Although Ji Cheng and her companions were studying in the school, they couldn’t help but be curious when members of the Wang family came at such a sensitive time.
Shen Cui was the most concerned. “What is she doing here? How dare she show her face?” Shen Cui looked up and asked Shen Yuan, “Third Sister, she’s not coming to accuse us, is she?”
Shen Yuan shook her head. “If she were coming to accuse us, she wouldn’t have come with our aunt.” The wife of the heir of Marquis Jing’an was Lady Huang’s sister-in-law from her maiden family.
“What are you talking about? What accusation?” Shen Qin asked curiously. Only Shen Yuan, Shen Cui, and Ji Cheng knew the inside story, while Shen Qin, Su Yun, and others only knew that something had happened to Wang Yueniang, but were unaware of Shen Cui and Ji Cheng’s affair. Thus, they didn’t know about the conflict between the Shen and Wang families.
Shen Yuan didn’t want to taint Shen Qin’s ears with such matters. Princess An’he and Shen Che never told Shen Qin about those sordid affairs, so Shen Yuan smiled and said, “Nothing much. We’re just wondering why Madam Wang came to our house.”
Shen Qin responded with an “Oh.” That evening, when Ji Cheng followed Shen Cui to pay respects to the Old Madam, they saw Shen Qin giving them a mysterious look.
After leaving the Old Madam’s room, Shen Cui hugged Shen Qin’s arm and asked, “Sister Qin, do you know why Madam Wang came?”
Shen Qin nodded, and all the young ladies gathered around. Shen Qin proudly said, “My mother said Madam Wang came to propose a marriage for Fourth Miss Wang.”
Everyone was shocked, especially Shen Yuan, Ji Cheng, and Shen Cui. They looked at each other, unsure of what game the Wang family was playing.
Su Yun frowned and said, “But shouldn’t they send a matchmaker first for a marriage proposal? Why would Madam Wang come in person? It’s… it’s too improper.”
Lu Yuan agreed, “Indeed. What did the Princess say? Did she agree?”
“The Old Madam said our eldest brother hasn’t married yet, so we have to wait until he’s married before discussing Second Brother’s marriage,” Shen Qin explained.
Those who understood knew this was just an excuse. Shen Yu had been married before and was now a widower preparing to remarry. How could that delay Shen Che’s marriage?
Upon hearing this, Su Yun’s frown relaxed. Lu Yuan bluntly said, “If the Old Madam doesn’t approve of someone like Sister Si Niang, what kind of daughter-in-law does she want for Second Cousin?”
Shen Qin chimed in, “Second Brother said he’ll marry someone I like. He’ll only agree if I nod.” As she spoke, Shen Qin couldn’t hide her pride, even forgiving Shen Che for his past coldness towards her because of Wang Liniang.
Shen Yuan smiled at Shen Qin. Her second brother doted on her.
Ji Cheng wasn’t concerned about who Shen Che would marry. She was shocked by the Wang family’s actions. Even Han Xin’s endurance of humiliation under someone’s crotch wasn’t this extreme. Not only did they lose one daughter, but they were also trying to marry off another into the Shen family.
Ji Cheng couldn’t understand Fourth Miss Wang’s confidence. In Fourth Miss Wang’s view, as long as she could marry Shen Che, she believed she could win him over with time. She could help him get everything he wanted. People always said Shen Che was a playboy with too many love interests, but Fourth Miss Wang thought it was natural for a young man to be romantic. His popularity was simply because too many women were after him. Those hussies were seducing him. Besides, a reformed rake makes the best husband, and she believes she is the one who could make Shen Che settle down.
When Shen Yuan returned to her room, she couldn’t understand why the Wang family would do this. Unable to sleep, she went to her mother’s room.
“Mother, what does the Wang family mean by this?” Shen Yuan asked Lady Huang curiously. She had been worried about how the Wang family might retaliate, but never expected such a turn of events that left her bewildered.
Lady Huang tidied Shen Yuan’s hair. Since Shen Yuan was to marry into the clan as the principal wife, with heavy responsibilities ahead, Lady Huang didn’t hide things from her, hoping she would understand as much as possible.
