Youthful Glory

Ming Tan's habit of favoring outsiders even before marriage was something Bai Minmin felt could never be changed. As the wedding date drew nearer, Ming Tan's barely concealed eagerness to marry became increasingly obvious.

While she maintained a reserved demeanor in public, during private conversations, she often spoke of "after the wedding" with such embarrassing frequency, occasionally even sighing while cupping her face, murmuring, "It's still not the end of the year yet!"

Both Bai Minmin and Zhou Jingwan found it unbearable to watch.

Time passed leisurely. The Dragon Boat Festival, which Ming Tan had eagerly anticipated as a chance to meet her future husband, had already come and gone in a lively fashion. Before they knew it, the Qixi Festival in the seventh month arrived.

The Qixi Festival, also known as the Begging for Skills Festival, was highly valued by young women. Noble families would set up colorful pavilions in their courtyards every year for their daughters to display their needlework, burn incense, and make devout wishes.

Outside, the festivities were equally bustling. As Qixi approached, the capital city was filled with the clamor of carriages and horses, and the streets were lined with shops offering an array of exquisite items far beyond the usual fare.

Ming Tan, who had rarely ventured out due to her wedding preparations, stepped out of the Marquis Jing'an residence on this day.

In the customs of the Great Xian Dynasty, young women often exchanged small gifts during Qixi. Ming Tan, who had spent most of her idle time at home preparing for marriage, had already made embroidered sachets and handkerchiefs for Bai Minmin, Zhou Jingwan, Shen Hua, and other noblewomen she was close to in the capital.

Truth be told, Ming Tan was not particularly fond of needlework. Threading needles and stitching were not only time-consuming but also strained her eyes. However, despite her lack of enthusiasm, she had honed her embroidery skills to an impressive level in order to stand out among the noblewomen of the capital.

The items she crafted were made with fine materials and featured novel designs. Even if her needlework wasn't as refined as some who specialized in it, the pieces were still exquisitely charming. Inside the sachets, she also placed small trinkets like delicate jewelry, cosmetics, and finely carved wooden ornaments.

Bai Minmin received a sachet and an ingeniously crafted Chinese puzzle lock, which Ming Tan's elder brother, stationed in Pangshan, had sent back.

Pangshan was a small place, but it was near a major trade route, frequented by merchants and brimming with novelties. Every so often, her brother would send back interesting items to the capital.

Zhou Jingwan, aside from the sachet, was given a small round fan. The fan's surface was made of high-quality silk, embroidered with budding camellias that suited her perfectly. Mimicking her handwriting, Ming Tan had also embroidered two lines of a poem Zhou Jingwan had once written about camellias. The fan's handle was pierced and adorned with a translucent jade tassel.

Zhou Jingwan was so delighted that she immediately switched to using the new fan.

Ming Tan had put such thought into her gifts this time that Bai Minmin and Zhou Jingwan felt a rare pang of guilt—their own presents seemed rather lackluster in comparison.

Bai Minmin fiddled with the puzzle lock in her hand, lost in thought. Hearing Ming Tan murmur again about whether her complexion had improved lately and whether her future husband would like her appearance after marriage—

Bai Minmin suddenly set down the puzzle lock, beckoned to Ming Tan mysteriously, and whispered excitedly, "Tonight, the Bie Yu Lou is going to be lively. Want to go see the fun?"

At the mention of Bie Yu Lou, both Ming Tan and Zhou Jingwan widened their eyes in unison.

Ming Tan exclaimed, "Have you lost your mind? What business do we have going there?"Zhou Jingwan also covered her lips with her fan. "You've always been fond of fun, but the excitement at the Jade Pavilion isn't the kind a young lady should be involved in. Stop talking about it."

"A Tan, I'm only thinking of you. My second brother has some acquaintance with Shui Ying of the Jade Pavilion. Surely you've heard of her reputation. Don't you want your future husband to like you? Honestly, with your pretty face, there's no need for further fuss. But if you insist, perhaps you could work on other aspects."

The Jade Pavilion was the foremost pleasure house in the capital. To achieve such status, its backing must be formidable, and it certainly had its unique qualities.

Though a pleasure house, most of the ladies in the Jade Pavilion were entertainers who sold their talents rather than their bodies. Each was not only exceptionally beautiful but also highly cultured, making them the darlings of the capital's elite. Even those who couldn't become their patrons were happy to spend fortunes just for their company.

Shui Ying was the brightest star among them.

It was said that Shui Ying originally came from an official's family but fell into disgrace when her household was raided and she was enslaved, eventually ending up in the pleasure quarters. She was stunningly beautiful with a graceful figure, skilled in all the refined arts. Most importantly, countless men had fallen under her spell.

Those truly seeking carnal pleasures wouldn't fixate on the Jade Pavilion—the capital had no shortage of brothels to satisfy such desires. The nobles who frequented the Jade Pavilion were mostly there for its elegant allure.

Yet this Shui Ying not only engaged with scholars in tea ceremonies and poetry exchanges but also had caused several young masters of the capital to fight over her to the point of bloodshed—there had nearly been fatalities. With such power to captivate, she must indeed possess some extraordinary qualities.

