Perfect Match – CH 080

Chapter 80

In the capital city, at the Zhang Mansion of the Yongchang Marquis.

Zhang Zhenhui went to see her grandmother first upon returning. Her grandmother, bedridden for many years and in poor health, was now increasingly frail and almost did not recognize her.

Her aunt, the Marquis’s wife, did not see her. She still politely went to her aunt’s courtyard gate, bowed respectfully, and was about to leave when she encountered her cousin approaching, who immediately said,

“Oh, Fourth Sister is back! Those who know, know you are visiting during your mourning period; those who do not would think you went out on a trip while still in mourning, enjoying yourself.”

Her sister’s words were unpleasant, but Zhang Zhenhui was not angry. Just as she was about to leave, she heard a faint voice approaching from afar.

She did not move, remaining standing in front of her sister. Her sister’s words filled her with shame, a shame tinged with grievance. “My sister is right,” she said. “Although I returned as soon as Grandmother recovered, it still seems improper to others.”

She lowered her head further, her voice filled with sorrow.

“No wonder Aunt refused to see me. Aunt has always cherished the reputation of the Marquis’s Mansion. My forced trip to Shaanxi to visit Grandmother must have been seen as a breach of the Mansion’s rules by her.”

Her voice choked with emotion as she spoke.

“After my parents passed away, I worried about every elder who loved me. This time, I was only concerned for Grandmother and forgot about the family rules. But if I go to Aunt to apologize, people will say she’s too strict, and they will say she mistreats her niece—that would be even worse.”

As she finished speaking, she saw her cousin’s eyes widen.

“You… When has my mother ever mistreated you? Our allowances have always been the same, and our clothes are the same for all four seasons. She just wants you to follow the rules and not cause trouble. How is that mistreatment?”

She was getting anxious, and Zhang Zhenhui quickly comforted her, “I know you are anxious, but do not worry.”

She added, “It’s right for Aunt to set rules for me. It’s all my fault. I will just stand here in the corner and at least let Aunt calm down.”

Seeing her cousin’s face turn red as she said this, and about to say something more, she was quickly pulled back by the nanny beside her. The nanny whispered in her ear, “Fifth Miss, calm down. Do not fall into her trap again, as Madam and Second Madam did back then, suffering for no reason.”

Originally, Fifth Young Lady Zhang was supposed to have an older sister, but her mother and aunt, Zhang Zhenhui’s mother, had a fight, and after a lot of commotion, she inexplicably miscarried, losing a child.

Her mother held a grudge about this but could not find fault with anyone. Whenever she was about to get angry at Fourth Young Lady Zhang’s words, the nanny would quickly come to comfort her.

Grandmother, relatives, and neighbors all said that Fourth Young Lady Zhang was the most dignified, quiet, intelligent, and virtuous girl. In the eyes of outsiders, Fourth Young Lady Zhang of the Yongchang Marquis’s Mansion was perfect, yet her background was pitiful. She had suffered many unspoken losses at the hands of her fourth sister in her childhood, but this time, she took a few deep breaths and suppressed her anger.

She did not lose her temper, nor did she want to deal with this orphan girl anymore. Just as she was about to leave, she saw her father walking over from the other side.

Seeing her father suddenly appear, Fifth Young Lady Zhang was still shaken.

She could not help but turn to look at her fourth sister, who stood calmly with her eyes downcast, looking every bit the demure and well-mannered young lady.

But if she had lost her temper and argued with her, her father would only scold his daughter, not this orphaned niece.

She did not argue with Zhang Zhenhui. The Yongchang Marquis came over, and seeing that the two sisters were behaving normally, they bowed to him; he nodded.

Fifth Young Lady Zhang said she wanted to go to her mother’s courtyard, and the Yongchang Marquis nodded and let her go.

Before leaving, the Fifth Sister could not help but glance back at Zhang Zhenhui.

Zhang Zhenhui smiled at her and said, “Take care, little sister,” before stepping forward to her uncle’s side. “My maternal uncles asked me to convey their greetings to you, Uncle, and also to say a few words.”

Seeing that she had something to say, Marquis Yongchang asked her to follow him to his study.

Zhang Zhenhui first relayed the greetings from her maternal family, then mentioned a few matters on behalf of the eldest uncle from the Yang family, and then spoke of another matter.

“Your niece’s maternal grandfather’s family, the Yang family, is related to the Prince of Yanshan’s family by marriage,” she said, not mentioning Yang Youyun’s divorce, but continuing, “The concubine of the Prince of Yanshan’s family came to visit the Yang family. Your niece remembered the scattered clan lands our Marquis’s family left in Shaanxi. Originally, I wanted to ask the Prince’s family on behalf of my uncle what to do about this. Unexpectedly, the Prince of Yanshan’s family heard about it and readily helped us connect all the scattered lands. With the Prince’s family doing this, I do not know what to do. What do you think, Uncle?”

