Silks and brocades filled his view, shimmering with emerald light, yet Pei Huaianโs gaze fixed only on that cluster of luminous moon-pearl pear blossoms beneath the gauze canopy. An odd feeling struck him swiftly, catching his breath short, and he found himself walking toward her, unable to help it.
But in his hand, he still clutched a Hong Parrot. The stall owner quickly called after him, โYoung master, you havenโt paid yet!โ
Pei Huaian glanced down and saw the Hong Parrot struggling furiously in his grasp. He hurriedly handed the little creature back to the stall owner. โHow much?โ
The stall owner named the price, and Pei Huaian took out some silver and handed it over. โKeep this pair of parrots here for now. Iโll come back for them later.โ
โOf course.โ The stall owner agreed cheerfully.
In just a brief moment, when Pei Huaian turned to look again for the young lady from before, the white figure at the bookstall had already disappeared.
He searched all around and discovered sheโd simply walked over to a nearby stall.
Shen Youran was originally accompanying her elder sister to select calligraphy and paintings, but her sisterโs discerning taste led her to reject most pieces. After a long while spent in boredom, Youran happened to notice that, in the corner of the book fair, there was a stall selling Mohele. These were unlike the little clay Buddha figurines sheโd seen at the other stalls. Here, the Mohele were crafted as figures from stories set in pavilions and towers, adorned with rice paper silk, gold, silver, pearls, and jewels. The tiny figures leaned on carved wooden railings, lifelike and exquisitely made.
Shen Youran tugged her sister over to look. When she asked the price, even the cheapest was three taels of silver, and the expensive ones were ten taels.
No wonder there were so few people at this stallโit was enough to scare everyone away.
Her sister refused to buy one, saying if they bought a Mohele, there wouldnโt be enough left for a calligraphy scroll.
But Shen Youran truly liked the Mohele at this stall, and lingered there, unwilling to leave. She looked at this one, then that, but she wasnโt greedyโshe didnโt choose the most expensive or the prettiest, only the one she liked best. Pointing at the Mohele, she tugged on her sisterโs sleeve and pleaded with practiced charm, โI want that one, itโs only five taels, buy it for meโฆโ
Sheโd thought sheโd have to wheedle her sister for a while before getting her way, but unexpectedly, in the very next moment, a hand as smooth as jade handed a piece of silver to the stall owner, then picked up the very Mohele sheโd chosen and offered it to her.
โHere, for youโฆโ
Wait a minute.
That wasnโt her sisterโs hand, nor was it a girlโs voice.
Stunned, Shen Youran looked up along his arm and was startled to see a rugged, fierce Nuo mask staring back at her. Her legs went weak, and she took a few steps back in fright, only to bump into a passing stranger, stumbling and nearly falling.
A long, slender arm reached out and caught her around the waist just in time.
โSorry, did I scare you?โ The voice was clear and crisp, with a playful liltโhe couldnโt be very old.
โN-no, itโs fineโฆโ
After helping her regain her balance, Pei Huaian withdrew his hand, intending to remove the Nuo mask from his face. But before he could take it off, the girl in front of him, like a startled fawn, turned to run.
He had no choice but to abandon the idea of removing his mask and reached out to catch her again, grabbing her wrist and pressing the Mohele she had picked into her hand. โYou forgot this.โ
Shen Youranโs face was crimson as if painted with rouge. She wished she could disappear on the spotโsheโd just acted coy in front of a stranger. How humiliating!
She struggled to free her wrist from his grip and protested, โThank you, but I donโt know you. I canโt accept your gift.โ
โWhen I give something, I never take it back.โ He insisted, stubbornness creeping into his tone. โTake it. I said you could.โ
Even though Shen Youran had read plenty of storybooks and knew all kinds of tales about men and women, being tugged by a strange man in public didnโt feel romantic at all, not like the stories.
She rarely interacted with men outside her family and, faced with such a situation for the first time, had no idea how to respond. All she could think was to find her sister. โMy sister has money. Iโll call her over to pay you. Please let me goโฆโ
She looked all around for her sister, but just then, someone lifted the gauzy veil of the canopy. Startled, her eyes widened.
โSo it really is youโฆโ
Just now, heโd only caught a fleeting glimpse, but these eyes he rememberedโonly now, instead of calmness, they brimmed with fear and vigilance, a hint of panic in her trembling lashes as she gazed at him.
She looked all the more pitiful.
His heart gave a faint jolt. Pushing his luck, he reached out and tugged away her veil.
Her blushing face was now completely exposed before his eyes.
She was even prettier than heโd imagined.
