Love Like the Galaxy

Shao Shang quickened her pace while grumbling inwardly—

Since when did delinquents have to keep their word? Did he think this was some movie where gangsters upheld brotherhood and honor? She had only agreed to escape the situation, just like how one would comply when a robber yells, "Don't move, hand over your money!" Did that mean you’d actually freeze in place?

Besides, her stint as a delinquent had been half-hearted at best! After her hometown reaped the first wave of reform benefits, a quarter of the townsfolk became overnight millionaires. The rest either worked for the state or for the nouveau riche—employment rates in Yu Town had never been higher. Who had time to seriously dabble in delinquency? Everyone was too busy making money! And with grassroots control so tight, most young troublemakers were just kids whose grandparents couldn’t rein them in while their parents were away. Their usual haunts were game arcades, pool halls, and watered-down bars.

By now, Shao Shang’s mood had lifted, and she obediently returned to the banquet. The moment Cheng Yang spotted her, she was overjoyed and immediately pulled Shao Shang down onto the mat beside her, chiding, "Auntie came by earlier to check on us. I told her you’d gone to freshen up. The banquet’s about to start—if you hadn’t come back, she would’ve scolded you again..."

Cheng Yang was so anxious her forehead glistened with sweat. She was genuinely terrified of the mother-daughter clashes now.

Shao Shang handed her fur coat to a maid and glanced at the group of young ladies seated across from them, puzzled. "None of them said anything about me?"

Cheng Yang bit her lip and whispered, "They wouldn’t dare! I’d expose all the nasty things they said to drive you away!"

Sure enough, none of the girls dared to mock Shao Shang anymore. The banquet atmosphere was unprecedentedly harmonious, with everyone pretending the earlier unpleasantness had never happened, exchanging bland and harmless gossip.

As Gu Long once said, a group of men not talking about women was as impossible as a group of women not talking about men. Someone must have started it, because soon enough, the girls were gushing about "Young Master Shanjian." One blushed as she praised his "brilliance and talent," while another sighed dreamily over his "impeccable manners and grace..."

"Yuan Shanjian came to the side hall?" Shao Shang was surprised. Who knew he was such a flirt, making a beeline for a crowd of girls?

Cheng Yang scoffed. "Don’t listen to their nonsense. We didn’t even catch a glimpse of his sleeve."

Turns out, after Yuan Shen paid his respects to Cheng Mu, he hadn’t so much as glanced sideways before slipping back to the male guests. Not only had the young ladies in the side hall missed him, even the middle-aged and elderly women hadn’t gotten a word in. He had, however, left behind a few young boys—around seven or eight years old—to serve the newly brewed fruit wine from the Yuan household to all the female guests, including those in the side hall.

"Who invited him? Does our family have ties with the Yuans?" Shao Shang whispered.

Cheng Yang shook her head. "Probably not. But Young Master Yuan mentioned that the teacher of Eldest Cousin’s superior once studied under the same master as his father."

That connection sounded about as close as the distance from the Crystal Palace to the Cold Palace. Shao Shang quickly pieced it together.

That scoundrel had used the boys serving wine as an excuse to locate her. When he realized she’d just left the side hall, a quick inquiry would’ve led him westward—where he then chased her down to "ask for a favor." Judging by his age, he was likely relaying a message for some elder. If she wasn’t mistaken, it was probably one of Third Aunt’s old flames.At this thought, Shao Shang quickly grabbed Cheng Yang's sleeve and asked softly, "Um, elder sister, may I ask you about a literary piece?" She felt a bit embarrassed. "Is there a rhapsody that mentions something about the Orchid Terrace and a palace in the southern part of the city..."

Before she could finish, Cheng Yang laughed. "That's the famous rhapsody 'Changmen' by Teacher Sima. So Niao Niao ran out earlier to ponder literature. Auntie would surely be delighted to know."

Shao Shang forced a few chuckles and asked, "Is this rhapsody... very famous...?"

A pang of sorrow struck Cheng Yang's heart. She suddenly realized how sheltered and warm her life had been, oblivious to so much. Softening her voice, she replied, "Not extremely famous, but many admire its elegant and dignified prose. Since it doesn't touch on political matters, it's often read by young ladies for leisure."

