowered her head and whispered, “Let go.”
Jiang Changyang refused to release her. Seeing Mudan’s flushed face and lightly quivering eyelashes, he felt both triumphant and excited. He held her hands tightly, marveling at how small and smooth they were. Though it was already autumn, he felt hotter than the peak of summer. The autumn sun filtered through the yet-to-be-changed cyan window gauze, falling on Mudan’s face, making it appear as radiant as a peach blossom, her red lips vivid and alluring. He had an urge to reach out and gently touch the fine down on her face, wondering if it was smoother than silk, but he didn’t dare. Instead, he tightened his grip on her hands and softly called out, “Daniang.”
Mudan remained silent, her eyes downcast. Her palms were also damp. In the silence, she could only smell the faint citrus scent from the nearby silver filigree incense ball, see the dust particles dancing joyfully in the sunlight, and hear her own heart beating rapidly, her breath alternating between light and heavy.
Jiang Changyang whispered in her ear, “Daniang, don’t be afraid.”
“I’m not afraid of you,” Mudan said, feeling her face burning hot. She whispered, “Let go quickly, my father is coming.”
Jiang Changyang said softly, “Uncle He said he wanted to show me something as precious as his life. I’ve been waiting, and then you came.”
Mudan’s heart fluttered. Did this mean He Zhizhong had accepted him? She looked up at Jiang Changyang, “That’s right. My father said if you dare to trifle with me, he and my brothers won’t let you off easily, no matter who you are.”
Jiang Changyang calmly gazed into her eyes, “I’m not trifling with you. I’ve said before, that I have the ability and the determination to do this. I didn’t rely on him for over a decade before, and I grew up just fine. For the next few decades, I can live well without relying on him too. Leave all your worries to me. But before that, I’m afraid I won’t be able to see you as often as before. Until everything is finalized, I won’t give anyone any opportunity to cause you trouble. However, if you need anything, you can always send someone to find Wu San and me… Do you understand?”
He was far more cautious and considerate than she had imagined. Mudan was silent for a moment, then said softly, “So that’s why you can’t stay for dinner tonight?”
The realization that she wanted him to stay for dinner made Jiang Changyang’s heart soar. He very much wanted to stay, but thinking of what he was about to do, he knew he couldn’t. “Daniang, those are just formalities…” He reluctantly released Mudan’s hands and took out the now slightly soggy wontons from the food box. He picked up one with chopsticks and ate it happily, “Look, I’m already eating, aren’t I? This is what matters. Most importantly, that day will come soon.” He Zhizhong had agreed that as long as his parents came to formally propose marriage with the traditional three letters and six etiquettes, even if only Mrs. Cen was home, she would agree.
Mudan looked at him and smiled slightly, “Jiang Changyang, we haven’t known each other for very long. There’s a lot about my temperament and many things you don’t know about me. Living together isn’t as simple as you might think. Are you sure you won’t regret it in the future?”
Hearing her words, Jiang Changyang raised his eyebrows in delight, “I’ve thought it through carefully, even considering the worst possibilities. I only spoke up after I was sure. I’m not someone who makes decisions lightly.” He paused, “As for the future, I don’t know what will happen, but I think since it’s my own decision, I won’t regret it. There’s no point in saying ‘If I had known, I wouldn’t have done it.’ Once it’s done, we must bear the consequences. Whatever happens then, happens. There’s no use in saying more.”
“You’re right. If we don’t do it, we don’t do it. But once we do, we must bear the consequences without complaint.” Mudan liked his attitude. She raised her head slightly, looking into his eyes, “I once told Madam Bai that I won’t be a concubine, I don’t like concubines, and I don’t like being restricted, told I can’t do this or that. If we’re compatible, we stay together; if not, we part. Are you sure you can accept this?”
Jiang Changyang had already heard Pan Rong’s description and was mentally prepared for this. As for children, if it came to it, they could always adopt. If she were willing to compromise, she wouldn’t be the He Mudan he knew. He smiled slightly, “My mother doesn’t like concubines either. There are plenty of strong-willed women in this world; you’re not the only one.”
“There are plenty of strong-willed women in this world; you’re not the only one.” A wave of sweetness quickly enveloped Mudan’s heart. She couldn’t help but take the half-finished bowl of wontons from Jiang Changyang’s hands, “Stop eating. They’ve gone mushy. I’ll have someone make you a fresh bowl.”
Jiang Changyang wouldn’t let her take it, “It’s still fine. Don’t waste it.” But in his heart, he thought, what a stark difference in treatment.
Seeing him eat with relish, without the slightest sign of discomfort, Mudan thought to herself, that’s right, he’s not like those young masters she knew who insisted on fine clothes and exquisite food. If he enjoys eating it, let him be. This is the price for holding hands.
While he ate, Mudan sat nearby, collecting the chess pieces again. “I heard from Wu San that your purple horse was slightly injured.”
Jiang Changyang’s face darkened as he viciously bit into the last wonton, “Coward. Too afraid to vent his anger on people, he only dares to take it out on a helpless animal.”
Mudan was silent for a moment, then said, “You escorted Lord Zhu and him into the city this morning?”
Jiang Changyang put down the bowl and sighed, “To be precise, we escorted him into the city to find a doctor. His face was scratched by tree branches, and he was afraid of disfigurement. He wailed all night, accusing me of keeping a horse specifically to harm him, saying it was that horse that led him there. He claimed that if not for his excellent horsemanship, he would have fallen off and died. He also blamed me for not sending people to search for him in time, implying I had ill intentions. He didn’t consider whether he was worthy of such attention.”
“What did Lord Zhu say?” Mudan thought of the four rude men in brocade robes who had questioned them earlier, guessing they were probably the companions of the man who had been granted a marriage. She imagined the unpleasant things he must have said.
Jiang Changyang smiled tightly, “What could he say? He only knows how to use his whip to discipline those who don’t obey. I don’t like people throwing their weight around at my place, so I took the opportunity to send the guests away altogether.”
Mudan saw that although he was smiling, his brows were slightly furrowed. She sighed softly, “It will pass. Do you want more to eat? Shall I have them make another bowl for you?”
Jiang Changyang shook his head, looking at her reluctantly, “No need. I’ve stayed at your home long enough today. I must go now.”