Four Delicate Offenders – CH 020

Chapter 20. My Name Is Li Chenjian, And My Courtesy Name Is Jifu.

The next morning, Lady Ming bathed and changed, then followed the eunuchs waiting at the gate to Shouqing Palace.

Usually, these ladies of noble birth would enter the palace to chat with the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the concubines to pass the time, mostly on holidays or at birthday banquets for prominent figures in the palace. Being summoned to the palace for no reason was indeed rare.

Perhaps she was overthinking things, Lady Ming pondered anxiously in the straight alleyway. Her mother was the Grand Princess of Pingyao, and her aunt was a Palace Attendant. Even disregarding her status, they were still related. Perhaps the Empress Dowager wanted to see relatives and have a chat, and summoning a few close acquaintances to the palace was not impossible.

She glanced at the eunuch leading the way and cautiously called out, “Which other ladies are attending the Empress Dowager’s tea party today?”

The eunuch turned his plump head and smiled, saying, “We’ve invited the Duchess. She’s the only one the Empress Dowager has invited. In the past, when the Empress Dowager had something on her mind, she always summoned her.”

But the more he said this, the more suspicious it seemed. Lady Ming was filled with anxiety. After paying her respects to the Empress Dowager, she sat down to speak. They first rambled on about unrelated matters, finally culminating in Meifen’s marriage. The Empress Dowager leaned against the armchair and asked, “Has the wedding date been set?”

Lady Ming shook her head. “Old Lady Hu said she’s having someone choose an auspicious date; it should not be more than a few days before the invitations are sent to the residence.”

The Empress Dowager gazed at the clear blue sky outside the window and sighed, “Time flies so fast. In the blink of an eye, my grandchildren are all getting married. I quite envy Old Lady Hu; she still has her grandson’s wedding to attend to. Although her grandson is getting married sooner, having several grandchildren around to enjoy her company is some consolation.”

The current Crown Prince Yide had passed away, and the Empress Dowager had not had any more children. This was a great regret for both the Empress Dowager and the entire nation.

As for the Old Lady Hu that the Empress Dowager spoke of, she was none other than Consort Hu from the past. Consort Hu gave birth to Prince Liang. After the late Emperor’s death, she moved out of the palace with her son. Later, Prince Liang died and was posthumously honored with the title of Zhongxian. Her only grandson was enfeoffed as Duke, who was now the Duke of Wei.

The Li imperial family seemed to have had a weak lineage. While the other princes and dukes at least had children and grandchildren who reached adulthood, the Emperor was the only one without. Regarding the Emperor’s succession, there was a bloody power struggle in the past. Prince Jin, who vied for the throne with the current Emperor, was defeated and committed suicide, cursing the Emperor before his death that no one would inherit the imperial lineage. Now, this curse had come true, leaving the Emperor in a rather embarrassing situation.

What could Lady Ming do? She could only say some flattering things, such as “His Majesty is in his prime, and the ladies of the palace are in their prime,” and such, but in the end, she only received a bitter smile from the Empress Dowager.

“If it were possible, it would have happened long ago. Why wait until today? He is almost fifty…” The Empress Dowager waved her hand, indicating she was no longer indulging in useless daydreams. “It’s better to be practical. This marriage between you two is of great importance to me, which is why I summoned you to the palace. Even the Emperor does not need to be present; just the two of us, to discuss it properly.”

Lady Ming’s heart trembled slightly. She stood up and said, “I will follow the instructions of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.”

The Empress Dowager smiled kindly and pulled her to sit down. “If we are talking about kinship, you should call me Aunt. We are all family; there’s no need for such formalities.” She paused, then said, “We are close relatives, and I will not hide anything from you. I am talking about those three imperial nephews. When I was younger, I was confident I would have no worries about offspring, so I did not bring them into the palace to be raised. Now they are older, and the opportunity for them to become close has passed. That’s the situation in the palace. The ministers even petitioned the other day to establish a crown prince soon. Understandably, my nephews have such expectations.”

These words nearly made the lady faint. This was not just idle gossip. Even in ordinary wealthy families, adopting nephews or sons to take over the family business was a matter of great consideration and caution. In a large country like this, a mishap could lead to a matter of life and death.

Seeing her pale face, the Empress Dowager did not take it to heart and softened her tone, saying, “Of my three imperial nephews, who do I like best? It’s Jifu. Think about it, the Duke of Chen, Li Yaojian, and the Duke of Chu, Li Yujian—their names alone reveal their ambition. They’ve taken the characters Yao, Shun, and Yu, which belong to emperors. Furthermore, the Prince of Jing and the Prince of Yong are not benevolent men; they may very well harbor ambitions for the throne.”

