The Young Marquis Regrets Too Late - Chapter 24

From the day that Jiang Nan had first mentioned the matter of Jiang Jingchun’s marriage to Lady Li,  the two began to focus on it.

Jiang Nan first started looking among officials he worked with in the court.

After all, young men already serving as officials in court were generally more reliable than those still preparing for the imperial examinations. If they also had a decent family background and character, they would be considered ideal matches. 

Although Jiang Nan had not been particularly kind to Jiang Jingchun in the past, this was, after all, a matter of marriage—a major event that concerned the rest of a woman’s life. He was not so cruel as to deliberately seek someone unsuitable to torment her.

Besides, he’d found his real daughter and was immediately arranging for his other daughter to marry. If he didn’t at least carefully select a suitable husband for her, it’d certainly invite gossip and criticism.

Had it not been for Lady Li, Jiang Nan would not have brought Jiang Jingchun home in the first place. He had no emotional attachment to her, and for many years, he had been searching for Jiang Jinghui. In addition, he’d never treated Jiang Jingchun too well, because he feared it would feel like a betrayal to Jiang Jinghui.

Every time he was kind to Jiang Jingchun, he felt as if he was being unfair to Jiang Jinghui.

His daughter was out there suffering, yet he was treating another child as if she were his own.

Years had passed in this manner. Jiang Jingchun’s life in the Jiang family had been decent—she had food, clothing, and freedom to do as she pleased. Now, finding her a good family to marry into would fulfil the last of his duties as a father.

Jiang Nan brought three portraits to Lady Li.

He had personally selected two candidates, and Marquis Gu had helped him choose the third. Altogether, there were three options.

He entered the room and placed the portraits on the table, then said to Lady Li, “Take a look at these. I selected these men from the court. They’re unmarried and close to her age. See if any of them are suitable.”

Lady Li took the portraits from Jiang Nan and commented, “These men are fairly good-looking.”

Jiang Nan calmly replied, “I know she favours handsome faces.”

Back then, hadn’t she clung to Gu Huaisheng and refused to let go purely because of his extraordinary charm and graceful demeanour?

If they picked someone unattractive, she’d feel miserable every time she looked at her husband.

Lady Li chuckled and teased, “Now that she’s about to marry, you’re suddenly becoming kind-hearted.”

Jiang Nan’s expression stiffened at her remark, but he managed to restrain himself from retorting.

Lady Li asked about the family backgrounds of the men, and upon hearing the details, she found them satisfactory and well-matched with Jiang Jingchun. She seemed pleased but suddenly remembered something and asked Jiang Nan, “Do any of these men have concubines or mistresses?”

They naturally had no concubines. No young master from such prominent families would marry concubines before first marrying their legitimate wife.

Mistresses, however…

These men were at least in their twenties, so they’d reached the age of adulthood. How could they not have mistresses?

“Mistresses are just mistresses; what does it matter…?”

Lady Li, who had been quite satisfied a moment ago, let out a long sigh and said, “If possible, I hope they won’t take concubines in the future. She is so pure and kind; how could she deal with those kinds of people and situations?”

Lady Li herself had always disliked the idea of concubines. When she married Jiang Nan, one of her conditions had been that he would never take concubines. In her view, with Jiang Jingchun’s personality, if she ever faced concubines in the future, she would undoubtedly be overpowered and have a miserable life.

Jiang Nan quickly responded, “That’s asking for too much. Not everyone is like me back then—I wanted to marry up to a prominent family and made such promises.”

When Jiang Nan first arrived in the capital, his family was in decline. It was only after he earned first place in the imperial examinations and married the daughter of the Li family that his life improved.

He had done it publicly and didn’t mind admitting it. He had indeed married into a higher-ranking family. If he acted coy about it now, people would look down on him for it.

Lady Li’s eyes lit up at the mention of ‘marry up to a prominent family.’

She said, “You’re right! Why not find someone from a slightly less prominent family? That way, we’d have some leverage. If she doesn’t have a good life, we can support her. And as for concubines, we can make sure he doesn’t even think about it.”

Jiang Nan was momentarily at a loss and replied with a headache, “Why are you so fixated on this? No concubines? How many men in this world can truly keep such a promise?”