Shao Shang nodded. Cheng Yong had mentioned this before. In the late years of the previous dynasty, Emperor Li, deeply fearful of public criticism of his misdeeds, had enforced brutal measures to suppress dissent, the effects of which lingered to this day. Well, that Yuan Shen must be laughing at her inwardly by now.

"...Cousin," Shao Shang asked with a smile, "what do you think of Young Master Shanjian?" Compared to the starry-eyed girls around them, Cheng Yang's composed expression earned her some respect.

Cheng Yang smiled wryly. "From start to finish, I've never even seen this Young Master Yuan. What is there to think about?"

Shao Shang smirked. Fair enough—even fangirling had its limits. Cheng Yang had only been in the Capital City for a few months, unlike those who grew up here and had seen the man himself from near or far.

But just because Cheng Yang had no thoughts didn't mean others didn't. Madam Xiao, for one, had plenty.

Though the Yuan family's status and influence surpassed the Cheng family's, the gap wasn't insurmountable. Besides, it was common for higher-ranking families to marry into lower ones, so the disparity wasn't beyond her wildest dreams. The next day, she summoned Cheng Yong for a detailed inquiry about Yuan Shen. Cheng Yong was equally puzzled.

"Teacher Shangguan's mentor was the senior brother of Yan Divine Immortal. The old master loved hosting lectures and taking disciples—hundreds, if not thousands, have studied under him. Perhaps Lord Yuan... also attended...?"

Madam Xiao pressed further about Yuan Shen's family situation and marital status. Learning he was unmarried, she wondered, "As the only son and already twenty-one, why hasn't he married yet?"

Cheng Yong scratched his head in frustration. "I truly don't know. I’ve only heard that Madam Yuan is famously detached from worldly affairs, devoted to spiritual cultivation. With Lord Yuan stationed away, perhaps there’s no one to arrange the marriage? But..." He recalled something and added, "Recently, during the gathering of Confucian scholars to discuss classics, a Great Confucian Scholar took a liking to him and offered his daughter or niece or something..."

"And then?" Madam Xiao pressed.

Cheng Yong continued, "Yuan Shanjian replied that the clan elders already had plans for his marriage, so he couldn’t make private promises. The scholar, displeased and relying on his prestige, insisted on knowing which family’s daughter was chosen. Yuan Shanjian’s expression turned cold. He pointed out three or four errors in the scholar’s writings and said, 'If the master devoted more effort to his studies and less to meddling in others’ marriages, such oversights wouldn’t occur.' The scholar was so furious he left the palace that very day and returned to his hometown."Madam Xiao listened with mixed feelings—pleased that Yuan Shen was indeed outstanding, yet worried that the marriage might not be easy to arrange. She asked her son again, "Do you think Yang Yang is a good match for him? I intend to find a virtuous person to mediate." Her eldest son was tight-lipped, so she didn’t hesitate to speak openly.

Cheng Yong shook his head, disapproving inwardly. "It’s hard to say. Yuan Shanjian is warm on the surface but cold at heart. He appears easygoing, but in truth, he has strong opinions. Unless he’s willing himself, no amount of persuasion from others will work. Didn’t those Great Confucian Scholars boast about their daughters’ virtue and grace? Yet they still hit a wall." Matchmaking was all about matchmakers exaggerating merits, after all.

Madam Xiao hesitated. She trusted her eldest son’s judgment deeply. After a long pause, she sighed, "What a pity we didn’t arrange for Yuan Shen to meet Yang Yang yesterday." Truth be told, she wasn’t particularly skilled in matters of marriage either.

Cheng Yong gave his mother a strange look, restraining himself before whispering, "Mother, do you think… Yuan Shanjian would be willing just from one look at Yang Yang…?" Did she really believe her niece’s appearance could captivate at first sight?

Madam Xiao glared at her son. "Enough of such shallow talk. Isn’t a wife chosen for her character?"

Seeing his mother being stubborn, Cheng Yong immediately fell silent.