Lady Ming hesitated, realizing that this topic was difficult to discuss. To say that Li Chenjian’s courtesy name conveyed honesty and integrity would inevitably sound like self-praise. Besides, one usually only took what those in power said as half-truths. Even if the Empress Dowager made such a comment, she might secretly suspect that Prince Liang and the Duke of Wei and his son harbored ambitions of cunning and ruthlessness.

It was like possessing a precious treasure; one was always wary of others. This mindset was strange. On the one hand, one did not choose a successor; on the other hand, one harbored suspicion and jealousy. Even if one chose someone, one was wary of them day and night, as if guarding against a thief. So even if the Duke of Wei were to enter the Empress Dowager’s court, it would only be lip service. Before the grand wedding, summoning her to the palace as his mother-in-law would undoubtedly involve a mix of favors and threats.

In truth, at this point, Lady Ming had begun to waver, realizing this marriage was a mistake. If Meifen were capable and clever, perhaps she could handle the future upheavals. But her daughter was seventeen yet had the mind of a six-year-old. If there were no palace scrutiny, letting her drift through life would be one thing, but the Empress Dowager’s summons showed that peace was impossible. Both Meifen and the Duke of Wei were destined to be at the center of the storm until this power struggle finally settled.

The Empress Dowager had said so much; only by responding could you show your caution. Lady Ming then considered her words carefully and said, “I am a woman confined to the inner quarters and do not understand the intricacies of court politics. Let me tell you one thing: my husband is utterly loyal to the Emperor and would go through fire and water for him. Our engagement to the Duke of Wei was arranged by my mother and Old Lady Hu when my mother was alive. I imagine Old Lady Hu did this to demonstrate her loyalty to the Emperor.”

The Empress Dowager smiled but remained silent. The implications of this smile were worth considering. Back when Old Lady Hu was still Consort Hu, how could the palace be free of intrigue and power struggles? However, after the Emperor ascended the throne, there was no longer any need for such entanglements. Was Consort Hu’s decision to leave the palace with her son truly voluntary?

The tea in the teacup beside her had gone cold. A palace maid came and replaced it. The Empress Dowager picked it up, took a sip, and after a long pause said, “People say husband and wife are one, but that’s not entirely true. Only women with strong mothers and weak foundations rely on their husbands for everything. In the turbulent world of officialdom, honor and disgrace can change in an instant. To ascend to the throne and then retreat to protect oneself—that is the proper demeanor for a woman. The Grand Princess of yesteryear was no less capable than any man. The late Emperor favored you and bestowed upon you additional titles. I think Meifen should also possess her maternal grandmother’s spirit. Even after marriage, she should prioritize the well-being of the nation.”

Lady Ming’s heart sank. She thought, “The Empress Dowager is finally going to target Meifen. None of those imperial nephews will likely escape the surveillance of the palace. The Empress Dowager’s words make it clear that although Meifen is married to the Duke of Wei, she does not necessarily have to be of one mind with her husband. A wife’s glory is a matter for later. If the Duke of Wei does anything amiss, and Meifen is willing to report it to the palace, then even if the Duke of Wei is punished, his wife will not be held accountable. What should I do…” Lady Ming panicked. She looked at the Empress Dowager, whose pale, expressionless face stared at her indifferently, awaiting an explanation.

Lady Ming, thinking of her daughter, finally laid bare her anxieties.

“Your Majesty’s orders are my final word. I have wholeheartedly supported you since my mother’s time. Your Majesty is right. I dare not conceal from Your Majesty this marriage, for it is now very difficult for me.” Lady Ming touched her temple. “Meifen… has an illness of the heart. For over ten years, she has not left the mansion, not even once. She has not attended the Golden Duck Banquet for noble ladies in the capital. A few days ago, Old Lady Hu asked the Grand Astrologer to choose an auspicious date, and she caused trouble, almost driving her father to die of anger.

“I truly… do not know what this child is thinking. She’s afraid of strangers, as if she were seeing ghosts. She consulted many doctors and even asked Physician Zhao, the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, to treat her, but to no avail. I am truly distressed. I have not been able to explain this to the Duke of Wei’s mansion. The marriage has come to this point; it cannot be aborted. If it’s forced, I am afraid Meifen will try to kill herself.”

Tears welled in her eyes as she wiped them away, her voice choked with emotion. “Jingqing and I have a son and a daughter. If anything happens to Meifen, I’d rather she stay unmarried, and I care for her myself for the rest of her life.”

The Empress Dowager listened and remained silent for a long time.

In truth, she had heard that the eldest daughter of the Duchess of Shu had a strange quirk. It was understandable that a young lady in her prime rarely went out, but never appearing at the Golden Duck Banquet was somewhat unusual. Now that the Duchess of Shu had been summoned and so much had been said, the marriage was practically settled. The Empress Dowager was not concerned about who married the Duke of Wei; as long as the new bride could be used by the palace and keep an eye on the Duke of Wei’s every move, that was enough.

