Youthful Glory

A breeze swept through, rustling the bamboo grove on the back mountain, accompanied by the murmuring of pine waves.

As Ming Tan finished speaking, the three girls in the pavilion fell silent for a moment before suddenly exchanging glances and bursting into laughter. The wind carried their crisp, youthful voices.

"You're utterly shameless! Who was it that kept calling someone a 'brute' before? Now that you've seen how handsome he is, all pretense of modesty is gone. Not only did you rush here for a 'chance encounter,' but even came up with that 'mistaken note to catch Jiang's attention'—how could you think of such a thing!" Bai Minmin teased her.

With no one else around and maids keeping watch nearby, Ming Tan had no qualms admitting, "Fair ladies chase noble gentlemen, so why can't a fair lady admire a handsome gentleman?"

Bai Minmin turned to Zhou Jingwan, "Look at her! Praising his looks is one thing, but she just had to slip in a compliment about herself being a 'fair lady'—how shameless!"

Chin slightly raised, Ming Tan decided to embrace the shamelessness fully. Placing her hands on the qin, she played

Whispers of Bamboo in Late Spring

, harmonizing with the sounds of pines and bamboo.

When playing, she was always deeply focused. Trained by a master, her technical skill was naturally superb, but what was rare was how she transcended technique—her music flowed effortlessly, alive with emotion. Only toward the end did she repeat her trick, deliberately hitting a wrong note as if by accident.

Once the piece concluded, Ming Tan was quite pleased, whispering with Zhou Jingwan about other fitting melodies. Unbeknownst to her, her "Jiang" had indeed obliged—glancing her way again at that intentional mistake.

Jiang Xu and his companions had come to Daxiangguo Temple today to visit Master Liaowu, who was in seclusion there.

Liaowu had been a great scholar of the previous dynasty, serving as Grand Councilor during the Chunxing era, the pinnacle of officialdom. In his time, his lectures nurtured countless disciples, including Jiang Xu and the others. After the late emperor's burial, Liaowu renounced worldly affairs, entering monastic life and only receiving visitors on his birthday.

Today was that day, and they had come specifically to see him. Unexpectedly, upon leaving, they heard the qin music from the back mountain.

After listening, they had intended to leave quietly without disturbing the players. But just as Zhang Huaiyu took a step, he trod on a dry twig—brittle enough to snap under the slightest pressure.

"Who's there?" Green Calyx instinctively called out.

The four men froze.

Maids accompanying Bai Minmin and Zhou Jingwan hurried forward, lifting their skirts, with guards following closely. Zhang Huaiyu stood awkwardly in place, instinctively looking to Jiang Xu.

It was Shu Jingran who reacted first, cupping his hands in apology from a distance. "My friends and I were passing through the back mountain when we heard the exquisite qin music and paused to listen. We had no intention of disturbing the young ladies' refined enjoyment, yet we've done so regardless—for this, I must apologize."

The maids halted in surprise. Wasn't this... Second Young Master Shu? They had all glimpsed him during the parade of successful examination candidates—

a jade-like gentleman unmatched under heaven

. Truly unforgettable.

Hearing the voices, Ming Tan and the other two emerged from the pavilion.

Seeing Shu Jingran at the forefront, Bai Minmin's eyes instantly brightened.

"Young Master Shu!"

Bai Minmin stepped forward quickly, while Zhou Jingwan followed more slowly, offering a proper curtsey. Ming Tan had been about to do the same, but when her gaze landed on the young man beside Shu Jingran—dressed in pine-green brocade with ink-dark eyes—she froze completely.

Unaware, Bai Minmin continued excitedly, engaging Shu Jingran, "Has Young Master Shu also come with friends to offer incense today?"She glanced at the others and guessed, "I've long heard that Second Young Master Shu is close friends with Marquis Zhang and Marshal Lu. I presume this must be Marquis Zhang of Pingguo Manor, and this is Marshal Lu? Then this gentleman is—"

When Bai Minmin recognized Zhang Huaiyu and Lu Ting, Shu Jingran stood by with a faint smile, nodding slightly. But when she looked curiously at Jiang Xu, Shu Jingran paused and coughed lightly, somewhat awkwardly.

Since Shu Jingran didn’t offer an introduction, Zhang Huaiyu also stood aside indifferently, fanning himself with a smirk, clearly enjoying the scene. Lu Ting, who was naturally aloof and uninterested in such matters, kept his sword hand behind his back, though his gaze lingered briefly on Zhou Jingwan.

Ming Tan tugged at Bai Minmin’s sleeve, signaling her to stop asking, but Bai Minmin didn’t catch on and looked puzzled. Instead, she turned back and lavished Jiang Xu with praise.

Ming Tan’s ears burned with embarrassment, her heart uneasy:

Why is he with Second Young Master Shu? When did he arrive? Did he hear what we were saying earlier?

Then, almost unconsciously, she found herself comparing: After so long apart, her future husband stood among the emerald bamboo of the back mountain, his usual sternness softened, exuding an air of quiet elegance—like a towering pine or a gentle breeze over water. He seemed even more striking than before.

Bai Minmin, having praised him at length without receiving an introduction—and with the man himself remaining silent—finally sensed something amiss.

The surroundings fell into silence.

Amid the rustling bamboo, Jiang Xu’s deep voice finally broke the quiet: "I am Jiang Xu."

Bai Minmin: "..."

Zhou Jingwan: "..."

Both whipped their heads toward Ming Tan!

