Chapter 39

After Yao Niang's birthday, the weather became increasingly hot. The mountain remained quiet and serene, and even at night, it was still chilly enough to require blankets.

Guan had been here for three months now. She went from complaining and harboring resentment to gradually hoping that Yan Jingzhao would visit her on the mountain, giving her a way out. Perhaps then everything would return to normal.

Unfortunately, that did not happen. For over two months, only the servants from the Yan family brought supplies, and Yan Jingzhao did not send a single word, as if he had forgotten her entirely.

Outside, Xi Que entered with a food box and saw a young girl standing by the door holding the curtain aside. She couldn't help but laugh, "When I first saw you, I thought you were only seven or eight years old. I didn't expect you to be thirteen. After these two months, you've grown taller and more beautiful."

"Thank you, Sister Xi Que, for bringing me here."

"Silly girl, it's all thanks to Madam's kindness. With you around, Madam looks much happier. We all agreed that bringing you in as a maid was the right choice." Xi Que was eager for Madam to be well since she was Madam's maid. Although she had aged, having Madam around gave her more support.

Xi Que delivered the meal and arranged for four people to serve it, but Guan had no appetite.

Xi Que couldn't help but say, "Why don't you let Shan accompany you while you eat? Every time she talks, your mood seems to improve."

"If you wish," Guan said listlessly.

Shan was the maid Guan had bought. Seeing Guan's constant melancholy, she heard that it was because of illness, and after her husband sent her here, he ignored her, which made her angry.

"Madam, you should take care of your health. Only by doing so can you face the future," Shan advised.

Guan replied, "Do you know? You and my little girl were born on the same day. Look how sensible you are, yet she never gives me such advice."

Shan said, "Miss Yan is a noble lady; how could I compare?"

"Not just that. Yesterday, you praised my thriftiness, but in the Yan family, they mock me for being petty. My sister-in-law usually changes new mats every few days in summer and spends a lot on clothes and jewelry." Guan still felt bitter about it, knowing that the money used by Yao Niang should have been theirs eventually.

Shan, who barely had enough to eat, felt fortunate to be with Guan now. She had no idea life could be like this.

Guan desperately needed someone to vent her frustrations to. Shan was different from Xi Que, who was Yan Jingzhao's concubine. There was no issue between them, and Xi Que had a good relationship with both Yao Niang and Jie Shi, so she wouldn't join Guan in complaining. But Shan would.

Shan didn't care about that. She considered Guan her benefactor and naturally supported her.

Guan kept waiting, calculating that Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching. It was a time for family reunions, and she believed the family would bring her back. But nothing happened, and she felt utterly hopeless.

"Madam, Sister Xi Que asked me to bring this over," Shan said as she entered.

Guan looked at Shan and said, "Put it down. Why don't you eat with me?"

"Yes," Shan sat down familiarly.

Guan no longer bothered to complain. She noticed the servants' impatience, and although Xi Que was soft-hearted, Shan managed to keep things under control. How could others look at an abandoned woman?

As the sunset cast its light on the wall, Guan felt even more desolate. She had a plan in mind.

"Shan, this letter is for you. I have an aunt who is currently serving in Kaifeng. Everything is fine except that she has no children. Though she is an official's wife, her family is poor. She treated me like her own daughter. If you're willing to recognize her as your godmother, she will take care of your future. As for me, I won't be able to go out anymore." Guan smiled bitterly.

Shan refused repeatedly, unwilling to accept.

Guan seemed to understand her thoughts: "Good child, you always want to avenge your sister, but your brother-in-law is a constable in Daxing County. Without some skill, how can you avenge her?"

Shan still said, "Madam treats me like a younger sister."

...

Standing outside the curtain, Xi Que thought about her loyalty to Guan. Yet, Guan gave all the benefits to Shan, who was vengeful and might have come here with ulterior motives, crying and shouting specifically to get attention.

**

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Jie Shi's teahouse was bustling with customers due to the variety of offerings and the excellent taste of the pastries made by the master chefs from Suzhou.

Jie Shi also took Yan Jingzhao and Yao Niang to inspect the shop, showing them how to read ledgers, calculate gross profits, and understand market prices clearly.

Although Yan Jingzhao wasn't skilled in business, he told Jie Shi, "Mother, recently, I've been sending our teahouse's mooncakes as gifts and visiting here with colleagues when I have free time to attract more customers."

Jie Shi smiled, "I also plan to invite a storyteller soon to attract more people."

"That's a great idea," Yao Niang clapped her hands.

