Chapter 18

It had been nearly a month since the grand banquet at the imperial summer palace, and the summer heat was beginning to reach its peak.

On an auspicious day, the main gate of the General’s Mansion—usually kept closed in favor of the two side entrances—was thrown wide open. A throng of maidservants and matrons lined the stairs, where Madam Zhang, supported by Zhuang Ningyuan, stood waiting with eager anticipation.

In the distance, a sedan chair with an ornate canopy appeared, surrounded by guards and attendants, approaching the mansion gates.

Before long, the chair was slowly set down. A maid on the left deftly lifted the curtain, while another on the right carefully supported the hand that emerged from within. The elderly woman who stepped out had hair as white as frost, eyes that slanted upward with a sharp, disciplined gaze, and an air of composed authority.

"Nurse Chen," Madam Zhang beamed, stepping forward to greet her. "Your personal visit brings such radiance to our Xu household."

The white-haired woman arched an eyebrow and smiled. "I apologize for keeping you waiting, Madam Zhang. My old bones cannot handle the jolting of a carriage, so I was forced to travel by this small sedan. Please forgive the delay."

Madam Zhang, radiant with hospitality, affectionately took her arm. "What are you saying, Nurse? That you would come on behalf of His Highness, Prince Duan, is our entire family's honor. How could we take offense? Please, come inside."

As she spoke, she ushered her guest warmly into the house.

This Nurse Chen was the wet nurse of Prince Duan, but she was no ordinary commoner; she had served as a palace lady, once attending to the late Emperor’s Consort Jing. She possessed considerable status and was well-regarded even among the imperial clan.

Nurse Chen did not rush. She tilted her head slightly, scanned the room with a quick glance, and asked, "Madam Zhang, why is your third daughter not here?"

Madam Zhang’s smile faltered for a mere second before she resumed her composure, continuing to walk as she spoke. "Oh, you wouldn't know—that girl is like a monkey reincarnated. After playing polo and hunting at the summer palace last month, she insisted on attending the polo match hosted by the Duchess of Xinguo just a few days ago. And look what happened—she injured her left shoulder. The physician says she shouldn't be so restless, but she’s just so headstrong. Her father and I are truly at our wits' end."

Nurse Chen found nothing amiss in this; in fact, her smile became more genuine. "Why should you be troubled, Madam? You are a family of generals; the daughters you raise are naturally different, possessing a bold and heroic spirit. Other families would envy such a trait."

Before leaving the Prince’s estate, Prince Duan had confided his feelings for the third daughter of the Xu family and charged her with securing this marriage. The Prince was born frail and had no chance to compete for the throne. Fortunately, his fief was prosperous, allowing him to live as a carefree, wealthy royal, and he had never had any conflicts with other members of the clan—he was well-liked by all.

His only concern was his lineage. Perhaps due to the Prince’s poor health and the Princess’s own delicate constitution, their children were not very robust. The Prince had long considered taking a secondary consort, but he had never found a suitable candidate.

Unexpectedly, upon arriving in the capital, he had caught sight of this third daughter of the Xu family at a polo match. With her heroic spirit, agile grace, and striking beauty, she had captured his heart immediately, and he had ordered inquiries into whether she was already betrothed.

The General and his wife had been remarkably sensible, eagerly reaching out to take the branch he offered. The whole affair had proceeded with the smoothness of a divine blessing.

Madam Zhang covered her mouth and laughed heartily, clearly delighted. "Nurse, you are too kind. If that girl heard you, her tail would be wagging in the clouds!"

"Not at all..."

The host and guest proceeded toward the main hall, both clearly pleased.

Zhuang Ningyuan followed behind, her expression flat, a faint shadow lingering in her eyes. She cast a glance at her trusted maid, who understood immediately and slipped away quietly.

It was currently the hour of the snake (9:00–11:00 AM). Xu Biqing had been forced to kneel in the ancestral hall since yesterday, without a drop of water or a grain of rice; it was feared she would not hold out much longer. The maids and matrons in Xu Biqing’s courtyard were under strict guard, unable to send her anything.

The head maid of the first branch was swift and efficient; she grabbed some items from the kitchen and took a side path to the ancestral hall. As the guards were changing shifts, she met the eyes of the matrons at the door, slipped them a bulging money bag, and was allowed in.

"If my mistress has anything to say, be quick about it. If the people from the main house see you, it will be trouble," they whispered.

"Don't worry. My mistress just wants to send the third young lady some food. If the young lady faints from hunger, it wouldn't be easy for you to explain, would it?" The maid pushed open the door and entered.

The hall was dim and shadowed. In the back, the layered spirit tablets of the Xu ancestors formed a suffocating web amidst the swirling incense smoke.

Xu Biqing knelt before the tablets, her spine slightly bowed. Since the day she was born into this prestigious household, she had never felt so defeated.

"Third Miss," the maid whispered, "I was sent by the first mistress."

The person kneeling before the tablets did not respond, not moving a muscle. The maid looked around, stepped over to her side, and knelt to display the food. "Third Miss, these are your favorites. Please, have something."

Xu Biqing’s eyes were swollen from crying, her lips pale and cracked. After a long moment, she finally moved. She reached out, took the warm pastry the maid offered, held it for a moment, and then smashed it violently into the food box.

