The copper bells on the sedan chair door raised delicate, melodious sounds in the north wind. With two sedan bearers plus one attendant, the small group wasn’t very conspicuous. When they reached the mouth of the hutong, they turned and entered Dengshikou Avenue.

Ding Yi lifted the curtain to look outside. The lantern light cast onto Guan Zhaojing’s face, half bright and half dark. She opened her lips and called out, “Andda, did you send someone to investigate the Suo family?”

Guan Zhaojing responded, “Yes. As soon as you entered the city, the Prince gave the order. Just when you went into the courtyard to speak with Master Wu, this servant was waiting outside, and our men returned with news. Suo Tao’s family had two daughters. The elder one died ten years ago, leaving the younger one—the one who was engaged to your family’s Third Master. The Suo family has no sons, so there’s no one to inherit their estate. Suo Tao wanted to find a son-in-law who would marry into their family. As you know, among families with any status in the city, who would willingly marry into a wife’s family?” Guan Zhaojing shook his head and clicked his tongue. “It’s hard to find. Those with good character and learning wouldn’t stoop to relying on a wife’s family, while those willing to marry are all scroungers. The Suo family looks down on them. As time passed, the daughter was delayed, reaching her twenties without being married off.”

Hearing this gave Ding Yi hope. She sat up straight and asked, “What about now? Is there a prospective match?”

Guan Zhaojing said there wasn’t. “Strangely, later there were several decent matches proposed for the young lady. She was normally fine, but whenever a marriage proposal came, she would fall ill, acting crazed and calling her father ‘Second Uncle.’ Eventually, word spread that the Suo family’s second daughter had a mental illness, and gradually fewer people came to propose. However, some who coveted the family’s wealth, widowers looking for second wives, would try their luck, but they were all driven away.”

Hearing this, she felt both happy and worried. It was good the young lady hadn’t married, but if she was mentally ill, that would be difficult. She patted her knee, thinking—falling ill only when marriage proposals came—could it be an act? Perhaps she was another lovesick person, unable to let go of her feelings for Ru Jian, preferring to remain unmarried for life!

She was anxious in her heart and leaned forward to look outside, faintly seeing the sign of Ji Ren Tang. The Suo family was at the entrance of Bei Guan Chang Hutong, just as the Seventh Prince had described—a strangely shaped quadrangle. The courtyard appeared deep, with a detached two-story building inside. Two large lanterns hung from the eaves, with the character “Suo” written prominently on them.

At the doorway, she hesitated, wanting to enter and speak with the young lady but not knowing what excuse to give. At this moment, Guan Zhaojing’s face became a living sign. He went up to knock on the door ring, making an especially loud noise in the quiet night. Soon someone came to open the door. The doorkeeper stuck his head out, and seeing Guan Zhaojing, he exclaimed and quickly came out to bow, “Greetings to Lord Guan! What wind has blown your excellency here? Please come in quickly. Look how cold it is…” He glanced outside the threshold and hesitantly said, “Who is in the sedan chair? Could it be the Prince…”

Guan Zhaojing smiled, “Almost. Quickly inform Master Suo that our lady has come to pay a visit.”

The doorkeeper didn’t know who this lady was, but she was important, so he dared not be negligent. He waved his hand several times, sending a servant to report inside, while he bent at the waist, bowing repeatedly, inviting the lady to enter.

Suo Tao received the news and ran out from the main room, holding up the corners of his robe. As someone who moved in official circles, he was well-informed. Observing this lady’s fine attire and the protection of the prince’s chief steward, he had already guessed seven or eight parts of the story. Approaching, he hurriedly bowed, not knowing how to address her. After all, she had no official status yet, and her background was unclear. In any case, he only needed to flatter her, saying, “This humble official Suo Tao pays respects to the young lady. The young lady has come at night, and this humble official is overwhelmed. If you had any instructions, you could have sent someone with a message. How could we trouble the young lady to come in person!”

Ding Yi quickly asked Master Suo to dispense with formalities, smiling, “I have come too abruptly. I hope Master Suo won’t mind.”

Suo Tao hurriedly said he wouldn’t dare, leading the way to the main room. The Suo family’s wife was waiting at the door, curtsying repeatedly, ordering maids to bring tea and snacks, and being very attentive and thorough.

In truth, the Suo family didn’t understand why this visitor had come at night. Thinking about it, they normally had no connection with Prince Chun’s residence, so they were a bit puzzled. After sitting down, there was a moment without conversation, with gazes crossing like arrows. Guan Zhaojing spoke first, looking around in all directions and praising, “Master Suo’s home is well-arranged, spacious, and comfortable… How many people are in your household now? How many sons and daughters do you have?”

