Perfect Match – CH 019

Chapter 19

In Enhua County, at Prince Enhua’s Mansion.

Zhu Yijiao waited and waited for her guards, but they did not return, and she sensed something was wrong.

Sure enough, news arrived today.

“Princess, Teng Yue has wiped out all the bandits on Baifeng Mountain, and besides, it seems he’s also holding our people captive.”

Before the words were finished, Zhu Yijiao swept the teacup off the table.

The sound of shattering porcelain rang out sharply.

“Do they not know that being captured means death? What’s the point of them living, letting Teng Yue hold something over me?!”

The guards below felt a chill run down their spines.

Zhu Yijiao, however, remained completely unconcerned. “What about Teng Yue? What does he want? Is he trying to put me in a bad light?”

The guard shook his head. “Reporting to the County Princess, Teng Yue did not come to the Prince’s Mansion. Instead, he’s been in contact with officials from the Provincial Surveillance Commission.”

The Provincial Surveillance Commission was the office specializing in judicial and criminal matters and overseeing investigations and impeachments within a province. This was clearly not the behavior expected of someone dealing with bandits.

Zhu Yijiao paused. “He really contacted people from the Provincial Surveillance Commission?”

The guard nodded. Zhu Yijiao was stunned. “He’s not after me; he’s after Father? He actually dares to openly oppose our Prince Enhua’s mansion?”

The guard thought to himself that the Teng family had cultivated relationships with many civil and military officials over the years, and Teng Yue had indeed achieved remarkable military exploits, rising through the ranks step by step. This time, he had indeed captured someone from Prince Enhua’s mansion.

The County Princess wanted to kill his wife, and although she failed, she heard that Teng Yue’s wife was seriously injured while trying to escape. How was this any different from killing his wife?

A military general who could fight his way up to the third rank against the Tartars on the border would never bow down on such a matter.

“His Highness knows as well and is currently summoning his officials and advisors to discuss the matter.”

Zhu Yijiao staggered back two steps and slumped into the armchair.

“Then have I not implicated my father?! No, this will not do! My father is destined for great things; how can he be implicated by me…”

The more she thought about it, the more agitated and angry she became. “Teng Yue, that scoundrel, his heart is despicable!”

*

In Xi’an Prefecture, at the Yang Mansion.

Yang Youling, this noble young lady, became the subject of gossip and ridicule in Xi’an Prefecture.

Overnight, Madam Yang’s temples turned gray. Compared to her previous ease in spreading rumors that Deng Ruyun had forced Ai Liu to her death, her current efforts to suppress her daughter’s chaotic reputation were futile. Ultimately, all these truths came from Yang Youling’s own mouth.

Second Madam Yang could not control the gossip in the city, so she could only try to silence her daughter. However, Yang Youling was deeply frightened, and it took three days of strong medicine to finally shut her up.

Her mind recovered somewhat, but once she understood her current predicament, she cried incessantly every day.

What could Second Madam Yang do? She was scolded by her mother-in-law, Old Madam Yang, and her husband wrote home reprimanding her, telling her to control her daughter.

She told Yang Youling to stop crying, “I had a Taoist nun tell your fortune. This is your time of tribulation; perhaps you will get through it, and things will be better in a couple of years.”

But Yang Youling became even more anxious upon hearing this. “Two years? But Sixth Brother Bai is coming to Xi’an soon! Did Mother not say before that if Sixth Brother Bai came, I should have more contact with him? What am I going to do now?”

Second Madam Yang also became agitated upon hearing this.

They were from Xi’an Prefecture, and marrying into a high-ranking family in the capital was nearly impossible. They were fortunate to have met Sixth Young Master Bai, whom they knew before. More importantly, the Bai family was prestigious, and Sixth Young Master Bai’s mother was on good terms with the palace’s eldest princess. If their daughter could marry him, her future would be limitless.

