Perfect Match – CH 001

Chapter 1

A sudden downpour struck at dusk, lasting only a quarter of an hour before ceasing.

The maid Qingxuan, while calling for others to return the chrysanthemums that had been moved to the porch for shelter, also assigned tasks to others.

“Go and hang all the sachets in the mansion in the garden. If you need more, cut up some mugwort and patchouli, burn them, and scatter them along the path so that mosquitoes won’t disturb our distinguished guests.”

The servants readily agreed and hurried off.

Today was the Teng family’s chrysanthemum banquet, and the guests were all ladies from several families on good terms with the Teng family.

Two months ago, the Teng family hastily arranged a wedding, and the hasty arrangements relied entirely on the assistance of these ladies.

Now, taking advantage of the time before the Mid-Autumn Festival, when the chrysanthemums were in full bloom, Old Madam Lin was hosting this chrysanthemum banquet as a gesture of gratitude.

The ladies chatted and drank tea in the hall, while the young ladies idly strolled and admired the flowers in the garden.

A sudden downpour had just occurred, and the servants of the Teng household, having been instructed beforehand, moved the delicate chrysanthemums to the veranda for shelter before the rain even began.

After the rain stopped, the servants, as instructed, scattered insect-repelling herbs along the path.

Seeing that everything was arranged properly, the young ladies emerged to continue admiring the flowers, chatting and laughing softly.

The person who made the arrangements remained unseen, while Qingxuan peered into the bushes at the edge of the garden.

Standing in the bushes was a woman in a light green, double-breasted long gown.

Her figure was shrouded in the lush greenery; were it not for her long, thick, lustrous black hair, she would likely have been difficult to spot.

That was the general’s newlywed wife, Madam Deng.

The Teng family was a military family in Shaanxi. The patriarch, who had passed away years earlier, had been a fourth-rank military officer but was later demoted to the frontier due to a falling out and died on the battlefield.

The family fortune was entirely earned by the second patriarch, General Teng Yue, through countless battles.

The second patriarch was stationed at the frontier most of the year and only married this year; his new wife was Madam Deng.

Qingxuan hadn’t spoken much to her. Today, the family was holding a flower banquet, and the old lady, worried that Nanny Wei wouldn’t be able to manage, had asked the new wife to help in the garden.

The new wife looked young, but she was thoughtful and reliable in managing affairs. Qingxuan thought the new wife was probably a good housekeeper, but she had only been married for over two months, and only on occasions like this did she come out to do anything.

She was the madam of the house, the general’s legal wife, but she didn’t manage the household affairs, nor did she live in the main courtyard.

Since the second patriarch was stationed at the frontier and couldn’t return home, she stayed in Liumingxuan without leaving.

The servants in the mansion were adept at judging people by their status. Two months had passed, and few still treated her with respect, truly regarding her as a lady.

If it weren’t for her own maidservant, the other servants might not have obeyed her orders today.

Qingxuan watched from afar, secretly shaking her head.

… …

At the end of the garden, someone walked quickly along the path.

It was a girl of thirteen or fourteen, her shoes wet from the rain, having just changed into new ones as she returned to the garden.

Thinking there wouldn’t be many people on this path, she walked quickly, but unexpectedly, as she turned a corner, she nearly bumped into someone.

Startled, she quickly tried to stop, but the wet stone slabs from the recent rain were slippery, and she suddenly fell to the side.

“Ah!”

She cried out, but someone reached out and pulled her back steadily.

The girl, still shaken, quickly thanked them, then looked up to see a woman she didn’t recognize. The woman wore a light green dress; her face was lightly made up, but her lips were a moist, pale red. Her nose was delicate and straight, her eyes were clear and bright, and her willow-leaf eyebrows were slightly raised.

“Are you alright, young lady?”

Her voice was like a zither, clear and melodious, unlike any she’d ever heard before.

The little girl blinked and asked, “Which family are you from, sister? I’ve never seen you before.”

After speaking, she noticed her long, thick black hair, neatly styled into a married woman’s bun.

Then she spoke, not saying which family she belonged to, but simply smiling and saying,

“My surname is Deng.”

General Teng’s newlywed wife’s surname was Deng…

…

The little girl stared wide-eyed at the new lady before her.

Just then, a maidservant caught up from behind and, before the little girl could react, pulled her aside.

The gesture made it seem as if this Madam Deng was some kind of disreputable person.

The little girl felt embarrassed.

But Madam Deng didn’t seem to mind, still smiling and nodding as she left.

The maidservant quickly whispered…

“Her surname is Deng. There’s no one with that surname around here, only General Teng’s new wife.”

“I know that. What’s wrong?”

