A battle with the Northern Hu was inevitable; it was only a matter of time. The newly risen war god of the Northern Hu was giving Shen Che quite a headache. Of the four top assassins he had sent out, only one returned, and that one was severely wounded. Later, Shen Che personally went north to gauge Zhe Li’s strength. He returned victorious, but barely, having only managed to severely wound Zhe Li without bringing back his head. Since then, it had become difficult to get close to Zhe Li, as he never traveled alone anymore.
Shen Che looked at the sleeping Ji Cheng. He knew he needed to make a breakthrough with her, but such breakthroughs don’t always happen just because you want them to. At this stage, Shen Che felt as if he was preparing a trousseau for Ji Cheng, and she didn’t seem particularly appreciative.
However, Ji Cheng had indeed become much more docile recently, retracting many of her thorns. There wasn’t the expected weariness, and Shen Che had noticed his unusual behavior, though it wasn’t necessarily a good thing.
Ji Cheng woke up feeling hot. Shen Che’s body was always like a furnace, which wasn’t particularly enjoyable in early summer. Ji Cheng gasped like a fish out of water, shaking her leg to try and remove Shen Che’s leg draped over hers. “Hot.”
While Ji Cheng felt hot, Shen Che found her pleasantly cool and was reluctant to let go.
Ji Cheng struggled to sit up and took a pill, hating how sticky she felt. “I need to go back.”
Shen Che lay still, watching Ji Cheng dress, feeling as if he had become a lovelorn woman.
Ji Cheng, of course, didn’t feel lovelorn, because the next day, the Old Madam gave her a surprise. Ji Cheng’s sister-in-law, Fan Zengli, brought news from Ji Qing, expressing willingness to form a marriage alliance with the Ye family.
On this day, the summer light was perfect, with a slight breeze in the morning. The Old Madam led her granddaughters to stroll in the garden, also inviting relatives and friends staying in Qing Garden.
Although Ye Lang wasn’t staying at the Shen family home, he brought his eldest son and daughter to the garden that day to pay respects to the Old Madam.
Ye Lang’s eldest son was eight years old this year, and his eldest daughter was six. They were well-mannered, both respectful and at ease, with the innocence characteristic of children, making them very likable.
Behind the screen, Fan Zengli stood beside Ji Cheng, quietly asking, “What do you think?”
Ye Lang was about the same age as Shen Yu, perhaps a year or two older. He looked refined and gentle, with a constant slight smile that made him seem approachable. His appearance wasn’t particularly outstanding, but men don’t rely on their looks to make a living.
“Although he already has two legitimate sons, the future of his children and grandchildren depends on their abilities. If you marry into the family and carefully raise your children, they might have a chance to succeed,” Fan Zengli advised softly, thinking Ji Cheng must feel wronged.
But Ji Cheng was thinking about how to prevent Shen Che from interfering in this marriage arrangement. She understood the Old Madam’s intentions. Marrying into such a family would relieve the pressure of bearing children. Ye Lang already had three legitimate children, and probably some children from concubines as well. Ji Cheng wouldn’t necessarily need to have children of her own.
“I’ll follow Father’s decision,” Ji Cheng turned and held Fan Zengli’s hand. “If Sister-in-law approves of him, he must be a good man.”
Fan Zengli immediately smiled. She also thought this marriage was a good match. If her sister-in-law married well, it would add another source of support for the Ji family. For families like theirs, being able to marry into such a family as a secondary wife was already aiming high.
“I wonder what the Ye family thinks?” Ji Cheng whispered.
Ye Lang naturally knew that his visit to pay respects to the Old Madam today also carried the intention of being viewed by the bride’s family. That’s why he had specially brought his two children. After all, she would be their future stepmother, and they needed to see if there was a connection. If Ji Cheng didn’t like these two children, there would be no need to worry about the young lady’s future.
Two pairs of embroidered shoes were visible under the screen, one pair snow-cyan with ginger vine embroidery, the other sage green with dark silver ruyi cloud patterns. It was unclear which pair belonged to today’s main character. Ye Lang’s heart leaned towards the sage green embroidered shoes, with their subtle color and delicate, charming size.
“I’ll go out and have a look for you,” Fan Zengli turned and went out from behind the screen. The Old Madam introduced Fan Zengli to Ye Lang, saying she was the eldest daughter-in-law of the Ji family.
Fan Zengli greeted Ye Lang with a practiced air of grace, saying she adored both children and gave each a jade pendant. They were of the finest Hetian jade, one carved with the “Three Yang Bring Prosperity” design, the other with the homophonic “Peace Year After Year” design of ears of grain, a vase, and a quail. She had also prepared a jade pendant for Ye Lang’s younger son. Such precious jade pendants naturally indicated the woman’s family’s willingness.
When Ye Lang lowered his gaze, he glanced at Fan Zengli’s shoes. They were snow-cyan, so Miss Ji must be the one wearing the sage green shoes. He didn’t have high expectations for a second wife, but since the Old Madam of the Shen family and his aunt Madam Huang were acting as matchmakers, she must be quite good. Moreover, he had heard that Miss Ji had some difficulties with childbearing, so she would likely treat his three children as her own. This was why Ye Lang was willing to marry Ji Cheng, a merchant’s daughter. He didn’t lack for children.
Ji Cheng wasn’t particularly excited about this sudden marriage arrangement. Deep down, she knew this marriage was unlikely to happen, but she still held onto a glimmer of hope.
