In early September, autumn had already arrived.
Due to Wei Ting’s duties at the Five Cities Command and Wei Ying’s absence in Shandong, Madam Xu had been staying temporarily at the Marquis of Ying’s mansion. Later, Old Lady Wei simply had the servants prepare the Fragrant Summer Pavilion on her left side for Madam Xu’s long-term residence. After their encounter at the temple, Madam Xu’s mother-in-law, Madam Song, also came to stay as a guest. When Yining went to pay her respects to Old Lady Wei, the women were chatting about interesting happenings in various households in the capital and discussing Wei Ting’s marriage prospects.
Madam Xu had taken a liking to the eldest daughter of the Governor of Liaoning. The two families seemed interested, and they had reached the stage of matching birth charts.
Yining had thought Wei Ting was interested in Zhao Mingzhu, as she often saw them together. She was surprised that Madam Xu had already arranged Wei Ting’s marriage.
Since their previous conflict, Madam Xu had been cold towards Yining. Yining had no intention of warming up to someone who treated her coldly. She sat on Old Lady Wei’s couch, peeling grapes to eat. These were the last of the season, sweet as honey and delicious. Old Lady Wei had just replaced the sandalwood-colored woolen backrest for autumn, and Yining found it very comfortable.
Yining was dozing off when she suddenly heard Madam Xu mention her: “…Has Yining been betrothed yet?”
Old Lady Wei smiled and replied, “Yes, she has.” But she didn’t elaborate further, as Yining’s engagement was fictitious.
Madam Xu found this strange. Usually, when asked about such matters, people would discuss which family the betrothal was with and whether a date had been set. Moreover, she hadn’t heard before that Yining was engaged. Just as she was about to inquire further, Madam Song tugged at her daughter-in-law’s sleeve, signaling her not to ask more.
Madam Xu assumed that Yining’s betrothed family might not be very good, which was why Old Lady Wei was reluctant to discuss it.
She glanced at Yining. The girl was beautiful, so young and pure, yet there was already a hint of allure in her eyes. Her actions were far from gentle; she was decisive and clever. It was a pity her birth wasn’t entirely legitimate, otherwise, she would have been among the top aristocratic young ladies.
Yining noticed Madam Xu’s strange looks and wondered what she was thinking. Feeling stuffy from the incense burning in the room, she excused herself to take a walk. As she left Old Lady Wei’s chambers with her maid, she saw Zhao Mingzhu standing at the doorway.
Had she been listening to their conversation?
Yining noticed Zhao Mingzhu holding a cloth bundle, her expression troubled. Assuming she had come to deliver something to Old Lady Wei, Yining asked, “Why don’t you go in?”
Zhao Mingzhu shook her head, her lips tightly pressed.
She looked at Yining and suddenly said, “…Since I have some free time today, why don’t we go for a walk in the pavilion, Sister Yining? I believe the autumn begonias are blooming there.”
This was unusual; normally, she avoided Yining.
Zhao Mingzhu turned and headed towards the pavilion. After a moment’s consideration, Yining followed. She watched as Zhao Mingzhu opened her silk bundle, revealing several carved red lacquer boxes filled with various sweets. Zhao Mingzhu picked out a box of pine nut candies and offered it to Yining, saying, “My mother came to visit me today and brought some sweets and fruits. Please, take some.”
Yining noticed the box was carved with five bats offering longevity. She accepted it with thanks.
Zhao Mingzhu continued, “My mother heard that my grandmother wants to arrange a marriage for me, so she insisted on visiting her. I sent her home to look after my father. Last time, that gambling addict father of mine couldn’t pay his debts to the gambling house. When I refused to see them, the gambling house beat him until he could barely breathe. Now he needs assistance for everything, eating, drinking, relieving himself…”
Yining observed that Zhao Mingzhu’s expression showed no sadness, and she wasn’t sure why she was telling her this. Zhao Mingzhu glanced at her and chuckled, “I don’t need your sympathy — I wish they had beaten him to death, to spare my useless mother from being burdened. I don’t like them. But my mother is good to me, making me clothes for every festival, though I never wear them. Now that my father is crippled, she cries all day, which is quite annoying. What’s there to cry about? Isn’t it much better now than when he was healthy?”
“I’m telling you all this because I have no one else to talk to,” Zhao Mingzhu said. “Sister Yining, I know you’ve been discussing marriage recently. Is it with Cousin Cheng Lang?”
It wasn’t surprising that she knew; Old Lady Wei was close to her and might have told her.
Zhao Mingzhu continued, “My marriage prospects aren’t good, but you should be careful too. Sister Yining, you should be wary of him. He may seem gentle and modest, but he’s cold-hearted and unfeeling. He doesn’t easily develop feelings for others.”
“Thank you for your concern, Sister Mingzhu. I understand,” Yining thanked her. Of course, she knew Cheng Lang’s personality well.
