Seeing her serene and exquisite beauty, like a lotus in bloom…
“You want me to go in your place to meet Mr. Pei?”
Sunlight streamed through the carriage window, illuminating Shen Youran’s pale, frightened face. She gasped sharply, waving her hands frantically. “How could that work? No, no…”
“This plan is feasible. Listen to me,” Shen Yunshu grasped her fluttering hands, steadying her panicky younger sister, and explained patiently, “We already look quite similar. I’ll apply heavier makeup on you later. You’ll stand on the bridge, he’ll be below it—at least three zhang apart. Mr. Pei won’t notice anything amiss. Besides, he’s returning to his post in Lingzhou soon and won’t be back for half a year. Just this one meeting—he won’t remember the details clearly…”
Shen Youran remained anxious: “But what if he comes up to the bridge to speak with me…”
“He won’t,” Shen Yunshu reassured her. “My manners, virtues, and temperament have long been approved by Old Madam Pei. The fact that Mr. Pei agreed to come today means he already knows everything about me from her. Today, he only needs to see what I look like…”
“But isn’t Mr. Pei staying in the capital for a few days? If you can’t meet today, why not explain the situation and reschedule for when your face has healed?”
“If I cancel last minute today, even with a valid reason, the Pei family might overthink it. What if they assume I’m being deliberately difficult? This marriage prospect would be at risk.” Shen Yunshu added, “Moreover, I don’t know exactly when he’ll return to Lingzhou. What if he leaves before my face recovers? I can’t wait another half-year to meet him…”
“Why can’t you wait half a year?” At this, Shen Youran belatedly recalled that her elder sister had been in the capital for two years without showing any urgency to marry. Yet two months ago, she suddenly told their father it was time for her to wed. Soon after, she caught Old Madam Pei’s eye at a Pei family banquet, leading to this morning’s arranged meeting.
This rush seemed as if she were being pushed by something.
In truth, Shen Yunshu had compelling reasons to secure a marriage quickly—reasons she couldn’t disclose, not even to her father or sister.
So, faced with Shen Youran’s probing, Shen Yunshu avoided the topic and instead coaxed her softly: “If you agree to help me, I won’t force you to practice calligraphy or embroidery this morning.”
She knew exactly how to handle her younger sister.
Sure enough, the moment she finished speaking, the jade-like face opposite her widened its almond-shaped eyes in shock.
Clearly, she was tempted.
Seizing the opportunity, Shen Yunshu added, “Your afternoon lessons in zither and flower arranging are also canceled.”
The almond eyes darted shrewdly as Shen Youran pressed for more: “What about tonight’s tea ceremony…”
Shen Yunshu agreed immediately: “Canceled.”
Rarely did her sister allow her to slack off. After a moment’s thought, Shen Youran decided that standing on a bridge for a short while in exchange for a day of leisure was a worthwhile trade.
“Then we agree beforehand—if this doesn’t work out, you can’t blame me.”
“Don’t worry. If it fails, I’ll find another way.” Relieved that her sister had finally agreed, Shen Yunshu took out the peach blossom powder from her vanity case. As she calmly applied makeup to her sister’s face, she pondered how to transform those features into her own likeness.
Although Shen Yunshu seldom wore makeup, she was skilled in painting, especially adept at creating portraits, and knew how to use light and shadow contrasts to alter facial contours. Since their eyebrows and eyes were already similar, there was no need to add makeup there. Observing that her younger sister’s cheeks were fuller and her chin less delicate than her own, she mixed a small amount of black powder with the pearly white peach blossom powder and brushed it along the sides of her cheeks and chin. She then lightly dusted some between the bridge of the nose and the inner corners of the eyes…
Willow branches brushed against the carriage roof as the vehicle came to a stop not far from Rainbow Bridge. By then, Shen Youran’s makeup was complete. Shen Yunshu instructed the coachman to step away first, then securely closed the carriage curtains. The two sisters exchanged clothing, after which Shen Yunshu removed the crimson jade-inlaid tourmaline flower hairpin from her hair and the dangling pearl earrings from her ears, adorning her younger sister with them instead. Once she had finished dressing her sister to her satisfaction, she handed over the mirror.
“Take a look—how is it?”
Shen Youran held the mirror and gazed at her reflection. Startled by the image reflected back, she exclaimed, “It looks so much like you!”
At first glance, it truly resembled her elder sister’s face, but upon closer inspection, the likeness wasn’t as striking.
Shen Yunshu lifted the bamboo curtain and peered outside. Under the emerald willows on the other end of Rainbow Bridge, she spotted a tall, graceful figure. The man was dressed in fine robes, his hair tied up with a jade crown. Though she couldn’t see his face clearly, Shen Yunshu recognized the matron standing beside him—she was one of Old Madam Pei’s attendants.
She surmised that the gentleman must be the eldest son of the Pei family.
The matron looked up and said something to Mr. Pei, who tilted his head to listen. In that moment, Shen Yunshu caught a glimpse of his profile: a straight, elegant nose and refined, handsome features.
The birds chirped crisply from the branches like silver bells, and Shen Yunshu felt a flutter in her heart, quite pleased with Mr. Pei’s appearance.
She took Shen Youran’s hand, pointed out Mr. Pei’s location, and urged her to step out of the carriage.
At this critical moment, Shen Youran couldn’t help but feel uneasy. However, having already agreed, she couldn’t back out now. Lifting her skirt, she descended from the carriage and, imitating her sister’s usual graceful gait, walked steadily and unhurriedly toward Rainbow Bridge, her gaze fixed ahead.