Cheng Shi, when in high spirits from drinking, would sometimes jest with his sons about his and his wife’s romantic history. Back then, he had been utterly smitten the first time he saw Madam Xiao from afar, losing his mind for days. Of course, after marriage, he discovered his wife was exceptionally intelligent and capable. Decades of shared hardships only deepened his love and respect for her.

As a man, Cheng Yong understood what young men truly thought. Moreover, no matter how excellent one’s character or talent, a single meeting couldn’t reveal much. Unless the woman was a renowned talent, mutual admiration was unlikely—and Cheng Yang hadn’t reached that level yet.

In fact, he privately thought it might be better to have his younger sister meet Yuan Shen instead. Not to boast of unparalleled beauty, but at least she was unique and unforgettable at first glance. But he wouldn’t say this aloud. It was only proper to marry off Yang Yang first before considering Niao Niao’s prospects—eldest before youngest. Niao Niao was still young; there was no rush.

From her son’s expression, Madam Xiao could easily guess his thoughts. In truth, her earlier words had been stubborn too. If it were the groom’s mother making the selection, she had full confidence in Cheng Yang. But based on what she’d just heard, Yuan Shen, though he had parents and elders, had already begun steering his own household. Marriage wasn’t something that could be settled just by convincing his parents.

But how could they make Yuan Shen willingly seek Cheng Yang’s hand? Madam Xiao couldn’t help but ponder deeply.

She knew how to gather provisions, arrange encampments, and discern enemy weaknesses to assess situations. But when it came to matchmaking, she was truly out of her depth. Both her own marriages had been the result of the other party’s persistent pursuit. Sang Shi had been chosen by Cheng Zhi after years at White Deer Mountain, and Ge Shi had been arranged by their parents. Cheng Yang didn’t fit any of these scenarios.

Madam Xiao couldn’t help but silently blame Ge Shi for not being more beautiful—though, upon reflection, Grandfather Ge and his wife had honest, plain features, so it was unfair to expect otherwise. She sighed wistfully, remembering her late parents, both strikingly handsome. She took after Grand Duke Xiao in looks, while her daughter resembled Xiao Laofuren.

Thinking of her daughter Shao Shang, Madam Xiao felt even more inclined to sigh. These days, she had completely left Shao Shang to her own devices, yet the girl showed no sign of panic and even conducted herself with surprising discipline.Every morning, Shao Shang would rise to pay respects to her elders. Regardless of whether Cheng Mu's expression was pleasant or unpleasant, or whether her words were kind or harsh, Shao Shang maintained the same composed demeanor, performed the same formal bows, and left at precisely the same time each day. Following this, she would spend her days reading, practicing calligraphy, or occasionally coaxing her elder brothers to take her out for a stroll.

Her destinations were rather peculiar—mostly shops, marketplaces, farmlands, and manors. She would tirelessly inquire about the prices of grain, cloth, and daily necessities, and meticulously seek advice from elderly farmers on matters like crop rotation and animal husbandry.

Taking advantage of the clear weather these past few days, she even learned a set of Five Animal Frolics from Shaogong. A few days prior, she had also obtained some vegetable seeds, nurtured them indoors by the warmth of a brazier with soil and water, and successfully sprouted dozens of seedlings—only for the entire family to devour them in a single meal.

—Well, even if her mother disapproved, life remained vibrant and colorful.

Madam Xiao admitted that her previous assessment of her daughter had been mistaken, but her husband wasn’t entirely correct either. He claimed she was too arrogant, yet it was their daughter who was the most self-assured person in the entire household—utterly independent and unyielding.

Her sons had urged Shao Shang countless times to spend more time attending to Cheng Mu, to say a few more flattering words to demonstrate filial piety—it wouldn’t cost her any effort. Yet her dear daughter remained steadfast, speaking only what was necessary and doing only what was required, never sparing an extra glance beyond that.

This left Cheng Mu utterly exasperated. Whether she used cold words to mock and pressure her granddaughter or gentle words to coax and reconcile, it was all like throwing stones into the sea—utterly futile. She once lamented to Cheng Shi, "Does Niao Niao still secretly resent me?"

Of course, Cheng Shi had nothing but praise for his daughter.