Lady Li said firmly, “I’m just afraid she’ll have a hard life after she gets married.”

After all, she had watched Jingchun grow up over the years. Thinking about how someone who had once been cherished might end up being bullied after marriage was enough to make her furious.

She continued, “Besides, her infatuation with Fuyan back then caused such a stir. She didn’t leave herself any room for retreat. If the family she marries into uses this against her in the future, it’ll be disastrous. It’s better to find someone from a lower status. Even if they want to bring it up, they’d have to consider their own standing first.”

Jiang Nan fell silent for a moment and considered her words. In the end, he agreed.

Lady Li said, “Let me handle this. I’ll look for suitable families and present them to her. I’ll explain the pros and cons to her and let her decide.”

Jiang Nan nodded in agreement but then suddenly thought of something. He looked at Lady Li and asked, “Wait, have you told her about this yet?”

“Not yet.”

Jiang Nan slapped his thigh in frustration. “What if she’s not willing?”

With Jiang Jingchun’s personality, who could say for sure?

Lady Li hesitated for a moment before saying, “She shouldn’t be unwilling. Why are you so anxious? We’ll present the options to her after we’ve found a suitable match. It wouldn’t be too late then.”

A few days later, Lady Li came up with an idea. She quickly selected a few families and focused on ones with modest standings. Among those, she also chose individuals from clean, reputable households, to ensure that even after marriage, they wouldn’t cause any troublesome issues.

Once she made her selection, she summoned Jiang Jingchun to the main courtyard of their residence.

It had rained since last night. Summer was already stiflingly hot, and the rain brought with it an even stickier, more humid air. The summer rain came suddenly, and judging by the intensity, it wouldn’t stop for several more days.

The rain alternated between light and heavy. When Jiang Jingchun started walking along the path, it was still a light drizzle. However, as she continued, the rain unexpectedly grew heavier, making the umbrella ineffective and leaving her slightly damp.

When she reached the corridor of the main courtyard, she closed her umbrella, wiped the raindrops from her face, and entered the main hall.

Lady Li was already waiting for her there.

When she saw Jiang Jingchun arrive, she invited her to sit.

Since Jiang Jinghui had been found and returned to the family, Jiang Jingchun rarely sought Lady Li on her own initiative. Recently, Lady Li seemed preoccupied with something and hadn’t sought her either.

In truth, it had been several days since they last saw each other.

From Lady Li’s expression, Jiang Jingchun could tell she had something to say.

She asked, “Mother, why did you summon me today?”

The room was cooled by an ice container, so it wasn’t too stuffy, though the relentless pattering of rain on the windowsill was enough to irritate anyone.

Lady Li looked at her serene demeanour and noticed how much she had changed compared to her once lively and boisterous self.

She constantly reminded herself that even though Jiang Jinghui had returned, Jiang Jingchun was still also her child.

And yet, it seemed there was still a distance between them now.

Perhaps it started when they asked Jiang Jingchun to vacate the courtyard she had lived in for over a decade. From that moment, she must have felt like a guest in someone else’s home.

Lady Li brushed these thoughts aside and gestured to the old female servant beside her to hand over a set of portraits. She said, “You’re of marriageable age. I’ve chosen a few families for you to consider. See if any of them appeal to you.”

Marriage…

The word felt foreign to Jiang Jingchun. As she looked at the portraits handed to her, she was visibly taken aback. However, after a brief moment, she quickly regained her composure.

Yes.

She was of age to marry and should’ve thought of this matter from long ago. It was just that her family had never brought up the matter before. Now that Jiang Jinghui had returned, her continued presence in the Jiang residence might be tolerated outwardly, but deep down, they must dislike it.

Staying in the Jiang family felt stifling to her as well. It might be better to fulfil their wishes and find a family to marry into. By doing so, she’d grant everyone some peace.

She should be eternally grateful for the kindness they’d shown her in raising her all these years, instead of shamelessly clinging and becoming a burden to them.

Seeing Jiang Jingchun remain silent, Lady Li grew uneasy. She feared Jiang Jingchun might be unwilling.

