Youthful Glory

The moment the door opened, Ming Tan collided into Jiang Xu's chest and didn't see the person standing outside. Only Jiang Xu locked eyes with Shu Jingran at the doorway for a brief moment before averting his gaze and slamming the door shut.

Shu Jingran stood frozen for a long while. Just days ago when he'd met with Jiang Qizhi, the man had dismissed rumors of being "hopelessly devoted to his wife" as utterly ridiculous. Yet tonight's scene... With tactful understanding, he turned to leave, suddenly chuckling to himself for some reason as his footsteps lightened slightly.

Inside the study.

Jiang Xu released his grip and took the food box: "This prince misunderstood."

Ming Tan ignored him, stomping angrily to the antique shelf where she picked up a military treatise she couldn't comprehend, pretending to flip through it while stealing glances from the corner of her eye—

At least he knew his place. Though not offering a sincere apology, he'd silently finished every last bite of the bird's nest porridge and jade belt cakes she'd painstakingly prepared.

Seeing the clean dishes, Ming Tan remembered her original purpose and put down the book, returning to the table to dawdle while packing the food box.

As she mentally rehearsed her words, Jiang Xu suddenly asked: "Aren't you hot?"

The April weather already carried hints of summer heat. Normally she wore light, airy garments, yet today she was bundled up in layer upon layer, even covering most of her usually exposed fair neck.

Ming Tan: "..."

She hadn't noticed until mentioned, but now she did feel rather stifled, a thin layer of sweat forming on her back. Still, she stubbornly fibbed: "One feels colder than usual during certain days of the month."

"Those days aren't over yet?"

Ming Tan grew alert, instinctively covering her collar as she deflected: "The ink's dried. Let A Tan grind ink for her husband."

Jiang Xu had merely followed the conversation casually without deeper thought, but Ming Tan's inexplicable tension made him glance at her a few more times.

Ink grinding looked simple but proved exhausting in practice. Soon Ming Tan's palms grew numb and her temples damp with sweat. Her cheeks flushed pink as she secretly fanned herself when Jiang Xu wasn't looking.

After grinding through half the ink stick, she finally broached the subject carefully: "Husband, are you quite familiar with Commander Lu of the Palace Guard?"

Jiang Xu's brush paused slightly: "What of it?"

"Have you heard... about Commander Lu proposing to the Zhou family of the Hanlin Academy?"

"I have."

"Then does husband know... why Commander Lu proposed to the Zhous?"

"What concern is that of mine?"

Ming Tan choked momentarily: "Well... Jingwan is my closest friend. Commander Lu's proposal scared off all other suitors from the Zhou household. Jingwan has been quite distressed lately." She paused before forcibly adding, "A Tan worries for her friend and feels equally distressed."

Only then did Jiang Xu look up: "Others not visiting has nothing to do with Lu Ting. Must their own cowardice be blamed on someone else?"

Ming Tan was speechless. Though something felt off about this reasoning, her husband's argument seemed valid.

After hesitant deliberation, she ventured cautiously: "But Commander Lu has such a fearsome reputation... we don't know if his intentions are sincere. The Bathing Buddha Festival is in two days—many families will attend ceremonies at Daxiangguo Temple. Could husband perhaps arrange... for Jingwan to meet Commander Lu in person?"

Jiang Xu: "..."

Did he appear that idle?

When he didn't respond, Ming Tan tugged his sleeve and added in the smallest voice: "A Tan's... monthly days are over now. Won't husband come rest in our chambers tonight?"The study fell silent for a moment before Jiang Xu set down his brush. "This prince will inform Lu Ting."

That night, the Qǐ'ān Hall, which had been quiet for several days, was lively again until late into the night. Amid the flickering red candles and half-drawn fragrant bed curtains, Ming Tan sat atop Jiang Xu, whimpering tearfully, yet still couldn't help feeling heartbroken over her new dress—torn and carelessly discarded on the floor.

Had she known this would happen, she wouldn't have worn it. This was the newly crafted Yaohua silk from Suzhou, with only a few bolts available in the entire capital.

