Chapter 11

Cheng Mengde was hesitating in front of a small drink stall, weighing whether or not to spend money on a bowl of iced mung bean soup, when a flash of brilliance from the neighboring teahouse caught his eye. He turned his head and saw a woman emerging from the teahouse, surrounded by a cluster of maids and servants.

She wore a veiled hat, obscuring her features, yet he felt an inexplicable certainty that she must be a great beauty.

Her figure was graceful, draped in a chest-high ruqun. The upper garment was made of a sheer, translucent fabric that hinted at the skin beneath, adorned with small flowers woven into an apricot-colored base. Her long skirt was a pale orange, embroidered with countless butterflies in some mysterious thread; as the hem swayed, the butterflies seemed to shift in shape and color, as if they were dancing across the fabric. It was truly magnificent, making it impossible to look away.

Cheng Mengde couldn't help but think that this was the capital, after all—there were so many beauties here. He vowed to study hard, pass the imperial examinations, and become an official, so that he could marry a stunning wife and bring her back to his hometown in Yongzhou to show off to all the neighbors.

While he was lost in these daydreams, the woman seemed to find the veil of her hat cumbersome. She reached up and lifted it, and a maid beside her produced a silk flower, pinning the veil to the brim of her hat. Even her hat was better than anyone else's.

The next moment, he saw her face.

It was breathtakingly beautiful, radiant as the morning glow. It was his former aunt, whom he had met only once before.

She seemed somewhat displeased, nibbling slightly on her red lips, her face clouded with irritation and anger as she strode forward. She left the teahouse and went to a nearby stall selling small boxes, the kind used for cosmetics—exactly the sort of thing a young lady would find interesting. But she only glanced at it before moving on to a calligraphy and painting stall, where she looked for a moment before continuing on her way.

Cheng Mengde couldn't help but follow, watching until his beautiful aunt entered Foguang Temple.

The temple fair was held at Foguang Temple. Outside the temple, there were many stalls selling exotic goods one wouldn't normally see, and inside, the open courtyard was filled with acrobats and performers—it was all very fascinating. Having arrived early, he had already seen all the performances inside, so he had come out to explore the exterior. Besides, these fairs usually had bookstores, and since his uncle had given him money, he was planning to buy a couple of books later.

Only when Yu Ying’s figure disappeared from sight did he turn back. After a moment of hesitation, he decided against buying the iced mung bean soup.

Deep down, he kept wondering if, once he became an official, he would be able to marry a wife half as beautiful as his former aunt. And his uncle was truly an extraordinary man—to have divorced such a beautiful woman! If it were him, he wouldn't divorce her even if he were beaten and scolded every day.

Cheng Mengde wandered for a while longer until he reached a bookstore. While he was picking out books, he met Cheng Xianzhang, who had come to collect him.

His uncle had mentioned the day before that he would be passing by here after finishing his official duties and would take him home.

Cheng Mengde was delighted. It was fortunate that his uncle had caught him while he was browsing books, making him appear studious, especially since just moments earlier he had been drooling in front of a snack stall. They were selling something yellow and white, topped with fruit and emitting a cold mist. He had never seen it before, but it looked delicious. The stall owner called it "Snow Crust Mountain," but when he asked the price, it was ten times more expensive than the iced mung bean soup, so he hadn't dared to buy it.

As Cheng Mengde picked out his books, he thought about mentioning that he had just seen his former aunt, but remembering his uncle’s indifferent attitude toward her at Fengle Tower, he held his tongue. He didn't want to seem like one of those gossiping women sitting under a tree.

Cheng Mengde selected a *Commentary on the Classic of Filial Piety* and a copy of the *Chuxueji*, both essential reading for a scholar.

"We have *Chuxueji* at home," Cheng Xianzhang said. "Pick something else."

Cheng Mengde went to look for other options, all within the classics and histories, when Cheng Xianzhang spoke up: "Don't you want that *Xuan Guai Lu*? I saw you flipping through it for a long time."

