Despite the rain, the meeting between the two families was not postponed. Not only did the rain bring a refreshing coolness, but it also helped avoid unnecessary attention to some extent.
Madam Yu and Yu Zhaoyuan both breathed a sigh of relief when they learned it was raining that morning. In their view, even if the Emperor truly remembered her at this moment, he certainly would not come in person through the rain.
When Yu Yihe heard the pitter-patter of the rain outside at dawn, her first thought was the same. However, remembering their encounter by the lotus pond that day, she felt less certain. Perhaps he would still come? Even if there was only a one or two-in-ten chance.
Right up until the moment she finished dressing and stepped out with Qingshuang, Yu Yihe was praying in her heart that everything would go as she hoped. Once outside, she naturally began to consider how to handle Yang Daren.
Yu Yihe understood the principle of not putting all her eggs in one basket. If that man truly had lost interest in her, she had to find another way out. Therefore, she could not afford to miss a single opportunity. This meeting with Yang Daren needed to be treated with gravity and care.
Through the misty drizzle, the two slender women were strikingly visible. A young Neishi holding an umbrella watched them from a distance, while another Neishi holding an umbrella ran back quickly to report what he had seen.
A massive bamboo umbrella, nearly five feet wide, was sufficient to completely block the raindrops falling from the heavens. As the Emperor walked, only his boots were slightly damp. Li Fuhai followed a step behind, listening to the young eunuch’s report, and the voice reached the Emperor’s ears as well.
“That lady is heading toward Qiangwei Shan…”
Wei Jingheng had not missed the young eunuch leaving and returning, and Li Fuhai’s movements were fully within his sight. Out of a certain impulse, he had silently permitted the Grand Steward’s actions, and he was exceptionally compliant when the Grand Steward suggested which direction they should walk.
“Your Majesty, the roses at Qiangwei Shan were blooming quite well recently. Shall we go and have a look?”
The Emperor gave a reserved nod and set off in the direction Li Fuhai indicated.
Qiangwei Shan, as the name suggested, was a cluster of artificial rockeries covered in climbing roses. It was located in a corner of Qiqing Garden.
When it was originally built, the garden was nearly finished, and the craftsmen had been somewhat lax. They had simply piled the leftover rocks here with a bit of thought, built a fish pond and a small pavilion in the middle, and planted a few rose bushes for decoration. They hadn’t expected the roses to grow so vigorously; over several decades, they had completely covered the entire rockery cluster. Now, it had become a refined place full of rustic charm.
Even in the summer, these resilient roses were covered in small white flowers, appearing even fresher under the watering of the light rain. It was indeed a perfect spot for an encounter.
When Yu Yihe arrived at the appointed place, there were already a master and two servants inside the pavilion. The scene was similar to her last encounter, yet it gave Yu Yihe a different feeling. Just observing the master’s profile within the pavilion, she found him extremely elegant.
As expected, when the man turned his face, the eyes of both mistress and maid lit up slightly. The man appeared to be just under thirty, with a face as handsome as carved jade and a reserved, steady temperament. He did not stare when he saw her, merely giving a simple nod before lowering his eyes with great propriety. He was truly a gentleman as refined as jade.
Yu Yihe could not help but feel a flicker of favorable impression. As she drew closer, the man slowly stood up, bowed to her, and said softly, “You must be the second Miss Yu? I am Yang Qing, currently serving in the Hanlin Academy.”
Yu Yihe returned the greeting with a graceful posture. “Greetings, Yang Daren.”
The beauty before him looked up. Her skin was like jade, her starry eyes seemed to shimmer like autumn ripples, and her vermilion lips were red without any rouge—more vibrant and enchanting than the pink roses in the rain. She wore a smile that was exceptionally gentle and kind. Looking further, her figure was lithe and well-proportioned, and every gesture radiated a unique charm, quite different from the high-born ladies he had met before.
Yang Qing felt a stir in his heart, but he quickly suppressed the fluttering. No matter how beautiful she was, it was improper to lose his manners. After a few pleasantries, they both sat down in the pavilion. Servants had already wiped the stone stools clean, so there was no fear of soiling their clothes.
Qingshuang set out the tea and snacks they had brought, which made Yang Daren feel even more bashful. Seeing this, Yu Yihe gave a slight smile and chose some topics regarding poetry and literature to discuss with him. Soon, the seemingly shy official relaxed, showing a charming and refined air in his speech and mannerisms.
During their brief, pleasant conversation, Yu Yihe actually felt that marrying Yang Qing might be quite good. For a moment, she put a certain person she had been worrying about out of her mind, thinking only of asking more detailed questions.
Out of the corner of his eye, Yang Qing saw Yu Yihe turn her head to set down her teacup, and he knew the main event had arrived. Since both had been married before, they were not as shy or restrained as those marrying for the first time. When Yu Yihe asked about his family relations, he answered straightforwardly.
“My parents and my wife passed away one after another five years ago. We had no children…”
Although she had heard this from Madam Yu, Yu Yihe nodded slightly. Such a simple family structure meant that while there would be no one to help if she married in, she would at least have peace and quiet. However, when she heard that Yang Qing still had a sister-in-law—his late wife’s younger sister—at home, her brows slowly knitted together.
Though Yang Qing did not dare look at her directly, he was constantly observing her with his peripheral vision. Seeing Yu Yihe’s displeased expression, he immediately explained:
“It isn’t that I have any improper thoughts. It is just that last year, my parents-in-law passed away from illness one after the other, and my brother-in-law went missing, leaving only my young sister-in-law…”
Yu Yihe remained noncommittal, thinking of the gossip she had heard about the nobility. She arched an eyebrow and asked, “Then why not simply marry your sister-in-law? Wouldn’t that satisfy both sides?”
Upon hearing this, Yang Qing immediately turned his head and said, “My sister-in-law has only recently reached her fifteenth year. I am already thirty; how could we be a match?”
Glimpsing the beauty’s smile, Yang Qing’s voice, which had just grown a bit louder, softened again. He quickly turned his head and cleared his throat twice.
In contrast, Yu Yihe was perfectly composed. She shifted her gaze with a smile, no longer teasing the shy Yang Daren. But as her eyes swept over the Qiangwei Shan outside the pavilion, she suddenly froze.
The pavilion was surrounded by the rockery on three sides, nestled within the hills. The hills were high and the pavilion low; when the roses climbed the rocks, they formed a curtain of flowers. Amidst the dense greenery and the white and pink blossoms, Yu Yihe spotted a few patches of blue.
She followed the line of the pavilion’s eaves upward and her eyes locked with those of the man beneath the umbrella. She stood up almost in a panic, her heart pounding wildly. Along with her nervousness, an infinite sense of excitement surged within her.
He really had come.