In the following days, Shen Yunying lived quite happily. Following her mother’s instructions, she took her cousin Jiang Wan around the capital for sightseeing. Shen Yunying planned to take her to Yunlu Pavilion to buy pastries, but as soon as they made their purchase, they ran into Jiang Gaoheng, who was also out shopping.
Thus, the three of them traveled together.
Book studios, teahouses, and painting collections—Jiang Gaoheng frequented refined places. It was the first time Shen Yunying had been taken to a literary gathering among scholars. These venues all had private rooms where one could bring their wives or sisters from home. This dynasty had many talented women, and if a woman had good poetry or paintings, she could also gain fame at such gatherings.
In addition to these, Jiang Gaoheng also took them to a restaurant to listen to music. The melody of the qin was gentle and soft, as if it had a thousand words to say, only to switch to a lively tune the next moment.
On this day, Jiang Gaoheng visited a place called Boshizhai.
This establishment was famous in the capital for its fine stones. Shen Yunying was carefully selecting one, intending to use it for a seal.
Coincidentally, someone came to sell a family heirloom stone.
The shop assistant picked up the stone, examined it repeatedly, and said, “Young man, this is a waterfall stone, worth about twenty taels of silver.”
The seller didn’t believe it. “My grandfather said it’s worth at least five hundred taels. You must be mistaken!”
The assistant put down the stone, slapped the table, and said firmly, “I’m not mistaken. You have no idea how many people like you we meet at Boshizhai every day, claiming their stones are family heirlooms and demanding hundreds of taels, when in fact those stones are worthless.”
“Not everyone has the discerning eye to tell what’s valuable and what’s not.”
The seller was truly in need of money and gritted his teeth, unwilling to sell it cheaply.
Shen Yunying noticed the commotion, and Jiang Wan whispered, “Cousin, can you appraise stones?”
Shen Yunying shook her head and replied softly, “I don’t understand.”
Suddenly, Jiang Gaoheng walked over, his voice as clear and smooth as a flowing stream. “This assistant, in my opinion, this stone is Taihu stone, not waterfall stone.”
He picked up the stone and explained, “Waterfall stone feels smooth to the touch, like silk, with varying depths of grooves, distinct textures, and noticeable indentations. Taihu stone emphasizes thinness, wrinkles, porosity, and translucency. It combines grandeur with delicacy. As soon as you touch it, you can tell the difference between the two.”
The assistant was dumbfounded.
The seller immediately broke into a smile.
The shopkeeper noticed the commotion and promptly stepped in to handle the matter. In the end, Jiang Gaoheng was gifted two yellow stones by the shopkeeper, perfect for making seals. Jiang Gaoheng then gave them to Shen Yunying and Jiang Wan, one each.
On the carriage ride home, Shen Yunying also received a gift from Jiang Gaoheng—a box of books. Curious, she opened it and found it filled with works by Jiang Gaoheng and his traveling companions, documenting their experiences along the way. It was titled the Shanshui Collection.
Shen Yunying was overjoyed and couldn’t resist flipping through the books right there in the carriage.
“Has the young lady returned? The mistress asks you to go to Jingyuan Studio.” Yinping, who had stayed at home, hurriedly reported as soon as she saw Shen Yunying return.
Shen Yunying paused at the doorway, instructed someone to move the books inside, and turned around to head to Jingyuan Studio.
Jiang Wensheng sat upright in her chair, her expression grim, which softened slightly upon seeing Shen Yunying enter.
“Mother, why did you call me here?” Shen Yunying asked eagerly as soon as she sat down, her mind still preoccupied with the newly acquired books.
Jiang Wensheng said irritably, “Today, the Old Madam summoned me to Cihui Courtyard.”
Shen Yunying abruptly straightened up, staring fixedly at Jiang Wensheng, wondering if she had misheard. For as long as she could remember, the old madam had never allowed Jiang Wensheng to visit Cihui Courtyard.
“No need to be so tense. It’s about your marriage.” Jiang Wensheng smiled, not keeping Shen Yunying in suspense. “I’ll just say you’re betrothed to the Jiang family, and the two families have already exchanged tokens.”
Shen Yunying was a bit bewildered. “The Jiang family? Not Cousin Gao Heng?”
Jiang Wensheng nodded. “Your eldest aunt and I have long had an understanding. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have brought Gao Heng all the way to the capital—it’s not like he needs to study at the Guozijian.”
Shen Yunying thought for only a moment. “That’s fine.”
Neither her mother nor she wanted to be stepping stones for the Shen family’s rise, nor did they want the Grand Preceptor and the old madam to dictate her marriage.