But given the current situation, Madam Yang could only say…

“Sixth Young Master Bai is coming soon, but if you appear before him now, will he not inquire about you? I think it’s better to avoid him for a few months. He cannot just stay for a few months and then leave. Once the rumors dissipate, I will find you another opportunity. Besides, he’s not the only eligible young man in the capital. I will think of many ways for you. But no matter what, you absolutely must not let your illness relapse. From today onwards, stay home and do not go out without my permission!”

Yang Youling wiped away her tears and agreed.

But the thought of Sixth Young Master Bai’s impending arrival weighed heavily on her heart. How wonderful it would be to see him!

*

Teng Yue had the west wing of Liumingxuan’s mansion cleaned up, replacing the bed curtains, tables, and chairs with new ones from the storeroom. That was not all; he also summoned Qingxuan to hire some more nimble and capable maids for Liumingxuan.

Qingxuan, upon receiving this assignment, personally initiated a selection process.

“…it’s for looking after Madam’s niece, Lang’er, in Liumingxuan. Those clumsy, clueless ones, I do not want them.”

Originally, no one wanted to go to Liumingxuan, but since Madam’s injury and return home, the Second Master had been caring for her there daily. These servants were adept at judging people; those who previously looked down on Madam for being a country girl and did not want to serve her were now vying to go into the courtyard to look after Linglang.

Before Qingxuan had even chosen anyone, she heard a reprimand.

“What’s all this commotion about? Is there gold or silver in Liumingxuan that you’re scrambling to get in?”

Nanny Wei suddenly approached, her sharp rebuke silencing the maids and servants.

No one dared to speak again. Qingxuan came to greet her but was glanced at and ignored.

“I thought you were capable, so I entrusted many tasks to you, but not to Ziyuan.”

Qingxuan and Ziyuan were both trusted head maids of Old Madam Lin, but they were both promoted by Nanny Wei.

Nanny Wei’s words made Qingxuan’s face darken. Seeing that Nanny Wei seemed to have something to say, she could only ask the old lady to step aside.

“This was ordered by the Second Master, and I was just following his instructions.”

Nanny Wei snorted. “The Second Master is a general leading troops in battle; he does not concern himself with matters within the household. This time, he’s only doing this out of courtesy because that person was injured. And you’re actually choosing people? Our main servants’ quarters are short-handed, and you’re sending all the clever ones to look after a country girl? Anyone who did not know better would think she’s the young madam of our household.”

Nanny Wei’s words left Qingxuan somewhat stunned.

She did not know how to respond for a moment, then Nanny Wei looked at her seriously, her voice becoming earnest.

“You are obedient and sensible, but you’re still quite naive when it comes to understanding things. Originally, our family should not have married such a country girl, but since we’ve already done it, there’s nothing we can do. But you must understand, no matter what, she’s still a girl from a humble country family, with a whole family of women to support—her maternal grandmother, Aunt Juan, all uncouth country folk. Even dressed in fine clothes, she cannot compare to a noble family.”

As she finished speaking, her face gradually became submissive.

“You must understand, daughters of noble families are naturally noble, well-educated, and kind to their servants, always compassionate. It’s not that the noble ladies in our Xi’an Prefecture are not like that; it’s just that there are very few truly noble ladies in Xi’an Prefecture, not to mention those from outside.”

She glanced at Liumingxuan, then frowned and looked away, returning to the main point.

“Do you understand what I’m saying? She’s just a country girl; as long as she has food to eat, that’s enough. Why would she need anyone to serve her? If you find someone suitable, send her to Xiao’er’s courtyard. As for the rest, just assign two to Liumingxuan.”

After saying this, Nanny Wei did not even want to waste any more words on the matter and waved for Qingxuan to leave.

Qingxuan had no choice but to say, “Nanny is right.”

Although the madam’s background was lower, in terms of manners and bearing, how was she inferior to the true noble ladies Nanny Wei spoke of? At least, she quite liked the Madam and her clever and quick-witted niece.

