Perfect Match – CH 002

Chapter 2

At Liumingxuan courtyard.

After a simple dinner with Xiuniang, Deng Ruyun returned to her desk to continue studying the medicinal formulas.

Xiuniang closed the doors and windows tightly to prevent the opera music from disturbing Deng Ruyun. However, the opera music soon stopped, but the noise outside only intensified, with footsteps echoing back and forth.

Deng Ruyun was finally disturbed and looked up. Xiuniang, who was doing needlework nearby, got up upon seeing this. “I wonder what happened. No one has come to deliver a message. I’ll go see.”

As she was about to leave, Deng Ruyun stopped her.

“Never mind. Since no one has come to tell us, it’s obviously not something that concerns us.”

“But with all this commotion outside, it doesn’t seem like a small matter. Why hasn’t anyone said a word?” Xiuniang muttered, recalling the cook’s perfunctory attitude in the kitchen earlier. “…You’re still his wife, after all.”

She muttered, but Deng Ruyun chuckled. “What wife? A contract wife?”

This question made Xiuniang pause.

Two months ago, she was still living with her young lady in their old home in the countryside of Jinzhou.

After her young lady’s parents and brother passed away, they relied on their few acres of medicinal herb fields and the medicine they produced and sold. Life was peaceful but stable.

But the girl’s uncle and aunt were a pair of wicked devils. Instead of helping their niece, they wanted to give her to the second-generation rich kid of a local gentry as a concubine so they could directly seize the family fortune.

That spoiled, dissolute young man was the worst of the worst. Every year, he would take in new wives, but within two years, some would fall ill or die.

And this dandy had taken a liking to the girl, repeatedly harassing her. The whole family was terrified, fearing that one day he would break in and kidnap her.

The girl didn’t say anything, but she was also filled with anxiety and dared not let things continue.

So, this unmarried young woman went to Jinzhou City to find a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for her.

She didn’t care if the man was older or ugly; as long as he could protect the women of her family, she was willing to marry him.

But the matchmaker had found her a young general from Jinzhou, a renowned commander in the Shaanxi Military Command, General Teng Yue.

There was something else unknown to others.

He was the young general the girl had once deeply admired when she was young and inexperienced.

When Xiuniang heard it was him, she was overjoyed, thinking that after all the suffering her young lady had endured, heaven had finally granted her a happy ending.

But the girl said she had long forgotten her youthful, naive love, and this matter wouldn’t be so simple.

This General Teng had risen through the ranks in the army, accumulating countless merits in just a few years. What kind of noblewoman couldn’t he marry? Why would he choose to marry an ordinary medicine seller like herself?

Sure enough, General Teng’s mother, Old Madam Lin, came to the door.

She carefully examined the girl, finding her features delicate and her demeanor composed, and was very satisfied. She said she hoped the girl could marry into the Teng family as soon as possible, specifically General Teng Yue. She also prepared a separate mansion in Xi’an Prefecture to accommodate the entire Deng family and even offered the girl’s family a large sum of money.

Xiuniang was stunned, but Old Madam Lin explained that the money wasn’t a betrothal gift but a deposit.

She explained that the marriage was a three-year contract. The young woman would marry General Teng under this contract for three years, but after that, she had to divorce him.

Before the marriage, the Teng family would give a deposit, and after the divorce, they would make up the difference.

The total amount was substantial, enough for the entire Deng family to live on for many years. Old Madam Lin also said that even after the divorce, the Teng family would protect the young woman’s family and be their support.

Upon hearing this, the young woman immediately agreed.

… …

Recalling this, Xiuniang remained silent.

They indeed married into the Teng family, everything according to Old Madam Lin’s contract.

The young woman only had one statement: “This is a chance from heaven to escape this quagmire. We’ll do the job for them and keep this money.”

Yes, it was the perfect opportunity.

But at that time, Old Madam Lin actually had one more special request.