Thus, Cheng Mu grew despondent. The past decade or so had been spent listening to Cheng Shi defend Yuan Yi with, "Mother, you’ve misunderstood her." Now, was she to start hearing, "Mother, you’ve misunderstood Niao Niao"?

This time, however, Madam Xiao found herself inexplicably understanding her daughter. Shao Shang’s behavior wasn’t due to arrogance or self-importance—she simply refused to forgive.

Madam Xiao had a vague sense that her daughter didn’t need a mother at all. Even when she experienced her first Heavenly Sunflower a few days prior, she had calmly instructed A Zhu to handle everything without a hint of panic. But how could a young girl not need a mother? Even someone as strong-willed as Madam Xiao herself had once harbored deep expectations and dependence on Xiao Laofuren in her youth—though it had ended only in disappointment.

This feeling was deeply unsettling, even leaving her somewhat at a loss.

Yet, at this moment, Shao Shang was also at a loss.

In this world, there were only three paths to self-reliance: wealth, fame, or power. In other words, one could engage in commerce or invention, produce scholarly works, or enter government service.

This was no longer an era of chaos. For a woman like her, becoming an official was clearly too difficult (not to mention, even in turbulent times, she had no confidence in becoming a female general). Pursuing scholarly endeavors didn’t seem much easier—after all, she had been a science student for years, and switching abruptly to the humanities would require at least a decade or two of effort before yielding any notable results. That left only business or invention.

Many inventions weren’t beyond her capabilities—the issue was their feasibility for widespread adoption.

For instance, she could brew rice wine far more fragrant and refined than what was currently available on the market. But with the empire just emerging from turmoil, the Emperor was vigorously promoting frugality, stopping just short of issuing a prohibition on alcohol. How could she justify using so much grain for brewing?

Similarly, she wasn’t incapable of developing greenhouse cultivation techniques, but the output was meager and the costs exorbitant—even the Cheng family could scarcely afford it. Unless one owned a mine, such ventures would likely remain limited to luxury novelties.For another example, she could also make soap, perfume, and mouthwash salts, but which barely-fed commoners would buy these? There were also things she couldn’t produce without sufficient combustion heat and heat-resistant vessels.

Professor Herring had once said in class that the greatest value of Edison’s story about testing tungsten filaments wasn’t some tear-jerking inspirational tale, but the lesson that scientific inventions incapable of mass industrial production and widespread civilian use wouldn’t be accepted by the era.

So, was the only path a niche luxury route? Shao Shang pondered bitterly. Though she had been a good student in her past life, she hadn’t yet entered the workforce. She vaguely sensed that dealing with the top echelons of nobility wouldn’t be so simple.

Still, taking smaller steps wasn’t without its rewards.

Regarding improving grain cultivation, Shao Shang had some ideas now, and she felt she could enhance those cumbersome waterwheels and farming tools… Then, for the 101st time, she sighed—why couldn’t she have been reborn as a man? Just look at how smug that Yuan Shen was!

At this thought, Shao Shang suddenly had an epiphany. The reason Yuan Shen’s voice sounded familiar was that she had heard it before! The revolving lantern had been so far away, and he hadn’t spoken at all. So Yuan Shen was the Bamboo Hydrangea!

Still, she wouldn’t lift a finger for that Bamboo Hydrangea.

That day, Cheng Yang, following Madam Xiao’s orders, went to the Cheng family’s warehouse to take inventory and dragged along the listless Shao Shang. Thinking a stroll might do her good, Shao Shang brought Lian Fang, A Mei, and a few sturdy maidservants along.

Madam Qing Cong reported the matter with a smile: “Why are you so worked up, worrying about this one feeling wronged or that one being overbearing? You’ve really made yourself the villain for nothing! Those two girls are as close as can be—they even boarded the comfort carriage arm in arm.”

Hearing this, Cheng Shi, who had been polishing his armor nearby, immediately beamed and opened his mouth to speak. Madam Xiao pointed a finger at him and snapped, “You shut up!” Then she turned back to Qing Cong and said petulantly, “Fine, it’s all my fault, happy now?”