Chapter 4

Their wedding night was indeed... very swift.

On their wedding night, she had been angry and had turned him away, and with her fiery temper, that cold shoulder lasted two whole days.

It wasn’t until the third day, during her return visit to his family, that the two of them spent the entire day at the Yu household. By the time they returned, night had fallen, and they went back to their bridal chamber together.

He apologized again, but she ignored him. So he took her hand gently and kissed it, which made her—usually fierce and sharp—flush deeply, suddenly obedient like a cat.

Yet, the intimacy that followed did not go smoothly. She cried out in pain at first, and he became so nervous that it soon ended abruptly, a hurried conclusion.

She felt as if she had been pardoned, quickly wrapping herself in the quilt and burying her face.

He went outside to fetch water to help her clean up, making her even more embarrassed. Eventually, he joined her under the covers, and the two embraced silently through the quiet night. Holding her tightly, he whispered her name “Yingying,” mimicking the way her family called her.

It seemed... as if there was some sweetness in it.

But at that time, no one could have imagined that years later, she would single out that night and accuse him, saying, “It’s no good.”

When the atmosphere grew somewhat suggestive at the mention of their wedding night, Cheng Xianzhang interrupted: “I don’t wish to dwell on past grievances. I suppose Miss Yu feels the same. Now I only ask if Miss Yu is willing to admit her mistakes and clear things up. If not, can she bear the consequences? For example, if I were to treat her as she treated me, I suppose she values her reputation as well.”

Oh? A threat?

Yu Ying was fearless and replied calmly, “I don’t care about reputation. It’s you, Lord Cheng, who wants it. You’re eager to marry, but I will not wed again. My cousin’s grave is still fresh; I intend to remain faithful to him.”

Cheng Xianzhang looked at her and sneered coldly, “Since you’re so stubborn, there’s nothing more to discuss. However, my mother is very angry and intends to go out and publicly list your misdeeds. You’d better be careful.”

“What misdeeds? Don’t let your spiteful mother slander me!” Yu Ying retorted.

Cheng Xianzhang said nothing further. He placed a small piece of silver on the table and turned to leave.

Yu Ying was furious again, glaring at the coin and grinding her teeth.

Things had changed from before. Previously, she barely had a few coins and was stubborn. She wanted him to accompany her to the teahouse, but he refused; to a restaurant, also no; even if she paid, she couldn’t buy a smile from him. Now, however, he was suddenly generous with money.

After he left, she remained seated alone at the tea table. As she sat there, her eyes gradually reddened.

At that time, she truly liked him.

She was only sixteen or seventeen, picky and not yet betrothed. It was just after the imperial examination, when a batch of newly minted scholars had passed. Cheng Xianzhang was among the top three.

Her grandfather took a liking to him and spoke of him in glowing terms, saying the emperor intended to expand the examination system to promote talented scholars from humble origins, gradually abandoning the old recommendation system. Although Cheng Xianzhang came from a poor family and had nothing now, he was destined to become a leading figure in the world. Therefore, her grandfather wished to marry her to him.

She didn’t care about anyone’s destiny; she simply wanted to see this man.

Later, she took a carriage and waited outside the Hanyue Inn, where the new scholars from other provinces lodged before receiving their official appointments. Cheng Xianzhang was among them.

She happened to see a group of young men leaving a refined gathering, heading to the entertainment quarter in search of pleasure.

She felt disgusted, yet among them was a strikingly handsome figure—sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, dignified and imposing. Even in coarse cloth, his presence was undeniable, catching her eye immediately.

Moreover, he was the only one reluctant to go. Upon asking, she learned he was Cheng Xianzhang, the third-ranked scholar.

She watched from afar as he was eventually pulled along by the others. She was angry and resentful—men were all lecherous.

She turned to leave, but her nanny persuaded her to wait, saying it was normal for scholars to have a few drinks at the entertainment quarter; they likely wouldn’t go too far.

She liked his face, so she moved the carriage a few steps to a restaurant opposite the entertainment quarter, booked a private room upstairs, and waited to see when the group would emerge.

Half an hour later, night fell and rain began to pour.

Yu Ying gave up; this poor scholar named Cheng was out of the running—he could never be her family’s son-in-law. She was about to leave when she saw him exit the entertainment quarter.

He was being urged by friends behind him, but he ignored them, waved his hand dismissively, and ran out into the rain. After a few steps, the rain grew heavier. He glanced at his shoes and dodged under the eaves of a closed tavern to shelter.

She watched him from a distance, through the streetlights and the mist of rain, her heart stirred by him.

Later, she directed the carriage toward him, but as she approached, she saw him step out from the eaves, ready to brave the rain.

She hurriedly had her maid call out to him. Cheng Xianzhang, under the rain curtain, looked up toward the carriage.

From inside, she asked, “Who are you, daring to block my way?”

He replied respectfully, “It is dark and raining heavily. I did not notice the lady’s carriage. Please forgive me.”

His words were courteous but lacked any trace of fear or apology. Yu Ying felt he was simply brushing her off—though she was provoking him on purpose.

