Youthful Glory

The Lantern Festival of the fifth year of Chengkang's reign passed amidst lively clamor and excitement, and the festive atmosphere quietly dissipated along with the gradually ceasing winter snow.

The two individuals who had knocked Ming Tan into the water still hadn't been identified, but fortunately, the Duke Ling's household was tactful enough to directly acknowledge the story of Liang Zixuan's accidental fall into the water. They even had Liang Zixuan lie low in their residence for a few days to lend credibility to the tale.

Madam Pei, unaware of the truth, merely thought the Duke Ling's household handled matters quite honorably and was a decent family to associate with. Ming Tan, however, felt no gratitude. When the Duke Ling's household privately sent people to inquire after her health and bring gifts, she didn't even spare them a proper glance.

With the arrival of spring, the tailors and embroiderers from Jinxiu Workshop were once again invited to Marquis Jing'an's residence to take measurements for new garments.

Thinking ahead, Ming Tan had already considered that after the annulment of her engagement, she wouldn't be able to dress ostentatiously for quite some time. This time, she chose only elegant and subdued colors—moon white, sage green, and pale blue.

Madam Pei, assuming she was merely seeking novelty, didn't object. She merely pointed out two additional bolts of vibrant fabric for Ming Tan's outer robes and said warmly, leaning against a pillow, "It's fine to dress modestly at home, but spring is the season for outings and flower-viewing. Young ladies should wear brighter colors—lively and spirited. Who wouldn't find that appealing?"

"Mother is right."

Ming Tan didn't argue and obediently agreed, though inwardly she was vexed at the thought of not being able to flaunt these beautiful garments outdoors during spring.

Madam Pei never gave anyone cause for criticism in trivial matters like food, clothing, and daily necessities. She increased Ming Tan's allowance and did the same for Shen Hua.

After skimming the foam from her tea and taking a sip, she remembered something else and instructed the head seamstress from Jinxiu Workshop, "Use the remaining fabric to make a few more outfits according to the young miss's measurements. Judging by the time, the Third Young Miss should be returning soon. It's been years since we last saw her, and we don't know how her figure has changed. Let's prepare these in advance. If they don't fit, we can have new ones made after she returns to the capital."

"Understood."

The head seamstress verbally accepted the task, but inwardly she pondered whether the craftsmanship of these additional outfits should match that of the young miss's. After all, she frequently worked in noble households and wasn't so oblivious as to miss the subtle shifts in the marquis's wife's demeanor.

Indeed, it wasn't just Madam Pei whose attitude was nuanced. Both Ming Tan and Shen Hua froze for a moment upon hearing "Third Young Miss."

The Marquis Jing'an's household had always been abundant in male heirs and scarce in daughters. By Ming Tan's generation, the number of girls could be counted on one hand. When the Elder Madam was alive, the various branches of the family hadn't yet divided the household, so cousins were ranked together by age.

Ming Tan had no elder sisters from the main branch, and the two cousins from the second and third branches had already married. Her half-sister Ming Chu, however, remained unmarried and was close to her in age. But Ming Chu and Consort Liu had accompanied her father, Marquis Jing'an, to guard the border and hadn't returned to the capital in five years.

Ming Tan had only remembered that her father's return to the capital would mean the annulment of her engagement could finally be arranged. She had forgotten that Ming Chu and Consort Liu would be returning as well.

Her relationship with Ming Chu had always been terrible. Now, with her return, wouldn't there be one more person to laugh at her when the engagement was broken?

As for Shen Hua, her first thought was that Ming Chu, the Third Young Miss of the Ming family, was the same age as her. Though a concubine-born daughter, Ming Chu came from a prestigious family and was doted upon, making her status roughly equivalent to Shen Hua's. With suitable marriage prospects in the capital already limited, their return now likely meant the two would end up competing for the same matches.

For a moment, the hall fell into silence as everyone lowered their gazes, lost in thought.

With the return date drawing near, Madam Pei not only had Jinxiu Workshop prepare garments but also began directing the servants to tidy up the marquis's residence.She handled household affairs with remarkable efficiency. Within just a few days, the entire marquis's residence was refurbished to a sparkling new state, even Consort Liu's courtyard received thorough renovations—absolutely nothing could be faulted.

Seeing Madam Pei so diligent, Zhang Mama couldn't help but mutter while combing her hair: "Madam, why trouble yourself with every little detail in Consort Liu's quarters? That lowly woman monopolized the Marquis for five years and must be quite presumptuous by now."

Madam Pei studied her still elegant and refined reflection in the mirror without responding.

With no one else around, Zhang Mama leaned closer and whispered: "Ultimately, heirs are what matter most in a household. Though this path is difficult for Madam, there are plenty of pretty maids in the residence. Failing that, the capital isn’t lacking in modest beauties from minor families. After so many years with Consort Liu, the Marquis should tire of her when presented with fresh faces."

Madam Pei picked up a hairpin and idly held it against her hair, appearing indifferent.

"Madam!" Zhang Mama couldn’t help raising her voice slightly.

Madam Pei glanced sideways and said coolly: "You’re mistaken."

She set down the hairpin, her gaze turning deep and distant: "My bond with the Marquis is merely superficial. When he was assigned to the borderlands, it was I who chose to stay in the capital to avoid hardship. I ought to thank Consort Liu—during those five years at the frontier, the Marquis took no new concubines nor fathered any children, sparing me much trouble. Had another concubine accompanied him, I doubt they’d have managed as well.