The Yongchang Marquis was worried about his scattered lands, which were divided everywhere, unmanaged, and attracting trouble. Unexpectedly, his niece’s trip back home smoothed things over.

He did not want to ask the Prince of Yanshan’s family for help; the Prince of Yanshan’s family did not have a good reputation among the imperial clan. But since the Prince of Yanshan’s family had helped him, he would remember the favor.

He looked at his niece with a pleased expression. “It’s alright; it’s a good thing. Your words have solved my problem.”

Zhang Zhenhui readily agreed, “Given the current state of the Marquis’s Mansion, if Father were still alive, he would certainly do his utmost to share your burdens.”

She mentioned her deceased father, the younger brother of the Yongchang Marquis, whose eyes reddened slightly.

Zhang Zhenhui lowered her head, wiping her eyes with her hand, her voice slightly hoarse.

“I should not have brought this up, Uncle. Do not let this upset you.”

Hearing this, the Yongchang Marquis sighed deeply, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. “Is there anything else?”

Zhang Zhenhui wiped her eyes again and asked.

“Nothing much; it’s just that on my way back, I encountered the procession escorting the Rebel Prince from Ningxia.”

The rebellion of the Prince of Enhua was a major event that stirred up quite a storm in the capital. Marquis Yongchang looked at her, and Zhang Zhenhui said.

“I am too timid to have encountered such a thing. I originally planned to wait for the procession escorting the rebels to pass before returning to the capital. But I heard that General Teng, the guerrilla general from Ningxia, was also being escorted.”

She said she had seen this young general before. “He’s related to my maternal grandfather’s Yang family by marriage, and we are quite close. I’ve met him before. But while I was in Xi’an, I heard everywhere that he had rendered meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion. How come he’s also been brought to the capital?”

She asked and saw her uncle, Marquis Yongchang, frown. He did not explain the reason, only saying, “Many people in the court are speaking up for him right now; it turns out this man is related to the Yang family by marriage.”

He pondered, and Zhang Zhenhui, looking at him, paused before asking softly.

“Uncle, do you think this general still has a chance of making it?”

The question hovered in the study of the Marquis’s Mansion. The Yongchang Marquis pondered for a while before speaking.

“It’s hard to say, but in my opinion…it’s probably not so easy.”

Zhang Zhenhui did not speak for a moment, her lips slightly pursed in silence.

… …

At the Yang family’s small residence in the capital.

Second Madam Yang came to the capital to find a way for her nephew, Teng Yue. Unexpectedly, before she could find any information, she encountered people who had also come from Shaanxi.

On her way, Second Madam Yang met people from her former in-laws, the Prince of Yanshan’s Mansion.

She noticed that the people from the Prince of Yanshan’s Mansion had also prepared many gifts, seemingly lowering themselves to curry favor with someone. In Shaanxi, it was usually others who fawned over princes; she had not expected that even in the capital, a prince would be trying to curry favor with them.

But her wicked son-in-law had previously married two wives, one dead and one divorced; she did not believe he could marry another noblewoman.

Suspicious, she secretly had someone follow the people from the Prince of Yanshan’s Mansion. The follower returned and reported to her.

“Second Madam, I’ve found out who received the gifts from the Prince of Yanshan’s Mansion.”

“Whose family?” The Second Madam immediately perked up.

“It’s the family of that Ninth Prince’s brother.”

Madam Yang blinked. “What business do they have sending gifts to the Hong family?”

She asked curiously, only to hear her subordinate reply, “Our former son-in-law, Zhu Tingguang, wanted to marry the Chief Eunuch’s niece. He’d been sending gifts for quite some time, but the Chief Eunuch’s nephew-in-law just passed away quite recently.”

Madam Yang was shocked.

Zhu Tingguang knew he could not marry a noblewoman, so he simply wanted to marry a widow—but this widow was the Chief Eunuch’s own niece! His scheme was truly cunning.

But would the Chief Eunuch’s niece even be interested in that wicked Zhu Tingguang? Madam Yang pondered this doubtfully, suddenly remembering what Hongye had mentioned.

Zhu Tingguang had tried to harm her own daughter to marry into a higher family. But back then, Hong Jin’s nephew-in-law was still alive; he had only died a few days ago. They were in Xi’an then, a million miles from the capital—where would they have gotten such inside information?

