Blossom

Ji Yong didn't return to Yuqiao Lane until lantern-lighting time.

Granny Han didn't dare say it was Han Shi looking for him, instead making meaningful glances at Zi Xi who was walking behind him.

Zi Xi nodded to indicate he understood, and only then did Granny Han return to report to Han Shi: "The young master has returned. I've told Zi Xi, and he'll find an opportunity to come report."

Han Shi felt slightly relieved. With a cheerful smile, she accompanied Ji Shi and his son through dinner, sent Ji Qi off to study in the library, then waited in the main hall drinking tea while anticipating Zi Xi's arrival.

About half an hour later, Zi Xi came to pay his respects after completing his duties.

Han Shi stationed Granny Han outside the door and pulled Zi Xi into the heated room for a private conversation.

"Does the young master have any romantic interests outside?" Han Shi asked in a lowered voice.

Zi Xi was momentarily stunned before realizing what she meant.

"No, not at all!" he quickly replied. "The young master never visits pleasure quarters."

Han Shi breathed a sigh of relief.

By all rights, her son was old enough to be married. When he first passed the provincial examination as top candidate, prominent families across Jiangnan had rushed to propose matches, nearly wearing out the Ji family's doorstep. Yet her son had merely snorted coldly, consulted no one, and posted an incomplete couplet at their gate, declaring: "Whichever young lady can compose a matching line that pleases me shall become Ji Jianming's destined match."

Most Jiangnan women were well-read, and countless sought to create this romantic tale.

Many outstanding matching lines emerged—some even made the old master stroke his beard in approval—yet none satisfied Ji Yong's standards.

As time passed, people began to understand.

This wasn't Ji Yong seeking a wife—it was his way of rejecting marriage proposals!

While the women who'd submitted lines felt humiliated, Ji Jianming broke out in cold sweat when he realized his son's intention. He personally removed the couplet—if this continued, the Ji family would offend every notable clan in Jiangnan.

The matriarchs with marriageable daughters developed mixed feelings toward Ji Yong, and naturally no one mentioned his marriage again.

Han Shi feared her son might be entangled with some courtesan.

Given Ji Yong's temperament, if not keeping her outside, he'd surely bring her home.

What would they do then?

Refuse recognition—would Ji Yong comply?

Accept her—even if they pretended ignorance of her background, the families Ji Yong had rejected wouldn't let the matter rest. How would the Ji family save face then?

The thought alone made her restless.

Hearing her son remained proper, she brightened with joy.

But this relief lasted mere moments before Han Shi realized something was wrong.

That wooden hairpin was clearly for a woman!

While the Ji family wasn't among the wealthiest, emeralds, cat's eyes, even diamonds weren't rare in their household. Yet Ji Yong ignored these treasures to secretly keep a wooden hairpin—likely carved by his own hands... To claim its recipient was merely an acquaintance would be less believable than iron trees blooming.

Her smile froze as she urgently asked Zi Xi: "Where has the young master gone and whom has he met since leaving Yixing?"

Ever since Ji Yong started carving that hairpin, Zi Xi had felt like he was roasting over flames.The young master treats Fourth Miss Dou too well... He wanted to remind Han Shi, but feared she might dismiss it. Yet if the young lord continued like this, the day he caused trouble, those serving him closely wouldn’t just face questions about their respect for the Ji family elders—it would be about their moral corruption, leading the master astray. Even with the young lord’s protection, the Ji family would never tolerate them.

When Han Shi questioned him now, he was both startled and relieved, dropping to his knees before her. He recounted how Ji Yong had decided to visit Ji Shi in Zhen Ding, how he met Dou Zhao, how she dealt with Pang Kunbai, and how Ji Yong came to regard her differently... leaving nothing out.

Han Shi listened, her heart pounding. It took her a long moment to recover. "Are you saying Jianming carved this wooden hairpin himself for Fourth Miss Dou?"

Zi Xi nodded. "The young lord drew the design and carved it himself. It took nearly a month."

Han Shi frowned. "Then why didn’t he give it to her? If I recall correctly, Fourth Miss Dou’s coming-of-age ceremony was on the tenth of the first lunar month."

Ji Lingze had attended Dou Zhao’s ceremony.

Zi Xi hesitated. "The young lord said... if he couldn’t be Named on the Golden List this time, he had no right to send her a congratulatory gift..."

Han Shi’s expression darkened.

Fourth Miss Dou held such weight in her son’s heart!

If that was the case, why hadn’t he told her? They could have formally sought a marriage proposal. Was he afraid Fourth Miss Dou would look down on him?

The thought left Han Shi with mixed feelings.

Her son—brilliant, learned, the envy of many, the one countless families sought to ally with—was now lowering himself to please a girl!

What was so special about Fourth Miss Dou? Not only was she the eldest daughter of a widowed mother, but she was also cold and ruthless, willing to beat someone to death if she wished. If she married into the family, with her son already tiptoeing around her, how could Han Shi assert her authority as mother-in-law? It would be like bringing home a living ancestor!

But if they refused... aside from the patriarch, no one in the family could control her son. And the patriarch was old—he couldn’t oversee him forever.

According to Zi Xi, though Fourth Miss Dou was ruthless, she had a strong will. Her son had obediently taken the imperial exams this time only after being mocked by her.

