Youthful Glory

Upon closer consideration, Feng Zhao and Yongle County Princess were actually a year or so older than Ming Tan. Although Ming Tan was married and wore her hair in a bun, she still looked very much like a young maiden. Neither of them had expected her to suddenly assert her authority as an elder.

Of course, the main reason was that the late emperor and Crown Prince Mincong were half-brothers, while Prince Yi and Emperor Chengkang were not born of the same mother either. The Empress Dowager was even the late emperor’s second empress. By their generation, any claim of blood relation with Prince Dingbei’s household was already tenuous at best. Terms like "aunt" and "uncle’s wife" were truly stretching it.

Perhaps still in shock, the two had no chance to defend themselves before being escorted away.

The crowd quieted momentarily before some hurried to flatter Ming Tan, praising her for handling the situation with such propriety and grace, embodying the dignity of a princess consort. They even brought up the embarrassing incident Feng Zhao had caused at the Duke of Ping’s residence the previous year.

That incident was well-known among the noblewomen of the capital. A mere mention of it was enough to elicit knowing smiles and concealed laughter.

Others avoided openly mocking Feng Zhao, instead sweetly complimenting Ming Tan on her peony-patterned attire and the exquisite "Peony in Spring Slumber" phoenix hairpin that complemented her so perfectly.

As for Yongle County Princess, since she had not been in the capital before, few knew much about her—though not everyone was entirely ignorant.

Some remarked that Yongle County Princess, spoiled by the Empress Dowager’s favor, had always been arrogant and overbearing, lacking the modesty expected of a young lady.

It was said she had once caught a glimpse of Prince Dingbei and fallen for him at first sight, which was why she had followed her father north without hesitation. She had even disguised herself to sneak into the military camp to see the prince, disrupting discipline. Upon learning that the Emperor and Empress intended to select a princess consort for Prince Dingbei, she had resorted to weeping, making scenes, and even threatening suicide to pressure Princess Wenhui and the Empress Dowager into arranging a match. Why their efforts had failed remained unknown.

"Yongle County Princess is so brazen?"

"Disguising herself to enter the camp and disrupt military discipline—how utterly improper and shocking for a young lady of good breeding!"

"No wonder she failed to become the princess consort. His Highness, being of the imperial family, values propriety and decorum. Naturally, he would favor a refined and virtuous lady like Your Highness. How could he ever take a liking to such shameless behavior?"

Ming Tan: "..."

Improper and shocking.

She felt vaguely offended.

Feeling somewhat guilty from the excessive praise, she coughed lightly to change the subject. "The wind is picking up outside. Let’s all head in—Abbot Yuanming should be starting his sermon soon."

Leading the group back into the hall, Ming Tan instinctively glanced at Zhou Jingwan.

Understanding the cue, Zhou Jingwan excused herself to freshen up and headed toward the release pond with her maids.

Today was the Bathing the Buddha Festival, and Daxiangguo Temple was livelier than usual. By the release pond, people tossed coins and fish food, offering prayers and wishes, while children laughed and chased after the koi.

Zhou Jingwan found a shaded spot to wait quietly.

Unexpectedly, a child spinning a top ran wildly toward her, too engrossed in play to notice her standing there. The whip cord lashed out toward her.

Before Zhou Jingwan could dodge, a blade flashed, severing the cord just before it could strike her.

The child froze, staring at the neatly cut cord, then looked up at the tall man looming over him. With a sudden wail, he dropped the top and fled in tears.Zhou Jingwan, already delicate and timid, was further unsettled by the child's crying. Her lips turned pale as she instinctively covered her chest and took half a step back.

This Commander Lu is truly terrifying.

Drawing swords at the slightest disagreement—no wonder he has the infamous reputation of silencing children's night cries.

Still, she had no choice but to curtsy and force herself to offer a polite greeting: "Thank you, Commander Lu."

"A small matter. There’s no need for formalities, Miss Jingwan."

Indeed, a small matter—killing a person or two probably meant nothing to him.

At this thought, Zhou Jingwan’s back stiffened, and she dared not raise her eyes to look at Lu Ting. Even from a distance of several feet, the oppressive aura radiating from the man before her felt suffocating.

After a long while, she mustered the courage to ask softly, "Might I ask, Commander Lu, have you heard of 'Zhuangzi and Huizi’s Debate on the Happiness of Fish'?"

Lu Ting glanced at the koi swimming in the release pond and answered as elegantly as he could: "I’ve heard a little."

Zhou Jingwan continued, "Zhuangzi said, 'The minnows dart about freely—this is the happiness of fish.' Huizi replied, 'You are not a fish. How do you know the happiness of fish?'"

Lu Ting’s knowledge ended with this line, but Zhou Jingwan wasn’t finished.

"Zhuangzi then said, 'You are not me. How do you know I don’t know the happiness of fish?' Huizi responded, 'I am not you, so of course I don’t know you. And since you are not a fish, you cannot know the happiness of fish—this is certain.'"

To Lu Ting’s ears, the latter part of Zhou Jingwan’s recitation became a jumble: "You are not me… the happiness of fish… I am not you… not a fish… the happiness of fish…"

Before Lu Ting could make sense of it, Zhou Jingwan gracefully curtsied, lowered her eyes, and suddenly said, "But what if I, Jingwan, understand fish and know they are not happy?"

Silence fell by the release pond, willow catkins drifting lightly in the breeze.

Zhou Jingwan’s heart pounded nervously, her palms damp with sweat. She truly didn’t know whether her thinly veiled refusal of this forced marriage proposal would anger Commander Lu.

Lu Ting, thoroughly confused, had no idea what she was trying to say. After a long pause, he hesitantly offered, "Then… feed them more?"

