Shen Youran’s body was in the courtyard but her mind was elsewhere. Having restlessly written five hundred characters, she threw down her brush, lifted her skirts, and made to dash outside.
Just as she reached the courtyard gate, she saw her elder sister had already returned, standing by the lattice window watching her with an amused smile.
“When did you get back? What did the Pei family say?” Shen Youran grabbed her sister’s hand and asked impatiently, “Did Pei’s eldest young master agree to the marriage proposal?”
Since she had actually managed to finish writing five hundred characters before running out, Shen Yunshu decided not to keep her in suspense: “I’ve been back for a while. The visitor today was Granny Jiang from Old Madam Pei’s household. She said Young Master Pei is willing and asked for my thoughts. When I nodded, she happily returned…”
“And then? And then?”
“And then,” Shen Yunshu pursed her lips in a smile, “Granny Jiang also said Old Madam Pei will send an official matchmaker to our residence tomorrow to propose marriage.”
“Wonderful!” Shen Youran’s clear almond-shaped eyes curved into crescents, her delicate nose wrinkling with laughter as she accidentally revealed her true thoughts: “Elder sister, you’re finally getting married! Once you’re wed, I won’t have to spend all my time reading, practicing calligraphy, playing the qin, and painting anymore…”
Realizing her slip, she quickly covered her mouth, leaving only her dark, darting eyes blinking guiltily at Shen Yunshu.
“You, you…” This spoiled, lazy younger sister – how could she, as the elder sister, feel at ease about marrying and leaving her behind?
With her pale, slender finger, Shen Yunshu poked Youran’s forehead, giving her a look that was both exasperated and amused before sending her back to the desk to continue practicing calligraphy.
The next day, a matchmaker arrived at the Shen residence bearing the Betrothal Gift Ceremony.
Since both families’ elders had already exchanged their intentions, and seeing that both young people had taken a liking to each other, Wei Shi, as Shen Yunshu’s stepmother, made an appearance to accept the proposal, handing the matchmaker the preliminary document containing Shen Yunshu’s birth details.
After obtaining Shen Yunshu’s preliminary document, the Pei family sent it along with Pei Huaijin’s to the temple for divination. The calculation showed their destinies were compatible and their birth characters harmonious, so Old Madam Pei began preparing for the formal betrothal ceremony at the Shen residence.
By this time, Pei Huaijin had already returned to Lingzhou. The betrothal and subsequent matters would be handled by the elders. After half a year when he was transferred back to the capital, most of the Six Rites would have been completed, and the wedding could then be scheduled.
With Old Madam Pei taking charge of Pei Huaijin’s marriage arrangements, Zhu Shi, due to her poor health, didn’t involve herself much. After all, her son was the legitimate eldest grandson of the household and the most outstanding among the younger generation – the old madam would naturally secure the best for him.
While happy that her eldest son’s marriage was finally settled, Zhu Shi found herself troubled by her niece’s marriage prospects.
Since the old madam had mentioned possibly matching Meng Wanxin with the third branch’s seventh son, Pei Huaian, Zhu Shi first summoned Meng Wanxin to ask her opinion. After a dazed moment, the Meng girl bit her lip and shyly agreed.
Zhu Shi had initially thought that with the Meng girl’s consent, this marriage was almost certain. After all, Seventh Young Master had grown up without a mother and had always respected her, his eldest aunt. With her acting as matchmaker, he shouldn’t refuse.
She then ordered someone to keep an eye on Pei Huaian. This seventh young master often stayed out playing until late and would slip away at unknown hours in the morning. Her people had to stake out for several days before finally bringing Pei Huaian before her.
Zhu Shi looked at her sixteen-year-old nephew. The youth was fair-skinned and handsome, exceptionally refined. He bore no resemblance to his older cousins and took after his father not at all—likely inheriting his looks from his long-deceased mother, though time had faded Zhu Shi’s memory of the woman’s appearance.
Every time she saw him, Zhu Shi felt a pang of regret, and this time was no different. She couldn’t resist urging him to rein in his playful nature and study more, so that he might someday follow in his eldest brother’s footsteps by passing the imperial exams and securing an official post.
He listened with palpable boredom, his slightly upturned ruifeng eyes wandering restlessly, clearly not taking in a word.
With a helpless sigh, Zhu Shi finally broached the main matter.
