After Duke Zhenguo drew closer, he noticed there was also a handsome young man with red lips and white teeth standing nearby. He hesitated: “This one is…”
“This is Jiang Ling,” Ming Huazhang introduced him before Ming Huashang could speak. “The eldest son of Marquis Jiang’an.”
Duke Zhenguo understood at once, and the expression on his face became more serious: “So this is Marquis Jiang’an’s son — my apologies for not recognizing you sooner.”
Jiang Ling was well accustomed to being bellowed at by his own father, and had never expected that Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang’s father would be so… warm and affectionate. He returned the courtesy hurriedly: “Duke Zhenguo, you’re too generous — you are the elder here. How could I possibly accept your bow?”
Duke Zhenguo exchanged a few pleasantries with Jiang Ling, asked a dry question or two about the health of Marquis Jiang’an, and then ran out of things to say.
An estate with no presence like theirs was entirely incomparable to Marquis Jiang’an’s, who held great power. The Ming family and the Jiang household had no prior dealings — Duke Zhenguo hadn’t the faintest idea when his children had become this close to Marquis Jiang’an’s son.
The Elder Madam Ming, hearing that the eldest son of Marquis Jiang’an was present, made her way down from the carriage with the help of her granddaughter and a maid. Second Branch Madam and Third Branch Madam followed close behind. The women’s eyes swept over Jiang Ling and then landed in unison on Ming Huashang, with veiled significance.
It was unheard of that Second Young Master had any close connection with Marquis Jiang’an’s son — so it must be on account of Ming Huashang? And the eldest son of the Marquis had brought Ming Huashang to stand within the Jiang family’s enclosure — didn’t that suggest a formal meeting?
A look of difficult-to-name meaning floated across the faces of Second Branch Madam and Third Branch Madam alike. Elder Madam Ming was very interested in this as well, and asked Ming Huashang in an unhurried tone: “Second granddaughter, one does not accept favors without reason — how is it that you were standing in the Jiang family’s enclosure? It isn’t quite proper.”
Jiang Ling, hearing this, thought nothing of it and said blithely: “Old Madam, please don’t blame her — I was the one who spotted them on the street and called them over.”
Elder Madam Ming gave a long, drawn-out sound of acknowledgment: “What a chivalrous nature the Jiang eldest son has. Second granddaughter — how do you know the Jiang eldest son? This old woman hadn’t yet heard of this.”
Ming Huashang and Jiang Ling had been bickering and pestering each other for months on the Zhongnan Mountains, and standing in the Jiang family’s enclosure for a bit had felt like nothing to either of them. But hearing her grandmother’s pointed inquiry now, Ming Huashang was slowly beginning to piece things together.
This was trouble — Grandmother hadn’t misunderstood, had she? Surely not. Her and Jiang Ling?
Ming Huashang’s feelings were complicated. She put it tactfully: “Grandmother, you’ve misunderstood — I’m not close with the Jiang eldest son. We’ve barely exchanged a few words.”
Not close, and yet she had been allowed to stand in the Jiang family’s enclosure? There were so many people on the street — why hadn’t the Jiang eldest son shown this generosity to anyone else? Elder Madam Ming did not believe a word of it, and pressed on: “In that case, we must thank the young lord all the more. This child doesn’t go out of the estate often, and she’s new to Chang’an and unfamiliar with the streets. I was worried she might not know her way around. It’s fortunate the young lord was there. Thank you for looking after her.”
Jiang Ling was just about to generously wave off the thanks when Ming Huazhang stepped in front of him: “Grandmother, have you forgotten — Second Sister went to the Virtue and Learning Temple to cultivate her spiritual practice. I only came to fetch her to Chang’an yesterday, so today is only the second time she and the Jiang eldest son have met. I had a few encounters with the young lord at the Fei Hong Mountain Villa, and it was very kind of him to help out today — he’s truly a man of generous character.”
Jiang Ling was left thoroughly bewildered: “The second time we’ve met?”
Ming Huazhang looked back at him with perfect composure: “Have you forgotten — when we called on Princess Taiping at the Fei Hong Mountain Villa, Second Sister was also in the hall. There were many people present, so it’s only natural you wouldn’t have a clear impression.”
Jiang Ling gave a slow sound of understanding: “Ah? Right — so at the Fei Hong Banquet, you siblings were also there.”
