Perfect Match – CH 039

Chapter 39

Deng Ruyun sat there, stunned, atop a high wall, unable to jump away or escape, held captive in his arms.

She could hear no wind, saw no shadows, only his closed eyes, the tip of his nose pressed against hers, each breath a passionate intertwining.

He conquered her with his lips, his usual martial prowess sweeping across countless cities.

His heart pounded heavily, completely disrupting Deng Ruyun’s rhythm, thumping left and right, her breathing quickening with his advances.

He seemed to notice her difficulty breathing, slightly shifting his position to let in air, but he refused to release her. He remained with his eyes closed, gently licking her lips with the tip of a feather dampened by the hot spring water, as if some nectar there held a sweet elixir he could not resist. Deng Ruyun’s heart pounded wildly.

This could not go on; everything was in chaos, everything was in complete disarray…

Thinking this, she instinctively reached out and pressed her hand against his chest.

Teng Yue opened his eyes, startled by her push.

“What’s wrong?”

Deng Ruyun could not explain it to him clearly; she only knew they could not go on like this.

Just then, the sounds of children playing nearby grew louder. She quickly said, “Someone’s coming! Let me down!”

She spoke in a panic and then tried to jump down from the wall.

Seeing her like this, Teng Yue thought his wife was shy. He did not let her jump directly; instead, he picked her up and lifted her down.

He held her, his gaze fixed on her face, as if everything else in the vicinity was blank except for her.

Fortunately, as the children ran over to play, Tong Meng also came over to inquire about the general’s injuries.

Teng Yue then withdrew his gaze from her and spoke briefly with Tong Meng about the severe interrogation of the bandit leader.

Deng Ruyun listened from the side, yet seemed to hear nothing at all.

The rich fragrance of the flower market wafted in the wind, completely muddling her brain; she could not remember how she got home.

A group of people came up to her and spoke to her, but what they said did not register in her confused and blocked mind. Even when Linglang spoke to her, she did not hear clearly, only giving a few perfunctory replies.

Teng Yue, however, noticed his wife’s state.

He saw that after he lifted her down from the wall, she seemed somewhat absent-minded. He did not know what her reaction was, but she looked dazed, like a rabbit that had bumped its head against a tree stump.

Teng Yue saw Linglang ask her, “Auntie, do you want to play shuttlecock with me?”

She replied, “Auntie does not eat shuttlecock; Auntie has already eaten.”

Linglang’s eyes widened, looking at her aunt with surprise and worry.

The man could not help but chuckle.

He could only take his wife back to the room and let her sit down to calm down.

Seeing Linglang’s worried face, he quickly comforted her.

“Auntie is fine; Auntie is just…” He glanced back at his wife, who was sitting blankly by the window, a smile playing on his lips, and said to Linglang, “Auntie is just a little tired; how about Uncle play with you?”

But Linglang shook her head.

Teng Yue knew that the little one had never been close to him, the reason being that he had previously neglected her and her aunt, and the little one had taken it to heart.

Teng Yue squatted down and sincerely apologized to Linglang.

“It’s all Uncle’s fault. I was not paying attention to Linglang, and I did not hear her call me. Uncle will try harder to listen to her calls from now on, alright?”

The little girl blinked at him.

The way she blinked was almost identical to that of his wife, who sat blankly in the room.

Teng Yue was pleased and said, “Then Linglang, call me Uncle now, and Uncle will accept, alright?”

She had been reluctant to call him Uncle before, but now that Teng Yue had asked, she hesitated for a moment.

Teng Yue waited patiently, and after a while, the little girl finally spoke.

“Uncle…uncle.”

The first few words were barely audible, but Teng Yue heard them.

Linglang was calling him, “Uncle…uncle from another family”?

Teng Yue thought to himself, “I’ve really offended the child terribly.” But was this form of address Linglang’s own idea, or was she taught it by someone else?

This question was impossible to answer, but he looked at Linglang and said, “But my surname is Teng, not Pang. Linglang, please do not call me Uncle Pang^{(someone else’s)} anymore, alright?”

Upon hearing this, little Linglang burst out laughing.

She quickly covered her mouth with her little hand, and Teng Yue pulled her into his arms. “Just call me Uncle.”

Seeing those eyes, so similar to her aunt’s, blink again, she then whispered the two syllables.

“……Uncle.”

Teng Yue’s eyes and brows crinkled with laughter. He patted the little one’s head and responded emphatically.