Madam Yang was filled with shock and suspicion and summoned her servants again.

“Go and try to get information from the people at the Prince of Yanshan’s Mansion. See if you can find out where they got this information from.”

Who exactly had leaked this information to Zhu Tingguang?

This had almost cost her daughter her life!

Madam Yang gave the order; she was determined to find out who it was. She sat in the hall, unable to shake off her shock and suspicion for a long time.

Old Madam Lin came to check on her and was about to ask something when someone from the Yongchang Marquis’s Mansion arrived.

Old Madam Lin quickly called the person forward, “What did Fourth Young Lady say?”

The person replied:

“The young lady said she has spoken to the Marquis about this matter, and he has agreed, but they still need to find a good opportunity in the next few days.”

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Lin clasped her hands together, and tears streamed down her face from her tightly closed eyes. Madam Yang also murmured a few Buddhist prayers.

“Now you can send over the generous gifts you’ve prepared,” said Old Madam Lin.

Old Madam Lin agreed, “The day after tomorrow is an auspicious day; I will personally deliver them to the Marquis’s Mansion.”

Unexpectedly, a servant from the Zhang family chimed in, “Regarding the gifts, Miss instructed you not to rush. There are many people and much gossip in the capital. Give them to Miss first the day after tomorrow, then pass them on to the Marquis; that way, you will not attract attention.”

The capital was teeming with nobles, and the rules were strict and intricate. Old Madam Lin and Madam Yang did not suspect anything, and both agreed.

“As long as things are handled carefully.”

*

At the Grand Princess Ningfeng’s Mansion.

The Sixth Prince’s sudden return to the capital and then to the Mansion caused quite a stir in the vast Princess’s Mansion.

However, Her Highness the Grand Princess was always very proper, so even this commotion was less intense and dissipated quickly compared to other mansions.

Bai Chunfu, covered in dust from his journey through the epidemic-stricken area of ​​Shaanxi, had not seen his mother yet. He returned to his courtyard to wash and change into clean clothes before hearing his mother’s attendant come to deliver a message.

“Her Highness requests that Sixth Young Master speak in the Spring Hall.”

The Princess’s Mansion had four halls: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Those in the household who wished to see the Princess usually went to the Spring Hall.

When Bai Chunfu arrived, the Spring Hall was empty. Only a maidservant had served tea and quietly left. He knew he would not see his mother so easily and would have to wait a while. He silently picked up his teacup and waited patiently in the hall.

Unexpectedly, before he could see his mother, he saw another person slowly approaching.

Bai Chunfu immediately put down his teacup and stood up.

“Father?!”

He saw that his father, Master Bai, had lost a lot of weight, but his spirits were still good. His long eyebrows framed his kind eyes as he looked at him. He could not help but ask.

“When did you return from Fujian?”

Master Bai looked at his son. Having not seen him for over two years, he appeared even more mature and upright. He patted his son’s shoulder, gesturing for him to sit down.

“I’ve only been back in the capital for less than half a month. I thought I would not see my son since he went to Shaanxi, but I did not expect you to return.”

Bai Chunfu nodded, then asked his father, “How long will you stay in the capital this time? Are you… are you going back to Fujian?”

He asked, noticing his father’s slightly somber expression, but he still smiled.

“I will go back. I am only in the capital to report on my duties; I will leave in a month or so.”

These words made Bai Chunfu purse his lips.

It seemed that Her Highness the Grand Princess still would not allow his father to return to the north from Fujian.

His father was gentle in nature, yet upright and outspoken. His mother felt that with his temperament, he could not possibly succeed as an official in the capital; he would only offend people and ruin relationships. So she simply sent him to Fujian, within her maternal uncle’s sphere of influence. This stay lasted for many years.

Bai Chunfu looked at his father and was startled to see that his father’s once jet-black temples were now streaked with white.

He could not help but say, “Could you not talk to Her Highness again about transferring back to the north? Shandong, Zhili, Shaanxi… anything would be fine, would it not?”

But when he said that, the Imperial Son-in-Law Bai sighed softly and shook his head. “Her Highness will most likely not agree.”

Bai Chunfu was speechless. The Second Master Bai had finally managed to see his son, yet he did not want to mention this matter.

He simply smiled and asked, “Why did you suddenly return? Have you finished the tasks assigned to you in the palace?”

“I am working on them, and they are almost finished, but I had to come back for something.”

Master Bai assumed it was about the epidemic in Shaanxi. “You went there and happened to witness such a major event; it’s been a valuable experience, and it will only make you more adept at medicine in the future.”

He had always seen Bai Chunfu as different from others.

His own situation went without saying.