“Miss, you don’t know? She’s not from any high-ranking family. She probably hasn’t even been to Xi’an before, yet she managed to marry a general of General Teng’s caliber. Who knows what kind of crude methods she used?”

“This…I think she’s quite nice.”

“Miss, you’re so kind. How would you know about the tricks of these lowly families? Maybe because everyone else is ignoring her, she’s trying to get an opportunity through you.”

The young girl was astonished and a little frightened.

Several familiar girls came over and, seeing her distracted, asked what was wrong.

The maid briefly explained her encounter with General Teng’s new wife.

After she finished speaking, the girls exchanged glances, then all turned to look at a girl wearing an amber-colored embroidered jacket.

The girl immediately raised an eyebrow. “What are you looking at me for? Do you want Cousin Teng to marry some unknown village girl?”

Her surname was Yang, and her name was Youling. Her mother, Second Madam Yang, was a cousin of Old Madam Lin, so naturally, this Miss Yang was also a cousin of Teng Yue.

Someone gently nudged her and asked, “What kind of person is your new cousin-in-law?”

Upon hearing the word “cousin-in-law,” Yang Youling’s face turned ashen.

“If you like calling her cousin-in-law, go ahead and call her that. I don’t want to acknowledge just anyone as my cousin-in-law.”

“What about Madam Deng?” someone asked.

The girl, who had almost slipped, whispered, “She seems quite nice to me…”

Before she could finish, a maid tugged at her sleeve.

Yang Youling had heard this.

“Good? What’s so good about her besides good luck? If that county princess hadn’t interfered, would Cousin Teng have even considered marrying her?”

Upon hearing “that county princess,” everyone’s eyes lit up with understanding.

There were many county princesses in Prince Qin’s family in Xi’an Prefecture, but none could compare to Princess Rongle of Prince Enhua’s family.

Prince Qin’s throne had dwindled in power, but Prince Enhua’s family, located in the north of Xi’an Prefecture, on the border, still held considerable military authority.

As the only daughter of a powerful prince, Princess Rongle, Zhu Yijiao, could get anything she wanted.

But this time, she had taken a liking to Teng Yue and wanted him to be her consort.

Marrying a county princess should have been a good thing. But this Princess Rongle had already become “famous” at such a young age.

Last year, a scholar, hoping to curry favor with the royal family, offered to marry into Zhu Yijiao’s family. Zhu Yijiao readily agreed, saying they would be married in three months, and the scholar wouldn’t need to prepare a single penny of betrothal gifts.

The scholar was overjoyed and returned home excitedly. However, the next day, he was found hanged in his room, his tendons severed and his blood drained.

From then on, not only did no one dare to come seeking marriage, but even those who had previously expressed interest dared not mention this county princess again.

However, she took a fancy to Teng Yue and had someone hint to the Teng family to propose.

The Teng family had no desire to marry this scoundrel, so Old Madam Lin immediately spread the word that Teng Yue had already been betrothed to a distant relative from their hometown of Jinzhou.

No sooner had this been announced than the wedding took place, and Teng Yue married Madam Deng.

“My cousin, with his looks, a border commander, a self-made third-rank military officer—so many girls in Xi’an wanted to marry him. Now look what’s happened, all ruined! He married a village girl.”

She grew increasingly frustrated. “In this world, anyone with a bit of ability would marry into a wealthy family. My cousin should have married a true noblewoman, like…”

She lowered her voice, as if afraid that raising her voice even slightly would soil the hem of a truly noblewoman’s skirt.

“…like my cousin.”

The cousin she was referring to was her aunt’s daughter, the fourth daughter of the Yongchang Marquis’s family in the capital, Zhang Zhenhui.

This Fourth Young Lady Zhang had lived in Xi’an for some time. She was a true lady of high birth, her every gesture as gentle as a spring breeze, her appearance, character, and manners flawless—truly a noblewoman among noblewomen.

The girls all knew her.

It was said that when Young Lady Zhang was in Xi’an, Old Madam Lin visited her several times, praising her to others afterwards, clearly having taken a liking to her and wanting to offer her all her wealth to marry this noblewoman.

Unfortunately, fate intervened. First, Young Lady Zhang’s father fell ill and died, and she returned to the capital to observe mourning. Then, General Teng caught the eye of Princess Rongle, and the two were separated.

“Cousin Teng, a beautiful flower, has been stuck in cow dung from the countryside.”

Yang Youling spoke of this as if she had swallowed a fly.

Originally, if her cousin from her aunt’s side and her cousin from her maternal aunt’s side had married, she would have been the most radiant.

But now, her sister-in-law was someone else.

“Is there no possibility left for General Teng and Young Lady Zhang?” someone asked.

Teng Yue was already married; how could there be?

Everyone was saddened, watching as a perfectly matched couple was abruptly separated.