Although the marriage was a sham, General Teng couldn’t know; he had to believe it was real.

But how could she make him believe in a sham marriage? Unless she truly married him for three years…

Xiuniang fell silent. The room was so quiet it was almost impenetrable, but this tranquility lasted only a moment before being broken by the noise from outside.

Still, no one came to deliver a message.

Xiuniang saw Deng Ruyun approach and poured her a cup of tea, bringing it to her side.

“The Old Madam gives us money; we take the money. Everything else is the Teng family’s business. If the Old Madam doesn’t want us to interfere, then we should stay far away; isn’t that better?”

That was the right thing to say, but Xiuniang looked up at her quietly.

If everything could be kept at a distance, that would be good. But what about General Teng? Could the young lady also avoid being busy and stay far away?

… …

Below the stage, a joyous atmosphere prevailed.

Teng Yue was stationed in Ningxia, one of the nine important border towns. Although both were under the jurisdiction of the Shaanxi Military Command, the distance was considerable, requiring several days’ journey by horse.

Teng Yue had previously written that he might not be able to return for the Mid-Autumn Festival, but unexpectedly, before the festival even arrived, he was home.

Old Madam Lin’s eyes and brows were full of smiles. She instructed Qingxuan to “reward” everyone who brought the news.

The ladies all laughed and said,

“It seems our General Teng has once again repelled the invading Tartars and come home to eat mooncakes.”

“Returning home is a joyous occasion! Why don’t we invite the General in and let us share in the happiness?”

With everyone saying this, Old Madam Lin’s face lit up even more.

She gave the order, “Go and invite the Second Master over. Tell him that all the ladies are here today, and have him come to pay his respects.”

In less than a quarter of an hour, the man’s steady, long footsteps reached the courtyard.

Everyone looked up.

The man was tall and imposing, dressed in a silver-gray brocade robe, a black jade belt around his waist, and long boots, striding with great momentum. There was a hint of travel-worn dust between his brows, but it couldn’t conceal the sharp, piercing look in his dark eyes.

The ladies present all looked on with admiration. If their own families could have such a son, all the hard work of raising him would have been worthwhile.

Old Madam Lin’s eyes crinkled with a smile.

Even traveling by boat or on horseback carried some danger, let alone being away fighting for so long. Each time he returned home, it was a great joy.

Teng Yue stepped forward and bowed deeply to his mother first.

“Mother, are you well? Your son is back.”

Old Madam Lin quickly helped her son up, repeatedly saying “good” and reminding him to greet the ladies.

Teng Yue, of course, did not neglect this.

The ladies all nodded in response, first inquiring about whether there was still fighting on the border. Since many of the ladies had military families, they were quite familiar with military affairs.

Teng Yue answered earnestly, saying that only small groups of Tatar troops had attacked, but they had all been repelled by the border guards. The border had been relatively peaceful for some time, which was why he had asked for leave to return home.

Hearing that everything was alright, one of the ladies teased him.

“Why did the General choose to enter the city and return home at night? Are you afraid that if you entered the city during the day, all the young ladies in Xi’an would stop their needlework to come and see you?”

This remark drew laughter from everyone.

Teng Yue was slightly embarrassed and repeatedly said, “It was just a coincidence.”

While the lady’s words were somewhat exaggerated, Teng Yue was indeed quite famous among the young women of Xi’an.

One year, on the Qixi Festival, he returned home to Xi’an after a battle. Unexpectedly, as he approached the city gates, he discovered a group of villains attempting to abduct women praying outside the city.

One of them gave himself away, immediately turning the peaceful gathering into chaos. This chaos emboldened the villains.

The city officials, unable to control the situation, were urgently seeking backup when Teng Yue, with his personal guards, happened to pass by.

He immediately intervened, and within a quarter of an hour, all the villains were captured, and the abducted women were rescued.

His act was a simple one, but the story spread throughout the city. After that, every young woman in Xi’an knew him. In the past two years, he had become the object of many young women’s flower-throwing sprees.