His eldest son was a talented painter, but the Princess only wanted her children to pass the imperial examinations and become officials, have good reputations, and strong physiques. She confiscated his painting materials, forcing him to study the Four Books and Five Classics year after year, leaving the eldest son helpless.

His second son and his cousin were childhood sweethearts, deeply in love, but the Princess disapproved of their marriage and refused to grant it. The girl was already preparing to find someone else, leaving the second son distressed and at a loss.

Only Bai Chunfu, who the Princess originally wanted to pursue a career in the imperial examinations, insisted on going against her wishes. He secretly became the disciple of the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, and leveraging his past friendship with the Emperor, he brought the matter into the open. The Princess could not do anything about it, and he completed his medical studies successfully, then received a post in Shaanxi…

Master Bai was delighted to see his sixth son and inquired about his assignment.

Unexpectedly, he heard him murmur, “I do not know if I will be able to return to Xi’an or continue practicing medicine.”

Upon hearing this, Master Bai raised an eyebrow.

“My son, what do you mean? Are you no longer devoted to the art of medicine?”

Bai Chunfu shook his head. How could he not want to continue practicing medicine?

It was because of learning medicine that he had broken free from the paths of his father, elder brother, and third brother, allowing him to leave the capital for Shaanxi, to make a name for himself in Xi’an, and to meet someone he would otherwise never have met. It had given him a sense of being alive on this long, bleak road of life…

How could he not want to practice medicine?

But what would happen after today, he had no idea.

He did not speak immediately. Master Bai frowned, wanting to ask a few more questions, but then he heard a eunuch announce.

“Her Highness has arrived.”

Both the Imperial Son-in-law Bai and his son rose to greet the Princess.

Grand Princess Ningfeng did not come to the main hall; she remained seated behind a screen.

Bai Chunfu walked to the screen, gave a proper bow, and greeted his mother.

A voice came from behind the screen.

“Rushing back to the capital at breakneck speed, so urgently—is it to rescue someone?”

She asked, but the hall remained silent.

Master Bai looked at Bai Chunfu, seeing that he did not respond immediately, while the Grand Princess’s voice came again from behind the screen.

“Just to rescue that Ningxia garrison commander surnamed Teng?”

The Ningxia garrison commander surnamed Teng?

Master Bai heard of this matter as soon as he arrived in the capital. A couple of days ago, someone had pleaded on his behalf, even going to the Princess’s Mansion, but was refused entry by the Grand Princess.

Master Bai looked at Bai Chunfu and softly called him by his courtesy name.

“At the beginning of the year, was that your friend from Shaanxi?”

But the one who answered him was not Bai Chunfu, but the Grand Princess behind the screen.

“Friend? If two men both like the same girl, can they be considered friends?”

The Grand Princess’s tone was almost emotionless, yet her casual question completely bewildered Master Bai.

He looked at his son and saw him smile gently upon hearing this.

Below his long eyebrows, the beauty mark at the corner of Bai Chunfu’s eye hung softly, like a late-night star falling silently from the sky.

He smiled, lowered his eyes, and spoke gently.

“Perhaps not, but I think it’s irrelevant.”

“Irrelevant?” a question came from behind the screen.

Two eyes seemed to pass through the screen, settling on Bai Chunfu. He could feel the gaze pressing down on his feet.

“From a young age, you were much more decisive than your two elder brothers. Even if they did not want to, they had no choice but to obey my guidance. You were different. I am a Princess and your mother. You knew you could not defy me. When you were only eight or nine, you cleverly requested to go to the palace to be a tutor to the then-Crown Prince.”

Behind the screen, the Grand Princess spoke even more slowly, as if recalling something or perhaps lost in thought.

“Back then, I thought, since your father, eldest brother, and third brother are all useless, I’ve finally got you. You are a child who can distinguish between what’s important and what’s not, a child who’s devoted to me. I was so gratified then and immediately found a way to send you to the palace. I never imagined you’d outmaneuver me. After studying with the Crown Prince for a few years, you finally revealed your true colors, picking up the little knives and swords you’d acquired for yourself and turning against your mother.”

Behind the screen, the Grand Princess paused slightly with a laugh as she spoke, and incense wafted from behind the screen, swirling around Bai Chunfu’s sleeve.

He listened as his mother continued.

“You are certainly different from your elder brothers. You do not seem to have any particular ambitions, even in studying medicine. But what you love most is going against me. Whatever I do not want you to do, you insist on doing. I wanted you to take the imperial examinations, but you insisted on studying medicine; I wanted you to work in the Imperial Clan Court, but you insisted on joining the Imperial Medical Bureau and never leaving; I wanted you to stay in the capital, but you tried every means to leave to Shaanxi; even when I wanted you to marry a noblewoman, you went to Xi’an, falling for a penniless, pampered female pharmacist with a family.”