The person who had delayed this happy marriage was undoubtedly Madam Deng.

Everyone fell silent, but Yang Youling continued to mutter.

“I don’t want to see her at the banquet later. If I greet her, I’ll feel guilty towards my cousin. I don’t know what to do.”

Everyone comforted her, telling her not to worry too much about it. They could just stay together and not talk to Madam Deng.

They changed the subject.

“The chrysanthemums at the Teng Mansion are truly beautiful. It’s rare to see them so well protected even after the rain. They even sprinkled insect-repelling herbs along the way.”

Everyone praised the Teng family’s flower banquet, and Yang Youling felt a little happier. She acted like a part-host, urging everyone to continue admiring the flowers.

As night fell, the young ladies gradually left the garden.

With the young ladies gone, the banquet was about to begin.

The maid Qingxuan, having received instructions from the old lady, went to Liumingxuan. This was the courtyard where the Second Master and his new wife would be getting married.

She had just stopped when she saw the madam emerge from the room, lifting the curtain.

The Madam, now dressed in an autumn-colored gown, stood beneath the lanterns swaying in the breeze, like a chrysanthemum blooming in the night wind.

“Is the banquet about to begin? I’ll be right there,” she said, stepping out from under the eaves.

But Qingxuan’s legs stiffened, and she softly relayed the message the Old Madam had intended to convey.

“Madam, the Old Madam says you’ve worked very hard preparing for the flower banquet. Perhaps you should stay in the courtyard and rest for now.”

Before she finished speaking, Xiuniang, brought by the Madam’s family, widened her eyes in surprise.

Qingxuan felt secretly embarrassed.

The Madam had been busy for two or three days preparing for the flower banquet, only to tell her to rest and not attend the banquet or the opera.

Qingxuan didn’t know how the Madam would respond. If she absolutely had to go, or if she would weep, what should she do?

Her face stiffened under Xiuniang’s gaze, but the new mistress only paused before agreeing.

“I understand; thank you for your trouble, sister.”

As she spoke, she nodded and smiled at Qingxuan.

Having said that, she showed no further intention of leaving, only instructing Xiuniang to see her off with a lantern.

Qingxuan dared not let Xiuniang see her off, quickly taking her leave and carrying her own lantern.

In the courtyard of Liumingxuan.

The lights in front of the banquet hall and the stage illuminated half of the Teng Mansion’s sky, even bringing a touch of lively light into the dimly lit courtyard of Liumingxuan.

Xiuniang watched Qingxuan leave quickly, her brows furrowed. After a long while, she turned to look at her mistress.

The light from outside illuminated half of her profile, and she crossed her arms and rested her chin on her hand, as if deep in thought. Suddenly remembering something, she looked up and called out to her.

“Sister Xiuniang, did the kitchen make mutton-filled pastries today?” She blinked, saying the Teng family’s pastries were exceptional.

“Sister, would you like to get some? I’m craving them.”

Xiuniang was taken aback.

Everyone else was enjoying the banquet at the dining hall, while she, who had been busy preparing for the banquet for two or three days, was only thinking about the mutton pastries from the kitchen.

Xiuniang wanted to suggest they go to the banquet too, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it; it would only spoil the mood.

Xiuniang pursed her lips and softly agreed.

“I’ll go right away and ask the kitchen to add a couple more dishes. You rest for a bit; I’ll be back soon.”

She smiled and nodded. “Then I’ll wait for you, sister.”

But when Xiuniang arrived at the kitchen, she saw that the food was all cooked and the kitchen was starting to close the door.

Today, the Teng family’s banquet was a feast ordered from an outside restaurant; the kitchen was only used for the servants.

By now, only two or three mutton pastries remained. The cook, unwilling to do any more work, only wanted to join the ladies to watch the opera, her expression perfunctory. Seeing that she couldn’t be persuaded, Xiuniang simply cooked two dishes herself.

When she returned to Liumingxuan, it was completely dark. The area around the stage was even more lively, with gongs, drums, stringed instruments, and the mournful sounds of opera gradually rising.

When Xiuniang entered carrying the food box, the room was quiet.

The person inside didn’t notice her return; she simply sat at her desk, lit by lamplight, slowly copying yellowed prescription notes.

The Deng family had been making and selling medicine since the time of Deng Ruyun’s maternal grandfather. By the time her parents took over, the Deng family’s medicines were already well-known in Jinzhou. At its peak, the Deng family owned four or five pharmacies simultaneously. Whenever a new medicine was listed, it always attracted crowds of onlookers.

Unfortunately, Deng Ruyun’s eldest brother died in an accident while procuring medicinal herbs beyond the Great Wall. Half of their fortune and his life were lost in the sandstorms beyond the Great Wall.

