When news arrived that the second son of Marquis Jinheng was gravely wounded and on the verge of death, Marquis Anle anxiously inquired about the situation, fearing the man might die just like the heir of Zhenguo Duke—after all, the wedding date between the two families had already been set.
But upon hearing the reason for the injuries, Marquis Anle slammed the table in fury and rose to his feet: “What nonsense! Let that wretched thing go die already!”
It turned out that the second son of Marquis Jinheng had been fighting with someone over a courtesan at Yichun Pavilion, and in the scuffle, he had been accidentally pushed off the upper floor.
Marquis Anle truly could not have imagined that a man who presented himself as refined and courteous, impeccably dressed, could be so utterly disgraceful in private.
Not only had he visited a brothel as soon as his mourning period ended, but he had also brawled with others over a prostitute.
After his anger subsided, he wished he could rush to the Marquis Jinheng estate immediately to cancel this engagement for his daughter.
However, before he could even set out, while he was still in a rage, the second son of Marquis Jinheng had already breathed his last at the estate, as medical aid had come too late.
When the news arrived, Marquis Anle and his wife felt both vindicated and worried.
Sure enough, after two consecutive fiancés had died, people in the capital had begun privately spreading word that the legitimate daughter of Marquis Anle’s household had an overly harsh fate—that she was a widow-maker.
After the rumors spread, no one dared to come and propose marriage for a time.
Marquis Anle and his wife felt that the scoundrel’s death was not worth regretting, but it had ruined their daughter’s prospects for marriage.
By now Ye Su was already nineteen. Setting aside the fact that respectable families were wary of the rumor of her widow-making fate, at her age alone, where could one find a suitable match? Surely not among widowers.
Would they give their fine daughter to someone as a second wife or a replacement? Not only would Marquis Anle and his wife be unwilling, Ye Su herself was not agreeable either.
After a scene had been made, even the palace sent someone to inquire. It was only when Marquis Anle promised not to immediately seek another match for her that Ye Su was willing to calm down.
And so the matter was delayed again and again, until now.
Mama Huang genuinely wanted to arrange a match between her nephew and Biqing.
Her nephew had just lost his wife, and his two young children urgently needed a mother’s care. Although Biqing was a bit older—only two years younger than the young lady, now twenty this year—she would be just right for her nephew.
Biqing did not know what Mama Huang was thinking and simply shook her head: “Mama, no need to say more. Unless the young lady herself gives the order, I will not leave Fanxiang Court.”
Mama Huang wanted to say more, but Hongyu had already returned, so Biqing quickly found an excuse to go back to her room.
Returning to the room, she found a figure already sitting up behind the gauze curtain, perfectly still. Biqing stepped forward and drew the curtain aside: “Young lady, you’re awake—why didn’t you call for us?”
Ye Su’s brows were drooping, and she did not feel like talking: “I dreamed of an annoying fellow.”
Biqing and Hongyu exchanged a glance. There was only one “annoying fellow” their young lady ever spoke of—His Majesty the current emperor.
They dared not touch upon that topic. Hongyu quickly said: “It’s already past the hour of mao, young lady. The Marquis and Madam are waiting for you in the main courtyard.”
Today was bound to be a busy day. The masters would be entertaining guests, and without breakfast, they would not last long.
Ye Su also knew today was an important day, so she let them help her get ready.
Hongyu attended to her washing, while Biqing fetched the new dress that had been prepared in advance and helped her put it on, praising as she did so: “Our young lady is so beautiful—this dress from Dieyi Pavilion suits you perfectly.”
Ye Su was already twenty-two. Her figure had fully matured—not carrying the youthful greenness of a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl, nor the dignified maturity of a married woman. She possessed a beauty that hovered between maiden and matron.
After changing her clothes, Biqing and Hongyu stepped back to admire her, their eyes filled with sincere appreciation.
Compared to her usual preference for comfortable, half-worn garments, today the young lady had rarely taken care to dress up properly.
Ye Su was absolutely a rare beauty, but she simply did not enjoy dressing up. On this rare occasion, she left Biqing and Hongyu utterly spellbound.
In fact, the daughters of the Ye family were all quite attractive. The Empress Dowager herself had been exceptionally beautiful in her day, which was why she had been sent to the palace, and in the end, she had risen through her son to become Empress Dowager.
“Young lady, today you will surely dazzle everyone who sees you,” Hongyu said with a smile.
Ye Su tilted her head and looked at herself in the bronze mirror for a moment, feeling that the person inside was somewhat unfamiliar.
Biqing gently pressed her down to sit before the mirror: “Let me do your hair, young lady.”
Afraid they might run out of time, Biqing’s nimble fingers flew swiftly, and before long she had styled a half-bun that looked simple yet retained a soft elegance.
When selecting a hairpin, Biqing chose an agate one with a plum-blossom carved at the head. Just as she was about to pin it into Ye Su’s hair, Ye Su stopped her: “Where did this hairpin come from?”