The brass bells on the sedan chair door jingled delicately in the north wind, their sound crisp and lingering. With only two bearers and one attendant steadying the chair, the party was small and inconspicuous. They turned at the alley entrance and entered Dengshikou Street.
Dingyi lifted the curtain to look outside. The lantern light cast half of Guan Zhaojing's face in brightness, the other half in shadow. She parted her lips and called, "Anda, have you sent someone to investigate the Suo family?"
Guan Zhaojing affirmed, "The Prince gave orders immediately after you entered the city. While you were speaking with Master Wu in the courtyard earlier, I waited outside the gate. The men reported back—Suo Tao had two daughters. The elder died ten years ago, leaving only the younger one, who was betrothed to your Third Prince. The Suo family has no sons, so their lineage faces extinction. Suo Tao wants to find a live-in son-in-law. As you know, no respectable family in the city would willingly send their son to live with his wife's family." Guan Zhaojing shook his head and clicked his tongue. "It's difficult. Those with good character and learning disdain relying on their wife's family, while those willing to marry in are just idlers the Suos wouldn't consider. So the girl has been delayed—already over twenty and still unmarried."
Hearing this gave Dingyi hope. She straightened up and asked, "What about now? Has she found anyone?"
"Not yet," Guan Zhaojing replied. "Strangely, several decent matches were proposed later, but the girl, usually fine, would suddenly fall ill whenever marriage was mentioned—raving and calling her father 'uncle.' Rumors spread that the second Suo daughter was mad, and suitors dwindled. Though some greedy for their wealth or widowers seeking second wives tried their luck, they were all driven away."
This news brought mixed feelings. The girl being unmarried was good, but her madness complicated matters. Dingyi patted her knee in thought—was the illness at marriage proposals feigned? Perhaps she was another lovesick soul, unable to forget Rujian and choosing lifelong spinsterhood!
Anxious, she leaned out and glimpsed the banner of Jiren Hall. The Suo residence was at the entrance of Beiguanchang Alley, just as Seventh Lord had described—an oddly shaped quadrangle courtyard, seemingly deep, with a standalone building inside. Two large lanterns hung from its eaves, bearing the character "Suo."
At the gate, hesitation struck. She wanted to enter and speak with the girl but lacked a pretext. Here, Guan Zhaojing's face served as a living credential. He stepped forward and knocked—the sound loud in the silent night. Soon, the gatekeeper peeked out, recognized Guan Zhaojing, and exclaimed, "Greetings, Master Guan! What brings you here in this cold? Please come in—" He glanced beyond the threshold and hesitated. "Who's in the sedan? Could it be the Prince...?"
Guan Zhaojing smiled. "Close enough. Inform Master Suo at once—our young lady has come to visit."
The gatekeeper didn't know who this "young lady" was, but her status was clearly lofty. He dared not slight her, waving repeatedly for a servant to report inside while bowing deeply himself, performing a kowtow to invite the lady in.Suo Tao received the news and immediately ran out from the main hall, holding up the hem of his robe. As someone well-versed in official circles, he was quick to gather information. Taking in the visitor's refined attire and the presence of Prince Chun's Residence's chief steward as an escort, he had already guessed most of the situation. Approaching, he hastily performed a kowtow. Unsure how to address her—given she had no official status and her background was unclear—he simply resorted to flattery, saying, "Your humble servant Suo Tao pays his respects to the young lady. For you to visit in person at such a late hour fills me with trepidation. Had you any orders, you need only have sent a messenger. How could we dare trouble you to come in person?"
Dingyi quickly urged Magistrate Suo to rise, smiling as she said, "My visit is far too presumptuous. I hope Magistrate Suo will not take offense."
Suo Tao hurriedly assured her he wouldn’t dare and led her to the main hall. Madam Suo waited at the door, offering repeated curtseys and instructing maids to serve tea and refreshments with great attentiveness.
Truthfully, the Suo family couldn’t fathom why this visitor had arrived at night. They usually had little interaction with Prince Chun's Residence, leaving them utterly perplexed. Once seated, an awkward silence ensued, glances darting back and forth like arrows. It was Guan Zhaojing who broke the ice first, surveying the surroundings with admiration. "Magistrate Suo’s home is splendidly arranged—spacious and comfortable. How many are in your household now? How many sons and daughters do you have?"
