Youthful Glory

Initially, Shui Ying had found this marriage arrangement rather dull.

That Fourth Miss Ming, she imagined, would be no different from the other well-bred young ladies of the capital—graceful and demure, yet so rigidly proper as to be almost stiff.

Their lord was already cold and taciturn enough. With another prim and boring mistress, there was little hope of ever seeing any tender side of him in this lifetime.

But now, Shui Ying found the whole affair rather intriguing.

With a charming smile, she poured a cup of fruit wine for Ming Tan and Bai Minmin, offering a few polite words.

Ming Tan and Bai Minmin accepted the cups but showed no sign of drinking.

Understanding their hesitation, Shui Ying laughed lightly. "This wine is quite sweet, specially prepared for young ladies. Do give it a try." She poured herself a cup and drank it gracefully, her sleeve concealing her lips.

Since this was their first meeting and there was no enmity between them, Shui Ying certainly wouldn’t poison the wine. Seeing her drink, Ming Tan took a small sip as well.

Shui Ying’s smile deepened. "This humble one must now perform a dance and shall not disturb you further. I only hope my dance may bring a smile to your faces."

She curtsied softly and began to withdraw.

But halfway out, she seemed to suddenly remember something. Lifting her head, she stepped forward again, leaning slightly to whisper in Ming Tan’s ear, "In truth, I know why you’ve come today. In the past, many Madams of the capital have sought my advice on this matter. If you are willing, why not enjoy my dance? Afterward, you may accompany me inside for a brief chat.

"I shall only dance once tonight. By the time we finish, the festivities outside will still be in full swing—you need not worry. If you remain uneasy, you may have Second Young Master Bai wait outside. I merely find you kindred and wish to forge a connection. My usual rate is fifty gold per hour, and the same shall suffice for you."

Ming Tan: "..."

Fifty gold per hour.

The top courtesan of Bie Yu Lou certainly commanded a high price.

Of course, fifty gold was nothing significant.

As Shui Ying glided away, Ming Tan finally snapped out of her daze. "She... she said she knows why I came today. But how could she know?"

Bai Minmin was equally stunned. She yanked her infatuated second brother down into a seat and demanded fiercely, "What exactly did you say to that Shui Ying just now?!"

Bai Er looked utterly innocent. "What? I didn’t mention either of your names! I’m not stupid—I only said it was my sister and cousin!"

Ming Tan: "..."

Which was practically the same as saying it outright—wasn’t she his only cousin in the capital?

Still, she couldn’t help but admire Shui Ying’s sharpness. To deduce her identity from mere fragments of conversation, and from that, infer her purpose here today—she must have an encyclopedic knowledge of the intricate relationships between the noble families of the capital.

To mingle in the capital’s romantic intrigues yet remain untangled from scandal was truly a masterful feat. So, knowing her purpose, Shui Ying had proactively extended an olive branch to forge goodwill. It wasn’t hard to understand.

Ming Tan rested her chin on her hand, hesitating, her slender fingers tapping lightly on the table.

As she pondered, the performance outside began. Shui Ying led a troupe of dancers in a rendition of the "Seven Plates Dance."The dance had a long lineage, blending grace with strength, exuding both softness and power. Tonight's performance at Bie Yu Lou seemed to have been rearranged, with Shui Ying leading—slender and graceful, yet carrying an unconventional charm that captivated all eyes when she danced.

Ming Tan had been hesitant at first, but after watching Shui Ying's performance without blinking, she suddenly made up her mind.

Outside, the festivities at the Qiqiao Tower continued, its lights shimmering on the river's surface. Unnoticed, two young women in veiled hats quietly slipped out of the private room, following a servant to the back entrance of Bie Yu Lou and entering the building.

Neither Ming Tan nor Bai Minmin had ever set foot in a pleasure house before. Whenever their carriage had passed the red-light district in the past, they had seen scantily clad women soliciting customers outside, the interiors gaudy with bright colors, the overpowering scent of makeup assaulting their senses from afar.

But Bie Yu Lou bore no resemblance to their imagined version of a pleasure house. Its corridors and courtyards were elegantly arranged, exuding poetic refinement. Though adorned with gold and jade, it avoided vulgarity, instead conveying an air of dignified elegance.

Tonight, the establishment was closed to guests, leaving it unusually quiet. As they followed the servant up to the third floor, they scarcely encountered anyone.

Only upon reaching the private room reserved for distinguished guests did Ming Tan catch a glimpse of what a pleasure house might truly be—after all, ordinary teahouses or taverns would never furnish their rooms with incense-laced curtains and plush beds.

Bai Minmin's second brother was a regular patron and saw nothing amiss, but both Ming Tan and Bai Minmin felt uneasy, shifting restlessly in their seats. Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long before Shui Ying, now changed into fresh attire, glided into the room with a smile.

Shui Ying: "My apologies for keeping Young Master Bai and the two young ladies waiting. It is truly my fault, and I beg your forgiveness."

"No trouble at all," Bai Minmin's second brother waved dismissively.

Earlier, the servant had led the three of them inside, claiming only that Miss Shui Ying had invited them to a better spot to continue enjoying music and dance. Unaware of the true circumstances, Bai Minmin's brother assumed it was due to his own influence and swelled with pride.

Shui Ying atoned by drinking three cups in self-punishment, then played a zither piece for them. Seated by the window, they chatted and laughed while watching the performances outside. When the time was right, she exchanged a glance with Ming Tan and excused herself under the pretense of fetching a pipa, slipping away unnoticed.