After all, she used to be so infatuated with Gu Huaisheng. Asking her to marry someone else now seemed a bit much to ask…

The rain outside continued. A small stream of water trickled into the corridor. Jiang Jingchun’s gaze unconsciously drifted to the doorway. Before Lady Li could continue speaking, Jiang Jingchun spoke first.

“Alright. Mother is right. It’s long overdue for me to be matched, anyhow.”

Her tone was light and devoid of much emotion as she spoke.

However, Lady Li felt that Jiang Jingchun, at this moment, was like the endless summer rain—seeping into the cracks of stones, breeding moss—damp, stagnant, and inexplicably miserable.

Lady Li let out a soft sigh. Her chest felt heavy and she was unsure of what to say.

Jiang Jingchun had already taken the portraits from the old female servant’s hands and begun to examine them. She showed no signs of hesitation or difficulty on her face.

Finally, Lady Li broke the silence. “The first three young men come from prominent families. They’re already serving in court and seem quite promising. However, given their status, it’s likely they’ll take concubines after marriage.

“As for the last two, although they’re of humbler origins, they are learned and capable. With our family’s support, they would have good prospects. Moreover, since they’d be marrying up, they wouldn’t dare mistreat you. If you don’t want them to take concubines, we can set that condition before you marry.”

Jiang Jingchun’s gaze lingered on the portraits briefly before she let out a soft laugh.

To go to such lengths—they had truly done their utmost.

They had planned everything so meticulously, and she couldn’t find a single fault from it.

Lady Li didn’t understand what Jiang Jingchun found amusing. She looked at her with some confusion.

Then she saw Jiang Jingchun pick one portrait from among the two less prominent families. Jiang Jingchun said, “Him, then.”

High-ranking households were indeed rife with complications. Even in their relatively small household, troubles abounded. She might as well choose someone from a simpler background to avoid unnecessary strife.

Lady Li glanced at the chosen portrait and explained, “This is Fang Zhiping. He happens to be a former student of your maternal grandfather. He’s currently studying at the Imperial Academy. His family is small, so you won’t have to deal with troublesome in-laws. I’ve consulted your maternal grandfather, and he said Fang Zhiping is upright and virtuous—he’s a decent gentleman.”

These days, finding even a ‘decent gentleman’ was no small feat.

However, Jiang Jingchun remained indifferent even after hearing this. “Since Mother thinks he’s good, then he must be good.”

At this point, saying anything else was pointless.

On second thought, it might not be so bad. Since staying in the Jiang family felt suffocating, marrying someone else might be her way out.

“Ah… Mother knows you’ve been wronged. You used to like Fuyan, and now…”

Lady Li assumed Jiang Jingchun was still holding onto feelings for Gu Huaisheng and was now struggling with the idea of marrying someone else.

However, Jiang Jingchun quickly interrupted her.

“Mother, this has nothing to do with him. I was foolish before, but I’ve long since given up on that matter. I won’t do anything like I did in the past again.”

With that, Jiang Jingchun bid her farewell. Before Lady Li could respond, Jiang Jingchun had risen and left.

As she stepped out, she almost bumped into Jiang Jinghui, who was entering the hall. Jiang Jinghui carried a food box. She seemed to have come to bring something for Lady Li.

The two met at the doorway. Before Jiang Jingchun could say anything, Jiang Jinghui smiled and said, “Sister, you came to see Mother too? What a coincidence. Are you leaving already? Why not stay a bit longer?”

Her eyes curved into a smile. Her gaze, which lingered on Jiang Jingchun, had a hint of amusement in it. Jiang Jingchun quickly lowered her head and murmured a soft greeting, before walking away.

As she left, she could hear Lady Li warmly greeting Jiang Jinghui, “Why did you come in such heavy rain? It would be bad if you catch a cold…”

Their voices slowly faded from her ears. Jiang Jingchun took the umbrella Huayun handed to her and stepped into the rain.

After a few days, Lady Li proceeded to arrange a match between Jiang Jingchun and Fang Zhiping as previously discussed.

She first initiated contact with Fang Zhiping’s mother. When Madame Fang heard her purpose—that the prestigious Jiang family wanted to form a marital alliance with them—she was utterly stunned. After all, the Jiang family was a renowned and illustrious family with ties to the imperial court, and they seemed far beyond the reach of families like their own.