As for Qingxuan’s unwillingness to completely follow Nanny Wei’s advice, Nanny Wei naturally did not know.

She just watched Liumingxuan become increasingly lively, with the Second Master staying in the courtyard every day, and her heart was heavy.

But the Old Madam did not seem to care about any of this.

“How can the old lady not be concerned? This cannot go on; we have to think about it…”

*

Teng Yue went out during the day and bought eight rabbit lanterns on his way home.

He had the west wing cleaned up these past two days, and now he had his guard Tang Zuo bring the lanterns over. He looked them over and placed them one by one on the table and cabinet in the west wing, hung two by the bedside, and placed the last one by the door.

Deng Ruyun had just taken a bowl of medicine and was feeling very tired in bed, so she paced slowly around the room.

Linglang was obediently playing with the fish in the fish tank when she suddenly saw something through the crack in the window into the courtyard.

The little girl’s eyes lit up instantly.

She jumped off the chair by the window and ran out on her little legs.

Xiuniang was packing up the medicine bowls to take them out and almost bumped into her.

Xiuniang urged her to slow down and followed her outside.

But as soon as they stepped outside, both of them gasped in surprise.

Deng Ruyun, unaware of what had happened, could only walk to the door and lift the curtain to look outside.

She froze at the sight.

The sky was not completely dark yet, but the west wing was already brightly lit.

Through the window, she could see the flickering shadows of rabbit lanterns reflected on the gauze, making the room seem like a celestial palace descended to earth.

A large red rabbit lantern hung by the door. Linglang looked up, and the man reached out to take it down for her and handed it to her. The little girl jumped up in delight.

Deng Ruyun stared blankly.

Teng Yue looked up, his gaze meeting hers.

The instant their eyes met, he stepped forward.

Linglang’s delighted laughter jingled through the air as she skipped around the west wing, carrying a large rabbit lantern taller than her legs.

Teng Yue’s gaze fell upon her eyes.

“Linglang likes it very much. Yunniang, do you think it’s alright?”

These past two days, he had always looked into her eyes when he spoke.

Deng Ruyun wanted to look away, but such a gesture would be too deliberate. Besides, she had already decided to accept some of his kindness.

Only when he felt less guilty could he return to their original distance and allow the contract to proceed smoothly.

First, he had the west wing tidied up, then he had Qingxuan summon servants. Today, he personally bought a bunch of rabbit lanterns and hung them in the room to lure Linglang.

The little one fell for his trick without hesitation.

Now that he was asking her in this tone if it was alright, could she really say no?

She did not answer him for a moment, turning her head to look at the west wing.

As dusk broke and night slowly fell, the courtyard was still dim and had not been lit yet, but all eight rabbit lanterns in the west wing were lit.

Some pink, some white, like flowers, like snow, in the twilight courtyard, they seemed like the moon palace descending. Deng Ruyun had not expected to be so captivated. When she came to her senses, she met the man’s eyes again.

His eyes held hope, but he did not make a decision for her, simply looking at her.

Deng Ruyun lowered her head and looked away again.

But she agreed for now and planned to find a pretext to send Linglang away from the Teng family in a few days. It was best for everyone else in her household to remain separate from the Teng family.

She nodded slowly. “What do you think, General, about having Linglang stay in the west wing tonight?”

These words instantly brightened Teng Yue’s eyes.

Today, she finally did not refuse him.

The night wind ruffled the stray hairs at her temples, and her previously pale lips gradually regained some color.

He only looked at her face. “That would be perfect.”

Although she did not look at him, a hint of gentleness appeared on her face.

Teng Yue felt a slight sense of relief.

Was she also starting to accept him?

The future was long, and they had not known each other for very long. He did not know her personality well, and she probably did not know what kind of person he was either.

But that did not matter. From today onwards, he and she, as husband and wife, would gradually understand and grow closer. She just needed to give him a chance.