Youthful Glory

After Ming Tan left, the grand hall returned to silence. The quiet room was still filled with the lingering fragrance of tea, but the game of Go could no longer continue.

Master Huiyuan maintained his gentle smile and said softly, "Since your mind is unsettled, Your Highness need not force yourself."

Jiang Xu ignored him, raising a black stone to place it on the board. Yet, as the piece hovered mid-air, the absurd and unprecedented marital demands of that young lady from the Ming family echoed in his ears once more. The game before him seemed to dissolve into chaos, devoid of any coherent strategy.

He no longer forced himself, dropping the black stone back into its container before standing with his hands behind his back. "I shall seek your guidance another day," he said indifferently.

Master Huiyuan watched his retreating figure, stroking his white beard with a knowing smile but remaining silent.

Having left the grand hall after her prayers, Ming Tan wandered aimlessly for a while before finally finding her way back to familiar grounds.

Suxin and Lü'e had been searching for her for some time. When they suddenly spotted her, they hurried over in relief.

"Miss, where have you been? You frightened us!" Lü'e exclaimed anxiously.

Suxin also looked worried. "We asked one of the young monks at the dining hall earlier, and he said you had left your meal to go to the small prayer hall for self-reflection. But when we went there, we couldn’t find you."

"It’s nothing. I just got lost," Ming Tan replied breezily. "I found another grand hall instead. After all, self-reflection isn’t confined to a single place—sincerity is what matters."

Given her sincerity, she was certain the Buddha would not blame her. In fact, he might even bless her with a perfect husband.

Yes, that made perfect sense.

Ming Tan added, "By the way, have you two eaten while searching for me?"

"I’m fine, I’m not hungry."

"No, I’m starving."

Suxin and Lü'e answered simultaneously.

"..."

These two had always been polar opposites in temperament, and after all these years, neither had learned a thing from the other.

"There’s still time. Go and eat now. I’ll stroll around and admire the flowers nearby."

To preempt Suxin from invoking rules like "It’s improper to keep the mistress waiting for her maids," Ming Tan added, "I’d like some quiet. Don’t disturb me."

Suxin dared not protest further.

Watching Lü'e drag Suxin into the dining hall, Ming Tan exhaled in relief. With nothing else to do, she meandered slowly to the edge of the release pond, clasping her hands behind her back as she leaned forward to peer at her reflection.

The gentle breeze of early February skimmed the pond’s surface, stirring faint ripples that gently distorted the breathtaking beauty reflected in the water.

Ming Tan admired herself from left to right, genuinely feeling sorry for Liang Zixuan. Even without makeup or hair ornaments, her face was so enchantingly lovely—yet he had foolishly let her slip away.

And what he had missed wasn’t just this face. He had missed the chance to marry a peerless wife, one he could proudly boast about to his colleagues over drinks for decades to come!

Come to think of it, she wondered who had accumulated eight lifetimes of good fortune to deserve marrying someone as exceptional as her. Ah, if only she could split herself in two—if she were a man, she would overcome all obstacles and propose to herself with a dowry spanning ten miles of red silks.

As Ming Tan indulged in self-admiration by the pond, she failed to notice the two dark figures passing through the plum grove on the opposite side.

"Your Highness, Young General Shen will arrive in the city late tonight. He will personally visit your residence tomorrow to report on the handover matters between Dongzhou and the Suibei route," the shadow guard behind Jiang Xu reported in a low voice.

Jiang Xu’s steps didn’t falter. "Wasn’t he already in Hezhou yesterday? Why only enter the city tonight?"

Hezhou bordered the capital, and the official road was convenient. Moreover, Shen Yu had traveled back alone on horseback—under normal circumstances, he should have arrived by noon at the latest.

"This subordinate does not know."The shadow guard felt a pang of guilt. Judging by the distance, entering the city tonight was indeed a bit slow, but the message he had received was exactly as stated.

