Sheng Xiangqiao sympathized with her half-sister’s frustration at having no outlet for her anger. So she simply put away her storybook and took out the copybook, dipping her brush in tea to practice calligraphy.
But this display of diligence only made Sheng Xianglan think she was pretending to be lofty and virtuous in front of her. Her brows arched with disdain, nearly reaching her temples.
Thus, in awkward silence, they finally arrived at Que Lake.
By then, the carriages had already been unhitched at the roadside post station, and the horses led into the stables to be fed.
As was customary, the young nobles confined in the city would spend the entire day at Que Lake. Some of the older young men even drank through the night, returning only the next day.
The coachmen, well accustomed to this, simply tended to the horses and then sought shade under nearby trees to pass the time.
Sheng Xianglan eagerly alighted from the carriage, taking her maids and nurse to meet her close friends and enjoy the outing.
When Sheng Xiangqiao slowly stepped down, she was surprised to see the heir waiting for her at the teahouse beside the post station. It wasn’t that Jin Lianyuan cherished his fiancée—he was compelled by his father’s orders.
After the incident at Qianlong Temple, where his flirtations had stirred jealousy among the ladies, somehow word had reached his father. The prince flew into a rage, sternly reminding him of the importance of this betrothal. If he continued to entangle himself with other women and the rumors reached the Emperor, his father would break his back!
Though Jin Lianyuan was reckless, he knew his father, obsessed with the throne, would not tolerate disobedience. So he had to put on appearances, maintaining the imperial match. Thus, today, he gave Sheng Xiangqiao face by waiting for her here.
According to the Emperor’s carefully designed customs for the Daughters’ Festival, lovers were to stroll by the autumn lake, exchange tokens, and confess their hearts beneath the sunlight.
Jin Lianyuan thought such a crisp autumn day should be spent boating with a beauty, embracing behind flower bushes, tasting sweet lips. Yet now he was forced to accompany this dull girl, trudging dryly along the lakeside. What a waste of fine scenery!
Looking at her thin figure, he felt no attraction. Even before marriage, they already found each other tiresome, their relationship tasteless as chewed wax.
Sheng Xiangqiao walked half-bowed, following behind the heir. Along the wooden path circling the lake, pairs of young men and women strolled with attendants. Though they kept a proper distance, their glances brimmed with affection.
Only the imperial betrothed pair—one tall, one short—walked on without looking at each other, concerned only with their steps.
Thinking that in two years he would have to marry this domineering and shallow girl, the heir Jin Lianyuan felt he was the most pitiful man under heaven. He couldn’t help sighing again, then walked in silence for half a circuit around the lake.
Sheng Xiangqiao’s feet were nearly broken. To make herself appear taller, she had stuffed many hard pads beneath her embroidered shoes. Walking a short while was manageable, but circling the lake endlessly like a donkey grinding a millstone was unbearable. She felt blisters forming beside her little toes.
“Um… Your Lordship, shall we sit in that pavilion for a while?” she asked, unable to endure the pain.
Jin Lianyuan thought she was making excuses to get closer, imitating other girls who invited him to pavilions for private talk. He sneered inwardly, but remembering his father’s warnings, he waved his hand and allowed her to go to the pavilion hidden behind the trees.
The dense foliage blocked the view, so from the boardwalk, only the curved eaves of the pavilion could be seen.
But as they walked closer, though the pavilion itself was hidden, voices could be heard.
“…This is a handguard I embroidered. You always practice swordplay, perhaps you’ll find it useful…” The speaker was a soft, tender female voice, filled with affection—clearly a girl speaking to the man she admired.
But the affection was misplaced. A cold male voice replied: “I don’t need this. Please take it back and give it to your father or brothers. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
Sheng Xiangqiao recognized that voice instantly—it was her cousin, Cheng Tianfu.
Thanks to Ning Yan’s diligent lessons, she remembered the Sheng family’s relatives well. Her cousin Cheng Tianfu had not yet arranged a marriage, as he was preparing for the imperial exams. His father hoped that once he earned honors, he could marry into a more prestigious family. Yet here was a girl secretly offering him embroidery.
Sheng Xiangqiao thought it improper to intrude on her cousin’s private matter, so she stopped in her tracks. But Jin Lianyuan was never one to avoid trouble. Even after hearing the voices, he strode forward eagerly.
Sheng Xiangqiao coughed loudly, and at once, footsteps scrambled. A cloaked woman, her face hidden beneath a veil, hurried out of the trees, head lowered, and quickly departed.
Jin Lianyuan stared at her retreating figure, but the cloak concealed her form. He couldn’t tell which young lady had been so bold.
Sheng Xiangqiao, however, caught a faint fragrance lingering in the air. She thought she had smelled it before—perhaps at Qianlong Temple during the vegetarian banquet.
Before she could dwell on it, Cheng Tianfu descended from the pavilion. Seeing the heir and his little cousin, he raised his brows and asked: “What brings you here?”