In the Fang family residence, Madame Fang struggled to process the news delivered by the Jiang family’s messengers. Initially, she even suspected that there might have been a mistake. It wasn’t until the messengers repeated themselves several times that she reluctantly accepted the reality.

The minister of personnel’s family wished to propose marriage.

However, when she learned that the proposed bride was Jiang Jingchun, Madame Fang’s excitement quickly cooled.

Jiang Jingchun’s reputation was less than perfect, and now that the Jiang family had found their real daughter, wasn’t this just an attempt to quickly marry off the fake daughter? 

But why did such an influential family lower themselves to propose a match with theirs? She didn’t understand.

Madame Fang pondered this. Eventually, she came to the conclusion that since the Jiang family had found their bl00d-related daughter, they thought of finding a family—and any family would do—for their other daughter to marry into, and that was why they’d chosen their family.

The more Madame Fang thought about it, the more that it made sense. She was convinced that this must be the reason. She couldn’t fathom why the Jiang family would choose them specifically otherwise.

Just as her mind was spinning with thoughts regarding this matter, Fang Zhiping returned home from his studies at the Imperial Academy. Upon his return, he immediately noticed the unfamiliar guests from the Jiang family.

Fang Zhiping was a young man with a tall and straight figure. He was dressed modestly. Although he didn’t have an exceptionally outstanding bearing or presence, he still had the appearance of a clean and upright gentleman.

That evening, the rain had lightened for a while, and puddles had formed on the ground. As he walked, mud splashed onto his clothes. He entered the house, only to find that there were still other people present.

Before he could speak, his mother—Madame Fang, quickly stood up and pulled him aside to explain their visitors’ intentions.

Fang Zhiping was somewhat surprised but not as unsettled as his mother.

“Zhiping, what do you think we should do… Could it be that the Jiang family has found their real daughter and is now just finding any family for the adopted one to marry? Otherwise, why would they have come to us?”

After thinking for a moment, Fang Zhiping responded, “That shouldn’t be the case. They had cherished Jiang Jingchun, and it’s unlikely that they’d lose all those years of affection so easily. If they want to have her marry, then they must have their own considerations.”

Madame Fang seemed to find some comfort in his words, though she still seemed unconvinced about this. She murmured, “Then what should we do now?”

Fang Zhiping patted her shoulder reassuringly and asked, “What else did they say?”

Madame Fang replied, “Madame Jiang invited us to visit the Jiang family residence tomorrow.”

Fang Zhiping suggested she accept the invitation for now, and after that, the guest from the Jiang family left the Fang family residence.

Even after the guest had left, Madame Fang still couldn’t shake off her unease, muttering, “How did it end up being us they came to…?”

Fang Zhiping, who was standing by her side, explained, “I’m of a similar age to Miss Jiang, and I’m currently studying at the Imperial Academy. The head of the Imperial Academy is Madame Jiang’s father, and he must have played a role in bringing me to her attention.”

“Still, it’s all happening too quickly. What do they want us to do by asking us to visit tomorrow?”

“Mother, there’s no need to worry. It’s just to meet, there’s nothing to be anxious about.”

The next day soon arrived.

In the main hall of Chongming Hall, Lady Li sat alone in the seat of honour, while Jiang Jingchun sat hidden behind a screen.

Although Lady Li had already learned about Fang Zhiping’s family background, this was an important matter, and she wasn’t going to make a decision hastily. She still needed to meet him and his mother in person to understand what kind of people they were.

Jiang Jingchun had never met a man for such a purpose before, so for their first meeting, it was arranged for her to stay behind the screen. If she felt it was suitable, she could step out later.

As scheduled, the Fang family mother and son arrived at the Jiang family.

The Jiang family estate was large and filled with rare and unusual items. The stone lion statues at the entrance were unlike those found in ordinary homes. The expansive courtyard, with its five courtyards and three exits, showcased their prestigious status. 

Madame Fang felt nervous as she walked through the estate. Inwardly, she wished she could turn back. Fang Zhiping, who was walking beside her, appeared much more composed. His upbringing in studying Confucianism had trained him to be more composed than most in any circumstances.

They were led inside by the servants. When they entered the hall, Lady Li stood up to greet them.