“Sister Cheng,” Young Master Hong suddenly appeared and tugged at Ji Cheng’s clothes.
“Young Master Hong, why are you here?” Ji Cheng knew that at this time in the morning, Young Master Hong should have been practicing calligraphy, not running around in the garden.
“The Ye family brothers are visiting our home, and Father specially allowed me to come out,” Young Master Hong waved to Ye Yan standing behind him. “Cousin Yan, over here.”
Ye Yan slowly walked out from behind a tree, his eyes fixed on Ji Cheng’s shoes, the sage green ones embroidered with ruyi cloud patterns. Ye Yan was already eight years old this year. Back at home, his aunt had told him that his father’s trip to the capital would likely result in him getting a stepmother, so Ye Yan had been paying close attention. Earlier in Cuixin Hall, he had also noticed the two pairs of shoes behind the screen.
Ye Yan’s gaze towards Ji Cheng was very complex. The eight-year-old boy, mature beyond his years due to losing his mother early, already had a strong sense of beauty and ugliness. The person before him was more beautiful than he could have imagined.
Ye Yan remembered his aunt’s words. If such a person married his father, would his father still be as good to them as before?
That evening, when Ye Yan went to pay his respects to his father Ye Lang, he was still gloomy. Ye Lang asked, “What’s wrong, Ah Yan?”
Ye Yan said, “Father, are you going to marry that Miss Ji?”
Ye Lang frowned, “Who’s been gossiping to you?”
Ye Yan lowered his head and said, “Father, I don’t like her.”
Ye Lang asked, “Who don’t you like?”
Ye Yan said, “I don’t like that Miss Ji. I saw her at my Aunt’s house today. I don’t like her.”
Ye Lang asked, “Do you know who Miss Ji is?”
“I know, she’s the one wearing sage green shoes,” Ye Yan said defiantly.
Ye Lang didn’t bother asking who had been gossiping now. “Why don’t you like her?”
“There’s no reason. I just don’t like her,” Ye Yan said.
“I see,” Ye Lang said calmly.
Although Ji Cheng didn’t know about the conversation between the Ye father and son, she had already vaguely noticed Ye Yan’s rejection of her during the day. He was the eldest grandson of the Ye family. If she married into the family, it would probably take a lot of effort to win over that child.
Ji Cheng lay on her bed with her hands folded over her stomach, closing her eyes. She hadn’t yet decided whether to try to preserve this marriage arrangement with the Ye family.
“Going to bed so early?” Shen Che’s voice suddenly sounded above Ji Cheng’s head, startling her into sitting up abruptly.
“Why are you here?” Ji Cheng stared woodenly at Shen Che as he sat down by her bed.
“I guessed that since you’re about to get engaged, you probably wouldn’t come to Jiuli Courtyard anymore, right?” Shen Che said. He reached out and touched Ji Cheng’s cheek. “You’re not obedient. I gave you the chance to choose for yourself, but you’ve disappointed me. Don’t you remember our bet?”
Ji Cheng moved back a little, swallowing hard. Shen Che’s smile gave her a chilling feeling. “Living under someone else’s roof, how could I refuse the Old Madam’s kindness? Refusing would be ungrateful. I only found out about this today. My sister-in-law had been keeping it from me. Do you think I’d be happy to be someone’s second wife?”
“Miss,” Liuye’s voice came from outside. She seemed to have heard a man’s voice in the room but wasn’t sure.
Liuye’s footsteps were getting closer, about to turn around the screen. Ji Cheng mouthed silently to Shen Che, “Jiuli Courtyard.”
Shen Che didn’t budge.
“Please,” Ji Cheng was almost ready to kowtow to Shen Che.
Liuye came around to face Ji Cheng, looked around, and saw no one. She thought she must have been hearing things. “Miss…”
Ji Cheng looked a bit listless. “Go rest. I don’t need anyone on night duty here.”
On her way to Jiuli Courtyard, Ji Cheng felt as if her heart was burning and splitting. She thought she and Shen Che had an understanding that all their interactions could only be hidden in the dark, in secret rooms, in the small courtyard of Jiuli where servants weren’t allowed to enter. But Shen Che kept challenging her bottom line.
The small courtyard was pitch black, without a single lamp lit. Shen Che’s face was hidden in the shadows, making him even more unfathomable.
Ji Cheng obediently sat opposite Shen Che. Although she knew Shen Che didn’t care about the spirit of their bet, whoever broke the rules first would be at a disadvantage.
Neither of them spoke. The darkness made Ji Cheng feel afraid.
“What are you thinking?” Ji Cheng couldn’t help but ask.
“I’m thinking about what method I should use this time to make you obedient from now on,” Shen Che’s voice carried a coldness that made one’s feet start to feel numb.
Ji Cheng keenly caught the word “this time.”
A bold guess that chilled her to the bone arose in her heart. The aphrodisiac that Ji Cheng had been drugged with wasn’t common at all, yet Shen Che had immediately named it Queqiao Xian. How did Wang Si Niang get that drug? It wasn’t the usual perfume used to discipline courtesans in brothels.
Ji Cheng shivered all over. “How did Wang Si Niang get her hands on Queqiao Xian back then?”
Shen Che’s gaze swept over Ji Cheng. “You’re so clever, figuring it out so quickly.”
“Are you even human?” Ji Cheng’s tears immediately began to flow.