That was a book of strange tales and legends. It was written beautifully, and Cheng Mengde did indeed like it. Surprised that his uncle had noticed, he said sheepishly, "That... it’s not useful for the exams, and it’s not cheap."

"People aren't born solely to do useful things," Cheng Xianzhang said. "One should also do things one enjoys." With that, he picked up the *Xuan Guai Lu* and handed it to him. "Take it; I’ll buy it for you."

Cheng Mengde was overjoyed and immediately hugged the book. "Thank you, Uncle."

"Are you done with the temple fair?" Cheng Xianzhang asked.

Cheng Mengde nodded. "I’m done. I’ve walked through it several times!"

***

Cheng Xianzhang nodded, and after paying for the books, they headed toward where the carriage was parked.

Suddenly, a crisp, delicate voice called out from behind them: "Cheng Zijun—"

Cheng Xianzhang paused slightly and turned around.

Cheng Mengde also turned and saw Yu Ying standing behind them, looking their way. For some reason, even though it had nothing to do with him, he began to feel nervous.

Yu Ying walked over and said to Cheng Xianzhang, "Official Cheng, may I have a word with you? Do you have a moment?"

Cheng Xianzhang gave a slight nod.

"Then... let's go. To the teahouse. Not this one, the one across the street." After saying this, Yu Ying headed toward the teahouse opposite.

The people of the Great Zhou Dynasty loved tea, so teahouses of all sizes could be found everywhere.

Cheng Mengde was still staring at Yu Ying’s back in a daze when Cheng Xianzhang said to him, "Follow me."

Cheng Mengde quietly followed Cheng Xianzhang into the teahouse. Cheng Xianzhang called the waiter, arranged a table for Cheng Mengde, ordered some refreshments, and then headed up to a private room on the second floor.

When he pushed the door open, Yu Ying was inside arguing with her maid about whether or not to have some "Snow Crust Mountain." It seemed she had already eaten one bowl and wanted another, but the maid was refusing.

When he entered, they both fell silent. Yu Ying stopped talking about the dessert and sat properly, picking up her tea to take a sip.

This teahouse was slightly smaller than the one they had visited earlier and had no storyteller. That was exactly why she had chosen it; otherwise, if he were to hear about her illness, she would likely be so infuriated she’d cough up blood.

Cheng Xianzhang sat down, and Yunjin left, closing the door behind her. Cheng Xianzhang looked at Yu Ying and asked, "What is it?"

His "speak quickly and don't waste my time" demeanor made Yu Ying feel unhappy.

She said bluntly, "I couldn't help myself before and spoke ill of you. Although most of it was the truth, I admit it was a bit exaggerated. I didn't expect people to spread it around. It was my fault."

"I am truly surprised to hear an apology from Miss Yu," Cheng Xianzhang said calmly. "I suspect that before, when you declared you would never remarry, you felt fearless. Now that you have found a suitable husband and wish to marry again, your attitude has changed?"

Apologizing proactively was a blow to her pride, but Yu Ying hadn't even thought of that. After pondering for a long time, she thought of Zheng Boru.

But she had only met Zheng Boru once, and it hadn't been publicized; how did he know?

"Are you spying on my family?" she asked. "Are you fabricating charges against us because you want revenge?" She arched her brows. "Cheng Xianzhang, you are truly despicable!"

Cheng Xianzhang’s face slowly turned cold as he watched her motionless. "I am not as vengeful as Miss Yu, nor am I so fond of fabricating facts."

"Then how do you know about Zheng Qizhou?" she asked, lifting her chin to look at him, her expression daring him to explain.

Cheng Xianzhang remained silent for a moment before saying, "The two of you were quite intimate in the palace. One doesn't need to strain oneself to see that a happy event is near."

Yu Ying felt Cheng Xianzhang was even more prone to exaggeration than she was. She and Zheng Boru had only met once in the palace; how could that be considered "intimate"? And he had even invented a "happy event is near"!

If he were placed in the teahouse across the street, he could be a professional storyteller!