Uncertain of his intentions, Suo Tao hesitated before replying, "I have no sons, only one daughter..."
Dingyi seized the opportunity. "Might I have the honor of meeting your daughter?"
Suo Tao was taken aback again. He exchanged a glance with his wife and whispered, "Go, have our daughter come out to greet the young lady."
Madam Suo left and soon returned with their daughter. Having briefly explained the visitor’s status beforehand, the girl remained silent and offered a double curtsey upon entering.
Dingyi stood to assist her, studying her closely. She was a neatly dressed and presentable young woman. At twenty-seven, her prime years had already passed, leaving only the inevitable decline of youth. Yet she carried herself well, naturally avoiding any air of aging, her attire appropriate, with no visible traces of time on her face.
Taking her hand, Dingyi found it difficult to converse freely with so many present and instead asked softly, "Sister, are you waiting for someone?"
The second daughter was startled, her eyes flickering briefly. But with age came composure, and she smiled faintly. "You’ve noticed?"
This must be it! Overjoyed, Dingyi squeezed her hand firmly. "I feel an instant connection with you, sister. Could we find a quiet place to talk properly?"
The second daughter agreed and led her to the main hall in the second courtyard. After maids served tea and were dismissed, the two sat facing each other. Dingyi held her teacup, studying the other woman, who sat upright with an open and unguarded expression.
Neither spoke, and the silence grew stifling. Hongce had warned her against revealing too much, but Dingyi pondered—keeping secrets might not help. She needed to test the waters. If this woman truly was waiting for Rujian, the news she brought could be life-saving!
Setting down her cup, Dingyi smiled. "You must be wondering why a stranger like me has come to speak with you... But we aren’t entirely strangers. Though we’ve never met, there’s a connection." She paused, then ventured cautiously, "Forgive my boldness, but I’ve heard you were once betrothed to the Wen family of the Censorate, correct? After their downfall, you remained unmarried. May I ask why?"The second young lady looked up at her. Such matters were buried deep in one's heart, untouched by anyone. Suddenly, someone fell from the sky and immediately began picking at her scars—should she be happy or angry? Anyone else would have been displeased, but she wasn't. She had been lonely for too long and needed an outlet. This person hadn't come in the middle of the night for no reason—there must be something behind it. Whether good or bad, having hope was better than having none.
Her heart warmed, a surge of emotion rising within her. Suppressing it with effort, she finally said, "You're a noble, and I'm just a bondservant—I don't deserve to be called 'sister' by you. My family name is Suochuoluo—you can call me Hailan. Earlier, you asked me if I was waiting for someone. That's right, I am. I don't know why you're bringing this up, but I can tell you didn't come here out of mere curiosity."
Dingyi nodded in agreement. "I know a little about your situation. Turning down so many marriage proposals over the years must have been difficult for you."
Hailan smiled faintly. "If you know about my refusals, then you must also know I was forced to feign madness... The one I'm waiting for was exiled to Changbai Mountain. I've tried many ways but couldn't find out his whereabouts. As a woman, I've wanted to go there to look for him several times but never managed it. Honestly, I'm afraid too—I've never traveled far and don't know if I could even find him. To me, he's a hero. As long as he's alive, he'll surely break free from his slave status and return to Beijing. I'm powerless myself, so I can only hope he'll come looking for me. There's nothing I can do for him—just wait. Wait for him to come back and see that I'm still unmarried, still a pure maiden."
So it wasn't just her and the Twelfth Master who loved so deeply in this world. When a responsible man met an equally stubborn woman, many impossibilities turned into possibilities.
Dingyi sighed with emotion. "From your betrothal to the Wen family's downfall, it wasn't that long. How could you be so determined to wait for him? With exile, so many things are uncertain—he might have died on the way. Aren't you afraid your waiting might end in vain?"
