A breeze swept through, rustling the bamboo groves on the back mountain, occasionally accompanied by the sound of pine waves.
After Ming Tan’s words, the three girls in the pavilion fell silent for a moment, then suddenly looked at each other and burst into laughter. The wind carried their youthful, crisp giggles.
“You’re truly shameless!” Bai Minmin teased. “Weren’t you the one who kept calling him a ‘brute’ before? Now that you’ve seen how handsome he is, you’ve thrown all modesty to the wind. It’s bad enough that you’re rushing to ‘coincidentally’ meet him, but a mistake in the tune, Jiang Lang takes notice’? I can’t believe you came up with that!”
With no one else around and maids standing guard nearby, Ming Tan wasn’t afraid to admit, “A virtuous lady is desired by gentlemen. Why shouldn’t a lady admire a handsome and noble gentleman?”
Bai Minmin retorted, “Wanwan, look at her behavior! She calls him handsome, and then casually praises herself as a virtuous lady. How shameless!”
Ming Tan lifted her chin slightly, deciding to fully embrace her ‘shamelessness’. She placed her hands on the zither and, accompanied by the sounds of pine and bamboo, played another tune, “Bamboo Whispers in Late Spring”.
She always played the zither with focus and dedication. Having learned from famous masters, her superb technique was a given, but what was truly remarkable was how she wasn’t constrained by technique. The music flowed smoothly, full of spirit and emotion. Only in the final section did she deliberately repeat her earlier trick, seemingly inadvertently hitting a wrong note.
As the tune ended, Ming Tan was quite satisfied, murmuring with Zhou Jingwan about other appropriate pieces they could play. Little did she know that her ‘Jiang Lang’ had been quite accommodating, already glancing her way when she hit the wrong note.
Jiang Xu and his companions had come to the Great Xiangguo Temple today to visit Master Lewu, who was cultivating at the temple.
Master Lewu was a great scholar of the previous dynasty who had once served as Prime Minister during the Chunxing era, reaching the highest position a subject could attain. In his years of teaching, his students were spread all over the world, including Jiang Xu and his friends. Shortly after the burial of the previous emperor, Lewu had retreated into monastic life, no longer concerned himself with worldly affairs, only receiving visitors on his birthday each year.
Today was his birthday, and the group had come specially to see him. Unexpectedly, as they were leaving after the visit, they heard the zither music from the back mountain.
After listening, they had intended to leave quietly without disturbing anyone. Who would have thought that just as Zhang Huaiyu took a step, he stepped on a half-dried branch? The branch was already brittle, and it snapped and crumbled under even the lightest step.
“Who’s there!” Lvwo instinctively called out.
The four men: “…”
The maids accompanying Bai Minmin and Zhou Jingwan hurriedly lifted their skirts and went to investigate, with the guards following closely behind.
Zhang Huaiyu stood awkwardly in place, instinctively looking toward Jiang Xu.
Shu Jingran was the first to react, bowing from afar and apologizing, “My friends and I were just passing through the back mountain when we heard the melodious zither music. We paused briefly to listen and had no intention of disturbing the young ladies’ elegant gathering. I deeply regret that we have startled you. It is entirely my fault.”
The maids all stopped in their tracks. “Oh, isn’t that… Young Master Shu?” They had all caught glimpses of him when accompanying their young ladies to watch the horse-riding parade. “A jade-like figure on the road, a gentleman unmatched in the world.” Truly unforgettable.
Hearing the voice, Ming Tan and her two friends also walked out of the pavilion.
Seeing that it was Shu Jingran bowing at the front, Bai Minmin’s eyes immediately lit up.
“Young Master Shu!”
Bai Minmin stepped forward quickly, while Zhou Jingwan followed a bit slower behind her, bowing very properly. Ming Tan was about to bow with her, but when her gaze swept to the side of Young Master Shu and landed on the young man wearing a pine-green brocade casual robe with eyes like dots of ink, she froze entirely.