“Yes.”

Just then, some children from the servants’ household were peeking out from the corner, wanting to play with Linglang. Teng Yue called them all over and had them play with Linglang.

But Deng Ruyun, inside the room, was still lost in a tangled mess of thoughts.

She could not remember when it had gotten dark, nor what she had eaten that evening.

It was not until late at night, after washing up and sitting on the edge of the bed, that someone came and stood beside her, observing her. Seeing that she had been sitting there in a daze, that someone simply removed her outer clothes and shoes.

But after removing her outer garments, the person helping her undress placed a hand on her collar.

Warm fingertips lightly brushed her neck, and Deng Ruyun seemed to wake up halfway, looking up at the other person.

“Finished daydreaming?” he asked softly. “What were you thinking about?”

“Nothing,” she replied instinctively.

Teng Yue pinched her ear, looking down at her. “You will not tell me anyway.”

She turned her head slightly, but this time he did not press further, simply carrying her into the bed curtains.

His actions immediately put Deng Ruyun on alert. Sure enough, as soon as he entered the tent, he stripped naked. He wrapped her in a soft brocade quilt, the heated floor making the room warm yet slightly hot.

But he remained calm, seemingly regaining his previous patience. He slowly traced burning lines on her body. Deng Ruyun felt the heat and wanted to pull the quilt over herself, wanting to say, “Do not do this today,” but before she could utter a word, he had already touched that wet spot. He lowered his head and kissed her lips again, his touch penetrating her in the moist depths.

This time, it was inexplicably gentler and slower than before. He first let her adjust to his gradual ascent, his fingertips like petals in a hot spring, occasionally touching the most trembling and sensitive spots. But unlike before, his lips lingered, sometimes advancing alongside her thrusts, sometimes retreating to gently linger at the corners of her lips.

A cloud of clouds hung heavy in the canopy bed, threatening rain. Deng Ruyun’s mind was in turmoil, reaching its breaking point.

She stared blankly at the person before her, watching him shower her with all the tenderness he had shown her that day, until he slowly stopped, pressing his forehead against hers, pulling her close under the quilt.

His voice was slightly hoarse as he spoke.

“Yunniang, let’s have a child, a little girl as well-behaved as Linglang, to play with you and Linglang, alright?”

He wanted a daughter who looked like her, a daughter with bright, lively eyes like hers, a little head filled with the same clever and unpredictable thoughts, and the same mischievous temper.

He pulled her closer, and seeing her still stunned, seemingly even more dazed, he smiled.

“Even if it’s not a daughter, it does not matter. Even if it’s a litter of silly rabbits, it’s fine, as long as it’s our child.”

He would love any silly rabbit as long as it was their child.

But when he said this with a smile, every word reaching Deng Ruyun’s ears swept away all the confusion and disorientation of the day.

A cool breeze slipped in from the edge of the canopy bed, brushing against Deng Ruyun’s neck, and she instantly sobered up.

She was not his wife.

Everything he said and did today, he was completely wrong…

*

1200 li away, in Wutai Mountain.

The pilgrims who had stayed in the guest house for half a month had gradually left, and the mountain was a little chilly in winter; even a fire could not warm the room.

Although Old Madam Lin arrived a few days late, she stayed at Wutai Mountain for over a month, meeting almost every noblewoman from the capital who came to burn incense and pray for blessings.

She was impeccably courteous, generous, and willing to lower her stance without being obsequious. She cultivated many good friendships among the wives of officials, navigating social circles with ease. Although not from a high-ranking family in the capital, she won the approval of many, especially the wives and elder ladies of several important court officials, who held her in high regard.

This was naturally partly due to the public’s optimism about Teng Yue’s rapid rise through the ranks and his seemingly limitless future.

However, the Teng family’s background was somewhat weak. While they might be considered prominent in Xi’an, they were not among the most influential noble families in the court. Some inquired whether Madam Lin intended to find a marriage partner for her son, but prestigious families could only accept marrying off from collateral branches, and powerful ministers could only marry off daughters of concubines.

However, Old Madam Lin had already planned ahead. This trip was merely to cultivate good relationships and enhance the Teng family’s reputation among the high-ranking families of the capital, thus opening up more connections for future use.

However, the weather had been freezing these past few days, and the ladies had gradually departed, but she patiently stayed a few more days.