He had been spending every day with them and had nearly forgotten that they had first met at the beginning of the year at the Mang Mountains, which was how they’d come to know each other.
Elder Madam Ming watched Jiang Ling’s reaction and felt a quiet, indescribable disappointment. It was clear they truly weren’t close. Had she actually hoped that Ming Huashang — that little good-for-nothing who knew nothing but eating and drinking — had suddenly come to her senses? She must have been out of her mind.
Ming Huazhang felt that if Jiang Ling stayed any longer, he was bound to give something away. He said evenly: “Jiang eldest son, Marquis Jiang’an just sent someone over with a message saying you should return home quickly. Are you not leaving yet?”
Jiang Ling gave Ming Huazhang a look that defied easy description. “Jiang Ling” when he needed something, “Jiang eldest son” when he didn’t — well, fine. Next time he’d think twice before doing this lot any favors. He’d be a dog if he helped them again.
Jiang Ling stormed off in a huff. Once he was well out of earshot, Duke Zhenguo asked tentatively: “Huashang, you and the Jiang eldest son…”
Ming Huashang felt a toothache just imagining it and quickly cut him off: “Father, what are you thinking? I’m barely acquainted with him. We’ve said almost nothing to each other — it’s impossible.”
Duke Zhenguo sighed, not sure whether to feel relieved or regretful: “To think your father was imagining things. I’d heard Marquis Jiang’an’s eldest son was domineering and thought he’d be a wastrel and a boor. But seeing him today — what a fine bearing, what a fine young man.”
Ming Huazhang cut the Duke’s praise off coldly: “Father, you’re imagining things. He is a wastrel and a boor.”
Duke Zhenguo could only swallow his regret with a sigh: “True — what does a great tree care for a vine. Our Huashang is clever and lively, perceptive and amiable — there’s certainly no shortage of young men who will seek her out. Ah, right — Huashang, weren’t you at the Virtue and Learning Temple? What are you doing out?”
Elder Madam Ming, having learned that Ming Huashang and Jiang Ling were not that kind of pairing, had cooled considerably and returned to the carriage with Ming Yu’s support. When Duke Zhenguo asked his question, the attendants of the Second and Third Branches simultaneously pricked up their ears.
Ming Huashang smiled awkwardly. The real answer — that she herself didn’t know — was not something they would likely believe.
Once again Ming Huazhang took over the conversation, speaking entirely on Ming Huashang’s behalf: “I was the one who brought her down from the mountain. Father and Grandmother have at last returned to Chang’an after so many years — an occasion this significant, with her absent, would not be appropriate. So I brought her back. I already sought leave from the temple’s abbess before we departed, and the abbess said that as long as one’s heart is sincere, one can cultivate one’s practice anywhere. It so happens that there is a quiet side courtyard in the northeast corner of Duke Zhenguo’s estate — I intend to let her move back home and practice there.”
Third Branch Madam heard this account and was entirely unsurprised. Ming Huazhang had embellished it as beautifully as he liked, but Third Branch Madam saw through it at a glance: the First Branch had seen the Li family rising back to favor and had ambitions of their own, so they had sent Ming Huashang to the Virtue and Learning Temple in a bid to use Princess Anding’s connections to curry favor with the Crown Prince and Prince Xiang. But Ming Huashang had been utterly useless — unable to endure the hardships of temple life, she had made such a fuss that she had to be brought home. Ming Huazhang had no choice but to dress it up with the story of practicing at home and bring her back.
In an instant Third Branch Madam’s gaze at Ming Huashang was full of knowing understanding. Ming Huashang had no way to defend herself and could only keep smiling.
Very good — this explanation fit perfectly with her well-established image as a good-for-nothing who knew nothing but eating and being lazy. From now on she wouldn’t have to waste words explaining herself.
Duke Zhenguo, hearing this account, was actually quite pleased. He had never agreed to sending Ming Huashang away in the first place — it was she herself who had insisted and insisted until she got her way. If she had now come to her senses, so much the better. Duke Zhenguo had no great ambitions left in life. As long as his children were at his side, that was enough.
Duke Zhenguo said happily: “Very well then — you’ve been standing outside all day and your mouths must be dry. Whatever else there is to say, let’s talk back at home. Come on — let’s go back!”
