Tang Jiayu fluttered away like a butterfly, conspicuously. Li Zhaoji and Wei Chengjun both watched her retreating figure without meaning to, only looking away after a moment.
Li Zhaoji let out a light laugh, his tone inscrutable. "Cousin. Hah. Tell me, cousin, you haven't been playing the part so long that it's slowly becoming real, have you?"
"Impossible." Wei Chengjun scoffed, resolute. "I hold Uncle's instructions firmly in my heart and dare not slack. How could I ever develop true feelings for her?"
Li Zhaoji was noncommittal: "Good. She is, after all, a distinguished guest from Chang'an. With the Princess's high standards in choosing a husband, once she learns of her identity, how would she ever be content to remain in this wild land east of the Yellow River? It's all the better that you won't be bewitched by her, cousin."
Li Zhaoji had originally been drilling troops and riding horses in Yunzhou, but his father had insisted on summoning him back. Upon his return, however, the commissioner's office had been empty. He'd heard that today was that girl's coming-of-age ceremony, and Li Jichen had dispatched most of his men to the Tang residence to put on this play.
Li Zhaoji had long known a princess was hidden in the Tang residence, but for the production to be this elaborate—even he was being neglected—wasn't that going a bit too far? Li Zhaoji changed into a servant's clothes and insisted on coming to the Tang residence to see what kind of divine being was being housed within.
Unfortunately, she was nothing special after all.
Li Zhaoji made no effort to hide the hostility in his words, and Wei Chengjun frowned, feeling inexplicably displeased: "She is but a woman; she should naturally follow her husband's fate wherever he leads. Once married, she becomes part of her husband's family. Could she abandon her husband and children?"
A princess is the daughter of the Son of Heaven, and their temperaments are inevitably somewhat spoiled. But looking across history, the Li family's princesses had always been uniquely audacious. Li Zhaoji thought of Tang Jiayu's older cousins and aunts and their ways, then smiled coldly: "Ordinary women may be so, but the doted-upon daughters of the Li family are certainly not. Cuckolding their husbands is commonplace, and killing their consorts isn't uncommon either. To say nothing of distant cases, just look at Youzhou—ever since Princess Shou'an married over, the Wang family inside and out has been completely remade into Chang'an's lackeys. Had Youzhou not declined in recent years, the Wang family would have been drilling troops for the Emperor by now. I've never understood why Father would go to such lengths to craft an elaborate deception for her. Simply locking her up—keeping her alive if she had value, killing her if she didn't—wouldn't that be far better?"
Wei Chengjun said, "She is a princess after all. If word were to leak out, it would be troublesome. Besides, if she were locked away, she'd guess her own identity and only resist with all her might. How could she possibly reveal the secret of The Lingyun Chart?"
Li Zhaoji sneered dismissively: "Do you really believe in The Lingyun Chart? If the national-protection treasure left by the Founding Emperor truly had any use, how would the Li emperors have twice abandoned Chang'an and fled south in disgrace?"
"The Founding Emperor drove back the Turks at fifteen, captured Chang'an at eighteen, pacified the warlord factions at twenty-seven, and recovered the northern deserts at thirty-one. He commanded countless talents, and few throughout all the dynasties could match his civil and martial achievements." As Wei Chengjun spoke of the Founding Emperor's exploits, he couldn't help but be dazzled and filled with longing. "The Treasure Map he left for the Li descendants is no ordinary treasure. Within it, there may be weapons and armor capable of quickly forging a divine army, military manuals and secret scriptures, gold, silver, and jewels. Otherwise, the imperial family wouldn't have passed it down generation after generation, hallowing it as a national treasure."
Li Zhaoji sneered inwardly. He certainly yearned to become the next Founding Emperor of Qi. But a man should build his own achievements—relying on another man's ancestral inheritance to start his rise, what kind of ability was that?
Li Zhaoji mocked, "The way to establish merit and build a career is to have a group of people deceive a young lady?"
Wei Chengjun was stung by these words. Li Zhaoji had been a favored son of heaven since birth, speaking bluntly and directly, never caring about social niceties. Li Zhaoji was naturally open and aboveboard, but those around him were often pricked by his forthrightness.