Before she could retort, Cheng Xianzhang continued: "When you spoke of keeping your chastity for your late husband, I thought you were deeply devoted to your cousin. I didn't expect you to find a new love so quickly. It actually makes me feel quite nostalgic—you are indeed as decisive as ever, able to let go as easily as you hold on."

"When did I ever say Zheng Boru was my 'love'? Stop spreading rumors! Of course, when it comes to deep devotion, who could compare to Official Cheng? Always pining for your cousin, and even after becoming an official, you didn't forget to take her home as a concubine."

"Have you ever considered," Cheng Xianzhang asked, "that if what you say were true, I would have married my cousin long ago? But she has already returned to her hometown to marry someone else, and I have never seen her since."

Yu Ying was momentarily speechless.

After a pause, he continued: "Such an obvious fact, yet you choose to ignore it. Is it because you are fickle, wishing to marry that cousin from Luoyang, and therefore created these lies to hold onto, just to make yourself feel more at ease?"

Yu Ying was so angry her face turned red. She slammed the table and stood up. "Cheng Xianzhang, you are twisting the truth to blame me! Talking about being fickle—it was your mother who told me herself that Shen Xiaohe would definitely enter the house. Even as a daughter of the Yu family, I had no right to say no. Now you dare say I fabricated it? I have never met a bastard as unreasonable as you!"

Cheng Xianzhang was slightly startled. He looked at her and said softly, "I did not know. But even before that, I told you I had no such intention."

She sat back down, sneering. "As if I’d believe that! You put your mother before everything. If your mother told you to take her, you would have. You even accompanied her to light lanterns. Have you ever accompanied me to light lanterns?"

"On the night we lit the lanterns," Cheng Xianzhang replied, "I told her that becoming a concubine was not a good path, and that I would provide her with a dowry so she could choose another husband."

Yu Ying let out a cold laugh. If he wanted to reject her, did he have to accompany her to light lanterns? Especially on the Qixi Festival!

"Say whatever you want now!" she said dismissively. "You didn't marry her later only because it was too difficult. If you took her as a wife, how could you, an official, be satisfied? If you took her as a concubine, outsiders would know I was driven away by you, and no one would be willing to marry you. How would you then find a family to help your career? So you discarded her. And now you can marry the favorite concubine’s sister, as you have always been so calculating!"

Cheng Xianzhang looked at her coldly. "Yu Ying, do I need to remind you that the marriage was initiated by your family? And the subsequent divorce was written by you—you even became engaged to your cousin in Luoyang before the divorce was finalized. Was it me being calculating, or have you never held me in any regard?"

"Ha! You..." Yu Ying was even more enraged, tears welling in her reddened eyes. "It was our family's initiative—who told us to be so blind! I wrote the divorce letter because you bullied me too much, and I didn't want to be mistreated. I only became engaged and married my cousin after receiving the divorce letter you sent. Stop falsely accusing me!"

Cheng Xianzhang remained silent. Too angry to stay, she rose to her feet. "I shouldn't have come to see you today. You’re just as hateful as you were before! I’m telling you, I didn't spread the word about you going to the pharmacy. Don't blame me for that. From now on, let us go our separate ways. I never want to have any connection with you again. Hmph!"

With that, she left her seat and walked quickly to the door to open it.

"After receiving your divorce letter, I went to Luoyang," Cheng Xianzhang said from behind her. "I saw you with your cousin, and others said you were about to be married. My signing the divorce letter was to grant your wish, was it not?"

Yu Ying froze.

The Empress had told her previously that Cheng Xianzhang had been to Luoyang, but she hadn't believed it because she hadn't seen him. Now that he admitted it himself, she felt it must be true.

If he had found her back then, explained, and coaxed her, she would surely have returned.

But looking back five years later, she was certain that returning would only have led to endless quarrels—over the mother-in-law who despised her, the cousin who aroused his pity, and his own cold indifference. The admiration and devotion she had felt for him back then meant nothing in the face of such real suffering.

She turned back and said, "Thanks for 'granting my wish,' then. My cousin and my aunt are far better than you and your mother!" Having said this, she left the private room.