Ji Cheng suddenly recalled the smile on Shen Che’s face when Ling Ziyun had invited him to a banquet. She stomped her foot, her heart trembling, unsure of what he intended to say to Ling Ziyun.
If this marriage truly came to pass, Ji Cheng couldn’t imagine the impact it would have on Ling Ziyun. In an instant, her mind raced through various scenarios, even contemplating elopement.
However, elopement was merely a fleeting thought. “The one who elopes becomes a concubine” – Ji Cheng would never put herself in such a position.
The only solution now was to see Shen Che. Only the one who tied the bell could untie it.
Shen Che and Madam Peng were staying at Liu Garden, a famous garden in North Jin owned by the retired Imperial Censor Liu. Ji Cheng had climbed over the wall to leave the Ji family compound. Ji Qing, fearing she might seek out Ling Ziyun and cause a scandal by eloping, had specifically ordered the gatekeepers not to let her out.
Fortunately for Ji Cheng, with her agility, climbing a wall was only slightly more challenging than turning a page.
When Ji Cheng arrived at Liu Garden, Shen Che hadn’t returned yet. A servant invited her to wait. She had just picked up a teacup when she saw Madam Xiao, the wife of the Heir of Duke Peng, enter from outside.
Ji Cheng had met Madam Xiao before. She was renowned for her good fortune – a loving marriage and filial children. She was often invited to preside over joyous occasions in the capital. When Shen Yuan got married, it was Madam Xiao who had tied her face veil.
Upon seeing Ji Cheng, Madam Xiao smiled, her expression so warm that even Ji Cheng, who had come to “seek trouble,” couldn’t help but blush.
“Ah Che went out and hasn’t returned yet,” Madam Xiao said with a smile.
Ji Cheng lowered her head, blushing, and responded with a soft “Oh.”
Madam Xiao carefully examined Ji Cheng. Truthfully, although she had seen Ji Cheng before, her impression was limited to that of a very pretty young girl. When suddenly requested by the Shen family’s matriarch to propose marriage to the Ji family, she was greatly surprised. Why choose another daughter from the Ji family?
Now, seeing Ji Cheng, Madam Xiao naturally wanted to assess what qualities had moved both the Shen family’s old matriarch and Shen Che.
At first glance, she found Ji Cheng incredibly beautiful. A few years ago, she had been a budding beauty, but not yet fully blossomed, her figure still that of a young girl. While eye-catching, she hadn’t been breathtaking. But now, seeing her, one understood the true meaning of “beauty that could sink fish and topple wild geese, eclipse the moon and put flowers to shame.” She made others seem like mere wooden puppets in comparison.
Madam Xiao thought to herself, with such looks, no wonder Shen Che had agreed. Perhaps he had taken a liking to her when she was staying at the Shen household. Otherwise, why would Shen Che, who had refused to discuss marriage for so many years, start arranging it as soon as her mourning period ended?
Madam Xiao shook her head and smiled, “You two children. Ah Che insisted on having this old body of mine travel all this way to propose to your family, saying it was to show how seriously he takes this marriage. But I think it’s actually to show how seriously he takes you. It was enough that I came, but he wasn’t at ease and insisted on escorting me. In truth, he just wanted to get your birth chart to set his mind at ease.”
Ji Cheng’s face reddened even more, not knowing how to explain to Madam Xiao. She could only shake her head and say, “It’s not…”
Madam Xiao, probably having been cooped up for several days of travel without much conversation, couldn’t stop once she started, “What’s not? I’ve never seen Ah Che like this before. And you? I only proposed to your family this morning, and you’ve already run over here to find Ah Che?” As Ji Cheng’s elder and someone known for her good nature and love of jokes, Madam Xiao felt free to speak casually to her junior. “Ah, right, you two haven’t seen each other for several years, have you? Look at my poor memory, I almost forgot. He came counting the days until your mourning period ended. It’s just that we had some family matters recently and couldn’t get away, which drove him to distraction. Men are always impatient when it comes to taking a wife.”
Ji Cheng, rendered speechless by Madam Xiao’s words, could only smile awkwardly.
Madam Xiao patted Ji Cheng’s hand, “Don’t be shy, everyone goes through this. Looking at you, I can tell you’ll be blessed in the future.” Just then, a servant came to report that Shen Che had returned. Madam Xiao teasingly smiled and said, “Go on then. I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything and don’t know you were here.”
Ji Cheng fled in embarrassment. Madam Xiao’s words left her feeling both amused and perplexed. Was the person she described Shen Che? Yet another voice in Ji Cheng’s heart said that it might not be untrue; otherwise, why would Shen Che return to propose marriage?
In truth, Ji Cheng had never imagined that when she was still living with the Shen family, the old matriarch was already looking for a wife for Shen Che and had given him an ultimatum. She had assumed Shen Che would be engaged or married by now, never expecting today’s turn of events.
How could the old matriarch and Princess An He agree to his foolishness?
Lost in thought, Ji Cheng had already followed the servant to where Shen Che was staying.
As soon as Ji Cheng entered the hall, she saw Shen Che and the birth chart on the table.
“Have you come to take this back?” Shen Che’s gaze lingered on the birth chart before lifting to look at Ji Cheng.
Ji Cheng stepped forward. Her purpose indeed had been to retrieve the birth chart, but when her fingers touched the thin paper, it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, impossible to pick up or put down.
After a long moment, Ji Cheng withdrew her hand and sat down across from Shen Che.