Seeing Lady Li approach them made Madame Fang even more nervous than she already was. She stood frozen and was unsure how to react until Lady Li was close enough to greet her.

Lady Li smiled warmly without displaying any airs of superiority. She said, “Thank you for braving the rain to come all the way here. Did the rain get on you?”

Madame Fang, seeing the beautiful lady before her, snapped out of her daze and hurriedly responded, “It was still raining when we left, but the rain had stopped by the time we arrived. It wasn’t too bad, really—it was just a carriage ride, so it wasn’t troublesome.”

It was inevitable for Madame Fang to be a little nervous, since this was her first time coming to such a grand residence. However, she quickly regained her composure and answered appropriately without embarrassing herself.

Lady Li’s smile remained unchanged as she turned to look at Fang Zhiping and discreetly observed him from head to toe.

He had a fine appearance and looked just like he did in his portrait. This quite pleased Lady Li.

Fang Zhiping noticed her gaze. He immediately saluted her and said, “Greetings, Madame. I wish you good health.”

Lady Li smiled and politely responded, “I’ve heard my father speak of you. He said you’re a man of great potential, and now seeing you in person, I can see he was right. You are indeed an exceptional young man.”

Fang Zhiping hastily replied, “I’m not worthy of such praise.”

Lady Li didn’t mind his polite modesty. She invited him and his mother to go inside the hall and sit. She also signalled for a servant to bring them tea.

Lady Li then took her seat and got straight to the point.

“I sent my servants yesterday to invite Madame and your son,” Lady Li said. “I hope they have explained my intentions clearly to you.”

Madame Fang glanced at her son. Seeing his lack of reaction, she nodded and replied, “They have explained your intentions to me.”

Lady Li said, “That’s good. I understand it may have come as a surprise, but I hope Madame won’t hold it against me for taking such an abrupt approach. I am a straightforward person and dislike beating around the bush. Once I have an idea, I prefer to act on it without unnecessary back-and-forth. So, I have indeed invited you here today regarding that matter.”

Lady Li’s straightforward approach startled even Fang Zhiping, who, for a moment, wasn’t sure how to respond.

After a pause, he finally said, “Since Madame prefers to speak plainly, I will do the same and not waste time with evasive words.”

Lady Li was quite pleased with Fang Zhiping’s response. She hadn’t expected him to remain composed and candid instead of hesitant or overly cautious.

Fang Zhiping looked at her and said, “Since Madame wishes for me to be straightforward, I’ll say what’s on my mind. If I happen to offend Madame in any way, I hope you’ll pardon me.”

“Go ahead,” she replied.

Fang Zhiping said, “Since Madame has taken an interest in me, I suppose Madame thinks I must have some qualities worth noticing. However, I am currently just a scholar preparing for the provincial-level imperial examinations at the Imperial Academy and have no official title to my name. 

“Marriage has always been about matching families of equal standing. Compared to the Jiang family, my family is reaching above its station in this matter. I don’t believe my merits are sufficient to bridge the gap between our families. Therefore, may I ask what exactly Madame expects of me?”

He had some inkling of Lady Li’s intentions but felt it was best for her to state them outright. 

Anyhow, given the disparity between their family statuses, she certainly had the right to speak directly.

Lady Li looked at Fang Zhiping with growing satisfaction. He was clearly a perceptive individual, and dealing with intelligent people always made conversations easier.

Although Lady Li could be a bit scatterbrained in some matters, was always sharp in certain matters, and she had also grown up in a prominent household. In such households, people would often say one thing and mean another. Their every word would be layered with unspoken implications.

Since Fang Zhiping had spoken frankly first, Lady Li decided to do the same.

She said, “My youngest daughter is still young and has lived a sheltered life without experiencing any hardships. However, she has reached the age where she must marry. As the saying goes, there is no such thing as a woman who will not marry. 

“The problem is that her personality is too pure and kind-hearted, and I fear that she might suffer grievances after marriage. A harsh mother-in-law or an unkind husband’s household can make life unbearable for a wife. Should he favour concubines while neglecting his wife, that would also bring her endless frustrations. I don’t want my daughter to endure such trials. That’s why I had people inquire, and they found that the Fang family members are upright and just and that the Fang family’s young master is honest and kind.”