A gentle breeze rustled, causing faint ripples on the river’s surface. On the massive wooden arch of Rainbow Bridge, an elegant and graceful woman slowly ascended, coming to a standstill at the highest point of the bridge. Her dark, almond-shaped eyes gazed steadily forward.
Beside Pei Huaijin, Granny Jiang seized the moment to remark, “Young Master, that is Shen Yunshu, the eldest daughter of the Shen family. Look at her exquisite beauty—there are few in the entire capital who can compare…”
Granny Jiang had previously seen Shen Yunshu at a tea gathering, where she stood out as the most refreshingly elegant among a crowd of beauties. Now, adorned in full makeup, her snow-white skin and flower-like features were even more striking. Poised gracefully on the vermilion bridge spanning the water, with white-walled, black-tiled houses behind her and swaying emerald willows ahead, her sleeves and skirt fluttering in the wind, she seemed like a figure stepping out of a painting.
Listening to Granny Jiang’s praises, Pei Huaijin was also satisfied with the appearance of the eldest Shen daughter on the bridge.
He had only arrived in the capital the day before yesterday and had been busy with his official duties for the first two days. Last night, upon returning to the estate, his grandmother summoned him. After expressing her concern, she suddenly asked if he had met any young women he fancied during his two and a half years serving in Lingzhou.
He replied that he had been preoccupied with his duties, paying no mind to matters of marriage, and had not encountered anyone he liked.
When his grandmother pressed him about what kind of woman he preferred, he glanced up and saw the bright, keen sparkle in her eyes, immediately guessing her intentions.
This year, at twenty-one years old, he was about to be transferred back to the capital from Lingzhou, and it was indeed time for him to settle down.
He did not know what kind of young woman he preferred, but as the eldest legitimate grandson of the family, he believed that his wife should be virtuous. For his future wife, appearance was of secondary importance; what mattered most was that she be gentle and graceful, possess the moral fragrance of an orchid, be intelligent and astute, diligent, and skilled in managing the household.
As for love, it could be nurtured gradually after marriage.
He shared his expectations with his grandmother, who, upon hearing them, clapped her hands and laughed, saying, “Grandmother happens to know a fine young lady who would be a perfect match for you…”
The “fine young lady” his grandmother spoke of was none other than Shen Yunshu, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue, whom he had seen on the bridge today.
Yesterday, he had listened to his grandmother praise the eldest daughter of the Shen family, who perfectly met all his expectations for a future wife. Today, seeing her serene and beautiful, with a lotus-like appearance, he was naturally satisfied in every way.
Having made up his mind, he nodded to the young lady on the bridge, signaling that the meeting could conclude and they could each return home.
To his surprise, the other party continued to stare blankly at him, showing no intention of leaving. Thinking she had not yet seen enough, he remained standing in place, allowing her to continue observing…
On the bridge, Shen Youran stood leaning against the railing, then leaned forward slightly, instinctively squinting her eyes to get a clearer look at her future brother-in-law.
Immediately, she remembered that someone as dignified as her elder sister would never squint to look at others, so she quickly widened her eyes.
Her future brother-in-law’s face remained blurry in her vision.
Her eyesight was not good. When she was young, her parents separated, and she was forced to stay with her father. Missing her mother deeply, she cried so much at the age of four that she damaged her eyes, leaving her unable to see people or objects clearly beyond ten meters, only making out vague outlines.
Even though she could not see her future brother-in-law’s features clearly, his jade-like radiance and tall, upright posture like a green pine suggested that his appearance must be exceptionally striking.
He and her elder sister truly made a perfect pair, like a golden boy and jade girl.
But… when would this meeting end?
Seeing that he showed no sign of leaving, would it be impolite if she left first?
As she hesitated, she suddenly caught a whiff of a rich and enticing aroma of food. Turning her head, she saw an old man pushing a ram’s horn cart across the bridge, and the fragrance was emanating from the bamboo basket on the cart.
Noticing her gaze, the old man cheerfully called out, “Young lady, would you like some ring cake?”
Ring cakes were made by twisting dough into thin strands and deep-frying them until they were savory, crispy, and melted in the mouth. Shen Youran used to have them often for breakfast, though she had never been particularly fond of them. Later, her elder sister said that such fried foods could make one gain weight and forbade her from eating them. Now, after two years without them, the sudden aroma struck her as incredibly tempting.
Thinking that she had helped her sister so much today, it shouldn’t be too much to buy a portion of ring cake.
Just as Shen Youran was about to ask for one, she suddenly remembered that the eldest son of the Pei family was still watching her from below the bridge. Startled, she straightened her expression and said to the old man, “Not for now…”
The old man, unoffended by the refusal, pushed his cart leisurely past her.
The craving stirred in Shen Youran’s stomach, and she could only think of ending the meeting quickly. Once the young man from the Pei family left, she could still catch up with the ring cake vendor before he went too far and buy a portion.
She then clasped her hands and bowed to the eldest son of the Pei family, signaling the end of their meeting, before immediately turning and walking down the bridge.
Though it ended somewhat abruptly, Pei Huaijin, who had been waiting below the bridge, saw her leave and decided not to linger either. With his hands clasped behind his back, he departed.
However, after settling into his carriage, he seemed to sense something. He lifted a corner of the bamboo curtain with a flick of his finger and glanced outside.
There, he saw the young lady who should have vanished from the bridge. Gone was her earlier grace and composure—she was now lifting her skirts and dashing swiftly across the arched bridge. Her silver-red pleated skirt traced an arc in the air like that of a trumpet creeper flower, and in the blink of an eye, she had caught up with an elderly man pushing a cart…