“He’s back! He’s back!”
A maid with an oval face ran all the way into the main courtyard and excitedly called to the woman trimming flowers by the window, “Princess Consort(Wangfei ) is the formal title of a prince’s principal wife in an imperial Chinese setting, distinguishing her from concubines.)), the Prince has returned!”
Jiang Wan set down the delicate scissors in her hand and looked at her in surprise. “Really?”
Mozhu smiled and nodded. “It’s absolutely true. He’s almost at the residence gates.”
Xiangzhu, who was attending her nearby, was delighted too. She brought over a basin of water so Jiang Wan could wash her hands. “The Prince has been gone for three years. At last, he’s come home.”
Jiang Wan gave a soft laugh as she washed the sap from her fingertips. “The Prince went to war this time to drive out the barbarians. It would have been only right to wait another three years.”
She lowered her eyes to hide her unease, wiped her hands as if nothing were amiss, then led the others in a grand procession toward the residence gates.
Seven years earlier, Prince Duan[1]“Duan” is a princely title rather than part of Zhao Zhixing’s personal name. The precise ranking of princely titles depends on the dynasty or fictional imperial system. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736347_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736347_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); Zhao Zhixing had concealed his identity and gone to Yancheng to investigate a case. Badly wounded and stranded, he had been rescued by Jiang Wan’s father. But while he was recovering, a devastating epidemic swept through the area.
Jiang Wan’s father fell gravely ill. Watching Jiang Wan tend to him at his bedside, he thought through the night before pleading with Zhao Zhixing, who was then disguised as a wealthy young master. “I know this is asking a great deal, but may I ask you to take my daughter with you, Young Master(Gongzi ) is a respectful form of address for a young man, particularly one perceived as well-born or wealthy. It does not necessarily mean the speaker serves him.))?”
He paused, then looked at Jiang Wan, who stood not far away, stunned. “Wanwan[2]Repeating a syllable of someone’s given name is a common way of forming an affectionate Chinese nickname. Wanwan is a familiar form of Jiang Wan’s name. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736347_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736347_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); lost her mother when she was young. Her grandparents are all gone, and she has few relatives. Now I, too, must leave her. I truly fear that a frail young woman like her will struggle to make her way in the world. If you take a liking to Wanwan, you can take her as a concubine[3]In traditional Chinese households, a concubine occupied a recognized but subordinate position to a principal wife. Her status and rights varied across historical periods and social classes. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736347_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736347_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); in the future. If you have no such intention, you can find her a suitable family to marry into once she comes of age(The Chinese original refers to jiji ), the traditional coming-of-age milestone for girls, associated with a hairpin ceremony commonly held around age fifteen. It signified a young woman’s transition toward adulthood and marriage eligibility.)) .”
Zhao Zhixing glanced at Jiang Wan in the wavering lamplight and agreed without a second thought. “Please don’t worry. I’ll marry her.”
A few days later, Jiang Wan’s father died. Zhao Zhixing observed the rites of a junior[4]Traditional Chinese funeral etiquette prescribed different mourning obligations and ceremonial conduct according to one’s relationship with the deceased. Here, Zhao Zhixing honors Jiang … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736347_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736347_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); as he and Jiang Wan laid him to rest. Then he held out his hand to Jiang Wan, dressed all in white[5]White or plain undyed clothing is traditionally associated with mourning in Chinese funerary customs, unlike the black commonly worn for mourning in many Western societies. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736347_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736347_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, and said, “I’ll take you home.”
With her eyes reddened, Jiang Wan looked at his still-youthful face and placed her hand in his.
The two traveled north together. Only after they reached the capital and entered Prince Duan’s Residence did he tell Jiang Wan his true identity. He reassured the anxious Jiang Wan, touched her cheek, then turned and left.
He returned that night with his back covered in whip marks—and an imperial edict[6]An imperial edict was a formal decree issued under the emperor’s authority. In this context, it is a marriage decree, reflecting the emperor’s power to arrange or authorize marriages … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736347_1_6').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736347_1_6', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); arranging their marriage.
Jiang Wan frowned as she applied medicine to his wounds. Before she knew it, tears were streaming down her face.
Zhao Zhixing was pale. Her clumsy touch made his muscles twitch from time to time, but he silently let her tend to him. Only when he heard her faint sobs did he turn to look. Seeing her face streaked with tears, he took her bloodied hand and squeezed it gently. “Don’t cry. I’ll treat you well.”
By the time they reached the residence gates, Zhao Zhixing was helping a slender, delicate woman down from a carriage.
Jiang Wan looked at the well-matched pair before her. The anxiety weighing on her suddenly eased, and she felt relieved, as though events had unfolded exactly as she had expected.
The maids beside her glanced at Jiang Wan as they took in the scene. But she was smiling and came forward without a hint of resentment. “I respectfully welcome Your Highness home.”
The people behind her, each with their own thoughts, also bowed. Zhao Zhixing reached out to help her up. “There’s no need for formalities.”
Jiang Wan rose unobtrusively, avoiding his hand. With a faint smile, she turned to the woman. “And who is this younger sister(Meimei ), literally “younger sister,” can also be a polite or familiar form of address between women who are not related. In a noble household, it may be used toward another woman without implying a biological relationship.))?”
