On the way back, Zhang Chuxiao felt increasingly guilty facing his cousin.
After all, he had agreed to help his aunt trick Zhang Zhaoming into attending today’s matchmaking meeting.
After placing first in the imperial examinations, Zhang Zhaoming had been personally appointed by the emperor as the magistrate of Huzhou. Entering officialdom at such a high rank from the very beginning meant his future was practically limitless.
Huzhou is an important region near the capital. Anyone with eyes could see how favored he was by the emperor.
“Brother, I’m a little hungry. How about we grab something to eat?” Zhang Chuxiao suggested cautiously.
Zhang Zhaoming lifted the carriage curtain.
Outside, in a roadside eatery, Lin Jingchu sat holding a bowl larger than her face, drinking soup with both hands. After taking a sip, she revealed a deeply satisfied expression before picking up a crispy shredded pastry and nibbling it bite by bite.
“Alright.”
Zhang Chuxiao:!!!
He had only said it casually.
Ever since childhood, his cousin had eaten and worn only the finest things in existence. He was unbelievably picky and never touched food from ordinary shops outside.
Still stunned, Zhang Chuxiao ordered the carriage to stop.
They were currently at the entrance of the Eastern Market. The entire street was lined with shops and restaurants, bustling with passing crowds.
Zhang Chuxiao pointed toward the tallest building further down the street.
“Fan Tower is hosting a plum blossom banquet today. Every dish is made using plum blossoms.”
When he turned back to look for Zhang Zhaoming, however, he discovered that the man had already walked toward a small, inconspicuous little shop nearby.
It was still half a shichen before noon, so the restaurant remained mostly empty.
The moment Zhang Chuxiao entered, his gaze locked onto Lin Jingchu.
Her dark hair cascaded like clouds, and her face was charming and delicate—a genuine beauty.
Under normal circumstances, he definitely would have gone over to strike up a conversation. But with his rigidly proper cousin beside him, he could only suppress the urge.
Sun Family Lamb Shop contains both open seating and small partitioned booths separated by bamboo curtains.
Zhang Zhaoming casually entered one of the booths. It wasn’t too close, nor too far—just enough to vaguely see Lin Jingchu’s silhouette.
“What would the gentlemen like to order?”
“The same dishes as that table,” Zhang Zhaoming replied.
Zhang Chuxiao wasn’t stupid.
Almost instantly, a teasing expression spread across his face as his gaze bounced back and forth between Zhang Zhaoming and Lin Jingchu.
Soon, a large bowl of lamb soup and golden crispy pastries were served.
Zhang Zhaoming made no move to eat.
Zhang Chuxiao, however, was already starving and immediately pulled the dishes over to himself and began eating.
Even after Lin Jingchu had finished her meal, satisfied and content, and left the restaurant—
Zhang Zhaoming still showed no intention of speaking to her.
Zhang Chuxiao was practically dying from anxiety.
“Brother, should I go ask which family that young lady belongs to?”
Zhang Zhaoming’s marriage situation had always been the entire family’s greatest concern.
“No need.”
His tone remained calm.
Meanwhile, Zhang Chuxiao nearly lost his mind. He wanted nothing more than to sprint outside, drag the girl back, and force the two of them into a wedding ceremony on the spot.
The Pingyang Marquis Manor’s garden contained a peach grove.
In the third month of spring, the trees bloomed pink from end to end. As the breeze swept through, petals danced through the air, creating an elegant scene.
While passing through the garden, Lin Jingchu suddenly heard the sharp sound of a slap coming from behind the ornamental rocks.
Lin Shuyi’s voice sounded cold.
“Your Highness, why bother pretending anymore? His Majesty is already advanced in age. The current commander of the Imperial Guards came from our Lin family army. The Imperial City Directorate and weapon depots are filled with members of the Lin clan. What you value is merely the power of the Marquis Manor.”
Hidden in the shadows, Lin Jingchu pressed her lips tightly together and lowered her breathing.
Inside her head, ten thousand horses were galloping wildly.
She really did not want to overhear secrets like this!
“So what?”
Lin Shuyi forced herself upright and stared at Zhao Jin coldly, the tip of her tongue pressing hard against her teeth.
“You’re shameless.”
The man burst into laughter and left.
Only after he disappeared did Lin Shuyi finally lose the strength to stand, collapsing onto the ground.
Lin Jingchu waited until the footsteps had faded completely before taking a cautious breath of relief. The narrow crevice where she hid was damp and freezing cold, making her shiver.
She stepped out carefully.
Moss had stained her clothes, and she patted at it with her handkerchief.
Then a voice sounded quietly behind her.
“You heard everything just now?”
“Ah!”
Lin Jingchu jumped nearly a foot into the air.
Lin Shuyi hadn’t actually left.
Biting her lip, Lin Jingchu looked apologetic.
“I didn’t mean to overhear anything. I swear I won’t repeat a single word.”
Lin Jingchu was naturally somewhat cold-hearted, but over these past three months, Lin Shuyi had treated her exceptionally well. Anything delicious or entertaining was always shared with her first. She was even more filial and respectful toward Madam Xia than Lin Jingchu herself.
Because of that, Lin Jingchu couldn’t help speaking a few extra words.
“Elder Sister is already meeting potential husbands. Once the marriage is settled, everything will be alright.”
The aura surrounding Lin Shuyi resembled a flower withering helplessly in the wind—desolate and mournful.
Slowly, she crouched down and hugged her knees, sobbing quietly.
Even her grief seemed restrained by etiquette.
Lin Jingchu didn’t understand the intricacies of court politics. She helped Lin Shuyi to her feet and tried softly comforting her.
In Lin Jingchu’s eyes, Lin Shuyi was undeniably heaven’s favored daughter.
If not for Lin Shuyi, the one being trapped into marriage by a scheming “phoenix man” would have been herself.
She truly hoped Lin Shuyi would remain proud and happy forever.
Lin Shuyi took several deep breaths, forcibly suppressing the sorrow in her heart. Her reddened eyes carried a dark gloom.
“I want to kill him.”
Lin Jingchu merely assumed she was speaking in anger.
From Madam Xu’s lessons, she knew that the Zhao imperial bloodline was thin. The current Emperor ruled through benevolence and filial virtue and had only two sons.
The First Prince’s mother was the favored imperial consort.
The Second Prince was born to the Empress.
One was the elder son of a concubine; the other, the younger legitimate son.
They were natural enemies by birth.
And marriage alliances—
were the greatest tool for consolidating political power.
At that moment, Lin Jingchu suddenly realized:
The fate of noble daughters had perhaps never belonged to themselves.
Then what would her own future become?
And that night, a single piece of news pushed her fear of the future to its absolute limit.