Wei Chengjun smiled and said, "Uncle has recruited capable people far and wide, and studied with his retainers and advisors for fifteen years, yet found nothing. The only clue is what Consort Wang said in her last letter—that The Lingyun Chart would be understood once Jiayu grew up. Apart from starting with Tang Jiayu, what other approach is there? Moreover, although Uncle deceived her, he has not mistreated her. Her food, clothing, and expenses are not much less than those of a true princess."
Li Zhaoji gave a light snort. Of course he had noticed—his father cursed him daily for raising horses and squandering the family fortune, but the money he spent was far less than Tang Jiayu's.
Li Zhaoji had come in a foul mood, and after seeing her with his own eyes, he felt he was being petty, competing with a young lady. Li Zhaoji looked around and suddenly asked, "Her birthday is today?"
Wei Chengjun nodded. "Her birth mother wrote her birth characters in the letter. Even the name Jiayu was given by her mother."
Li Zhaoji's own birthday had been not long ago, only a few days apart from Tang Jiayu's. He suspected his father had completely forgotten about it. Li Zhaoji wasn't bothered by that, but he still found it puzzling: "It's just a birthday—why make such a big deal of it?"
Wei Chengjun looked at Li Zhaoji with an expression of utter exasperation. "Cousin, she turns fifteen this year."
Li Zhaoji's first reaction was that she was the same age as him, then bewilderment: "So what?"
Wei Chengjun sighed. Li Zhaoji was fifteen this year, and on ordinary days he was either buried in the military camp brandishing swords and spears, or tinkering with his horses. As for matters between men and women… he seemed completely unenlightened.
Wei Chengjun had no choice but to spell it out: "A woman can marry once she reaches the age of the hairpin ceremony. Uncle ordered a grand celebration—first, to put on a full show; second, to make her settle down, stay in the residence waiting to be married, and stop running around outside. Wang Rong's accident only needs to happen once."
Li Zhaoji's tone was casual and offhand: "She's taken a fancy to Wang Rong? That's not out of the question either. It would conveniently give Wang Rong an excuse to stay in Bingzhou long-term under the name of marriage, and Youzhou would become completely our puppet."
"No." Wei Chengjun vetoed it without a second thought. When he saw Li Zhaoji raise an eyebrow with interest, he realized his reaction had been too strong and hurried to cover: "This isn't my idea—it's Uncle's. When Uncle heard she fell in love with Wang Rong at first sight, he flew into a rage and absolutely forbade her to marry Wang Rong. That's why today Uncle sent so many soldiers to the Tang residence. No matter whom she takes a fancy to, anyone is better than Wang Rong."
That went without saying—good water doesn't flow to outsiders' fields. Youzhou was wavering, trimming its sails to the wind—how could it compare to the reliability of a trusted confidant? But had one not heard plenty of tales of subordinates in the Fanzhen Military Governorates rebelling against their superiors, of trusted confidants betraying their old masters? Tang Jiayu, after all, had the status of a princess. If a trusted confidant truly married Tang Jiayu and she bore a child of royal blood, then no matter how loyal the subordinate, sooner or later he would develop divided loyalties.
Therefore, the best choice was actually to have Tang Jiayu marry one of Li Jichen's descendants, which was also why Wei Chengjun had to personally come to the Tang residence to play the role of Tang Jiayu's cousin. In the script Li Jichen had devised for her, Tang Jiayu was supposed to gradually fall in love with her cousin over time, strengthening the bond between kin. Who could have imagined that she would take one trip outside and set her sights on Wang Rong, chasing after him without any regard for feminine propriety? Li Jichen feared that Tang Jiayu's frequent outings would expose her identity, so he could only force Wang Rong to respond to Tang Jiayu and hint in his letters that he was interested in her, temporarily keeping her in check.
Hence, today was not only Tang Jiayu's coming-of-age ceremony but also a son-in-law selection banquet. Li Jichen had deliberately invited Wang Rong to observe the ceremony, precisely so that Tang Guangcheng could publicly announce the recruitment of a son-in-law—especially in front of Tang Jiayu and Wang Rong. Given Wang Rong's status as the Young Lord of Youzhou, there was no way he could ever marry into the family. Tang Guangcheng intended to use this matter to completely sever Tang Jiayu's delusions, forcing her to obediently choose the man arranged by the Military Governor, marry him into the household, and stay put without causing more trouble outside.