"As for heirs, it seems fate denies me this. Adopting a child would be exhausting and, moreover, the child could never inherit the title. Rather than such complications, I’d rather devote more attention to A Tan.

"After all these years, you should see clearly—our marquisate’s future hinges half on marrying our daughter well and half on Da Ge’er. When I married into this household, Da Ge’er was already grown, so we never developed a mother-son bond. But thanks to A Tan, he’s shown me due respect over the years."

Zhang Mama readily agreed: "In all his years stationed at Mount Pang, Da Ge’er never missed sending letters or festival gifts. Knowing Madam suffers from chronic knee pain, he even specially sent back folk remedies from the mountain region. Though not exceptionally talented, he’s courteous and thoughtful."

At this, Madam Pei’s lips curved slightly in satisfaction.

After a long pause, she suddenly remembered something and asked: "By the way, has A Tan been acting unusually lately? During the recent palace visit, she stared at the Liang family ladies for quite some time. Her manners are usually impeccable—she wouldn’t be so rude without reason. And after the Lantern Festival drowning incident... when the Liangs sent concerned gifts, she seemed indifferent, almost displeased."

Zhang Mama said: "The young miss is still young. The Liang match was arranged by the previous Madam as a childhood betrothal, and the two families rarely interact—it’s natural she’d be curious. As for the Liang family’s gifts and concern, any girl would be secretly pleased to earn her future in-laws’ favor, but young ladies are too bashful to show it."

Madam Pei still felt something was amiss but said no more.

While the Jing’an Marquis’s household awaited the master’s return, the capital’s nobility was far more preoccupied with another sudden, explosive scandal—

Marquis Cheng’en Gu Jinzhong was convicted of forcibly seizing farmlands and illegally operating salt mines, among other crimes. Stripped of his title, his property was confiscated, and he was sentenced to exile a thousand li away. The ever-favored Consort Yu, implicated in the case, was banished to the cold palace. Fortunately, the punishment didn’t extend to family members beyond those directly involved—the rest were merely demoted to commoners, with male descendants barred from imperial examinations.

Discussions of the affair inevitably drew sighs of pity."Being demoted to commoners and barred from the imperial examinations, the Gu family has no hope of revival for three generations." Bai Minmin sighed. "At the Lantern Festival palace banquet, Gu Jiurou even boldly performed a song. How could things change so suddenly in just a few days?"

Zhou Jingwan, the daughter of a Hanlin academician and close friend of Ming Tan and Bai Minmin, spoke softly, "It wasn't sudden. That day, I stayed home due to a cold and didn't attend the banquet, but later I heard about what happened in the hall. The situation at the time actually foreshadowed many things."

Ming Tan had already figured it out. Zhou Jingwan's words aligned with her thoughts.

Only Bai Minmin was still confused: "A Tan, you understand? How was it not sudden? How was it foreshadowed?"

Ming Tan couldn't be bothered to explain and pushed the plate of walnut kernels toward her: "Eat more, nourish your brain."

"...?"

Bai Minmin reached out to hit her.

Ming Tan quickly dodged, maintaining her dignified demeanor as she criticized, "Look at you, not a bit of the grace and composure that Wanwan and I possess. How can we maintain the reputation of the 'Three Beauties of the Capital' like this?"

"...?"

"Wanwan is one thing, but what does grace and composure have to do with you? You just put on an act in front of outsiders, how shameless!"

Ming Tan: "At least I know how to act in front of others, unlike you!"

"Enough," Zhou Jingwan covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed softly. Frail by nature, her voice was delicate and gentle. "Stop bickering, I'll explain."

The three of them were sitting by the courtyard of Zhaoshui Manor, enjoying tea. With only trusted people around, there was nothing they couldn't discuss.

Zhou Jingwan patiently explained: "On the surface, this incident is about Zhang Ji, the magistrate of the capital's outskirts, being too close to Marquis Cheng'en and privately collecting evidence of the Gu family's crimes. But think carefully—Zhang Ji owed his official success to Marquis Cheng'en. Why would he suddenly turn informer? Do corrupt officials really abandon their wicked ways overnight?

"Moreover, in the past when censors impeached Marquis Cheng'en, His Majesty always let it pass lightly. But this time, he was furious during court and ordered a thorough investigation..."

Hearing this, Bai Minmin seemed to vaguely understand something.

Zhou Jingwan stopped there and changed the subject: "Prince Dingbei is often campaigning in the north and rarely returns to the capital, so I don't know much about his temperament. But even if he truly is arrogant due to his achievements and disregards Consort Yu and Marquis Cheng'en, directly humiliating them at the palace banquet should have drawn at least some reprimand from His Majesty and Your Highness."

"Oh... I see." Bai Minmin sorted through her thoughts. "You mean His Majesty had long wanted to deal with the Gu family, which is why neither he nor Your Highness spoke up for Gu Jiurou when things got so ugly... In that case, Prince Dingbei might have already known His Majesty's intentions, which is why he acted so arrogantly?"

"In my opinion, that prince is just naturally arrogant."

What could a mere brute possibly understand? Ming Tan carefully painted her nails with red polish, somewhat dismissive.