Her head maid, Ziyuan, was calculating that it was almost the twelfth lunar month. If she waited any longer, she feared the snow would make the roads difficult to travel, and she might miss her chance to return to Xi’an for the New Year.

But Old Madam Lin had no time for that. She had someone keep an eye out for people coming up the mountain in the coming days. She waited for three days and finally saw a group of people arrive at Wutai Mountain.

She had already prepared gifts. After the group settled in, she sent someone to deliver the gifts. The next day, they sent an invitation, inviting her to accompany them to offer incense at the main hall.

The hostess of this group was also a lady from an official family in the capital, Madam Li.

This Madam Li was quite different from the other ladies. Her husband was only a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Works, and her own family was just an ordinary scholarly family in the south. She had one son and four daughters; her eldest daughter had just married a young scholar who had not yet passed the imperial examinations.

She had come to Wutai Mountain with her daughters to hold a longevity lamp ceremony and two religious rituals for her mother’s tenth anniversary of death. She kept a low profile and did not join the other ladies.

Old Madam Lin did not know her before, only learning about her from another lady a few days ago. She presented Madam Li with a generous gift, which Madam Li naturally reciprocated politely.

Madam Li arrived earlier and waited in front of the main hall. Old Madam Lin also arrived. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Old Madam Lin praised Madam Li’s daughters for their intelligence and refinement. Then, together they went into the main hall to offer incense and pray to the Bodhisattva before inviting her to sit in the tea room.

Madam Li dismissed her daughters, and Old Madam Lin smiled.

“I was presumptuous this time; I did not inform you beforehand and took the liberty of waiting here.”

Madam Li waved her hand repeatedly. “It’s I who have not yet paid my respects to you, and I’ve made you wait.”

The two exchanged pleasantries, but Old Madam Lin was not just exchanging pleasantries to get acquainted; she immediately cut to the chase.

“In the capital, your family lives in Shixiang Square, next to the Zhang family of the Yongchang Marquis’s Mansion. My cousin is related to the Zhang family by marriage and is the maternal aunt of the fourth young lady of the Zhang family.”

She pointed out the relationship, and Madam Li immediately understood. She said, “I see. My family has many daughters, and the Zhang family also has two daughters. Because we live next door, we often drink tea and admire flowers together and are quite familiar with each other.”

Old Madam Lin nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. “My cousin Yang was also planning to come, but she was busy with other matters and could not find the time. However, she was worried about her niece, who was observing mourning in the capital, and since correspondence is not very efficient, she asked me to inquire about the child’s well-being in the capital. If there were any inconveniences or difficulties, her aunt would naturally take care of them.”

Old Madam Lin then revealed everything, using Madam Yang’s status as the aunt of the fourth young lady of the Zhang family to inquire about her recent situation. Old Madam Lin already knew the situation of Zhang Zhenhui, the Fourth Young Lady, at the Yongchang Marquis’s Mansion without Madam Li needing to explain.

Madam Li’s voice softened slightly as she sighed, “The Fourth Young Lady, such a young woman, has lost both her mother and father at such a young age; it’s truly heartbreaking. But she is not the Yongchang Marquis’s biological daughter, and her grandmother, the old lady of the Marquis’s Mansion, is advanced in years and bedridden, unable to manage many affairs. My daughter was asked by her a few days ago to buy some bamboo seedlings for her.”

“Bamboo seedlings?” Old Madam Lin asked.

Madam Li said, “Indeed, I heard that her aunt, Lady Hou, is renovating the courtyard and has moved Fourth Young Lady to a narrow courtyard in the northwest. Her previous courtyard had a bamboo grove next to it, which Fourth Young Lady loved very much, but this small northwest courtyard is completely bare, without a single tree, let alone a bamboo grove.”

“But Fourth Young Lady says, ‘I’d rather go without meat than live without bamboo.’ She said she’s saving money on seasonal clothes and wants the young ladies to help her buy a few strong, easy-to-care-for bamboo branches, just to decorate the courtyard.”

Madam Li sighed again. “Fourth Young Lady used to love landscaping in the garden and even skillfully made bonsai. She gave it to me through a girl I cannot even remember. It’s pitiful that she’s now orphaned and forced to live like this, in such a place.”

Madam Li, speaking of this, became slightly emotional. “I am just a neighbor across the wall after all. If I help her too much, it’s bound to upset the others in the Marquis’s household.”

