“Shen Yu?” Ming Tan paused, “He should be… unmarried. Why do you ask?” She glanced uncertainly at Princess Six while playing a leaf game.
Princess Six initially wanted to speak plainly, but seeing Duchess Yu, Bai Minmin, and Zhou Jingwan playing the leaf game with Ming Tan, she swallowed her words. Pretending nonchalance, she said, “It’s nothing,” and walked away lightly, hands behind her back, bouncing on her toes.
Ming Tan had been playing liubo with Bai Minmin when Duchess Yu joined them, eager to play. As liubo is a two-player game, Ming Tan invited Zhou Jingwan, who had been doing needlework nearby, to join them in playing leaf cards instead.
As they played and chatted, Duchess Yu asked why Princess Six had visited Ming Tan’s tent so early. Before Ming Tan could finish explaining, Princess Six returned from the dense forest on horseback.
As the princess left, Bai Minmin, watching her retreating figure, nudged Ming Tan: “Could it be that Princess Six has taken a liking to Young General Shen?”
Ming Tan didn’t answer, lost in thought, while Zhou Jingwan and Bai Minmin exchanged knowing glances.
Duchess Yu, unfamiliar with Shen Yu, pondered for a moment after playing her card. “Is Young General Shen the younger brother of the second Li family’s wife?”
“That’s right,” Bai Minmin replied. “He’s also a distant relative of Tan, they call each other cousins. Both he and his sister used to live at the Marquis of Jing’an’s residence.”
Duchess Yu nodded slowly: “Now I remember. I’ve heard this Young General Shen is quite brave and skilled in battle, highly trusted by Prince Ding Bei.”
Ming Tan remained noncommittal.
Since marrying into the Ding Bei Prince’s household, she had rarely seen Shen Yu. Thinking of his past feelings for her… Surely they must have faded by now? If any feelings remained, her husband wouldn’t keep Shen Yu by his side.
Considering this, she thought Shen Yu and Princess Six might be a good match.
…
At noon, Princess Six returned from the dense forest with a white fox she had hunted. She eagerly presented it to Ming Tan, offering to make a cape from its fur, while subtly probing for more information about Shen Yu.
Feeling obligated, Ming Tan shared what she knew about Shen Yu.
“He’s your cousin?” Princess Six was surprised.
“Well, we call each other cousins, but we’re quite distantly related, beyond the third degree of kinship.”
Princess Six, barely listening, pondered with her limited mental capacity: “So if he becomes my consort, I’d be your cousin-in-law?”
Ming Tan: “…”
She marveled at how the princess was already thinking about raising her status in their relationship, even though nothing had happened yet.
Princess Six continued, “Since he’s unmarried and unengaged, does he have a girl he likes? At his age, shouldn’t he be considering marriage in your Great Xian?”
This question—
Ming Tan hesitated.
“A girl he likes… I don’t think so.” She chose her words carefully, emphasizing “girl.”
Princess Six, not completely oblivious to the implication, asked with wide eyes, “Could it be he likes men?!”
…?
“No, no, no, that’s not what I meant. I meant the one he likes… might not be a girl anymore, maybe… she’s already married?”
Ming Tan didn’t want to deceive her, believing many misunderstandings arise from keeping secrets. It would be better to clarify things early, especially since there was nothing between her and Shen Yu.
However, it felt awkward to boldly claim that Shen Yu had once had feelings for her, so she could only hint at it indirectly.
Princess Six sighed in relief: “If she’s already married, then it’s not a problem.”
She picked up a grape, but before eating it, suddenly realized something. She looked suspiciously at the slightly guilty-looking Ming Tan: “The one he likes… it wouldn’t happen to be you, would it?”
“He… actually… a long time ago… I’m sure by now—”
Princess Six put down the grape, her chubby face tightening: “You!”
“I have no interest in my cousin,” Ming Tan quickly assured her.
“You’re just a bit prettier, why are you so popular?!”
“I can’t control my appearance,” Ming Tan said innocently.
Princess Six couldn’t help but glare at her.
After fuming for a while, she seemed to conclude: “Well, I once admired Prince Ding Bei, and he once admired you, so I guess we’re even.”
Though she muttered this, as she started to leave, she spitefully turned back and took the white fox with her.
Ming Tan, who had been genuinely considering what style of white fox cape to make, no longer needed to ponder. This little princess was indeed too pragmatic!
…
In the evening, Jiang Xu’s party returned from the hunt. The day’s harvest was bountiful, greatly pleasing Emperor Cheng Kang, who distributed his catches among the ministers.
Jiang Xu had successfully hunted two red foxes.
Delighted with the new fox pelts, Ming Tan’s eyes curved into crescents, finally forgetting her earlier disappointment about Princess Six taking the white fox.
“By the way, husband, did Cousin Shen come to the hunting grounds today?” Ming Tan suddenly asked, remembering something.
