Four Seasons Brocade – CH 092

Chapter 92 ☆、

Ah Wu had already considered this question for Tang Yin. She had analyzed the path of the Imperial Princess; it would not work.

“Ruining your reputation is definitely out of the question.” Ah Wu immediately stopped Tang Yin from going down that wrong path. Knowing the Imperial Princess as she did, ruining her reputation would only make her a concubine, never a wife. The Imperial Princess was an extremely proud person.

Tang Yin said awkwardly, “I never intended to ruin my reputation.” That kind of method was mostly used by concubine’s daughters to climb the social ladder.

“If you can win Second Brother Gu’s heart and dare to compete with the Imperial Princess, with your family background, the Imperial Princess will definitely agree.” This was the only method Ah Wu could think of. However, getting her serious and dull-witted second brother to understand things would not be easy. Ah Wu thought for a moment and decided it was not a good idea.

But then Tang Yin’s eyes lit up. “Ah Wu, then what do you think it would take for Second Brother Gu to like me?”

Ah Wu silently wept. She was a virgin; discussing such a topic was far too inappropriate, especially since Tang Yin’s question was one she could not answer even after racking her brains. But she could not help being well-read.

Ah Wu cleared her throat. “The books say… well, I learned it all from books,” Ah Wu emphasized.

“I know, I know, tell me quickly,” Tang Yin said eagerly.

“The best kind is called love at first sight,” Ah Wu said, sizing up Tang Yin. “Hmm, you can skip that.”

Tang Yin, both shy and anxious, pinched Ah Wu’s cheek. “If I had a face like yours, I guarantee he’d fall in love at first sight!”

Ah Wu quickly shook her head. “No, no, relying on looks alone cannot last. So-called love at first sight is admiration for the other person’s talent. You can focus on showing that aspect.”

Tang Yin thought for a moment and really did not have anything particularly outstanding.

“Then what’s the second one?”

“The second one should be called ‘compatible interests.’ That is, the two of you have endless things to talk about,” Ah Wu recited from memory.

“When would I have the chance to talk to Brother Gu for that long?” Tang Yin rejected the second point.

“The third one…”

Before Ah Wu could finish speaking, Tang Yin laughed, “Is it not because you need a matchmaker?”

Ah Wu replied, “Nonsense. Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying had an affair without a matchmaker. Yingying did not have a good life afterward. You should not think about such things. Stop reading those romance novels. The third one I am talking about is repaying a life-saving debt with your body.”

Tang Yin exclaimed, “Wow! You are amazing! I knew asking you would be right!”

Ah Wu watched Tang Yin excitedly exclaim, as if Gu Tingyi was already dressed in a red robe and marrying her. Seeing Tang Yin like this, Ah Wu was happy, too.

“Miss, Madam sent someone to say that the Second Young Master has returned.” Zi-Shan’s voice came from outside.

Ah Wu did not react at first. Who was the Second Young Master? After a moment of stunned silence, she realized it was her seventh brother, Rong Yin, who had returned. Now that the family had separated, he was second in line.

Ah Wu readily agreed, “Second Brother, why did he suddenly come back without saying a word?”

“He said he wanted to surprise Master, Madam, and Miss,” Zi-Shan said with a smile.

“Oh, is that the boy from your family who went out to learn martial arts back then?” Tang Yin had seen Rong Yin before; he was there when she accompanied Ah Wu to Baihe Courtyard.

“Yes, he’s been gone for so many years; I wonder what he’s become.” Ah Wu could not help but stand up; she missed Rong Yin, too.

“Since your brother is back, I should go now. I am going to say goodbye to my aunt, and I will also see how that boy is doing.” Tang Yin always called Rong Yin “that boy,” a habit stemming from their constant bickering at Baihe Courtyard.

Ah Wu thought about it. Although she felt it was not quite right, one was her brother, and the other was her friend; they would see each other again eventually. Besides, Tang Yin had already asked, so she could not refuse.

The two walked side by side to the front courtyard. Inside Lady Cui’s room, a tall, imposing man was speaking to Lady Cui with his back to Ah Wu and the others. Master Rong had not yet returned from the yamen.

“Second Brother,” Ah Wu called out.

Rong Yin turned around, saw Ah Wu, and froze for at least five breaths. “Ah Wu?”

Ah Wu smiled. “It’s me.”

“Oh, I knew our Ah Wu was beautiful.” Rong Yin, as usual, disliked studying and only ever praised beauty, repeating the same phrase over and over.

Ah Wu looked Rong Yin up and down. He had grown taller, now half a head taller than Master Rong. His skin, tanned from sun and wind, was a deep bronze. Dressed in a dark blue robe, he was tall and imposing, exuding a commanding presence. As he matured, he inherited Master Rong’s sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, but his lips were as delicate as Lady Cui’s. This handsome face, paired with his tall and strong physique, added an indescribable masculine air, yet also a natural elegance.

Ah Wu thought to herself, “If my second brother had studied more, he would be the scholar-general described in those books.”

“This must be Miss Tang,” Rong Yin said, recognizing Tang Yin even before he did Ah Wu. Ah Wu’s eyes darted strangely between the two. Even her fifth brother, Rong Jie, upon seeing her for the first time after Ah Wu’s return from Jiangnan, had not noticed anyone else.

Tang Yin stopped calling him “that boy” and instead blushed, taking a step to the side and giving Rong Yin a slight curtsy. Rong Yin had seen quite a bit of the world while following his master outside, so he turned slightly and bowed to Tang Yin.