Jiang Xu didn’t press further.

However, before they could leave the plum grove, a familiar male voice called from across the release pond, “Cousin Tan!”

Jiang Xu halted and turned to look.

The shadow guard instinctively glanced in the same direction.

The shadow guard: “…”

Now he understood why Young General Shen could only enter the city late at night and wouldn’t be able to see the prince until tomorrow.

“Cousin… why are you here?” Ming Tan turned around, genuinely surprised to see Shen Yu.

Shen Yu was still in his armor, clearly having rushed here in haste. His handsome face was slightly flushed from the sun, and a faint sheen of sweat glistened on his forehead.

“I returned to the capital today and stopped at a teahouse along the way. There, I heard about your annulment with the heir of Duke Ling’s household. When I got back to the residence, A Hua mentioned you had come to Lingmiao Temple to lay low, so I hurried over.”

…?

Lay low.

He didn’t have to put it so bluntly.

Shen Yu realized his slip and quickly added, “This matter wasn’t your fault, cousin. You needn’t grieve too much over it.”

Ming Tan sidestepped the topic and instead asked with polite detachment, “Did you come here for something urgent, cousin?”

Well… no.

Shen Yu had long admired Ming Tan. Back when he sent Shen Hua to stay at the marquis’s residence, he had fallen for her at first sight. Unfortunately, she was already betrothed, leaving him no opportunity to express his feelings.

Upon returning to the capital, even before entering the city, he had overheard people at a roadside teahouse discussing the annulment between the Ming and Liang families. His calm heart had suddenly leapt with excitement.

Eager to see Ming Tan as soon as possible, he sent word to the prince’s shadow guard, claiming he wouldn’t return to the capital until late at night and thus couldn’t report on the handover in Dongzhou to the prince until the next day.

When he rushed back to Marquis Jing’an’s residence, he learned that Ming Tan had already left for Lingmiao Temple early in the morning to pray—ostensibly to avoid gossip. Unable to restrain himself, he set out again without even informing Shen Hua.

In his haste, Shen Yu hadn’t prepared a proper excuse. But unlike Shen Hua, he was young at heart and a military man, unbothered by formalities or subtlety.

Since he couldn’t think of a reason, he simply blurted out, “I came to tell you, cousin, that I’ve admired you for a long time. But you were previously betrothed to Duke Ling’s household, and there’s also the difference in our statuses… Now that your engagement has been annulled and it might be difficult to arrange another match soon, why not marry me? With the recent victory in Dongzhou, the prince will surely report to the emperor for my promotion. Though I’m still far beneath the status of a marquis’s legitimate daughter, I’ll continue to earn military merits and eventually secure an imperial title for you!”

Shen Yu spoke in one breath, his eyes shining, and even unfastened the jade pendant from his waist to offer it to Ming Tan.

Ming Tan was first stunned by his words, then took half a step back in alarm at the gesture.

“Careful!” Shen Yu feared she might fall into the water.

Ming Tan steadied herself against the stone table by the pond and quickly raised a hand. “Don’t move!”

Only after putting a good distance between them did she collect herself and ask, “Cousin, do you realize what you’re saying and doing?”

Seeing neither joy nor shyness in Ming Tan’s reaction, Shen Yu grew flustered. “I… I’m proposing to you, cousin. Isn’t that obvious?”"Cousin, this is not a marriage proposal to me, but rather pushing me into an abyss of ruin." Ming Tan spoke steadily, "Marriage proposals require parental consent and a matchmaker's words. Such simple etiquette, surely cousin would not be ignorant of. If I were to accept what cousin has said and given, at best it could be called a mutual affection and private pledge of marriage, but at worst, it would be seen as improper conduct and lack of restraint."

Shen Yu was stunned.

Ming Tan continued, "Since cousin knows that I came to the temple to pray for blessings is to avoid trouble, you should understand that A Tan's every word and action now is like walking on thin ice. If cousin had even a shred of respect for A Tan, you would not have come here rashly to express such feelings."

