Two days later, Yunyi and Shu Jingran, who had voluntarily stayed in Pengcheng to travel with her, finally caught up with the convoy as it entered Yuzhou.
After days of reading and playing chess in the carriage, Ming Tan felt utterly exhausted. Her husband no longer wished to play against her – as soon as she reached for the chess set, he would leave to go horseback riding outside. This vexed Ming Tan considerably. Her chess skills ranked highly among the noble ladies of the capital, so why did he seem to despise playing with her so?
Fortunately, they soon entered Yuzhou territory, which helped alleviate her fatigue and frustration. Western Yuzhou was a key fortress for trade with the Western Regions. The scenery along the way had a distinctly exotic flavor. Moreover, her eldest brother served as the magistrate of Pangshan County within Yuzhou. Her husband had agreed to make a detour to Pangshan and stop for a day so she could see her brother.
Ming Tan’s brother, named Ming Heng, was eight years her senior. He had participated in the imperial examinations twice, obtaining his jinshi degree in the second year of Chengkang. The same year he earned this slim scholarly achievement, he became engaged to the eldest daughter of the Left Remonstrance Official. Unexpectedly, shortly after their engagement, the young woman fell gravely ill and passed away.
Though not greatly talented, Ming Heng was diligent, down-to-earth, and valued loyalty. Despite having met his fiancée only once, he vowed to observe a three-year mourning period for her, refusing to marry during that time. Furthermore, he stubbornly declined to use his family’s influence to secure an official post in the capital, instead requesting an assignment to the provinces. He was content to serve as a mere county magistrate.
This was now his fourth year posted in Pangshan. Next year, his term would end and he would return to the capital for evaluation and reassignment. Jiang Xu had paid attention to Ming Heng’s personnel evaluations in the Ministry of Personnel, which were excellent year after year. Based on these reports, he seemed to be a commendable local official.
This detour to Pangshan was not solely to satisfy Ming Tan – Jiang Xu himself wished to meet Ming Heng.
—
Learning that his little sister, whom he hadn’t seen in years, would be passing through Pangshan with her princely husband, Ming Heng felt immensely excited. He had been unable to return to the capital for Ming Tan’s grand wedding, only managing to send a servant with additional dowry gifts. After her marriage, he had exchanged several letters with those in the capital, always inquiring about Ming Tan. The replies invariably stated that she was doing well. But letters were just letters – without seeing for himself, how could he truly judge her welfare?
“Sir, weren’t you supposed to visit the public cemetery today?” a young constable asked, chasing after him.
“Let the coroner handle it. My sister is coming today,” Ming Heng replied. Having finished adjudicating a land dispute case, he removed his official hat and hurried back to his residence at the county yamen. Halfway there, he suddenly stopped and said to the constable who had followed him, “Qinghe, you needn’t go either. As a young woman, you can help me tidy up the house instead.”
The constable called “Qinghe” exclaimed in surprise, “Sister? You mean… your sister from the capital, sir? How is she coming to Pangshan?”
The yamen staff only knew their superiors had family in the capital, unaware he was the heir to a marquis. However, having worked with him for some time, they vaguely sensed that their magistrate’s background was extraordinary. On several occasions when he found himself in danger, shadowy guards had appeared to rescue him. Even the prefect showed him unusual deference when inspecting Pangshan.
“It’s a long story. For now, just help me prepare the house,” Ming Heng said.
“Yes, sir.” Qinghe bowed in acknowledgment, her curiosity about the magistrate’s oft-mentioned sister growing.
The magistrate rarely spoke of his family, but whenever he did, he never failed to mention his beautiful, adorable little sister who was as lovely as a celestial maiden. Though typically frugal in his living arrangements, eating at the yamen and dressing simply, he spared no expense in sending rare and precious items back to the capital.
Qinghe was eager to see what manner of person the magistrate’s sister truly was.
By noon, she finally got her chance.