Neither a father nor a maidservant could compare to a husband in closeness. Perhaps with a husband in place, they could extract more information from her.
This husband-selection banquet was grand in scale. Wang Rong had not been permitted to enter from the start, and Tang Jiayu did not recognize any of the other men. All things considered, Wei Chengjun had the greatest chance of winning, and every man present knew this full well. Wei Chengjun shot a quick glance at Li Zhaoji and probed, "Cousin, you are the Young Lord of Hedong. If anyone should marry the princess, it ought to be you."
Li Zhaoji clicked his tongue and quickly waved it off. "Forget it, I'm not worthy of such fortune. Even if I were to marry, I'd want someone like my mother—skilled in battle, capable of governing troops and civilians alike. In short, definitely not some delicate, useless young lady raised in a deep household who only knows how to cry at the slightest trouble."
Li Zhaoji's mother was Li Jichen's first wife, a remarkable woman named Liu Yingrong. Li Jichen spent years away at war, and during his absences, it was Liu Yingrong who led the troops to defend the city, repelling several Chidan raids. Liu Yingrong had passed away when Li Zhaoji was eight years old, but her influence on him remained profound. Li Zhaoji cared little for romance, but in his imagination, his future wife should be like his mother—brave and resolute, wise and courageous, and deeply principled. In none of these respects did Tang Jiayu come even close.
Seeing Li Zhaoji's dismissive attitude, Wei Chengjun breathed a long sigh of relief. There was an advantage to being oblivious—this was Li Zhaoji's rejection, not a competition between him and his cousin.
As Wei Chengjun and Li Zhaoji stood outside talking, the sound of ceremonial music suddenly drifted from within. The two exchanged a glance, knowing the ceremony had begun. They fell silent and entered the main hall to observe.
Li Zhaoji stood casually at the outermost edge. Being tall, he could still see clearly even from the back row. He crossed his arms and coolly surveyed the woman at the center of the crowd.
Tang Jiayu had already gone through a coming-of-age ceremony once before. In her previous life, she had been on high alert, terrified of making the slightest mistake and becoming a laughingstock. But this time, she simply couldn't muster any enthusiasm. The first addition was a plain silk dress, the second a curved-hem robe, and the third saw Tang Jiayu change into an ornate ceremonial gown with flower hairpins and wide sleeves. Dressed in full splendor, adorned in magnificent attire, Tang Jiayu's features were bright and striking, her brows and eyes like a painting. Even from a distance, she carried an air of Chang'an's stately elegance.
Even Li Zhaoji had to admit that although this woman was delicate, shallow, and useless, when dressed up, she was rather pleasing to the eye.
In her past life, Tang Jiayu had prided herself on that stunning debut, but now she only felt repulsed. She knew that the next step would be her good father publicly seeking a son-in-law for her, to show how he cherished his daughter like his very life. She lowered her eyelashes, kneeling obediently on the cushion, waiting for her fate to unfold.
Sure enough, Tang Guangcheng rose from his seat of honor and addressed the assembled guests with emotion: "In the blink of an eye, my daughter has grown up, and has reached the age of marriage. Today, I thank you all for coming to witness my beloved daughter's coming-of-age ceremony. I have no sons in this life, only a daughter, whom I cherish like a pearl in my palm. I have spent many years in business and have accumulated some wealth. Today, I ask you all to bear witness: I am willing to give away my entire fortune to seek a worthy and noble son-in-law for my daughter. There is only one condition: the young man must willingly marry into the Tang family, never take a concubine for life, and treat my daughter with gentleness and care, devoting himself to her in all things, and protecting her with peace and joy for all her days."
After Tang Guangcheng finished speaking, voices of agreement echoed from within and outside the main hall: "Elder Tang truly loves his wife and daughter—indeed, a benevolent merchant."
