Youthful Glory

The days passed neither too quickly nor too slowly, and soon it was the eighth day of the second month. Marquis Jing'an, Ming Tingyuan, who had been serving as the military governor of Yangxi Road, returned to the capital upon completing his term.

Holding both military and administrative authority over a region, his governance had been outstanding. His return to the capital for debriefing was tied to shifts among high-ranking officials, drawing covert attention from many.

Emperor Chengkang issued an oral decree, commanding Marquis Jing'an to present himself at court immediately upon entering the capital. Once inside the city, Ming Tingyuan split from his family and servants—one group headed straight for Qixuan Gate, while the other detoured toward the Marquis Jing'an residence on South Magpie Street.

Upon hearing that the Marquis had gone directly to the palace without stopping at home, and that it was Consort Liu and others who had returned first, the household staff moved with noticeably less urgency. After all, there was no grand ceremony for welcoming a concubine and her illegitimate daughter back to the residence.

When Consort Liu and Ming Chu stepped out of the carriage, only Zhang Mama, sent by Madam Pei, along with a few maids and elderly servants, awaited them at the side gate.

Perhaps due to being the sole favorite, even after five years in the harsh borderlands of Yangxi Road, Consort Liu’s beauty remained largely unchanged—if anything, she seemed even more radiant.

As for the third young lady, Ming Chu, she was nearly unrecognizable. When she left the capital, she had been no more than eleven or twelve. Now, after five years, her features had matured, and her demeanor had transformed entirely. Dressed in striking red, her spirited bearing carried a hint of the bold, heroic air typical of a general’s daughter.

"You expect my mother and me to enter through the side gate?" Ming Chu frowned, deeply displeased with Zhang Mama’s arrangement.

Back in Yangxi Road, wherever she went, she had been the military governor’s treasured daughter, never slighted.

Yet her complaint was unreasonable—this was the capital, where the main gate was not to be opened casually. Even Madam Pei usually entered and exited through the side gate. Of course, had they returned with the Marquis today, they might have had the privilege of entering through the main gate.

Just as Zhang Mama was about to explain patiently, Consort Liu stepped forward and subtly tightened her grip on Ming Chu’s hand.

Remembering her mother’s warnings during their journey back, Ming Chu stiffened but decided to swallow her anger for now. With a dark expression, she brushed past Zhang Mama and strode through the side gate—

Meanwhile, in the Zhaoshui Courtyard, Ming Tan was throwing a fit of monumental proportions.

She slammed the letter in her hand onto the table, then swept the exquisite and costly teacups and teapot onto the floor in one furious motion.

The crisp shattering of porcelain was startling. She suddenly stood, pounding the table, pacing the room while muttering, "Despicable! Utterly despicable! I thought this family was merely shameless and lacking in decorum, but I underestimated them—they’ve actually schemed against me!"

Her voice trembled with rage. Her fingers clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white, faint blue veins visible on the back of her hands.

Suxin and Lü’e were terrified—especially since they had no idea what had happened.

Just these past two days, their young mistress had been in high spirits, determined to outshine the third young lady returning today with her finest attire. That very morning, she had even ordered someone to collect morning dew from flowers, mixing it with jade powder to apply a thick facial mask, claiming it would leave her skin exceptionally smooth and glowing.

But after breakfast, a maid from the Bai family delivered a letter, relaying that Bai Minmin had wanted to personally inform her of its contents but, considering today was a family reunion at the Marquis’s residence, had instead written it down and sent it over.

No one knew what the letter said, but it had provoked the usually composed Ming Tan—who often lectured, "A noble lady must never lose her dignity, no matter the situation. Screaming and smashing things is no different from a common shrew!"—into an unprecedented tantrum...Recalling the chrysanthemum banquet two years prior, when Feng Zhao unexpectedly snatched the "Flower Queen" title that should have been hers, she had merely thrown a porcelain cup upon returning—and even that was aimed at the daybed, without so much as a chip.

But this time, smashing teacups and porcelain pots wasn't enough. After pacing around the room several times, she suddenly grabbed that letter and charged outside.

Seeing this, even the usually composed Suxin panicked, chasing after her with a reminder: "Miss, where are you going? Third Miss and the consort have already arrived at the mansion, and you haven't even worn your newly ordered hairpin yet!"

Ming Tan halted.

Ah, yes. The hairpin.

And that mother-daughter pair.

She turned back, walked straight into the inner chamber, and sat expressionlessly before the dressing table.

