Wang Si Niang remained Ji Cheng’s greatest concern, one that needed to be eliminated. Ji Cheng felt a bit uneasy, as her relationship with Shen Che wasn’t quite at the level where she could ask for such a favor. Ji Cheng had thought this matter would require some negotiation, but unexpectedly, Shen Che quickly replied, “The Wang family’s situation will have a resolution soon. Please be patient and wait a bit longer.”
Ji Cheng was slightly surprised, unsure what method Shen Che had used to deal with the Wang family, as there hadn’t been any unusual activity recently. Ji Cheng’s mind began to race again.
“Do you know that you have a fruity peach scent?” Shen Che suddenly asked. Ji Cheng took a moment to react.
“What?”
Shen Che leaned closer to Ji Cheng, taking a deep breath near her ear, “A sweet peach fragrance. I thought you’d use an orange scent.”
Ji Cheng leaned back uncomfortably, avoiding Shen Che’s nose, “It’s not a fragrance I made myself.”
It was Ji Cheng’s natural body scent, faint and barely noticeable unless one was very close, with a few rare exceptions.
“So it’s your natural scent?” Shen Che seemed interested. “Have you heard of the Fragrance Princess from the Western Regions? Though it’s said her floral scent came from eating flower petals. What about you?”
“When my mother was pregnant with me, she dreamed of a celestial peach entering her embrace,” Ji Cheng said. In truth, she didn’t believe such nonsense. If that were the case, she thought, when she had children in the future, she could look at dragon and phoenix patterns, and who knows, she might dream of a flying dragon entering her embrace.
“If so, why isn’t your name Ji Tao (Peach), but Ji Cheng?” Shen Che asked.
Interestingly, Ji Cheng’s previous name had been “Tao” (meaning “naughty” or “mischievous”). Since the Ji family’s generation used water-related characters, like Ji Yuan and Ji Ze, Ji Cheng was originally named Ji Tao.
“I used to be called Tao,” Ji Cheng said. “But I was too mischievous as a child, and my mother blamed my father for choosing the wrong name. Later, it was changed to Cheng, meaning clear and pure.”
“So should I call you Tao Tao?” Shen Che raised an eyebrow. The two syllables “Tao Tao” rolled on his tongue, as if tying a cherry stem into a knot.
Ji Cheng keenly sensed a dangerous atmosphere.
Shen Che smiled, “You’re quite alert. You’d better leave now. If you delay even a bit, you won’t be able to leave.”
Naturally, Ji Cheng fled in a hurry, not even taking the time to put on her shoes, holding them as she ran off in a flash.
As Ji Cheng walked through the secret passage, she gradually slowed her steps, then stopped and looked back. She couldn’t quite understand these matters. Although she had experienced intimacy and tasted its flavor, she couldn’t comprehend how such things could have such a profound effect on men. Could it be so powerful as to make one lose control? Could it be that enjoyable?
In her confusion, Ji Cheng had figured out some of the ways of interaction between men and women, but overall, calling Shen Che a lecher was certainly not unfair.
After sleeping until dawn, it was the third day of the third month, the Shangsi Festival.
While helping Ji Cheng with her morning toilette, Liu Ye’er said, “Young Miss has been sleeping more soundly these days. In the past, you would wake up several times during the night. Last night, I accidentally bumped into the embroidered stool when I got up to use the restroom, and I thought it would startle you, but you didn’t stir at all. That Physician Liu is indeed a master of women’s health. If Young Miss takes a few more doses of medicine, surely all your ailments will be cured.”
Ji Cheng smiled without responding, but her mind recalled Shen Che’s words about “nourishing yin with yang.” She quickly shook her head, wondering how she could be swayed by Shen Che’s words. Ji Cheng had seen the prescription Physician Liu had written – it was a common tonic, seeking to not harm rather than actively cure. It didn’t seem sufficient to treat her years of insomnia.
When Ji Cheng arrived at Luofang Island with Shen Yuan and the others, it was already crowded with beautiful women. The fragrance competition altar was set up at the eastern end of Luofang Island.
The fragrance competition was open to all, regardless of status or rank. One simply had to place their sachet in the large collecting basket to participate.
The deadline for submitting sachets to the fragrance competition was the second quarter of the Si hour (9:30 AM). After that, thirty judges would take their seats. Because there were so many sachets, each judge had to smell twenty to thirty sachets, and then nominate one sachet. From these thirty selected sachets, this year’s Shangsi Festival “Top Fragrance” would be chosen.
The fragrance competition was now organized by the Capital’s Fragrance Association. The young lady whose sachet was chosen as the “Top Fragrance” would receive discounts at the association’s perfume shops for a year. Of course, young ladies from influential families didn’t care much about the discount; it was more for fun.
The Fragrance Association was merely using this opportunity to promote its name.
As such, although Ji Cheng and her companions participated in the fragrance competition, they didn’t take it too seriously and instead went to enjoy the spring scenery by the water.
As Ji Cheng and the other young ladies were walking, they saw the heir of the Southern Commandery Prince’s mansion, Chu Zhen, coming down from the bridge towards them.
Chu Zhen’s eyes immediately fell on Ji Cheng. He had been seeking this opportunity for a long time. Ever since hearing about her engagement in the first month, Chu Zhen, usually as strong as an ox, had fallen seriously ill. When he recovered and heard that the He family had chosen another young lady, Chu Zhen’s heart soared like drinking iced water on a hot summer day.
Chu Zhen had brought up the old matter with the Princess Consort of Chu, but she refused to relent, saying that the engagement between the He family and Ji family had seemed settled, so why did the He family suddenly change their minds? There must be something wrong with Ji Cheng. So the Princess Consort of Chu wouldn’t budge, and only after her son’s persistent pleas did she reluctantly agree to allow Ji Cheng to enter the family as a secondary wife.
