Youthful Glory

On the first day of the year, the emperor held the grand court assembly in the Golden Luan Hall as customary.

Jiang Xu usually avoided court sessions, but the grand assembly was different—it wouldn’t do to skip it. Thus, he rose before dawn.

Ming Tan also got up early. She helped Jiang Xu into his court robes and even fastened knee pads inside his trousers, chattering away, "Father once told me about the New Year’s grand assembly—the rituals are terribly complicated, with all the kneeling. Since you’re not used to such formalities, it’s better to wear these."

Jiang Xu remained silent, letting her fuss over him.

Once he was fully dressed, Ming Tan threw on her cloak and escorted him to the gate of Qi’an Hall. The sky was still dim, not yet fully bright.

She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, then pushed him out without waiting for a reaction. "Husband, hurry along now. It wouldn’t do to be late."

Jiang Xu glanced at her slightly flushed face, gave a quiet "Mm," and turned to leave the manor.

A trail of footprints gradually faded into the snow. In the moments Ming Tan couldn’t see, the corner of his lips lifted almost imperceptibly.

……

For Ming Tan, New Year’s Day wasn’t particularly busy. After offering incense at the ancestral hall to her late in-laws she’d never met, receiving a pile of greeting cards from acquaintances and strangers alike, and sending out just as many in return, there wasn’t much else to do.

The second day, however, was far more hectic—it was the day for returning to her maiden home. She rose early to wash and dress, dragging Jiang Xu along to worship the God of Wealth before setting out. They didn’t even have time for breakfast, only grabbing some pastries hastily packed by Suxin.

Outside, the roads were jammed with carriages and horses, the congestion unbearable. Since their cart was laden with gifts, they couldn’t abandon it midway to ride on horseback. What should have been a short journey dragged on for nearly an hour.

By the time they arrived at Jing’an Marquis Manor, Shen Hua and her husband—also back for the customary visit—had already arrived. Shen Hua looked plumper than before, her belly slightly rounded.

With everyone gathered for the occasion, the men discussed court affairs while the women—Ming Tan, Shen Hua, and Madam Pei—chatted merrily.

However, Jiang Xu still had to attend palace duties that day and couldn’t stay long. After sitting briefly, he arranged to pick Ming Tan up once his business was concluded and left before lunch.

Unexpectedly, not long after Jiang Xu’s departure, Ming Chu and her husband, Third Son Feng, arrived from Hezhou for the same tradition.

This was Ming Chu’s first return to Jing’an Marquis Manor since her marriage. Her hair was styled in a matronly bun, adorned with expensive hairpins, and her new vermilion winter coat followed the capital’s latest fashion. She looked in good spirits—clearly, the Feng family hadn’t mistreated her despite Ming Tan’s previous decree.

Whether she’d learned her lesson and dared not make trouble or was trying to win back some of her long-lost fatherly affection by behaving well in front of Ming Tingyuan, Ming Chu was unusually docile around Ming Tan and Shen Hua that day.

Since she wasn’t stirring trouble, Ming Tan ignored her as if she weren’t there. Shen Hua did the same.

But Ming Chu’s good behavior was short-lived. Midway through lunch, she suddenly turned to Shen Hua and asked warmly, "I heard Cousin Hua is with child?"

Shen Hua paused, then nodded politely.

Ming Chu pressed on, "Are there any dietary restrictions during pregnancy? I’m completely in the dark about these things."

The table fell silent for a moment.

"What do you mean by that? Are you also expecting?" Ming Tingyuan set down his chopsticks and asked.

Ming Chu lowered her head with a smile. "Yes. I’m already a month along."Feng Sanlang quickly added from the side, "Chu Chu's pregnancy is only a month along. I originally thought the journey would be too bumpy and unsuitable for travel, but Chu Chu hasn't returned to the Marquis's residence since her marriage and misses her father dearly. She also wanted to personally share the happy news with her parents. I couldn't persuade her otherwise, so I brought her to the capital for the New Year's visit."