For a proper young lady to visit a pleasure house for amusement was truly improper—if discovered, no excuse would suffice. Bai Minmin dared suggest it only because every year on this day, the Jade Pavilion would close its doors in grand fashion to celebrate the Qixi Festival.

Though the main house didn't receive guests, they would set up an external Qixi pavilion with banquets. The ladies would thread needles under the moon, weave spider webs, burn incense, and perform rituals—all traditional Qixi activities but elevated to an elegant spectacle for public enjoyment. There would also be newly choreographed songs and dances performed under moonlight, creating an utterly poetic scene.

Every Qixi Festival, crowds would pack the area outside the Jade Pavilion to admire the beauties—a spectacular sight. To observe the ladies up close required connections to secure a private viewing room.

"The Jade Pavilion is celebrating Qixi today. With so many going to watch, what's wrong with us joining? We're not actually entering the pleasure house, just watching from the external Qixi pavilion. There's no harm in seeing what makes this Shui Ying so captivating. And we'll be in a private room behind screens—no one will notice," Bai Minmin declared confidently.

"So you're suggesting I learn from Shui Ying how to seduce my husband?" Ming Tan asked hesitantly.

Bai Minmin: "..."

That interpretation was slightly too direct.

She phrased it more delicately: "I meant we could observe what makes her so alluring and how she interacts with men."

This version was somewhat more acceptable to Ming Tan.

Young ladies like them rarely encountered men outside their families, and even then could hardly exchange more than a few words—let alone learn how to interact with them. Noble wives were only taught how to manage households and earn their husbands' respect, never how to actually cultivate affection in marriage.Hmm... Ming Tan was actually persuaded.

Besides, it was just to watch the excitement outside.

Ming Tan was indeed swayed, her interest piqued, but Zhou Jingwan absolutely refused to go. Moreover, her health was frail, so Bai Minmin didn’t drag her along to join in the fun—

On the night of the Qixi Festival, the capital was ablaze with lanterns, teeming with crowds. By the northern bank of the Xian River, outside the Bieyu Pavilion, newly erected Qixi pavilions were filled with exquisite curios. The ladies of Bieyu Pavilion held round silk fans, chatting and laughing gracefully as they moved, their every step ethereal—just watching them, one could almost imagine fragrant breezes swirling in their wake.

Ming Tan and Bai Minmin, veiled in their hats, alighted from their sedan chairs discreetly, away from the bustling crowd, and headed straight for the rear of the Qixi pavilions. A servant led them into an elegant private room within the pavilion.

"Which one is Miss Shui Ying?" Ming Tan whispered.

No sooner had she spoken than a graceful beauty appeared, her face half-hidden behind a round fan as she ascended the steps with measured, alluring steps. Her charm stood out vividly among the other ladies.

No doubt, this was the famed Miss Shui Ying. Just this delicate yet refined demeanor alone was enough to captivate.

As Shui Ying appeared, many emerged from behind the room’s folding screens to greet her warmly. Even Bai Minmin’s second cousin, who had brought the two girls here, eagerly rose to his feet.

The Bai family’s second cousin was indeed familiar with Shui Ying, and she, in turn, gave him face, listening to him with a soft, lingering smile.

"...My younger sister and my cousin came with me today specifically to admire your elegance," the second cousin said with a laugh.

Cousin?

Shui Ying paused slightly.

In her line of work, she had an encyclopedic knowledge of the familial connections among the capital’s nobility. This second young master of the Bai family had many relatives, and his cousins were likely numerous. But in the capital, there was only one who fit the description... Shui Ying suddenly smiled.

Her smile outshone even the bright moon that night, leaving the Bai family’s second cousin momentarily dazed.

Shui Ying spoke softly, "Young ladies of such tender years are still innocent and lively at heart." She smiled faintly again. "In that case, I must offer the two young ladies a cup of fruit wine to thank them for their esteem."

Bai Minmin and Ming Tan sat behind the folding screen, whispering to each other about Shui Ying’s demeanor, never expecting that the lady would suddenly have a pot of wine brought in and personally come around the makeshift screen to pour for them!

Neither had time to put their veiled hats back on, their faces frozen in shock. What on earth did my brother (second cousin) say to her?

When Shui Ying caught a glimpse of Ming Tan’s profile, her earlier guess about the girl’s identity was confirmed—their master had been granted a marriage, and those beneath him couldn’t possibly fail to recognize their future mistress. Portraits of the Fourth Miss Ming had long been circulated among them.

Now, seeing her in person, she was even more beautiful than the painting.

As for why a bride-to-be would sneak into a pleasure house to watch the excitement, Shui Ying didn’t need to guess—she knew exactly why.

Noble wives maintained a facade of dignified propriety, but deep down, they understood that dignity alone wasn’t enough to win a husband’s favor. Afraid their daughters might suffer at the hands of concubines after marriage, many families had privately sought her out to teach their brides-to-be the arts of intimacy.

She just hadn’t expected their future mistress to be so unconventional—coming to observe in secret on her own.