“Would you accompany me to meet Young Master Pei?”
As spring deepened, lingering chill clung like water. Last night’s drizzle had added a touch of coolness, and though the warming incense burner filled the room with cozy warmth, Shen Youran still curled under her quilts, unwilling to rise.
Her maids Danruo and Qinghe knocked on her door for the third time. Receiving no response, they entered directly with warm water for washing. Approaching the huanghuali wood moon gate canopy bed, they drew aside the draped brocade curtains and found their young mistress frowning slightly, still lazing in bed. Smiling, they reminded her, “Miss, aren’t you supposed to accompany the Eldest Young Miss to Hongqiao Bridge today to meet the Pei family’s eldest son? If you don’t get up soon, you’ll be late…”
The Eldest Young Miss, Shen Yunshu, was renowned for both talent and beauty—graceful and intelligent. Having been in the capital for just two years, she had already made a name for herself.
Half a month earlier, the Pei family’s matriarch had been granted an Imperial Mandate Title and hosted a tea party in gratitude for the imperial favor. At that gathering, Old Madame Pei had taken an immediate liking to Shen Yunshu and intended to match her with her own eldest grandson, Pei Huaijin. At the time, however, Pei Huaijin was still serving as an assistant prefect in Lingzhou and would not conclude his term and return to the capital for another six months.
Two days ago, the Pei family sent word that Pei Huaijin would soon return to the capital to report on his duties. Seizing the opportunity during his brief stay, Old Madame Pei arranged for him and Shen Yunshu to meet in advance.
In such matchmaking arrangements, it was customary for the two to glimpse each other from a distance during a banquet or elegant gathering. If both were pleased, it was cause for celebration; if not, they could pretend the encounter never happened, thus avoiding future awkwardness.
However, during Pei Huaijin’s stay in the capital, no suitable banquets or gatherings were scheduled. Thus, the Pei family set the meeting at Hongqiao Bridge by the East Water Gate, scheduled for early in the morning at 5:45—just as dawn was breaking and the bridge would be relatively empty. One would stand on the bridge, the other below it, observing each other from a respectful distance. After the brief encounter, both could return home in time for breakfast without delay.
It was now almost 5 a.m., and the Eldest Young Miss was likely already dressed and ready. Yet her companion, the Third Young Miss, was still lounging in bed.
“Miss, please get up quickly…”
Danruo, who had grown up with her young mistress, shared a bond closer than that of typical master and servant. Seeing Shen Youran’s fluttering eyelashes—a clear sign she was awake but simply being lazy—she sat by the bed and gently helped her up.
Qinghe promptly handed over a warm, damp towel. Danruo skillfully wiped her mistress’s face and forehead until, beneath the cloth, thin eyelids fluttered open, revealing eyes as clear as morning dew.
“I’ll do it myself,” Shen Youran murmured drowsily, taking the towel from Danruo and rubbing her face haphazardly. The fair, delicate skin reddened slightly from the brisk motion, a faint sting rousing her to fuller wakefulness.
She then climbed out of bed and, yawning, allowed the two maids to dress her.
They chose a lake-blue plain silk Ruqun—a refreshing hue that complemented her youthful jade-like beauty without being overly conspicuous, as this day truly belonged to her elder sister.
Once dressed, Shen Youran had Danruo style her hair into a simple Suiyun hairstyle, adorned with a pair of pearl-inlaid jade hairpins. She applied no cosmetics, leaving her face bare, and stepped out of her room.
The courtyard, washed by the rain, carried a fresh scent. Crabapple blossoms, delicate with raindrops, bloomed tenderly on the branches. Just as Shen Youran reached the courtyard, she encountered her elder sister, who had come to fetch her for their outing.
Elder Sister wore a tea-white Bei Zi today, paired with a pale cocoon-yellow He Zi and a gold-threaded rose satin pleated skirt. As she walked gracefully over, her slender figure swayed elegantly, and the jade pendants at her waist tinkled softly. Usually not one for makeup, she had applied a light dusting of powder and traced her brows faintly, making her already jade-pure, flower-bright face appear even more ethereal.
The two sisters originally bore a fifty percent resemblance, but now, with one adorned in radiant makeup and the other bare-faced, they looked less alike.