Suo Tao didn’t know what he was getting at and answered a bit hesitantly, “I have no sons, just one daughter…”

Ding Yi seized the opportunity to interject, “Could I meet your daughter?”

Suo Tao was startled again, exchanged a glance with his wife, and quietly instructed, “Go, call our daughter to come pay respects to the young lady.”

Mrs. Suo left and soon returned with her daughter. Having briefly explained the visitor’s identity beforehand, the girl said nothing, approaching and curtsying deeply.

Ding Yi stood up to help her, examining her closely. She was a proper-looking young woman. Not young anymore at twenty-seven—for a woman, the best years had already flowed away, with the remaining bloom facing imminent withering. However, she was still doing well, naturally not appearing old, and dressed appropriately. Ding Yi couldn’t detect traces of age on her face.

Ding Yi took her hand, but with many people present, it wasn’t suitable for conversation. She only asked softly, “Sister, are you waiting for someone?”

The second daughter was startled, her eyes rippling slightly. But being older and experienced, she remained composed, smiling and saying, “The young lady has perceived it?”

This was satisfactory! Ding Yi was overjoyed and squeezed her hand firmly. “I feel as if I’ve known you forever. Could we find a place to talk properly?”

The second daughter agreed and led the way, bringing her to the main room in the second courtyard. Maids served tea and were then dismissed. The two sat face to face, Ding Yi holding her teacup while observing the other, who sat properly with an open expression.

Neither spoke first. This impasse wasn’t working. Hong Ce had told her not to reveal too much, but she thought hiding everything might not accomplish anything. She still needed to test the waters. If the young lady was truly waiting for Ru Jian, bringing this news now would be like lifesaving medicine!

She put down her teacup and smiled, “You must be wondering why a stranger would come to speak with you… We’re not strangers. We haven’t met, but there’s a connection.” She paused, then carefully said, “Forgive my abruptness, but I heard you were previously engaged to someone from the Wen family of the Censorate. Later their family fell into trouble, yet they remained unmarried. Why is that?”

The second daughter raised her eyes to look at her. This was something hidden in the depths of her heart. Usually, no one touched upon it, but suddenly someone had dropped from the sky and immediately uncovered her wound. Should she be happy or angry? Someone else would certainly not be pleased, but she wasn’t like that. She had been lonely for too long and needed an opportunity to vent. This visitor had come at night—it couldn’t be without reason to ask such a question. Perhaps there was something to say. Whether good or bad, having hope was better than having none.

Her heart warmed, feeling a surge of emotion. She suppressed it with effort before saying, “You are a noble person, and I am just a bondservant. I am unworthy of being called ‘sister’ by you. Our family name is Suo Chuo Luo. You can call me Hai Lan. You asked me earlier if I was waiting for someone. That’s right, I am waiting for someone. I don’t know why you’re discussing this with me, but I can see that you certainly didn’t come out of mere curiosity.”

Ding Yi nodded, “That’s right. I know a little about your situation. Rejecting so many marriage proposals over these years—it must have been difficult for you.”

Hai Lan smiled faintly, “If you know about my rejected marriages, you should also know that I was forced to pretend to be insane… My person was sent to Changbai Mountain. I’ve tried many ways but couldn’t find out where he is. As a woman, I’ve thought several times about going there to find him, but in the end couldn’t make the journey. To be honest, I’m also afraid. I’ve never traveled far and don’t know if I could find him. In my eyes, he’s a hero. As long as he’s alive, he’ll surely escape bondage and return to Beijing. I don’t have the ability; I can only hope he’ll come find me. I can’t do anything for him except wait—wait for him to return and see that I’m still unmarried, still a pure and virtuous maiden.”

So there were people in the world whose love was as sincere as hers and the Twelfth Prince’s. A responsible man, meeting an equally stubborn woman—many impossibilities became possibilities.

Ding Yi sighed deeply, “From your engagement to the Wen family’s downfall, it wasn’t a long time. Why are you so single-mindedly waiting for him? He was exiled, and many things are uncertain. He might have died on the way to exile. Aren’t you worried that in the end, it will all be for nothing?”