The thin birth chart still lay quietly on the table.
Shen Che asked, “Have you thought it through?”
Ji Cheng remained silent. When not truly faced with a choice, people always think they can be selfless and fearless, marching forward bravely. But when the choice truly comes, they discover how cowardly and selfish they are.
By not taking the birth chart, Ji Cheng had essentially given up on Ling Ziyun. When one thinks too much, it’s easy to become overly cautious. She could indeed pursue a relationship with Ling Ziyun regardless of consequences, but that would mean abandoning the Ji family, and in a sense, the Ling family as well.
Seeing Shen Che’s cold gaze, Ji Cheng knew that if she rejected his proposal, she would face his suppression. The Ji and Ling families had too many shady businesses that couldn’t bear scrutiny. Against Shen Che, they wouldn’t stand a chance.
Shen Che poured a cup of tea and slowly pushed it towards Ji Cheng. “It’s good that you’ve come to understand. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know how to explain to Madam Xiao why we suddenly returned the birth chart.”
Ji Cheng understood Shen Che’s implication and couldn’t help but say, “Even if I’ve understood, has Cousin Che truly understood? I thought after this morning’s events, you would be eager to return the birth chart.”
Shen Che’s eyes narrowed as he said sarcastically, “If I returned the birth chart, wouldn’t that just suit your purposes?”
Ji Cheng thought Shen Che’s words clearly showed his pique, but how could marriage be used for such petty retaliation? She adjusted her tone and asked, “Why did you choose me?” Ji Cheng had never believed she possessed such charm to make Shen Che propose to her.
Why choose Ji Cheng? Shen Che had asked himself this question, and the old matriarch had asked him too. In truth, there had always been only one answer – simply because he favored her.
If he didn’t favor someone, he’d rather not marry at all.
This stubbornness of Shen Che’s had caused the old matriarch to shed countless tears. He wouldn’t listen to beatings or scoldings, completely intractable.
As for Ji Cheng, perhaps three years ago, Shen Che couldn’t fully understand his feelings, so he couldn’t lower his pride. But after three years of constant longing, with his feelings undiminished, a bone-deep yearning, if he still didn’t understand, he’d be the biggest fool under heaven.
It was precisely because he understood that Shen Che had been able to suppress the urge to kill Ling Ziyun on the spot this morning. If not for fear of hurting Ji Cheng, Ling Ziyun would have died several times over. How could he have allowed him to prance about on the Western frontier battlefield? Did Ling Ziyun truly believe his repeated escapes from death were due to good fortune or heaven’s protection?
Unfortunately, these inner thoughts were not something Shen Che could express to Ji Cheng.
Pan Shi, Ji Qing’s concubine, had reported Ji Cheng’s words to Shen Che: “If I don’t like someone, I just don’t like them.” How decisively Ji Cheng had spoken!
Yet even if she didn’t like him, Shen Che couldn’t let go. But he couldn’t voice his reasons.
When coming to North Jin, Shen Che had planned to have a good talk with Ji Cheng, even if it meant enduring her mockery. He needed to help her resolve her inner conflict.
But then Shen Che had witnessed Ji Cheng’s feelings for Ling Ziyun at Fa Hong Temple with his own eyes and heard her thoughts about himself. How could he say what he had prepared?
Ji Cheng waited for a moment, but seeing no response from Shen Che, she pressed on, “With so many to choose from, why must it be me?”
“You haven’t been managing the Ji family business these past few years, have you? The profits from private arms dealing are enormous. Your father has become less obedient. I want you to suggest to your father that he offer this business line as your dowry,” Shen Che said.
This explanation might fool others, but not Ji Cheng. Shen Che had countless methods at his disposal; surely he could handle the Ji family. The private arms dealing alone was already a tight noose around the Ji family’s neck. If Ji Cheng were in Shen Che’s position, she would be eager to distance herself from the Ji family.
Although exporting weapons to the Western Regions was currently considered patriotic and for the people’s benefit, it was not an above-board method. Once exposed, it would be a capital offense that could lead to the extermination of the entire clan. Early on, Shen Che had indicated that if the matter was exposed, he wouldn’t hesitate to use the Ji family as a scapegoat. But now, if the two families were to become in-laws, should the Ji family’s dealings be exposed, the Shen family might also be implicated.
How could someone as clever as Shen Che allow the Shen family to fall into such a quagmire?
Ji Cheng shook her head and said, “This reason seems too far-fetched.”
“The Northwest has been at war for the past two years, depleting the national treasury. Soldiers’ wages have been in arrears for months, relying on the army to raise funds on its own. Your father has agreed to provide a dowry of one million taels of silver, with an additional two hundred thousand taels annually thereafter,” Shen Che said.
This reason was even more absurd. Ji Cheng had seen the Jingshi Army’s accounts. Even after two years of warfare consuming vast amounts of silver, it certainly wasn’t worth the Second Young Master of the Shen family sacrificing his marriage for money.
But with the conversation having reached this point, Ji Cheng knew Shen Che wouldn’t tell her the truth. Feeling frustrated and unable to find a resolution, her words became tinged with sarcasm, “Oh, so you’re saying Cousin Che has sold himself to my family?”
Even though Shen Che’s skin was thicker than most, being addressed this way by Ji Cheng made him cough twice in embarrassment. “Whether I’m sold or not is hard to say. It might be that someone can’t get married and needs her family to pay a reverse dowry.”