As their carriage entered Pangshan County, Ming Tan lowered her veil and peered out from behind the curtains, her gaze wandering over the scenery. Having not seen her brother in nearly four years, she wanted to carefully observe the place he had governed for so long.
But as she looked, Ming Tan couldn’t help feeling a pang of sadness. Though Pangshan was a respectable county, it couldn’t compare to the capital. The young nobles of the capital lived lives of leisure and romance, yet her simple-minded brother insisted on serving as a mere county magistrate in this backwater. He had even quarreled with their father over observing mourning for his late fiancée and refusing to remarry. Now he didn’t even have a sister-in-law in sight.
Arriving at the county yamen, Ming Tan lightly stepped down from the carriage, her face obscured by a thin veil. She wore a flowing peach blossom-white silk dress that made her appear ethereal. Without her usual maid to assist, her hair was styled simply, adorned only with a jade hairpin. Yet this simplicity did nothing to diminish her beauty.
As she alighted, Yunyi stepped forward to hold a paper parasol over her.
Qinghe stared in amazement.
Ming Heng was equally stunned.
When he had left the capital, Ming Tan had still been a pretty young girl with chubby cheeks who would sweetly call him “brother.” He never imagined that after four years, she would have blossomed into such an otherworldly beauty. Her every movement was as graceful as flowing water and delicate as pear blossoms.
“Brother!” Ming Tan’s gaze swept over the welcoming party before settling on the tall man at the front, dressed in the deep blue robes of a county magistrate.
The man had a dignified and handsome appearance, with a gentle demeanor that suggested he was easy to get along with. Unable to contain herself, she called out softly.
Ming Heng snapped out of his daze, nearly blurting out “Sister!” in response. But he held back, for his attention was quickly drawn to the man who stepped down from the carriage after Ming Tan.
This man, dressed in black, was tall and striking, with cold features. Even the simple act of descending from the carriage revealed the natural authority of one accustomed to power. This must be the renowned God of War, his brother-in-law, the Prince of Dingbei.
Ming Heng hesitated for a moment, then shifted his gaze back to Ming Tan. After composing himself, he said, “You must be weary from your journey. Please, come inside.”
Noticing Shu Jingran alighting from the rear carriage, he also extended a courteous welcome: “Second Young Master Shu, please enter.”
Shu Jingran nodded with a smile. He had been about to address Ming Heng as “Heir Apparent,” but thought better of it and simply said “Sir” instead.
Though he and Ming Heng were not acquainted, Shu Jingran recalled that this heir to the Marquis of Jing’an had often been a guest at his elder brother’s poetry gatherings.
The group followed Ming Heng into the Pangshan County yamen.
As they reached the guest reception hall, Ming Tan could no longer contain herself. She removed her veil and rushed forward to embrace Ming Heng, crying out, “Brother!”
“Sister!” Ming Heng quickly returned the embrace, patting her head as his voice quavered with emotion.
Jiang Xu: “…”
His little princess consort, who was usually so proper in public, now had no qualms about hugging her brother.
“Brother, how did you get so thin? Have you not been eating properly because you’re too busy with your duties? I’ve missed you so much!” Ming Tan’s eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at him with concern.
Qinghe, standing nearby, swallowed hard. While marveling at the beauty of the magistrate’s sister, she also wanted to point out: that Sir has gained weight since coming to Pangshan. This year his official robes no longer fit, and he had to order two new sets. You may be beautiful, my lady, but you shouldn’t tell such blatant lies.
However, Ming Heng was equally untruthful, saying, “Look who’s talking. You’ve become so thin a breeze could blow you away. Are you-“
Before he could finish, Jiang Xu shot him a look that seemed to ask, “What, does the Heir Apparent think the Prince of Dingbei’s household is mistreating the princess consort?”
“I’m doing very well, brother. You needn’t worry,” Ming Tan quickly interjected, cutting off Ming Heng’s words. “Oh, brother, this is my husband.” She then introduced Jiang Xu, “Husband, this is my brother.”
The two men’s gazes finally met.