Suxin gently nudged Lü'e, who was momentarily stunned before stammering: "M-Miss, don't be angry. Anger makes one less beautiful... Not that you're not beautiful—Miss is beautiful no matter what! But when Miss smiles, it's even more... more breathtaking, enough to topple cities and captivate nations!"

Whether it was Lü'e's flattery hitting the mark or the sight of her own face cooling her temper, Ming Tan calmed considerably after sitting down.

Her father was currently at the palace for an audience with the emperor. Charging out now would not only fail to find him but also invite ridicule for nothing.

Moreover, even when her father returned, she couldn't just rush up and demand the engagement be broken off. After five years apart, who knew what poisonous whispers Ming Chu and Consort Liu had poured into her father's ears? If he misunderstood that the Duke Ling's household looked down on her because of her lack of propriety, things would take a turn for the worse.

Furthermore, she wasn't entirely confident. Though her father had treated her well in her memories, he wasn't like her uncle doting on Bai Minmin to the marrow of his bones. Would he be willing to offend the Duke Ling's household for her sake?

Picking up the newly crafted silver moon tassel hairpin from the table, she examined it for a moment before suddenly instructing: "Suxin, fetch a plain handkerchief and soak it in garlic juice."

"Yes."

"One more thing—come here."

She motioned for Suxin to come closer, returning the letter delivered by the Bai household maid to its envelope and handing it over, whispering a few additional instructions in her ear.

Suxin never pried when her mistress didn't explain. Accepting the task, she withdrew with hands clasped.

Ming Tan exhaled, then told Lü'e: "Redo my makeup. No need for anything too elaborate, and change my dress as well."

Earlier, she'd only been thinking about how to outshine Ming Chu, forgetting that meeting her father was the more pressing matter.

Thus, after much nitpicking and endless guidance from her, Lü'e finally styled her into a vision of delicate beauty with a touch of fragile loveliness.

Ming Tan examined herself in the full-length bronze mirror, lips curving in satisfaction. "Let's go. To Lanxin Courtyard."

Lanxin Courtyard was Madam Pei's residence. From Zhaoshui Courtyard, the path wound through corridors and walls, passing the eastern annex garden.

As the entourage proceeded along the covered walkway, they heard a commotion ahead upon reaching the eastern annex garden.

"Oh... so it's the granddaughter of Elder Madam's maternal cousin. Elder Madam has been gone for so long—that's quite the distant relation. And if I recall correctly, Elder Madam's maiden family was originally a count's household. With successive reductions in hereditary rank, there's nothing left to reduce. They haven't had contact with our household for years—hardly what I'd call proper relatives," Ming Chu mocked.

Shen Hua: "Third Sister, you—!""What do you mean 'you'? Cousin, I only call you that out of respect for the late Elder Madam. Don’t mistake yourself for family. Mother and I have just returned to the estate, only to find you reciting some melancholic poetry in the garden. Are you deliberately trying to upset us? If you ask me, those who live under another’s roof should know their place!"

Ming Chu had already been in a foul mood from entering through the side gate, and the servants she encountered along the way were far less attentive than those on Yangxi Road. Running into Shen Hua reciting some sentimental spring poem in the garden was the last straw. Her pent-up frustration erupted, her words dripping with sarcasm and an unyielding arrogance despite being in the wrong.

Shen Hua was furious.

In the past, her subtle rivalries with Ming Tan had often left her seething, but at least Ming Tan was a noble lady—her barbs were veiled in elegance, never this crude and devoid of grace!

Just as she was about to retort, another voice, light and mocking, came from behind: "Third Sister, mind your words. Mother is in Lanxin Courtyard, not here."

Both parties instinctively turned.

A group of green-clad maids emerged from the corner of the covered walkway. After a few steps, they halted and arranged themselves in two neat rows, bowing their heads in deference—

A young woman in a jade-white brocade dress embroidered with gold thread stepped gracefully forward. Her skin was like snow, her hair dark as ink, and her eyes clear as water. With delicate hands gently waving a silk fan, every step she took made the silver moon tassel hairpin sway, scattering tiny glimmers of light.

Though her attire wasn’t overly extravagant, from a distance, she exuded the fragile elegance of a priceless porcelain vase—so exquisite one feared it might topple if placed on the ground or shatter if held too tightly. Her beauty was mesmerizing.

Even Shen Hua, accustomed to such displays, was momentarily stunned. For once, she couldn’t decide whether to silently mock Ming Tan’s affectations as usual or to be grateful for how those very affectations had cowed a certain shrew who knew nothing of propriety.

