For nearly half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the figure standing before the sand table remained motionless and silent. Mingtan’s heart raced, her hands trembling slightly as she held the food box. Her eyelashes fluttered as she slowly raised her gaze.
Her eyes fell upon the tall, slender figure in black she had glimpsed earlier. He appeared even taller than Shu Er and Shen Yu.
Surprisingly, he wasn’t the burly brute she had imagined.
Mingtan quickly averted her gaze. Seeing he had no intention of responding, she carefully placed the porcelain bowl on the table and began pouring the lotus leaf porridge very slowly. She hoped to delay long enough for him to turn around, allowing her to see his face. Meanwhile, she couldn’t help stealing glances at his back.
But that figure remained stubbornly still, showing no sign of turning.
As a mere maidservant, Mingtan couldn’t initiate a conversation without reason. She feared punishment for speaking out of turn.
After dawdling for a while, she saw the porridge was almost gone. Dissatisfied, she stole more frequent glances at his back.
Suddenly, the figure moved, seeming about to turn. Startled, Mingtan almost spilled the porridge. She hastily lowered her gaze, hanging her head guiltily like a thief.
The man’s steps were extremely slow. Though it was only a few paces from the sand table to the desk, it felt like another half cup of tea had passed before his embroidered robe hem and boots came into view.
Jiang Xu stood before the table, casually glancing at the maidservant standing with a lowered head. He sat down, lifting the hem of his robe, and tasted the lotus leaf porridge.
A military man’s hands are naturally not delicate. His palms were calloused, fingertips rough, with a recent sword practice wound on the back of his hand. Yet his hands were remarkably attractive – broad palms, long fingers with distinct knuckles.
Mingtan’s heart leaped to her throat as she raised her eyes even more slowly and carefully than before.
She first saw the overlapping collar of his outer robe, then his neck, Adam’s apple, chin, lips, nose, and finally his eyes—
It was a face of distinct features, exceptionally handsome and striking. Sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose, and thin lips. Like a distant mountain and cold moon, unapproachable. Unlike any military man she had seen before, his appearance and bearing rivaled even the famous Second Young Master Shu of the capital. He possessed an additional air of noble dignity, like gold and jade.
Mingtan was stunned.
Is this the Prince of Dingbei?
Could there be some mistake?
As the thought flashed through her mind, someone entered the tent, resolving her doubts.
“Your Highness, a message from the palace,” the newcomer announced, kneeling on one knee. He paused, noticing the ignorant maidservant who showed no sign of withdrawing, and that the prince hadn’t dismissed her. He hesitated.
Jiang Xu looked up, his gaze cool and imperious. “Speak.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” The man bowed his head and continued, “The palace reports that His Majesty has ordered the Hanlin Academy to make copies of Your Highness’s ‘Treatise on Military Discipline.’ It will be compiled with Your Highness’s previous military strategy essays. Does Your Highness have any instructions?”
“Just comply with His Majesty’s wishes.”
“Understood. Then… I shall take my leave.”
The man glanced at the maidservant again.
At this moment, Mingtan’s mind was racing: He can write essays too? Although they’re about military matters, creating a treatise shows unique insights. It’s normal for military leaders to have their views on strategy, but not all can express them well.
Like her father and uncle – her father could discuss literature passably, but her uncle, despite his skills, could only speak plainly. He struggled to articulate his ideas clearly, let alone write essays. So her future husband was quite—
“Why are you still here?”
Mingtan’s thoughts were interrupted by a cool voice, as refreshing as the lotus leaf porridge in its iced container.
She startled, meeting that calm gaze for a fleeting moment before quickly lowering her eyes. She softly apologized, “Forgive this servant, Your Highness. I’ll leave at once.”
She clumsily gathered the empty bowl and food box, hastily bowing before retreating. As she turned to leave, her steps were noticeably quicker than usual.
Jiang Xu glanced at her small, thin figure as she left, then lowered his eyes to his work, showing no particular emotion.
–
“How was it? How was it?” Once out of the tent and some distance away, Bai Minmin eagerly whispered her questions.
Mingtan pressed her lips together, silent, her small face still pale with nervousness.