With others present and neither having formally stated their positions, Ming Heng wasn’t sure how to address Jiang Xu. After some consideration, he ventured, “Brother-in-law?”
Jiang Xu paused for a long moment before nodding slightly. “Elder brother, you may call me Qizhi.”
Elder brother? Ming Heng nodded, feeling that while there was nothing inherently wrong with the form of address, he had somehow gained an unexpectedly favorable position.
—
Given the rarity of this sibling reunion, Jiang Xu, having brought Ming Tan here, naturally wouldn’t deny them the chance to speak privately. He took the initiative to leave with Shu Jingran, leaving only Yunyi to wait outside the hall while the siblings conversed.
Their conversation lasted the entire afternoon. In the evening, Ming Heng prepared an excellent feast with fine wine, enjoying a hearty drink with his brother-in-law Jiang Xu and Shu Jingran, who was something of an old acquaintance.
Ming Tan was delighted and joined them in drinking a couple of small cups. However, her alcohol tolerance was poor, and she wasn’t drinking fruit wine. After just two cups, her cheeks were flushed bright red.
Jiang Xu had only permitted her one small cup, but seeing her sneakily attempt a third, he suddenly snatched it away and downed it himself. With a neutral expression, he instructed Yunyi, “The princess is drunk. Take her back to her room to rest.”
At his word, Ming Tan rose obediently, looking like a child caught misbehaving.
Observing this, Ming Heng couldn’t help but worry. During their afternoon talk, Ming Tan had said the prince treated her well, but from what he could see, his sister seemed completely under the prince’s control.
With no outsiders present, Ming Heng hesitantly said as he poured more wine, “Your Highness, my sister is young and inexperienced. If she makes any mistakes in daily life, I hope you’ll be patient with her.”
Jiang Xu calmly drank a cup of wine, his voice as cool and crisp as the liquor: “Elder brother need not worry. As this prince’s consort, she naturally cannot err. If there are mistakes, they are made by others.”
“…”
Very well, very domineering indeed.
—
That night, Jiang Xu, Ming Heng, and Shu Jingran talked late into the night. However, Shu Jingran rarely interjected, knowing that Jiang Xu’s deliberate detour to Pangshan was motivated by thoughts of recruitment.
In time, when Tonggang port opened, the entire Yuzhou and Zhouzhou regions would need to be fully controlled by their people. Ming Heng had spent four years in Pangshan and knew Yuzhou extremely well. If he proved capable, they couldn’t afford to overlook him.
…
Returning to his room well after midnight, Jiang Xu found it quiet and assumed Ming Tan had fallen into a drunken sleep. However, as he entered the inner chamber, Ming Tan suddenly emerged from under the covers.
Somehow, she had changed into the Western Regions dance costume they had bought earlier that day. It was crimson, leaving her shoulders, neck, waist, and abdomen exposed, with decorative sequins along the edges. The lower half consisted of a thin crimson gauze, hazily concealing her most intimate areas and long, slender legs.
“Husband, does Tan’er look pretty?” she asked in a sweet, heavily intoxicated voice. She rose unsteadily, attempting to imitate the Western Regions dancers they had seen in the market, gazing intently at Jiang Xu. Her imitation was poor, but the mix of innocence and clumsily affected allure in her coquettish demeanor was even more irresistible.
Jiang Xu wrapped an arm around her slim waist, restraining her restless hands behind her back. His voice deepened slightly as he said, “Don’t be naughty. We’re in your brother’s home.”
“Brother? Mmm… Big brother?” she murmured, too drunk to fully comprehend what Jiang Xu was saying.
“Who are you calling ‘big brother’?” Jiang Xu had felt a peculiar urge all day hearing her repeatedly call Ming Heng “brother.” Now, with Ming Tan in this less-than-lucid state, that feeling resurfaced. He asked casually, “What’s my name?”
“Mmm… Jiang… Qizhi.”
“What’s my courtesy name?”
“Qi… zhi…”
“Whose home are we in?”
“Brother’s?”
“Put it all together.”
“…?”