What she had assumed was a surefire match unexpectedly met with his refusal.
He didn’t criticize Meng Wanxin, merely stating that he didn’t fancy girls older than himself—and Meng Wanxin, at seventeen, happened to be a year his senior.
No matter how Zhu Shi praised Meng Wanxin’s appearance and temperament, he evaded and deflected, refusing to change his stance.
Seeing his obstinacy, Zhu Shi saw no point in further persuasion and waved him away.
After he left, Meng Wanxin, who had been eavesdropping behind the standing screen, fled in tears of humiliation.
Zhu Shi massaged her constricted chest, powerless to alter the situation…
The days stretched languidly longer, so much so that even after Shen Youran had written five thousand characters, played the zither for half a shichen, and finished half a book, the shimmering slanting sun still clung to the walltops, quietly casting a blanket of melting light.
While daylight lingered, Shen Yunshu would call upon her to help embroider the wedding gown, treating it as practice for needlework.
Shen Youran had always been poor at embroidery, so Shen Yunshu assigned her only simple patterns like pomegranates, cloud motifs, and double happiness symbols. The intricate designs of dragons, phoenixes, peonies, and lotuses were naturally handled by Shen Yunshu herself. Moreover, due to Shen Youran’s weak eyesight, Shen Yunshu forbade her from embroidering once the light began to dim.
Though her contribution was modest, the sisters working in unison soon completed the wedding gown.
With three months still until the wedding, Shen Youran thought the task done and looked forward to more leisure time. To her surprise, her sister produced another bolt of brocade, tailored it to Shen Youran’s measurements, and pulled her into embroidering again.
Shen Youran was puzzled, “I’m in no hurry to marry. Why embroider my wedding gown now?”
“How can you say there’s no hurry? Just yesterday, the Zhenhu General’s family sent a matchmaker to propose on your behalf. Their Liang Liulang is quite suitable—what do you think?”
Liang Liulang was a martial artist, currently serving in the Palace Command’s Arrow Recruitment Squad. He was known for his forthright and chivalrous nature, unconcerned with trivialities, and possessed a rugged handsomeness. Shen Yunshu had once considered him a potential husband and had discreetly inquired about him, but her connection with Pei Huaijin had developed more swiftly, so she naturally set aside thoughts of Liang Liulang.
Now that the Liang family had come proposing, and given Shen Yunshu’s prior understanding of Liang Liulang, when their father sought her opinion, she deemed him acceptable.
Now it all depended on Third Sister’s inclination. If she agreed, the two sisters could marry in quick succession.
“Though I’ve never met the Liang family’s sixth son, if Father and Elder Sister both think well of him, then I’ll marry him,” Shen Youran said cheerfully while embroidering pomegranates on her wedding gown. “Besides, his family comes from a line of military commanders—they probably won’t mind that I’m hopeless at music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.”
“What do you mean, if Father and I approve then you’ll marry him? You’re so carefree—aren’t you afraid that when the bridal veil is lifted on your wedding night, you might dislike your husband’s appearance?”
“That’s true,” Shen Youran said thoughtfully. “After all, husband and wife sleep in the same bed at night. If my husband is too ugly, I won’t be able to sleep…”
Shen Yunshu’s hand trembled, nearly pricking herself with the needle. She looked up teasingly. “What’s all this talk about sleeping? You’re still an unmarried girl—aren’t you ashamed to speak like this?”
“Why should I be ashamed? It’s not like I’m saying this to outsiders. If you feel embarrassed, Elder Sister, I’ll give you a couple of storybooks later. Once you read more about relationships between men and women, you won’t find this so shameful…”Didn’t I tell you to stop reading those messy books?” Have you been sneaking them again at night?” Shen Yunshu scolded gently. “Your eyes are already weak—be careful not to damage your brain as well…”
Since Shen Youran showed no aversion to the Liang family’s sixth son, Shen Yunshu discussed with their father Shen Tingyu about arranging a preliminary meeting between the two.
“The eighth day of the month falls the day after tomorrow—just when Xiangguo Temple is holding its temple fair. Why not use incense-offering as a pretext to let Third Sister and the Liang family’s sixth son see each other…” Shen Yunshu suggested to her father.