Pei Huaian had always been generous to beautiful girls. โNo need to call your sister. I have plenty of money. Since I said Iโd give it to you, you can accept it without worryโฆโ
But no matter how generous he was, it didnโt excuse his recklessness. Shen Youran was both ashamed and angry at his behavior, and his constant โyoung masterโ talk was so flippant that she could only think he was a slick-tongued, dissolute rogue. All the more she refused his giftโwhat if he decided to entangle himself with herโฆ
She glared at him fiercely, trying to show she wasnโt to be trifled with. โI already said I donโt want it! Canโt you understand human speechโฆโ
Just then, she caught a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye. Turning, she saw by his tall build and familiar clothes that it was the Liang familyโs sixth young master, whom sheโd met behind the Heavenly King Hall that morning.
The distance was too far to see Liang Sixthโs expression, but she saw Liang Madam shake her head and say something to her son. The two of them then turned and walked away.
It wasnโt hard to guessโthey must have misunderstood her relationship with this man and thought she was a fickle woman, which disappointed them so much they left.
She was wronged!
Both angry and upset, she pushed the man in front of her away with all her might and lifted her skirt, fleeing quickly.
โHey, why are you running?โ Pei Huaian hadnโt even had time to ask her name before she disappeared into the bustling crowd.
He weighed the Mohele heโd failed to give away in his hand. Though a bit regretful, he didnโt pursue her further. Well, if fate wills it, theyโll meet again.
Shen Youran darted behind a large tree draped with calligraphy scrolls. After hiding for a while, she finally poked her head out and, seeing that the masked man hadnโt come after her, let out a long sigh of relief.
She soon spotted her sister in the crowd. Her sister, veiled, looked anxiously about, the light fabric swaying with her movementsโclearly searching for her.
Shen Youran carefully scanned the area again. Seeing no sign of that rogue, she hurried to find her sister.
โWhere did you go? I was justโโ Shen Yunshu began to scold her for wandering off, but Shen Youran interrupted.
โSister, I just ran into a scoundrel! Itโs not safe hereโwe should go home.โ
Hearing her sisterโs voice, trembling on the verge of tears, Shen Yunshu could see she was still shaken, so she didnโt say anything more. Forget the calligraphyโthey left hand in hand for the temple gates.
The fine horse trotted on, wheels clattering. In the carriage, Shen Youran clung to her sisterโs arm and, pouting, recounted the whole encounter with the scoundrel and how the Liang family mother and son saw her being pulled and shoved by the man.
โSuch bad luck! Liang Madam and Sixth Young Master must have misunderstood me. I need to explain to themโฆโ
After hearing this, Shen Yunshu felt both fear and remorse. At the Mohele stall, when her little sister had insisted on buying that finely crafted figurine, sheโd intended to quickly select a painting and come back with any leftover money. But sheโd gotten distracted at a bookstall by a rare ancient text, then spent more time at the art stalls, losing track of time. Amidst the throng, she hadnโt realized her sister had been entangled by a rogue.
โLet Father handle the explanation. Youโve been frightened enoughโno need to go in personโฆโ
After the sisters returned home, they waited until evening for their father. When he came back, Shen Yunshu recounted the dayโs events in full detail.
Shen Tingyu, serving in the same court as Liangโs father, found a chance to walk with him after court the next day.
Liangโs father, prompted by his wife, had planned to end the engagement between the children. Only after hearing Shen Tingyuโs explanation did he realize his wife and son had misunderstood the young lady.
The misunderstanding was cleared up, but the engagement was still off. Although the Liang family seemed to accept the explanation, who could say for sure if they truly believed thereโd been a mistake or thought it a convenient excuse? Better to cancel the match altogether.
As for Shen Tingyu, he also felt his daughter had been harassed by a scoundrel. If only Liang Madam and her son had stayed a bit longer, theyโd have seen Shen Youran trapped, unable to escape. But they turned and left, causing his daughter such fright. Luckily, nothing worse happenedโฆ
The broken engagement left Shen Yunshu guilt-ridden, but Shen Youran, carefree as ever, felt not the least regret. In fact, she was secretly delighted not to have to marry so soon, her happiness lasting several days, and she soon forgot all about the trouble caused by that scoundrel.
The sixth day of the sixth lunar month, Tian Kuang Festival, wasnโt much of a holiday, but the Pei family still sent gifts to show their regard for Shen Yunshu, soon to marry into their household.
Soon after Tian Kuang Festival was Old Madam Peiโs birthday. As the Pei familyโs future in-laws, the Shen family naturally received an invitation.
On the day of the birthday banquet, Shen Yunshu brought along a scented sachet sheโd embroidered herself and attended with her stepmother, Madam Wei.
Shen Yunshu had never told her own mother about her engagement, fearing her stepbrother Lu Yi would try to ruin the match. But by now, her mother and stepfather should be arriving in the capital as well. Fortunately, her betrothal to Peiโs eldest son was already set in stone, or she might have worried her stepbrother would meddleโฆ
The carriage stopped at the gate of the Pei residence. Shen Yunshu and Madam Wei alighted together, and Granny Jiang, Old Madam Peiโs trusted attendant, was already waiting at the door. Seeing them arrive, she greeted them with a warm smile and ushered them inside.