“Imperial Consort Wang and Imperial Concubine Huang are fiercely competing in the palace. Imperial Concubine Huang’s uncle has just been appointed as the Minister of War. The Wang family doesn’t want to fight with our family, lest the Huang family benefit from it,” Lady Huang explained.
“But they don’t need to marry Fourth Miss Wang into our family for that,” Shen Yuan was still confused.
“Madam Wang came to the manor today and said that what happened to Shen Cui and your Cousin Ji was all Wang Yueniang’s own doing. They knew nothing about it beforehand, and now that this has happened, it’s all due to their poor upbringing,” Lady Huang said.
Madam Wang’s words were sweeter than a song, thoroughly discrediting Wang Yueniang and completely distancing the main branch from her. They were even afraid Wang Yueniang might tarnish Fourth Miss Wang’s reputation. She also said they feared this incident might cause a rift between the two families, so her husband was willing to marry Fourth Miss Wang into the Shen family to form a lasting alliance through their children.
Shen Yuan thought for a moment and sneered, “It sounds so nice. If that were true, why didn’t the Wang family expose Wang Yueniang when Shen Cui and the others were in trouble? Now they’re just making excuses after the fact. Do they think we’re fools?”
Lady Huang said, “They’re not treating us like fools. They’re just trying to save face. They’re testing our family’s attitude, seeing if we’re willing to stand on Imperial Consort Wang’s side. You can’t catch a wolf cub without sacrificing some lambs. Only if Imperial Consort Wang rises can their Wang family prosper. Wang Shu is an old fox, cunning as ever. There’s nothing he can’t endure.”
Shen Yuan fell silent. She had previously thought highly of Fourth Miss Wang, considering her a person of substance. But now, seeing how shamelessly the Wang family acted, without any integrity, she suddenly felt that Fourth Miss Wang, coming from such a family, was nothing special after all.
Although Ji Cheng hadn’t heard Lady Huang’s analysis, she had already guessed eight or nine-tenths of the reason for the Wang family’s marriage proposal. She couldn’t help but sigh. These old hands in officialdom were capable of any shameless act. Ji Cheng now believed that the accounts in history books about sycophantic eunuchs and censors were not fabrications by historians.
The Wang family sold their daughters without hesitation. Ji Cheng thought of Yun Niang. At least her mother had to compromise for her brother’s sake, and her father was willing to give up half of the family fortune to protect her. Their family affection was a thousand times better than that of this wealthy and noble family.
After seeing the Wang family and then looking at the Shen family, Ji Cheng developed a genuine liking for the Shen family. The Old Madam was kind and benevolent, and she had raised her sons well. Looking at the younger generation, Shen Yu and Shen Jing were both outstanding, and Ji Cheng guessed that even Shen Che was probably a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Being born into such a family, Shen Cui was indeed fortunate. She had misunderstood the Shen manor before. Ji Cheng then thought of Shen Yuan, Shen Qin, and the others, all excellent young ladies. No wonder those madams liked to choose daughters-in-law from families with such good upbringings and family values.
Ji Cheng thought of Ji Lan, then of herself, and couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.
Hearing Ji Cheng’s sigh, Liu Ye’er feared her thoughts might be too heavy and harm her health. “Miss, look at how round the moon is today. Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Let’s hope the weather is good and we can see such a round moon tomorrow as well.”
Ji Cheng inwardly rolled her eyes. Liu Ye’er’s attempt to divert her attention was embarrassingly poor. “Don’t worry, tomorrow will be good weather.”
“Miss, do you know how to read the weather signs?” Liu Ye’er asked.
“Master Lian taught me a little before,” Ji Cheng said. Besides, with the moon so white and bright, how could tomorrow not be good weather? Liu Ye’er’s flattery was subpar.
Festivals were always the happiest days for the young ladies in the capital. Just after breakfast, Shen Yuan and Shen Qin came together to find Ji Cheng and the others. They had agreed to go to the Yuelao Temple to pay respects to the Old Man Under the Moon.
The Yuelao Temple by the Ying River in the capital was famous for its efficacy. Ji Cheng had heard of it even when she was still in Jin territory. Her aunt, Ji Lan, had once traveled a thousand miles to pay respects at the Yuelao Temple, and shortly after returning home, she met Shen Ying, creating a beautiful story.