The Deng family never recovered. Burdened with debt, they were forced to sell off their properties to pay off their debts. Deng Ruyun’s parents also passed away one after another from the successive blows. Unable to stay in Jinzhou City, the family eventually returned to their ancestral home in the countryside.

With the family’s pillar gone and with an elderly grandmother and her elder brother’s youngest daughter to care for, Deng Ruyun had no choice but to take up the family’s ancestral medicine-making skills and learn to make medicine to support her family.

She was only fourteen or fifteen years old then. Without elders to guide her, she could only study on her own, flipping through the handwritten notes and books passed down from her ancestors…

Just then, Xiuniang entered the room and, seeing her engrossed in her reading, didn’t dare disturb her.

But after a while, the clamor of gongs and drums from outside drifted in on the wind, shattering her concentration.

Only then did Deng Ruyun notice Xiuniang’s return, put down her pen, and come over.

“It smells so good! Why didn’t I smell it before?”

Upon hearing this, Xiuniang removed the bowl from its place, waited for her to wash her hands, and then brought her chopsticks.

“Are you hungry, Miss? Eat quickly.”

Deng Ruyun was hungry, but she wasn’t in a hurry to eat, looking at the dishes on the table.

“Sister actually cooked for me herself?”

She could tell. Xiuniang didn’t mention that the kitchen staff had disappeared, only saying… “Besides the mutton pies, I don’t like any of the dishes at the Teng family’s place. I’d rather cook for myself.”

As she spoke, the soft strains of opera singing drifted in through the window and door. Deng Ruyun heard it, clapped along with the singing, and then spoke to Xiuniang in rhythm.

“The Mid-Autumn Festival is in a few days. I’ll buy you a seat, sister. Why don’t you go to the opera?”

Xiuniang loved opera, but she replied, “Why are you buying me a seat, young lady? I’m not going.”

But Deng Ruyun said, “I’m not just asking you to go to the opera.”

This made Xiuniang raise an eyebrow. “Then what else could it be for?”

Xiuniang asked, hearing her young lady laugh.

“I’m asking you to learn so you can sing for me when you come back!”

As she spoke, she tapped her head a few times to the rhythm of the opera music coming in from outside, swaying her head in a very convincing manner.

This made Xiuniang laugh out loud, exasperated. “Young lady, you’re so cheeky! You’re playing tricks on me. I should have put some bitter herbs in the food so you could suffer a bit!”

As they spoke, they both chuckled softly.

But after the laughter subsided, a strange, bitter feeling welled up inside Xiuniang.

But the young woman remained calm, showing no other emotion.

Xiuniang, naturally, said nothing more, and amidst the soft strains of the opera playing outside, she and the young woman slowly ate their simple meal.

*

In the courtyard outside the banquet hall, the ladies sat on the veranda, drinking tea and chatting idly while watching the opera performance. No one questioned why Old Madam Lin had instructed her new daughter-in-law not to attend the banquet or the opera that evening.

This marriage arrangement by the Teng family was truly a desperate measure.

The County Princess Rongle’s father, Prince Enhua, held considerable influence in the army, and Zhu Yijiao herself was proud and difficult to deal with. After the forced marriage, no one dared to marry into the Teng family again.

The Teng family had been ostracized by petty people for many years. General Teng had been repeatedly demoted, and even his death on the battlefield had not brought him back into power; instead, those who had ostracized the Teng family had risen through the ranks.

Old Madam Lin, a woman of ambition, seeing her son’s success, had always wanted to find him a supportive marriage to avoid a repeat of this situation.

However, after this incident, all the families in Xi’an Prefecture kept their distance from the Teng family. Moreover, Teng Yue’s marriage was being pressured by the Prince Enhua’s Mansion; what was the point of lowering the social standing of the in-laws again and again? It would be better to simply find a country girl with no social standing.

A country girl had one advantage: she had no support, preferably someone whose father and brothers had all passed away, leaving her with no one to back her up.

After two or three years, when this matter subsided, sending her away wouldn’t be difficult.

The marriage was arranged hastily, and then the Tartars attacked. Teng Yue donned his armor and went to the battlefield on the third day after the wedding, rarely returning home.

Old Madam Lin didn’t immediately take her daughter-in-law back to the village to be registered in the family genealogy. Today, at the banquet, she only sent Madam Deng to greet guests, not allowing her to attend the banquet and meet everyone.

The ladies, all shrewd women of the household, knew their husbands, away at war, were oblivious to the inner workings of the household. They had their suspicions, but none dared to ask further.

Just then, a commotion erupted in the outer courtyard.

Old Madam Lin turned her head and asked her attendant, Nanny Wei, “What’s going on outside?”

Nanny Wei, having received no message, was also puzzled when a maid rushed in.

“Old Madam, our General has returned ahead of schedule!”