However, Cheng Lang’s nature was irrelevant to her now.
Just as they were discussing this, someone came from the front courtyard with a message: Cheng Lang had arrived with several carriers of gifts. Upon inquiry, Yining learned that the gifts included wild geese, wine, and ceremonial cakes.
Yining stood up abruptly, her voice lowering, “How has it progressed to the betrothal gifts already?”
In the six rites of marriage, the presentation of betrothal gifts meant the marriage was essentially settled. Yining had always felt this marriage was inappropriate and wanted to discuss it with Wei Ling, but he had been busy with court affairs recently. Now, with Cheng Lang arriving with betrothal gifts, wasn’t it announcing to the world that she was to marry him?
Without delay, Yining bid farewell to Zhao Mingzhu and headed to the front courtyard.
When she arrived at the Zhigao Hall in the East Garden, the doors were tightly closed. Wei Ling was inside talking with Cheng Lang, with occasional bursts of laughter coming from within.
Shen Lian, standing guard at the door, immediately bowed and asked, “Young Miss, shall we take these gifts to the kitchen?”
Yining looked at the several loads of betrothal gifts in the corridor, with red silk tied on top, and felt her eyes hurt. She said, “Take them to the side room for now, don’t move them.”
A maid from Zhigao Hall brought her hot tea and asked her to wait while drinking.
Her tea went from yellow to colorless before Cheng Lang finally emerged from the hall. He immediately spotted Yining sitting outside and walked over with a smile, saying, “I was just about to look for you.”
He was wearing an official robe with a round collar, right-side fastening, and cloud and wild goose patterns. He looked handsome and refined, with an unusual air of formality.
Yining told Shen Lian to inform Wei Ling that she needed to speak with him. She then motioned for Cheng Lang to follow her out of the hall. Once they were far enough, she turned and asked, “Alang, what are you doing?”
“Marrying you,” he said, his gaze intense but with a gentle smile. “Don’t worry, I’ve arranged everything. The elder in my family has agreed. Once you’re in the Cheng family, I’ll protect you.”
“Alang,” Yining still couldn’t get past that hurdle. Call her indecisive if you will, but she couldn’t agree, even knowing Cheng Lang only wanted to help her.
Cheng Lang lowered his head slightly, seemingly listening intently to what she would say next. His jawline was attractive, his Adam’s apple slightly protruding, with a beautifully curved neck. His expression was very serious.
Seeing this, Yining became even more determined. She continued, “You shouldn’t help me anymore. I’ll resolve this matter myself. You should marry a girl you like and live happily with her. Marrying me would be too much of a waste for you. What would that accomplish? I can’t let you make such a big sacrifice.”
Hearing this, Cheng Lang sighed inwardly. Is this what she thought? Fortunately, she didn’t know his true feelings, otherwise, given her personality, she would surely distance herself as far as possible. He immediately grasped her hand, “Yining, I’m willing to help you. Who else can help you at this moment? Don’t overthink it, I’m not unwilling.”
“Is that bit of kindness worth such repayment?” Yining shook her head with a smile. “You were young then, I took care of you because I pitied you. You mustn’t repay that kindness this way…”
“What you consider a small kindness is unforgettable to me,” Cheng Lang said, his lips curving upward. Being so close, Yining could see his handsome face, his long eyelashes, straight nose, and thin, beautiful lips with elegant lines. His eyes were deep, like a lush bamboo grove in the early morning or misty mountains after rain, making one feel dazed.
Yining suddenly felt that Cheng Lang’s attitude was indeed strange.
If he was truly intent on helping her, why go to such lengths? Instead, when she expressed disagreement, he seemed even more urgent — as if afraid she wouldn’t agree.
Just as Yining was about to continue, one of Cheng Lang’s guards hurried over from the corridor and whispered something in his ear.
Upon hearing the guard’s words, Cheng Lang’s expression immediately darkened.
“Didn’t I say that no one but me was to touch the transfer orders? Which Personnel Evaluation Director did this…” he said coldly, asking Yining to wait for him for a quarter of an hour while he dealt with this urgent matter.
Yining could tell it was about the Ministry of Personnel affairs. Remembering that Wei Ling was still waiting for her in Zhigao Hall, she told him to attend to his business first.
As she walked through the dense shade of trees outside Zhigao Hall, streaks of sunlight filtered through onto her body. She felt the weather was still stuffy, the late summer heat not to be underestimated. She then told Pearl to continue making mung bean soup daily to beat the heat, not to stop yet. Pearl noted it down, but then said to her, “Young Miss, a message just came from the front courtyard. A Miss Lian Fu is looking for Young Master Cheng — she has his name card.”
Since Yining was currently discussing marriage with Cheng Lang, and a young woman had come looking for him, directly asking for the young miss, Pearl naturally treated the matter seriously. She continued, “The servant saw that the young lady was pretty and had an unusual air about her, unlike ordinary girls. I had her wait in the reception room. Would you like to see her?”