“Can I wait two more years before marrying?” Shen Yunying wanted to stay by her mother’s side a little longer. Once married, the Jiang family was far away in the south, and Jiang Gaoheng would likely travel extensively, making it difficult to see her mother for a long time.
Thinking of this, Shen Yunying felt Jiang Gaoheng was just average. Marriage seemed rather dull.
Jiang Wensheng tapped Shen Yunying’s head with a bent finger. “What nonsense are you thinking? Of course, we’ll wait a few more years.”
Shen Yunying took the opportunity to cling to Jiang Wensheng’s arm, acting coquettishly. “Oh, my dear mother, I just want to enjoy a few more meals from your small kitchen.”
“Someone, have the small kitchen prepare some snacks and send them over. The young lady is craving something sweet, so make plenty.” Jiang Wensheng gave the order.
Shen Yunying smiled and leaned against Jiang Wensheng.
Yet, at this moment, Jiang Wensheng felt inexplicably uneasy. There was one thing she had lied about—she hadn’t had time to exchange tokens with her sister-in-law. Huguo Temple required seven days to calculate the marriage compatibility and present it before the Buddha. The day after tomorrow would be the seventh day.
She hoped the Grand Preceptor and the old madam wouldn’t continue to pressure them.
Imperial Palace, Qianqing Hall.
Qianqing Hall was the most majestic palace in the imperial compound, serving as the Emperor’s residence. Under the cover of the long night, the Emperor’s impatient voice echoed through the spacious hall.
“I’ve told you long ago to marry and have children earlier. Your family has only one heir, and Princess Jiarong has only you as her son.” The Emperor stood up angrily, hands on his hips, his gaze burning as he stared at the young man standing in the center.
Yan Peifeng was handsome, with deep-set features. The candlelight in the hall illuminated the sharp lines of his face. At this moment, his thin lips were pressed tightly together, and his brows were slightly furrowed, giving him an air of authority.
Hearing the Emperor’s words, Yan Peifeng vaguely felt something was off. Before he could ponder further, the Emperor began groaning again. “My headache is about to flare up, and everything before my eyes is pitch black—just like your future, utterly dark!”
“There are countless unmarried young ladies in the capital. Is there really not a single one you fancy? Do you truly intend to remain a loner?”
“Had I known this earlier, I should have forced you to marry five years ago. Back then, the talented young men your age already have sons old enough to buy pastries. And you’re still unmarried!”
Yan Peifeng couldn’t help but smile wryly and rub his forehead. The Emperor had been nagging him relentlessly for a month, and Yan Peifeng had to admit he couldn’t take it anymore.
“Let me tell you, if you still don’t agree, I haven’t even decided on your official position yet. You’ve given me such a headache that I can’t think straight about any titles or posts.”
Yan Peifeng sighed helplessly. “Uncle, you’re being unreasonable.”
The Emperor hurried down the steps and stood before Yan Peifeng, lowering his voice to ask, “Peifeng, be honest with me. You stubbornly refuse to marry—could it be that there’s some hidden ailment with your health? The Imperial Medical Bureau has highly skilled physicians. If you’re unwell, you must not avoid treatment out of fear. Rest assured, with me here, the news will never leak.”
The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. The Emperor nodded slightly, actively searching for evidence. “Men your age are all full of vigor and vitality. Before your mourning period, you didn’t even have a single chamber maid by your side. Now that the mourning is over, you don’t even want to bring up marriage. Clearly, this touches on a painful matter.”
“Come to think of it, I haven’t been attentive enough to you. I’ll summon the imperial physician right away.”
The Emperor raised his hand to call for the physician, but Yan Peifeng quickly stopped him. “Uncle, you’re overthinking this far too much!”
Yan Peifeng truly couldn’t understand how the Emperor had jumped to the conclusion of a hidden ailment. His health was checked monthly by imperial physicians for routine examinations. If anything were amiss, it would have been detected long ago.
Yan Peifeng simply felt that marrying and having children would require diverting energy to care for the rear courtyard, and women often brought trouble, which was truly draining. Having observed mourning for five consecutive years, he had already fallen behind in his career. To realize his ambitions, he needed to redouble his efforts. For now, Yan Peifeng had no mind to consider marriage.
Seeing Yan Peifeng’s earnest assurance, the Emperor half-dismissed his suspicions. “Then, why are you unwilling to marry? There are so many fine young ladies in the capital. Ah, you’re a man—how many young ladies could you have met? Without meeting them, naturally, you wouldn’t develop youthful admiration.”
“If you keep delaying marriage, how will I ever face Jia Rong, your mother, when I reach the underworld?” The Emperor lowered his head with a sigh, his expression desolate.