After meeting up with Shen Hua and leaving the capital’s military camp, Bai Minmin could no longer contain herself. She circled Mingtan, pleading, “My dear, please say something! What happened? Why do you look so shocked?”
It was the hottest part of the day, and Mingtan’s throat felt dry. She tried to calm her nerves, swallowing hard before speaking, “He… he truly has an imposing presence.”
“…”
Oh no, he is like a wild boar.
Bai Minmin’s mind went blank for a moment, a flash of white light seeming to pass before her eyes. Standing in the sun, she felt dizzy and swayed slightly.
After a while, she came to her senses and suddenly gripped Mingtan’s shoulders, trying to reassure her despite her uncertainty, “Don’t panic! Don’t panic! Let me think of a solution.”
Bai Minmin wasn’t known for her reliable ideas. At this moment, her mind was filled with stories of talented scholars and beautiful maidens she had read before, particularly those involving young ladies and poor scholars eloping to escape arranged marriages.
A sudden inspiration struck her, and she exclaimed, “I’ve got it! We’ll go back and tell my father that the Prince of Dingbei is ugly and extremely uncouth and that you refuse to marry him. We’ll both persuade my father to help you. Then we can arrange for you to ‘accidentally’ fall and drown, and hold a funeral!”
“However, this means you probably won’t be able to stay in the capital anymore, Mingtan. You’ll have to change your identity and go to the prosperous Jiangnan region. Father will surely find you a good family there, ensuring you a life of wealth and comfort.” At this point, tears welled up in Bai Minmin’s eyes. “Although we may never meet again, this is for the sake of your lifelong happiness. Wanwan and I will always think of you here in the capital.”
“Is his appearance truly… that uncouth?” Shen Hua asked doubtfully.
Bai Minmin replied, “Of course, he must be extremely uncouth, like a wild boar—”
Mingtan, who had been lost in thought recalling the man’s appearance and demeanor, snapped back to attention at Shen Hua’s mention of “appearance.” Without hesitation, she vehemently retorted, “Who said he’s uncouth? Who said I don’t want to marry him? The position of Princess of Dingbei must be mine, even if I have to die for it!”
“…?”
Both Bai Minmin and Shen Hua were stunned by her response, exchanging a confused glance.
Mingtan didn’t bother to explain. “Quick, let’s go to the Zhou residence.”
“To… to see Wanwan? Dressed like this?”
Mingtan looked down at herself, nearly forgetting she was still disguised as a maidservant. Moreover, it wasn’t proper for young ladies to be out in public during the day. “Never mind,” she sighed, “I was too hasty.”
Mingtan changed her mind. She returned home, wrote another letter, and sent it to Zhou Jingwan.
By dusk, Zhou Jingwan finally sent a maid with the latest copy of “Treatise on Military Discipline” and her father’s brief comment: “Substantial content, innovative yet not hollow.”
Zhou’s father, a Hanlin Academy scholar and potential prime minister, was talented and aloof. Such praise meant the writing must be excellent.
Mingtan skipped dinner to read the treatise eagerly. Though unfamiliar with military tactics, she grasped the content. The logic was meticulous and clear, the writing concise yet sharp, every word essential, with an elegant rhythm.
After reading, Mingtan lingered on the text. In the end, she found a note from Zhou Jingwan: “Father says the Emperor’s palace examination question on military strategy was inspired by the Prince of Dingbei.”
Is he even setting exam questions?
He must be a top-tier talent!
Mingtan’s joy spread silently. She rested her chin on her hand, smiling unconsciously at the paper.
Her future husband was noble, handsome, dignified, and talented!
“Miss, why are you smiling?” Lvee and Suxin asked curiously as they set the table.
Instead of answering, Mingtan cheerfully requested, “Bring me the bronze mirror.”
Confused, Lvee fetched a small bronze mirror from the inner room.
Mingtan examined herself, noticing she had lost some weight. Perfect for summer’s thin clothes, adding a touch of delicate grace.
Before visiting the military camp, she had carefully disguised herself to avoid future recognition and potential suspicion from soldiers. She had merely applied slightly yellow powder to appear less fair.
Now, freshly groomed, the mirror reflected her starry eyes and snow-white skin.
