Yuqian stomped her foot, frustrated that she couldn’t keep any secrets from her young mistress, who always saw through her. Nevertheless, she continued, “I heard from Duan that it’s the eldest son of Censor Huang. But this news isn’t widely known yet. I only found out because I coaxed Duan into letting it slip. She had overheard it by chance.”
Ji Cheng had a vague impression of Madam Huang, whom she had met during the Dragon Boat Festival. She must have taken a liking to Su Yun then.
Yuqian smiled mischievously and added, “But there’s still something you haven’t guessed, Young Miss.”
Seeing Yuqian’s proud expression of having finally stumped her, Ji Cheng couldn’t help but smile. “Are you that happy to have caught me out?”
“Of course I’m happy,” Yuqian replied. “Young Miss is too clever, so I’m naturally pleased when I can surprise you.”
“Am I really that clever?” Ji Cheng touched her face thoughtfully. This wasn’t necessarily a good thing. From her observation, few men liked clever women. Take her elder brother, Ji Yuan, for example. When arranging his marriage, there had been a better young lady available. Ji Cheng thought Miss Fang was charming and graceful, superior to her current sister-in-law in many aspects. Yet, Ji Yuan had chosen the less outstanding current sister-in-law during the matchmaking.
Yuqian, being young, didn’t understand these nuances and failed to notice Ji Cheng’s thoughts. She continued to show off her newfound information: “Duan said that many ladies have been visiting Old Madam Su recently. They’ve all taken a liking to Miss Su. However, Old Madam Su only took Miss Su to meet Madam Huang.”
“How could a little maid like Duan hear such things? Do you think the old madam’s rooms are full of holes?” Ji Cheng chided Yuqian gently. This girl didn’t think things through, believing every rumor she heard.
“Young Miss doesn’t know, but Duan’s mother recently bribed her way into serving Young Miss Yunjin in the old madam’s quarters. She heard bits and pieces from Young Miss Yunjin, and then noticed the increased number of visitors to the old madam’s courtyard,” Yuqian quickly explained.
Ji Cheng smiled and turned to Liuye, saying, “I used to think Yuqian was still a child, but I’ve misjudged her. This girl is becoming more and more reliable in her duties.”
Flattered by Ji Cheng’s praise, Yuqian’s chin nearly pointed to the sky. In her pride, she spoke carelessly, “Miss Su went out for just one day during the Dragon Boat Festival, and so many ladies have taken a liking to her. Young Miss, don’t worry. Someone with a discerning eye will surely recognize your worth.”
Ji Cheng fell silent at these words. Recognizing worth was different from recognizing a hero. A hero’s background might not matter but for noble families choosing a daughter-in-law, only lineage and upbringing were considered. Usually, Ji Cheng wouldn’t have felt this so keenly, but comparing herself to Su Yun made the disparity all too clear.
Ji Cheng was certainly not inferior to Su Yun in any aspect, but the treatment they received in the circles of noble ladies in the capital was vastly different.
Feeling a surge of frustration, Ji Cheng put down her comb and said, “I’m going to practice sword dancing for a while. Prepare some water for me to bathe when I return.”
Now living in Qing Garden in the same courtyard as Shen Yuan and Shen Cui, Ji Cheng could no longer practice sword dancing in the yard as she had in her former small courtyard at Ji Lan’s. She had to carry her sword to a secluded spot in the garden.
However, the vast garden was scenic everywhere, with few truly secluded areas. After exploring, Ji Cheng found that only the bamboo grove at the foot of Jiuli Court, where Shen Che lived, was relatively private and rarely visited.
The bamboo grove was deep and secluded, with paths barely wide enough for one person. At night, it was hard to see inside, and the rustling of bamboo leaves in the evening breeze was somewhat eerie. Yuqian, following Ji Cheng, felt scared and said, “Young Miss, let’s not go in. What if there’s…”
Snakes? Ghosts? Yuqian dared not even speak these words aloud.
But Ji Cheng’s heart was burning with a fire that needed release. She turned and said in a deliberately gentle voice, “Wait for me out here. I’ll go in and practice for a while. If anything happens, I’ll call you, and you’ll hear me.”
“I’d rather follow you in, Young Miss,” Yuqian said, her loyalty instantly overcoming her fear.
“It’s better if you stay here. We can keep watch inside and out,” Ji Cheng insisted. “You know I need some time alone.”
Yuqian fell silent.
Ji Cheng entered the bamboo grove with her peach wood sword. Peachwood was believed to ward off evil spirits, so Ji Cheng wasn’t afraid of ghosts. Finding a slightly spacious area, she could no longer contain herself and began to dance.
Her sword moved like a flying dragon, its spirit soaring to the heavens.
No accompanying music was needed; Ji Cheng had the tune of “Breaking the Solid Formation” in her heart. The worldly views were her barriers to break. Despite her apparent wisdom, Ji Cheng was still just a fifteen-year-old girl, unable to fully comprehend the attitudes of those ladies who only cared about one’s background.