Zhou Jingwan’s lips grew even paler, and her body swayed slightly as if she might faint.

Did he think that showering her with betrothal gifts would make her willing? What did wealth have to do with this? Did he truly believe she, Zhou Jingwan, was so shallow as to chase after riches and glory, deserving of such contempt?

"Though fish are lowly, they too are living beings with their own thoughts. If they are unhappy, they would rather starve than eat recklessly," Zhou Jingwan said, her voice trembling, her head bowed low, tears welling in her eyes. After speaking, she curtsied again and said, "I must attend the monk’s sermon and cannot linger. My mind is made up—I hope Commander Lu will reconsider."

"……"

What did she mean, her mind was made up?

Watching Zhou Jingwan’s hurried departure, Lu Ting suddenly turned to his attendant and asked, "What did she mean by all that just now?"

The attendant answered honestly, "I’ve no idea. This Miss Zhou truly lives up to her scholarly family’s reputation—I didn’t understand a word she said. But I memorized it all. Should we ask the prince or Second Young Master Shu when we return?"

Lu Ting nodded.

The attendant wiped his sweat, thinking gloomily that if his master were to marry this Miss Zhou in the future, his duties would become much harder—he probably wouldn’t even understand her instructions.

——

Meanwhile, before they knew it, two hours had passed.

County Princess Feng Zhao and Yongle County Princess, having served their punishment of kneeling, emerged from the east and west sides of the small prayer hall, respectively. From their servants, they each learned what the other had said about them after they were taken away.Outside the Buddha hall, they ran into each other, and naturally, another round of sharp-tongued exchanges ensued—

"You're accused of lacking propriety and disregarding hierarchy, but who knew you'd truly be this shameless? Dressing up to sneak into the military camp, oh, and even resorting to tears, threats, and suicide just to marry Prince Dingbei—how laughable! If you really wanted to hang yourself, why are you still standing here unharmed? Disgraceful and utterly without shame!" Feng Zhao's words were laced with heavy sarcasm the moment she opened her mouth.

Zhai Nianci was equally unyielding: "I stand here unharmed thanks to the blessings of Her Highness the Empress Dowager. As for you, so well-versed in hierarchy and propriety, yet you dared to offend both Princess Dingbei and Her Majesty the Empress, even being ordered to reflect at home without stepping out. With all your knowledge, why haven’t you composed any peony poems or plucked peony flowers today?"

"You—!"

"And what if I didn’t marry Prince Dingbei? Under the Empress Dowager’s protection, what kind of husband couldn’t I find? You, on the other hand, are nearing your end yet still so arrogant. Married off to the likes of Marquis Jiangyang, you won’t even be fit to carry my shoes in the future!"

The earlier setback had been due to Feng Zhao’s unpredictability—striking without warning. But in a battle of words, Zhai Nianci was clearly the superior.

Now, Feng Zhao was visibly struck where it hurt, her eyes wide with fury, yet unable to muster a retort.

Seeing her like this, Zhai Nianci grew even sharper, needling her further with a mocking smile: "Don’t blame me for humiliating you. After the Late Spring Poetry Banquet incident, who in the capital would still spare you any dignity? Everyone sees you as a joke—surely you’re aware of that?

"And this joke wasn’t even my doing. The one who made you a laughingstock is now basking in glory, even daring to call herself your aunt. Forget about not being fit to carry my shoes—you’re not even fit to carry hers now. And after marrying Marquis Jiangyang? Tsk."

"Shut up!"

Feng Zhao’s hands clenched white with rage. Though she knew Zhai Nianci was deliberately provoking her, she couldn’t help but follow the train of thought:

That lowly woman from the Ming family, once unworthy of even carrying her shoes, was now Princess Dingbei, living in comfort and even flaunting peonies in her face.

Meanwhile, she, a noble princess, had been turned into the capital’s biggest joke by that wretch. If not for this, her parents might not have decided to marry her off to the debauched Marquis Jiangyang as his second wife.

This humiliation was unbearable—how could she endure it?

Feng Zhao turned to leave, but after a few steps, she suddenly spun back, fixing Zhai Nianci with a sneer: "So what if I became a joke? She didn’t steal the man I loved. But she did steal the one you wept, threatened, and begged for—the one you couldn’t get even with all your dramatics. And now she flaunts her status as your aunt while you shamelessly wave the Empress Dowager’s banner around, dragging her reputation through the mud. Just you wait—we’ll see how this ends!"

At the rear of the Great Xiangguo Temple, after the Buddha bathing ceremony, Ming Tan and Bai Minmin stayed with Zhou Jingwan.

"He really said that? Could there be some misunderstanding?" Ming Tan asked, puzzled, after hearing Zhou Jingwan recount their encounter.

Zhou Jingwan sobbed, "W-what misunderstanding could there be?"

Bai Minmin fumed, "I misjudged Commander Lu! To think he’d be so frivolous—offering more betrothal gifts as if that could buy Jingwan’s hand. Who does he think he’s insulting?"Zhou Jingwan seemed to have suffered immense grievance, her tears falling incessantly as she stubbornly insisted on words like "if he forces marriage, I'll take my own life." Hearing this, both Ming Tan and Bai Minmin grew quite worried. Her constitution was already weak, and with such crying, she might faint if she continued much longer.

Truthfully, Ming Tan felt something wasn't quite right, but she couldn't pinpoint it immediately. She could only comfort her first, saying, "Don't cry for now. There must be a way to resolve this. Let's think carefully together."

Bai Minmin chimed in, "Right, at worst, we can have A Tan go plead with His Highness. If A Tan asks, there's nothing His Highness wouldn't agree to."

Ming Tan: "..."

That wasn't quite the resolution method she had in mind.

Her legs were still trembling from earlier!