“This is indeed a difficult problem,” the Empress Dowager said empathetically. “We cannot force the child… I’ve heard that the eldest daughter of the Founding Marquis Jiang Heng is currently in your household?”

Lady Ming hesitated for a moment, then said yes.

“That child was born to Princess Yuyang, so her background is not low. If things really do not work out, the two cousins ​​could switch places; that would not be a bad solution.”

Lady Ming was stunned. “The Empress Dowager means…”

The Empress Dowager smiled. “I heard about Jingqing’s outburst against Jiang Heng before the court a few days ago. Jiang Heng is muddle-headed and does not care about anything, which is unfair to such a good child. I think the young lady will eventually marry, and with the Duke of Wei’s family’s status, it will not be a disgrace to her. After she’s married, Jiang Heng can see that the child has achieved great things, which would be a way of honoring the late County Princess.”

Lady Ming hesitated. Everyone had their own selfish motives, and the Empress Dowager’s mention of this made her waver. If we were talking about suitability, Si Si was indeed more suitable than Meifen. At least Si Si was clever and resourceful, unlike Meifen, who did not know how to be tactful and acted impulsively without thinking, hurting herself or others.

“A few days ago, Meifen actually asked me, saying she wanted her sister to marry in her place…”

“That’s why I said things can always be arranged,” the Empress Dowager laughed. “I think it’s a good idea; let’s do it that way.”

Lady Ming had a concern: “If we change the bride at the last minute, I am afraid the Duke of Wei’s mansion will not agree.”

The Empress Dowager said, “What’s the matter? I will vouch for the matchmaker, and I am sure their mansion will not have any objections.”

What could be worse than marrying a daughter-in-law who did not want to be seen by others? Old Lady Hu might have heard about the illness of the Duke of Shu’s eldest daughter. If they could find another, they would be more than happy. If the Duke of Shu’s mansion would accept it, what difficulty would they have?

Lady Ming, unable to refuse any longer, said awkwardly, “To be honest, I am truly afraid of wronging the child. She came to the capital to rely on her aunt, only to be forced into a substitute marriage.”

Having reached a consensus, all that remained was to say a few flattering words. The Empress Dowager said, “This is originally a marriage between the legitimate daughter of your Duke’s family. Is there anything wrong with it? In terms of the title of Founding Marquis, a daughter marrying a Duke is a high honor. If the child had not come, you would not have achieved this. After all, she’s your own flesh and blood; would anyone harm her?”

Lady Ming nodded sheepishly. She had originally planned to keep Si Si so she could be a couple with her eldest son, but now plans had changed. It seemed everyone had their own future. She felt very guilty towards Si Si; she wondered how she should tell her when they returned.

After bidding farewell to the Empress Dowager and returning from the Forbidden City, it was already noon. The Empress Dowager invited her to dine, but she politely declined, as she had matters on her mind and needed to settle them as soon as possible to feel at ease.

As the carriage entered Dongyulin Alley, she saw someone lingering at the foot of the steps from afar. Upon closer inspection, it was indeed the Duke of Shu.

He stood before the carriage, took the reins, and impatiently asked, “What is it? Why has the Empress Dowager summoned you?”

In truth, there was no need for explanation; both of them had a premonition. Lady Ming glanced at him silently, then lifted her skirt and stepped over the threshold, saying, “Let’s go and discuss it in detail.”

Into the side hall of the front courtyard, Duke of Shu pulled her down to sit, hurriedly poured her a cup of water, and urged, “Stop beating around the bush; tell me quickly, what does the Empress Dowager want from our Meifen?”

Lady Ming sighed, “Your guess yesterday was spot on. How could the Empress Dowager miss such a good opportunity? It’s easy to make arrangements around the Duke of Chen and the Duke of Chu, but the Duke of Wei still has no one in his room. To plant spies around him, one can try among the maids and servants, but nothing beats the connections of his bedmate.”

Duke of Shu was troubled, pounding his knees as he said, “How can this be? Our Mei’er cannot even figure herself out; how can we expect her to understand others? Besides, marriage is so uncertain. A good outcome can lead to instant success, a bad one to utter ruin. Meifen is already prone to tantrums and erratic behavior even in peaceful times; if she were to live in someone else’s household, constantly living in fear, how could she possibly survive?”

He always had the heart of a loving father. Although his child was disobedient, talked back, and acted spoiled, making him very unhappy, after all, she was his own flesh and blood. Apart from Jiang Heng, what father in the world would not worry about his child’s life and future?

After hearing his words, Lady Ming covered her face and wailed, not for anything else, but for feeling ashamed of herself for failing her son. Between her daughter and niece, she ultimately chose to protect her own daughter. Human nature was so selfish; how could she face her deceased sister after she died?