Truthfully, the Su family had long since fallen from grace, left with only an empty shell of former glory. Marrying Su Yun might not necessarily be better than marrying her, Ji Cheng. She believed that as a wife, she would be no less capable than these capital ladies in supporting her husband and educating their children. Moreover, with her abilities, even without relying on the Ji family’s wealth, she could find ways to make a family prosper. At the very least, she would never let her husband’s family worry about money or resort to usury and pawning to maintain a facade of grandeur.
While Ji Cheng usually understood why those ladies valued a daughter-in-law’s background, she felt deep down that they were inflexible. Did a good background guarantee a good daughter-in-law? Ji Cheng doubted it. Her mind was in turmoil, even angrily thinking those ladies were fools – a sign she had gone too far. Ji Cheng quickly shook her head, knowing she was complaining too much, but no amount of grievance could change reality. She still had to face it.
Ji Cheng retracted her thrust sword, softening her waist like bamboo bending under snow, then springing back resiliently. This formless sword dance followed only her mood, flowing like water and clouds.
Her thoughts turned to the old madam. She had misjudged earlier, assuming the old madam wouldn’t care for an outsider like her. But hearing how she intervened for Su Yun today, Ji Cheng realized the old madam took good care of the younger generation. She wanted to try her luck; having more options was always better.
Ji Cheng finished with a whirling moon pattern, ending with a swift spin. Had it been an iron sword, it would have left a beautiful trail of light.
After venting through her sword dance, Ji Cheng was breathless but felt much better.
Sometimes, one must accept fate, but not completely. One must always try.
Ji Cheng shouldered her sword and started back, only to find that the bamboo grove, which should have taken just the time to drink a cup of tea to exit, had her wandering for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Her first thought was that she had encountered a ghost’s maze.
The bamboo leaves rustled, sounding like countless ghostly footsteps in her suspicious mind. Ji Cheng’s face paled, but she controlled herself from shouting, only calling softly, “Yuqian, Yuqian.”
Yuqian’s voice came from outside, but it seemed to come from the west, while Ji Cheng clearly remembered Yuqian should be to her east.
Ji Cheng tried to retrace her steps, but each time Yuqian responded, it seemed to come from a different direction. Eventually, Ji Cheng was stumbling around like a headless fly.
There had been a half-moon in the sky, but in her fear, even looking up at the moon seemed ominous, as if shrouded by dark clouds. The eerie atmosphere intensified. Ji Cheng had never taken a life, but she had certainly schemed for money before. This thought sent chills up from her feet. Suddenly, a human figure flickered in front of her. Ji Cheng covered her mouth to stifle a scream, her body shaking with fear, her right hand instinctively grasping the hilt of her peach wood sword.
“Miss Ji.”
Though she had heard this voice only a few times, it was remarkably memorable. Its owner was one of the people Ji Cheng least wanted to see. However, at this moment, it sounded like heavenly music to her ears. She nearly rushed over to seek help.
“Is that Cousin Che?” Ji Cheng’s voice trembled, directly ignoring Shen Che’s formal address of “Miss Ji.” Calling him cousin wasn’t wrong, was it?
Shen Che didn’t answer but stepped forward into the moonlight.
Ji Cheng examined him carefully, especially his heels, to ensure he was a complete, living person. Only then did she fully relax, taking a deep breath to steady her voice before lowering her eyes and calling out again, “Cousin Che.”
“I’ll lead you out,” Shen Che said, glancing briefly at Ji Cheng before walking past her.
The bamboo grove wasn’t large, and within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Ji Cheng followed Shen Che out. Yuqian wasn’t outside but came running from afar, followed by a young boy with his hair in childish knots.
Seeing Ji Cheng, Yuqian quickened her pace. Her eyes were initially fixed on Ji Cheng, but as she drew near, she suddenly noticed Shen Che. The young maid, unable to resist the charm of a handsome man, stumbled and nearly fell flat on her face.
After regaining her balance, Yuqian stood beside Ji Cheng with a blushing face and softly called, “Young Miss, you’re finally out.”
The young boy respectfully addressed Shen Che, “Young Master.”
Shen Che said to Ji Cheng, “The bamboo grove isn’t large. Cousin, you won’t get lost again, will you?”
Ji Cheng’s face turned as red as a monkey’s bottom. After Shen Che left with the young boy, Yuqian finally exhaled and said, “Young Miss, I was so scared earlier. Your voice was coming and going, but I couldn’t see you. I ran in but couldn’t find my way out, so I panicked and ran around. When I finally got out, I didn’t dare go back in. I ran up the hill to find help.”
The “hill” Yuqian referred to was Jiuli Court.
Ji Cheng thought that must have been when Shen Che was alerted and came to lead her out. That’s why he didn’t ask any questions and simply offered to guide her out.
But why did Cousin Che appear when Yuqian had already found a young boy to lead the way?
As they walked, Ji Cheng pondered this. It was her nature to think everything through. Yuqian, on the other hand, never wondered why the Second Young Master of the Shen family had appeared there at that time.
Ji Cheng amused herself with the thought: Could it be that Shen Che had appeared for her sake?