Although Chu Zhen felt it was unfair to Ji Cheng, the most important thing was being able to marry her. So from mid-second month, he had been looking for an opportunity to speak with Ji Cheng about his intentions. He needed to give her some mental preparation; he couldn’t just abruptly propose to make her a secondary wife.
Ji Cheng was unaware of Chu Zhen’s thoughts. Because Shen Ruan was infatuated with Chu Zhen, Ji Cheng had always been very cautious to avoid any misunderstanding. Now, seeing Chu Zhen coming from the bridge, Ji Cheng took Lu Yuan’s hand and went to talk with Han Lingze and the other young ladies.
“Elder Brother Zheng,” Shen Ruan smiled and went to greet Chu Zhen.
Chu Zhen glanced disappointedly at Ji Cheng’s retreating figure, then composed himself to exchange pleasantries with Shen Ruan and Shen Yuan. Shen Ruan looked pleadingly at Shen Yuan, hoping to seize this rare opportunity to speak privately with Chu Zhen and give him the sachet she had prepared.
Shen Yuan initially didn’t want to leave. Although the two families had some distant relations, it wasn’t proper to leave Shen Ruan and Chu Zhen alone in public. However, seeing Shen Ruan’s watery eyes, Shen Yuan couldn’t bear to refuse. She sighed and whispered in Shen Ruan’s ear, “This is an exception, not to be repeated.”
After Shen Yuan left under the pretext of looking for Ji Cheng, Shen Ruan was about to speak, hoping that Chu Zhen shared her feelings and would ask the Princess Consort of Chu to propose marriage. Shen Ruan felt that if this happened, she would have no other desires in life.
However, before Shen Ruan could speak, Chu Zhen began, “Sister Ruan, I have a favor to ask of you, but I’m not sure how to begin.”
Thrilled that her beloved needed her help, Shen Ruan eagerly replied, “Elder Brother Zheng, just tell me. If I can help, I certainly will.”
Chu Zhen understood Shen Ruan’s feelings. Even if he wasn’t well-versed in matters of love, growing up surrounded by admiring cousins and maids trying to seduce their master, Chu Zhen wasn’t a fool. He could see that Shen Ruan had feelings for him. But this was a blessing he couldn’t accept. Although he felt guilty, he didn’t want to lead Shen Ruan on, so he decided to use this opportunity to settle the matter. “Sister Ruan, could you find a chance for me to speak privately with Miss Ji?”
Upon hearing this, Shen Ruan’s smile froze on her face. If not for her upbringing, she might have burst into tears on the spot. Even so, Shen Ruan was thunderstruck and couldn’t respond for a long while.
“Sister Ruan, I know this request is too much, but I need to speak with Miss Ji. Please help me,” Chu Zhen bowed to Shen Ruan.
Shen Ruan’s feelings were suddenly doused as if by ice water. Averting her eyes, she forced a smile and said, “How can I refuse when Elder Brother Zheng asks for my help?”
Meanwhile, Shen Ruan, like a wooden puppet, found Ji Cheng and managed to force out a smile, saying, “Sister Cheng, could you accompany me for a walk by the water?”
Seeing Shen Ruan’s pale face, Ji Cheng guessed she had probably been rejected by Chu Zhen. “Sure,” she replied.
“Let’s go together,” Shen Yuan said, noticing Shen Ruan’s poor complexion.
Shen Ruan linked arms with Ji Cheng and said, “Third Sister hasn’t spoken with Sister Li Hui for a long time. Now that you’ve met, how can you not chat properly? Sister Cheng and I will go for a short walk over there and come back soon.”
Shen Yuan looked worriedly at Shen Ruan, and then at Ji Cheng. Ji Cheng smiled at Shen Yuan, “Don’t worry, I’ll keep her company.”
Knowing that Ji Cheng was always prudent in her actions, Shen Yuan nodded.
After crossing the bridge and rounding the green willows, there were people everywhere. Ahead was a small grove suitable for resting, but Ji Cheng stopped halfway and refused to go further.
Shen Ruan turned back and asked, “Sister Cheng, why have you stopped?”
Ji Cheng stood under the low-hanging willows, looking at Shen Ruan. “Unless you tell me who you want me to meet?” Ji Cheng had learned to be cautious from past experiences and was now full of wariness. Although she knew Shen Ruan wasn’t like Su Yun, well-intentioned people could sometimes do harmful things.
Moreover, Ji Cheng had more or less guessed who Shen Ruan wanted her to meet. Otherwise, Shen Ruan wouldn’t have used such a clumsy excuse to refuse Shen Yuan’s company, nor would she be holding onto Ji Cheng so tightly. Besides, Shen Ruan’s forced smile was worse than crying, enough for Ji Cheng to guess what Chu Zhen had said to her.
“Sister Cheng, I’m just feeling down and wanted to walk around,” Shen Ruan still wouldn’t tell the truth. She had promised Chu Zhen and was determined to keep her word.
Seeing this, Ji Cheng spoke directly, “Is it that Young Master Chu wants to speak with me privately?”
Shen Ruan was startled, “How did you know?”
Ji Cheng thought, so it was indeed the case.
“Your heartbreak is written all over your face. We’ve walked all this way, and you haven’t even wanted to look at me. It seems I’ve offended you,” Ji Cheng sighed.
“No, Sister Cheng, I…” Shen Ruan didn’t know what she wanted to say.
Ji Cheng said, “Ah Ruan, you shouldn’t have agreed to his request.”