Jie Shi then remembered Yan Ningxin's wedding and couldn't help asking Yan Jingzhao, "You and Shen Linfeng are colleagues. What do you think of him?"

Shen Linfeng thought for a moment and said, "From what I see, he doesn't seem as cheerful as he appears. He's usually quiet and reserved in the Imperial Academy, avoids socializing, and even seems cold. When women give him gifts, he directly refuses and never accepts them."

"He truly is the excellent son-in-law your father chose. Your elder sister's wedding is next month. Let's go to Fan Lou for dinner and pick out a gift for her afterward," Jie Shi nodded in agreement.

Choosing a gift wasn't a big deal, but getting to go out, even wearing a veil, was exciting for Yao Niang.

Yan Jingzhao kept an eye on the passersby, trying to protect his mother and sister from being seen while also observing the surroundings, keeping himself busy.

In the end, Jie Shi chose a set of cloisonné tea cups as a gift for Yan Ningxin, and the third branch sent two additional sets.

Yao Niang and the others watched the festivities. When Yan Rubei got married, the dowry included even a chamber pot, which amazed everyone. For Yan Ningxin, even a coffin was included, along with eighty pairs of embroidered shoes, all made by top-notch embroiderers from Jiangnan.

Even Yao Niang was envious: "Elder sister really has a grand wedding, enviable indeed."

Few girls wouldn't be moved by such grandeur. Today, Yan Ningxin was the center of attention, surrounded by servants. Hearing Yao Niang's words, she felt a sense of joy, especially since Yao Niang said Shen Linfeng had a clean private life, making Yan Ningxin feel proud as a Yan family daughter.

Even though she didn't like Shen Linfeng, it didn't stop him from being a good husband.

For the bride's last meal at home, ten unmarried girls were required to accompany her, symbolizing perfection. The Yan family had three daughters, and other relatives came from afar to attend the wedding. Even Jie Shi's father, who was in the capital for his duties, joined them, making it easy to select the girls.

Yao Niang sat beside Qian Niang, who asked, "I heard your grandfather came too?"

"It was a coincidence. He was in the capital for his duties and brought us many gifts. Once Elder sister's wedding is over, you and Fourth Sister can come to my place to choose some." Yao Niang was generous in this regard.

Qian Niang looked at Yao Niang and said, "Third Uncle has been promoted to the Chief River Commissioner, and your grandfather is in the capital for his duties. He might be promoted again. You are truly blessed."

"Second Sister, please don't tease me anymore. I'm not the one who's going to be an official. I envy Cousin Rong'an for being so adorable." Yao Niang was immune to their flattery.

Ying Niang felt her teeth grind: "Second Sister, Third Sister, stop flattering each other. The dishes are here; let's eat."

The first dish was called Quanfu, a medley of foods including egg rolls, pork skin, yellow sprouts, meatballs, salted pork, salted chicken, shiitake mushrooms, carp slices, large prawns, and quail eggs.

Yan Ningxin contentedly picked up a quail egg and put it in her mouth. She had heard that the Shen family was small, and she wouldn't have to compete with her sisters as she did at home.

Still, she didn't dare eat too much and only chose dishes with mild flavors.

Yesterday, Mrs. Liu, the Quanfu Lady, had prepared the bed. People said she was young but handled matters excellently. Yao Niang looked around and felt it was truly grand, like flowers blooming and oil burning brightly.

Bronze crane lanterns were placed in the garden, ready to be lit at night. Yao Niang suddenly felt like a traveler.

At dusk, Shen Linfeng arrived in red attire. Yao Niang and the other sisters were in the bridal chamber with the bride, listening to the wedding poems outside. They couldn't help but look at Yan Ningxin.

Someone came in to recount the poems the groom and his attendants had composed. One went: "Shy and reluctant to leave the dressing table, maids surround her with nine-branch hairpins. Tell the tired beauty to lightly apply rouge and come out lazily."

"This one is good," Yao Niang praised.

The person replied: "Third Miss, Master Shen asked the groom to compose three more before he can enter. You should also guard the door well."

Yao Niang, Qian Niang, and Ying Niang discussed: "Who will go first?"

Unexpectedly, Ying Niang felt nervous. Though her scholarship seemed impressive, only she knew it was superficial. She backed out, while Qian Niang, who often participated in poetry societies, was bolder.

Before they could decide, a commotion outside signaled the arrival of the groom and his attendants.

Yao Niang quickly grabbed the door latch and smiled, saying: "Hold on, who are you and what do you want?"