Ah Wu looked left and right, wondering why Tang Yin had such an expression. If she did not know Tang Yin had someone in her heart, Ah Wu would almost think she had fallen in love with Rong Yin at first sight.

Actually, as Tang Yin’s younger sister, Ah Wu could not understand her feelings. Most men in the capital were pale-faced scholars; even the most dissolute philanderers would feign scholarly airs. A man like Rong Yin, standing before everyone like a majestic mountain, was incredibly rare. He exuded both pressure and a sense of security upon first meeting; his overwhelming masculine aura made even a straightforward woman like Tang Yin blush.

People at the time naturally did not know that this aura was called pheromones; perhaps those who practiced martial arts had a faster metabolism, making their aura more apparent.

“Auntie, I’ve come to say goodbye,” Tang Yin said softly to Lady Cui, turning her head away from Rong Yin. Her voice was so gentle that Ah Wu felt goosebumps.

Rong Yin, on the other hand, secretly glanced at Tang Yin, a mixture of wanting to look and not daring to.

Ah Wu inwardly sighed, feeling utterly confused. Ah Wu herself remained calm, yet she could not resist the alluring scent emanating from the young man and woman.

After seeing Tang Yin off, Ah Wu returned to find Rong Yin still in Lady Cui’s room. Lady Cui was asking him all sorts of questions, wiping away tears as she said, “You’ve lost weight, and you are so dark.”

Rong Yin was both impatient and troubled, but thankfully Ah Wu came to his rescue.

“Second Brother, why did you suddenly come back?”

“I heard the imperial court is holding a martial arts examination this year. Master knows about our family’s situation and sent me back to try.” Rong Yin had grown into a man and wanted to shoulder the responsibility for his family.

Ah Wu nodded. Joining the army was a good thing; perhaps it would protect him during the “Ji-You Incident.” The Ji-You Incident was the year the Fourth Prince, Chu Mao, raised an army to purge the court of corrupt officials, and also the year Emperor Ai ascended the throne.

That evening, Master Rong returned home. Father and son had a long talk, and he instructed Rong Yin to visit the Duke of Anguo and the Old Madam at the Duke’s residence the next day.

Meanwhile, Lady Cui, with her sharp eyes, grabbed Ah Wu’s hand and asked, “Ah Wu, do you think your second brother has some feelings for Young Lady Tang?” Lady Cui’s question had no ulterior motive; she was simply extremely bored. She did not have to serve her in-laws or manage the household. Now that Ah Wu had grown up, Lady Cui had let her manage the household, which was also a way for her to learn the ways of a housewife. Therefore, Lady Cui spent all her free time pondering the marriages of her three children.

Rong Jie was currently staying at the Baihe Courtyard and not returning home. Master Rong had instructed that Ah Wu’s marriage be handled with utmost care, so Lady Cui could not worry about the marriage arrangements for the time being. Just then, Rong Yin returned, a welcome relief for Lady Cui.

“No way,” Ah Wu said cautiously.

“How could it not be? Do you think I do not know my own son? Yin has always been a blockhead; he does not know anything about girls; all he does is play with weapons.”

Ah Wu could not say that Tang Yin had someone else in her heart, so she could only say, “Perhaps, after all these years away, he’s learned to appreciate girls?”

“Absolutely not, he’s definitely interested,” Lady Cui said with rare sternness.

This mother’s judgment of her son was truly accurate. But Rong Yin was still a commoner, so marriage was difficult to arrange. Even if she proposed, he would likely be rejected. Therefore, Lady Cui suppressed her excitement, waiting until Rong Yin passed the military examination before making any plans.

After the beginning of autumn, Rong Yin easily became the top military scholar of the year and was appointed by the Longqing Emperor as a third-class imperial bodyguard. This was a rare and excellent opportunity. Imperial bodyguards were close to the Emperor, protecting him and enjoying rapid promotions and wide career paths. They were generally selected from the sons of noble families, and if the court held imperial examinations for military officers, they would also select the best from among them.

That summer, Ah Wu remained quietly at home. She disliked attending any social engagements with Lady Cui to avoid the ladies’ inquiries and potential trouble if someone took a liking to her.

After autumn arrived, Ah Wu became even more reluctant to go out, spending her days tending to flowers and plants, behaving like a typical young lady, truly hidden away and unknown to the world.

Since becoming an imperial bodyguard, Rong Yin had to take turns serving in the palace, and in his spare time, he had to train in archery and horsemanship, undergo monthly assessments, and attend social events. When things got busy, he was even busier than Master Rong, a third-rank official. He was rarely seen.

Therefore, the only people living in the house during the day were Lady Cui and Ah Wu.

One day, Rong Yin suddenly returned to the mansion in broad daylight, followed by a handsome young man in a golden crown and red robe, causing everyone in the mansion to be startled upon his entrance.

Rong Yin and the young man dismounted together, tossing his whip to a servant, and asked, “Do you know where the young lady is?” As the saying goes, environment shapes character, and Rong Yin, now mingling with a group of princes and nobles, exuded an imposing aura, a far cry from the man who would rush to his sister after causing trouble. Now, his imposing presence commanded respect, and even the servants dared not meet his gaze.

The servant bowed respectfully and said, “How dare I inquire about the young lady’s whereabouts? If Second Master wishes to ask, I will go to the second gate to ask Cui-Ling.”

Rong Yin nodded. “Go.”

Gu Tingyi followed behind Rong Yin and asked, “Was that ‘Ink Dragon’ raised by your sister?”

T/N: As you can notice, we’re using “Master Rong” for Ah Wu’s father since they already separated and he’s no longer the third.