Her beauty perfectly complemented her future husband.
Mingtan was satisfied.
Lvee and Suxin wondered if they should place a mirror on the dining table, given their mistress’s new habit of checking her reflection during meals.
Mingtan instructed, “Suxin, get some money from the accounts tomorrow… No, I made the wish, I should use my funds.”
She continued, “Take it from my mother’s dowry. Donate a thousand taels to Lingmiao Temple, then ask the abbot how much it would cost to regild the Buddha statue I prayed to. Tell him your mistress made a vow and wishes to fulfill it if her wish comes true. Ask him not to refuse.”
Suxin stammered, “A… thousand taels?”
“Is it not enough?” Mingtan recalled that usual donations were around fifty taels or a hundred for overnight stays. But her wish had been granted, so a thousand didn’t seem excessive. “Should we add another thousand?”
Suxin gently replied, “Miss, it’s not too little. A thousand taels are already very generous.”
Though her late mother’s dowry was substantial and both families would provide more for her marriage, Suxin worried about her mistress’s generous nature. The Prince of Dingbei’s household was unknown territory, and her mistress would need to manage it. Some savings would be prudent.
But Mingtan wasn’t thinking that far ahead. After arranging the donation, she asked Lvee to prepare ink and brush for painting.
Suxin and Lvee persuaded her to wait until morning to paint in the garden, citing the late hour and potential eye strain.
They succeeded, but Mingtan remained eager. The next morning, she hurried to the East Garden. For several days, she alternated between painting and writing poetry, often lamenting that her art couldn’t capture his true appearance, and her poems were unsatisfactory.
Suxin and Lvee were puzzled by their mistress’s behavior until Mingtan finally shared her secret meeting. They couldn’t remember the military treatises or the varied adjectives she used to describe her future husband, but they understood that his appearance and demeanor had deeply impressed their mistress.
–
After several clear days in the rainy summer, a thunderstorm broke out at night. The next morning brought heavy rain. Mingtan had planned to paint in the East Garden with Zhou Jingwan and Shen Hua, but the weather made it impossible.
Feeling restless indoors and knowing her father had a day off, Mingtan asked Suxin to prepare almond milk. As the rain eased, she took an umbrella to her father’s study to pay her respects.
Skilled in conversation, Mingtan subtly steered the topic towards her future husband. Ming Yingyuan eagerly began recounting Prince Dingbei’s great achievements.
He spoke of an autumn hunt six years ago when the then-crown prince (now Emperor) was ambushed by assassins. The prince single-handedly fought through the attackers, sustaining serious injuries while protecting the crown prince. He then extracted information from a captured assassin to identify the mastermind.
Mingtan exclaimed admiringly, “How loyal and righteous! No wonder His Majesty trusts him so much!”
Ming Yingyuan then recounted how two years ago, when a corrupt official embezzled military funds, the prince stormed into the official’s mansion upon returning from battle, personally beheading him. He resisted the temptation of beautiful women, conducted the trial himself, and oversaw the execution of the entire household.
Mingtan’s eyes shone as she agreed, “He truly has a sense of justice!”
…
Ming Yingyuan spoke enthusiastically, and Mingtan listened with great interest.
News of the father-daughter conversation spread through the household. Ming Chu stomped her foot in anger, knocking over a teacup. Lady Pei felt deeply gratified, sipping her beauty soup with a smile. Only Shen Hua sensed Mingtan’s intentions, fanning herself gently and smiling silently.
By afternoon, Ming Yingyuan’s throat was parched from talking. He had drunk four or five bowls of tea and visited the restroom twice. Finally finishing, he sighed, his voice hoarse.
Mingtan obediently refilled his tea and asked a maid to bring some soothing pear soup.
After giving instructions, she casually mentioned, “By the way, Father, I’ve been keeping the Emperor’s marriage decree, but I’m worried about losing it. I can’t sleep well at night. I think it would be better if you kept it safe.”
“The decree was given to you, so you should keep it,” he replied.
Mingtan covered her mouth, speaking softly and demurely, “In that case, I’m afraid I’ll be anxious until my wedding day. I wonder… when exactly is the auspicious date set by the Ministry of Rites?”