As she spoke, she glanced at Old Madam Lin. “The Yang family is the Fourth Young Lady’s maternal grandparents’ family. If her aunt is willing to care for her, that would be perfectly legitimate and the best outcome.”

Old Madam Lin had been waiting for these words. She immediately had the prepared items brought over.

“To be honest, her aunt has been thinking about her for a while now. This is a chest full of brocade clothes for all four seasons, all made of the fashionable patterns of Jiangnan, and two sets of plain pearl headdresses. They are not worth much, but they’re something a young lady should wear even during mourning. There’s also some tea and such, but I will not go into that.”

More importantly, in the small box in Old Madam Lin’s hands, a small and light box, when handed to Madam Li, Madam Li heard her say, “These are six silver notes. I—no, her aunt—prepared them for her so she could have more money and not feel constrained. It would not be appropriate to entrust these six silver notes to anyone else, so I can only trouble Madam Li to take them over. There’s also a letter for the Fourth Young Lady inside, so please take it to her as well.”

Madam Li had initially harbored some doubts, but now, after hearing the whole story and seeing the gifts, she understood completely.

The so-called aunt of the Yang family was merely a title used by this old lady. It was highly likely that all these things, especially the money, were prepared by this old Madam Lin for Zhang Zhenhui.

Preparing these things for her was certainly not out of pity for a girl without parents; it meant she had long been fond of her and intended to marry her off to the Teng family as their principal wife.

Although the Teng family’s influence was not deep, General Teng was ambitious, had achieved remarkable military exploits at a young age, and had a bright future ahead of him.

Although the Yongchang Marquis’s family was also a prominent family in the capital and had connections with that powerful eunuch, given the Marquis’s wife’s attitude towards her niece, such a good match would not fall into her lap. The Teng family, on the other hand, was a much better choice.

Consider Old Madam Lin’s attitude towards the fourth young lady—willing to go to great lengths, spend money, and consider her needs as if she were a precious treasure. While Zhang Zhenhui’s marriage might seem like a step down, it was actually very beneficial.

The Teng family, having climbed the social ladder by marrying into the prestigious Yongchang Marquis’s household, also gained access to the powerful eunuch—an opportunity few could easily find.

General Teng and the Fourth Young Lady were truly destined for each other, a perfect match.

Old Madam Lin, naturally, would not ask Madam Li for such a favor empty-handed. She had someone bring jewelry and trinkets for Madam Li’s daughters. Madam Li, upon seeing this, assured her that she would take care of everything and that there was no need to worry.

A few days later, after Madam Li finished performing a Buddhist ritual for her mother, Old Madam Lin personally escorted her down the mountain. Upon returning, she saw snow falling and smiled.

“A timely snow promises a bountiful year; next year will likely be a good one.”

Ziyuan could not help but want to remind her that it was getting late and she should return.

But she did not need to be reminded and simply said, “Go and send a message home, saying I am setting off tomorrow and will arrive in Xi’an in half a month. I wonder how things are at home.”

Finally, with this important matter settled, she breathed a sigh of relief. She turned and gazed towards Xi’an Prefecture.

*

The next day, Teng Yue was summoned early by Tong Meng, supposedly to interrogate the bandit leader, and indeed, they extracted some crucial information.

He got up early and left quietly, careful not to disturb the person inside the bed curtains.

But as soon as he left, Deng Ruyun opened her eyes.

She slowly got out of bed, dressed, and went to the bookshelf.

There were many medical books and pharmacopoeias that she had not had time to read yet, seemingly placed there daily. Books on military strategy and warfare had been moved aside, while these medical books and pharmacopoeias, which should not have been there, occupied the main space.

Scattered on the desk were many books she had only half-read and prescriptions she had copied.

Unconsciously, she had not looked at her own books, which she used to repeatedly flip through, for a long time. And things she did not want him to know, like these books, had been laid bare by him.

And she seemed to have silently grown accustomed to it.

She could not tell if it was because Nanny Wei was not there to supervise her or if she herself had simply forgotten the important details.

Looking at the scattered books, she wondered how she had become so lax and careless.

Daylight streamed in through the window, the cool morning light bringing a sense of calm.

She picked up the books one by one, closing them neatly and placing them back on the shelf, moving the entire row to the edge.

But even moving them to the edge did not immediately free up the space occupied by these medicine books.