The Empress had gifted her two of those bolts, and she had only worn this new dress once. Sure, it was a bit too snug and hard to remove, but did it have to be torn? What a brute!

Noticing her distraction, Jiang Xu suddenly thrust harder.

Ming Tan let out a muffled sob and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck, pleading for mercy—though her mind was still preoccupied: No, this silk must be charged to Jingwan's account!

On the eighth day of the fourth month, the Bathing Buddha Festival, all the Buddhist temples in the capital opened their gates early to hold ceremonial bathing rites and vegetarian feasts. Among them, the Great Xiangguo Temple was the most bustling, welcoming mostly high-ranking officials and noble guests.

Since marrying into Prince Dingbei's household, this was Ming Tan's first formal public appearance. Staying within the residence, she hadn't noticed much difference, but stepping outside made it abundantly clear just how distinct the status of the Fourth Miss Ming was from that of Princess Consort Dingbei.

As her palanquin arrived at the Great Xiangguo Temple, the abbot personally greeted her, while a crowd of noblewomen and young ladies curtsied in unison, saying, "We pay our respects to Princess Consort Dingbei."

With no Crown Prince appointed in the dynasty and all the imperial princes still young, it meant there would be no Crown Princess or imperial consorts for many years to come.

Among the imperial princes, only Prince Dingbei held significant power and an exalted position. One could say that, aside from the Empress Dowager and the Empress—who rarely left the palace—Ming Tan was now the most distinguished noblewoman in the Great Xian Empire.

Ming Tan was well aware of this fact. Otherwise, the long-unseen Feng Zhao and the Yongle County Princess, hidden among the crowd, wouldn't have bowed with such visible reluctance.

Even in her earlier days among the capital's noble maidens, Ming Tan had been exceedingly popular. Now, as a princess consort, the number of sycophants and flatterers had multiplied beyond count.

Feng Zhao watched as the crowd showered Ming Tan with fawning compliments, their smiles identically ingratiating, and found the obsequious display grating. Her resentment grew fiercer.

Nearly a year had passed since the late spring poetry gathering at the Pingguo Duke's residence, and Feng Zhao had become the laughingstock of the capital. Confined to her residence by the Prince and Princess of Yi for self-reflection, she had only been allowed out recently because her parents were arranging a marriage for her—likely unwilling to let her embarrass them further in public.

Speaking of the match her parents had chosen, Feng Zhao's indignation flared anew. Her father and mother intended to marry her off to the Jiangyang Marquisate in Shu.

The Marquis of Jiangyang was already over thirty, with an heir already appointed. For a noblewoman of her standing to stoop to becoming a mere marquis's second wife—what humiliation! Moreover, during his brief ten-day stay in the capital for official duties, the Marquis had already acquired two beautiful maidservants. One could only imagine the debauchery in his Shu residence!

What chilled her most was that despite his despicable character, her parents cared not at all, seeing only how this marriage could pave the way for her elder brother's ambitions.

Feng Zhao's heart twisted in anguish. Seeing Ming Tan—who had once been meek and deferential in her presence—now radiant and resplendent in brocade robes embroidered with peonies and edged with dark silver thread, her hair adorned with a phoenix hairpin and peony-drop tassels, only reinforced Feng Zhao's belief that Ming Tan was deliberately rubbing salt in her year-old wounds.

……

"Long have we heard of Prince Dingbei's deep affection for his princess consort. Seeing Her Highness in such glowing health today, the rumors prove true indeed.""Of course, how could His Majesty's golden words of 'deep affection for his wife' be anything but true?"

At this point, everyone exchanged knowing giggles.

Feng Zhao, feeling stifled by the conversation, turned and walked out. As she left, she happened to encounter Zhai Nianci outside, who had also stepped away earlier due to similar discomfort.

"Halt! Who are you? How dare you not bow when you see this princess?"

Feng Zhao was itching to vent her frustration on someone, but her luck was poor—she'd run into a tough opponent.