Teng Yue was truly embarrassed.

But one of the ladies noticed.

“General, why are you shy? Perhaps tonight, some young ladies recognized you and threw flowers and handkerchiefs, wanting to marry you?”

These words were met with laughter from the entire room.

Teng Yue’s face stiffened slightly.

“I wouldn’t dare; I’m already married.”

This was the truth, and everyone present knew it, but someone said, “That’s alright.”

The crowd continued laughing, not finding anything amiss. Teng Yue, however, felt his words were inappropriate. He suddenly realized something and glanced around at the crowd.

Besides his mother and several ladies, there were some young women present. But after looking around, he didn’t see his wife.

Teng Yue didn’t want to ask directly, so he responded to the ladies’ comments a few more times and prepared to leave. His mother, Old Madam Lin, also spoke up.

“You’re covered in dust; go back and change your clothes.”

After leaving, Teng Yue asked Nanny Wei, the old nanny who served his mother, “Why isn’t Madam here?”

Nanny Wei had served Old Madam Lin for decades and enjoyed her deep trust; she managed the household affairs on her behalf.

This time, Nanny Wei didn’t answer directly. She first bowed and asked Teng Yue why he had returned early and if he intended to stay for a few days.

Teng Yue gave a brief reply that the time was uncertain, and only then did Nanny Wei answer his question.

“Madam wasn’t feeling well, so she went back to Liumingxuan to rest.”

Teng Yue paused.

Today was the family’s flower banquet; his wife should have been with his mother, entertaining guests. Why had she gone back to Liumingxuan?

“Is she ill? Has a doctor been called?”

Nanny Wei chuckled. “Second Master is truly kind, but this old servant thinks she probably doesn’t need a doctor.”

This was somewhat strange, but Teng Yue didn’t press further and walked towards Liumingxuan.

*

The candlelight on the desk flickered.

Deng Ruyun closed her eyes, feeling tired. Seeing this, Xiuniang immediately went forward and collected all the notes and papers from her desk.

“Miss, you should rest for a few days. If you keep studying like this, burning the midnight oil, you’ll probably need some kind of ancient glasses, looking like an old scholar who’s spent half his life taking the imperial examinations.”

She’d bought countless medical books, and with the notes constantly being flipped through, she spent several hours a day studying. Xiuniang was truly afraid that one day she wouldn’t be able to see clearly.

Hearing this, Deng Ruyun laughed uncontrollably. “What’s wrong with an old scholar? Does Sister Xiuniang look down on scholars?”

“I didn’t say that, Miss; please don’t argue.” She was determined to take the books away today, so she wouldn’t argue with Deng Ruyun. She simply pointed to the fish tank under the window. “Miss, go look at the fish. A couple of quarters of an hour will make your eyes feel much better.”

With that, she took Deng Ruyun’s books and left the room.

Deng Ruyun had no argument, nor could she persuade her otherwise. She could only ponder the medicinal prescriptions she had just read, sitting under the window, watching the fish.

She stared at the fish, her mind absorbed in the prescriptions, and didn’t hear any movement in the courtyard until someone lifted the window and came in. Thinking it was Xiuniang returning, she spoke up.

“Tonight is so boring; how about we play backgammon?”

Deng Ruyun finished speaking and turned to look.

With just one glance, she froze slightly in her chair under the window.

It wasn’t Xiuniang who arrived, but her “husband,” Teng Yue.

Teng Yue also saw her.

He saw her with a rosy complexion and relaxed expression, sitting by the window, teasing the fish, and even preparing to play backgammon with Xiuniang.

Teng Yue recalled what Nanny Wei had said earlier, “Second Master is truly good-natured, but this old servant thinks she probably doesn’t need to call a doctor.”

The implication was that she was simply being lazy.

Teng Yue gave her a quiet look.

Deng Ruyun was also somewhat embarrassed and stood up.