Hailan still smiled. "You're right, and I've thought about that too. But I can't help being stubborn. I was betrothed to him when I was fourteen—he was a year older. Back then, my family lived in Qinlao Hutong, and his family in Shanlao Hutong. After his duties at the palace, he would take a detour from Beihai all the way south, passing by our house every day. It was obvious he was going out of his way to see me. If I stepped out to meet him, he'd pretend and say, 'Oh, what a coincidence!' as if I were a fool!" She reminisced, her cheeks slowly reddening. Subconsciously smoothing the folds of her skirt, she murmured, "He was a Second-rank Guard, wearing a dark purple mandarin jacket and a red velvet hat, with a saber at his waist, riding tall on his horse as he clip-clopped through the hutong—he looked so majestic. Later, I was too shy to see him every day, so I hung a red handkerchief in the window. When he saw it, he knew I was home—that was our silent connection. Then... his father was convicted, and he was exiled. At that time, I truly..."
She shook her head, as if words couldn't describe it. Dingyi understood her feelings—the sentiments of a young girl, once someone entered her heart, might stay there for a lifetime. She found it amusing and muttered to herself, "Rujian seemed so serious, but it turns out he was quite the charmer."Hailan gave a violent start at the mention of that name. She stood up and grabbed Dingyi’s sleeve. “You know Rujian? Where is he now?”
Dingyi placed her hand over Hailan’s and gently pulled her back down. “Don’t worry, he’s doing well. I can’t tell you where he is, but he should be returning to the capital soon. He thinks of you often. The fact that you haven’t married yet is the best possible news. It must be fate—even after more than a decade apart, your paths will cross again.”
Hailan burst into tears, laughing through them as she wiped her cheeks. “I’m so happy—forgive me for being so emotional. Has he married? Does he have a wife?”
“How could he marry when you’re still single?” Dingyi dabbed her tears with a handkerchief. “I’m telling you this to give you hope, but you mustn’t breathe a word to anyone. It could put him in danger.”
Hailan eagerly agreed, then hesitated as she studied Dingyi. “If I had to guess, you’re…”
“Who I am doesn’t matter.” Dingyi stood and glanced outside. “It’s getting late—I should go. Remember what I said: if anyone else comes to propose, keep refusing. Give him a little more time. Once he returns, everything will be all right.”
Hailan nodded and composed herself to escort Dingyi to the front courtyard. Guan Zhaojing and Suo Tao had been chatting idly and quickly rose to meet them. Guan turned and bowed slightly to the Suo couple. “Well, we won’t impose any longer. We’ll take our leave now. Next time, let’s meet at Zhengyang Tower for a drink—agreed?”
Suo Tao murmured, “Agreed, agreed,” as he saw them out the gate.
Once they were gone, still utterly confused, he asked his daughter, “What did the Twelfth Master’s betrothed Princess Consort come here for? Did you two know each other before?”
It wasn’t time for the truth yet—even her own parents had to be kept in the dark. Hailan replied, “No, she knew I had many embroidery patterns and came specifically to borrow some.” Before her parents could question further, she turned and headed toward the side courtyard.
Meanwhile, Dingyi returned to Wine and Vinegar Bureau Alley. The brightly lit main hall greeted her, where a man stood admiring a painting on the wall. She smiled faintly, handed her cloak to a maid, and hurried through the lattice door. Sneaking up behind him, she covered his eyes.
“Cat or dog?” he chuckled, prying her hands away before turning to embrace her. “Look at you, so busy—coming back this late kept me waiting.”
She stretched and grumbled, “I’ve been busy too, with so much to do! I met the Suo family’s second daughter—she never married, stubbornly sticking to her path. Poor thing. Then I went to my master’s place, but before we could talk much, an old neighbor insisted on making me a godmother. Just so you know, I have a godson now.”
His hands slid down to pinch her willow-like waist. “Seems like quite the fruitful trip—all the good luck’s come your way. Since that’s the case, let’s strike while the iron’s hot. Tomorrow is my mother’s birthday, and the Empress is visiting Langrun Garden to celebrate. We’ll go together—perfect chance to meet her and settle things before complications arise.”
Though he didn’t say it outright, he was hoping to borrow some of her luck. His worry wasn’t unfounded—it was his mother, the Noble Consort!
Dingyi looked up at him. “Hongce, what if your mother doesn’t agree? What do we do then?”He fell silent for a moment, then said with a furrowed brow, "What I told Seventh Master today was sincere. The men of our Yuwen family all face this trial - our marriages always cause discord among relatives. First it was the Emperor Emeritus, then the Emperor, and now it's my turn. What they accomplished, I can achieve too."
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