Bai Minmin, oblivious, was still a bit excited as she tried to get closer to Shu Jingran: “Young Master Shu, have you also come to offer incense with your friends today?”
She looked at the others and guessed, “I’ve long heard that Young Master Shu is close friends with the Heir of the Zhang family and Commander Lu. I suppose this must be the Heir of the Duke of Ping’s household, and this must be Commander Lu? Then this is—”
When Bai Minmin recognized Zhang Huaiyu and Lu Ting, Shu Jingran nodded slightly with a faint smile beside her. But when she looked questioningly at Jiang Xu, Shu Jingran paused and coughed lightly, somewhat unnaturally.
Since Shu Jingran didn’t introduce him, Zhang Huaiyu also stood to the side, uninvolved, fanning himself with a folded fan and wearing an expression of watching a good show. Lu Ting, who was originally indifferent and uninterested in participating, had his sword hand behind his back, his gaze inadvertently lingering on Zhou Jingwan for a few moments.
Ming Tan tugged at Bai Minmin to stop her from asking further, but Bai Minmin didn’t get the hint and seemed a bit confused. She turned back and started praising Jiang Xu effusively.
Ming Tan’s ears began to burn as she listened, feeling anxious inside: Why was he with Young Master Shu and the others? When did he arrive? Did he hear those things I said earlier?
In a flash, she couldn’t help but compare: It’s been a while since I’ve seen him. Today, my future husband is wearing this pine-green casual robe, standing amidst the lush bamboo groves of the back mountain. His stern aura has lessened somewhat, adding a sense of clear-cut handsomeness like a majestic mountain and pine wind entering the water. He seems even more handsome now.
Bai Minmin, seeing that no one was introducing the man to her despite her praises and that he wasn’t introducing himself either, finally sensed something was amiss.
Silence fell.
Along with the rustling of bamboo, Jiang Xu finally spoke, his eyes deep: “I am Jiang Xu.”
Bai Minmin: “…”
Zhou Jingwan: “…”
Both of them quickly looked towards Ming Tan!
Ming Tan had already adjusted her mood in the brief time that Bai Minmin was showering praises, and had made up her mind to pretend nothing had happened, regardless of whether they had heard her earlier words or not.
She put on an act as if she had never met Jiang Xu before, looking blank and shocked for a moment before quickly regaining her composure. She curtsied gracefully and properly: “Atan greets His Highness the Prince of Dingbei. May Your Highness have boundless fortune and golden peace.”
Zhang Huaiyu was about to burst from holding back his laughter, and Shu Jingran was also having a hard time containing himself.
Shu Jingran thought to himself: This young lady of the Ming family is truly no ordinary woman. With such superb acting skills and composure, when she enters the Prince of Dingbei’s household and faces Jiang Xu, that cold stone, there will surely be no shortage of good shows to watch.
Earlier at the Duke of Ping’s residence, when he suddenly heard of the Emperor’s bestowal of marriage, Shu Jingran was even more surprised than Ming Tan.
When the poetry gathering dispersed midway, he had gone to the capital’s military camp to ask Jiang Xu why such an edict had been issued. Jiang Xu, who was writing a memorial at the time, didn’t even look up as he cut him off with a single sentence: “Wasn’t it you who said, ‘It wouldn’t be a bad idea for this prince to marry her’?”
Shu Jingran was at a loss for words. Already feeling uneasy about this, he remained silent for a while before saying, “I just thought that if you didn’t truly want to marry her, you shouldn’t ruin the young lady’s life. And if you had this idea because of my words, wouldn’t that be my fault?”
It was one thing before, but after seeing her at the poetry gathering, he felt that the fourth young lady of the Ming family was a very interesting woman. It would be a shame if she became a mere pawn in the dark struggles of the court.
Hearing this, Jiang Xu asked in return, “What is true sincerity?”