Seeing her cry like this, the Duke of Shu realized the seriousness of the situation and quickly rose to wipe her tears, earnestly saying, “Do not cry… Ah, crying will not solve this problem. We should think of a solution. Do not worry, after all, I rendered meritorious service to the Emperor back then. Even if Meifen’s marriage goes wrong in the future, the Emperor will at least not make things difficult for her out of consideration for my past contributions.”

As he spoke, he began to comfort himself, “What bad intentions could our Meifen have? This child is so oblivious to worldly affairs. What does she know about the bigger picture of the court? For now, you should promise the Empress Dowager that the Duke of Wei will not rebel, so you can live a good life. It’s not difficult.”

These words did not comfort Lady Ming. Grabbing her husband’s hand, she said, “It’s our fault for having so few children. If we had another clever and capable daughter, we would not have implicated Si Si.”

The Duke of Shu was taken aback. “What does this have to do with Si Si?”

Lady Ming, tears streaming down her face, choked back a moment before finally saying, “To protect Meifen, I sacrificed Si Si. It’s truly… I must have been bewitched. I actually found the Empress Dowager’s suggestion of substitute marriage between sisters quite appealing. I agreed in a moment of impulsiveness, and now, looking back, how can I face Si Si?!”

The Duke of Shu was also stunned. His feelings were indeed difficult to explain; on one hand, he felt fortunate that Meifen had extricated herself, and on the other hand, he was deeply ashamed of having wronged Si Si.

The man made the decision. Since the die was cast, he instructed the maid to go to the back courtyard and invite the niece over for a talk.

When Yunpan arrived, she was also unsure, guessing that there was probably some follow-up story from Youzhou.

“Do you think Father has changed his mind?” she asked Qin-Dan, tilting her head.

Qin-Dan also weighed the options: “If the Master really punishes Liu-niang, will the Young Lady go back with him?”

This question made Yunpan hesitate. Deep down, she was utterly disappointed in her father and did not even want to acknowledge him anymore. Staying at her aunt’s house was not a long-term solution. Once her cousin Mei got married, living alone in the back courtyard would be inconvenient. As for her previous statement about establishing her own household, that was ultimately a last resort. If she had a good family, a pampered noblewoman would not want to associate with the lower classes in the marketplace.

“We will see!” If it really was her father, she would listen to his opinion before making a decision.

But in the front hall, she did not see her father, realizing she had worried unnecessarily. Her aunt and uncle sat solemnly in the main hall, their expressions quite serious. Seeing that she had arrived, her aunt called out, “Come, my child, sit here.”

Yunpan was somewhat confused. What was wrong with her aunt’s and uncle’s demeanor today? They seemed different from usual. After sitting down timidly, she was met with a long silence. She glanced at her uncle and aunt, then whispered, “What’s wrong, Aunt and Uncle? Is there something you wish to tell me?”

The Duke of Shu lowered his head, and Lady Ming hesitated for a long time before finally saying, “Today, the Empress Dowager summoned me to the palace and spoke to me at length. Your cousin is to marry the Duke of Wei, as you know. Since the Emperor has no heirs, one of the Dukes of Wei, Chen, or Chu will inevitably inherit the throne. With the choice still undecided, suspicion is bound to arise within the palace. The Empress Dowager’s intention is for your cousin to closely monitor the Duke of Wei’s every move. She is ostensibly a duchess, but secretly part of the Empress Dowager’s inner circle. Look at your cousin; she’s barely able to take care of herself. How could she possibly follow the Empress Dowager’s orders? Later… the conversation drifted to you. The Empress Dowager has long heard of the foolish things your father has done, and casually mentioned that perhaps you could take your cousin’s place…”

At this point, she was too ashamed to continue. Lady Ming stared at Yunpan, her face filled with astonishment, clearly not expecting things to have developed this way.

To call it absurd was an understatement; she’d only ever seen stories of substitute brides in novels, and now it was happening right before her eyes. How could anyone not feel bewildered?

The increasingly sweltering heat outside felt like it was hitting her skin directly. She blinked, the corners of her eyes burning, her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but not a single word came out.

The Duke of Shu finally spoke up, “We’ve wronged you. We never imagined Meifen would be so delicate; otherwise, we would never let you take her place. Your uncle will also give you his word today: from now on, you are my, Xiang Junjie’s, own daughter. Meifen will be protected by her mother in the same way. Your dowry will be prepared according to Meifen’s wedding standards, and we will even add 30% more… Alas, the more I say, the more guilty I feel. If your mother were still alive, she would blame us so much.”

Their remorse was evident even without words. Those capable officials in the capital, bearing titles, did not have it as smooth as it seemed. They held positions of power and were responsible for governing, especially since orders issued from the palace were often passed through their channels, even if they would not carry them out themselves.