Hai Lan continued smiling, “You’re right. I’ve thought about this too, but I can’t help being stubborn. I was engaged to him when I was fourteen, and he was a year older. At that time, our family lived in Qin Lao Hutong, and his family lived in Shan Lao Hutong. When he finished his palace duties and returned, he would come from North Lake heading south, circling daily to pass by our house. He was taking a detour to see someone, but when I would go out to meet him, he would pretend, saying, ‘Oh, what a coincidence,’ as if I were a fool!” She recalled quite a lot, gradually blushing. Unconsciously straightening the folds of her skirt, she said in a low voice, “He was a second-rank bodyguard, wearing a purple jacket and a red velvet hat, with a sword at his waist, riding a tall horse through the hutong with a clip-clop sound, looking especially majestic. Later, I became too shy to see him daily, so I would hang a red handkerchief in the window. When he saw the handkerchief, he would know I was there. That’s how we communicated spiritually. After that, his father was convicted of a crime, and he was exiled too. At that time, I was…”

She shook her head, looking as if words failed her. Ding Yi understood her feelings—a young girl’s emotions, whoever crashes into her heart might be carried there for a lifetime. She found it amusing and murmured to herself, “Ru Jian seems so serious, but he’s quite good at winning a girl’s heart.”

When Hai Lan heard her mention this name, she shuddered violently, stood up, and clutched Ding Yi’s sleeve. “You know Ru Jian? Where is he now?”

Ding Yi placed her hand over Hai Lan’s, pulled her to sit down, and said gently, “Don’t be anxious. He’s doing well now. I can’t tell you where he is, but he should return to Beijing before long. He thinks of you too. The fact that you haven’t married anyone else is the best news possible. You two must be destined for each other. Even though you’ve been separated for over ten years, you’ll reconnect in the future.”

Hai Lan began to cry, wiping tears while smiling. She made a sound of agreement and said, “I’m truly too happy. Please forgive my loss of composure. Has he married yet? Does he have a wife?”

“You’re still single, how could he marry?” Ding Yi used a handkerchief to dry her tears. “I’m telling you these things today to give you hope. You absolutely cannot tell anyone else. If it gets out, it might harm him.”

Hai Lan repeatedly agreed, then hesitantly examined her. “If I’m not mistaken, you are…”

“Who I am isn’t important.” She stood up, glanced outside, and said, “It’s getting late, and I should return. Remember what I said. If any more suitors come, you must continue to refuse them. Give him a little more time. When he returns, everything will be better.”

Hai Lan agreed and gathered her spirits to see her off to the front courtyard. Guan Zhaojing and Suo Tao had been chatting idly for a long time. Seeing them approach, they quickly rose to receive them. Guan Zhaojing bowed to the Suo couple, saying, “Alright, we won’t impose on you two any longer. We’ll take our leave now. Let’s set a time for our next meeting and have a drink at Zheng Yang Tower. Is it settled?”

Suo Tao murmured in agreement: “Settled, settled.” He escorted them out the main gate.

After seeing them off, he was still puzzled and asked his daughter, “Why did the Twelfth Prince’s not-yet-married Fujin come? Did you two know each other before?”

It wasn’t time to tell the truth yet, even to her parents. Hai Lan said, “We don’t know each other. This Fujin knows I have many embroidery patterns and came specifically to borrow some.” Before her parents could question her, she turned and headed toward the gate of the inner courtyard.

Meanwhile, Ding Yi returned to Jiu Cu Ju Hutong. Entering, she saw lights blazing, with someone in the main room looking up at a painting on the wall. She smiled, removed her cape, and handed it to a maid, then quickly entered through the diamond-shaped doorway. He stood with his back to the door. She tiptoed up behind him and suddenly covered his eyes.

“Is it a cat or a dog?” he laughed, separating her hands and turning to embrace her. “Look how busy you’ve been, returning so late, making me wait.”

She stretched lazily and mumbled, “I’m busy too, with so many things to do! I met the Suo family’s second daughter. She’s unmarried, also someone who persists to the end—quite pitiful. At my master’s place, before I could say much, the old neighbor insisted on giving me a godson. I’m telling you, I’m now someone with a godson.”

He slowly slid his hand down, pinching her willow-like waist. “It seems this trip was quite fruitful—all good things happened to you. Since that’s the case, let’s strike while the iron is hot. Tomorrow is my mother’s birthday. The Empress will go to Lang Run Garden to congratulate her. Let’s go together to meet people. What needs to be settled should be settled to avoid complications as time passes.”

He didn’t say it explicitly, but in his heart, he also wanted to borrow some good luck. He wasn’t worried about anything else but his mother, Noble Consort Gui!

Ding Yi looked up at him, “Hong Ce, what if your mother doesn’t agree? What will we do?”

He was silent for a moment, frowning, “I meant what I said to Old Seven today. The men in our Yu Wen family have this affliction—always having family disputes over marriage matters. First, it was the Emperor Emeritus, then the Emperor, and now it’s my turn. What they were able to do, I can do just as well.”