On the return journey, Minglan didn't utter a single word. She felt as though her entire body was trapped in a mire—neither left nor right felt right, every move seemed wrong. Her chest burned with feverish heat while her hands and feet were cold as ice. Her mind was completely blank, exhausted as if drained of all strength. As these thoughts swirled, tears silently streamed down Minglan's cheeks. Old Mrs. Sheng sat beside her, watching quietly with tender compassion in her gaze, reaching out to gently stroke the girl's hair.
Overwhelmed by unbearable grievance, Minglan's sobs gradually softened into quiet weeping. Her small shoulders nestled against her grandmother's bosom, trembling slightly as she buried her cries into the old madam's sandalwood-scented sleeves.
"Ming'er, your grandmother understands your feelings," Old Madam said while holding Minglan, speaking slowly. "But in matters of marriage, mutual willingness is essential—a forced melon will never taste sweet. The realities of married life cannot be comprehended through mere reasoning."
To find a devoted partner and remain together until white-haired old age—how many young women dreamed of such a life, of tending to each other's brows and living in marital harmony? Yet how few actually achieved this wish? Most couples merely maintained polite respect, with true heart-to-heart connection being rare. Her granddaughter had always been clever, yet had developed an obsession over this matter, bewitched by He Hongwen's promises and trapped in stubborn thinking. She could only hope the girl would come to understand on her own.
Old Mrs. Sheng secretly sighed.
Another night of howling wind and torrential rain ensued. Minglan lay sideways on her bed, staring blankly at the emerald-green water flow outside the hanging window, imagining it slowly trickling along the windowsill into the soil. Gradually the rain ceased, and a plump moon timidly emerged from the ink-black sky like spilled ink, its round face glowing through the misty vapor, refracting a peculiar luster like crushed crystal. Minglan lay awake all night with open eyes.
The next day, Minglan rose early, her eyes rimmed red, and knelt directly before Old Madam.
"These past days, your granddaughter has committed many foolish acts," Minglan said, kowtowing respectfully. Her usually flower-fresh face appeared deathly pale. "Not only have I made Grandmother worry, but I've also brought disgrace upon our family. This is all my unfilial doing—I beg for Grandmother's punishment. Marriage matters should rightfully be decided by elders. From now on, Minglan will completely follow Grandmother's arrangements without uttering another word!"
Seated on the luohan bed, the silver-grey brocade headband embroidered with cloud patterns and inlaid with jadeite gleaming dimly, Old Madam gazed steadily at Minglan, her eyes filled with complex emotions. After a long while, she sighed deeply: "Enough, rise now."
Minglan slowly rose supporting her knees, but was promptly drawn to Old Madam's side. As her grandmother patted her hand, she listened to the detailed admonishment: "Most young ladies must experience such confusion once. After the dizziness passes, after the stubbornness, the fuss, and the tears, clarity returns. You're an intelligent child—having an honest person treat you sincerely is the greatest blessing. Don't cling to obsessions, or you'll only harm yourself."
Minglan nodded through her tears. Just as they spoke, Cuiping suddenly hurried in and softly announced: "Young Master He has arrived."
Grandmother and granddaughter exchanged startled glances—what could he be doing here so early?This time, Old Mrs. Sheng treated He Hongwen entirely as an ordinary junior from an old acquaintance's family. After changing into formal attire and having the maids serve tea and fruits, she received him, while Minglan remained in the inner room, not even showing her face.
But as soon as the grandmother and granddaughter caught sight of He Hongwen, both inside and outside the room were startled. He Hongwen had dark circles under his eyes, a deep scratch on his left cheek that seemed to be from a fingernail, stretching from under his eye to his ear, a bruise on his right cheek, a split lip, and one wrist thickly bandaged with white gauze.
"Young man, what happened?" Old Mrs. Sheng exclaimed in surprise.
He Hongwen lowered his head, glanced around, and noticing Minglan's absence, his expression darkened. He clasped his hands respectfully and replied, "It is all due to my ignorance and foolishness that I have troubled you, Old Madam, and Ming..."
Old Mrs. Sheng coughed heavily. Feeling distressed, He Hongwen quickly corrected himself, "It is all due to my lack of virtue that I have troubled you, Old Madam. Last night, I went to my uncle's house and made everything clear. I am willing to ask my mother to adopt my cousin as a goddaughter, inviting the elders of the clan to witness the ceremony. From then on, we will be like siblings, and I will never violate the rules of propriety!"
Old Mrs. Sheng understood: He Hongwen must have gone to the Cao family overnight to lay his cards on the table, only to be thoroughly beaten by his uncle, aunt, and possibly his cousins as well. Thinking of this, she felt a flicker of amusement. A god-sister? That was indeed a clever idea!
Looking at He Hongwen's bruised and swollen face, Old Mrs. Sheng finally felt somewhat relieved, but she still had many questions. "Is your mother willing?"
He Hongwen lifted his swollen face, painfully attempting a smile at the old lady, but the movement tugged at the wound on his lip, making him suck in a sharp breath. He answered evasively, "Last night, when my mother saw me, she was quite... furious."