Meifen’s situation was something she had witnessed firsthand during her stay at the mansion. She could not blame her elders for their desperate measures. If Meifen had married into another family, she probably would not have survived a day. If she were to act rashly, it would be too late for regrets.

Now, having her marry in place of her cousin was not her aunt’s idea but rather the Empress Dowager’s order. Even if the Duke of Shu was highly regarded, there was probably no room for negotiation on this matter. She could not return to Youzhou, and while she was still the legitimate daughter of the Founding Marquis, if a replacement were to be chosen from within the Duke’s household, Lanfen from the West Courtyard was of lower status due to her illegitimate birth. She, with her lineage, could fill that spot.

Qin-Dan was also anxious and exchanged glances with her.

After pondering for a moment, Yunpan did not show any sadness on her face. She paused and said, “Si Si acknowledges my aunt and uncle’s difficulties. Since the palace has given its word, my aunt cannot disobey. Since the last incident, I’ve received care from my aunt and uncle since arriving in the capital. I am grateful to you both, and originally planned to repay you when I became successful. Now… well, it’s alright.”

After she finished speaking, Lady Ming covered her mouth. “Your words only make me feel more ashamed.”

Yunpan smiled. “Aunt, please do not say that. Girls always have to get married,” she said. “Like the Duke of Dongchang, whom my mother arranged for me, if nothing went wrong, I would have been married into the family, too. Thinking about it this way, I feel much better. I can still help my cousin once in a while; it’s always a good thing, no matter what.”

The Duke of Shu had initially thought his niece was well-behaved and sensible, but he had not expected her to be so understanding. He sighed, “Jiang Heng has let such a good girl down; he’s really blind.”

Once it was settled, it was hard to change. In truth, no one had a choice. Today’s situation was the result of countless consequences. Sometimes, you really could not help but believe in fate. Who would have thought that the help from the Duke of Wei to get to the capital would ultimately lead to this unexpected turn of events?

Yunpan accepted the blessing and returned to Yipengxue. On the way, Qin-Dan supported her, saying worriedly, “I saw the Duke of Wei in Youzhou the other day. Although he did not show his face, he did not seem to be in good health.”

The Duke of Wei seemed to be in poor health, but no one knew exactly what illness he had.

Yunpan sighed, “We should use that money and incense to start some business when the opportunity arises. Money makes money the fastest, and in this world, relying on yourself is no worse than relying on anyone else. We have not established a firm foothold in the capital yet. If we act rashly, we might be taken advantage of by those intermediaries. Let’s wait and see. Once this marriage becomes known, with the Duke of Wei’s reputation, at least no one will dare to cheat us.”

This was the only saving grace in their bleak future—using this unexpected marriage to gain some practical benefits.

She did not utter a single complaint, having weathered some storms and become resilient. Qin-Dan felt sorry for her. “Do you not feel a little wronged, Young Lady?”

Yunpan smiled. “Wronged about what? If it’s not Lord Li today, there’d be Lord Zhang or Lord Wang tomorrow, unless I never marry.”

Qin-Dan sighed softly. “I am relieved that you think this way, Young Lady. Since things have come to this, you can only try to accept it. It’s just a change of scenery. This place may be nice, but it’s not truly yours. After you marry and establish your own family, you will not be adrift anymore; you will have roots.”

Is that not right? Always trying to comfort yourself; otherwise, you would get sick from all the pent-up frustration.

Meifen, upon hearing the news, rushed from Zilan Garden like a whirlwind. Previously, she had been determined to have Yunpan take her place, but now that it had come to pass, she felt deeply indebted to Yunpan.

When she arrived at the door, she saw Yunpan sitting by the window, airing incense sticks, hesitant to enter. It was Ming-Ke who noticed her and asked, “Why is the Young Lady not coming in?”

Yunpan turned around and saw Meifen standing timidly at the door. She could not help but laugh. “Sister, what’s wrong? It’s so hot outside; come in quickly.”

Meifen then stepped over the threshold and, upon reaching her, covered her face and cried, “It’s all my fault for being useless; I’ve dragged my sister down with me.”

Recently, she had been arguing with her parents, which had made her quite thin. Yunpan helped her sit down in a chair and said kindly, “This time it’s an order from the Forbidden City; it has nothing to do with you, Sister. Do you remember what you told me, that everyone in this world is forced into arranged marriages, and I am no exception? Anyway, it’s all the same who I marry, so do not blame yourself, Sister. Just be good to yourself from now on. This time, it’s been worth it.”

Meifen continued to sob, and Yunpan comforted her, “Now that I am to marry the Duke of Wei, with that concubine and her sister becoming increasingly powerful, I’ll have my ways of dealing with them in the future. Do you not think that’s good?”

Meifen finally stopped crying and lowered her head, saying, “Forcing my betrothed on my sister, I am ashamed to live.”