Among those accompanying Shen Linfeng were his cousin Han Jiayi, his nephew Shen Bangyan, and his classmate Wen Yuke. Hearing a clear female voice, they stopped, knowing it must be one of Yan's younger sisters.

Shen Linfeng laughed: "I am the groom, here to take Yan's eldest daughter into my home."

Qian Niang and Ying Niang gestured for Yao Niang to speak. She addressed the door: "If you want to marry our sister, you must pass our test. If you can answer six couplets, we'll open the door willingly."

Shen Linfeng raised an eyebrow: "Which little sister is this? Are you serious?"

"I am Miss Yan San. If I say it, I mean it. Listen to my first couplet." Yao Niang thought for a moment: "Here it is: 'Flowers bloom together, warming mandarin ducks.'"

Han Jiayi immediately responded: "Willow trees intertwine, fresh and united."

Yao Niang raised an eyebrow; this person answered quite quickly. She continued: "Full moon and beautiful flowers, envying the wings."

Shen Linfeng replied: "Heaven and earth endure, predicting harmony."

...

"Jade mirror reflects the union of two gems."

"Milky Way crosses the sky, guiding twin stars."

Yao Niang couldn't help but laugh: "The horizontal scroll is 'Pearls and Jade Together.' I didn't expect the Shen family's brother-in-law to be so quick-witted. We'll open the door now."

Ying Niang, who had been behind her, now wanted to step forward, seemingly to claim credit for the couplets. Yao Niang wasn't about to let her and elbowed her aside, quickly opening the door.

Seeing a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl open the door, everyone recalled a line from "Divine Wanderings": "A thousand years without peer, a beauty to behold. Her face, a nation's charm, astonishes all."

Such beauty was unprecedented. After a brief appearance, the girl moved aside. Ying Niang, remembering her fortune, hurried to the front.

But the scene was chaotic, and no one noticed her.

Yan Ningxin held her fan to her face, her heart pounding as she was led out. Was she really getting married? Seeing the red blur ahead, she felt a sense of unreality.

Shen Linfeng sat on his horse, accepting congratulations from the crowd. For a scholar's son, this age was relatively late for marriage. Now, he would start a family like his parents.

Yan's eldest daughter was known for her cheerful nature and love for wine, not someone prone to jealousy. Recalling her paintings and today's poetry by Miss Yan San, he felt reassured about the family's upbringing.

Mrs. Liu, the Quanfu Lady, rode in a carriage behind them, telling her maid: "They say Miss Yan Er is a talented woman, but now it seems Miss Yan San is the quick-witted one."

"Truly both beautiful and talented."

...

Mrs. Liu had thought she'd return after the ceremony. Yan Ningxin, exhausted, hoped to rest after the ceremony and change clothes, as the headdress was almost unbearable.

However, Wei Wuji arrived during the ceremony.

"Are you really getting married? Are you sure you want to marry him? Do you forget your promise to me because you listen to your father and brother?"

In her heart, Yan Ningxin affirmed her decision to marry Shen Linfeng. Today was a grand event for the entire Yan family, and she couldn't betray their efforts or her cousin.

She peeked through her fan, unwilling to respond. But Wei Wuji showed her the ring of the Prince Qi's heir and waved it.

Yan Ningxin stared numbly at the ring, knowing Wei Wuji's power in Shandong. If he helped Prince Qi against her cousin, the consequences could be dire.

She looked apologetically at Shen Linfeng: "I'm sorry, I need to talk to him."

Once she clarified things, she would return and apologize. Hearing her firm response, Wei Wuji took her hand and led her away.

Mrs. Liu told Shen Linfeng: "Master Shen, this won't do. You must stop them."

"Let them go. This marriage is off." Shen Linfeng was unsure of his feelings. Moments ago, he had envisioned a life with Yan Ningxin, but now she had brought him the greatest humiliation.

Wei Wuji took Yan Ningxin on a horse ride to the outskirts of the city. He smirked: "Fourth Sister, in the end, you still came with me."

"I just want to know what happened to my cousin," Yan Ningxin said.

Wei Wuji laughed: "I promised to protect him since he's your brother. Unfortunately, he refused to follow me or persuade you. So, I left him to fend for himself."

"You..."

Wei Wuji didn't say anything, covering her eyes and leading her to a different courtyard. Then he laughed and said, "Let's make a bet. If Shen Linfeng still wants you after two days here, I lose. But if he doesn't want you anymore, then I'll marry you."

Yan Ningxin thought to herself that she should have known long ago that Wei Wuji was a madman, arrogant and obsessive. No matter; once she returned, she could explain everything to the Shen and Yan families.