Tang Jiayu had to exert every ounce of self-control to wear a look of gratitude as she gazed at Tang Guangcheng. He personally helped her to her feet, patted her hand, and said earnestly: "Jiayu, all the eligible young men of Bingzhou are gathered here. Whoever you set your eyes upon, your father will spare no effort—even if I must cast aside all dignity—to win him for you. Jiayu, is there a young man who has caught your fancy?"
Tang Jiayu looked into Tang Guangcheng's eyes and thought: What a wonderful performance. Were it not for the terror of a thousand arrows still vividly before her eyes, she too might have been moved by such fatherly love.
Everyone knew that the man she pursued could never agree to marry into her family. After hearing such a speech, what daughter could bear to put her old father in such a difficult position? In her past life, Tang Jiayu could not bear it either, and so she merely said she was still young, in no hurry to marry, and declined the offer of a husband. From then on, she devoted herself wholeheartedly to the Tang family's interests: she never left to marry, never went out socially, and consulted her family on everything, trusting her father with unreserved faith.
And what did she receive in return? Nothing but her father's unhesitating command—"Release the arrows!"
She would not make the same mistake twice. Tang Guangcheng was no longer her father; he was only Pang Cheng. How absurd—he had deceived her all these years, and yet his name was Pang Cheng. Even the name "Guangcheng" was merely pieced together from the radical components of the characters in "Pang Cheng."
"A pearl in the palm"—that was the greatest lie this world had ever told daughters. A father doted on his daughter unconditionally, yet would only pave the road for his son's future. Even when taking in a son-in-law, he would hand his vast wealth over to the husband.
Tang Jiayu knew that accepting a husband into the family was the answer Pang Cheng expected. They had already arranged the script that would follow, waiting only for her to obediently play her part. In her past life, she had refused, and their plan was thwarted—but she had gained nothing either. Pang Cheng had kept her confined within the Tang estate under the pretext that a marriageable young woman must maintain propriety, and Tang Jiayu had rarely been able to come into contact with outsiders.
This time, she could not allow herself to be forced into passivity again. One must break before building anew; perhaps marriage itself could be a breakthrough. At the very least, once she had the status of a married woman, the Tang family could no longer prevent her from going out.
If she were to accept a husband, whom should she choose? Tang Jiayu slowly swept her gaze across the assembled young men: Wei Chengjun, brimming with self-assurance; Wang Rong, cool and distant; and the rough-hewn man who had changed into plain clothes but still bore the unmistakable traces of a soldier's life.
Tang Jiayu would never settle for less—any shortcoming in appearance, figure, conversational skill, or family background was enough to disqualify a man. Those crooked melons and split dates Li Jichen had scraped together on short notice weren't even worth considering. Wei Chengjun was absolutely out of the question. So, what, should she force Wang Rong, that tasteless fruit, to be hers?
No need. The Wang family's wealth and status were rooted in Chang'an, and Wang Rong was her maternal cousin—they were on the same boat. Why make things difficult for each other? Tang Jiayu swept her gaze across the room once more, frustration sinking in. The entire Hedong region, and she couldn't find a single good-looking man who suited her in every way?
Then her peripheral vision caught a tall, slender silhouette. A spark of inspiration struck her, and a bold—but deeply satisfying—idea took shape.
Li Jichen had treated her like a fool, even letting his nephew play along with her little charade rather than subject his own son to it. It was clear he truly loved Li Zhaoji.
Fine, then. That was exactly whom she would touch.
Li Zhaoji stood at the outermost edge of the gathering. Watching Tang Jiayu scan the room as though she were genuinely picking one out, he felt a deep sense of disappointment. What had he been expecting? A young lady raised in confinement from childhood, whose every thought and sight had been arranged for her—she was already fortunate not to have turned out completely useless. How could she possibly be clever enough to turn the tables, to play the pig and eat the tiger?
He must have misread her earlier. That final glance was probably just lust—after all, he really was good-looking.
Li Zhaoji couldn't be bothered to waste more time. He turned to leave.
But he had barely taken two steps when a voice, deliberate and cloying, came from behind him—so dripping with affectation it raised goosebumps all over his skin. "Father, how could I bear to put you in a difficult position? Let's just take him instead. After all, he's a traveling merchant—good-looking and poor, perfectly suited to be married into my family."