Yan Peifeng’s heart tightened. The Emperor was playing the emotional card, yet his sincerity was undeniable. Moreover, at his age, if he kept putting off marriage, once he entered officialdom, colleagues would inevitably try to matchmake. He could refuse them one by one, but that would also be troublesome.
“Very well, I leave the marriage arrangements to you, Uncle.” Yan Peifeng relented. His marriage would naturally be decided by his elders.
Both his parents had passed away. After losing their son, his grandparents couldn’t bear to stay in the capital and moved back to the ancestral home in Fanzhou. The two elders were in poor health, and the journey back and forth would be exhausting. Yan Peifeng didn’t want to trouble them.
Finally hearing Yan Peifeng’s consent, the Emperor instantly sprang to life, shouting toward the door, “Go to Kunning Palace and tell the Empress—Peifeng has agreed!”
“Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations, Young Master Yan. This servant will go at once.” Wang Gonggong chuckled as he congratulated them, personally making his way to Kunning Palace.
Overjoyed, the Emperor removed the jade pendant from his waist and rewarded Wang Gonggong with it. “Hurry and bring the good news to the Empress!”
Wang Gonggong, the Emperor’s personal chief eunuch, received the pendant with delight and offered a few more pleasantries before turning to leave.
News that the Empress would host a Flower Appreciation Banquet in the palace quickly spread throughout the capital. The purpose of the banquet also became widely known: the Emperor and Empress intended to personally evaluate potential matches for Yan Peifeng.
However, because the Flower Appreciation Banquet was to be grand in scale, with invitations extended to the families of officials of the fourth rank and above in the capital, another unspoken speculation emerged.
The Empress might take the opportunity to select a Liangdi for the Crown Prince.
The Eastern Palace already had a Crown Princess, one Liangdi, one Liangyuan, and two concubines. Yet, there were only two young princesses and not a single son. The Crown Prince, as the eldest legitimate son, was accomplished in both civil and military affairs, virtuous and talented, and his position was extremely secure.
But having no son was a significant shortcoming.
Therefore, this speculation was not without reason. Perhaps a new woman entering the Eastern Palace could bear a son?
When the news reached Taishi Mansion, it was like hot oil splashing into a pan.
Cihui Courtyard once again sent someone to Jingyuan Studio, summoning Jiang Wensheng and Shen Yunying to meet the matriarch.
As soon as Shen Yunying and Jiang Wensheng finished paying their respects to the matriarch, the eldest madam beside her smiled and said, “Sister-in-law, the matriarch is also thinking of Yunying’s best interests. The Empress herself is hosting the Flower Appreciation Banquet. If she were to be chosen, what an immense honor it would be. How could you speak such nonsense to deceive the matriarch?”
Jiang Wensheng replied, puzzled, “What are you talking about, sister-in-law? I don’t understand.”
The eldest madam sneered, “Whether you truly don’t understand or are pretending not to, fine, I’ll assume you really don’t.”
“Yesterday, Chuyun and Chuyan were dining at a restaurant, and the two young masters of the Jiang family were also there. In recent days, Yunying and the young lady of the Jiang family have often accompanied the second young master of the Jiang family to literary gatherings, which inevitably gave rise to some rumors. The second young master of the Jiang family publicly stated in front of everyone that he and Yunying are close cousins, their relationship upright and honorable, and that they should not joke about a young lady’s reputation.”
Jiang Wensheng was taken aback. Could it be that her sister-in-law from her maiden family had not informed Jiang Gaoheng?
She calmly smiled and said, “Sister-in-law, Gaoheng is right. The marriage has not yet been publicly announced, so the two children naturally have an upright and honorable cousin relationship. I have already reached an understanding with my sister-in-law from my maiden family to arrange a marriage for the two of them. It’s just not yet the right time to tell the children.”
The eldest madam glanced at the matriarch seated at the head of the room and continued, “Compared to the Jiang family, the Yan family, or even the palace, sister-in-law, have you truly thought this through? A daughter of the Shen family must shoulder the responsibilities of the Shen family.”
Just as Jiang Wensheng was about to speak again, someone suddenly entered from outside—it was the chief steward.
“This servant has been sent by the Grand Tutor to deliver the invitation to the Flower Appreciation Banquet,” the chief steward said, presenting a gilded invitation with both hands.
The matriarch opened it and read: Second Miss Shen Yunman and Third Miss Shen Yunying of the Shen family.
Well, regardless of what the Shen family thought, with the Empress personally naming them, both Shen Yunman and Shen Yunying had to attend.
Shen Yunying stood below, her mind buzzing. So, she was going to the palace now? She needed to recall the etiquette rules taught by the instructing matron back in the day. With a pained expression, Shen Yunying followed Jiang Wensheng back.