Ming Tan and Bai Minmin exchanged looks before Ming Tan suddenly stood, resolute. "I need to freshen up."

Bai Minmin's brother was momentarily confused. "Why now?"

"Second Brother, are you dense?" Bai Minmin shot him a glare.

"Oh! Oh, right. Go ahead—have the servants outside show you the way." It was just that Bai Minmin was usually so blunt that he hadn't immediately grasped that his refined cousin would phrase her needs so delicately.

A servant waited outside and promptly escorted Ming Tan to Shui Ying's private chambers.

Shui Ying was already there, greeting her with a warm smile. "Fourth Young Lady, please, have a seat."

As Ming Tan took in the surroundings and slowly sat down, Shui Ying cut straight to the point. "Fourth Young Lady, I’ll speak plainly. Though Bie Yu Lou claims to sell art, not flesh, in the end, pleasure houses bend their own rules. Men may control many things, but their trousers are never one of them."

"…?"

Ming Tan was stunned. What was she hearing?

She… she hadn’t come here for this!Seeing Ming Tan's face flush instantly, Shui Ying covered her lips in slight embarrassment and chuckled, "This humble one spoke a bit too directly just now. Such vulgar words have sullied the young miss's ears. But though the young miss will soon be a dignified and noble Madam, to win your husband's affection, you must still know a thing or two about these matters."

Her meaningful gaze drifted toward the bed.

Ming Tan remained dazed.

Her original intention tonight had merely been to observe why this Shui Ying was so captivating, so she could learn how to make conversation and present herself better during private moments with her future husband. But after being bewitched into entering this establishment, she now understood from Shui Ying's implications that the key to capturing her husband's heart was actually...?!

Shui Ying rose and retrieved a blue-covered booklet from a chest.

Ming Tan hesitantly flipped open a page, then immediately threw it aside as if scalded, nearly fainting on the spot.

Shui Ying was no stranger to such reactions. When she had instructed young ladies from wealthy families before, their responses were much the same—as if one more glance would make them die of shame.

Patiently retrieving the booklet, she gently advised, "The young miss is soon to be married. Even if this humble one doesn't show you these, your family's Madam will surely present them before your wedding. But Madams, concerned with propriety, often don't explain in detail, and ordinary 'fire prevention illustrations' are never this thorough. In marital matters, if one doesn't understand the beauty within, it can become quite unbearable—" She paused. "This humble one supposes my presence makes Fourth Miss Ming uncomfortable. I shall fetch some refreshments."

With that, Shui Ying quietly rose, exited, and closed the door behind her.

Meanwhile, in another elegant chamber of Bieyu Pavilion, Jiang Xu suddenly set down his wine cup and glanced at the messenger before him, his voice cool. "Repeat that."

The messenger hesitated briefly, cold sweat forming on his back. "Shui Ying said that the Fourth Miss of the Marquis Jing'an residence is in her chambers. She didn't elaborate further."

"The Fourth Miss of the Ming family came to Bieyu Pavilion?" Shu Jingran's voice was full of astonishment, his wine cup nearly slipping from his grasp. "What is she doing here?"

The messenger knew nothing more.

Before Shu Jingran could speak again, Jiang Xu had already risen to his feet.

The chamber was silent, save for the faint rustling of turning pages.

At first, Ming Tan thought these obscene illustrations were utterly shameless and unbearable to look at! Even after Shui Ying left, she hadn't touched them again.

But forbidden things have a way of tempting. Her fingers slowly, inch by inch, crept closer... First, it was just curiosity—just one page. Yet before she knew it, she had flipped through several more, one hand turning pages while the other covered her face, trying to cool her burning cheeks.

When the door opened, she assumed it was Shui Ying and hurriedly closed the book, taking a sip of tea to calm her racing heart.

But when she saw who it was, she froze!

This had to be a hallucination.

Why was her future husband here?

Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

Yet Jiang Xu strode forward, glancing down as he reached to take the spring palace album from her hands.

Only then did she react, pressing down on it desperately and blurting out without thinking, "Don't look!"

Jiang Xu's gaze settled on her. "You dare tell this prince not to look?"

His voice was as clear and resonant as jade striking gold, but his words sent a shiver down Ming Tan's spine.Ming Tan's mind was in complete disarray, her heart pounding as if it might leap out of her chest. Her words came out stuttered: "That's not what I meant... Your Highness, why are you here? Weren't you supposed to be inspecting the troops—"

Realizing she had misspoken, she immediately clamped her mouth shut.

Jiang Xu, however, didn't call her out on it and simply replied, "Returned to the capital early."

Though overwhelmed, Ming Tan knew the most pressing matter was explaining why she was here.

Yet Jiang Xu didn’t seem the least bit interested in her reasons. Casually, he plucked the illustrated manual from her hands, flipped through a couple of pages, then tossed it aside.

"Young ladies need not look at such things," he said, his voice cool and detached. "Nor is this a place for one. I’ll have someone escort you back to your residence."

"…?"

Ming Tan felt like crying! She wanted to explain but had no idea where to even begin.

Seeing Jiang Xu turn to leave, she panicked and rushed forward to stop him. "I’m not what Your Highness thinks, I—"

In her desperation, all the usual rules of propriety between men and women flew out of her mind. Unconsciously, she grabbed the hem of Jiang Xu’s robe, tilting her head up to look at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Does Your Highness think I’m shameless? That I—"

Jiang Xu watched as the tears clung to her fluttering lashes and abruptly cut her off. "You are perfectly fine. I hold no such thoughts."