Her meaning was clear, and Fang Zhiping understood it well.

All this was to ensure that Jiang Jingchun wouldn’t be mistreated by her in-laws and that her husband wouldn’t take concubines, which would cause her heartache.

There were widespread rumours in the capital about how Lady Li doted on her daughter, Jiang Jingchun. Right now, upon seeing how meticulously she arranged Jiang Jingchun’s marriage, Fang Zhiping thought that the rumours seemed to be true, after all.

He could clearly see that she cared deeply about Jiang Jingchun. People thought that this would change after her real daughter’s return, but seeing her today, Fang Zhiping could see that this wasn’t the case.

Fang Zhiping smiled and said, “Parents’ love for their children often makes them plan for their future with great care. Madame’s concerns are entirely reasonable and not difficult to fulfil.”

Hearing his words made Lady Li feel relieved. To confirm it, she asked, “So, Young Master Fang, do you plan to take concubines in the future?”

“In a courtyard where the pear tree stands, there is no room for gardenias. To truly love someone is to ensure they never find themselves in such a position.”

Lady Li had practically made up her mind at this point.

She had chosen him.

She called out to the screen behind her, “Jingchun, come out and greet Young Master Fang.”

For a moment, Jiang Jingchun didn’t respond. She seemed lost in thought. Only when her maid Huayun called her again did she finally snap out of her daze and stand up.

She stepped out from behind the screen and politely greeted Fang Zhiping and his mother.

Fang Zhiping raised his eyes to look at the young woman emerging from behind the screen. A faint trace of awe flickered in his gaze.

He had heard of Jiang Jingchun before, though only due to Gu Huaisheng.

In the capital, there wasn’t a scholar who didn’t know Gu Huaisheng.

Among the great figures of the realm that were as numerous as carp crossing a river, he alone stood out among the younger generation—dazzling like the sun in the sky.

Gu Huaisheng gained fame young, after achieving third place in the imperial examinations at a remarkably young age. With his extraordinary talent and the favour he received at court, he’d become the object of envy and admiration for all scholars. 

Everyone knew his name, and everyone looked up to him, although no matter how hard they tried, most would never come close to his accomplishments in their lifetimes.

Such a legendary figure didn’t exist merely as a name in history books but was living among them.

How could they resist paying attention to him? How could they not discuss him?

Fang Zhiping had heard of Jiang Jingchun because of Gu Huaisheng. He often overheard others gossiping about Gu Huaisheng’s clingy little cousin, who was known throughout the capital for her mischievous, rule-breaking nature.

Fang Zhiping hadn’t paid much mind to these tales of romantic gossip. After all, Gu Huaisheng had countless admirers in the capital, and Jiang Jingchun was just one among them.

However, as Fang Zhiping met Jiang Jingchun for the first time today, he was visibly taken aback.

At that moment, a thought crossed his mind. Was Gu Huaisheng’s heart made of iron? How could he possibly not like such a cousin?

As she stood before him, he could see her eyes that were clear and bright, and her eyebrows that were like crescent moons. The summer rain left a hint of dampness in the air, and the moisture seemed to linger on the young woman’s lashes. As she stood there, although she said nothing, she shined with an unmistakable radiance.

People said she was spoiled. People said she was unruly. 

However, to Fang Zhiping at this moment, she seemed nothing of the sort.

People must have only said such things because they had never met her.

Fang Zhiping rose to his feet. While suppressing the emotions in his eyes, he gave her a proper greeting in return.

Lady Li, who observed their interaction, thought the initial meeting between the two had gone reasonably well. She then suggested to Jiang Jingchun, “The rain outside has stopped for now. Would you like to take a stroll in the rear garden with Young Master Fang?”

Her intention was clear. She wanted to create an opportunity for the two to spend time alone and see if they were compatible.

Jiang Jingchun didn’t have strong feelings towards Fang Zhiping. She neither liked nor disliked him. Anyhow, since she had already decided to take this step forward, she had no reason to turn back now. She nodded in agreement.

The two began walking towards the rear garden.

The rain had fallen for some consecutive days and left droplets that now clung to the flowers and plants. The fresh scent of earth permeated the air. As soon as the rain stopped, the sun had emerged from the clouds to dry the ground, though only slightly.