"Get out!" she shrieked, her eyes bloodshot, hatred burning in her gaze. "Do you think I need your crocodile tears? Don't think I don't know that your mistress knew about my parents' plans all along and helped them organize it! You are all in on this, conspiring to drive me to my death!"

"Get out! Get out!" She roared, smashing everything on the floor, completely hysterical.

Terrified, the maid scrambled to gather the mess back into the box, not daring to clean the remnants, and fled the hall.

Xu Biqing panted, her breath coming in ragged gasps, until finally, she burst into hysterical laughter, collapsing amidst the debris. Tears she thought had dried up continued to flow uncontrollably. In the emptiness, her father’s roar and her mother’s weeping echoed clearly in her ears.

"Obedience to parents is the way of the world! We have raised you for over a decade—is this how you repay us? You ungrateful child!"

"Prince Duan is of royal blood; is he not good enough for you? I tell you, you will marry him whether you want to or not! If you want to be tied to that bridal sedan, then continue this charade! It’s your mother who spoiled you, making you arrogant and ignorant of your own worth!"

"Qing'er, oh Qing'er, you don't understand the difficulties our family faces. Your father may hold a second-rank title, but he is getting old, and your brother is still so young. The winds are changing in the capital. If we don't plan ahead, we will inevitably decline. Even if you married someone you liked, if your family isn't strong, you won't have a peaceful life!"

"Prince Duan is a man of leisure, of noble birth, with a wealthy fief. He seeks you out for you, not for our family's power. If something happens, he will help us, not kick us when we're down. Perhaps he can even help your brother in the future. If you marry him, you will be secure in wealth forever!"

"I beg you, listen to your mother this one last time. Your eldest brother is gone, your second brother is gone, and Cheng'er is only twelve. Your father is walking on eggshells in the court, and the collateral branches of the Xu family are useless. Qing'er, think carefully—the family has loved you for years. When have we ever denied you anything? If not for yourself, do it for your parents and brother!"

***

Qingluo Alley.

Li Lanxin had woken up later than usual today. When she stepped out of her room, she saw that both her maids had already finished washing up.

She quickly tidied herself and, after breakfast, the three of them moved several large wooden tubs from the bathhouse to the sunniest part of the courtyard. They drew well water from the large storage vat and filled the tubs.

With the summer heat truly setting in, the sun was scorching for two or three hours every day. Many households would set out basins of water in the open to let them warm up under the sun. By sunset, the water was perfect for bathing, saving them the trouble of heating it at night.

After finishing, Li Lanxin set out with Li Mian and Xing'er.

Another month had passed, and today was the day they had set aside for visiting the market and treating themselves to some good food, as well as stocking up on household necessities.

As usual, they stopped by the embroidery shop first to check on things. For some reason, the market was quite quiet today. Just as she sat down in the shop and Cheng Laosan brought the ledger, a gentle, hesitant voice came from the counter.

Li Lanxin looked up, finding the voice somewhat familiar.

Meanwhile, Cheng Laosan’s expression changed drastically. He grunted, "Mistress, I'll go see what this is about!"

He stormed out through the curtain, his back radiating irritation. Shortly after, the faint sound of an argument drifted in.

"I’m telling you, customer, this is the tenth time you’ve been here this month!" Cheng Laosan stared with wide, angry eyes. "What kind of clothes are you wearing? Why do they rip every two or three days? Do you have thorns growing on your body?"

A faint red flush crept up Su Xianwen’s handsome face, and he seemed to realize his behavior was suspicious. "I... I have many old clothes at home."

"Enough, enough." Cheng Laosan looked at him with disdain. 'Many clothes at home'—he knew exactly what the man was up to. "Get out of here!"

"No, I..."

"Laosan." Li Lanxin frowned as she stepped from behind the curtain. "What is going on?" Why was he chasing away a customer?

Su Xianwen looked up abruptly. Seeing her, the faint flush on his cheeks spread across his entire face. Cheng Laosan, looking back and forth, acted as if he were facing a mortal enemy.

"Mistress!" He took a step forward, trying to block Li Lanxin’s view. "Haha, nothing! It’s just this customer... we don't have time to mend his clothes!"

"Isn't business slow lately? Why wouldn't we have time?" Li Lanxin gave him a strange look and pushed him aside. She then looked at the refined young man at the counter and widened her eyes slightly. "It’s you."

Wasn't this the scholar who had brought the Hunan embroidery last time?

Su Xianwen was red from his head to his neck, standing there stiffly, unable to speak.

Li Lanxin smiled. "Are you here to mend clothes again?"

"Yes, yes!" Su Xianwen hurriedly placed his robe on the counter, though his eyes were not on the garment. "Last time you showed me the way, and I haven't had the chance to thank you properly."

Li Lanxin: "That is part of our business; there is no need for thanks."

"No, no, I must thank you!" Su Xianwen straightened his expression. "That dress was a keepsake from my late mother. You helped me through a great crisis; I owe you a debt of gratitude."

He hesitated for a moment, then, as if steeling his resolve, said with a reddening face, "My surname is Su. I serve in the Hanlin Academy and live at Willow Alley in Zhu Fu Ward, on the west side of the city."

Li Lanxin paused, finally realizing that something was not right.

She looked up at the blushing young guest, then turned to see the furious Cheng Laosan. Her heart skipped a beat.

Oh, heavens. Could it be that she had offended the stars this year and was facing a romantic calamity?