“Lian Fu?” Yining repeated, the name sounding familiar.
“It sounds like a courtesan name. She didn’t say which household she was from or her surname,” Pearl was saying this when Cheng Lang approached from behind.
“…There were some problems with the Personnel Evaluation, but it’s been resolved now,” he smiled at Yining and said, “Why don’t I accompany you out today? I know of several restaurants along the river in the east of the city that are very elegantly decorated and serve Jiangnan-style cuisine.”
He hoped to spend more time with her. Strangely, while he had many ways to deal with other women, he couldn’t use any of them with her. But once she married him, things would be different!
Yining glanced at Pearl. If there was a woman involved with him coming to the door, it would be better for him to handle it himself. It wouldn’t be appropriate for her to intervene. So she said to Cheng Lang, “A Miss Lian Fu has come looking for you. Pearl saw that she had your name card, so she had her wait. You should go see her…”
When Cheng Lang heard the name Lian Fu, his pupils contracted slightly. But having been through countless trials in officialdom, he showed no outward sign of disturbance and simply said, “Where is she now? I’ll go see her.”
Yining had Daimei lead him to the reception room. This time, Cheng Lang didn’t delay and headed there with his people.
Yining looked at the plaque hanging in Zhigao Hall, feeling a bit uneasy. After all, this was the Marquis of Ying’s mansion. If they didn’t handle the situation well, it could lead to unpleasant rumors. She felt she should at least go check on them. So she had Pearl and Qingqu follow her as she walked along the corridor toward the reception room.
Outside the reception room were many bamboos and a banana tree. The banana tree didn’t bear fruit, but with the green-tiled white walls and the shimmering lake surface, it was particularly beautiful.
As Yining was admiring the scenery and had just reached the railing, the guards at the door stopped her: “Young Miss, our master is talking inside.”
Yining didn’t intend to go in, but she smiled and said, “What’s the meaning of this? This is the Marquis of Ying’s mansion, are you going to stop even me?”
“Our apologies, Young Miss, but these are our master’s orders,” the two men remained unmoved, their expressions serious. Judging by their tall, sturdy builds and hands as large as palm fans, it was clear they were trained fighters.
Yining felt deflated. This is Cheng Lang! She didn’t mind it happening in the Marquis of Ying’s mansion, but anyone else would be uncomfortable with this.
She sat down by the railing. After a moment, she heard the sound of something heavy falling inside the room. Her brows furrowed, then she heard a woman’s voice: “My lord, I mean no harm. I am carrying your child…” The tone was weak, with a pleading quality.
Yining felt uneasy.
A child!
Then she heard another low, muffled voice: “Shut up. Get out of here right now. Otherwise, I’ll strangle you right here. Do you believe me?”
What could be so serious that they couldn’t talk it out properly? With talk of children and life threats, things shouldn’t be allowed to escalate!
Hearing this, Yining gave Qingqu a look. Qingqu understood immediately. She walked up to the two guards and said, “There’s nowhere in the Marquis of Ying’s mansion that our young miss can’t enter. Who do you think you are?” She made as if to force her way in, and the two men moved to restrain her. But as she was a maid of the Marquis of Ying’s household, they hesitated to use force.
As they were entangled, Yining took advantage of their distraction and slipped inside.
Even if the two guards dared to stop her, they wouldn’t dare to grab Yining. They both looked dismayed.
Yining approached the latticed door of the reception room and said, “Alang, if there’s something inconvenient, you can tell me. Is that young lady someone you know?”
Immediately, there was another commotion inside, followed by Cheng Lang’s calm and composed voice: “Everything is fine here. I’ll be out in a moment.”
Yining was about to ask more when she heard a woman’s soft crying. Suddenly, there was a loud bang as the door of the reception room was thrown open. Seeing Yining standing at the door, the woman immediately knelt before her: “Young Miss, I came to find Lord Cheng. I… I am carrying Lord Cheng’s child!”
This Lian Fu was the girl Yining had seen playing the pipa on the pleasure boat. Caught off guard, Yining found her skirt clutched by the woman.
Cheng Lang also approached, his expression extremely cold, almost violent.
“If you continue to spout nonsense, don’t blame me for ruining your future!” He was about to grab Lian Fu’s arm.
But Yining was stunned. She stared at Lian Fu’s face — a face that bore a four or five-tenths resemblance to her own in her previous life. Now, that face was looking at her with tears, crying pitifully.
Cheng Lang immediately realized the problem. Lian Fu… Lian Fu was originally someone he had found as a substitute for Yining. His hand, gripping Lian Fu’s arm, froze, and he slowly turned to look at Yining.
Yining’s face was pale, and she didn’t say a word.
His heart sank instantly, and an unprecedented tension surged within him. It was the fear and impulse of someone who had done wrong and was finally caught by the person who mattered.