If the Duke of Wei heard this, he’d probably be furious. Here, it was as if the elder sister’s unwanted marriage had been dumped on her younger sister; the Duke, a respectable man, was being treated like someone nobody wanted.

Yunpan said many comforting words, trying to dissuade Meifen from her sadness, but she found it amusing herself. She was the one who should be comforted, yet she was the one comforting Meifen.

Yunpan had witnessed her mother’s love life fail miserably, and she herself had never had any expectations for marriage. Without expectation, there was no disappointment. This marriage, hastily arranged, left no trace in her heart.

The afternoon passed leisurely as usual. As night approached, she heard a maid in the corridor call out, “Nanny Yao has arrived.”

Yunpan put down her small scales and turned to look. Nanny Yao was at the door. She smiled and called out, “Nanny, what brings you here?”

Nanny Yao was Lady Ming’s personal maid; she was always the one to relay important messages. She bowed to Yunpan and saw the young woman standing gracefully in the flickering lamplight, wearing a light pink ruqun. She was like a lotus flower, her delicate skin glowing like fine silk.

How could such a girl not be captivating? Nanny Yao softened her tone and said, “The Duke of Wei must have heard news from the palace and has come to pay a visit.”

Yunpan listened but remained silent, without any reaction.

“Madam said she wants the young lady to go forward, even just for a cup of tea, and to see him.”

Yunpan thought for a moment. She knew she’d have to see him sooner or later, and hiding was not her style, so she replied, “Then wait a moment, Nanny. I will change my clothes and go with you.”

Nanny Yao agreed.

Although she had seen the young lady before arriving from Youzhou, she was down on her luck then. After the natural disaster, the world was shrouded in gray, and even a stunning beauty would not have stood out amidst the devastation.

Nanny Yao stood outside the screen waiting for her to change. A lamp was lit on the high table, its light shining through the ram’s horn shade, illuminating the indistinct figure behind the screen.

The young woman, in the prime of her youth, possessed a slender and captivating figure. As she raised her arm, a wide jade bracelet rested on her wrist, revealing a considerable gap that accentuated the delicacy and slenderness of her limbs.

Ming-Ke carried a large tray from the side room. Nanny Yao glanced at it; it was a set of light blue and mountain-green ruqun, refreshing for this time of year, but ultimately too plain.

“Today is your first formal meeting with the Duke,” Nanny Yao said warmly, tucking in her sleeves. “Wear something brighter; it will look more cheerful.”

Yunpan, behind the screen, pondered for a moment and said to Ming-Ke, “Let’s do as Nanny suggests.”

Ming-Ke agreed and went back to prepare.

The maids in the Duke’s Mansion were worldly-wise. Before being assigned to serve the young ladies, they received aesthetic training, especially in clothing and makeup. There were even tutors in the back courtyard guiding them on color matching. To make it more festive, they changed into something cheerful, stopping before Nanny Yao for her approval before serving the young lady.

When Yunpan emerged, she had changed into a sandalwood-colored, narrow-sleeved, front-opening blouse, paired with a cream-colored pleated skirt, carefully fastened with a pea-green sash. Her hairstyle was simple, a casual bun adorned with a jasmine hairpin embroidered with pearls, perfectly matching the trim on the collar and cuffs, exuding the elegance of a refined young lady.

Nanny Yao examined the clothes carefully, then smiled and said, “This is very good. It suits your demeanor perfectly, Young Lady. It’s neither too casual nor overly elaborate. A touch of nonchalance prevents it from seeming like we are relying on the Duke of Wei.”

A young lady should also possess a lady’s composure and dignity. Even though the Duke of Wei was of noble birth, their Young Lady did not value social status or eagerly seek to become a member of the Prince Zhongxian of Liang’s lineage. Lady Ming sent Nanny Yao to oversee this precisely because she feared the maids might mishandle the situation and tarnish the young lady’s reputation.

Now that everything was ready, they headed to the main hall. Nanny Yao accompanied Yunpan along the corridor, discreetly observing her. The lanterns hanging under the corridor illuminated her face, and it was her open and unpretentious demeanor that earned the sincere approval of this old nanny who had served in the Duke’s Mansion for most of her life.

“Are you not afraid, Young Lady?” asked Nanny Yao. “This marriage seems far too hasty.”

Yunpan smiled slightly. “In Youzhou, I listened to my parents; in the capital, I followed my uncle and aunt’s arrangements. Although the marriage is hasty, I will simply fulfill my duty.”

Her composure under pressure truly displayed the demeanor of a matriarch. Nanny Yao realized then that Young Lady Yun was indeed more suited to this marriage than her own young lady had been. Life’s ups and downs had given her a strong will to weather storms. If she married that royal relative and was lucky enough, she might achieve even greater things.