Shen Youran, her beautiful eyes still drowsy, looped her arm through her elder sister’s and leaned against her, sniffing the subtle, pleasant fragrance on her sister as she clung and whined, “I woke up so early today—I’ll need to catch up on sleep when we get back. Can I skip calligraphy and embroidery practice this morning?”
“No,” Shen Yunshu replied, casting an affectionate yet helpless glance at her sister who was clinging to her. She spoke earnestly, “If this match works out for me, I won’t have much time left in the residence to guide you. You’re sixteen now—girls your age are already learning to manage accounts and households. Unlike you, who hasn’t mastered any of the four arts—qin, chess, calligraphy, or painting—and can’t even do embroidery, always trying to slack off…”
“But I’m just mediocre talent, like unworkable wood—these things are too hard for me.”
“Who said you’re unworkable wood? It’s just that Mother wasn’t around when you were young, and Father was too lax in disciplining you, which is how you ended up like this. If you don’t correct this properly, you’ll suffer after you marry…”
Shen Youran brushed it off, “Father is the Minister of Revenue. As long as I don’t marry above my station, who would dare make me suffer?”
Shen Yunshu reached out and tapped her forehead, telling her to stand up straight. “Don’t think marrying beneath you will keep you safe. The women in the rear courtyard have plenty of ways to torment a new bride…”
Shen Youran grumbled as she straightened up, “Then I just won’t marry, alright?”
“A family with a daughter receives a hundred proposals. With Father’s status, do you think you can just refuse to marry?” Shen Yunshu looked at her sister, whose features resembled hers but whose brows and eyes still held a childlike innocence, and sighed. “But I’ve spoken to Father—your marriage must pass my approval before it’s settled. With Mother gone, I, as your elder sister, should take more care of these matters…”
Twelve years ago, their parents had a contentious separation. Their mother took both sisters back to her hometown in Xunzhou. Their father followed but failed to salvage the marriage. After the separation, Shen Yunshu stayed with their mother and settled in Xunzhou City, while Shen Youran returned to the capital with their father.
The sisters were apart for ten years. When Shen Yunshu returned to the capital two years ago, she found her younger sister—two years her junior—had been utterly spoiled by their father and his second wife, Wei Shi, and had gained quite a negative reputation in the capital.
At that time, the Marquis of Changxing’s family had sent a matchmaker to propose a marriage for their grandson, Lin Wulang. Given the Marquis’s status, their father and Wei Shi were inclined to agree. But Shen Yunshu temporarily halted her father and had someone investigate. She learned that while Lin Wulang appeared refined and upright on the surface, he actually kept a beautiful Tongfang by his side, whom he doted on immensely. He was only waiting to marry a principal wife so he could elevate the Tongfang to a noble concubine.
After much consideration, the Marquis of Changxing’s family set their sights on the Minister’s Residence’s Third Young Lady, Shen Youran, for the position of Lin Wulang’s wife.
At that time, the fourteen-year-old Shen Youran was as beautiful as a newly bloomed lotus, but devoid of literary refinement—naively simple-minded and utterly guileless, with a charmingly innocent demeanor.
Once she entered the Marquis’ household and the rear courtyard gate closed behind her, wouldn’t she be entirely at others’ mercy?
Shen Yunshu had leveraged her father’s guilt toward her and her mother to persuade him to politely decline the marriage proposal from the Marquis of Changxing. Afterwards, she remained at the Minister’s Residence, dedicating herself to mentoring Shen Youran.
Two years had passed since then. Though Shen Youran had made considerable progress compared to two years prior, she still fell short of Shen Yunshu’s expectations.
Shen Yunshu wished to stay longer at the residence to continue guiding her younger sister, yet the marriage arrangement with the Pei family was one she had carefully selected. Moreover, at eighteen years of age, further delay might mean missing such a favorable match.
Contemplating these matters, Shen Yunshu held her sister’s hand as they walked gracefully toward the main gate.
At the entrance, Li Mama, who served their stepmother Wei Shi, stood waiting by the carriage.
Upon seeing them, Li Mama gave a slight curtsey and said courteously, “First Young Miss, Third Young Miss, Madam originally intended to accompany First Young Miss, but Xu Ge’er felt unwell last night. Madam had to remain in her chambers to care for the young master, so she sent this old servant to accompany you instead…”
Xu Ge’er was Wei Shi’s second child, now five years old. Her firstborn was a daughter named Yumian, aged seven.