Shen Tingyu gazed at his eldest daughter, who so resembled her mother, and couldn’t help recalling his first wife. He sighed, “If your mother and I hadn’t divorced back then, your marriages would have been planned by us parents…” Instead, the eldest daughter had secured her own marriage, and now she was worrying about her younger sister’s match as well.
“What’s past is past. I’ve no right to comment on what happened between you and Mother. I just want to compensate Third Sister now, to find her a good husband so she can live worry-free for the rest of her life…”
Whenever Shen Yunshu thought of Shen Youran’s eyes, damaged from crying, her heart filled with self-reproach.
Years ago, when their father had gone to Xunzhou in a failed attempt to reconcile with their mother, the couple had ultimately divorced.
That night, Shen Yunshu had been awakened by her parents’ hushed voices and overheard their decision: six-year-old she would return to the capital with their father, while four-year-old Youran would remain with their mother.
Unwilling to leave her mother, she had hidden in the dead of night, thinking her father wouldn’t take her to the capital if he couldn’t find her.
In the end, she did stay—but the sister who should have been in their mother’s arms was gone.
When their father couldn’t find her before his departure, he took Youran instead.
Though their mother never blamed her afterward, for over a decade Shen Yunshu had felt she had stolen her sister’s life.
On the eighth day of the fifth month, the air was clear and mild. Xiangguo Temple opened its gates, with countless performances competing for attention and myriad vendors conducting trade. The solemn temple was thronged with worshippers, the air growing thick with incense smoke drifting between yellow walls and brown tiles.
Shen Youran loved bustling crowds most of all. Having been confined indoors recently by her elder sister to cultivate restraint, this rare outing made her determined to enjoy herself thoroughly before returning.
The meeting with Liang Liulang took place by the Release-Life Pond behind the Heavenly King Hall. Since both families were close by this time, Shen Youran was able to observe Liang Liulang at close range. He was tall and handsome with broad shoulders, his skin slightly tanned but his eyes exceptionally bright. When Shen Youran met his gaze, she smiled at him, but he was the first to look away, his ears seeming to flush slightly red.
The two families stayed for less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before parting ways. Liang Liulang accompanied Liang Furen to offer incense, while Shen Youran eagerly pulled her elder sister along to enjoy the temple fair.
The temple fair was a dazzling array of countless goods. The two sisters wore veils and donned their Muli. The veils concealed their striking beauty, while the thin draping gauze of the Muli also hid their equally graceful figures, allowing them to wander freely through the bustling crowd.
After Shen Yunshu accompanied her younger sister through the two corridors, Danruo and Qinghe, who followed behind, were already carrying armfuls of embroidered works, pearls and jade, flowers, and amusing trinkets that Shen Youran had picked out.
Shen Youran wanted to buy more, but her purse was empty. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she began eyeing her sister’s purse.
Shen Yunshu instructed Danruo and Qinghe to first take the purchased items to the carriage at the foot of the mountain. Then, she took her sister’s hand and headed toward Zisheng Gate behind the Buddha Hall, where books, inkstones, calligraphy, paintings, and antiques were displayed for sale.
“Come with me to the book exhibition. I’d like to buy a piece of calligraphy or a painting, and whatever money is left will be yours…”
Though Shen Youran had little appreciation for such refined arts, she happily followed her sister.
Under the colorful tents and open pavilions within the temple, Pei Huaian wandered with his friends. Naturally, he had called upon his companions to enjoy such a lively temple fair.
With his grandmother’s birthday approaching, he thought it the perfect opportunity to pick out a gift for her.
After a while, his friends grew tired and suggested heading to the vegetarian feast for a bite.
Pei Huaian, having not yet found a gift to his liking, told them to go ahead while he made his way to the book exhibition in the rear hall.
His striking appearance drew many young women tossing handkerchiefs his way along the path, but he paid them no mind. Passing by a stall selling Nuo masks, he casually bought one and put it on.
Thus disguised, he smoothly arrived near Zisheng Gate. He had no understanding of calligraphy or paintings, but his eyes fell upon a pair of red parrots.
The parrots, startled by the Nuo mask on his face, flapped their wings in panic. The stall owner managed to grab one, while Pei Huaian caught the other. Just as he was about to ask the price, his gaze fell upon a graceful young woman standing at a bookstall not far away. A breeze lifted the thin gauze of her Muli, revealing eyes like autumn waters—luminous as the moon in an ancient painting, their brilliance shining straight into his heart…