Although Ji Lan felt her life in the Shen manor wasn’t as smooth and satisfactory as she had hoped, outsiders only envied her. Her story with the Third Master Shen truly sparked unrealistic dreams in many young ladies.
The Yuelao Temple by the Ying River wasn’t particularly grand. One could walk around it in less than half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. However, its popularity was unmatched by any other temple in the capital.
The small street in front of the Yuelao Temple was as bustling as a temple fair every day. Vendors lined the streets, their calls filling the air, mostly selling incense, candles, paper money, as well as love locks and wish-granting pastries.
When Ji Cheng and the others entered the Yuelao Temple, family servants naturally cleared the way and protected them. Because of what happened to Shen Cui last time, and now Wang Yueniang’s misfortune, the Shen family feared retaliation from the Wang family. Now, whenever the young ladies of the Shen family went out, they were accompanied by more attendants.
The Yuelao Temple only enshrined one statue of the Old Man Under the Moon, a round-faced deity in red robes, looking joyous. To his left and right stood a pair of golden boys and jade girls, holding the red strings that everyone desired.
Don’t underestimate this round-faced Old Man Under the Moon. Because of its legendary efficacy, it was stolen twenty years ago. At that time, the common people nearly tore down the house of the city patrol censor, and even the emperor was alarmed. It was said that the Ministry of Works would spend silver to cast another statue of the Old Man Under the Moon, but the people refused.
Later, through some unknown powerful connections, the round-faced Old Man Under the Moon was found and returned after half a year. This disappearance and return only added to the fame of the Yuelao Temple by the Ying River.
Ji Cheng saw that the wish-granting pastries offered in front of the Old Man Under the Moon statue were piled up like a small mountain. She wondered to herself if it was really that effective.
After offering incense to the Old Man Under the Moon and kowtowing three times, the bell-ringing temple keeper got up and took a few strands of red string from the hands of the golden boys and jade girls. He gave one to each of Shen Yuan, Shen Qin, Ji Cheng, and the others. These red strings, which had been offered to the deity, were not something ordinary people could obtain.
After receiving the red string, Ji Cheng followed Shen Yuan and the others to the back of the temple. There stood a camphor tree as thick as two people’s embrace, densely hung with red silk threads. These held the heartstrings of the worshippers who had come to pay respects to the Old Man Under the Moon.
Ji Cheng faced the sacred tree with her hands clasped, the red string held between her palms. She sincerely made a wish in her heart, then handed the red string to Yu Qian’er standing beside her, asking her to tie it to the tree for her.
The rest pavilion next to the sacred tree was full of people, many of whom Ji Cheng knew or had seen before. Qi Hua, whom she had rescued from drowning before, was also there, talking quietly with the young lady beside her. She was surrounded by a circle of people, including Li Hui. Ji Cheng was a bit puzzled, remembering that Li Hui used to disdain talking to Qi Hua.
Seeing the commotion, Shen Cui pulled Ji Cheng’s hand and walked towards them. As they got closer, Ji Cheng realized that Qi Hua was gossiping about Wang Yueniang’s affair. It was unclear where she got her information, but she somehow knew about Wang Yueniang’s disappearance and humiliation. Listening to her embellish the story as if she had witnessed it herself, she even said that the one who deflowered Wang Yueniang was a fat, chubby-faced oil shop owner, whose shop was in San Yuan Alley in the south of the city.
Upon hearing this, some murmured “Amitabha,” while others exclaimed, “What a sin!” However, despite their words, they all wore slight smiles, clearly thinking, “So Wang Yueniang has come to this.”
Qi Hua’s storytelling was vivid and captivating, with rises and falls in tone that captured everyone’s attention. So when a voice above their heads suddenly said, “What are you talking about? It sounds so lively. Let me listen too,” it was no less shocking than a thunderbolt from the sky.
Qi Hua, in particular, immediately turned red. When she looked up and saw Fourth Miss Wang, her face alternated between pale and flushed. And standing beside Fourth Miss Wang was none other than Wang Yueniang herself.