Ming Tingyuan nodded, his gaze softening considerably as he looked at Ming Chu.

"So Third Sister is also expecting," Shen Hua replied with a gentle smile, her voice warm. "There are many dietary restrictions during pregnancy—my mind can't remember them all. But my mother-in-law has already instructed that all forbidden foods be avoided in daily meals."

At this point, she asked curiously, "Third Sister, since you're already a month along, haven't you consulted a physician to carefully list out the dietary restrictions and given them to the kitchen at home? How could you be completely in the dark about them?"

Ming Chu: "..."

She had only mentioned it to subtly bring up her pregnancy and annoy someone who couldn't conceive. Yet Shen Hua still managed to set traps in her words!

Ming Chu didn't take the bait, but to her surprise, her husband Feng Sanlang, fearing his in-laws might misunderstand that his family mistreated her, hurriedly explained, "Of course we did. The physician listed a full three pages of dietary restrictions, and our household hasn't prepared any forbidden foods these days."

Ming Chu pinched him under the table, and only then did he realize his explanation contradicted her earlier statement. Stumbling over his words, he added, "Chu... Chu Chu is like Cousin—she doesn't remember well herself. Once she leaves the house, she doesn't know what she can or can't eat."

Hearing this, Shen Hua glanced at Ming Tan. However, Ming Tan showed no reaction, merely occasionally serving dishes to Ming Tingyuan and Madam Pei.

Unable to bear seeing her indifferent attitude, Ming Chu finally couldn't resist asking, "How have you been lately, Fourth Sister? Any news about your condition?"

"What kind of news does Third Sister mean?" Ming Tan lifted her eyelids slightly.

"Don't pretend you don't understand, Fourth Sister. You and His Highness have been married for a while now—surely there must be some news of a pregnancy? Continuing the family line is a serious matter. You should pay more attention. If you can't conceive yourself, you could always adopt a child born to a concubine in the manor. After all, the bond of upbringing is greater than the bond of birth."

Ming Chu couldn't hold back any longer and gleefully spoke her mind.

Feng Sanlang sensed trouble but couldn't stop her in time.

Ming Tan chuckled lightly, not even bothering to look at her, and deftly deflected by recounting an incident that had happened near the opera stage during their visit to Yongchun Garden:

"...That Consort Shuyi, relying on her pregnancy, dared to meddle in the affairs of Prince Dingbei's Manor. Guess what happened? The Emperor, in a fit of anger, placed her under house arrest and demoted her rank."

If even a favored pregnant consort in the palace could be demoted for speaking out of turn, what more could be said for others? Hearing this, Feng Sanlang broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly restrained Ming Chu to prevent her from spouting more nonsense.

Ming Chu shot him a glare.

Feng Sanlang inwardly lamented, feeling his wife truly had no sense of propriety. She still acted as if she were competing with her sisters back in their maiden days. Now, the other was the lofty Princess Consort Dingbei—their statuses were worlds apart. Where did she find the audacity to act so recklessly?

Ming Chu might have put on a brave face, but after hearing Ming Tan's thinly veiled warning to "mind your own business," her heart was filled with trepidation, and she didn't dare utter another word.The return visit to her parents' home passed without incident. Though Ming Tan showed no outward signs of anything amiss in front of Ming Chu, on the way back to the estate, she couldn't help but feel melancholy. Even Ming Chu was already with child—why hadn't she conceived yet?

Though she hadn't been particularly eager to bear children, the ability to conceive and the desire to were two entirely different matters. Being reminded of it repeatedly inevitably made her dwell on it.

After the second day's visit to her parents' home came the New Year greetings among relatives and friends.

Jiang Xu left everything to Ming Tan, the lady of the house, to handle the social engagements—though, of course, these were all with people she was familiar with. Those who came to the estate to pay New Year respects on Jiang Xu's behalf were only three: Zhang Huaiyu, Lu Ting, and Shu Jingran.