Shen Yu: "Coming alone without prior notice was indeed my recklessness, but cousin, I—"

He hurriedly tried to explain, but Ming Tan directly interrupted, "Since you know it was reckless, please leave this place immediately, cousin. A Tan will act as if we never met today and never heard any words of proposal. Moreover, A Tan has no feelings for cousin and will absolutely never marry you. Please never mention this again in the future."

"..."

No feelings, absolutely impossible, never mention again.

The hidden guard following Jiang Xu couldn't help but sweat for Young General Shen.

This Fourth Miss Ming truly knew how to strike where it hurt most.

Sure enough, from the moment Shen Yu heard the latter part, his expression instantly darkened, the light in his eyes dimming. The words of explanation stuck in his throat, never to be spoken.

At that moment, Suxin and Lü'e, having finished their vegetarian meal, came looking for Ming Tan. Seeing Shen Yu, they were somewhat surprised and were about to greet him when Ming Tan walked past Shen Yu and directly ordered, "Let's go, back to the room to copy scriptures."

Suxin and Lü'e responded in unison.

After walking a distance with Ming Tan, Lü'e couldn't resist looking back curiously.

Shen Yu still stood there, despondent, unmoving for a long while.

Lü'e: "Miss, why is cousin here?"

Ming Tan was too angry to speak and didn't respond.

Once back in the room, Lü'e whispered again, "This servant noticed that cousin seems to have feelings for you, miss. In the past, cousin always—"

Ming Tan shot her a sharp glare.

Lü'e felt as if a knife was pressed to her throat and wisely shut her mouth, not daring to say another word.

At about the same time Ming Tan and her two maids returned to the room, Shen Yu, standing by the release pond, finally moved, walking somewhat stiffly back toward the temple gate.

A little maid who had been hiding behind a tree, watching the entire scene, also quietly slipped away via another path.

This commotion naturally didn't escape the hidden guard's notice. The guard mentioned it, but Jiang Xu ignored him, instead suddenly ordering, "Go investigate Fourth Miss Ming. Find out if she visited Hanyan Temple during the Spring Outing Festival two years ago."

Several times now, he had encountered this Fourth Miss Ming—either only hearing her voice or catching a glimpse of her figure—never getting a proper look at her appearance.

This time, seeing her clearly, though he didn't know why she wasn't wearing the five-cartloads of clothes, her bright eyes and white teeth, her delicate and flawless complexion, indeed made her a rare beauty. Just based on her looks, her previous extravagant wishes seemed less excessive. But none of that was important. What mattered was that he found her appearance somewhat familiar—

In the room, Ming Tan, whose appearance Jiang Xu found somewhat familiar, grew angrier the more she thought about it. Although Shen Hua wasn't particularly likable, at least she was a clever person with brains. How could she have such a brainless brother! This wasn't admiration or a marriage proposal—it was practically asking for her life!Yet she knew all too well that Shen Yu was merely being straightforward and meant no harm. That was precisely what made it so infuriating—she couldn't reprimand or lecture him, leaving her to stew in her own frustration!

No, the husband she chose must not be like Shen Yu—reckless in action, following his whims, and speaking without restraint. How could such a husband protect her in the future?

With this thought, she hastily rose, adjusted her appearance in the bronze mirror, and took Suxin back to the prayer hall where she had made her earlier wish.

Kneeling properly on the prayer mat, she bowed three times, clasped her hands, and murmured, "Buddha above, this humble maiden A Tan realizes she was not thorough enough in her previous considerations regarding the selection of an ideal husband. There are still some additional requirements..."

In the quiet side chamber, a young monk sweeping the floor froze for a moment, his scalp tingling. The criteria this young lady listed for her future husband—he had only ever seen Prince Dingbei barely meet such standards.

...And there were more?