This statement was cryptic, but Minglan in the inner room understood: this fellow had employed a self-inflicted injury scheme on his own mother. Old Mrs. Sheng's eyes flickered, and she asked meaningfully, "The matter... is probably not over yet, is it?"
First, crying; second, making a scene; third, threatening suicide—the most critical third move had yet to be deployed.
He Hongwen bowed his head low, then resolutely lifted it, speaking earnestly, "When I was young, my mother urged me to study for the imperial examinations, but I refused and followed my own inclination to study medicine. Please believe me, Old Madam, I am not someone without principles, easily manipulated by others. I know right from wrong and would never dare to betray the kindness of my grandmother and you, Old Madam."
These words stirred Old Mrs. Sheng's heart. Seeing the sincerity and gravity in He Hongwen's eyes, along with his shocking injuries, she pondered for a moment before smiling slightly. "Kindness or not is not the point; it's merely that old folks tend to overthink. I have watched you grow over the years and naturally trust your character. If heaven grants our wishes, that would be best. If the moon cannot always be full, it is fate's will. We cannot keep dragging this on day after day. Marriage is predestined by heaven; you need not force it, young man."The words were spoken with warmth, friendliness, and emotion, yet in reality, they promised nothing. Minglan silently admired Old Madam's artful way with words. Her meaning was: Young Master He, your intentions are good and your plans are wonderful, but the future remains uncertain. So go and work hard. When you’ve turned your cousin into a sworn sister, then come back and talk. However, a girl’s youth is fleeting, and during this time, we must still make plans for ourselves. So you must hurry.
He Hongwen understood perfectly. He also knew that the Cao family’s affairs were indeed infuriating and could not be glossed over with a few words. Without a clear resolution, the Sheng family had no intention of pursuing this marriage. Now even his own grandmother was angry and refused to intervene further. He Hongwen’s expression darkened as he spoke many kind words, but Old Mrs. Sheng skillfully deflected them all with a gentle and amiable demeanor, speaking in circles without ever relenting. Moreover, she showed no intention of letting Minglan come out to meet him.
After a few more words, He Hongwen left dejectedly.
Only after he had gone did Minglan slowly emerge from inside, her expression calm. Old Madam’s smile faded as she leaned wearily against the bolster of the daybed and said slowly, “Hongwen is sincere.”
Minglan walked unhurriedly to Old Madam’s side, picked up the nearby beauty hammer, and gently massaged her grandmother’s legs as she replied, “Every person has a heart.”
“Oh?” Old Madam looked at Minglan’s serene face with interest. “This time, you don’t want to fight for it anymore?”
Minglan paused her movements for a moment, then shook her head helplessly and answered, “I’ve fought for all that I should. Grandmother is right—marriage should be a mutual desire. Forcing it is never good. My marriage should be left to you to consider. Let things take their course! The Sheng family has raised me. Even if I cannot bring glory to the family, I should not bring shame to it.”
Old Mrs. Sheng looked at Minglan’s pale but resolute face, her heart aching with tenderness. Softly, she said, “Good child, it’s good that you understand. You’re still young—we can take our time to look. We’ve done all we can for the He family: we’ve advised and spoken. If Hongwen truly succeeds, then he is a responsible and worthy man, and this marriage would not be a bad match. If he doesn’t…” She hesitated briefly, then said decisively, “The imperial examinations are about to begin. There are plenty of young talents in the capital. Our family isn’t one to chase after power and status. When the time comes, I will find you a good, honest young man. It may still work out.”
Minglan knew that Old Madam now favored Li Yu, but this time, she dared not reveal even a hint of her thoughts. Looking back, she deeply regretted having introduced her granddaughter to He Hongwen too early.
There were no more tears in Minglan’s eyes. On her snow-white skin, the corners of her pale pink lips curved upward, revealing two charming, captivating dimples, sweet as if they had seeped into her heart: “Yes! Grandmother is right. As long as the person is genuine, living a steady and contented life is truly wonderful.”
Growing up is a painful process, and maturity is a choice made out of necessity. If possible, what girl wouldn’t want to live her whole life as a proud and radiant princess? People are not unfeeling plants—what woman doesn’t yearn for a happy marriage? There’s no need to pretend to be calm and indifferent.But the world is like a knife, chipping away at a girl's innocence and naivety, smoothing her edges, extinguishing her ambitions, until she becomes a faceless matron. Adorned with pearls and jade, clad in silks and satins, she arranges the lives of concubines, oversees the marriages of illegitimate children, and busies herself with the endless affairs of a large household. In the end, she is enshrined high upon the altar of family prestige, becoming a monotonous symbol.
She did not want to become such a virtuous symbol. Every girl dreams of a lifelong partnership with one person. Perhaps this was her obsession with He Hongwen. She needed to let go. Fields, mountain springs, fishing, delicious food, and books—even without a man's eternal devotion, she could live well by saving more private funds and raising her children properly.
...