"This must be the Fourth Young Lady," Consort Liu quickly recognized Ming Tan and smiled warmly, her voice gentle. "It’s been years. You’ve grown into such a beauty."

She hadn’t stopped Ming Chu earlier mainly because she hadn’t taken Shen Hua seriously. But Ming Tan was different. If Ming Tan chose to make an issue of the address, it would likely end badly for them in front of Madam Pei.

"You flatter me, Aunt. Though I must say, Third Sister has also grown... quite distinct from those of us who’ve long resided in the capital."

Ming Tan responded to Consort Liu but didn’t spare her a glance. Instead, she scrutinized Ming Chu from head to toe with the same dismissive air Ming Chu had used on Shen Hua earlier.

Ming Chu belatedly snapped out of her daze. "You—!"

"What do you mean 'you,' Third Sister? This is the capital. Pointing at someone while speaking is terribly uncouth." Ming Tan slowly pressed Ming Chu’s finger down with her fan. "Third Sister has been away from the capital for so long, she must have forgotten many rules. Today alone—not knowing where your mother is, disrespecting a visiting cousin, threatening your younger sister with a pointed finger—any one of these would be enough to make you the laughingstock of the city for half a year. The one who should know her place is you, Third Sister."

Ming Chu’s own words were thrown back at her one by one. Furious, she glared at Ming Tan, her eyes practically spitting fire!

Just as she was about to draw the soft whip from her waist, Consort Liu hurried forward and grabbed her arm, hissing, "Chu Chu!"

Ming Chu stared daggers at the young woman before her. The word "bitch" was on the tip of her tongue, but for some reason, she swallowed it back.Her mother was right—no matter what, she had to endure until after the engagement was settled. Madam Pei was her legal mother, and if she were to seize any fault and make a big deal out of it, causing trouble during the marriage negotiations, it would be too costly!

After calming Ming Chu down, Consort Liu forced a smile and turned to Ming Tan. "Fourth Miss, Chu Chu—"

Ming Tan had no patience to listen and interrupted directly, "It's getting late. I still need to pay my respects to Mother, so I won’t keep you company any longer."

Seeing this, Shen Hua followed her. "Fourth Sister, I’ll go with you."

She had never liked Ming Tan, but today, compared to Ming Chu, even her rival seemed much more pleasant to the eye.

As the saying goes, evil has its own retribution. This fourth sister of hers was so adept at shutting people down—one moment talking about vulgarity, the next about propriety, even accusing others of "lacking compassion for a younger sister." Just one year younger—how was that "younger"? The way she glorified herself was truly natural.

But before long, Shen Hua realized she was wrong.

When it came to self-glorification, the youngest Miss Ming’s acting skills could put even the most renowned performers of the Fuchun Troupe to shame.

Not long after the two arrived at Madam Pei’s place, someone came in to announce that the Marquis had returned to the estate and was heading toward Lanxin Courtyard.

Everyone rose to greet him.

Out of the corner of her eye, Shen Hua noticed Ming Tan taking out a plain handkerchief from her wide sleeve and dabbing her eyes, which immediately turned red, glistening with unshed tears.

Shen Hua thought to herself—she had never noticed any deep father-daughter affection between Ming Tan and Marquis Jing'an before... Then she saw Ming Tan lift her skirt and rush toward the tall, middle-aged man with a short beard who had just entered the courtyard, calling out repeatedly, "Daddy!"

Ming Tan’s voice was soft and clear, laced with a deliberately restrained sob, perfectly designed to evoke protectiveness.

Sure enough, after five years apart from his youngest daughter—long enough that he should hardly recognize her face—Ming Tingyuan immediately patted Ming Tan’s slender shoulder and comforted her in a gruff voice, "Good girl, what’s wrong? Has someone bullied you?"

Ming Tan lifted her small face, her eyes red, and shook her head. "No, A Tan just missed Daddy too much." But as soon as she finished speaking, crystal tears rolled down her cheeks.

She hurriedly wiped them away with her handkerchief, then reluctantly stepped back half a pace and curtsied. "A Tan greets Daddy. A Tan has forgotten herself, neglecting propriety and manners. Please punish me."

Ming Tingyuan was thoroughly pleased.

His youngest daughter, whom he hadn’t seen in five years, was filial, sensible, and impeccably proper—and most importantly, she had grown into a beauty like a celestial maiden. Hmm, truly worthy of being Ming Tingyuan’s daughter.