Little did she know that the Yan and Shen families were already in chaos. The most furious person was undoubtedly Yan Yingqi, whose face had turned almost purple for the first time. He sent for the Zhen and Xie families to discuss the situation.

Zhen was worse off than Xie, as she had been handling all the arrangements. Now that the bride had run away, she was the one facing the brunt of the blame. Zhen was at a loss for what to do.

"Sir, what are we going to do?"

Xie couldn't help but chime in, "The eldest daughter running away like this will make people think she eloped. We still have three other daughters who are unmarried. The guests and relatives outside don't know about this yet. How are we supposed to explain it? Sir, Sister-in-law, you need to come up with a plan."

Yan Yingqi rubbed his forehead. "Mrs. Liu made it clear that the Shen family has lost face and probably hates us now. Our priority is to find the eldest daughter, send the guests away, and then negotiate with the Shens. Honestly, I don't know what to do either. I've never encountered such a situation."

"Don't panic, sir. Everyone is counting on you," Xie urged anxiously.

Outside, Yan Jingzhao and his brothers, along with Yao Niang and her sisters, were sitting together discussing the situation. Yan Jingzhao suddenly stood up. "I'm going to lead a search party myself. Whether she's alive or dead, we need to give the Shens an explanation."

"Big brother, people are already out searching. Let's wait for Father's instructions," Yao Niang stepped forward to hold him back.

She feared that Yan Jingzhao might get into a fight, as he wasn't known for being weak. If he got hurt, it would be counterproductive.

Yan Jingzhao shook his head. "Yao Niang, let me go. I'll go ask Father for permission. Second brother, third brother, come with me. We need to search for her. This isn't just her problem; if our family ends up with a daughter who eloped, how can we face the entire scholarly community?"

His words were always persuasive, and he led by example. Yan Jingzhang and Yan Jingwen could only listen.

Yan Yingqi had already heard Yan Jingzhao's voice from outside. He called out, "Jingzhao, maintain order at home. Jingzhang and Jingwen, go out and search. How else can we manage the guests?"

"Father..." Yan Jingzhao wanted nothing more than to kick Wei Wuji right then and there.

Yan Yingqi knew well that Yan Jingzhao had a notoriously hot temper. As his beloved eldest son, he couldn't risk him getting into trouble with the censors.

The second and third sons were calmer and less experienced, so it was better to send them out to search.

Yao Niang stepped forward to persuade him. "Brother, listen to Father."

Yan Jingzhao reluctantly agreed. Yan Jingzhang and Yan Jingwen, who rarely handled affairs, were clueless. Yan Jingzhao instructed them, "Second brother, take my note to General Rong of the Five City Military Office and tell him someone abducted Yan Ningxin from the Shens. Third brother, report to the Prefect of Shun Tian Prefecture and accuse the son of the Zizhou military governor of kidnapping the bride."

Yao Niang couldn't help admiring his quick thinking. They couldn't treat this as an elopement; they needed to accuse someone of abduction.

Yan Yingqi also saw the light. "Yes, my daughter was at the Shen residence for the ceremony. If the Shens didn't stop Wei Wuji from entering and didn't prevent her from leaving, perhaps Shen Linfeng planned this?"

Thinking about it, Yan Yingqi felt uneasy. Had they rejected the marriage because Yan Ningxin was raised in the market district? But the Shens had pursued the marriage several times. Was this a setup?

"You can't just decide to marry and then not marry. What kind of game is this?"

"Third sister, what are we going to do?" Ying Niang tugged at Yao Niang's sleeve, panicked.

Yao Niang shook her head. "Fourth sister, our family's reputation is ruined. From now on, we'll have to rely on ourselves." As the eldest sister eloping would cast doubt on the character of all the Yan daughters, they needed to stay strong until people forgot about it.

As everyone was at a loss, the capital was in an uproar. Yan Yingqi and Yan Jingzhao were forced to stay home due to illness. Yan Jingzhao, being Shen Linfeng's peer, felt particularly embarrassed.

Two days later, someone reported to Yan Yingqi, "Sir, bad news. The eldest daughter went to the Shens to apologize, saying it was all her fault."

"She apologized?" Yan Yingqi felt dizzy for the first time.

Yan Jingzhao couldn't help but curse, "That fool! Didn't she realize how easy it was for her to leave? Who let Wei Wuji in? I suspect the Shens did this intentionally."

"It's too late for complaints. We need to solve this. Let's go to the Shens and see what's going on with that wayward daughter." Yan Yingqi, being older, was more composed than Yan Jingzhao.