Zhai Nianci turned around, scrutinizing her from head to toe with disdain before rolling her eyes dismissively. "So it's Princess Feng Zhao of Yi Manor. I thought it was some grand noble. How could someone like you possibly deserve a bow from this county princess?"

Though a county princess held a lower rank than a princess, no matter how noble Feng Zhao's title was, it couldn't compare to Zhai Nianci's backing from the Empress Dowager. Even if she refused to bow, what could Feng Zhao possibly do about it?

Feng Zhao flushed with rage. "You—!"

A maid hurriedly whispered, "Princess, this is the daughter of Princess Wenhui, Yongle County Princess. 'Yongle' was a title personally bestowed by the Empress Dowager."

Yongle County Princess?

Feng Zhao had heard of her but had never met her before. She had no real sense of how favored Zhai Nianci was by the Empress Dowager. In her mind, no amount of favor could override the hierarchy of propriety. Besides, she hadn't even married into Shu yet—how dare some nobody step on her toes like this? If this was allowed now, what would happen in the future?

Fueled by these thoughts, her pent-up fury erupted into a sharp slap—

Smack!

"You're just an outsider with a county princess title—the Empress Dowager granted you that out of kindness. You're not even part of the imperial clan, yet you dare act insolent before me? Guards, restrain her and make her kneel!"

Zhai Nianci was stunned, clutching her cheek in disbelief. "You actually hit me?" Still reeling, her mind buzzed with shock. "Have you lost your mind? I'll report this to the Empress Dowager!"

"Disrespecting your superiors and flaunting the Empress Dowager's name—you're the one who's lost your mind! Kneel!"

Like Ming Chu, Zhai Nianci was, to put it kindly, spirited and bold—or, more bluntly, she knew a few flashy moves but was no true fighter. When two skilled guards seized her, she was overpowered in moments.

A kick to the back of her knees forced her to kneel before Feng Zhao, snapping her back to reality as rage exploded in her mind. "Let me go! Are you all useless?!"

Zhai Nianci had brought her own attendants, but the sudden turn of events had left them frozen, allowing Feng Zhao to seize the advantage. Now, as they regained their senses, the two groups of attendants clashed, quickly escalating into a brawl outside.

The commotion drew attention. Ming Tan rushed out with her entourage and was stunned to see Princess Feng Zhao and Yongle County Princess in the midst of the chaos. For a moment, she was at a loss before shouting, "Stop! What is the meaning of this?"

"Yongle County Princess showed no respect, refused to bow to me, and even spoke insolently. What's wrong with teaching her a lesson?" Feng Zhao, far less disheveled than Zhai Nianci, adjusted her hair and spoke with conviction.

Zhai Nianci was beside herself with fury—she had never suffered such humiliation in her life. "What kind of superior are you? How dare you make me kneel? How dare you lay hands on me!"

As Feng Zhao prepared to retort, Ming Tan quickly signaled for both women to be restrained.She finally understood—when these two brainless fools got together, they both thought themselves the most important people in the world, believing they were the noblest under heaven. And so, at the slightest disagreement, they started fighting, making an unprecedented spectacle of themselves in front of everyone.

Just how many more surprises did these two have in store for her? She could hardly keep from laughing out loud.

Of course, she couldn’t laugh. She had to hold it in.

Ming Tan steadied herself, adopting the dignified bearing of a Consort, and said calmly, "Daxiangguo Temple is a sacred Buddhist sanctuary, and today is the significant occasion of the Bathing the Buddha Festival. By brawling here, what respect have you shown for the dignity of the imperial family?"

"By all accounts, both of you could address me as aunt or aunt-in-law. Since that is the case, I cannot help but discipline you on behalf of Prince Yi and the Eldest Princess. Guards! Feng Zhao, the County Princess, and Yongle, the County Princess, have disgraced the imperial family with their unseemly scuffle. Take them to the small prayer hall and have them kneel for two hours to reflect on their misdeeds."

Feng Zhao, the County Princess: "…?"

Yongle, the County Princess: "…?"