In late September, Minglan held her coming-of-age ceremony. There were not many guests. As promised, He Laofuren crafted a fine gold hairpin inlaid with emerald gems and personally secured it in Minglan’s hair. With this connection, if anyone later mentioned her interactions with the He family, it could be easily dismissed.
Hualan sent a pair of valuable white jade and gold phoenix hairpins with pearl pendants. Molan gifted a set of calligraphy and paintings. Even Princess Pingning, with whom they had not interacted for a long time, sent congratulatory gifts of fine brocades and southern pearls. Rulan was particularly generous, digging out her savings to specially commission an exceptionally heavy gold filigree dragon-head necklace from Cuibao Zhai, which made Madam Wang’s eyes turn green with envy.
When no one was looking, Minglan secretly tugged at Rulan’s sleeve and whispered, "Fifth Sister, there’s no need to bribe me. I won’t say anything." Rulan rolled her eyes and whispered back, "Brother Jing told me to send it. He said as an elder sister, I ought to care for my younger siblings. I even set aside some fabric for Brother Dong to make two new sets of clothes!"
Seeing Rulan’s earnest and virtuous elder sister demeanor, Minglan immediately viewed the Wen family in a new light. Could even a libertine be reformed?!
The days that followed were peaceful and uneventful. Li Yu visited the Sheng residence on average every five days to "seek scholarly guidance," each time devouring half a plate of Old Mrs. Sheng’s pastries before leaving. His eyes almost developed X-ray vision, as if they could bore holes through the screen.
To be fair, aside from stealing overly long glances at Minglan, Li Yu was faultless. He spent his days studying diligently at Elder Brother Changwu’s home, never going out for frivolous social engagements, and even when he did go out, he behaved properly. Most importantly—all five of his older female cousins were married, and his two younger female cousins hadn’t even grown teeth yet.
Madam Wang was busy evaluating wealthy young scholars, while Hai Shi was discovered to be pregnant again, clutching a jar of sour plums all day to combat morning sickness. Quange had started learning to walk and loved toddling around Minglan, giggling and drooling.
News gradually trickled in from the He residence. In just over twenty days, Aunt Cao had attempted suicide once, He Mu had fainted twice, and Cousin Jinxiu had fallen seriously ill three times. Cao Yifu and the Cao cousins had even caused a scene at the He family’s doorstep. He Laofuren flew into a rage, not only ordering the servants to drive them out but also immediately cutting off financial support to the Cao family and forbidding them from visiting.
By the end of October, Aunt Cao, weeping and sniffling, begged at the He family’s door, full of apologies and pleading for forgiveness for her family’s wrongdoings. He Laofuren could not bring herself to be utterly merciless and gave them some silver but still refused to allow Aunt Cao to visit the ailing He Mu.He Laofuren had effectively accomplished what Minglan wished to do but couldn't.
During the crisp autumn season, Shuntian Prefecture issued an announcement declaring the triumphant return of the Northern Expedition army. They had severely defeated several main forces of the Jie Barbarians, slaughtered countless enemies, razed enemy camps to the ground, and even killed three Jie princes along with the Left Guli King. They captured innumerable warhorses and military supplies, driving the Jie Barbarians into frantic retreat while pursuing and killing or wounding tens of thousands more along the way.
It was said that Imperial Uncle Shen Congxing, determined to show respect for his brother-in-law the Emperor, had specifically traveled day and night to reach the capital before the Late Emperor's memorial day, presenting the heads of Jie Barbarian commanders and numerous captives as sacrificial offerings!
On the twenty-seventh day of the tenth month, the capital's gates swung wide open. Capital garrison soldiers, clad in fresh armor and holding red-tasseled spears with whips and iron chains, stood guard at regular intervals along a broad official pathway. The Emperor personally led the Imperial Guard to welcome the troops, displaying eighteen rows of honor guards. Capital citizens lined the streets to cheer - since the capital wasn't far from the northern border where people lived under constant threat from nomadic tribes, they considered generals who defeated the Jie Barbarians far more deserving than those who suppressed rebellions.
At the appointed auspicious hour, three ceremonial cannon shots echoed from the distance as the Northern Expedition army entered the city. Veteran General Gan took the lead, with Generals Shen and Gu flanking him on either side. Firecrackers exploded throughout the city while colorful banners several zhang high stood densely along the route, fluttering in the wind. Citizens competed to catch glimpses of the procession, with floral decorations dancing across the city. Wherever the army marched, cheers and applause followed.
That evening, the Emperor hosted a banquet in the palace hall, conferring official titles and nobility ranks upon the victorious generals.
Among them, Veteran General Gan was promoted to Minister of War. Shen Congxing was granted the title of Marquis of Northern Prestige, a super-first-rank hereditary nobility, and appointed as Deputy Commissioner of the Central Military Command. Gu Tingye was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of the Left Military Command, both holding second-rank positions. These two were also bestowed with official residences by imperial decree, along with countless other rewards. Officers and soldiers below them all received respective awards, making the capital a scene of celebration throughout.
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