When Wei Shi married into the family, Shen Youran was already eight—old enough to form memories. With no blood relation between them, Wei Shi indulged Shen Youran with material comforts but could not offer genuine maternal love.
As for Shen Yunshu, Wei Shi had never raised her. Since Shen Yunshu had kept her original surname, they were only nominally stepmother and stepdaughter. Thus, Wei Shi had no obligation to accompany Shen Yunshu to meet potential suitors. Sending Li Mama was already a gesture of maintaining propriety.
Shen Yunshu did not dwell on this and said to Li Mama, “You are Madam’s most capable assistant. Since Fifth Younger Brother is unwell, please return to help Madam care for him. Third Younger Sister’s company is sufficient for me.”
The First Young Miss’s voice was soft and gentle, carrying a faint lilt of the Wu dialect from Xunzhou. Yet Li Mama knew that beneath her delicate appearance, Shen Yunshu was strong-willed. Seeing her resolve, Li Mama did not press further: “Understood. This old servant will await good news at the residence.”
Shen Yunshu nodded to her, took the vanity case from her maid Tinglan, and led Shen Youran into the carriage.
As the carriage rumbled away, swaying gently, Shen Youran dozed with her head resting on her elder sister’s lap. Suddenly, she felt something soft and warm brush her cheek, followed by the familiar fragrance that always lingered around her sister.
Shen Youran opened her eyes to see her sister’s fingertips dusted with rouge. Shen Yunshu smiled and said, “I had someone buy this rouge from Sanchun Zhai yesterday. They say it’s made from coral—no other shop carries this kind…”
Noticing the blush on her sister’s cheeks and its matching hue on her lips, Shen Youran asked, “Sister, did you use this rouge on your lips too?”
“Yes. Is it pretty?”
“Very pretty.”
Shen Yunshu helped her sit up and applied a touch of the rouge to her cheeks and lips. “It suits you too. Your complexion looks much brighter now.”
After applying the rouge, Shen Youran leaned sideways against her elder sister’s shoulder again. Though chided with a laughing “no sense of proper posture,” she didn’t mind—after all, leaning against her sister was far more comfortable than sitting upright alone.
Before long, she noticed her elder sister occasionally scratching her cheeks and pursing her lips frequently. At first, Shen Youran thought it was due to nervousness about the upcoming meeting with a potential suitor, but gradually she sensed something was amiss.
“Elder Sister, why have your cheeks suddenly turned so red?” Shen Youran lifted her head and leaned closer for a better look. “It seems like some red rashes have appeared.”
Then she looked at her sister’s lips. “Sister, your lips seem a bit swollen too.”
“Is that so?” Shen Yunshu hurriedly retrieved a palm-sized bronze mirror from her dressing case and examined herself. Sure enough, clusters of hives had broken out on both her cheeks, and her lips were indeed swollen.
No wonder she had been feeling a prickly itch ever since applying the makeup. She had initially thought it was because she hadn’t worn makeup for a long time and wasn’t used to it, but now it seemed clear—the coral rouge was unsuitable for her skin and had caused the rash.
“Quick, wipe off the rouge,” Shen Yunshu said, grabbing a handkerchief, but she first reached to wipe the rouge from Shen Youran’s face.
Shen Youran also realized the rouge was problematic and immediately took out her own handkerchief to wipe her sister’s face. “Don’t worry about the rouge on my face—yours is the one that matters most…”
The two sisters bustled about in a flurry, but since the rouge had been on Shen Yunshu’s face for too long, even after wiping it off, the hives continued to spread, and her lips swelled even more…
Shen Youran grew anxious at once. “Sister, you’re supposed to meet with the eldest son of the Pei family soon. What are we going to do?”
Shen Yunshu examined herself in the mirror over and over, her brows furrowed tightly.
Then she looked at Shen Youran, whose face showed no adverse reaction, and surmised that the rouge had no effect on her skin. An idea suddenly struck her. “Dear sister, let me do your makeup. Later, you can pretend to be me and meet with Young Master Pei in my place. How about that?”