In the brief time Bai Minmin had been gushing, Ming Tan had already steadied herself, resolved to feign ignorance—whether or not they’d overheard her earlier remarks.

She put on an expression of never having met Jiang Xu before, feigning shock for a moment before quickly composing herself. With graceful poise, she curtsied and said, "A Tan greets His Highness Prince Dingbei. May Your Highness enjoy boundless fortune and peace."

Zhang Huaiyu was nearly bursting with suppressed laughter, and even Shu Jingran was struggling to keep a straight face.

Shu Jingran thought to himself:

This young lady of the Ming family is truly no ordinary woman—her acting is impeccable, her composure unshaken. Once she enters Prince Dingbei’s household, facing this block of ice, there will surely be no shortage of entertainment.

In truth, when the imperial decree of marriage was suddenly announced at Pingguo Manor, Shu Jingran had been even more shocked than Ming Tan.

After the poetry gathering disbanded prematurely, he sought out Jiang Xu at the capital garrison and asked why he had issued such an edict. Jiang Xu, writing a memorial without even looking up, had countered bluntly: "Was it not you who said, 'If I were to marry her, it might not be unacceptable'?"

Shu Jingran was speechless, already uneasy about the matter. After a long silence, he replied, "I only meant that if you do not truly wish to marry her, you should not ruin a young lady’s life. And if you acted on my words alone, would that not be my fault?"

Before, it might not have mattered. But after seeing Fourth Miss Ming at the poetry gathering, he felt she was an exceptionally interesting woman. If she became a mere pawn in court intrigues, it would be a pity.

Jiang Xu responded with another question: "What is 'truly'?"

His tone was indifferent, cutting straight to the heart of the matter: "If you refuse to marry her, and I refuse as well, what kind of life do you imagine she would have?"

Shu Jingran fell silent.After the downfall of Marquis Cheng'en's household, Consort Yu was imprisoned in the cold palace, subjected to humiliation. Gu Jiurou, the once-arrogant second daughter of Marquis Cheng'en who had boldly declared her admiration for Jiang Xu in the golden hall, was sent by her cowardly elder brother into the residence of their sworn enemy in a desperate bid for self-preservation. The consequences were predictable.

These noblewomen were delicate flowers raised in secluded mansions—born into high society, their fates were never their own, their fortunes inextricably tied to their families.

In times of prosperity, they bloomed brilliantly, dazzling and vibrant. But without the nourishment of supreme power, they couldn’t even secure a quiet corner for themselves. Instead, they were trampled and crushed by the storm, reduced to mud.

Jiang Xu spoke again, "What is the worth of sincerity? She has done me a kindness, and I shall ensure her safety for life."

"Wait—a kindness?"

"Escort the guest out."

That day, Jiang Xu had mentioned "a kindness" before ordering him out of the camp. He was intensely curious but never managed to uncover the full story from Jiang Xu. Still, if Jiang Xu had promised to protect her for life, then perhaps marrying into Prince Dingbei's household was the best fate for this youngest Miss Ming.

Moreover, from what he had seen today, this youngest Miss Ming seemed quite taken with her future husband—thinking of this, Shu Jingran couldn’t help but chuckle, joining Zhang Huaiyu in casting a teasing glance at Jiang Xu.

Ming Tan had remained in a deep curtsy after her greeting, and only after a long silence did Jiang Xu finally say, "There’s no need for such formality, Miss Ming."

Ming Tan straightened slowly, still keeping her head slightly bowed, deliberately revealing a slender, fair neck—even the angle at which she faced Jiang Xu was calculated for perfection.

Bai Minmin and Zhou Jingwan exchanged knowing glances, taking a small step back to avoid disrupting the young lady’s display.

But Zhang Huaiyu, utterly lacking in tact, not only failed to stifle his laughter properly but also couldn’t resist interjecting, "We’ll all be family soon—of course, there’s no need for formalities!"

At his words, Ming Tan’s lashes lowered further, her neck flushing a delicate pink.

Just as Ming Tan was contemplating how to naturally engage her future husband in more conversation, the familiar, haughty voice of Ming Chu rang out from nearby:

"Cousin, I truly underestimated you. It seems the quiet ones are the ones who bite hardest."

"Whether quiet ones bite or not, I wouldn’t know, but mad dogs barking incessantly is something I hear all too often," Shen Hua’s voice remained as gentle as ever.

"You—!" Ming Chu was furious.

The two seemed to be walking toward the resting area near the back hill, their voices growing clearer. What had been faint and intermittent earlier was now unmistakable.

Ming Chu sneered, "Don’t think that just because you’ve managed a meeting with the second son of the Li family, this marriage is set in stone. And what’s so impressive about a mere sixth-rank official? You’ll still have to kowtow to Ming Tan when you see her!"

"Paying respects to the princess consort is only proper. I only fear some people won’t even have the chance to do so."

"Who wants that chance?!" Ming Chu laughed in anger. "Shen Hua, you really know how to bend with the wind. I heard that before I returned to the capital, the two of you were at each other’s throats. What, now that she’s about to become a princess consort, you’re scrambling to cozy up to her?"

"Don’t think I don’t know—you wheedled information out of your brother, took her to spy on His Highness at the Jingji camp. Your brother has no idea, does he? You’re ruthless even to your own brother. For wealth and status, is there anything you wouldn’t do?"

"…?"

Ming Tan closed her eyes.

I didn’t. I wouldn’t. Don’t slander me.