The birthday banquet was held in the manorโs flower hall. This year, since Old Madam Pei was celebrating a major birthday, nearly everyone in the Pei family had comeโexcept for Pei Huaijin, who was stationed far away in Lingzhou, and Third Master Pei Yuanzhou, busy with business in Quanzhou. The five-hall flower hall was packed with Pei family members and relatives, and Shen Yunshuโs arrival as the future primary wife of the eldest grandson drew all eyes.
As soon as she entered, countless glancesโsome obvious, some discreetโfell on her. Shen Yunshu lowered her eyes, steadied her nerves, and walked straight to Old Madam Pei, where she respectfully bowed and presented her gift. Then, introduced by Old Madam Pei, she greeted Lady Zhu, her future mother-in-law, and the other elders at the table.
Two seats remained open at Old Madamโs leftโone for her and one for her stepmother.
The wine was fine, the flowers fresh. After the banquet began, laughter and congratulations filled the hall. As attention gradually drifted away from Shen Yunshu, the maids went about pouring wineโfruit wine for the ladies, light and fragrant. Shen Yunshu drank a few cups, her nerves easing, and sat quietly with a gentle smile, listening to the eldersโ conversation.
But her future mother-in-law wasnโt in the best health. Halfway through the banquet, she had a maid help her back to rest.
After she left, someone casually asked, โWhy isnโt Miss Meng with her today?โ
It was a lady from a collateral branch who spoke.
The second branchโs lady answered, โMiss Meng left the other dayโwent back home to wait for her weddingโฆโ
โHer marriage is settled? Who is the groom?โ
โThe Fifth Young Master of the Marquis of Changxingโs familyโฆโ
The wineโs pleasant haze left Shen Yunshu slightly tipsy, but when she heard โFifth Young Master Lin from the Marquis of Changxingโs household,โ she recalledโhadnโt this Lin Fifth once come to propose to her third sister two years ago?
Back then, sheโd learned that Lin Fifth kept a favored concubine and, fearing her sister would be wronged, had her father refuse the proposal. Two years had passed, and sheโd thought he would have married by now, but he was only just now engagedโand to her future mother-in-lawโs maid, no less.
Shen Yunshu had never met Miss Meng, but sheโd heard of her as the lady-in-waiting to her future mother-in-law. She hadnโt expected her to accept Lin Fifthโs proposal. She could only hope Lin Fifth had changed his ways and wouldnโt favor his concubine over his wife.
โI thought with how much our eldest sister-in-law liked Miss Meng, sheโd marry her to her own sonโฆโ No sooner had she spoken than Old Madam Pei shot her a look, and she quickly amended, โI mean your third branchโs Seventh Young Masterโtheyโre close in ageโฆโ
In fact, everyone knew Lady Zhu had once planned to marry Miss Meng to her own son, but Old Madam Pei had set her sights on Shenโs eldest daughter, and the idea was dropped.
Sensing the awkwardness, the second branchโs lady quickly changed the subject with a smile, โSpeaking of which, whereโs Seventh Young Master? I heard heโs prepared a secret birthday gift for Old Madam, hiding it in his room, refusing to show anyoneโฆโ
Everyone started teasing the Third Branchโs Seventh Young Masterโa sixteen-year-old known for his rakish ways, whose reputation even Shen Yunshu had heard of.
Just as they spoke, a flash of pale yellow entered the flower hall, and in an instant, he was at their table.
Shen Yunshu couldnโt help but look up. She saw a youth in a double-collared, Su-embroidered half-sleeve robe, hair tied high, his features delicate and lively. The moment he spoke, his voice was carelessly cheerfulโsurely the Seventh Young Master theyโd just been discussing.
He was holding a birdcage, inside which, perched on a crossbar, was a pair of glossy-feathered Hong Parrots. He teased them with a grass stem, and they vied to call out blessings.
โBlessings to Old Madam!โ
โMay Old Madam have health and long life!โ
โLong life and a hundred years!โ
โLong life and a hundred years!โ
The parrotsโ mimicry, though repetitive, made Old Madam Pei beam with delight as she fondly looked at her youngest grandson. โYou little rascal, always up to these tricksโฆโ
Everyone at the table laughed along.
Surrounded by elders, Shen Yunshu was the only young maiden at the table, drawing Pei Huaianโs attention.
He turned and looked at herโand abruptly froze. โItโs you!โ
Shen Yunshu was taken aback, her face puzzled.
His eyes swept her face, then his brows drew together in faint disappointment. โOh, not youโฆโ
I think this is supposed to be the next chapter?