The three arrived together at noon. Though they were all close friends, they still brought generous gifts.

Coincidentally, shortly after they had settled in and just as tea was being served, a servant came to announce that the daughter of Duke Changguo's household and Miss Zhou had arrived.

At this news, both Zhang Huaiyu and Lu Ting paused momentarily.

During the New Year festivities, strict separation of men and women wasn't observed. Ming Tan had them both invited in together. However, though the message had mentioned two people, only one entered.

Before Ming Tan could ask, Lu Ting inquired first, "Where is Miss Zhou?"

"Replying to Commander Lu, Miss Zhou had urgent matters at home. She turned back suddenly upon reaching the gates," the servant answered.

Bai Minmin shot him a glance. "Isn't it obvious? She heard a certain someone was here. Jing Wan is the epitome of propriety—with the wedding so close, how could they meet outside? Must you even ask?"

Zhang Huaiyu suddenly flicked open his fan, raising an eyebrow meaningfully. "In that case, it seems Miss Bai hasn't learned even half of Miss Zhou's decorum. Knowing full well that this heir is here, you still rushed in eagerly."

"…?"

"You!"

Bai Minmin flushed crimson with indignation.

But soon, she took a deep breath and laughed coldly in anger. "The Heir Zhang certainly knows how to flatter himself. Who came because of you? I heard Second Young Master Shu was here—"

At this, she turned a beaming smile toward Shu Jingran, performing an exaggerated curtsy, her voice dripping with affected sweetness. "Second Young Master Shu, it's been so long."

Shu Jingran felt his scalp prickle. He forced a dry laugh and hastily returned the greeting. "Miss Bai, you honor me too much."

Zhang Huaiyu couldn't stay composed. He stared wide-eyed at Shu Jingran, then at Bai Minmin, tapping his closed fan. "You—how could you?"

"How could I what?" Bai Minmin retorted boldly.

"You're a young lady about to be betrothed, yet you covet another!"

"Who says I'm about to be betrothed? Heir Zhang, you can't just spout nonsense. If you enjoy babbling, that's your affair, but don't tarnish my reputation."

……

These two were truly a pair of adversaries. Before, they hadn't known each other and wouldn't exchange a word when they met. Now, wherever they encountered each other, once the bickering started, it was impossible to get a word in edgewise.

Ming Tan finally managed to interject, asking what everyone would like to eat so she could arrange dinner early.

But with this group gathered today, dinner here was clearly out of the question.

Upon learning that Zhou Jingwan had come and gone, Lu Ting couldn't sit still any longer and soon excused himself to leave. After Zhang Huaiyu and Bai Minmin bickered for a while, the atmosphere inexplicably softened. Zhang Huaiyu mentioned a particularly thrilling performance by foreign entertainers at a certain theater, and Bai Minmin, as if enchanted, eagerly urged him to take her to see it.In the end, only Shu Jingran stayed for dinner. After the meal, Jiang Xu took him to the study to discuss matters.

Ming Tan did not disturb them. Since the beginning of the year, her husband had frequently entered the palace and held discussions with others. Occasionally, when she entered the study, she would catch glimpses of maps of Rongzhou, and she had a faint premonition—the last of the thirteen northern provinces yet to be reclaimed, Rongzhou, was likely about to be put on the agenda.

The two men deliberated by candlelight late into the night. Concerned that her husband had eaten little at dinner, Ming Tan had someone prepare a late-night snack and sent it to the Ten Thousand Scrolls Study, where the study was located.

The night was deep. Before she could reach the Ten Thousand Scrolls Study, she spotted a figure slipping quietly out through a side gate in the distance, heading toward the rear gate of the residence.

Ming Tan paused slightly. The figure was definitely not one of the hidden guards—it looked unfamiliar yet somehow familiar, as if she had seen them somewhere before... but she couldn’t recall at the moment.