Ming Huashang quietly exhaled in relief. Ming Huazhang had already sent someone to bring the carriage that had stalled earlier back around, helped her up into it, then lightly vaulted up onto his horse and rode alongside as the great procession of the Duke’s household made its way toward Changxing Ward.
Across Vermilion Bird Street, Su Xingzhi watched the Ming family from a distance. Su Yuji had grown up and was seeing the imperial family in the flesh for the first time — she was deeply moved by the procession that stretched for miles with its grand and sweeping pageantry. She was just about to share her awe with her elder brother when she turned and found that Su Xingzhi’s eyes were fixed on another direction entirely, unmoving for a long while.
Su Yuji followed his gaze. She saw a cluster of finely dressed noble ladies leisurely making their way to their carriages — trailing sashes and fragrant breezes, servants all around them. Though they stood on the same ground, they seemed to belong to another world entirely.
Amid that trailing procession, Su Yuji spotted a tall and upright young man standing before a carriage, helping a young woman up into it.
Su Yuji recognized them quickly. It was the Ming family of Duke Zhenguo’s estate.
Not because she knew the people — but because Ming Huazhang’s bearing was so distinctive that even across fifty-some zhang of Vermilion Bird Street, one could pick him out at a glance.
And the young woman he was helping into the carriage — it was obvious, without even needing to think: it must be the Ming estate’s celebrated dragon-and-phoenix twins, the one and only noble daughter of the Duke’s household, Ming Huashang.
Su Yuji felt a flicker of something complicated stir inside her, and couldn’t help asking: “Elder Brother, what are you looking at?”
Su Xingzhi came back to himself and shook his head quietly: “Nothing.”
Su Yuji didn’t believe it, and stared at his expression: “You seem very attentive to that pair of twins from the Ming estate. Why?”
Su Xingzhi’s heart gave a jolt. His lips moved slightly, but in the end he said nothing, and let it pass with a light, offhand tone: “Not at all. The rented rooms aren’t fully set up yet — there’s still a lot left to buy. Let’s go to the Western Market and take a look.”
Su Yuji looked at him. They had been together for years, and she knew his small habits better than anyone. She immediately sensed that he was not telling the truth.
But why? Was it because of Ming Huazhang, or because of Ming Huashang?
Su Yuji looked at the hand Su Xingzhi held out to her, and in the end she took it — choosing without reservation to trust him.
Since their grandmother had passed, the two of them had depended on each other alone, making their way from Taiyuan all the way to Chang’an. Su Xingzhi had long since become the most important person in her life.
Their mother’s health had been poor — she had been left with lasting ailments after giving birth to Su Yuji and had lain ill for years, dying when Su Yuji was four. Their father had gone early as well. All these years the family had consisted of their grandmother and the two siblings. And grandmother was old — for most of what Su Yuji could remember, it had been Su Xingzhi who was at her side.
He had held her hand and walked with her along the country paths between the fields. After finishing his rounds of the farmland, he would take her hand just as he did today and bring her home.
After their father died, every matter of the household fell to Su Xingzhi. He cared for their grandmother, negotiated with the tenant farmers, managed the Su family’s land affairs, and spent what time remained on his reading and studies — while also looking after Su Yuji. When Su Yuji was small, it was even Su Xingzhi who tied her hair for her.
They had depended on each other through everything, and even after joining the Xuan Xiaowei they had never been apart. Su Yuji trusted that Su Xingzhi would not lie to her. If he didn’t say, he must have his reasons.
Su Yuji asked nothing more. Once they entered the Western Market, she was immediately drawn away by the dazzling array of goods on every side.
She was practiced at comparing prices between stalls and bargaining with sellers. This was the kind of thing Su Xingzhi left entirely to Su Yuji’s management. He stood to the side and watched her sharp-tongued and fierce side — the face she showed no one else — and his expression softened involuntarily, and then, equally without control, he felt a pang of guilt.
She should have been like those noble ladies on the other side of the street today — in this life, never having to worry over money at all. More than once he had come close to telling her the truth — but then he would think of their grandmother’s final words on her deathbed, and could only force himself to hold it back.
If only he could make something more of himself — secure an official post — then he could give her a life free from want. Su Xingzhi was drifting in thought when, all at once, his brow sharpened and his eyes became alert. He had sensed a gaze that was not quite ordinary.
Someone was following them.