Chapter 7

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Zheng Boru gazed at the brocade before him, feeling a complex swirl of emotions he found hard to express. From the start, he had prepared only the brocade, not the hairpin, for he was certain he would never marry a shallow, unvirtuous woman. It was only because he could not refuse his mother that he reluctantly brought a hairpin. Yet, unexpectedly, the young lady before him had brought a piece of brocade herself as a gift. He was probably the first man in the capital to be presented with brocade by a woman.

Zheng Boru chuckled softly. He reached out his hand and took the brocade. “Very well, I understand.”

Yu Ying asked, “Then... did you bring brocade? Give it to me. When you go back, you can say you didn’t fancy me; otherwise, my mother won’t let me off. She might even confine me again.”

She frowned in frustration at the thought.

Zheng Boru had no choice but to bring out the brocade he had prepared.

Yu Ying was astonished. “You really brought brocade?”

Zheng Boru couldn’t help smiling. “Miss thinks I would bring only the hairpin but no brocade?”

Seeing his expression, as if implying she was overconfident, Yu Ying lifted her chin, took the brocade, and snorted lightly, “That must be because you hadn’t seen me before and thought I was just a common beauty. Now that you have seen me, you surely realize you were mistaken. But it’s too late to regret—I really don’t want to marry. It’s not personal against you; I don’t want to marry any man.”

She spoke without a trace of shame, her tone confident and justified. Zheng Boru had never encountered such a proud and beautiful woman, yet he had to admit she was right.

Indeed, he had been stunned by her beauty and even hesitated just now, wondering whether to firmly reject the match or observe further.

He smiled silently and finally said, “Thank you for your consolation, Miss.”

Yu Ying found him easy to talk to and said cheerfully, “Then it’s settled. When you go back, say you didn’t fancy me. If your mother asks why, you can say I’m too beautiful—obviously a seductress, not the type to follow proper household rules. My former mother-in-law said the same; they care about that above all. That will guarantee she won’t pressure you.”

Zheng Boru thought she took pride rather than shame in this.

He nodded in agreement.

Yu Ying was very satisfied with his attitude and said lightly, “Lord Zheng, you have such a good temper. Let me treat you to the Snow Crisp Mountain dessert here. Their Snow Crisp Mountain is the best—how about cherry flavor?”

It was the first time anyone had praised his temperament. When he was at the Ministry of Justice, his subordinates secretly grumbled that he was harsh and overly meticulous.

He rarely ate sweets, especially cold ones like this, but the young lady was so eager to invite him, and looking into her bright eyes, he found it impossible to refuse. It seemed the Snow Crisp Mountain she offered must be truly delightful.

He smiled gently and agreed, “Very well.”

Yu Ying called for Madame Feng outside.

Madame Feng and Aunt Zhou entered, noticing the two’s expressions had lightened considerably. Yu Ying took the initiative to tell Zheng Boru that the lychee-flavored Snow Crisp Mountain was also good, mentioned her favorite sweet and sour pork ribs, and asked the waiter to bring the dessert.

Neither Madame Feng nor Aunt Zhou asked further. When the waiter brought the Snow Crisp Mountain—one bowl each for Zheng Boru and Yu Ying—Yu Ying even had one served to Aunt Zhou, the matchmaker, who was delighted and believed the match was likely to succeed.

However, when it came time to leave, Zheng Boru did not place a hairpin in Yu Ying’s hair.

Aunt Zhou quietly pulled Zheng Boru to remind him, and he replied softly, “The gift has already been given.”

Aunt Zhou looked again at Yu Ying’s head but saw no hairpin.

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In the end, Zheng Boru ate only half a bowl of the Snow Crisp Mountain, while Yu Ying finished most of her lychee-flavored portion. If it hadn’t been for Madame Feng advising her to eat less cold food, she might have finished it all.

Zheng Boru thought to himself that she truly loved this dessert.

Finally, the two rose and left the private room together.

As Pei Xingyu came out of the private room at Fengle Pavilion, he happened to see Cheng Mengde standing by the second-floor railing, staring unblinkingly across the way. Curious, he looked again and spotted a beauty. Then he recognized her as the younger sister of his second sister-in-law.

He turned back to Cheng Mengde with a smile. “What’s this? Even kids appreciate beauty now?”

Cheng Mengde snapped out of his daze, smiled awkwardly, and explained, “I... I was just looking. The capital really is impressive—there can be such a beautiful lady.”

Pei Xingyu said, “I’ll tell you something. That beautiful lady—I know her. She’s my relative.”

Cheng Mengde’s eyes widened in disbelief, suspicious that Pei Xingyu was joking.

Pei Xingyu continued, “And here’s more. Your uncle used to have an aunt by marriage who divorced him a few years ago. You know about that, right?”

Cheng Mengde nodded. Of course, he knew. A few days ago, his second aunt had mentioned it. Apparently, the aunt spread bad rumors about his uncle, causing people to doubt him and almost ruining the marriage plans. Besides that, she had said many bad things about the aunt, making him feel his uncle was unlucky to have married such a shrew—fortunately, they divorced.

Pei Xingyu said, “She’s the one.”

Cheng Mengde was stunned. “What?”

Pei Xingyu, expecting his surprise, laughed and explained, “The beautiful lady across from us, surname Yu, the third Miss Yu, is my relative—and she’s the very aunt your uncle divorced.”

At that moment, Cheng Xianzhang and Mr. Shen were coming out of the private room.