Jiang Xu grunted an affirmative: “He was on an assignment yesterday, so he came today.” He glanced at her inconspicuously.
Thinking Jiang Xu was unaware of Shen Yu’s feelings for her, Ming Tan wanted to inquire more about Shen Yu’s recent situation on Princess Six’s behalf: “What kind of assignments is he handling now? I think I heard Cousin Hua mention that he got a promotion?”
Jiang Xu patiently answered a few times, but with each response, she had a new question.
Finally, unable to contain himself, Jiang Xu asked sternly, “Why are you so intent on inquiring about Shen Yu?”
Ming Tan paused, then casually explained, “He’s… my cousin. I haven’t heard about him in a long time, so I’m just concerned about him. Is there something wrong with that?”
She didn’t mention Princess Six’s interest in Shen Yu, considering it unwise to spread rumors about a young lady’s affections.
Jiang Xu coldly replied, “A cousin three thousand miles removed hardly counts as a cousin.”
Ming Tan: “…?”
Jiang Xu suddenly stood up and said, “I just remembered, your mother has that old knee problem. Let’s give the fox pelts to her instead. You rest now, I need to go out for a bit.”
It seemed that not allowing Shen Yu into the prince’s mansion wasn’t enough. Their sudden meeting today had stirred up too many thoughts.
Ming Tan was completely baffled by his behavior.
Giving the pelts to her mother wasn’t a bad idea, but hadn’t he promised to make her a cape? Why had her husband suddenly changed his attitude?
Having lost three excellent fox pelts in one day, Ming Tan’s mood turned somewhat melancholic. Meanwhile, Jiang Xu left the tent and went straight to find Shen Yu, intending to assign him more out-of-town duties.
Shen Yu had no objections to leaving the capital for work. Just as he agreed, he heard his lord coldly admonish him: “The princess consort is now the princess consort. It’s best not to see her in the future. Thoughts that shouldn’t exist, shouldn’t exist.”
“…?”
“What do you mean, my lord? I don’t understand.”
Jiang Xu stared at him silently.
Shen Yu’s gaze was confused yet honest; he truly didn’t understand.
“You didn’t see the princess consort today?”
Shen Yu shook his head: “Is something wrong with the princess consort?”
Jiang Xu paused briefly, gave him a “mind your own business” look, and left without another word.
–
The next day was the riding and archery competition.
Such competitions were mainly for young people to showcase their talents. Jiang Xu only participated in the opening ceremony by shooting the first arrow and didn’t compete thereafter. Shen Yu, due to his response the previous night, wasn’t ordered to leave the capital immediately for an assignment. Instead, he was able to participate and demonstrate the prowess of the Ding Bei army.
In the preparation area, Princess Six, dressed in riding attire and holding a longbow, darted straight to Shen Yu, who was testing his bowstring. She greeted him with a bright smile: “Young General Shen!”
Shen Yu was startled: “Princess Six.”
She smiled, her eyes curving into crescents: “You remember me.”
“…”
They had just met yesterday, and he wasn’t a simpleton. Shen Yu was a bit puzzled.
“By the way, Young General Shen, you left your horse behind yesterday. I had it tied near my tent and even fed it grass myself.”
“Ah… Thank you, Princess Six.” He had indeed forgotten about that.
“I’ll return it to you personally after the competition.”
Hearing “personally,” Shen Yu felt a bit uneasy: “There’s no need to trouble yourself, Princess Six. If you like it, you can keep it.”
“Really?” Princess Six looked delighted, “You’re giving it to me?”
Shen Yu was about to nod when she added: “So, does this count as a token of affection?”
…?
How… how did it suddenly become a token of affection?
Shen Yu was stunned. After a long moment, he stammered: “P-Princess Six, please be careful with your words! If others hear, it might… it might damage your reputation.”
Princess Six looked confused: “How would that damage my reputation?”
Shen Yu didn’t know where to begin explaining.
Princess Six muttered: “You people from Great Xian are so strange. Just mentioning a token of affection damages my reputation? It must be very difficult for women in Great Xian to maintain their honor.”
Shen Yu: “…”
To be honest, he felt the same way.
Princess Six wanted to ask him another question, but asking directly would surely damage her reputation as a delicate lady.
She thought for a moment and tried a different approach: “Young General Shen, I hear you’re not yet married. Do you have a lady you like?” She emphasized, “This includes both married and unmarried women.”
Shen Yu was bewildered, never having encountered such a direct woman before. His tongue tied itself in knots.
“Don’t tell me men in Great Xian also have ‘reputations’ to protect, and my question has damaged yours?” Princess Six was deeply confused. Suddenly, she remembered something, “Come to think of it, you embraced me in the forest yesterday. Isn’t that more serious? Shouldn’t you marry me for that?”