Anyone sensible would have kept silent about the private meeting just witnessed. But Jin Lianyuan was never considerate. He burst out laughing: “Well, Cheng Fourth! Yesterday I asked if you’d join us, and you said you had an appointment with a chess friend. Who knew you’d be here secretly meeting a beauty…”
Before he could finish, Cheng Tianfu cut him off. He pointed to the stone table in the pavilion, where a chessboard was already set up: “I did have an appointment—two days ago I arranged to play here. I forgot today was the Emperor’s designated Daughters’ Festival, so I happened to run into the crowd.”
The heir gestured toward the direction where the veiled woman had disappeared: “And that was your chess friend?”
Cheng Tianfu turned to pour tea for the heir, replying casually: “Just a chance encounter, nothing more. We exchanged a few words. I ask Your Lordship to be discreet, so as not to ruin a lady’s reputation.”
Jin Lianyuan was used to his childhood companion’s seriousness. It was a pity, he thought—Cheng Fourth had fine looks, yet spent his days only reading or practicing with weapons. By rights, he was of an age to enjoy romance, but he never smiled at the girls who showed him favor. In this, he was far inferior to his flirtatious father!
At that moment, Cheng Tianfu’s gaze passed over the probing heir and landed on his cousin, who was sitting on the pavilion steps: “Why are you sitting there?”
Sheng Xiangqiao’s feet hurt terribly. The two tall young men blocked the pavilion entrance, so she couldn’t go inside. She had no choice but to sit on the steps to rest. She thought she would have to reconsider what kind of padding to use in her shoes—these were far too painful.
Embarrassed, she smiled and said: “The heir walks with such long strides, so strong and commanding. I couldn’t keep up.”
Hearing this, Jin Lianyuan exhaled with relief, pleased: “Since you’re tired, Miss Sheng, you needn’t walk further. Your cousin is here—stay and watch the game, rest a while!”
Without waiting for their reply, he cheerfully led his servants away.
During the lake stroll, he had passed several of his beloved companions, each casting him reproachful looks. His heart ached at their disappointment. Now, having shaken off the dull Sheng Xiangqiao, he could meet those beauties by the trees, take their hands, and boat together—thus not wasting the splendid autumn scenery.
Sheng Xiangqiao was stunned. She hadn’t expected the heir to abandon her so abruptly. Even if he disliked her, he should at least have escorted her back to the carriage!
On such a festival day, leaving a young girl alone with her youthful cousin was hardly proper.
But Cheng Tianfu said nothing. He asked Ning Yan to lay a cushion on the stone bench for his cousin.
Ning Yan shrank her neck, admitting she had forgotten to bring one in the rush to leave.
Cheng Tianfu glanced at Nanny Zhao’s indifference and Ning Yan’s guilty face. He knew they were aware the young lady was an impostor, and so their service had grown lax. Forgetting a cushion on an outing was just another sign. Too weary to scold, he simply told Qing Yan to bring his own cushion for Sheng Xiangqiao. She dared not sit, waving her hands in refusal. Though he was her cousin in name, he was, in truth, her benefactor —the one who provided her with money—so she had to show respect.
But Cheng Tianfu ignored her protests, arranging the chess pieces as he said: “Sit. A girl shouldn’t catch a cold. My chess partner will arrive soon, so I can’t send you back yet. Rest here until the game is over, then I’ll escort you back.”
Since her cousin insisted, Sheng Xiangqiao obediently accepted the cushion and sat. Noticing the chessboard lacked fruit dishes, she thought the setup looked too plain. Remembering the etiquette of reciprocity, she asked Ning Yan to take out the food box and offer spiced peanuts, candied fruits, and several pastries—originally prepared for the heir, but now presented to her cousin, her “god of wealth.”
Before long, Cheng Tianfu’s chess partner arrived—a middle‑aged man with graying hair, accompanied by a little girl of about seven or eight.
From their greetings, Sheng Xiangqiao learned that this gentleman, surnamed Xin, was a physician. He had once run a clinic in the capital, but after his wife passed away, he resigned his post to care for his orphaned daughter and returned to his hometown.
A few days earlier, Cheng Tianfu had met Mr. Xin at a chess hall in the city. They had immediately hit it off, becoming friends despite the age difference. Since Mr. Xin was leaving for the countryside the next day, they had arranged this meeting to enjoy one last game together.
Mr. Xin was not only skilled in medicine but also a master of chess. After exchanging a few cheerful words with his young friend, he eagerly sat down to play.
Meanwhile, Sheng Xiangqiao sat quietly to the side, playing with the little girl, named Hong’er. Her maids and attendants stood farther away so as not to disturb the young master’s refined pastime.
Hong’er, lively and clever at eight years old, took some black and white stones from her father’s and Cheng Tianfu’s baskets and taught Sheng Xiangqiao how to play Five‑in‑a‑Row.
Sheng Xiangqiao quickly picked it up, and the two played with great enjoyment. Whenever Hong’er lost, she would rummage in her father’s pouch and let Sheng Xiangqiao choose a snack.
After several rounds of chess, Mr. Xin and Cheng Tianfu set aside the board and shared tea, chatting leisurely.
Sheng Xiangqiao divided her attention—playing with Hong’er while also listening to their conversation. She sensed that her cousin’s words carried hidden meaning, as though he was trying to draw something out of the physician.