Cheng Mengde, thirteen years old, was the grandson of Cheng Xianzhang’s eldest uncle’s family. Cheng Xianzhang lost his father young, and though his eldest uncle was a farmer, he supported Cheng Mengde’s education. Now that Cheng Xianzhang was an official, and with Cheng Mengde the only grandson, the uncle wished for him to succeed and sent him to the capital to study, where he stayed at Cheng Xianzhang’s house.

The Cheng family had few descendants, so Cheng Xianzhang, grateful to the elder uncle, willingly nurtured his nephew. When Cheng Mengde arrived in the capital, Cheng Xianzhang sought a teacher for him. After some consideration, Pei Xingyu introduced Mr. Shen, who had a temper and wanted to meet Cheng Mengde first—that was today’s meeting.

Cheng Xianzhang glanced across, and Pei Xingyu nudged him, “Look, isn’t that the one from the Ministry of Justice? Why is he...?”

Why was he with Yu Ying?

Then seeing the middle-aged woman with a silk flower in her hair and purple robes—the official matchmaker’s attire—smiling warmly and speaking occasionally with both Zheng Boru and Yu Ying, it became clear that Zheng Boru and Yu Ying were meeting in the private room opposite.

Pei Xingyu couldn’t help but say, “These two... they look quite well matched. What’s going on with Deputy Minister Zheng? Shouldn’t he be married long ago? Is this a second marriage?”

He glanced at Cheng Xianzhang, as if expecting him to know.

Cheng Xianzhang only looked once, then turned to Mr. Shen, “Please, sir.”

Pei Xingyu suddenly remembered he was just watching the spectacle and had forgotten about the guest, Mr. Shen, standing nearby.

After leaving Fengle Pavilion, Cheng Xianzhang and Cheng Mengde discussed school matters. Mr. Shen agreed to teach. Cheng Mengde had only studied privately at home for two years, with poor foundations. Mr. Shen started with the Analects, both to teach literacy and the principles of conduct.

Cheng Mengde nodded repeatedly.

Cheng Xianzhang remained silent. The two rode in the same carriage. Bored, Cheng Mengde couldn’t help but ask, “Is what Uncle Pei said true? The beautiful lady across is the former aunt?”

Cheng Xianzhang responded with a grunt.

Cheng Mengde was even more shocked. Pei Xingyu’s words had seemed like a joke, but now his uncle’s confirmation made it real.

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He thought, good heavens, the former aunt was so beautiful! And yet they divorced?

Cheng Mengde was not young anymore. If it weren’t for his family wanting him to study, he might already be courting a bride back home. So he understood some things about love and had a basic sense of aesthetics.

He thought if it were him, it would be hard to divorce such a beautiful wife.

He wanted to ask more—why? Was the aunt really as awful as second aunt said? And what about the Miss Su his uncle was now betrothed to? Was she as pretty as the former aunt? And so on.

Everything was new and fascinating to him, but his uncle remained silent with a serious expression, looking sideways as if wanting quiet. When Cheng Mengde asked, he only grunted, not seeming willing to say more.

So Cheng Mengde held his questions back.

Though they were uncle and nephew, the uncle had left for official duties in the capital when Cheng Mengde was just over six. Even in childhood, the uncle was studying and had little time to play or meet him often. They remained somewhat unfamiliar.

His grandfather had worked hard to send him to the capital to study, hoping he would succeed like his uncle. Supported only by his uncle here, he didn’t want to displease him.

Back home, Cheng Xianzhang’s mother raised the matter of visiting the Su family again.

Cheng Xianzhang had not attended the Su family’s recent wedding banquet, and rumors had reached the Su family, making both sides uneasy. Madam Zhou had wanted Cheng Xianzhang to visit the Su household to clarify matters and ease their doubts. But Cheng Xianzhang remained indifferent, which worried her. She brought it up almost every time.

This time, somehow, he agreed. When she mentioned that the Su lady had caught a chill, making it a good occasion to visit with gifts, Cheng Xianzhang said “Alright.”

Madam Zhou was surprised and delighted, almost thinking she had misheard. She asked, “You’ve agreed?”

Cheng Xianzhang nodded.

Madam Zhou said, “You have a day off the day after tomorrow. Shall we go then?”

Cheng Xianzhang replied, “Good.”

Seeing a hint of concern in his expression, she asked, “How’s things with Mengde? Have you found a teacher?”

Cheng Xianzhang finally answered, “Found one. Mother need not worry.”

Madam Zhou said, “Once you have the silver, it’s easy to find a teacher. What I worry about is your marriage. After we visit the Su family the day after tomorrow, we’ll clarify everything. You’ll meet Miss Su. Rest assured, she’s very nice. You’ll be satisfied.”

Cheng Xianzhang did not reply.

With this settled, on his day off the next day, mother and son would go to the Su family.

Officials at the Censorate differed from others because their sole duty was to impeach corrupt officials. Thus, they must be upright and impartial, avoiding socializing widely or having friends across the capital.

Cheng Xianzhang rarely attended banquets or mingled closely with high-ranking officials. Though the two families had been negotiating the match for some time, Cheng Xianzhang had never personally visited the Su household. His arrival caused great joy in the Su family, alleviating much of the previous suspicion and resentment.

Madam Cheng always explained that the rumors were baseless, but Cheng Xianzhang himself never spoke, causing young Miss Su Rudai to weep at home, refusing the engagement.

Now that Cheng Xianzhang had arrived, everything was looking up.