His voice was calm as he cut to the heart of the matter: “If you don’t want to marry her, and I don’t marry her either, what kind of life do you think she would have?”
Shu Jingran fell silent.
After the fall of the Marquis of Cheng’en’s household, Consort Yu was imprisoned in the Cold Palace and left to be bullied. The Marquis’s second daughter, Gu Jiurou, who had once been bold enough to openly express her admiration for Jiang Xu in the Golden Hall, was voluntarily sent by her weak elder brother into the household of their mortal enemy in an attempt to protect himself. The consequences were imaginable.
These daughters of noble families were delicate flowers raised in secluded courtyards. Born into high society, their fates were not their own, their glory and decline were inextricably linked to their families.
In times of prosperity, they were indeed dazzling like brilliant flower clusters. But without the nourishment of great power, they couldn’t even maintain a peaceful corner for themselves. They would only be crushed and trampled by violent storms, falling and turning to mud.
Jiang Xu continued, “What is the value of true sincerity? She has shown me kindness, and I will ensure her lifelong security in return.”
“Wait, kindness?”
“Someone come, see the guest out.”
That day, when Jiang Xu mentioned “kindness,” he immediately ordered someone to escort him out of the camp. Shu Jingran was extremely curious but could never get the full story from Jiang Xu. However, since Jiang Xu had promised to ensure her lifelong security, perhaps marrying into the Prince of Dingbei’s household would be the best destiny for this young lady of the Ming family.
Moreover, from what he saw today, this young lady of the Ming family seemed to be quite fond of her future husband — thinking of this, Shu Jingran couldn’t help but smile, and like Zhang Huaiyu, he looked teasingly at Jiang Xu.
After Ming Tan’s curtsy, she had remained in a bent position, not rising. Jiang Xu was silent for a moment before saying, “Miss Ming need not be so formal.”
Ming Tan slowly straightened up, still keeping her head lowered, deliberately exposing half of her fair and delicate neck, even angling herself towards Jiang Xu to appear most perfect.
Bai Minmin and Zhou Jingwan now understood everything and quietly took half a step back, not daring to disturb the young lady’s display.
But Zhang Huaiyu, that tactless fool, not only failed to hold back his laughter professionally but couldn’t resist interjecting, “We’ll all be family soon, so of course there’s no need for such formality!”
Hearing this, Ming Tan lowered her eyelashes even more, and her neck flushed a deep red.
Just as Ming Tan was wondering how she could naturally engage in a few more words with her future husband, Ming Chu’s familiar, haughty voice came from not far away: “Cousin, I truly underestimated you. It’s true that the dog that bites doesn’t bark, huh?”
“I don’t know if dogs that bite bark or not, but the mad barking of a rabid dog is constantly in my ears,” Shen Hua’s voice was as gentle as ever.
“You!” Ming Chu was furious.
The two seemed to be walking towards the resting area on the back mountain, their voices growing ever closer. What was previously faint and intermittent was now very clear.
Ming Chu: “Don’t think that just because you’ve managed to meet with the second son of the Li family as you wish, this marriage is certain to happen. Besides, Li is just a sixth-rank official. What are you so proud of? In the future, when you see Ming Tan, you’ll still have to bow deeply!”
“It’s only right to pay respects to the Princess. I just fear that some people won’t even have the chance to pay their respects.”
“Who wants that chance!” Ming Chu laughed angrily. “Shen Hua, oh Shen Hua, you really can bend and stretch as needed. I heard that before I returned to the capital, you two were at each other’s throats. What’s this? Now that you see she’s going to be a princess, you’re eager to cozy up to her?”
“Don’t think I don’t know. To curry favor with Ming Tan, you’ve been getting information from your brother and even taking her to the capital’s military camp to secretly watch the Prince. Does your brother know about this? You’re ruthless towards your brother, aren’t you? There’s nothing you won’t do for glory and riches!”
“…?”
Ming Tan closed her eyes briefly.
It’s not true, I didn’t do it, don’t make things up.