Though the weather was hot, Fang Zhiping didn’t find it stifling.

As they walked, Fang Zhiping took the initiative to start conversations, and Jiang Jingchun occasionally responded. However, he soon noticed her lack of enthusiasm and her expression, which was devoid of joy. He was worried about annoying her, so he soon stopped talking.

After walking a while, he noticed beads of sweat forming on her forehead and pointed towards a waterside pavilion ahead. “Miss Jiang, are you feeling tired? Shall we rest there for a moment?”

Jiang Jingchun disliked the heat. Now that the sun was blazing after the rain, she had no desire to continue walking. She didn’t refuse and simply replied, “Alright, let’s go to the pavilion.”

The two headed toward the pavilion.

As luck would have it, no sooner had they stepped inside than the bright day turned rainy again. If they had been any later, they would have been caught in the downpour.

By now, they were accustomed to the capricious weather—that which gave rain one moment, sunshine the next, and sometimes even rain under a sunny sky. 

At least they had been spared from getting soaked.

The two were inevitably a bit reserved during their first meeting. Once they were seated in the pavilion, an awkward silence enveloped them. 

Jiang Jingchun remembered how Fang Zhiping had been doing most of the talking earlier, so she decided to take the initiative this time. She brought up a topic of conversation.

“Young Master Fang, will you be participating in the upcoming provincial-level imperial examinations this autumn?” she asked.

Fang Zhiping hadn’t expected her to speak up so suddenly. After a moment’s surprise, a faint smile appeared in his eyes. He nodded in response, then asked curiously, “Why do you ask?”

Jiang Jingchun had no particular reason for asking. She had simply grasped at a random topic. Besides, since this man might become her husband, she felt it necessary to learn more about him. She answered honestly, “I’m just a bit curious about you, that’s all.”

Fang Zhiping was visibly startled by her candid response, but after he recovered from his surprise, his smile deepened.

Curiosity—this meant she also wanted to know more about him.

“Is that so? If Miss Jiang has any questions, feel free to ask. I will answer them all.”

After sensing her interest, Fang Zhiping relaxed and engaged her in conversation. Compared to the earlier stiff atmosphere, the mood between them had now lightened considerably. Fang Zhiping, with his sense of humour and charm, even managed to make Jiang Jingchun laugh a few times.

The rain fell steadily outside. Meanwhile, laughter rippled through the waterside pavilion.

Gu Huaisheng had been tricked into coming to the estate today by Jiang Runchu.

It was a bit of a long story.

Jiang Jinghui had struggled to understand an obscure piece of classical text in the study, so she’d sought Jiang Runchu’s help. Jiang Runchu claimed he couldn’t make sense of it either and went to fetch Gu Huaisheng.

Gu Huaisheng had no idea of what was happening, and only realised he had been tricked upon arriving and seeing Jiang Jinghui waiting for him near a decorative screen wall.

Once he realised what had happened, he turned to leave.

However, Jiang Jinghui quickly blocked his way. She explained that she hadn’t known Jiang Runchu would seek out him, in particular. She had merely been told that a teacher was being fetched for her and only learned it was him when he arrived.

Seeing his unwillingness to stay, she thoughtfully told him that since he was already here, even if he didn’t want to look at the text, he could at least visit their grandmother.

For reasons unknown even to himself, Gu Huaisheng actually turned back.

As they walked through the estate and passed by the rear garden, they overheard voices coming from the waterside pavilion.

The laughter and conversation drifted into their ears and caused Gu Huaisheng to falter slightly in his steps. His gaze fixed in the direction of the sound.

Jiang Jinghui looked over, following his gaze. Then, she smiled knowingly and said, “Ah, that’s right. Mother has been busy arranging a match for my younger sister lately. I didn’t expect someone would already come by today.”

Gu Huaisheng didn’t respond to her. His eyes remained fixed on the pavilion. His grip on the umbrella tightened until his knuckles turned faintly white.

Once, it was in this very spot that she had watched him meet someone else.

Now, the tables had turned. It was now Jiang Jingchun discussing marriage prospects with another man.

He listened to her cheerful laughter—which she gave to someone else. He’d once found that laughter light and pleasant, but now, it felt piercingly harsh.