A maidservant, carrying a lantern, led the way, past a section of blue-brick path, to the reception hall.

The evening in the capital, even in summer, brought a gentle breeze, causing the banana leaves in the courtyard to sway.

The reception hall was brightly lit. Looking down from the path, one could see the Duke of Shu sitting at the head of the table, occasionally exchanging a few words of laughter. He did not seem to be formally meeting with his court colleagues; after all, they often interacted in court. This meeting seemed to be taking place in a relaxed atmosphere.

Yunpan was on the veranda, and Qin-Dan was carefully supporting her, as if afraid she would fall. She smiled inwardly; for her, it was just an ordinary meeting. Besides, they had already crossed paths in Youzhou, so it was not a completely unrelated first encounter.

“The affairs of Youzhou have all been settled. The remaining tasks are to reorganize the cavalry and infantry. I will be going to Xizhou in a couple of days…”

A calm, unhurried voice drifted from the flower hall through the hanging bamboo curtain. Yunpan recognized the voice; it reminded her of the compassionate figure behind the brocade curtain in the exquisite carriage during the torrential rain.

The maidservant standing at the door, seeing her arrive, quietly announced inside that the young lady had arrived.

Yunpan stepped through the door, first bowing to the Duke of Shu and Lady Ming. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the person in the armchair standing up; he appeared taller than Xiang Xu. She could not look up directly, but seeing the light blue robe with cloud-patterned trim and black boots, she thought to herself, “He’s not here on official business; the Duke of Wei is dressed casually today.”

The meeting under these circumstances was somewhat awkward. They had been chatting happily, but her interruption had made it difficult to continue the conversation. For a moment, the flower hall was quiet, as if everyone was struggling to find a topic to talk about. It was Lady Ming who spoke first, introducing, “Si Si, come and greet the Duke of Wei.”

Yunpan stepped forward and gave a deep bow, which was returned with great formality.

Sometimes, one could not help but marvel at the wonder of fate. The earlier rescue had been paving the way for today’s encounter.

After exchanging greetings, Yunpan sat down next to Lady Ming. She had assumed her aunt would mediate, but unexpectedly, it was the Duke of Wei who spoke first.

A man who entered officialdom at sixteen was already able to handle any unexpected event with composure. Although the changes in the marriage had surprised him when they reached the household, he accepted them almost instantly.

“Today, the Imperial Attendant, acting on the Empress Dowager’s decree, has already addressed all matters concerning the marriage. I have taken the liberty of visiting you so late at night to ask for your understanding, Young Lady. Please rest assured, the Duke’s household is treating this marriage with utmost seriousness and dares not be careless in the slightest.”

These words strangely reassured her.

In matters of arranged marriage, the greatest fear was that the other party, having been forced to settle for less, would become dissatisfied and mistreat the new bride. Yunpan had prepared herself, even accepting the awkwardness of becoming a second wife, but she had not expected someone to come specifically to say these words; it truly surprised her.

She sat down and bowed slightly, not knowing what to say, but this bow was a gesture of gratitude.

Duke of Shu sighed, “My daughter’s illness is incurable despite all our efforts. If it were not for this, things would not have changed so drastically… Ultimately, they are a perfect match, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, a good marriage indeed. Si Si is with us, and she’s with Meifen. We will entrust her to your care from now on. If she does anything wrong, please inform us, Duke, and we will discipline her. In any case, please, please do not let her suffer any injustice.”

Yunpan suddenly felt her eyes sting. It should have been her father, her own father, who was speaking. Where was he now?

As a precious treasure, no one dared to underestimate her. The Duke of Wei said, “Uncle, you flatter me. Once the young lady comes to my residence, I will do my utmost to protect her.”

Lady Ming breathed a sigh of relief. She chuckled, “The Duke’s character is beyond reproach, and your family is of noble birth; you would never mistreat Si Si.” She added with an “Oh, Si Si’s arrival in the capital was thanks to your help, Duke. Unexpectedly, our connection began here.”

Speaking of this, Yunpan rose and curtsied to him. “I have not had a chance to thank you, Duke. Last time, when Youzhou suffered a disaster, I was wandering far from home. Without your help, I would not have been able to reach the capital so smoothly.”

The Duke of Wei quickly stood up and returned the curtsy. “Disaster relief is my duty, and besides, I have some connections with my elders. It’s nothing, Young Lady; no need to be so polite.”

From nothing to something, the relationship had suddenly changed, and their conversation was undeniably reserved.