She retorted, “The lanterns are so bright by the roadside—how could you have not seen? I think you’re deliberately disrespecting me!”

Cheng Xianzhang responded, “According to the laws of the Great Zhou, commoners must yield to officials. Though the lady’s carriage is valuable, it is an ordinary carriage without any official entourage. Therefore, I did not pay attention.”

Yu Ying was fired up now, snapping back, “What do you mean? That I am not an official’s kin, so you don’t have to yield to me? Let me tell you, my grandfather is the Minister of Rites! Don’t think you’re secure just because you passed the exams. I’ll complain to my grandfather and have you sent back to your hometown—never to be an official in this lifetime!”

Cheng Xianzhang calmly said, “You jest, Lady Yu. Minister Yu is the emperor’s father-in-law, a man of great virtue and respect. He would never allow personal matters to interfere with official duties. The Yu family is a venerable household of scholars, and the lady should be well-mannered and learned, not acting so irrationally.”

“You...” Yu Ying’s initial intent to ‘deal with him’ turned into a desire to win the argument, but gradually she was losing ground.

In frustration, she flung open the carriage curtain and said, “Who did you call irrational? You’re right—I am irrational! I know who you are, Cheng Xianzhang. I won’t blame you though; it’s your fault for not staying longer in the entertainment quarter and running out, only to meet me.”

Cheng Xianzhang looked at her. “You’ve been watching me all along?”

Yu Ying panicked and immediately denied it, “Who’s watching you? I wasn’t watching you!”

But after denying, she realized her denial was weak, so she forced herself calm and said, “Why would I watch someone like you?”

Cheng Xianzhang glanced at her, then bowed his head and said, “I have offended you, Miss Yu.” With that, he stepped back to the roadside.

Yu Ying was surprised he had guessed her identity.

How did he figure it out?

Because she mentioned the entertainment quarter and her grandfather, he must have guessed. After all, she knew her grandfather planned to marry her to him and had likely inquired about him or at least gathered information. Who else would be so interested in watching him enter the entertainment quarter except the woman destined to marry him?

Yu Ying blushed deeply and immediately lowered the carriage curtain.

The carriage was about to move on. The wind stirred the curtain, and she saw the man standing in the rain outside once more.

For some reason, she took an umbrella from inside the carriage and handed it to her maid, saying, “Go quickly, give this to him.”

“But miss, if you go in now, you’ll get wet.”

“Hurry!”

The maid hurried down with the umbrella. The rain was heavy, so she handed it to him quickly and returned to the carriage, already moving forward. Yu Ying peeked back and saw him holding the umbrella, standing still and watching her.

It seemed that from that moment, she had chosen him—she had given him the umbrella.

But what did he think then, realizing everything—that the Yu family had taken an interest in him, and that this Yu girl was there to look at her future husband?

She never knew. Even in their closest moments, he never spoke a word of affection.

Cheng Xianzhang returned home, where his mother summoned him again.

At Shunfu Hall, Madam Zhou wore a look of displeasure and sighed before speaking: “I told you last time to find her and ask properly. Did you? I truly don’t understand—so many years have passed, you remain unmarried, yet she remarried early. Why now come back to slander you so viciously?”

Cheng Xianzhang replied gently, “Mother, please calm down. It’s a trivial matter.”

Madam Zhou shook her head repeatedly. “It’s not trivial. This morning, the Su family sent someone to ask me why you have remained unmarried for so many years. It’s obvious they’ve heard the rumors and have doubts.”

Cheng Xianzhang fell silent.

Madam Zhou pressed on, “Did you go to see her? Or did you not try at all?”

He answered, “I just saw her today. She said it was unintentional and promised not to say such things again.”

“Unintentional? That’s impossible. It was deliberate!” Madam Zhou took a deep breath, worried. “The Su family is the most suitable match. I spent a long time explaining today; I hope they won’t doubt us. If necessary, I think we should both visit the Su family.”

Cheng Xianzhang said, “If we rush, it might cause more misunderstanding. If they are unwilling, then let it be. The marriage need not be forced.”

Madam Zhou was shocked and immediately denied, “How can you say that? How can you delay any longer at your age? Do you want the Cheng family to have no descendants? How then would I face your father?”

She fired off several questions, but he gave no answer and fell silent again.

Madam Zhou understood well that her son was not indecisive; he simply did not care.

There was a gap between them. She had tried hard but with little success. Now she had given up, only wishing for him to marry and have children quickly.

After a long silence, Cheng Xianzhang said, “Mother, since you have clarified everything, there is no need to dwell further. Let nature take its course. I still have some official duties to attend to and will go to Jinxiu Garden now.”

Madam Zhou said nothing, only nodding slightly.

Apart from their distant nephew living there, the two of them were the only family in the household, yet they lived in separate wings, seldom seeing each other unless they made a special effort, even eating separately. How could such a mother and son not grow distant?

She felt helpless and lonely. She wanted to be closer to her son but did not know how.