Deng Ruyun had no choice, nor could she deliberately clear all the books away. She could only tidy up her few remaining books, but as she turned the pages, a mimosa flower petal slipped from one of the pages.

The soft, pinkish mimosa blossom, now flattened into the shape of a leaf by pressing it between the pages, had lost some of its color.

Deng Ruyun stared blankly at the mimosa blossom. So much time had passed since she had pressed it between the pages of her book.

That year, her father and brother had decided to try their luck to expand the family business. If they succeeded, they would have the opportunity to open the Deng family’s pharmacy in Xi’an.

Bearing this expectation, her brother, before leaving, stroked her head and said, “When I come back, once we’ve made our fortune, I will have Father propose marriage to the Teng family for you. We cannot let them look down on us!”

Little Yunniang’s heart pounded with excitement. She saw her brother off all the way to the city gates, saying, “Brother, you must come back! Whether he will take a liking to you or not depends on you!”

That day, her brother laughed heartily, but the sandstorm outside the city filled his mouth, and even his spit was full of sand.

Little Yunniang laughed beside him, but her brother said, “I will not let my dear sister down!”

With those words, Yunniang grinned even in her dreams. Xiuniang told her not to be too happy yet. “What if General Teng is not after money? Even if we become rich, it’s useless if he does not like you, right?”

These words suddenly jolted Deng Ruyun awake. She suddenly realized Xiuniang’s words made perfect sense.

“Then what should we do? What if he does not want to? I cannot force him.”

Xiuniang smiled. “Then at least you should let General Teng know you first, right? He does not even know who you are; how can he like you?”

This also made sense, but the thought of appearing before him and hoping for his favor made Deng Ruyun’s heart pound wildly.

“No, no, I… I dare not!”

If she went, and he did not like her clothes, her hairstyle, the scent of medicine on her, or even her as a person, what would she do?!

The little girl immediately lowered her head.

Aunt Juan noticed and hugged her, asking what was wrong.

She told her, “I am a coward. I am afraid I will never be with him in this life.”

Aunt Juan might believe others if they said they were cowards, but she could not believe her if she said she was a coward.

However, she looked at Little Yunniang with amusement and gave her a suggestion.

“Why not go ask the mimosa tree by the river south of the city? I’ve heard it’s a sacred tree; if your wish comes true, mimosa blossoms will fall from it.”

That day, she skipped lunch and dragged Xiuniang to the riverbank south of the city.

There, sure enough, stood a tall, large mimosa tree, its blossoms a delicate pink. Each flower adorned the tree like a delicate, pink, fan-shaped hairpin, swaying in the breeze, making the tree seem almost divine.

Deng Ruyun immediately knelt before the tree and poured out her heartfelt wishes.

“Divine Tree Goddess, please let him like me, even just a little! Grant me a mimosa flower, and I will come every year to fertilize and water you!”

Her wish fulfilled, the little girl opened her eyes.

She quickly looked for a mimosa flower in the wind, but after a long while, not one appeared. Her heart sank, and she asked Xiuniang…

“Am I doomed? If I pick up the one that fell to the ground earlier, will it count?”

Xiuniang said it would not count, but she reached into her hair.

“But is there not one in your hair, Miss?!”

… …

Memories of the past suddenly flashed before her eyes like this mimosa flower.

She remembered how overjoyed she had been, feeling that the Divine Tree Goddess had answered her prayers. She was certain her wishes would come true!

She carried this divinely bestowed flower home in her hands, holding it so tightly that she almost tripped.

She tucked the flower into her book, thinking that when her brother returned, everything would come true!

But that year, her brother, who had left home, never returned. All her hopes were shattered into pieces that year, leaving countless wounds in her heart.

Even if a heart bleeds dry and then heals, was it still the same heart?

How could someone who had forged their way through the desolate forest of hardship still be the same person they once were?

Everything had changed. Unexpectedly, the mimosa flower that had silently fallen on Deng Ruyun’s hair appeared again today.

In the empty room, the candlelight was extinguished, and the light was dim.

Deng Ruyun gave a soft, bitter laugh.

“Goddess of the Divine Tree, please do not play matchmaker. He has a noblewoman he’s to marry as his principal wife; how could I be his wife? As for the wishes I made before, those were just careless promises made when my heart was fluttering with love.”

She paused, then sighed with a smile.

“Please do not take it to heart.”

Those youthful, heart-fluttering affections she once had were now utterly insignificant.