The air in the room seemed to have been sucked out; the breeze from his sleeve wouldn’t brush past her fingers, and her breath wouldn’t touch his lips. The atmosphere in the room was so stagnant that even the sounds of opera outside couldn’t penetrate.

Although they had been married for two months, they had only seen each other twice; this was their third meeting.

Teng Yue didn’t want to have an unpleasant encounter with her as soon as he got home. He said nothing, only nodded, and said, “I’m back,” before going to the side room to change his clothes.

While he was changing, Deng Ruyun, though unaccustomed to serving him, felt it inappropriate to remain where she was and followed him.

Teng Yue didn’t speak for a moment. His robes still carried the dust of his galloping horse. He took off his outer robe and draped it over the back of a chair. Deng Ruyun went over and put it away for him.

He seemed somewhat annoyed that she was idly staying in the room instead of helping Old Madam Lin and remained slightly silent.

But Deng Ruyun couldn’t explain this to him.

Seeing that he wasn’t speaking, and his wife wasn’t saying anything either, Teng Yue had to take the initiative himself.

He first inquired about the family’s well-being: “Has anything gone wrong?”

Deng Ruyun shook her head. “No, everything is fine.”

He hummed in agreement, “Is Mother still having trouble sleeping at night?”

Old Madam Lin seemed to be experiencing insomnia, especially a few days ago on the anniversary of Teng Yue’s father’s death. Perhaps due to grief, she could only manage two hours of scattered sleep each night.

Deng Ruyun told Teng Yue what she had heard: “…But we consulted a doctor, and she’s much better these days.”

The man listened for a long time without speaking before finally asking, “How is my younger sister doing lately?”

Old Madam Lin had two sons and a daughter. Teng Yue’s eldest brother had died young, and her younger sister, Teng Xiao, was only thirteen years younger than her two brothers.

However, because she didn’t want to attend another family’s school, she had been arguing with Old Madam Lin for several days. Today, she only made a brief appearance at the flower banquet before returning to her own courtyard, and Old Madam Lin couldn’t do anything about it.

Deng Ruyun knew only this much and had told Teng Yue everything. Teng Yue, not wanting to comment on his mother and sister, remained silent for a moment.

But since even his own sister didn’t entertain guests, it seemed unreasonable to expect anything from his wife.

Teng Yue dropped the matter and didn’t say anything more, thinking he should ask how she had been lately. Seeing her expression today, he guessed she was probably doing well.

He then brought up another matter.

On the third day of their marriage, a small group of Tartar troops suddenly attacked the border. He had to rush to the battlefield immediately, and the matter of the bride’s return visit had been postponed; no one had mentioned it again.

Teng Yue had only just remembered, but he wasn’t sure he could stay home for more than a few days this time.

He said, “I have some other matters to attend to upon my return, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to accompany you on your return visit. How about we wait a few more days?”

He was still being polite, still remembering her somewhat. But Deng Ruyun felt it wasn’t really necessary.

“General, it’s not too late to talk about it when you have time,” she said.

She was also polite, and Teng Yue responded with an “Mmm.”

… …

The bed, with its drooping crabapple blossoms and canopy, felt slightly stuffy.

He was tall and imposing. Cold sweat and hot sweat alternated on Deng Ruyun’s body. He leaned down but could only touch her arm.

The cool night air swirled between them. Despite the damp heat of the bedchamber, she felt a chill.

He noticed her discomfort and quickened his pace, finishing hastily.

He pulled the blanket over her. “You should rest for a while,” he said.

He then put on his clothes and went to clean himself.

Deng Ruyun dared not linger. She quickly stood up, supporting herself on the edge of the bed, and hurriedly cleaned herself as well.

After everything was finished, the two returned to the canopy bed.

“It’s getting late; let’s rest,” the man said, turning off the bedside lamp.

Deng Ruyun was utterly exhausted. She responded with a soft sound, turned over, and fell asleep.