Zhao Zhixing gave it no thought and turned to introduce her. “Lin Xueyao. Find her a courtyard to stay in for now. We’ll discuss the rest when I get back.”
Jiang Wan smiled and agreed. She watched him leave, then quietly assigned several people to prepare a courtyard and ordered someone to fetch the luggage from the carriage.
As she walked slowly into the rear courtyard, a maid came hurrying over to say that a room had been prepared and Lin Xueyao could rest.
Jiang Wan looked at Lin Xueyao and saw the concealed unease in her eyes. She gently reassured her, “You must be exhausted after such a long journey. Go rest for now. We’ll dine together this evening.”
Lin Xueyao nodded and followed the maid away.
Seeing that no one was nearby except Jiang Wan, Mozhu, and herself, Xiangzhu asked in a low voice, “Princess Consort, could the Prince be planning to take that young lady as a concubine?”
Mozhu frowned, thinking Xiangzhu’s words inappropriate. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then saw how tired Jiang Wan looked and pressed her lips together, falling silent.
Jiang Wan did not answer. She merely told Xiangzhu to ask Nanny Song[7]The Chinese title Mama ) can refer to an older or senior female household servant, often entrusted with domestic duties. It does not necessarily mean she is a child’s nurse or the … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736347_1_7').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736347_1_7', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); in the small kitchen to make a bowl of almond cream[8]Xingren lao) is a traditional Chinese sweet, smooth pudding-like dessert commonly made with ground apricot kernels, sometimes combined with rice. The Chinese culinary term xingren often refers to … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736347_1_8').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736347_1_8', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.
Back in the main courtyard, she sat for a while, then, judging the time right, told Mozhu to fetch a bolt of brocade from deep in the storeroom. She said she wanted to make the Prince a new outfit.
When she was alone in the room, she opened her jewelry box and took a finely made silver hairpin from its deepest recess. The pin itself was unremarkable; only its head, shaped like a flower bud about to bloom, stood out.
She fiddled with it a few times. The underside of the flower suddenly opened, and a pill the size of a grain of rice rolled out. She tucked the medicine between her fingers, then carefully returned the hairpin to its place. Back by the window, she sat in silence, gazing at the crape myrtle tree outside.
Six years ago, when she came of age, Zhao Zhixing had planted it in her courtyard with his own hands. After they married, he could not stand how empty the main courtyard was, so he stopped using it and moved with her into the courtyard where they had stayed temporarily.
It was spring, and the sun was not yet too fierce, but transplanting a crape myrtle that was only half-grown still took considerable effort. By the time everything was in order, Zhao Zhixing was drenched in sweat.
She smiled and offered Zhao Zhixing a handkerchief, but he did not take it. Instead, he leaned his head toward her with a smile.
Jiang Wan laughed as she wiped the sweat from his forehead. When she moved to wipe his hands, Zhao Zhixing drew them back. “They’re muddy. I don’t want to dirty your hands.”
Then he took the handkerchief from her and carefully wiped his hands clean. Only then did he take her to sit beside him beneath the veranda, where they looked at the newly planted crape myrtle. “In five years, this tree will be fully grown. Then I’ll put a swing under it for you. They say crape myrtles are also called trees of deep affection. I’ll stay by your side and make sure your life is peaceful and happy.”
Nanny Song came in, interrupting her memories, and set the almond cream she was carrying on the table. “Princess Consort, please enjoy.”
Jiang Wan drew her gaze back and took a bite. Frowning, she turned to Xiangzhu. “It’s too bland. Take it back and add some sugar.”
When Xiangzhu had disappeared through the doorway, Jiang Wan opened her palm to show Nanny Song the pill. Lowering her eyes, she said quietly, “I want to leave.”
Nanny Song glanced at the delicate palm. “Once you take this medicine, there’ll be no going back.”
Without hesitation, Jiang Wan swallowed it. Looking toward the empty doorway, she said softly, “Do as we agreed before.”
Seeing how resolute she was, Nanny Song lowered her eyes, her doubts fading. “Don’t worry. No one will suspect a thing.”
Jiang Wan smiled and looked out at the wisteria in full bloom.
Zhao Zhixing did not return until nightfall. He seemed somewhat surprised to find Lin Xueyao there, but soon paid it no mind and sat down to eat.
After the meal, he gave a few casual instructions, dismissed Lin Xueyao, then took Jiang Wan by the hand and led her toward the inner room.
As soon as they entered, he eagerly moved to kiss her. His hand, with its clearly defined knuckles, cradled the back of her head, preventing her from pulling away.
With one arm around her waist, he lifted Jiang Wan effortlessly and laid her on the bed. Still kissing her, he reached up to undo her elaborate sash.
Blushing, Jiang Wan placed a hand on his shoulder and pushed him away a little. When he drew back reluctantly, he looked at her with reddened eyes. She said helplessly, “I’m on my period.”
Only then did Zhao Zhixing catch the faint scent of blood on her. Deflated, he leaned against the side of her neck and pressed her down onto the soft bed. “I’m miserable.”
Jiang Wan lifted his head and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
Zhao Zhixing kept kissing her for a while longer. Only when his breathing grew heavy did he get up and head to the bathing chamber.
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