A wife’s virtue lay in guiding her husband to better himself and bring honor to the family. Thinking this way, Han Shi’s perspective shifted subtly.

Even if her son didn’t marry Fourth Miss Dou, would he grow closer to her? But if he married her... a woman’s domain was the inner courtyard. If Han Shi could keep her daughter-in-law close, she could keep her son too...

Han Shi couldn’t help but feel this idea had merit.

It seemed she needed to inquire more carefully about Fourth Miss Dou from her sister-in-law.

Having made up her mind, she instructed Zi Xi, "What was said here today leaves your lips and enters my ears. It must not reach a third person. Do you understand?"

"Rest assured, madam," Zi Xi knew the gravity of the matter and swore, "If I speak of this beyond these doors, may I be struck by lightning and die a wretched death!"Han Shi nodded, motioning for Zi Xi to rise, and said, "You needn't concern yourself with this matter anymore. I will handle it." A hint of joy flickered across her brow.

Zi Xi understood immediately.

He inwardly groaned and steeled himself to speak: "Madam, Fourth Miss Dou has already been betrothed..."

"What did you say?" Han Shi paled in shock. "What exactly is going on? What else haven't you told me?"

"I've concealed nothing from you, Madam," Zi Xi replied, realizing Han Shi had misunderstood the relationship between Ji Yong and Dou Zhao. He proceeded to recount in detail the interactions between the two.

Han Shi's expression shifted between light and shadow, her mouth slightly agape. After a long moment, she murmured, "So it seems Jianming is the only one with unrequited feelings?"

Zi Xi lowered his head, not daring to respond.

"What should we do?!" Han Shi thought of her son's temperament and nearly burst into tears.

"What's happened?" Ji Qi entered unexpectedly. "Has Jianming caused trouble again?" The scene before him filled him with concern.

"No!" Han Shi dismissed Zi Xi and forced herself to attend to Ji Qi's change of clothes. "I merely summoned Zi Xi to inquire about Jianming's recent activities."

Though Ji Qi doted on Ji Yong and often turned a blind eye to his antics, he was far from careless.

He grasped his wife's shoulders and spoke earnestly: "Do you know why Grandfather didn't allow Jianming to grow up by our side? A person without virtue cannot stand firm, nor can a nation without virtue prosper. Jianming has been exceptionally clever since childhood. Grandfather feared we would spoil him, focusing solely on his studies while neglecting his character... If Jianming has done wrong, you must not conceal it for him. At his young age, he already answers to no one. If you indulge him unconditionally, even if he tops the imperial examinations, he may never become a minister remembered in history."

Ji Qi's words broke the dam. Han Shi could no longer hold back her tears, which fell like rain: "Jianming... he's taken a fancy to another man's betrothed..." Between sobs, she recounted the entire story, including how Ji Yong had personally carved a wooden hairpin for Dou Zhao.

As Ji Qi listened, his expression grew increasingly grave: "Is this true?"

"Why would I lie about such a disgraceful matter?" Han Shi wiped her tears. "That hairpin is still hidden beneath Jianming's pillow!"

Ji Qi was at a loss for words.

His son had never been one for peace and quiet since childhood.

One misstep in this matter could not only ruin Fourth Miss Dou's reputation but also end Ji Yong's official career before it began.

After some thought, he resolved firmly: "We must inform Grandfather and seek his counsel." He added, "For now, Jianming merely harbors feelings for Fourth Miss Dou in his heart. Don't alert him—just ensure he doesn't suddenly dash off to Zhen Ding in the dead of night. We'll wait for Grandfather's decision."

Han Shi agreed and helped her husband compose a letter. Early the next morning, she sent a trusted servant to deliver it personally to Yixing.

Ji Yong knew his mother had summoned Zi Xi for questioning.

His attendants were frequently called away for interrogations these days.Ji Yong believed he had nothing to fear from others knowing his affairs and paid it no mind. After giving all the books from his residence at Shuntian Prefecture School to Dou Zhengchang and Dou Dechang, he initially planned to make a trip to Daxing. However, recalling that the palace examination was just a few days away, he realized that if he achieved a high rank, he could simply instruct the Ji family stewards to handle matters for him. Running around aimlessly like a headless fly would only be exhausting and yield little information. Thus, he decided to wait until the examination results were announced. He moved back to Yuqiao Hutong, gathered all the government gazettes from the past decade, consulted his uncle and father, and carefully analyzed the emperor’s intentions, preparing for every possible scenario in the palace examination. By the end of February, when the Metropolitan Examination results were released, Ji Yong had placed fourth.

The Ji family could no longer—nor needed to—conceal their joy.

At Ji Yong’s age, even if he underperformed in the palace examination, he would still likely be ranked among the top three as a Tanhua (third-place finisher).

Yet Ji Yong remained composed, carrying on as usual, though inwardly he wondered: Could Dou Zhao’s prediction actually come true? Will I only manage to be announced at the Golden Palace Proclamation...?

Han Shi grew increasingly anxious. Privately, she said to her husband, “Even this won’t be enough to give Fourth Miss Dou a proper explanation?” Her words provoked a glare from Ji Qi, who couldn’t help but scold her: “What nonsense are you spouting?”