Although the Duke of Wei was worldly-wise, he was somewhat at a loss in this situation. However, he was certainly sincere, unlike those other arrogant young noblemen who only offered grand and beautiful words. He spoke pragmatically, his voice low and deliberate as he addressed the Duke of Shu, “Uncle, I will not mince words. The current situation at court is unpredictable, and given my circumstances, I should not be marrying. I am of marriageable age, my grandmother is pressuring me, and with everyone in and out of court watching, the consequences for one of us are likely unavoidable. I am caught in a dilemma; marrying your young lady will probably not bring her wealth and luxury, but rather leave her living in constant fear. Unfortunately, the imperial decree has already been issued, and it cannot be changed. I have only one request: if anything goes wrong in the future, please protect the young lady. Even if it costs me my life, I will be grateful for your great kindness.”

Upon hearing this, everyone present was shocked. Yunpan, who had been staring at her knees, also looked up in alarm. This single plea suddenly gave her a completely different perspective on this young man from a distinguished family.

She had imagined what the governor who would offer his assistance would look like behind the veil of embroidered curtains. From the few glimpses—a finger joint, a voice—she could deduce that he must be a refined and gentle scholar.

Now that she had met him in person, her guess was correct. Although he had served as the Military Commissioner of Xizhou and commanded the Imperial Guard, he possessed no rough or boorish air; in fact, he was even more elegant and serene than she had imagined.

Like a gentle breeze, pure and spotless, like the solitary moon in the sky, he remained ever clear-headed, always filled with a childlike heart—truly a man of admirable character! When he looked at you, a glimmer of dawn appeared in his eyes, and you felt that even the heaviest suffering in the world was not incurable.

The Duke and Duchess of Shu exchanged a glance. Lady Ming sincerely said, “With the Duke’s protection, I have no worries about her in the future.”

The Duke of Shu also agreed, “Rest assured, if anything happens, I will spare no effort to protect the child.”

This meeting was surprisingly solemn and dignified, as if it were not a discussion of marriage but a final, thorough explanation.

The Duke of Wei felt relieved after hearing the Duke of Shu’s words. He stroked his knee and said, “I was truly presumptuous and said many confused things. Please forgive me, Uncle.” He had barely finished speaking when he suddenly coughed twice, his throat itching uncontrollably. He had tried to suppress it for a while, but finally, his embarrassment showed.

Seeing the person opposite him looking at him, he awkwardly pressed his chest and smiled. “This ailment of mine is a result of being hit by a stray arrow in the army. Do not worry, Young Lady; it’s not contagious.”

Yunpan nodded awkwardly, wondering if she had shown her fear on her face, making the person uncomfortable. After some thought, she still offered a polite remark, “Please take care of yourself, Your Grace, and rest well.”

The Duke of Wei nodded. “I have been taking care of myself, and my symptoms are much better than before.”

Since they were both men of principle, and it was getting late, it would not be proper to linger too long at someone else’s residence. He rose to take his leave of the Duke of Shu. “I will be leaving the capital soon. Upon my return, I will host a banquet for my elders and my betrothed to come to my residence. My engagement with Young Lady Mei has been settled. Tomorrow, I will send someone to renew the formalities and exchange betrothal gifts. After setting an auspicious date, I will come to inform you all.”

As fellow dukes, his humble attitude eased the awkwardness of the Duke of Shu and his wife.

Lady Ming gave Yunpan a meaningful look. “Si Si, see the Duke of Wei off for your uncle and me.”

This was a deliberate attempt to bring them together. Now that things had come to this, there seemed to be no shame. Yunpan rose and went to the door, gesturing, “Lord, please.”

The Duke of Wei gave a slight nod and turned to walk towards the porch. A servant boy led the way with a lantern, and Yunpan followed behind him. A faint scent of orchids wafted in the air—the fragrance from his sleeves.

His ailment did not affect his physique; he was the most upright and well-proportioned person Yunpan had ever seen. Knowing she was right behind him, he did not seize the opportunity to strike up a conversation. He waited until they reached the gate, then turned and bowed to her. “It’s getting late, Young Lady; please return.”

Yunpan returned the bow. “Farewell, Your Grace.”

He nodded, paused before taking a step, and said gently, “My name is Li Chenjian; my courtesy name is Jifu. Young Lady, you should know that.”

Yunpan acknowledged, saying, “My aunt mentioned it to me.”

He gave a slight hum, paused briefly, and said, “This marriage is a disservice to you, Young Lady.”

For a nobleman of such high rank to express this sentiment was truly commendable. If anyone should feel the most wronged, it was he.

Perhaps he still felt ashamed of his difficult situation. In terms of status, she should not have been a match for him, so all things considered, there was no question of whether he felt wronged or not.

As a young lady, Yunpan did not want to be too blunt. She gave a slight bow again and said, “Please take care on your journey, Your Grace.”

He stepped back two paces, bowing slightly, and a servant helped him to the carriage. As the carriage began to move, he glanced back every now and then; that slender figure was still standing under the lanterns hanging in front of the mansion gate. Only when the carriage lights disappeared into the darkness did she turn and step through the gate.