The Spring Hall was as still as ice.

Bai Chunfu did not look at his father’s surprised expression; he simply listened to his mother’s words behind the screen, then smiled and lowered his head.

His mother paused for the last sentence and continued.

“I saw the portrait of that girl they sent back to the capital. She is indeed pretty and charming, but her humble origins and utter poverty are not the most unbearable aspects. What’s most unspeakable is that you, the legitimate son of a princess, a scion of a noble family, actually fell for a woman who was destitute and practically sold into servitude.”

The Grand Princess’s usually calm tone finally cracked, and she could not help but scoff.

“Just to defy your mother, just to resist everything I’ve made you do, you’ve indulged yourself in falling for a girl like this, have you not?”

His mother’s words pierced Bai Chunfu’s ears.

He laughed even harder.

Yes, indeed.

Initially, rather than saying he liked Yunniang and inexplicably fell for her, it would be more accurate to say he indulged his feelings for her, knowing full well that there was no possibility between them. His cousin from his aunt’s side, whom his mother disapproved of and forbade his third brother from marrying—how could he possibly be interested in little Yunniang?

Later, after he discovered she was the wife of Teng Yue, this indulgent feeling intensified. When he overheard Yunniang casually mention that she was not actually Teng Yue’s wife, his indulgent desires grew stronger until even he himself could no longer discern the truth.

But Yunniang was incredibly intelligent and clear-headed, never showing him the slightest bit of affection.

After all, compared to the inappropriate feelings she felt for her contracted husband, Teng Yue, his emotions were far more complex and difficult to articulate.

In other words, he had ulterior motives; his intentions were never pure.

She could vaguely sense it all, but she never spoke of it, always giving him face, simply standing in front of the pharmacy, tilting her head, and calling him Physician Bai, Sixth Young Master Bai…

Bai Chunfu felt a lump in his throat.

But he did not respond to the Grand Princess’s question, only hearing his mother speak again from behind the screen.

“You indulge yourself in liking such an unsuitable girl and indulge yourself in opposing me. What will the final result be?”

She asked, “The path you’ve been planning for yourself since you were eight or nine years old—now you’ve achieved your studies, received a job, left the capital, run away from my care, and gone to Xi’an to live a carefree life—and what’s the end result?”

She asked and answered herself, needing no reply from Bai Chunfu, speaking directly into his ears.

“The ending is that, for that commoner woman with whom you should not have any connection, you abandoned everything you’d worked so hard for over the years, returning to the capital to plead with me for her husband.”

She could not help but sigh deeply. “Suichu, Suichu, you let yourself fall in love, but she only saw you as a useful source of power and connections. At the crucial moment, she made you sacrifice yourself to plead for her husband. Did she reciprocate with the same genuine affection as you?”

She asked, enunciating each word clearly, “Is it worth it?”

Bai Chunfu stood before the screen, his eyes trembling slightly beneath his long brows.

He said it was worth it: “I think it was worth it.”

Silence fell suddenly behind the screen, the Grand Princess’s brows furrowing.

Bai Chunfu spoke from behind the screen.

“Because Yunniang, from beginning to end, never asked me to come and plead with you.”

The Spring Hall was silent.

He had asked her more than once, “Is there anything Yunniang wants to tell me?”

But she only shook her head, again and again, “No, nothing.”

Even if his initial intentions were impure and his motives impure, she had no false affection for him. She knew his hardships, she understood his predicament, and she hoped he could remain free in Xi’an.

Was that not worth it?!

Bai Chunfu chuckled softly, then suddenly stepped forward and spoke directly.

“Regardless, today I only ask my mother to intercede for Teng Yue.”

Let Teng Yue leave the capital, let him go home, and with the contract terminated, go find Yunniang!

Do not let her hide alone in a dark alley corner, too afraid to even step out to inquire about news…

He spoke up to request to leave and remained silent behind the screen for a long time.

After a while, someone slowly rose from behind the screen and walked towards the back door.

The voice drifted over, bypassing the screen.

“Go back and rest. From today onward, you will study for the imperial examinations alongside your elder brother. Stay in the capital and do not go out again.”

The voice faded, followed by footsteps.

Bai Chunfu slowly replied.

“Alright. Son understands.”

He lowered his eyes and chuckled softly, letting out a long breath.

Master Bai, however, took a deep breath. He looked at his son, then in the direction his wife had left, his long eyebrows furrowing deeply.